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Oh my gosh. So many things that all those appointments before surgery never touched on!!! I had surgery on Monday (Nov 24th) came home Tuesday. I am a pretty tough cookie but I haven't had any real pain?? Is that normal??? Smells are overwhelming and make me a little nauseous, doing dishes isn't physically demanding but the smells are hard ??? I love to sleep, sleeping was my favorite hobby now I am like a bunny on crack!! I lay in bed at night at have tried the sound machines, dark room, a little sleepy tea but if I sleep 5 hours a night its a lot???? Its just my husband and I (and the dog) at home and I we farm, I have all winter off and planned on recovery being a bugger and now I am thinking I must be in a honeymoon stage or something, is this going to crash and I'm going to be miserable??? I am not taking any pain medication, just my cocktail of bariatric vitamins, protonics and zofran if needed. Any advice would be awesome.

I don't eat a lot of meat or necessarily veggies. But stick to. Low carb way of eating and have for years but for some reason it stopped working and I turned to the tool of gastric bypass surgery to help me. Metabolic disorders and inability to exercise due to lifelong chronic illness and disability doesn't help. But I'm here a year and a half later after surgery. it helps to calculate your baseline protein using the ratio of 0.36 grams of protein per 1 lb body weight. I have a morning protein bar with tea it's my routine. Lunch is my main meal. I might for example have a skillet meal of veggie burger, egg and maybe a little avocado or even a baby banana cooked in. Dinner is routinely Greek yogurt usually oikos triple zero mixed with protein powder usually PEScience (but I tdon't tidy VEga sport and it's good too) some golden flax, a little peanut butter powder sprinkled on top, freeze a bit, top with sola low carb granola only 15 grams I measure everything. Sometimes a sprinkle of pepitas. I like a combination of flavor and texture. But I usually end up getting more protein than I require ... while being low carb . And minimal sugar. edit: you don't need carbs to feel satisfied and can get similar taste and texture profiles from low carb meals. I had to deal with sugar addiction long before I even thought bariatric surgery was ever an option.

Oh yeah, I absolutely am losing slower as a result of previous weight loss. I’m at 16 days post op and I’m down 11.8 lbs from surgery, most of which was lost in the first week or so. I am fine with it, because overall I’m down 70 lbs. I just hit 38 BMI, from a high of 45 or so. This isn’t a race, it’s a marathon. It took me so long because I started the process, couldn’t afford out of pocket, waited to get my husband a job with bariatric coverage, got through the insurance waiting period, then the 6 month diet, then finally surgery!

Black vomit or stool is listed in my bariatric materials as a sign of a severe problem and to go to the ER right away! Please take her to a different hospital if you can.

The short answer is yes - by and large, the bariatric recommendations largely reflect our normal maintenance needs for protein. Now, that amount varies from person to person, primarily based upon their lean body mass (muscles, organs, skin, etc.) A short woman of normalish weight, say 5' 0" and 100-110lb, would need around 50g of protein to maintain her 75lb or so of lean body mass, while a 6'0" 180lb man with around 150 lb of lean body mass will need twice that, around 100g. If one is actively trying to build additional muscle mass (and doing the work to do so,) then they will need additional protein, maybe up to around another 40g or so depending upon what they are trying to do. But as an average, what the bariatric programs usually recommend is in line with the normal recommendations for normal people, though maybe a bit simplified, and sometimes with a bit of overkill added in (a bit too much is better than not enough.)

I saw the dietitian at my 1-week and 6-week follow-ups. Did not see her at my 3-month (only the surgeon). My next appointment is at 6 months, which is when I get my bloodwork. I'm not sure if I'll see the dietitian at that one. Does your program have a patient manual that discusses post-op diet? Most of what the dietitian told me is already in my patient manual. It sucks that your program has been without a dietitian for so long. Maybe you could find one on your own, but I would make sure it's someone who has experience with bariatric patients because our needs are different from most people's.

