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Baritastic. Food, water, weight, tracks everything you need and is designed for bariatric patients. I know it doesn't connect with your doc but I'd tell them too bad and that you can show them when you have appointments. Baritastic is that good.

It has been one of those days to say the least. I called my insurance to check the status of my recently submitted papers for approval for bariatric surgery. To my dismay I was told I was denied because it wasn't medically neccessary. How can that be? My BMI is currently 66 and my weight is 422. I have sleep apnea and yes I sleep with a machine. I am borderline diabetic. I have high blood pressure. I have high cholesterol. I've got arthritis in my lower back, right hip, and my pelvis, making it very painful to do anything. I have Sciatic Nerve damage. I have Carpel Tunnel in both arms, and hands. I am ALWAYS out of breath. EVERYDAY I live in misery from the pain, and yet they say its not "Medically Neccessary". Are you kidding me? So now they are requesting a Peer to Peer with my bariatric surgeon, and yet the lady that handles the insurance stuff at the doctors office says she hasn't gotten a request. When they told me they sent one over, and their waiting on a response by tomorrow or else that's their final decision. I don't know what to do. I have come to far to give up now. I made sure I got clearance from my PCP, the Pulomonary Doctor, the Cardiologist, and the Gastroenterologist, and they ALL said it was "Medically Neccessary" for me to have the surgery. I also sent the last 10 years of medical papers showing that I have been battling with my weight forever. So now what? Does anyone know about Peer to Peer meetings and what are the chances of approval after having one?

Hi, I'm Kim Gainey and I would love to start a Bariatric Pal support group for Anson and surrounding counties. I would like to share your weight loss adventure with you!

Then call to make the appt and tell them you're seeking a referral for bariatric surgery.

the bariatric chewable vitamins are kind of gross tasting, right? I had such fond memories of flintstones vitamins and thought they would taste like that, but alas, no. I was approved for a regular vitamin at about 3 months. I use garden of life. for a few months, I broke the pill in half, but now swallow it whole.

My pre-op diet allowed 4 Bariatric Advantage protein shakes per day, plus any low calorie liquids, jello, popsicles, etc. The best things I stocked up on were different flavors of "soup starters"...pho broth, tortilla soup broth (Swanson), Chinese hot and sour broth (also Swanson). These were great because most of the allowed foods are sweet...artificially sweetened, even worse. The only problem is they are high in sodium, so you can't go too crazy with them. I also really craved chewing, so I did allow myself an occasional dill pickle or some celery. Personally, I would advocate this pre-op diet. It is fool proof, you don't need to count any calories, and convenient. It sounds pretty dismal, but it really isn't bad after day 3 or 4. I think it is also a good way to start to rewire your relationship with food. You definitely are forced to find other things to think about other than food!

Hi all! I'm not a big fan of any of the Bariatric shakes at all. I've come across a brand called Vega that's vegan and is the most tasty to me. I add in collagen bone broth Protein by Dr Axe and it's simply delicious, fat and sugar free and is one the only brands that does not use soy or whey as their source of protein. The added collagen helps with skin and hair issues as well as lubricates the joints for so many extra benefits. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

supplements can be expensive, so I highly recommend you try samples and single serve packets until you find what you like, then be sure and look for sales. Also, keep in mind your tastes may change after surgery. You can order sample packs of protein supplements directly from the manufacturer (Syntrax nectar, unjury, Quest, etc.) and some stores (GNC, Vitamin Shoppe), and even online stores like Bariatric Choice and BariatricPal. My surgeon's office also had some products (like ProtiDiet). Since it was hard for me to get out and shop pre-op, I liked drugstore.com for vitamins and supplements, too. I buy quest bars by the box from them now. Drugstore.com also carries GNC products. Some of the manufacturers will also send you coupons.

IN cases or research for all bariatric supplies Google has definitely been my friend. Vitamins, protein drinks, answers to questions and yuppers...found this site that way

Thanks for your response. This will be my 4th abdominal surgery and second bariatric procedure. I think it is safe to say that there is some period of recovery no?

