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Surgery 22 Feb. I had a liver laceration so had to be opened up. And ended up having 3 surgeries in 24 hours. Really struggling post. Have lost weight and am struggling to get daily water, protein, calories in. Anyone else had complications? I know it’s rare but just trying to connect with someone as it’s been hard. Good luck to everyone 😀

He Hey guys !my insurance said they cover all the bariatic services my PA asked me to ask them. The requirements I believe they said there was no required supervised diet however I do have some history with phertamine. My bmi is right at 40.4. I’m gonna ass a screen shot of the blue home plan for bariatic ! I think it should be an easy process as far as what they’re asking for. I hope to have my surgery by June fingers crossed. Anyone have experience with novant ? In Nc Pasted what the picture has in case visibility is hard.  A thorough preoperative evaluation for bariatric surgery must include all of the following: 1. Evaluation of the patient's understanding of the procedure to be performed, including the procedure's risks and benefits, length of stay in the hospital, behavioral changes required prior to Page 8 of 21 An Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association Bariatric Surgery and after the surgical procedure (including dietary and exercise requirements), follow up requirements with the performing surgeon, and anticipated psychological changes. 2. 3. Evaluation of the patient's family/caregivers support and understanding of the information in #1. Within 12 months prior to surgery, a thorough nutritional evaluation by a physician, registered dietician, or other licensed professional experienced in the issues of bariatric surgery, who has had a meaningful conversation with the individual regarding the dietary and lifestyle changes required to ensure a successful outcome over time. Nutritional assessment must follow American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) guidelines. Pre-operative assessment must document that the patient has a good understanding of the diet and nutritional changes that are associated with bariatric surgery and has the capacity to comply with these changes. Per the ASMBS guidelines, " *..it is essential to determine any preexisting nutritional deficiencies, develop appropriate dietary interventions for correction, and create a plan for postoperative dietary intake that will enhance the likelihood of success. Not only should the practitioner review the standard assessment components (i.e., medical co-morbidities, weight history, laboratory values, and nutritional intake), it is also important to evaluate other issues that could affect nutrient status, including readiness for change, realistic goal setting, general nutrition knowledge, as well as behavioral, cultural, psychosocial, and economic issues." 2019 guidelines for perioperative nutrition, metabolic and nonsurgical support are available at: 4. https://journals.aace.com/doi/pdf/10.4158/GL-2019-0406 Within 12 months prior to surgery, a formal psychosocial-behavioral evaluation performed by a qualified behavioral health professional (i.e., licensed in a recognized behavioral health discipline, such as psychology, social work, psychiatry, psychiatric nursing, etc., with specialized knowledge and training relevant to obesity, eating disorders, and/or bariatric procedures), which assesses environmental, familial, and behavioral factors, as well as risk for suicide. Any patient considered for a bariatric procedure with a known or suspected psychiatric illness, or substance abuse or dependence, should undergo a formal mental health evaluation before the procedure. 2019 guidelines for perioperative nutrition, metabolic and nonsurgical support are available at https://journals.aace.com/doi/pdf/10.4158/GL-2019-0406 5. Appropriate medical work up may include a chest x-ray, upper gastrointestinal series, endoscopy, appropriate pre-op labs and ECG. A complete physical examination by the attending surgeon and an assessment of thyroid levels is required. If the patient has comorbid conditions (e.g. diabetes or 6. cardiovascular disease) the patient must be capable of undergoing the procedure. Anesthesia clearance for surgery. The first five criteria must be met before seeking prior plan approval for adults and adolescents; the sixth must be met prior to surgery. Surgical procedures must be performed at a facility capable of providing gastrointestinal and biliary surgery (preferably JCAHO accredited), AND that has equipment and staff capable of managing a morbidly obese patient (appropriate instruments, beds, lifts, monitoring equipment) AND that can manage short and long term complications of bariatric surgery.

I am self pay and hesitant about rny in Mexico. My insurance has a bariatric exclusion and won’t cover complications. In fact, I am pretty sure United Healthcare is so terrible that they would find a way to link any future issues to the surgery just to deny me. They stopped paying for a medication I was on for five years with other insurance. I am alone and have zero family and the sleeve seems like a simpler option. I know that I am not ready to consider rny at this time. I will wait until I can get more testing in the states. An endoscopy with my insurance is $1000. Eventually I will find the right answer. Many thanks.

I very much want to feel better. I am planning to reach out to Dr. Alvarez. I did lots of research and while I could have self-pay surgery in Florida, I just have a gut feeling that tells me to choose him if I go forward. I have photos of a healthy version of me from 2017 and I miss that version of myself. My fear is complications like Gerd once I get back to the states. Maybe he will have some helpful thoughts on this.

