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Even still at the 6 month point, we need to make the most important things getting in the Protein (60-90gm or whatever your surgeon recommends), and at least 64 oz of water/liquid every day. This makes a big difference in our weight loss. And I agree with other posters--starchy carbs this soon after surgery can really mess with our weight loss. The more fresh (or frozen) veggies and (limited) fruits you can get in, the happier your body will be to let go of those pounds. Sorry you're dealing with stressful stuff at work. It's one of the biggest life stressors that drives us to making unhealthy eating choices. The stress isn't likely to go away, but WE can learn ways to COPE with the stress so we don't end up sabotaging ourselves by choosing our old reliable, comforting food, like we always have before our surgery. It takes work, but there are a lot of self-help resources out there to begin taking charge. We owe it to ourselves. Celebrate the 40 pounds that you HAVE lost, and if there are some things that you need to do to get back to your original Bariatric Eating plan, it sounds like you are ready and committed to moving forward. That's the key--move forward from here--don't look back!

I'll share the foods that are on my list of pureed and very soft foods, but some that spring to mind are: Nonfat yogurt (regular and Greek) Nonfat cream cheese (weird to think of just eating some cream cheese, but OK) I've also been eating unsweetened apple sauce and enjoying it, may try sprinkling some cinnamon on top. Also, I highly recommend this: https://www.amazon.com/Fresh-Start-Bariatric-Cookbook-Weight-Loss/dp/1623157730/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1515181665&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=bariatric+cookbook&psc=1

In our case, the fundus is the stretchy part that makes up most of the greater, or outer, curvature of the stomach, and is what is removed when a sleeve gastrectomy is done, or is folded up and tied back in a sleeve plication. It looks like with the endoscopic procedure, they suture it up internally to make the fundus inaccessible, leaving the reduced "sleeve" like path open for restricted food flow. Being a fairly new procedure, one is fighting the learning curve - both for the individual surgeon and for the industry as a whole. The guys that did the first heart transplant were the best in the business, but the patient still only survived a short time; it takes time, practice and experience - both individual and collective - for a procedure to mature into a routine, everyday therapy, so your doc may well be exceptional, but they are all still working out the kinks in a new procedure. Where to go from here? A bypass was suggested, and this is very common, as most bariatric surgeons were raised on them, so to speak, know them well and tend to be very comfortable with them when things get complicated as they can with some revisions. You note that a SADI has been suggested - was this by the same surgeon, or someone else? If the SADI is a possible, then a regular sleeve gastrectomy should also be workable, as the SADI normally uses the sleeve as its basis, and presumably that would be most attractive to you as that is what is most similar to your originally chosen endo sleeve. Whether you need the malabsorptive component of the bypass or SADI is an individual decision. When things get complicated like this, it is usually best if one can get a second (or even third) opinion on the problem and possible solutions. There are often several different alternatives available, but individual doctors will prefer, or have more experience, with one over another, while another doc may have different experiences and preferences as to how to approach this problem. Good luck in working this out...

I started drinking healthwise beverages when I had my lap band. They have coffees, hot chocolate, and flavoring a to add to water (like crystal light) and other protein foods. They have 0-1 carb and low calorie. They don't pack the same punch in protein that some of your shakes do but it is a refreshing change for people stuck in a rut or who have strayed from their protein drinks. There are several flavors to chose from and last I checked it was about 7$/box. With summer heat coming on it is a nice change and you definitely get all your water in with them. Just wondering if others have heard of them? I seem to have been given a whole list of protein supplements that are never mentioned on here and at the same time I wasn't told about the proteins that are popular on here. One thing I can say is do not buy the Bariatric proteins that some of the dr offices sell.... YUCK

I think you would be hard-pressed to find a responsible doctor willing to prescribe you a weight loss drug (there are newer ones than phentermine on the market now) so soon after having bariatric surgery. I am assuming that you are eating very few calories right now, which is the point of both bariatric surgery and WL drugs. If you, say, cut that in half, your body wouldn't be able to function and would go into starvation mode, which would actually backfire and slow down your weight loss--not to mention messing up your metabolism. I would focus your energy instead on trying to get more exercise and making sure you get in your protein and water.

