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We understand your concern. Most of us have the same problem. Don't box yourself into a corner thinking that you've got to have everything figured out before surgery. This is an on-going process of learning and behavior modification. In some ways, our new "tool" is the teacher, i.e. dumping or foamies UGH! In addition, find local support groups. Mine has a speaker every month and lots of people with whom to discuss the ins and outs of life after surgery. Start going to those meetings now. Take advantage of every learning opportunity provided by your doctor's office. You never know when an "aha!" moment might hit! Most of all, if your insurance covers it, try going to a counselor that specializes in eating disorders. It's even better if you can find one with bariatric experience. I plan on seeing a counselor to work through my food issues, because, like you said, that's how I got here.

Source of Life liquid Gold has made my lab results perfect and I love the taste. Hated the chalky Bariatric Advantage multi. I wanted the best Vitamin possible and a compound pharmacist friend recommended the Source of Life. I do add calcium citrate and Biotin.

Your replies eased my concerns. I went for my post-op checkup yesterday to meet with the surgeon, but he wasn't there. I met with the nurse instead, but she wasn't concerned about Protein at this point. She said in that first week the important thing was getting in enough liquid. While 64 oz of Fluid is the goal, the real danger zone is when we drink less than 40 ounces a day. I usually get in 50-70, but the other post-op patients I was talking to at the bariatric meeting were not able to hit goal--ever. Today I get to start pureed foods. Looking forward to it...I think.

My future Bariatric office uses Tanita body composition scales. Take shoes off, step on and it spits out all sorts of interesting stats. My coworker says wearing layers of clothes and a heavy purse will not affect my weight on this scale. She said it only measures your body. Is this true? (I hope not) I'm right around 35 Bmi so I need to make sure I'm a certain weight when I have my first visit. Sent from my XT1254 using BariatricPal mobile app

I am 13 years out and in the same boat. moved so had to find a new surgeon. the following list is what they have asked me to get at the lab. 1.iron 2.vitamin d 3.vitamin B 12 4.calcium 5. thiamine ( Vitamin b 1) 6. selenium 7. zinc 8. copper the list includes the normal ranges and what the symptoms are if you are deficient in each one. hope this helps you. my primary dr would not do the necessary tests saying they were not necessary so I had to find a dr who was more familiar with bariatric patients ( she has a family member who had the surgery so listened to me)

Hi, KJ--and welcome! I'm nearby in Australia. I think that you already know the answer to your question based on a few of the statements in your post: "I know that losing weight and gaining health will be far more important than how old I may look, and what people think." "I have bad health issues like asthma, high BP, and really need two knee replacements....So it's going to be so good for my health I know." "Excited for the journey for a new me and better health." Exactly right--this is all about your health. It's about getting rid of the medical conditions that come with obesity and feeling good for the first time in decades, with lots of energy and a new zest for life. Looking slimmer is a nice side effect of the surgery, but the real reason to do it is to improve your health and add years to your life. I was 59 when I got surgery and can't believe how much younger and more energetic I FEEL. I wish I had done it years earlier. Do I LOOK younger? No. The weight loss in my face and neck has aged me a bit, and I will admit that it was a little disconcerting at first, but I'm used to it. As for what people think of me and say about me: I'm sure it was much more unkind when I was fat than now when I look a little older. And frankly, I couldn't care less. I did this for me, and it was the best decision I have ever made. I can only speak for myself, but I LOVE the new me! I have so much more energy, enthusiasm, confidence and hope for the future than I did a couple of years ago as an obese person with health problems and the likelihood of a heart attack within a decade. Now that I know how great it feels to be at a healthy weight, I wouldn't ever want to go back to the old me. Don't worry about what you will eat after surgery. You will find that your tastes change and you won't crave many of the unhealthy things you enjoyed before. And you can have a glass of wine and some cheese every now and then--it's a matter of moderation. I used to love sweets and high fat foods, and I don't eat them at all any more--and I never feel deprived. We all have fears and reservations about bariatric surgery, but you almost never hear anyone expressing regrets about having it done once they see how great they feel and how much more they can enjoy life once they get to a healthy weight.