I'm sending lots of love and prayers for you. I too sometimes think that I feel regret. I was sleeved on 1/26/23 and had many complications. I think back to why I got the procedure to help me see things differently. I focus on the goal and what it could be and not what it currently is. I'm happy that you are able to eat and drink. Even though it may take you some time. I'm still on the liquid diet phase one as I can't keep anything down. I have had 2 more upper gis and 1 endoscopy since my procedure to see what is causing my many issues. So far it seems that my sleeve is too narrow so they dilated it a few. As well as my surgeon said my stomach twisted after my sleeve procedure. Which is very rare but it happens. So I'm still in the midst of figuring out how or why or if things will subside. I do hope to be able to puréed something in the near future. I say this to say that no matter how hard we think we may have it there is someone out there who have it two or three times as bad. With all of this I also have gerd and broke out really bad on my face and chest. The fee sips of water that i'm able to tolerate Im thankful for. I try to remain positive because I don't know what the future hold. I just know that I want to be safe and healthy and of course happy. Hang in there as many have told me. I believe this too shall pass. I hope and pray for you that things ease up for you. It can definitely be hard and challenging with all the obstacles and with every one being different. You got this and I'm here for you. Please don't hesitate to reach out. xo

My surgeon in Las Vegas repaired a small HH during my sleeve surgery. I didn't know I had the HH but am glad he saw it and took the initative to repair. I had my surgery through the Surgical Weight Control Center, the surgeon was Dr. Marc Leduc and he is absolutely wonderful, very knowledgeable and professional, great bedside manner. I had my three month check up yesterday and am down 54 LBS. I have gratefully not had any complications and did not even have to take one pain med after the surgery. Highly recommend SWCC and Dr. Leduc.

I say come to Las Vegas and go to Surgical weight control center! The are wonderful. I didn't even have take a pain pill after surgery, I was up and about the next day and have not had any complications!

Thank you. I just called my insurance company and they quickly with no questions gave me a few names of home healthcare companies in my (very rural) area who cover the area for my PCP to submit the order. No preauthorization required. No more complicated than an Rx. Stress gone. Thank you for suggestions.

I am 1 week preop (VSG) and due to a genetic chronic disease which can cause me to have very low blood pressure my surgeon just suggested today that I set up home infusions a couple times a week for the first month to prevent dehydration and complications to my health condition. He knew nothing about how to set this up or if it would be covered by insurance, etc. But is certain I need to do it. Has ANYONE had to do this for any reason or have any information on the ins and outs? Thank you.

Yes but at least tell me so I can make that decision for myself is all I’m saying. Telling me after having major fricking surgery plus having a heart attack during and complications I am ver upset.

Hello @pintsizedmallrat I had my sleeve surgery in December of 2021. Hence, I am about 14 months postop. To date, I have lost 153lbs. from my highest pre-surgery weight. Interestingly enough, you had your surgery at the same location where I had my surgery...that is if there is only one Dr. Trace Curry who does bariatric surgeries. I did not have any complications from my surgery that were any different than situations that have been described on this site. As a male, I haven't experienced anything different than what others, male or female, have described. I will try to highlight some of the things I have experienced. I only used the pain medication for the first day. The gas from the surgery was the worst part for me. Once the gas went away, everything else was pretty smooth. I stayed at a hotel near the surgery center the first night. The next morning, I went home with someone else driving. I followed the doctor's instructions very closely when it came to food, vitamins and movement. I count every calorie for which I eat and/or drink. I was very cold for the first few months. Approximately 30 days after surgery, I was permitted to begin exercising. (walking) Once permitted, I began other forms of cardio like biking, jogging and the elliptical machine. Once permitted, I began to lift weights. I have continued the exercise regimen every week since. I weigh myself every week in order to track my progress. I don't know if any of this will be helpful to you. I hope your husband has a great experience. Best wishes to you and your family!