Just curious about something....the bariatric doctors and nutritionists keep saying 70 to 90 grams of protein a day to keep your organs functioning and muscles from depleting etc etc. but did we all ever really get this BEFORE in our lives? I mean I know my overweight butt only ever has gotten a fraction of that. Just curious as to why the difference in requirement or was this supposed to be the requirement for our bodies all along? Thank you!!!

I actually have stayed on the wagon, for the most part. I have found decent substitutes for most of my weakness foods. Will occasionally have sugar free jelly bellies to take care of my candy fix (I also use bariatric advantage multi chews for my vitamins and calcium). I make cakes out of almond flour and splenda/stevia for occasional snacks. Get my potato chip fixe from quest protein chips, and my candy bar/cookie fix from protein bars (mostly quest, but some kirkland as well). There are some things I don't think I'll ever be able to substitute, such as pizza. I've tried making an almond flour crust and cauliflower crust, and they're just not the same. Maybe after a year or 2 I'll be willing to have half a slice, I'm just scared of having anything that may end up being a slider food for me. I sometimes get into food doldrums, but they're manageable so far. We'll have to see how it works for the long term, but I am committed to making this stick. Sent from my SM-G986U using BariatricPal mobile app

Google "medicare requirements for bariatric surgery" you can find lots of info. It paid for mine, and it was a revision from a lap band to RNY. The first office I visited told me incorrectly that Medicare WOULDN'T pay for a revision, so I actually dropped my plan to do it until the lap band slipped and had to come out anyway. I went to a different surgeon whose office said they WOULD pay for it, and long as I met the criteria, and between the Medicare and my supplemental insurance, all I had to pay for was the psych consult and the dietician! I was sweating bullets until all the bills came that I would be stuck since Medicare doesn't do preapprovals-they either pay it or they don't...but they came through.

Good Morning and welcome to the forums. They were a Godsend to me before I had my surgery because they answered so many of my questions. I hope we'll be helpful to you as you go through your Weight Loss Journey. Which surgery? Okay, I thought I wanted the big one, the bypass, thinking I'd lose more weight and it'd be less "permanent" than cutting off part of my stomach for the sleeve. But my primary care doctor and my psychiatrist advised me that they opinion was that the bypass was "too radical" for my size (260 lbs) and so I opted for the sleeve. I'm very happy with the sleeve. It restricts my ability to overeat. That being said, it's a personal decision and you'll have to research all your options to find the one that you're the most comfortable with. In terms of losing 15 lbs, your bariatric office will assign you a nutritionist and he/she will give you guidelines but they are basically < 1500 calories/day, 60 g protein/day, 64 oz water/day, limit carbs and sugars and salts.

I was a large advocate of yoga pants and t-shirts. Goodwill is difficult around here right now and I hit walmart in the very early mornings. My sizes have gone down fast since my Sept 1 surgery. I had my old clothes from some years ago but even those are baggy now too. I literally live now in the same pair of pj pants I bought in 3 sizes from walmart when on clearance. Hubby and I have lot of matching t-shirts costing like $5, so I just bought lower sizes. Some things are stretchy. I have gone down since the surgery from a size 24 to an 18 and large in womens tees or a medium in men's tees. The goodwill now gets literal truck loads of bags from me-some clothes I sadly pack away (not many though). I did have a special Ren outfit made for my husband and I with our tenth anniversary vow renewal and anticipated being smaller sizes. However, we had to cancel for covid and I lost faster then I projected. My dress was specially made in replica style to match hubby's outfit. I wore it to try on last month and it was already too big. There are laces in the back but my already tiny boobs are literally non-existent and adjustments are needed even with the tightest setting. I've gotten hold of a good friend and seamstress I know from the faires and offered to pay whatever is needed to redo it for my final size. She thought it can be some work but it's worth it to me. I can't try it on now or get it down-sized until i get close to goal though and I was really excited to get that beautiful baby on! :-). A winter coat was probably top priority. I start a new job just after Thanksgiving but we're getting pretty tight. My husband already works in the factory I'll be starting in and my son is a security guard. I didn't want to really spend on needless things for this weight loss with the holidays and my daughter now just having a baby- we sent quite a bit to her and her husband to help them out as she works in a restaurant but was laid off and her husband had hours cut. My husband opened a credit card at a local women's clothing store for me; insisting I need new clothes and a really good winter coat so we went together and I got that with one new pair of jeans and shirt. I was excited to see the size 18 in jeans-never thought I would see that so soon [or again] and I did get some underwear, a new bra (b now bummer) with one corset style help for the sagging skin (not so bad-some is my age and some the rapid weight loss but I expected worse). Enjoy the sizes going down! I feel like a new person that still is strange to me and I now love wearing my clothes. Don't get too many at once for each size-I live in a winter area where we practically live in our pjs and sweats year round; that totally helps. If you can get away with it or whatever you can-do it! Then maybe get a special outfit for inspiration or reward on a milestone.

