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Wondering about the process and follow up care if you choose to travel out of state for surgery. Thanks!! Sent from my SM-N976U using BariatricPal mobile app

Both these apps are really good. I used My Fitness Pal before the surgery but found that I wanted a bit more bariatric support post-op; especially with my lowered calories. You can easily just not end the day to get the last message of being too low in calories but it helped me more to be with full bariatric support so I am currently on baritastic and I do enjoy it. Only thing I had to get used to was it being only on my phone. Well, had to face tiny phone screen apps eventually lol. One third option I really liked was Carb Manager. It was pretty simple; less support and less active for that then the other two apps but if you just want something that simply tracks everything and is very user friendly, that one is good too. All are free-you can pay for premium on my fitness pal but I wouldn't pay for what they give you extra.

Bariatric Pal Grapefruit (mix with water - 15 grams of protein) drink!

Did you have the mini? Did your bariatric team prescribe you meds for reflux? I was given a 90 day supply of reflux meds during the healing stage. Are you measuring small amounts of liquid (the size of a shot glass) and just drinking that amount every 20 minutes. Start with tiny then slowly increase once you can manage 1oz every 10-15 minutes.

Who and how much to tell is definitely a personal decision. I don't go around announcing it, but if someone really wants to know how I lost so much weight, I'll tell them I had bariatric surgery. Only you can say what your comfort level is and you have every right to keep it private (it's medical care, after all). One thing I will say though - I don't think you should have any shame about having had weight loss surgery. You can't stop other people from being ignorant, but please don't internalize that at all. Personally, I cut off judgmental comments quickly. And as you said, anyone who tries to project any kind of "stigma" on me gets banished to the edges of my life (if they are allowed to remain at all). Losing weight is hard work, even with the help of surgery. It's a long journey and when you get to your goal, you will have every right to be proud of yourself (actually you can be proud already because you're getting started). You can disclose the surgery or not as you choose, but never feel ashamed. 🤗

Not yet, I’m on liquids for another week or so yet. I bought “The Complete Bariatric Cookbook and Meal Plan” by Megan Moore and it has loads of helpful information in it as well as some interesting recipe ideas.

Maybe water, too??. Are you on puréed foods yet? If so are you doing that with the information you were given in your bariatric packet or did you get a bariatric cookbook? I’ve been looking at getting a cookbook if I can find one set up for the different stages of eating. I love variety, not that I like ALOT of different foods, but I like to TRY.

I hadn't heard of the Carnivore diet but you guys are doing great for being on it-it's got to be the healthiest for many health problems. I agree, covid is more worrying then trying to see family and there's some hope in sight for next year being so much better with the vaccines. I think I'm trying to get a new way to appreciate the family and make everyone happy here while still trying to understand what foods are acceptable or not with my new pouch-still really limited with what I can take without pain). We knocked around some ideas to make it more fun and not about food (my husband is from Italy; we lived there until about 4 years ago so this holiday is new to him anyhow). We're Ren Fest enthusiasts; we were going to get our vows renewed this year for our 10th wedding anniversary and had special costumes made up (mine being in much smaller sizes for the weight loss I was expecting). That was cancelled but we still have them and we thought about all of us wearing the historical garb and having some stories to celebrate. Going down in sizes is one aspect that always motivates with weight loss. Not missing the Macy's day parade though 🙂 on. tv if they have some form of it this year. Happy Holidays to your husband and yourself. It sounds like a wonderful and peaceful way to celebrate.

Yep, just keep on eating as healthy as you can. My surgery dates were wonky too; it was postponed and then postponed again and I was set to wait another two extra months but they called one day and said to start my 2 week liver shrink diet pronto-surgery in 13 days. I lost about 42 lbs total before the surgery on the program and I'm very glad I did. I'm close to 90 lbs down at 9 weeks post op because I lost some before hand and it really helps with motivation, feeling good and prepping for the your post-op diet. Get as much down as you can with the help of your NUT right now. You will lose fast after and you want your body a bit more adjusted for that. Ask also if you should be starting the bariatric vitamins, it can help pre-surgery if that's the way your Dr goes. I was told it would be hard for some people to take them after the surgery for size etc but was really unprepared for how difficult it was. My Dr and NUT both helped in getting the correct chews before-hand to prepare me for after. Exercise as much as you can! I missed that aspect. I had some minor complications and had to give up on my bike and core exercises until just these last two weeks and boy I did miss them even though the motivation was zero until recently. It really helps to get those habits in and get your body ready for the rapid weight loss after.