Hi I know this is going to be a crazy question but I need to know which surgery I had. I had my surgery in 1979 when I was 18 years old. It was done in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at Mount Sinai Hospital. I am now in my late 50s and my health is failing. I guess the reason I never knew which surgery I had was because I never had great medical care beyond the day I walked out of the surgeon's office. I spent years of throwing up my food and not losing much weight. When I asked other doctors about malnutrition they just laughed at me and asked if I had rickets. They made me feel stupid so I never pursued it further. I didn't have great medical care beyond that. I never had the energy or stamina that other people had, I just thought I was lazy and I pushed myself harder. Other people thought I was lazy too, and they never understood my eating issues. My teeth started breaking off and became painful in the back from all of the throwing up I was doing, which impeded my eating habits even more. I got pregnant several times and became very ill and I was not offered any medical help to get through the pregnancies. My husband was very upset about how sick I was he did not want lose me to not getting any help and did not want me to go through with them. My final pregnancy I spent 7 months hospitalized and tube fed because of malnutrition. That was 25 years ago and after I had my daughter again no doctor would presued the malnutrition issue they just told me that pregnant women had worse issues in third world countries. I went on from there to live my life until the last 4 years when I started getting too sick to even go to work. Finally I got social security disability but because you don't get actual medical insurance for two years after you start disability I did not get medical attention again. I am told by other people that the malnutrition issue is well-known however it seems to be unknownby any doctors I am seeing. So anyhow back to the original question all I know about the surgery is I have a large scare from the top of my abdomin to my belly button, I was told they had to take my stomach out to work on it, the staples show up on x-rays or scans and something was done with the opening to the intestine, I think it was moved to form scar tissue to slow down the emptying of my stomach. I have attended seminars given by bariatric doctors and when I pose the question to them about which surgery I might have had they tell me they can't help me. So what was the name of my surgery and what was done to me? I hope someone can give me some help here.

I did have my surgery on 10-14-08 and have lost 52 pounds! I now have a problem with horrible gas and constipation. My surgeon told me to take a laxative to start off with and then take a daily stool softener. The problem with that is I can no longer swallow pills and have to grind up my BP meds and have gotten most of my vitamins in either liquid or chewable. There are no chewable stool softeners that I can find. I tried Pedialax stool softener that is supposed to be fruit punch flavored. You mix it with juice so I tried mixing 8 oz of diet V8 splash and that did not help the taste nor did adding 8 more oz of splash. I took 3 sips and was on the verge of throwing up and poured the rest of the bottle as well as the juice mixture down the drain. Now I have so much gas and don't go to the BR unless I chew up some ex-lax. I am seeing the bariatric md where I live at Tuesday and am going to see what he says. Is anyone out there having these types of problems? What if anything can you recommend that will help? I am desperate as I fear that strainining will lead to a surgery of a different kind.

Hello all, My name is Mark and I am new to not only these boards but to the bariatric surgical world. I have not yet had any procedure done yet, nor have I met with the surgeon; however I am convinced this is what I want for myself. My PCP recommended lap-band as she figured my insurance would cover the procedure. I am 36 and was diagnosed as a type-2 diabetic about 10 years ago. I have never really taken my disease seriously, and it is starting to catch up to me. I have 3 small children and can't bear the thought of them growing up without me. I discovered that my insurance requires the 6 months of supervised diet, and I meet with the surgeon's dietician this Monday, 6/14. I know the wait will be long, but I know in the end it will be worth it. I have been reading some threads and such, and honestly, I am a little nervous. I read about the PB/food getting stuck, which scares me the most. I would like to know if this common or just happens on rare occaisions. Also, the surgeon mentioned 2 types of bands now, Lap-Band and Realize... do people on this board only have lap-band or is there a mix of both? Looking forward to becoming a healthier, happy me on Monday. Thanks for your ears and your patience. Mark

I had the BEST experience with a fill by the doctor in Salt Lake - I think his name was Dr. Muse. He is a bariatric doctor - he did a great fill - one stick - really understands obesity and issues surrounding it. Wish dearly I was still there as he was very very good - definitely call and get him. I've since moved to the east coast and it is impossible to get in anywhere nearer than new jersey and impossible to get in with a flouro - i am going back to San diego and Tijuana because it is so difficult. good luck