Hi, I'm new to this. Today I just got the call that I've been accepted into molina's bariatric program. Lots to do within the 6 month period! I'm trying to decide which surgery would be the safest way to go and less invasive gastric sleeve or gastric bypass?? Also does anyone have any tips on losing the 15 lbs required for the surgery? Sent from my G60 using BariatricPal mobile app

Sorry to hear you're having such a rough time right now. A few things come to mind: 1) You've already done, really really well. If my arithmetic is right, you've lost 105 pounds, right? That's amazing and cause for celebration (even though I know you're not where you want to be yet). 2) The average expected weight loss with the sleeve is for patients to lose 50-70% of their excess weight. I'm 5'1" also, and a weight of 132 will give us a normal BMI of just under 25 so based on the numbers you've given us, you've lost about 78% of your excess weight (if my math is right, lol). So you haven't failed, the sleeve did exactly what it was projected to do, and a bit more! Your outcome is actually above average. 3) I know you're disappointed about not losing more, but even with what you've lost - don't you feel much better now than you did at 18+ stone? Wouldn't it be awesome to maintain that loss and continue to enjoy the benefits of being slimmer and healthier? You can do that, but if you continue of the path of eating a lot of sweets and junk food, you'll end up right back where you were before surgery. You've come too far and accomplished too much for that. 4) Did your bariatric team connect you to a support group? I know my group is not meeting right now due to the pandemic, but they do get together via zoom, skype, etc. It can be really helpful to stay connected to people who know what you are going through and the challenges that come up along the way. 5) Because of your enforced low activity level, your basal metabolism rate (the minimum number of calories required for your body to function and sustain itself) is probably lower than average. It sucks, but that could mean that you have to cut calories more than other people, in order to keep losing. Our BMR comes down anyway as we lose weight, and most of us have to add exercise to keep the loss going. Because you're not able to do that, it might come down to cutting calories a little more. Which sucks, I know and isn't easy to do. But again, even if you've stabilized at a slightly higher weight than you wanted, isn't it worthwhile to maintain that, rather than throwing all your effort away and undoing everything the surgery did for you? You went through a lot to lose that 7 stone 7lbs. 6) Is there any kind of adapted exercise that you can do, given your physical condition? It actually doesn't take a lot to raise your BMR, which can help you to start losing again. I'm not knowledgeable in that area, but there may be modified exercises that you actually can do. 7) What kind of plan were you following when you were losing weight? If you were watching calories but not carbs, it might help to try keeping your carbs low as well (I have to do that). Or some people lose better watching the amount of fat they eat (doesn't work for me, but people report that it works for them). Can you go back to your bariatric team and ask them for advice? A nutritionist might be able to help you figure this out. I know what it's like to feel hopeless and defeated. And that feeling is only compounded when you start to pile on weight. Given the way you are feeling, I think maintaining would be a victory right now. So maybe set aside your desire to lose for now and focus on getting back to healthy eating habits and maintaining your weight. When you feel better and more in control, then you can try to get the weight loss going again. But if your body decides "That's it, I'm not losing another pound!", you've done really well and isn't that worth hanging on to? Sending you blessings. I really hope you find your way to a better place. 🤗

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