As some of you know by now by my post from a couple of weeks or so ago, I GOT A DATE! Lord willing and the Covid settles a bit, I will be joining the loser's bench on December 7th! Monday starts my preop diet-I can either do an all liquids diet or one with one small meal from a very short list of meat and vegetables. I opted to do whichever one my body needs each morning. I have done water fasting before with my longest without food being 3 days so I have some idea how craptastic this is probably going to be for the first few days. Thankfully while I love my family dearly everyone is okay with me sitting at home to hang out with my protein shake and cleaning supplies while my mom goes to my younger brother's house a few hours away. While I enjoy Thanksgiving food it won't be that much missed away from the smells and watching everyone else eat. My work schedule also is normal so Thursday is just a normal day off for me and then back at it Friday and Saturday so I also will count my blessings my day off isn't spent in a car for a good part of the day. Christmas will probably be different, Christmas is much more family and a lot less eating involved. 😊 So today was my stock up day for the next week or so(I didn't want to go all out buying 2 weeks worth in case tastes change, Covid postpones surgery or my tastebuds change) and of course it was basically everyone else's shopping day...completely didn't think about it being Thanksgiving week...oops. Anywho, ended up with some Fairlife, Premier protein shakes, sugar free jello, tasty bone broth(I can add a small amount of chicken or other meat and some veggies to it to make it more soup like), Mio Sport for electrolyes since I know I have a tendency to have leg cramps, fiber, immodium, bean-o--for any possible stomach irritability on the diet and beyond, and so many water flavor packets! I also have video games I can play, my novel to work on (anyone else doing NaNoWriMo this year?), books I've been meaning to read and cleaning to do to keep me out of the kitchen and focused on other things when I'm not at work. Wednesday is my preop visit with the nutritionist/surgeron and finalizing financial stuff and December 4th is my Covid test-if anyone has any insight to how terrible (or not really) that is, I'm all ears. I will be getting the nose swab(yay me. -_-) but my supervisor started my two weeks time off on the 4th and just had me work 4 days in a row which means I can get it done early and come home and go back to bed. Plan on going into nesting mode that weekend-although I'm kinda already working on it now. I've been saving up my vacation basically all year in anticipation of 2 whole weeks off. I want to make sure if I have any complications I won't screw up our schedule but also I work at a vet clinic as a receptionist and y'all...I am EXHAUSTED. I have a couple of friends that have already made plans to come see me while I'm on leave and I also plan on maybe going out to the beach for the day to walk and take pictures if I'm up to it(I know I see others being able to handle several miles of walking only a few days post op). But for the most part, I'm not making any plans but to rest, walk and sip anything else besides that is all extra bonuses! 🙂 I ordered some popsicle making molds from Amazon that I plan to use with my flavored water that should be here in a couple of days along with my pill dispenser (has 4 compartments per day-AM, Lunch, PM, evening) and I can take one large compartment with me to work instead of the whole thing! After so much time sometimes it is really hard for me to believe I actually have a surgery date...I went to my first ever bariatric surgery info session when I was 17...I am now 31...I always say that you can never help someone from addiction or just bad choices unless THEY ARE READY and I never listened to my own advice...until last year on my 30th birthday, I had had so many birthdays where I always promised myself in a year I wouldn't be fat, I could almost picture myself not obese but not quite. 30 was my wake up call that I couldn't do it on my own, I needed my help. In the mountains of Wyoming (I went back to visit with friends I had made while living there for a few years) I decided that I would find a PCP and start figuring it all out. I got insanely lucky, I had no PCP in mind when I called to make an appointment, just asked the receptionist who she would recommend and haven't looked back. She has been rooting for me for months and when I got to send her a message and let her know I had a date was a really big highlight for me. I stuck with this and here I am...16 days from surgery. I plan on vetting a therapist here in a few weeks, to find one that matches some specific criteria that also happens to be in network may be a bit of a challenge but I have challenges that weight loss will bring me I've never faced before...like dating...I've been obese since 4th or 5th grade so I've never been in a relationship or worried about unsavory characters giving me attention I do not want although I also plan on starting Krav Maga classes when my surgeron clears me. I think that's all I got for now, gonna enjoy my last 24 hours of "normal" eating tomorrow and Monday starts the real countdown! Amanda