Uh well I have a list of ten things that getting the weight off will do for us. check my link: Get Banded Now provides Lap Band Bariatric Surgery, Weight Loss Surgery and Gastric Bypass Surgery Oh and dress like a slut ? Pictures please!! JK

As I mentioned on your other post, Dr Weiner is a very experienced bariatric surgeon. I have a lot of confidence in him and that hospital. I personally feel that while I received excellent medical follow up after my gastric band, i don't think I really had the opportunity for other follow up and support. That was pretty typical of lapband follow up 10 years ago everywhere i think, but i sought out a surgeon for sleeving who really emphasizes a 2 year follow up. i think I need it. If I were in your situation I would not hesitate to use Dr Weiner as a surgeon but I would ask very detailed questions about his sleeve patients (he keeps follow up info on his patients and can provide stats). I would also look for your own education/support closer to home. That might be a nutritionalist or support group or counselor, I am not sure which as i think I need all of the above.

Today I spent hours going through the binder of information given to me by the bariatric team. I am one of those super organized, Type A personalities, so it was necessary for my peace of mind to have dividers and tabs and plastic sheaths for the important papers. Kinda crazy, I suppose, but that's me! Next I went through all my diabetic magazines and clipped the yummiest sounding recipes. :-) So far on this journey toward surgery-- 1. I established the insurance requirements (a complicated story I may share at another time) and got the preliminary clearance. That was a relief! 2. I discussed my desire with my personal physician, a fabulous doctor and man I respect greatly who has been my GP since moving to KY 3 years ago. His approval and support was not a deal breaker, necessarily, as I was 80-90% sure surgery was my best course, but it was important to me for him to be on board. It was a relief when he not only didn't disagree but also confirmed the positive reports I had read about the local surgeon and bariatric program. 3. I (and my husband) attended the informational seminar offered by the Bariatric Weight Loss Program here in my home town. The surgeon was at the meeting, as well as others on the team, and the info was very thorough. So far nothing to give me pause! I filled out the request form, then waited.... 4. The wait wasn't too long. Gayle, the program coordinator, called me about a week later to set up my first appointment with the surgeon Dr. Farrell. 5. August 4 was my appointment with Dr. Farrell. Before meeting him I also had brief meetings with the dietician and again with Gayle. A binder containing detailed information about the pre-approval process and appointments, the surgery itself and surgery prep, diet pre- and post-op, possible complications, exercise, recipes, and much more. VERY thorough! I even got a few samples of protein powder and shakes. 6. August 11 was my appointment with a cardiologist for "surgical clearance." I had seen this doctor just over a year ago, before my diagnosis of sleep apnea, to rule out any cardiac issues. Nothing had shown up at that time, and as a prior patient I was able to get in to see him quickly. Unfortunately, I have been very sick with bronchiolitis and possible pneumonia, on strong cough medicine and steroids. The latter (I'm convinced) is why my heart rate was high, and of course my chest wasn't as clear as it should have been. For this reason the doctor recommended a follow up ECHO and treadmill test to be sure all was well before surgery. As an RN, I could not argue the logic even if it adds more to the process. Better safe than sorry! 7. Gayle called the next day to give me dates for all the various appointments: Psych Eval, Support Group meetings, endoscopy, Nutritional Eval, Exercise Eval, and a Healthy Lifestyle Class. These, along with the cardio followup, are scheduled over the next month, beginning tomorrow. No set surgery date as yet. The initial estimate was early November, but it seems to me mid to late October makes more sense. My birthday is on October 26, and while it doesn't sound like too much fun to spend one's birthday in the hospital, in pain, and unable to eat at least a small piece of cake, I am willing to make the sacrifice if it means getting the rest of my better-health-and-skinnier-life started! I'm ready!

I wish I had the surgery at your age. If you did not have the surgery, and waited to my age, you would have gone through 20 more years of failed diets. You will still have to loose weight naturally. Bariatric surgery is NOT a solution, its a tool. Even people with the surgery will loose weight, and gain a lot back because they stopped working on their health. Your stomach will get larger eventually. This surgery is NOT a one way track to your ideal weight. YOU WILL HAVE TO WORK ON YOUR DIETS NOW, NEXT YEAR, AND FOREVER. Let me repeat that, YOU WILL HAVE TO WORK ON YOUR DIETS NOW, NEXT YEAR, AND FOREVER. The surgery is a big help, a giant jump start and increases your success potential. It's all up to you to keep on your diet. And your diets won't be enough, you need to be active, and exercise more than you have before. As you loose weight, you'll be able to so more, and it you want to get to your ideal weight, you will need to work out, naturally, like everyone else. You had your surgery not long ago, your rate of weight loss will taper off, and then you'll be working hard. . So, in the relatively near future, you will be working naturally to loose weight still, or maintain your weight. Sent from my XT1609 using BariatricPal mobile app

