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Hi!!!! June 2020 here! It's the great of total chaos! How is everyone???? I'm personally doing really well but I haven't been on bariatric pal in quite a long time! My surgery date was March 14th 2019. HW: 299 SW: 289 CW: 152 Sent from my LG-Q710AL using BariatricPal mobile app

I had the same instructions. I did not worry about calories in the first months. My dietician gave detailed instructions after my third month. Calories, protein, and carbohydrate ratios. Only my opinion. Don’t try to reinvent the wheel. Get solid in your dietitian’s weight loss plan first. When in doubt, call your bariatric office. You paid for them. No need to think about maintenance until you hit goal. Your dietitian’s food plan instructions will change to slow/stop weight loss.

Dr. Matthew Weiner has a lot of informational videos on YouTube. He covers a wide range of topics, I’ve learned a lot by watching him. This first video on metabolic thermostat/set point was a lightbulb moment for me. How bariatric surgery changes your hunger, metabolism and even your tastes for certain foods. Metabolic Thermostat This one is titled: Bariatric revisions, Will they help or not? Bariatric revision As always, listen to your own Doctor

I work in healthcare and so insurance /referrals are way too much of my world and these things are true: (1) most insurance companies do not require a referral for bariatric surgery (that actually would be a very rare requirement except perhaps for a few very stringent managed care plans) and 2) there are not many insurers that require your own PCP sign off on surgery (after all, that would take away your freedom), although the insurer may require a medical clearance from SOME physician (and that doesn’t have to be your PCP). I don’t know all your details, but I do know you can VOTE with your feet and get a new doc. Good luck 🌈

I could swallow everything except for Ursodiol and those giant calcium tablets as soon as I got out of the hospital. The PA at my bariatric clinic said anything the size of a pencil eraser or smaller could be swallowed whole - so, I did. The above poster is correct, though - some meds can't be crushed, so check with your doctor or pharmacist.