I think the first step is as @@Bandista suggests. If you need bigger guns after that, there is a law firm in the U.S. that works for people in your situation. You'll find it by googling Walter Lindstrom Attorney. The name of the firm mentions WLS or bariatrics or obesity. You can't miss it. I'm only providing the name, as I've never heard from anyone whom they actually represented. I believe they work nationally. (There may be others, too.) If you do contact the firm, please let me/us know what they say. I may be in the same situation you're in. Best wishes to you.

My file was sent to the insurance company Sept. 5th. I actually just called my insurance company this morning and was on hold for 30 min. I got tired of waiting and hung up. I'll probably try again this afternoon. The bariatric nurse said that my file goes to the hospital before the insurance company and I should expect to wait 4-6 weeks. I purposely put myself in a lower income bracket so that I could obtain insurance that would cover this surgery. Not only is the pre-op process hard, but so is learning to live on such a low income now. I even have to wait another 4-6 weeks after insurance approval for something called "chart review". They have had the past 8 months to review my chart, so I have no idea what this last phase in the waiting game is all about. Like you, I'm getting anxious with all this waiting around. I decided last week that maybe this is a good time as any to put my weight loss efforts in triple gear (without surgery). Good luck on your mission!

Hi! My name is Melissa and I am a nurse practitioner in Arizona with 10+ years experience in bariatric surgery and over 9 years caring for band patients (fills...). I was referred to this site by my good friend Randy, also a nurse practitioner who has been available for fills/unfills. If anyone in the Phoenix, AZ area would like to contact me, please feel free to email me @mmdavis16@gmail.com. You can email me and/or send me your phone number, and I will get back to you within 24 hrs. Best, Melissa

@chanti...I have read on some posts that there is a bariatric surgeon in red deer but the waiting list is very long and the cost is like double or something like that then Tijuana so and somewhere I read that the procedure in Toronto is like 22,000. :/

Though regain and difficulty with maintenance is very common....Few people who are struggling with regain stick around and post on this board. Most folks here are new to surgery and excited about possibilities, going through the process...high energy. You will see a few people talking about regain on the veteran's forum and revision boards. If you want statistical information about percentages of people who reach goal, regain, what is considered "a success" in the industry...talk to your bariatric surgeon. They are excellent, tough questions that you really should ask.

@@Tiffanyw What are you allowed on your diet? I'm only able to drink Protein shakes (Bariatric Fusion) and 3 Snacks of broth, sf Jello, sf popsicles or watermelon. I start the diet on 10/4 - and I'm not looking forward to it! LOL

Hey, I am waiting for my appointment with my bariatric doctor thats nxt week but in the mean time I wanted to be productive. I had an appointment with the sleep doctor. She ordered a sleep study for me. Im wondering if they say I have sleep apnea will it delay the process for my surgery, will I have to be on the machine for a certain period of time before I can have the surgery? Just curious as to how this works. Thanx for the advice!

Typically sleevers and those with RNY are told to use an alternative method of birth control. pills are not effective for birth control for us due to changes to the stomach. Hope all is well with you. If you are not pregnant and do not want to be, would recommend you contact your bariatric clinic and ask for their advice on a better method of contraception for you. Best of luck.

