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I don't have the problem, but- the bariatric vitamin I take has iron in it. It's called Bariatric Fusion. Chewable, tolerable taste pre-op. I like it because I am taking 1 pill 4 x per day. I used to take millions of vitamins.

I am so happy to see the regret is fading and your resolve is returning!!! You CAN do this. (Ok-I will be fair and say you have no choice to now. But that choice was yours and you made an informed decision.) I suggest looking online for recipes, or maybe a trip to your local bookstore or library. I have not had my surgery yet, but I am eating the "bariatric diet" of high protein, low carbs and calories. It has been rough at times because it does get boring when you don't know what to eat. But as I continue to look around I find more and more options, foods to incorporate into my life. Just remember the phrase "I want this so bad I can taste it"... That is your life. Your body. Want that future for yourself. It tastes so much better than anything you will ever put in your mouth!

Google "Bariatric surgeon, ( your zip code )". Hopefully u will get a few names.

Dear Community, This is a brief account of my surgery experience and first weeks after. I am 54, need to lose about 100 pounds, and researched this procedure thoroughly beforehand. My surgery date was 5/9. I just want to say that overall, it was (surprisingly!) much easier than I expected. I did NOT have a great deal of pain or discomfort, nor am I finding the post-sleeve eating and other routines to be that difficult. I'm so happy to have done this. As with most people, having bariatric surgery certainly WAS NOT my first choice! In fact, I was a bit shocked and insulted when my PCP suggested it to me 4 years ago. But since then (2009), having lost about 50 pounds and regained it TWICE -- and having developed some serious health issues -- I realized this had to happen. It did take a while to get my family on board. Since I've already told my "pre" story, I won't go in to all that -- you can read my earlier post. But suffice to say, I went in to this with "eyes wide open." I prepared an advance directive and a living will, too. It was difficult for me to know how to respond when the nurse, nutritionist, or someone else would say, "Are you excited about your surgery?" Well, no. I'm actually pretty scared. This is a desperation move, not something I'm doing for "fun." The pre-op "liver shrinking diet" was difficult for me, but I followed it pretty closely and worked at being in the best possible shape. My heaviest weight was about 255. I lost around 12 pounds in the 3 months it took to get prepared and "approved" for the procedure -- about 4 of that the last week. By the time May 9 rolled around, I was very happy the wait was over. Here are a few things I'd like to share about my experience: 1 - The doctor fixed a hiatal hernia I didn't know I had, which made the surgery a bit longer. That was something nobody had prepared me for ahead of time. Luckily for me, I didn't have much pain or trouble as a result of that secondary (necessary) procedure. A little chest ache was all. 2 - I was DYING of thirst every moment from the time I woke up until about 9 days after the surgery. Sipping ice Water was no problem for me, whatsoever. I asked for water in the recovery room -- they gave me ice chips. I had no problem swallowing water the night of the surgery, and icy cold water felt best. 3 - The only really "bad" moment was when I first woke up from surgery. I felt like I had been hit by a truck. Also, I was discombobulated -- the clock said 3:30! My surgery had been scheduled for 10 a.m. but started late. Still, it seemed really late when I woke up. 4 - I felt stupid having my own pajamas and all these toiletries in the hospital. I used NONE of it. I was in a gown, and they wouldn't let me change out of it. My bathrobe did come in handy though, for covering my hind quarters as I walked around the floor. They brought me to my room around 4:30 p.m. They got me up to walk at 3 a.m., and I was discharged at 3:30 p.m. the next day. I had an upper GI exam that morning and also needed to be able to urinate and drink before I could leave. No problem. Was VERY glad to get that JP drain pulled and IVs out. 5 - When I got home, I didn't know what to do with myself. I was pretty spaced out. I wandered around the house a bit. My stomach was very swollen. I looked like a pregnant woman who had been in a knife fight. Spent a lot of time the first couple days drinking water and taking short walks and napping. By the third day, I was able to take a 15-minute walk outside with my dog. 6 - Someone told me it's best not to weigh yourself for the first couple days. That's good advice. I couldn't resist and felt very glum when I noticed up was UP six pounds three days after the surgery. I said to my husband, "Do you think I'll really lose weight with this? Or will I just stay fat or even get fatter?" He said, "Well, if you get fatter, they'll be marketing you to third world countries, because that's just not logical." (I had taken in a total of about 500 calories in the first 3 days!) 7 - At my two-week checkup, I had lost 17 pounds. I think about 15 of it was post-surgical. I lost about a pound a day for the first 2 weeks. The third week (last week), I had lost another 4 pounds. My policy is, I weigh myself on Thursdays. 8 - I was incredibly happy to get off the "liquid diet" phase. Those Meal Replacement shakes were starting to make me ill. They get OLD. The best thing I had during the liquid phase was cream of chicken Soup jazzed with non-flavored Protein powder and mixed with some homemade chicken broth. I'm REALLY glad I made homemade chicken broth and froze it in 8-oz containers prior to the surgery. It came in really handy. 9 - My husband has been so supportive. He says I already look a lot better, and I think that's true, too. I'm even moving better (already!) -- more lively and energetic. I know I'm lucky to have time to adjust to this. I am a college teacher and don't teach during the summers. 10 - I didn't know I would have to inject myself with blood thinners for 14 days. That was unpleasant. I did get used to doing it, though. I found it easiest to do when I first woke up, and I would just lie on my bed and give myself the shot in my stomach. They also prescribed anti-nausea medicine and hydrocodone for pain. It was difficult to turn over or sleep on my side for the first 4 nights or so; but the pain wasn't bad. After about a week, I didn't feel like I needed any pain meds. (I stopped taking them during the day after about 3 days.) 11 - I bought a mortar and pestle yesterday to grind up the Calcium citrate tablets. It just seems ridiculous, to me, to spend up to 20 cents per pill for chewable calcium, when you have to take so much of it -- it was costing about $1.20 a day just for calcium chews. Now, I pulverize the hard tablets and put them in applesauce. 12 - I've eaten a couple things that made me instantly sick -- things with too much "texture." It's taught me that it's really best to follow the doctor's guidelines. Not fun throwing up. 13 - I drink about 6 oz. of coffee in the morning. My doctor's office says it's OK, and it makes my life happier! 14 - My next BIG GOAL is for the first digit of my weight to be a "1," which is something that happened briefly in 2008, during my "diet pill" attempt. I have about 20 pounds to go before that happens. 15 - This is weird and different for me. The thing I like best is not being very hungry, and also feeling full after eating about 3/4 cup of food. But it's a big adjustment, because prior to this, I was a bulk eater and a snacker. I know the new reality will have its challenges. 16 - My fear is that I'll eat small amounts too often and stretch my stomach or just take in too many calories. I have to be very vigilant in avoiding Snacks. Since this surgery cost me a LOT of money, I'm just going to think of that bill every time I'm tempted to snack. 18 - I am finding it difficult to get 60 grams of protein a day in and for now am simply doing the best I can. (40-50) I know I could add a Protein shake at around 4 p.m., but quite honestly, I'm so turned off now by the thought of those shakes (after almost 4 weeks of drinking Boost, Glucerna, and Ensure!) that it makes me nauseous even thinking about it. I do have unjury powder when I need it -- chocolate and unflavored. 19 - I've been going to bed kind of early and also napping/reading some in the afternoons. Maybe I'm lazy, but I feel like I need time to heal, and I tire a bit more easily than before. 20 - Overall, I'm THRILLED with the progress so far. It's hard to be patient sometimes -- you want everything to happen at once! But I had a lot of fears of the unknown, and my experience was really not bad at all. Most of my recovery and first weeks have been smooth sailing. Thanks for listening. I just wanted to share that it's been really good so far for me.