I had my bypass on Nov. 4, and I am still struggling with lower back pain. I don’t have much of any pain, mostly tenderness in my abdominal area. I also am very tired and weak and cannot stand like in the kitchen for more than 15 minutes, but was told I need more protein. I struggle with these darn protein shakes, but have started adding Isopur whey protein isolate to as much as I can, in teaspoon increments. I added some to my jello fluff I made this afternoon. If it can be TOTALLY DISGUISED I think I can do better! I didn’t have any problems with nausea, so I would recommend you talk to the Bariatric office about that. You aren’t throwing up are you? If you are you definitely need to let them know because of the stitches on the inside. I saw your bio and we are both at the same height. We can keep in touch if you like, and if you wouldn’t mind, let me know what they say about your nausea. Maybe try to drink a little slower? Hope you find the help even just to confirm everything and rule out trouble! It helps. Take care! Jeanne Smoker

Dear All I hope someone can provide me advice. I had my operation on Sept. 23. I have only had one call with my dietician and bariatric team. I lost 7 lbs since the operation in the first week but since then nothing. I do not eat carbs and in week 2 my dietician was already stating that I needed to increase carbs. I am gluten intolerant so she advised rice cakes. I workout 5 to 6 days a week alternating between cardio and weights. I have asked my bariatric team and they say that everything is fine. I am scared because my hunger and frustrations are growing. Any tips

Everyone's experience is different, but I haven't found managing nutritional needs to be difficult after my sleeve surgery. I'm not cooking these days either but I'm able to get enough protein with basic things like rotisserie chicken from the grocery store, eggs, yogurt, cheese and so on. I eat a little weird because I don't often eat a whole meal but I'm managing to get my nutritional needs met (I know because I'm still keeping track of everything). And of course I take my multivitamin daily and B12 weekly as my doctor prescribed. My bloodwork always comes back fine, the only suggestion the doctor has given me was to start taking Vitamin D, which I did. And there's no malabsorbtion with the sleeve, so that's not a factor. I do find that my appetite is significantly reduced. I know hunger comes back more quickly for some people, but 20 months out I'm still hungry less often and less urgently than I was before. One of the BEST side-effects of surgery for me is that things that used to be "comfort food" for me no longer have that emotional kick they used to have. I can eat a pancake with syrup and it tastes good, but whatever that emotional hit was that I used to get, that's gone. And that's a VERY good thing for me. I mostly avoid the carby, sweet stuff but I do allow myself a treat every now and then. And then it's RIGHT back on my eating plan because I don't want to wake up cravings for all that stuff. I still don't keep sweets or junk food in the house. When I have a treat, I have to make a special effort to go get it and it's planned. And I only get enough for one serving. When that's gone, I'm done and it's back to protein, dairy, nuts, eggs, etc. I'm an apple shape like you, so I know exactly what you mean. I've lost 11 inches off my waist, which my doctor is ecstatic about. Only you can decide if weight loss surgery is right for you, but I wouldn't let malnutrition fears be the deal-breaker. Your bariatric team will give you a diet designed to meet your nutritional needs and they'll be monitoring you. All the best, whatever you decide! 🤗

you have been a member since 2009 I wish I would have joined this site years ago! I would not feel so alone on this that I am trying to do. I admire that you took all that money and invested it in yourself! I invest the least in myself and that is why I think I am in this struggle with my weight. this will be the most biggest choice and investment that I have made for myself in my lifetime. I know insurance covers 80% only because the deductible has not been met yet but it is worth it my health. I do like that I can make it a secret place like you said and just be able to not be judged. I love that you have a relationship with you band and named her tina! that is so awesome that you make it your own personal journey and have fun with it. I want to have fun with my journey also I will try to do like you and not see it so much as a sad, scary failure but a happy, exciting, renewed journey! thank you for your reply!

we started out at a similar weight and I lost 16 lbs the first month. I would say (and this is based only on my observations from hanging out on a handful of bariatric sites for the last six or so years) that most of us tend to lose in the 15-25 lb range that first month. Of course there are outliers on either side of that, but it seems like most are within that range. Well, unless you're talking about people who start out at much higher BMI's than most of us do (like people on those reality shows like "My 600 lb Life"). So you're doing fine!