Congratulations on your successful surgery and progress so far! Regarding your questions, it is common for patients to struggle with certain foods and fluids after bariatric surgery, especially during the early stages of recovery. It's important to follow your surgeon's post-operative guidelines regarding food and fluid intake, as well as to consult with a registered dietitian who specializes in bariatric nutrition to ensure that you are meeting your nutritional needs while promoting weight loss and healing. As for your specific questions: Fries: It's possible that you may be able to eat fries again, but it will depend on your individual tolerance and the type of fries you consume. Fries are typically high in fat and carbohydrates, which can be difficult for some patients to digest. It's important to start with small portions and pay attention to how your body responds. You may also want to consider air-frying or baking fries to make them a bit lighter and more bariatric-friendly. Bread: There are many bariatric-friendly bread options available on the market today, such as high-protein or low-carb breads. However, it's important to keep in mind that bread can be difficult to digest for some patients, and you may need to start with small portions and chew thoroughly to avoid discomfort. To promote continued weight loss after bariatric surgery, it's important to focus on making healthy food choices, portion control, and regular physical activity. Again, consulting with a registered dietitian can help you develop a personalized nutrition and exercise plan that works for your individual needs and goals. Regarding your dizziness and exhaustion, it's important to talk to your surgeon or primary care physician to rule out any medical complications. Walking is a great way to increase physical activity after surgery, but it's important to start slowly and gradually increase your activity level over time. Remember to listen to your body and rest when you need to.

I had a successful surgery 12 days ago. My only complication was high blood pressure, so I was in Tobey Hospital (Southcoast) for 2 nights. I'm down about 28 lbs, which is a loss of 2+ lbs per day. Is this normal? I started at 386lbs. I'm not eating much. I get my protein from Fairlife Elite shakes (42g) and :Ratio yogurt (25g). Other than that, I have tea, jello, pudding and broth. Anyway, looking forward to stage 4 foods! Sent from my SM-G981U1 using Tapatalk

Hey guys, I am thinking about having an endoscopic gastric bypass revision. Has anyone completed this? Wondering about weight loss and if there was any complications? Would you recommend for others? I want a revision but the down time for surgical is tricky, so hoping this could be a good options.

I know I did this in the wrong order. [emoji849] I had an abdominoplasty and lipo a couple of yes ago after losing a bunch of weight only to go through a divorce and gain all my weight back. I am going to a group meeting and my consultation on Monday. I'm curious to know if anyone has done this and what complications could arise. I'm concerned it will cause problems due to fibrous spots and my belly button being rerouted. Am I a lost cause? Sent from my SM-S908U using BariatricPal mobile app

If I could give it less stars I would. I had surgery at OCC in Mexico over ten years ago (lap band) and the surgery center was state of the art, clean and everyone spoke english. The care was impeccable. This time, after reading many positive reviews, I chose Mexico Bariatric Ctr. Unfortunately, my experience there was the opposite. They were extremely fraudulent in their advertising and the entire was nothing less than DANGEROUS! Here is a list of things that were fraudulent: 1. Only one nurse out of about 20 spoke English. When I asked for jello, they brought me a pillow. They did not know how to use translators on their phone. When I began having complications this is where things could have gone very wrong. I'll explain more later. 2. The conditions of the hospital (pictures below). There was no hot water in our bathroom. The shower was full of thick green mold. The shower doors were broken off and unusable. The floor drain is held by duct tape. The mirror fell off the wall and sat on the floor. We had no handsoap (luckily I brought sanitizer to Mexico with me). The air conditioner was BROKEN. It was so hot they opened the window for us for our entire stay. Unfortunately there is ALOT of construction and traffic noise 24 hrs p/day so sleep was impossible. The trash was overflowing and never changed over a 4 day stay. Needles, bloody bandages were on the floor. The hospital building is dilapidated and should be condemned. Many patients were told that MBC is moving to a new building in April, but when I asked the administrators they said maybe next year and they have no building chosen yet. Ice was made into chips by the pulling a bag out of the freezer and smashing it with a metal weight (like for fishing) for each cup ...this went on outside our room 24 hrs per day. They picked it up with their bare hands, off of a counter that was not wiped clean first, and put it in a cup for you. 3. My doctor never met me before or after surgery until I finally told a specialist doctor and she reached out to him. The anesthesiologist also did not speak to me before surgery. 4. The toilets in the waiting area were dirtier than most gas station bathrooms. The one in our room was about the same. 5. When we requested pain meds the first 24 hours after surgery the nurse stated it was only allowed every 12 hours and we had to request them. On the third day when a specialist had to come see me, we learned that they were written for every 6 hours WITHOUT request necessary. Both my roommate and I were in excruciating pain the first 24 hours and only got two doses of pain meds rather than four. 6. DANGEROUSLY LOW OXYGEN LEVEL. I let them know ahead of time that I brought my cpap and sometimes have difficulties with oxygen exchange after anesthesia. Right after surgery my oxygen level dropped to 80 (normal is 95-100). They gave me a canula (hose that goes under your nose to administer oxygen) but it wasn't giving me enough. So they gave me a full mask. But when night time came and I needed to use a cpap they told me to not use my cpap, but for me that is super dangerous so then they said stop using oxygen....my level dropped to 78! Organ damage can begin at that low of a level. The nurse stated I didn't need oxygen anymore (luckily this was the nurse who spoke english). I asked for a doctor and the specialist came in. They did not have any idea what to do for me. So I decided to wear the canula under my cpap mask. Karla (administrator for MBC came by and said "Don't worry about the canula, the water in your cpap will mix with the air and make oxygen". Ok, first of all Karla is not a medical professional, not a nurse and clearly had no idea what she was talking about and luckily I knew enough not to listen to her. My oxygen level did straighten out the next day thank goodness. 7. I came home with two of my incisions infected. They were red and swollen in about a 3" radius each. Two weeks of doxycycline before they cleared up. Nothing was sterile at this hospital. Nurses did not wear gloves for wound care but when you ask them to, they CANNOT UNDERSTAND YOU! With all that they charge it seems they could buy an ice machine for sterile ice chips, a/c that works etc. Even our toilet seat was broken and you had to be super careful how you sat on it. It doesn't appear that ANY MONEY goes into the hospital. 8. I was charged 450$ in extra fees that they refuse to explain what they are for. You must pay before they will take you to the border. 9. I was overcharged, their receipt shows a $300 overpayment but they won't send it for 12 weeks! 10. I called to speak with Mr. Ron Elli in San Diego who is the director. He refused to speak to me, hear my complaints or respond in any way. I am now 5 weeks post op. I understand that there are quite a few good reviews, but in reviewing them upon my return home I realized they are from 2019 and 2020. Perhaps the hospital was in better shape then, I don't know. Useful Funny Cool