415 to under 235 I had to do this twice so Never again and Never forget! About 8 years ago i found myself over 400 lbs. I wont put blame but I do have to say I was in an abusive relationship with a women that drank.. So I ate and ate and ate some more. I Decided one January morning that everything was going to change. I advised her unless she stopped drinking it was over. SImple as that and i walked out the door of my home in NH and started walking.. Every day i walked and walked a little longer every week i would increase my walking . Well come May I had done away with her and it was all about me at that point. I ended up getting to about 250 lbs on my own. No surgery this time.. I was happy but had a ton of excess skin. I did my legwork and found a plastic surgeon who did 2 seperate surgeries. My Upper body and my lower body. I will say the upper body surgery was not to bad to remove the "man boobs". The Lower Body the Pandectomy procedure was something I would never do again and glad I dont have to.. Very painful procedure and a scar all the way around my body. Im glad I had it done and im glad the second time around my tummy went back to being flat as a board. So back to my story.. I had both surgeries feeling good no issues and then one day out of the blue, and ill never forget it was a couple of days before Thanksgiving I stopped going to the gym.. Dont ask me why I have no clue why i did this. I was invisible. I was working out 6-7 days per week and felt good and i just stopped! The weight started going back on. You all know the struggles of a YOYO person. Up and down and up and down. Well soon after that my father passed away. Very very mixed emotions and a heavy heart. I balooned back up to 415lbs + or -.. I stayed that way for the last couple of years.. At almost 45 years old I didnt know what to do. I knew I needed help. I didnt think i could do it on my own again. I found Dr Jiser the chief bariatric surgeon at Lowell general Hospital in Ma. He advised me I was a great candidate for the "Sleeve". he said i would see amazing results and the sleeve was slowly catching up to the bypass as far as results go, So I went for it. I started in April at 415lbs. I got down to 372 on Surgery date June 24th 2013. I kissed my wife and my mom and said lets do this. i was dedicated. I worked out and walked and walked and walked and then started lifting weights again. Well here we are Jan 11th 2014 9 months after taking the initial step in April.. I weighed in just the other day at 232lbs. Thats -183lbs in 9 months. Amazing. Even Dr Jiser said i was so far ahead of schedule. i went from a 52inch waist to a 34. I went from a 4x shirt to a large. I am off all medications!!! I will never ever go back. I am happy. all the frightening stupid things that "NORMAL" people can do I can now do. We all know how frightful it was to get on an airplane or go to a show. Nothing worse then needing an extended seat belt or wondering if you would fit in the movie theater seat. Well No More. never ever again will i be worried about having to get an aisle seat so i wouldnt bother the person next to me. i recently went back to Aruba. We go everyyear and the reactions were funny and amazing. Hardly anyone knew who I was. It was funny but it showed me i was such a different person. The weight loss has also opened my eyes to the discrimination we all face or faced. We all know that people looked at us "heavy" people differently.. I have noticed so many people have a different attitude towards me. It is for the better now but it also shows me how my weight before made people discriminate against me. Well here I am about 20lbs from my high school weight. I want so badly to be able to take this and help others. Id love to start a support group.. Id love to be a counselor at say a weight watchers but amazingly enough to do that I would have to weigh about 180lbs. Yes that is not happening. I have never been that low and will never get that low. I would look unhealthy. Im trying to break through and figure out ways to reach out to people in similiar situations and help. This weight loss has changed my whole life. I will never look back but I will never forget!! Christian Zaccone Zacconechris@yahoo.com