Sweetheart only thing I can tell you is remember everything that you learned for those first 6 months prior to surgery I'm not sure where you live but if you're a Costco member they have a lot of options for choosing the things that were supposed to allowed to eat but they're good like no GMOs baked whole wheat crisps with protein in every single chip and I found a big bag of chickpeas for snacking salted awesome protein and I tell you something I have had the most horrific experience with my bariatric surgery I can't specify which one because I had to have two different ones and not at my fault at the hands of the first surgeon that messed me up so bad the story is unbelievable I look horrible the first 6 months I dropped all my weight from 233 lbs down to 168 way too fast everything that I ever had as muscle boobs at all lost I don't have the hanging sagging skin but I'm skeletal I had nice boobs I know I heard stories about people who finished the bigness of their breasts but not like this mine is like just skin and I have always had nice breasts never had to wear a bra and now because those are gone that's what makes me look so skeletal my bones are sticking out for my collarbone you can see my top rib cage Alex sucked up like I'm some kind of drug addict or something I am very very sad I even have age that's all it did for me is aged me I look as old as my mother within I'd say it's been almost 2 years January it will be 2 years and I'm still having trouble finding an attorney to take the case I've had to take it and drop it the first dropped it because he did not know enough about bariatrics II dropped because all he was concerned about is how much money has law firm would lose if he didn't win and he just lost a case with bariatrics 120000 a cost at this for me said but he want to previous to that that's here nor there I'm sorry going off track here but you need to remember having a little bit of weight on you 173 I would love to be back that way that's a healthy weight unless you don't carry it very well and it's too much fatty fat instead of muscle protein protein protein do you work out cram the protein after if you are able you can buy a kayak it helps build your arms standing in front of a wall and put your palms up on it and that back couple steps and just do push-ups on the wall start there those are reps but it's also building the further back the heart of the pushing and then maybe you can start getting lower and lower until you're on a park bench and you're doing them sit on a picnic table put your feet hooked up under the seat on the other side and do sit ups if you have the energy to do that you can do those pretty much at any park I know it seems like a lot I have a damn exercise bike at right out there and I know I need to be building my muscles I literally don't have any the only reason I have a little bit back in my legs because I had to go to Florida and help my son move up here and he had mega steps up and down up and down with all the stuff but anyway I don't know how much you weigh before hand but it is not worth stressing your pouch I've had the sleeve done and who knew people have different shaped stomach sometimes there's actually several different ones I pretty much flipped out when I googled it but he and all of the bariatric surgeons are mandated and required to check the shape of everybody stomach prior to surgery and he did not do that with who knows probably none of his patients the surgeon who fixed me said I don't know why he didn't but we do end they keep track of you for the rest of your life but that first surgeon he did the cut for my sleeve and my stomach dropped and twisted almost shut and he would not listen when I kept trying to tell them there was something wrong I was regurgitating most of everything that I took in and if I was not the kind of person that if I couldn't find out by the doctors and they had no clue that I'm going to start researching what's going on with me so I was lucky enough to find out about the importance of thiamine which is vitamin B1 ... Because without that for specific amount of time and days there were two people same exact surgery that did not do the research and kept going back to the same idiot surgeon unfortunately in the hospice aim hospital and they both now cannot talk or walk and their in nursing homes ..I found an awesome surgeon that I knew exactly what was wrong and how to fix me but the only way to fix me is do a type of bypass but a shorter one okay but when he got into the side of me to do the surgery he said he could not believe how bad my stomach actually was twisted it was almost completely shut so he had to actually remove my stomach the rest of the stomach that was left from The cutting of the sleeve he said I should have never ever been offered sleeve because with the type of stomach I had there would have been no way to do it and I wasn't heavy enough at 2:33 really with my BMI to have a bypass and I wouldn't have had that anyway I wouldn't shows that I researched all my options prior to doing it begin with and that was not an option for me but in order for him to fix me that is the only thing that he was able to do and I had no choice so he made a itty bitty pause the size of an egg with the little part of some of the remaining sleeve before he had to remove it and I don't know how he did it but don't gain the weight this covered thing my personal opinion and I'm really sorry on some people don't agree I really don't share this much because it's not worth going into all stuff people it's kind of like talking politics LOL that's something you just don't do ... But I believe it's been blown out of proportion a little bit more then it needs to be maybe I'm wrong I do live in a small town in the country so it's not quite as bad as it is and I'm sure in certain States all that staying home and not working would have been necessary and doing it but not worldwide it just seems political it's definitely political... My point being don't allow the damn government to cause you to screw up everything you work so hard the gain or should I say lose... You've come too far before it gets too much more out of control if you don't want to search going up it goes fast and when you try to get it to go down it doesn't move so definitely protein vegetables fruit protein vegetables fruit avoid anything that has more than 9 grams of sugar in it and try to stay away from processed food just think healthy don't leave things out on your counter don't buy anything that you're not supposed to have at the store if you have the family that's going to be difficult but just try to remember using the small saucer for your portions anyway good luck with everything I've gone around John's barn on this one but sometimes we do that when we're talk texting lol stay safe much love good luck on your new life journey

So I was wondering if any of you have been given a range of carbs that is considered healthy or ok for us after bariatric surgery. do you have a max amount per meal or per day? My doctor and nutritionist keep telling me don’t worry about carbs or calories but instead to focus on getting at least 60 grams of protein a day. Of course, they don’t want me eating foods high in carbs like bread, pasta, and those types of things. But I’m just wondering if anyone has ever been given an actual number of what is “normal”. I’m 3 months post op if that makes a difference. thanks in advance!