I felt like I was missing something every day. I counted that I had 12 different appointments for tests and the dates and times kept changing so I feared I dropped one or asked for the wrong test. As it happenned I got every last test correct, but the surgeon decided on another at the last minute. Grrrr. Because of my surgery being 20 years ago and the fact I had a couple of huge risk factors, Doc said I had about a 1 in 20 chance of dying on the table. In fact, his last words when we talked just before surgery were "You know you can die from this surgery?" Yes. "Do you wish to continue?" Yes. I never worried about my recovery but I did research complications and visualized how I would deal with them. I had an 'open' surgery, meaning they openned me up from stem to stern and closed me up with 30+ staples and a drain. Every little movement was exruciating pain. I knew this was a short term thing and the staples would come out at 4 weeks or so. I told myself I could do anything for 4 weeks. Pain meant eating (puree) and drinking were impossible but I kept trying. Always keep trying. As I said, I prepared by knowing what could go wrong and mentally preparing for it. Knowledge, for me, is power. Just focus on doing the best you can. Don't kick yourself for what you can't do or do wrong, it's part of being human. If you have a rough time, it's just the price of admission. If it's easy take the W and keep going. Success starts and ends in the mind. Good luck, Tek

I had VSG surgery in September 2021, and had a REALLY rough go of it recovering. I had a really rare set of complications, ended up in the hospital for a week, and generally felt like I was starving to death for 4 or 5 months. About six months before my surgery, my husband had purchased me a motorcycle. I'm very short, and it was one of the few bikes I had even a prayer of being able to reach the ground on and be able to hold up on my own. I attempted to take the class to learn how to ride and because of the stress of attempting to hold up a 400 pound machine when it was clear my pre-surgery body was still struggling to just carry 150 extra pounds. It was too much. I couldn't finish the class, never got my endorsement on my license, and the bike sat while I was completely terrified of it. After my surgery and I got to a point where I was alert, able to safely drive my car and didn't have concerns about fainting...we traded the too-tall bike for a three-wheeled one that I didn't have to worry about being able to hold up, that fit my dimensions perfectly. At the time I was doing much better than in the beginning, but I was still struggling to eat. I was 5 months out from surgery and still only eating 4-500 calories a day because it was all that would fit. Once I got my license and started being able to ride my new toy, though, I was hooked. It BECAME the reason I pushed myself to eat more, the reason I pushed myself to keep myself hydrated, because I needed to make sure I was nourished enough to be safe, and properly fueled enough to keep going as long as I wanted to. Operating the bike also helped build back a lot of the muscle mass I lost while recovering because it's quite a workout on the shoulders, core, and hips to steer and corner. In a matter of a couple months I went from still incredibly weak, and almost still regretting the surgery, to being stronger, more confident, and having successfully lost more weight than I could have imagined when I started this process. 18 months out, I'm in so much better shape than in the beginning, I'm already considering giving two wheels a shot again, and the confidence I gained by coming out the other side of this life-changing process makes me wonder what else I am capable of that I never dreamed I would be. TL;Dr this is the story of how my weird little motorcycle helped me recover from bariatric surgery. What is your weird thing that helped you recover and get to know your "new" self?