I HIGHLY recommend Bariatric Pal MX and Dr. Illan. Had a mini bypass with them two months ago. Awesome facilities, medical care, and customer service! A++ from this teacher from Utah!!

I don't if you have heard , there's a few support groups on Facebook. You should be able to get some help with your diet and sergon in Mexico. I myself thinking about paying for my VGS.. I want a sergon here in US. Dr Umbach in Las Vegas charges $10,400 Dr Pleatmen in Michigan charges 11,400 Facebook WLS page Bariatric Eating support Bariatric Weight Warriors Bariatric sleeve rebels Best of luck finding someone. Take care Sent from my SM-J700T using the BariatricPal App

Call your bariatric team and ask -- each has their own rules. I wasn't allowed raw veggies for six months.

There is a 42g Protein at Bariatric Eating too, cheaper from the looks of it. http://store.bariatriceating.com/conewwhlipr.html

Yay on your date! I'm April 17th as well! I'd definitely check with the dr about the bruising. The bariatric nurse that gave the seminar I attended said that beside a leak they were equally concerned about blood clots. Good luck

It is $8,750 total. My quote from the local bariatric center here was $17,500 and that didn't include the $1,000 initial consultation. Even with the $1,000 for flights for my husband and I, it's still almost half the price of having it done locally How much was yours down in Gulf Port??

So i called for my psyc evaluation appointment today here in Florida and was told next available appointment is at the end of March... 3 dang months. No way to skip it. I tried going with a online psyc bariatrics evaluation doctor and my hospital rejected it and said no because they dont do it their way. I didnt think i would have to do this since i am paying cash and not using insurance. Endo Hospital in Mexico doesnt require a Psyc Evalucation.

your doc should have given you a list. I mine was a shake for Breakfast and lunch then a Protein and vegge for dinner. Vegge for snack. I don't know how strict your pre-op diet is.. I see somet that is liquid only, somethat are more atkins style, some don't have them at all.. So, it's pretty all over the place.. I've said it before and I will keep saying it.. The medical association or whoever puts out bariatrics guidelines should have a standardized diet for all doc (or at least the ones in the US) use to make things easier on us in this internet age.

I was thankful to hear that my bariatric office keeps hydration on hand. If its during the week we can go there and they will hydrate us and send us on our way.

@@jayhawkgirl You have been through so much. It's times like these that you find out what you are made of. You are one tough cookie. I'm glad to see you are reconnecting with the bariatric community. 14 pound gain and you are two years out. Just a bump in the road. Like you said " you can do anything"

I usually stick to the healthier snacks, but I have had some "no-nos". Today I had a jellly donut and I beat myself up about for the most part of the day. Last week I had a scoop of ice cream. I'm just trying not get back into the habit of eating these things when I know how slippery that slope is. One problem that I have is lack of time to plan. (something I'm working on). I do believe that is a great tool to avoid choosing not so healthy options. Ive actually made tons of bariatric friendly recipes. Including cauliflower pizza. I even made it for my family and they loved it also!