So, I recently posted how good I feel with the current weight loss! The day after my post, I was at my seamstress, getting some of my favorite clothing taking up and we talked for an hour and all of a sudden I felt light headed and diaphoretic and told her I needed to sit down. My doctor had told me to take a half of my blood pressure medications and I had forgotten and taken the whole pill. I passed out and she gave me some orange juice after I came to and I told her I needed to call my husband because I couldn't drive home due to still feeling bad, my vision was blurry and I felt faint again but was able to contact my husband before passing out again, she spoke with him and told him I had passed out, she said I seizured and when I came to I had fallen into her glass mirror and had glass all over me but only had small cuts to my hand, my head hurt and was pounding and she truly felt I had a diabetic seizure, she said I fell forward out of the chair and hit the bottom of her full glass mirror, I do remember I kept yawning uncontrollable before passing out. With the Covid going on I refused to let my husband take me to the ER and contacted my primary which I had seen the day before. He thinks I over exerted myself by walking a mile and a half that morning and taking a whole blood pressure pill, my blood pressure was 118/72 and I didn't test my blood sugar d/t I have never had any issues prior with my BS. I drank G2 the rest of the day and the doctor told me not to walk and rest he rest of the weekend. Has anyone every experienced this? I am currently 5mths out and other than the scare I STILL FEEL GOOD! I received my blood work back Monday and all my levels are great! I have not walked any more but have been doing my 5lb weights. Any suggestions! I go to my Bariatric appointment the 23rd of this month.

Hi Tamwell, Here is some information about Dr. Illan: Dr. Selim Jalil Illan has been designated as a Master Surgeon in Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, by the Surgical Review Corporation, Dr. Illan is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), Dr. Selim Jalil Illan is a member of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), The International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO), Member, Latin American Association of Endoscopic Surgery along with Mexican College for the Surgery of Obesity, Mexican Association of Endoscopic Surgery, Mexican Association of General Surgery, International Society of Surgery. Dr. Selim Jalil Illan held the position of Director of Emergency Trauma Surgery for nine years at IMSS Hospital #1. Bariactric Pal Mx, now Hospital BC, is specifically designed for bariatric patients, with equipment and facilities designed for bariatric patients, and a healthcare team full of experienced experts and successful bariatric surgery patients. Contact me if you want more information.

I agree - the microbiome is very fascinating. I actually had food intolerance issues for about 8 years until I went on a probiotic and prebiotic regimen about 5 years ago. Helped a lot with my digestion, but not with my weight unfortunately. However, studies also show that bariatric surgery changes the microbiome.

I have! And I was SO interested. Not a lot of info online about potency but a WLS patient I follow on YOUTUBE Minnie Me In Tennessee tried them. One gave her a rash. The other seemed fine. But in her later videos she was taking oral again so I had to assume she didn't get good results with them. I wish they were great. Again, I've been doing a lot of research. Invested in expensive MaryRuth Organic liquid vitamins. They are drinkable. But they don't agree with my stomach and it's not fun to drink (though it's only a 1oz shot) I don't think I'll re-buy. I have to tell you, with the exception of D my blood work has always been good so I'm hoping that will remain after surgery. I believe my plan is to take a Bariatric Pal multi every morning with breakfast and a Calcium Cit at night with dinner. And hope. I'll add iron drops if my iron is low. I'm prepared with an additional Biotin supplement but they also mess with my stomach. I don't have particularly thick hair tho so I might power thru and start the extra biotin now. What;s your plan?

If it were me? I’d seek the best medical team I could find and not be patient about it. As someone pointed out, you’re not that far from being in a reasonable weight range, but the next 20lbs in the wrong direction could be very detrimental. Should you (heaven forbid) come down with a serious illness, you won’t have that cushion to get you through it. Good luck and Godspeed! Also puzzled why you were “booted off another bariatric board over this a year ago”?

Wow! Thanks y'all! I really appreciate the outpouring of advice here! I got booted off of a male bariatric board for this about a year ago and was hesitant to try again. Winston, I love the advice and your story above. Nut butter were mentioned and I’m down to try those too. Softer foods are definitely better and I do love pasta. I’ve recently started overcooking it to aid the digestion process. Rice is tricky for me. I’ll begin adding in more high calorie filler between meals and work to snack/graze every ½ hour or so. I did undergo Testosterone pelleting and I’m not sure it made any difference outside of “that area” becoming more lifelike (sorry ladies). I have hashimoto’s and I question whether the desiccated thyroid meds are contributing to chronic weight loss. Someone asked where in TX, (sorry I’m not good at stringing replies). I’m in the suburbs between Dallas and Fort Worth. FutureFine Mama mentioned slider foods. Not sure what that is but heading to google to check it out. I was trying to keep it short and not sound like a little baby, so thank you all. I never added that I went from 254 to 120 in less than 8 months and the ride has been terrible since. I really, truly appreciate the replies!!