My weight loss surgery story actually started back in early 2019, but I chickened out before my first appointment because I was worried that I would have postop complications and the cost would go beyond the base rate. I gave up on the idea of weight loss surgery at that time, and decided that I would do it on my own. I think everybody here knows how well that went. At the end of the year I found out my husband‘s job would be ending, and we took that as an opportunity to try to find a job where he would have insurance that I could go on that would cover weight loss surgery. He got a job that covered it, and I joined his insurance plan, and within the month I was set up with my first appointment. my first appointment ended up being converted to telemedicine because of Covid, but that actually worked out great for me because my doctors office is two hours away. We had a six month waiting period, and for the first two months I will be honest I was working from home in quarantine, and I made absolutely no effort to lose weight and I did not make any progress. My third appointment was going to an in person appointment and the Bariatric class, and I was terrified that I would be up in weight and be disqualified. So for 2 weeks prior to that I went on a low carb low calorie diet. And I don’t know if it was me telling myself it was temporary or the realization that the surgery was coming helped, but I just kept extending and extending the date on my low carb diet. I ended up losing 48 lbs before the liquid diet which was greatly needed because I started at 339, and my surgery weight was 282. I’m 5’10 and my goal weight is 165. The liquid diet was no big deal, maybe because my diet was already very low calorie. I think I ended up losing about 8 pounds or so on it. It was a full liquid diet, and I did not vary from the diet at all. I want this to be the part of my life where I’m not constantly having a “little extra” or “just this bite” and I figured it would be a good test of willpower. surgery was a bit rough. I was in a fair amount of pain when I woke up, and I felt very nauseous. I could definitely feel my stomach, and it did not feel good. I wasn’t able to keep any water down, and the pain meds made me very sick. I ended up throwing up the small amount of water I’d drank snd the pain meds up all over myself the first night. But the next day was a tiny bit better, and it got better every day until day 4 I felt great. I ended up being able to drink water totally fine, no problem with protein or anything. I think my surgeon is a bit old school because I have a 4 week post op liquid diet too. No mush or purée stage here. I’m currently finishing up week 2 of the post op liquid diet, and like the preop diet I’m not going to cheat or go off plan. It was a long road to get here and I am going to do everything in my power to make this work. So far I am down about 10 lbs post surgery, so I don’t think I’m going to get the dramatic 30 lbs weight loss in the first month or anything but that’s fine. I’m down close to 70 lbs from my high weight, and it feels great. I’ll try to follow up every month or so with progress. HW:339 SW: 282 CW:271 GW: 165

I was so very fortunate and very impressed with my program at Blossom Bariatrics. They leave no stone unturned and no question unanswered.

I am in the getting close to my bariatric surgery! I am feeling excited, nervous! I just have so many feelings I can’t describe. So here is my story… my surgery will be in December and although some might think it is the worse time to get it done because of all the Food and Festivities that are happening around that time, I see it as the perfect time because during the holiday seasons it is when I see everything so nice, warm and I am truly happy, with all the festivities. I start being thankful starting with Thanksgiving, on Christmas the same I count my blessings and on New Year’s I take inventory of all of my family and my successes always hopeful for the New Year that awaits! Life cannot be any more perfect…… but the reality is that it can be! If I would just lose my damn weight! That is why this is the perfect time because of New Year I always see it as a time to let go of the old and in with the new! This time it will be a New me! Other feelings I have are of letting my family down and myself for not having the willpower, not being able to do it on my own, and now left to having to do this surgery as my last resort. it is overwhelmingly exciting and nerve wrecking as I first noted. At the moment I feel that I am ready, but am I? That is why I am here in this bariatric group website I want to see others success story. I want to make online friends with others who have success stories and weight issues same as me, that I can relate. I also want to finally get the backbone I need to go through with this life changing surgery, as I have heard and seen from others. I am hoping I can also be motivation and help others I plan to make it a life goal to help others who have the same exact fears as I do, to make them feel more at ease because as far as the way I feel right now I get adrenaline rush just the thought because I do want to do this surgery because entering 2021 I want to be able to welcome the new me. I don’t have many friends I can talk to regarding my fat issues because it is so very personal and I don’t know how confidential it would be. Plus I been threw a lot of fat shaming done by people I know and I always want to be seen as strong and unaffected but I am very much affected. If there is another reason to get this surgery done other than the many amazing health benefits and longevity, and having a complete circle as far as my happiness, it is to shut all the haters and fat shamers up. The number one reason still remains always Definitely my family, myself above all!