I thought you all may want to see the infor below.. Insurance Company to Cover Newer Method of Bariatric Surgery by Kerri Seidler on April 21, 2010 ? Comments | Weight Loss Surgery Aetna, one of the nations largest health insurers, revised its policy on obesity surgery this month to include open and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy among its covered bariatric procedures. The sleeve gastrectomy procedure, often referred to as the gastric sleeve, is a newer method of bariatric surgery that is gaining in popularity as a treatment for morbid obesity. The gastric sleeve promotes weight loss by reducing the size of the stomach to help patients eat less and feel full faster. It appeals to many patients as it does not require a medical implant or need adjustments like laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding and does not require cutting and rerouting the small intestine like the gastric bypass procedures. Prior to the policy change, Aetna considered the sleeve gastrectomy ?investigational? and did not cover the surgery. As of 4/9/2010, Aetna revised its Clinical Policy Bulletin for Obesity Surgery and stated that the ?sleeve gastrectomy is considered medically necessary when criteria are met.? The policy now reads: Aetna considers open or laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), open or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, open or laparoscopic biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) with or without duodenal switch (DS), or laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding (LASGB) medically necessary when the selection criteria listed below are met. Although the sleeve gastrectomy is included under bariatric procedures, coverage for obesity surgery is still dependent on benefit plan details and approval by Aetna. Aetna?s decision follows in the footsteps of United Healthcare, another healthcare giant, which began covering the procedure in October 2009. In response to the Aetna and United Healthcare change in policy, The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) issued a press release announcing its support. In the statement, John W. Baker, MD, FACS, President of ASMBS, said ?We are pleased that Aetna and United Healthcare now includes sleeve gastrectomy among its covered bariatric procedures?Sleeve gastrectomy has now reached that threshold where the data and our experience with the procedure supports its safe and effective use in people affected by the chronic disease of morbid obesity.? The ASMBS, which is the largest organization for bariatric surgeons in the world, is a non-profit group committed to educating medical professionals, patients, and the general public to the various effects, risks, and benefits of bariatric surgery. The decision of Aetna and United Healthcare to cover gastric sleeve will benefits patients who are morbidly obese and considering weight loss surgery. While weight loss surgery is the most effective treatment for morbid obesity, it should not be considered a ?one size fits all? approach. As the best surgical intervention for obesity can vary from patient to patient, insurers who cover a wider range of options will better allow surgeons to treat patients on a more personal basis.

:thumbup: Hey I was called today by Dr. Idhe's office in Dallas and told my insurance (UMR) does not cover Bariatric surgeries, so sorry thats it...$13,000 all inclusive cost:svengo:. Can anyone help me find a Doctor in Dallas that will go to bat for you. Or a doctor that finances. I dont have the means to get hold of that kind of cash. My BMI is 54.4, my knees are bad, I tore my achellies tendon and I have a job that requires me to be on my feet all the time.HELP... HELP..... HELP!!!

I just got an Omron on amazon that was $34 plus shipping. This was based upon the recommendation of Dr. Wolkodoff, (www.energyzone.org), after I did a VO2 profile recently. He said as long as it is basic, I could follow along with my zones on all the machines from the result of my VO2 Max test. I have not had the time to post about the VO2 max test, but was really insightful to determine how I should train aerobically. As a result, I am now doing two interval days and two aerobic days as my Anaerobic Threshold was low, and Dr. Wolkodoff said elevating this will allow me to burn more calories in my cardiozone. I did the test of a recumbent elliptical, as my hips won't fit on a regular bike yet. Apparently he did a study about Bariatric patients and VO2 and found the recumbent elliptical was a very good way to test these things as most of us don't fit well on a regular bike. If you are close to Denver, and want to improve your aerobic training and take the guesswork out of it, I highly suggest this test.

My wife was right around 60 when she had a lower body lift and thigh lift in two procedures. I'm 55 and just had an extended TT and manboob reduction. Overall, count on a rougher journey than with the average bariatric procedure due to the extensive amount of cutting and scarring involved.

I was given one with my band surgery, and I never used it. Most restaraunts have been very accomodating when I order off the kid's menu or just an appetizer. My son and I share an adult entree a lot of the times we eat out. We rarely venture to buffets, but that's only because I hate Golden Corral places. The only buffet place we go to is the Chinese buffet with a mongolian grill. I only eat the mongolian grill noodles and meat. This may sound horrible, but for me, I will pay full price for a meal because they didn't charge me when I ate enough for 4 people. Now, when we do hit the chinese buffet, I stick with normal portions, and I may full price only because it's an "all you can eat" place. Well, all I can eat is about 3/4 cup of food so I pay for it. Or I get a to go box, and pay for the food by the pound and I eat out of the to-go box while my husband and son eat off the buffet. Now, for medical reasons, I have it all written on the back of my insurance and registration paperwork that I've had a partial gastrectomy, and that I have been diagnosed with an idiopathic clotting disorder. Here's a generic one from the internet if you would like to have one. Restaurant Card Bariatric Surgery I personally have never had to use one. If I go to Chili's or TGI Fridays, I order off the kid's menu without being questioned. On NYE, John and I went to a local steakhouse. He ordered an entree, and their policy is that you can order a half rack of ribs half price with an entree. I ate the ribs (2 of them) and we shared his side dishes of mac-n-cheese, and mashed potatoes.