I'm trying to collect a list of hospitals/facilities/clinics in Mexico that have accreditations like: Joint Commission international SRC -Centers of Excellence Surgical Review Corporation Centers of Excellence International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity (IFSO) ASMBS and surgeons that have accreditations and board certification in bariatric surgery? so far have: BariatricPal MX Mexico - Dr Ilan Obesity control center - Dr Ortiz LiMARP -Dr. Liza María Pompa González

first of all, not all of us dump - I've read about 30% do. I've never seen an actual percentage in peer-reviewed literature, but just based on anecdotal evidence (I've been hanging out on bariatric forums for 5 or 6 years), that 30% sounds about right. I can handle sugar - but high-fat meals I can't. I don't dump, but it just makes me feel like crap. "good" fats are things like nuts and nut products, avocados, olive oil "bad" fats are saturated fats and transfats. Saturated fats are mostly animal fats (although palm and coconut oils are also saturated, but evidently not as bad as the animal fats). The saturated fat issue is a bit controversial. They used to say to really limit them, but now some doctors and dietitians are saying they're not as bad as we once thought. I usually go for lean stuff when I'm eating animal products (like chicken, turkey, and fish), though, just in case.

Thanks Kahleen so much. Its not about demanding the attending doctor because I feel like I deserve special treatment. It is unprofessional not to guarantee an opportunity to meet a patient whose body you already operated on! I'm going to forget the disrespect in not meeting him BEFORE surgery. Yes Yes The VA Medical offer it to veterans that've been receiving their primary health care from them for at least a year. Then you can ask your PCP about their MOVE program or he/she may offer u info on it. It's a weight loss program. I did it for 3 months then ask their nutritionist info on their Bariatric Program. She scheduled u for a seminar. Their u get more info and the Bariatric coordinator contact info. One u loose your 15% she schedule a psych eval, once u pass a consult with the surgeon, or for me the PA, lol.

This does seem a bit too conservative. My first fill was right around 6 weeks post-op, and I got 3 cc in my 4 cc band. I was more than thrilled to get an aggressive fill, and I have been doing really well, with no complications. Maybe you could find another bariatric doctor in your area to take over your fills?

The doctor I am going to does fills for Mexico patients I think... It's West Penn Bariatric... And Dr Curry is just about 3 hours west on 70 so that is an option as well... Hope that helps... Heather

They're looking for gross psychopathologies that would prevent you from being compliant with the postop way of life. (Things that would prevent you from, for example, remembering your Fluid needs, or that you need to eat slowly and in small volume.) They also assess for eating disorders, because they can be tremendously aggravated by bariatric surgery, and need to be addressed. (This is not to say that people with a history of eating disorder can't have surgery---just that it raises red flags and suggests a need for therapy before and/or in conjunction with surgery.) That sort of thing. It's a PITA, but it isn't something to worry much about.

Hi everyone!!! I’m new to this sight and need all the help I can get 😩. I’m Pre Surgical for Gastric Bypass, I’ve gone through every test known to man. I see my Bariatric Dr Aug 13th, hopefully I will get a date for my surgery. Feel free to comment, I would love advice!!

My surgical weight loss center sucked! The girl that handled insurance couldn't even get the right documents faxed to the insurance company. I eventually just faxed the missing documents to the insurance company myself. Then after surgery I never saw my surgeon for follow ups - I always got stuck with some fill in doctor. In truth unfortunately most businesses today have zero customer service and suck. Bariatric surgery is a business and they are there to take your money. Don't let a crappy doctors office make you feel like giving up. Be strong and fight for your health! You got this!