I have BCBSMS. I would think that they would cover the sleeve since they would only be approving that 1. They also have a 90-day bariatric program. 4 meetings with the nutritionist and 4 with the surgeon. I just signed my final clearance papers with the surgeon yesterday and am just waiting to hear from their office on a date. Good luck to you.

I know I heard from other fellow bariatric patients on instagram that surgery will usually bring on your period. I know for me I got my period 2 days after surgery. It was a real dark blood heavy flow with a bit of funk to it and then moved onto something more normal after a few days. I wasn't due for a period for 2 weeks so I knew it was because of the surgery. I also had terrible night sweats and hot flashes the 2nd and 3rd days after surgery. So I think what happened to you is pretty normal. Hang in there it only gets better! I'm 6 days post-op! Sent from my LM-V600 using BariatricPal mobile app

I did not do fasting after talking with my nutritionist. Since I have had bariatric surgery it would mess my metabolism up. Look up liver shrinking diet. That might help you.

If you haven't run into this in your research, I found this to be an interesting point/counterpoint discussion of the LINX (the "Yes" vote is linked at the bottom). http://agaperspectives.gastro.org/is-linx-the-way-to-go-for-gerd-surgery-no/#.X7K6SWhKiUk I also found another source that indicated that LINX was not appropriate for bariatric patients, but didn't explain why (possibly simply because that group didn't have much experience with bariatric patients?) The "No" vote above did lift out the prospect of erosion from the foreign body, and given the history of the lapband, that is probably a good point of caution. I would suggest getting a second (and possibly third) opinion on this. I am a fan of second opinions, particularly when it comes to revisions and complications, as both the causes and solutions are often more varied than the original surgery, and hence the opinions as to the best way to go often vary more widely - what one doc is comfortable doing to solve the problem may not be the ideal for you, while another doc may have different experiences that allows him to offer something better for your need. Or maybe not - but as patients it is hard for us to evaluate, but one solution may make more sense to us than another. I have found that with the sleeve, being a relatively new procedure to most of the bariatric world, the solutions to problems that may crop up are often limited - some docs are limited to simply revising to a bypass as they don't have much experience with anything else. Most bariatric surgeons here in the States are fairly well experienced with the sleeve by now (as opposed to 6-10 years ago) but may not yet have that much experience in correcting problems with them, which is why it can pay to seek out alternate opinions. Sometimes there are shape issues with the sleeve, stemming from either the original surgery or from subsequent evolutions, and surgeons can vary widely on their ability to address these. Some can do fundoplications to address the hiatal hernia, while others can't (there isn't that much fundus to plicate after our VSG.) I would suggest a second opinion from Dr. Ara Keshishian, who does a lot of complex revisions (people come from across the country to see him, particularly as he is one of the few who can do the RNY/DS revision) and if anyone can get things working better without a major revision or devices, it is him. If one can avoid an RNY or an implanted device, that would be ideal. Conveniently, he is right around the corner from you in the Glendale/Pasadena area. I do have a hiatal hernia, though a fundoplication is inappropriate for my case, and as GERD is mild and well controlled with moderate OTC meds, and EGD shows nothing exciting happening, it is a wait and see thing for me at this point. Hope yours comes out well, whatever path you take,

I used CRON-O-Meter for a while. Most detailed tracker out there. You don't need an app with a "bariatric focus".