Just checking in, really trying to stay consistent on the forums here seems to help me stay accountable. I am 22 months post op and was doing great at my lowest (although still not my goal), then i gained 10 lbs during a SUPER stressful two semesters of grad school and starting a new job, and switching that job from days to nights, and just life in general. Because I haven't seen my surgeon in about 9 months and didn't have the option to see my usual nutrition clinician (new insurance doesn't cover their services), I took the steps today to make an appointment with my surgeon in June AND called for a NUT appointment with the bariatric clinic in a nearby town that my insurance covers. I had every intention of starting a 5 day pouch test too, but having just accepted a huge promotion in my new job, my coworkers are giving me a big giant potluck tomorrow night and even though I'll eat healthy, i didn't want to stand there with a shake and turn my nose up at their efforts. So, 5 day pouch reset starting sunday night... I would love any input as far as pouch test success, getting back on track, etc. I currently have 10 lbs to get back to my lowest, and about 25 to my goal!! I CAN DO THIS.

Yep, that'd be me, too. I just have had to accept that I will weigh myself daily. And make it a goal to reframe the message sent by the machine--and (more importantly) the messages I then tell myself. I went to the doctor (not bariatric) yesterday. His scale (you know, the same scale that's been in the office hallway since his dad opened the office 100 years ago; the one that gets bashed into every time someone rounds the corner---and probably hasn't been zeroed or calibrated since 1978? Yeah, that scale...) weighed me THIRTEEN POUNDS heavier than my scale. Now, I knew, intellectually, that my clothes weighed 3 pounds. (How did I know this? Because I weighed myself, at home, with and without them. I told you, I am insane.) I knew, too, that my scale --which jibes pretty exactly with my bariatric surgeon's---was more accurate than his. That I really did NOT weigh 13 pounds more than I had an hour and a half ago. But I still had to say, out LOUD, "It's just a number. It's just a number..." Because it could have thrown me into a real tailspin. It worked. It actually worked! I was able to tell myself that next year, when I go back to the gyne (at goal, or close to it), his scale would STILL tell me things I didn't want to hear. But that it doesn't matter. It's just a number--and it's not the truth. Losing weight is not easy. But IMO, it's way easier than changing the messages we tell ourselves. Learning to stop ourselves short when we are "speaking" to ourselves in ways we would never treat others is a pretty important part of the journey, I think. I'm not sure how well I'll do with this long-term, but it IS now a priority, because I'm finding that it makes a big, big difference.

I found an amazing array of shake recipes found on bariatric foodie.com. If I wanted I could have a different flavor every day, twice a day for a good month. I am just trying out shake flavors that look interesting and eating healthier. I am very much looking forward to my peanut brittle shake I will be having for Breakfast tomorrow morning. I figured if I start cutting the carbs now that will be less I have to deal with when I start the actual diet. The reason for most people's headaches during the pre op diet is carb withdrawal. This way I can deal with the energy issues many seem to deal with and not the no carb/sugar headache.

Hi everyone - new member here. I have been researching lapband surgery for a couple of weeks now. Been considering some kind of bariatric surgery for a couple of years now, but after watching the people at work who have had gastric bypass and all the problems they have had I was scared to do it. After reading about the lapband, I feel comfortable with this method. I am going to the free info seminar next Thu in Houston. I talked to our HR lady who had gastric bypass 4 years ago and she said our insurance (Anthem BC/BS PPO) was good about approving people as long as they meet the requirements (which I do). I will be 49 in January, I am 5' 2" and I weigh 100 pounds more than I did before I had kids (my oldest turns 23 on Christmas Eve). I have been yo-yo dieting for the last 20 years and I am sick of it and tired of being hungry all the time and a slave to my hunger. I am so impressed with all the support and information on this forum!

The sleeve helps us lose, but we have to be mindful of sliders and nutritionally void foods. It is possible to gain back with any bariatric surgery. But just like losing takes work, so does gaining it back. Complacency is not something that we can really afford.

old navy clearance has been a lifesaver for me. i found jeans at thrift stores like savers and the goodwill for $5-$10 usually. sweatpants are great too, but i'm lucky because i'm allowed to wear them at work. make sure you're donation your old clothes! i happened to come into contact with another bariatric patient who's a few sizes bigger than me, so i've been giving her all of my old stuff.