Thank you Vinesqueen and Jack- I just needed to stop beating myself up over some damn corn chips- it's a good thing that the days of "flogging" are over..... I did take a nice 2 mile walk last night- made some healthy chiken salad and renewed my faith in myself! I was overly concerned about the hardness of my port area- thinking I had somehow stretched my pouch- I think it's just scar tissue- Anyway- Cheers to you both- (with my Peach Propel in hand) Take care. Viva La Band!!

carnation sugar free packs 5 times daily with 8oz of 1% milk or the bariatric advantage with water, sugar free jello or sugar free popscicles with less than 12 calories each. Or any sugar free drink of my choice. The Jello may save me! and I found some sugar free creamscicles with 15 calories! LMAO

I think my surgeon must have checked with my insurance company prior to having done all the prerequisites for approval and they told them it was a covered procedure. I had to go on a 6 month medically supervised diet, see a nutritionist, and have a psych eval(its easy). Through that whole time I worried about getting approved. I had a BMI of 38 with no diabetes, high cholesterol,etc. The only thing I can think of that I had was bad knees( due to the weight). After I finished my prerequisites and had all my info sent in I was a nervous wreck. After a couple of weeks the bariatric program called and told me I had been denied because it wasn't a covered procedure which they did not understand because they had been told that it was covered. The bariatric program told me not to give up and they told me some things I could try to get approval. I was DEVASTATED for 3 days. They called me back on the 3rd day and told me the insurance company had called back and said it was a covered procedure. So I went from having a covered procedure to a not covered procedure back to a covered procedure. The story gets even stranger: A lady I work with has a BMI of >40 and has the comorbities(diabetes, cholesterol etc) has gone to 2 separate bariatric programs(1 was the one I used) and they have told her its not a covered procedure under her insurance. We have the same insurance company (through work). The only difference we can figure out is that I bought the more expensive plan and she didn't. We don't know if that would really make the difference or not or its some arbitrary thing the insurance company came up with. Good luck to you and I hope you get your band.

Hello All, It has been a long time since I have been on and need to reintroduce myself. I was banded in Ohio in Feb. 2007 and have lost over 100 pounds. I just found out that my surgeon and bariatric group is no longer available and am looking for someone in the Cincinnati area for future follow up and fills. I need it to work with my insurance (Anthem BC/BS). Any suggestions are welcome. Also, I am having a problem with gas. It is only in the form of belching and it smells horrible. It is mainly when I have forgotten to eat and get 'too hungry'. Kind of like a reminder that I need to fuel up. The worst part is, I get it while digesting too. I have tried gas-x and mints. Five gum seems to be about the only thing that masks the odor. Does anyone have any suggestions? Anyone else experiencing this? Thanks for your assistance!

Did you experience hair loss after banding? A few of us are on the edge of hysteria with hair loss and we would like to know if we are the minority or the majority. If you are a newbie and you are already experiencing hair loss, please vote. If you are less than six months from being banded and have not experienced hair loss, please don't vote. According to a bariatric surgeon hair loss typically happens somewhere between 3-11 months after surgery. It might not have happened to you yet. I am trying to avoid someone 2 weeks after surgery saying they have no hair loss, that won't give an accurate measure.

Hello, Lately I've been having a lot of mid to upper back pain. I noticed it tends to happen after I eat something as it causes a lot (I'm talking sailor style) of burping. The upper to middle back pain is painful enough that I have to take 2 pain meds to even help. Sometimes it does nothing. I'm even trying to rub icy hot because I"m desperate. I went to my primary Dr a few months back because of this & had an ultra sound of my gallbladder. It came back negative. Someone told me it could be missed via an ultrasound & that I should have a HIDA scan? Does anyone have any information on this? Also, I was going to try to see my primary Dr about this but am wondering if I should try to see my bariatric surgeon instead? Appreciate any feedback you guys might have. Thanks Fran

Does the person who put you on the 2000 calories a day really understand the restrictions of your new tummy? That is a lot of calories to take in for a sleeve. Maybe that physician is not well versed in Bariatrics. I would recommend an appointment with your Bariatric Nutritionist for sound advice.

I was told also to stay clear of those two Bariatric Centers as well....i am so sorry you are going through this and completely understand... I will say, having struggled through it personally, that infertility (unexplained) was by far still the worst thing i endured....but really what turned out to be my problem was something very simple, that if i had just listened to my RE, i would have more children.....he told me repeatedly that i needed to exercise to get "blow flow to the uterus." For some reason i just took that advice with a grain of salt.....well the one month i decided to work out 75 minutes everyday.....i got pregnant with twins....go figure....hope you are working with an OB or RE that is compassionate because its a rough journey especially combined with this one.....d@m girl! Shelby