I just realized I didn't read your whole post... I understand chronic pain VERY well! ESPECIALLY nerve pain! I have TN (Trigeminal Neuralgia) and had brain surgery 3 years ago in an attempt to relieve myself of the agony even if it would likely be temporary (there isn't a cure for TN the surgery just stops the pain for a few years). I have atypical trigeminal neuralgia. It's on both sides and I had both type 1 and 2 pains on the left side and only type 2 on the right. I can handle the type 2 pains, but the type 1 pains... there is nothing comparable to it. It's the worst sort of agony imaginable. NOTHING has ever equaled or surpassed it. The best description for it I can give is most times it felt like I had a scalding hot poker jab into my face where it would twist and twist and twist and twist before pulling out only to repeat itself endlessly. I had the surgery (Microvascular Decompression) on the left side of my brain to get rid of the type 1 pain and it amazingly got rid of the flare ups and I had no pain for 2 amazing years. Around the time I started my weight loss journey last year I started having type 2 pains again on the left side. I couldn't stop CRYING! I was paranoid and panicking and CONVINCED that the type 1 pain was going to return. If my surgery hadn't worked to get rid of the type 1 pain I wouldn't be here. TN is called suicides disease for a REASON. It's recognized as one the most painfully excruciating conditions know to mankind. I was in absolute agony with my TN with a flare that lasted for 10 MONTHS before I had my surgery. I was barely sleeping because it was worse at night. Everything set it off. I was in a never ending world of absolute AGONY and I only held out for my family. I had overdosed on my meds on at least 3 occasions... 1 particular one I was incredibly lucky that I didn't end up in a coma because I'd taken 600mg over my dose (900mg was my dose and overdose for me was 1000mg, I'd taken 1500mg). If the surgery hadn't worked... I wouldn't be here. I was BARELY holding out for my family. I thought I was losing my mind from lack of sleep and pain and I wanted to cry all the damn time but I didn't have the energy or the tears because I'd cried myself dry months before. EVERYTHING set it off. Sleeping, eating, bathing, talking, touching my face, brushing my hair or my teeth. The happiest day of my life was my surgery day. I woke up with the worse headache of my LIFE and at that point the worst nausea I'd had in my life (only beaten by dumping syndrome), but it was 100% WORTH IT! When my TN came back in the form of the type 2 pain I felt like my life was over. I had been so strong and held out to make it to my surgery, but I just didn't know if I could have that kind of strength again. I didn't think I'd survive a repeat. So I fell into a very deep depression. My doctor put me on anti-depression and anxiety meds and when I saw the psyche doc at the bariatric clinic I told her my TN coming back to how it was before my surgery was my absolute worst fear. I honestly don't know how I even passed my psyche eval because I was a MESS! While I was going through that I read a lot. It DID help to take my mind off it a bit, even if it was still there lurking in the back of my head. I also watched quite a bit of anime to distract myself lol. I'm 33 and yes, I watch anime. It's an outlet and very easy for me to turn my brain off when reading doesn't work. Also like watching home renovation shows and anything that'll make me laugh and let me turn my brain off. I ended up getting a really bad rash due to the anti-depression and anxiety meds and had to get off them, but by that time my mind was in a much better place. I made the determination that the very SECOND I get the type 1 pains back I'm calling up my neurosurgeon and scheduling another surgery lol. I won't wait it out. I won't let it EVER get that bad again! And if for some reason he recommends me to do the Gamma Knife instead, I'll do that (my surgery was really difficult as I had a lot of tissue damage and my 3 hour surgery turned into a 6 hour surgery. I had a lot of brain swelling and there was talk of putting a stint in, but I didn't end up having to have one. I did end up with meningitus though... so I just have the feeling he'd probably want me to do Gamma Knife instead). I'm so incredibly sorry that you're going through chronic pain issues. I don't wish that kind of pain on ANYONE! It feels impossible and makes you feel so helpless. I felt so very, very, very alone. Like nobody understood it. Understood me or what I was going through... So that's the reason I told you about my own experience. I just want you to know that you are NOT alone in living with chronic pain. I really hope that the pain clinic gets back to you soon. My mom has fibromyalgia and they gave her Gabapentin for it (it also helps her neuropathy too and helps her sleep). I don't know what meds they'll start you off with, but I hope the first one they give you works for you!