Hello my name is D and I have been wanting to get bariatric surgery for over 10 years. I did not get GB because I desperately wanted children and when lap-band became an accepted technique I never had the insurance that would cover it. For the last 2 years I have been doing what I can to save up to be self pay and on Memorial Day my parents agreed to go ahead and fund me because the timing seems to be perfect for where I am in my life. So I have chosen the surgery center and as of this moment I am open to whichever doctor is available to do it the earliest. The reason I am so flexible is that 2 people I trust have told me that they would trust any of the 4 to do their surgery if they had to chose all over again. I have my first appointment with dietician and preliminary labs tomorrow at 11:15 so I am really excited!!! My goal is to have the surgery as close to the 4th of July as possible because that will have a lot of meaning for me...independance day, 2 years since my husband and I split and being able to finally get what I have wanted since my mid 20's. Will keep you up to date with progress reports and such!

Well spoke with one bariatric center regarding lap band in the atlanta area...my BMI is border line, have a few medical problems with the extra weight but not enough to get me into a meeting. Unalbe to get BCBS of GA to insure the surgery and I do not have 17, 000.00 laying around to pay for this procedure myself. So with that being said, thank you for the support you have showed me, and I wish you all the best of luck.

Do what is right for you. I just found that half of my co-workers have had some sort of bariatric procedure done. The one closest to me told me that I should go ahead and get a RNY becuase everyone else tried the VSG and Lap-Band and ended up having to get a revision. That is probably why his wife got one right off the bat (although I think she would have done just fine with a VSG because her BMI was a couple of points higher than mine). I just don't want any of the issues that come with RNY such as the very rapid weight loss and nutritional deficiencies. I see VSG as more of a tool and not a cure-all. My main problem is not being satsified when I have a meal; after researching which surgery was right for me, I decided that VSG, as opposed to Lap-Band was the way to go. I'm pretty sure that I could have gotten a Lap-Band, but I don't like having any kind of devices in my body.

@@noorjenna Here is my two cents for what ever it's worth. People won't always be there, people will disappoint you at some point or the other, no matter how much love you share with them, it's just human nature... so it is TOTALLY up to you to dig deep into your heart and figure out what makes you happy, figure out your own "joy button" He has put the ball in you're court. The decision is ultimately up to you. It would be Ideal to have his support. Wish he could put you're happiness in front of his own. Supportive people can be from areas in life other than a spouse. Friends, family, co workers, local bariatric support groups , your surgical staff and bariatricpal. "You better be prepared to go through the consequences on you're own" The consequences are Freaking Amazing! He is going to miss out on positive life changing events. Can you do this? Hell yeah! Follow you're dream. Believe you can have it. Believe you deserve it. Believe it's possible for you.

After feeling tired and crummy for a couple of weeks now I'm looking for some new Vitamins to try. I was using Vitafusion gummies but if you read the label they really aren't all that great nutritionally speaking. I bought some One A Day Women's vitamins and they are great but a little hard to swallow. I'm looking for something chewable instead. I know there are several brands. So far I've looked at Bariatric fusion and Bariatric Advantage. Do any of you recommend one brand over another? If so why? Are these really chalky tasting like the kids chewable vitamins?

Bariatric Eating has an unflavored Protein (it's called PURE) that is outstanding. Add it to broth---but stick to liquids if that is what you were told to do. My doctor has his patients start on pureed protein on Day Three--but there's no way of knowing if my doctor's surgical technique differs from yours. Your surgeon gave you instructions based on what he did to your body--and you need to follow them. Find a way to stick to it. (The bullets are made of protein that is not as bioavailable--readily used by the body---as whey protein isolate. It's better to find a low-volume whey protein option; bariatriceating.com's Inspire and PURE lines require just 4 oz. of liquid--and are very good. I happen to like them with more liquid--but that's just me. I drink the Dutch chocolate protein warmed and it's something I look forward to rather than dread--and I never wanted to see a protein shake again, either. These changed my mind.)

Great video on your progress! I love seeing real people post real life videos after bariatric surgery. I moved it into it's own topic since it didn't really belong in the thread it was posted in. PS: Stay away from the Doritos!!

Shianne Burns Gastric Bypass @ Boston Medical Center Referral date: 12/06/17 Bariatric program start date: 1/22/18 Program finish date: 5/30/18 Approval date: 6/12/18 Surgery date: 8/8/18

He's speaking of the hiatal hernia. It's a condition in which part of the stomach pushes up through the diaphragm muscle. I've watched a ton of the actual surgeries on YouTube and the fix usually consists of a couple stitches. I think all bariatric surgeons are taught to look for this as part of the bariatric surgical procedure.