This is my first entry here on BariatricPal, and I want to begin with the "personal statement" I wrote as part of the surgeon's program requirements. August 4, 2016 I remember those extra 15 pounds that lingered after the birth of my first child in 1988. At the time, weighing a whooping 135 pounds, I felt like a whale. Oh what I would give to be that whale-size again! My struggle with weigh has been gradual over the decades. Pregnancy and working the night shift (leading to poor sleep and limited time to exercise) were contributing influences in my younger years. However, in later years the instances where my weigh gain increased dramatically, emotions and personal trauma were the precipitating factors. Until around 2005 I was able to keep the gain under control and lose weight effectively when I put my mind to it. After my Hashimoto’s Hypothyroidism diagnosis in 2008, losing weight even with the best diet strategies became nearly impossible. I confess that my last, serious effort to lose weight was in 2012 with Jenny Craig and Xingular. After 7 months and a huge financial burden, the approximately 35 pounds I lost (205 down to 170) in the first 5 months of the program seemed to be the best I could manage. I was able to keep the weight off for close to a year, but the stress of moving from CA to KY, physical therapy for severe “frozen shoulder” and bursitis, a severe personal and emotional trauma, and then the plunge into menopause sent me over the edge. For a long while I simply did not care about my weight, or much of anything else. With the latter problem under control — praises to the maker of hormone replacement therapy — I find myself hovering at 250 pounds, a diabetic with sleep apnea, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure, and utterly miserable. I’m only 53 years old, want to enjoy our retired life in Kentucky, and be able to play with the grandchildren who will be coming along in the next couple of years. I will not be able to do any of this when I can barely walk up the stairs without gasping for air. As I told my personal physician, it may sound dramatic but I sincerely do believe that if I don’t do something drastic, and do it quick, I won’t be alive in five years. I know many friends who have had successful bariatric surgeries. All of them have improved their lives dramatically, and those I have contacted have universally said to DO IT! My reasons for requesting bariatric surgery: I do not look at the surgery as a “cure all” but rather consider it a “jump start” to get the weight loss going in a significant way. Instead of struggling for months or a year to barely lose enough weight to begin to feel better physically, I will accomplish the preliminary goal sooner. This will be a HUGE encouragement and incentive to work harder and lose the rest…. and to keep it off forever. I need to be forced to change how I eat. Between hunger, habits ingrained by a lifetime, and admittedly poor self-control, consistent and long term alterations are impossible. Or at least that is how I see it. The surgery will give me no choice but to eat far less, and the radical nature of the surgery will be a turning point in my life. I am already thinking of it as a dating method: BBS (Before Bariatric Surgery) and ABS (After Bariatric Surgery). I truly do want to start exercising again. I’ve never been super athletic, but I did once enjoy aerobics and weight lifting. Beyond an actual disciplined routine of exercise, I want to go fishing on our boat and walking through the neighborhood and riding the bikes we intend to buy without being winded and exhausted. I DO NOT want to go the rest of my life with diabetes and sleep apnea! I hope to eliminate both problems, decrease the number of medications I take on a daily basis, and prevent further physical medical issues before they get started. I may not completely attain this goal, but will certainly improve my overall health, probably in more ways than I imagine. I am very thankful to have a husband and daughter who are wholly supportive of my decision for bariatric surgery. I am fortunate that my general practitioner is in agreement of this course as the best option for me. And I am VERY happy to discover an excellent Weight Loss Center right here in Bardstown!