I just read a peer-reviewed article online that said myopathy is a rare complication, but it's related to vitamin deficiency - and usually in people who haven't been taking their vitamins. It's usually resolved when they start up with supplements again. But in your case, there aren't any deficiencies showing up in your bloodwork - so yea, this one is puzzling.

Congratulations on your approval. When it comes to choosing your surgery you are the boss. Get the surgery you want and know why you want it. Your Doc is right that relatively speaking you don't have much weight to lose, but once you cross the hurdle to choose surgery, which surgery would be based on all the same in depth decission making process we all should do. Before you choose to have GB as your husband did, note that we don't all respond the same ways to any surgery, it's a very individual thing. Medications are also quite individual considerations. Baby aspirin would very likely not be an issue as it's so ridiculously low dose. My Doctor did not declare Aspirin off limits but becasue of liver issues he didn't want me taking Tylenol if I could avoid it. If we are going to take Aspirin then like virutally everyone else that takes Aspirin, heck we should do this for any medication, we need to monitor for negative side effects and report them quickly. Other medications you would have to discuss with your medical team. All of this should be part of deciding to have GB or Sleeve or DS or Band or whatever. No surgery can be counted to remove cravings. Some people claim that some foods taste differently post-op. Don't count on such idiosyncratic results. I had GB and fortunately for me I dump on sugars and fats. It takes an amazingly small number of dumping episodes before you simply choose to avoid sugars and fats. Not everyone is as enthusiastic about dumping as I am. It is absolutely no fun and it can be very embarassing if you manage it in public. Since you have relatively little weight to lose I'm not sure why you would want to put yourself through it. The Sleeve is a perfectly fine surgery. No dumping. Good restriction. Fewer medication concerns. It is a less complicated surgery. Suppmentation, though still necessary, is less critical than with GB. You can get there from here. You can be happy with the Sleeve. Good luck, Tek

How much time did you take off of work? I can work remote, and have a desk job with flexibility in hours. Wondering how soon everyone felt mentally and physically ready to go back? (Yes, I'm sure this will vary widely depending on age, complications, etc, just looking for a benchmark)

You need to see a doctor. Get examined and get your labs done and see if there are any issues. If they don't find anything lacking keep pushing until your issues are resolved. Not feeling well could be a symptom of practically anything. Honestly, medical issues I have now are not caused by my surgery 20 years ago, but the surgery does complicate things a bit. About 6 years post-op feeling generally not well turned out to be a heart issue, discovered when I woke up on the floor in my boss's office. You've been feeling this way for a while. I don't know why we wait to do some things. We need to prioritize ourselves. We've done it before when we had surgery. Paying attention to things and taking action can keep small problems from becoming big ones. Take action now. Having said the above, vitamins certainly won't kill you. Malaise can be caused by anemia which can be an iron issue. Also B12 is a common deficit for us and also might cause similar feelings. But they are not instead of seeing a doctor, but in addition to seeing a doctor. It's time for annual check ups. Good luck, Tek

Hi, I am scheduled for sleeve to bypass in March. I Am doing this because of severe GERD but also I gain over 50 lbs. I had a revision from band to sleeve due to complications with the band. I stopped working in 2018, I was very depressed and I didn’t do anything. Then COVID and the isolation and depression caused me To go from 170 - 235. So basically I’m having surgery for the GERD and I am afraid of this surge. If I had been told about the reflux I probably would’ve had the bypass first. good Luck

It will be ok, I was kinda scared too but everything went well. It's natural to be scared, I mean thus isn't like getting a filling, its a major surgery. So it's totally ok to be a bit scared and nervous but complications are rare so typically everything is good. You'll be fine and your doctor will do a great job 🙏

I’m new to this and to give you some background I’ve struggled with weight for the past 20+ years. Tried a lot of diets and worked with my physician, but nothing seemed to work I was recommended for bariatric however, it took me almost 10 years to get insurance to help pay. It was a lot of work, and it makes the thought of failure scary. since my surgery, which happened on February 1, I’ve been lucky to have very few complications. I’ve been able to eat and drink without problems and I’m starting on the third phase however, I still am struggling with fear that I’m overheating, because it’s been fairly easy so far. It’s been difficult as well, because I can’t, or haven’t been able to identify, feeling full, and not having the negative Effects of made it hard to judge. Maybe this is just post surgery jitters, has anyone else experiencing this?