Hey SJ - I was banded at U of Penn in Philly on 3/10/08. I don't know if my office will do fills if they didn't do the surgery, but you can check. Also, go to the websites of your local hospitals. If they have a bariatric department that would be your best bet. Even though you live hear, ask the question as if you just moved here. They will be less likely to question why you left the country to get the surgery. Plus, you are paying for your own fills so there shouldn't be any conflicts. It's worth a try. I know that in Philadelphia, only HUP and Temple Hospital have Bariatric Departments. Jefferson hosp does too, but they don't do Lap-Band - only the bypass. I checked them all out when I was deciding. Since I live in the city it was easy for me to pick Penn. Good Luck. Anne

If I am reading the original post correctly....the OP is looking for "medical clearance" not a referral. Totally different. Medical clearance is your primary physician telling your bariatric surgeon that surgery will be safe. I had to have blood work, chest x-ray and EKG. Has nothing to do with a letter recommending WLS. OP.....do you see any other doctor that can order these tests? Gyno? Endocrinologist? Maybe your bariatric surgeon can recommend a doctor who can help you. Your primary doesnt have to agree with your decision to have surgery, he/she just has to agree that your are health/stable enough to undergo the procedure. Hope this helps!

Hey guys, just a little something to keep you encouraged. For me, the pre-op phase was the hardest part of my journey. I am currently 9 mos. P.o. from gastric bypass. I love my tool and wish I had went forward 3 years Ago when I first started this journey. I had lots of questions, but I wanted to know what life was like after the procedure. I wanted to hear from people who were experiencing it. So, this is my info..sw 264 lbs. , cw 186 lbs. Medical issues before surgery...hypertension, diabetes, pcos, infertility, lupus, heart murmur. I currently only take a low dose hypertension pill ,but they will evaluate that at my next post-op appointment. Life is good and I have had zero complications, zero visits to the hospital after surgery. Im grateful for that! I started a YT channel ( under my name Bariatric Blondeshell) that addresses the pre op phase and what life is like for us after surgery. I hope if you check it out you will be encouraged afterwards! Keep pressing on everyone, you deserve this!

Daniella, I do not appreciate your SPAM in my inbox. I have reported you to Bariatric Pal with your initial post as it appeared in my email. If we hadn't tried alternatives before surgery, we wouldn't be here. Your input is NOT appreciated.

Some of these responses claiming slow weight loss are nowhere near slow weight loss. My surgeon said more than 10pds a month loss is excellent for the surgery, considering 10 PDS a month is average. I am 10 months out and about 54 pounds down... Now that is slow! Benefits of a slower weight loss is... I'm not shocking my body... The loss is more gradual and thus looks very good on me. Plus no one knows I had surgery unless I tell them. I don't have what I call "Bariatric face". ????

You would be amazed at how many surgeons are doing bariatric surgery but aren't certified in it........

I am going nuts waiting to hear back from Tricare and of course I have to wait til Tuesday. His office girl told me that even though he is a network provider (general Surgery), he is not contracted for Bariatric surgery and therefore they can charge. If that was the case then why did he accept my insurance for the Bariatric evalution? Kinda contradicting if you ask me.

Hi there, are you taking your vitamins? Reason that I asked is you stated that your skin looks bad. If you are not start back but I agree with the others for your height that seems to be a healthy normal weight. And yes find another bariatric center in your area to get the help that you need. I wish you the best.

During my second month ost-op, my fingernails started to break off in little pieces. Also, my skin got very dry and itchy. I started taking Biotin 10,000 mg and a hair, skin, and nails (with gelatin) supplement. With every other shower, I exfoliate every part of me that I can reach and then rub Sweet Almond Oil all over. My nails responded very well, and my skin has healed and feels as soft as a baby. Hair is a different story. During a mid-March visit with my bariatric physician, she told me that it is my turn to start watching the shower drain for falling hair. I have noticed more individual hairs on the furniture and about the house, but haven't seen a clump yet. My boyfriend is very supportive and aware that losing hair is given part of this process, although the volume is different for everybody. He told me that if falling hair reduces me to tears, he would just hold me tighter. For right now, my hair is softer than it has ever been.

Are you eating maintenance calories now? I think I am more or less maintaining right now, eating between 900-1000 calories a day. But I haven't weighed in about a month at my bariatric center. I've weighed in at other doctor appts. and seem to be maintaining based on their scales. But looking back at my log, i've noticed my carbs creeping up a bit lately, so I am heading back to basics and eating about 800-900 a day. I know plateaus happen when one is as close to goal as we are--but I would say keep plugging away at it. Log everything, get your protein and water, and if you are exercising like crazy, make sure you are eating enough calories.