Found a scientific paper of a case where a man in his 20s developed very high cholesterol after VSG. "Transient Severe Hypercholesterolemia Following Bariatric Surgery Treated Successfully With Increased food Intake" https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26732832/?from_term=hypercholesterolemia+after+weight+loss+surgery&from_pos=5 He was diagnosed with starvation-induced hypercholesterolemia. They increased his calories and in three months, cholesterol back to normal. The paper concluded "Although dietary management of failed weight loss after bariatric surgery is the main priority for health professionals, this case illustrates the possible harm of severe dietary restriction after surgery and the need for judicious dietary and nutritional management. ARE YOU GETTING ENOUGH CALORIES? Could be just need to increase intake a bit more. I hate it when doctors just write a prescription for a drug when if easy research they could discover the patient just needed a bit more food. Sent from my SM-T580 using BariatricPal mobile app

Maybe this info will be helpful to someone: So I was stuck at a plateau weight for a couple of weeks, and I was okay with it b/c I know it happens. But then I actually GAINED weight. In fact, I was feeling overall lousy, bloated and sluggish, with headaches and stomach discomfort. Frustrated, I called my bariatric team and they asked me to give them a run-down of what I was eating. I was drinking a protein shake every day for breakfast, sometimes another protein shake for lunch, and sugar-free pudding was my go-to snack. Long story short, turns out I am lactose intolerant, and the protein shakes I was drinking are made with milk protein, a/k/a lactose. What I thought was helping was actually sabotaging my efforts! I stopped drinking the shakes, cut out milk-based products and BOOM started losing weight immediately! I'm told that it is very common to develop a lactose intolerance after VGS surgery. Had no clue.

I ended up canceling my surgery at oasis of hope..do to unforseen circumstances. I have nothing bad to say about them...they refunded my deposit.. Now I'm going to Mexico Bariatric Center on June 6th. I believe things happen for a reason.. I started my 1 week diet. I feel bad a ate a healthy Protein salad...but now I start my liquid diet and im ready👍

I ended up canceling my surgery at oasis of hope..do to unforseen circumstances. I have nothing bad to say about them...they refunded my deposit.. Now I'm going to mexico bariatric center on June 6th. I believe things happen for a reason.. I started my 1 week diet. I feel bad a ate a healthy protein salad...but now I start my liquid diet and im ready👍

I'm a picky eater too. I got through the pre/post op diet just fine, twice. Once for the Sleeve and once for the bypass. My first two weeks post op included 3 protein shakes a day, water, chicken or beef broth, non-fat yogurt, sugar free popsicles, sugar free pudding prepared from a powder mix, and sugar free sports drinks like gatorade. Since you only follow this diet for two weeks, you could pack a box of supplies and bring them with you. My second two weeks include eggs, string cheese, applesauce, bananas, mashed potatoes, yogurt, creamy peanut butter. I also make home made turkey chili and puree it. During this phase you can have everything from the Liquids only phase, but I was ready for new food. I was told if you can get protein from natural sources, it is better than getting it from protein shakes. The last phase will be soft foods which allow more meats, cereals, toast, pasta, vegetables, and cheeses. You should get a list from your nutritionist, but there are several informative lists online. Search for a Post Op bariatric surgery diet. You'll want to purchase a large supply of bariatric vitamins online as those are usually difficult to fine in stores. My Doctor asked me to wait two weeks post OP to start vitamins to avoid nausea. I wish you good luck with your surgery, travels and studies. Sounds like you are really getting a new start this year.

Despite all best plannings, my BiPAP macine was not available for me in PACU (Post Anesthesia Care Unit). I discussed my severe obstructive sleep apnea with anesthesiologist, surgeon and preop nurse. We all agreed that I needed to have my BiPAP on immediately after operating room. I even took it out of case and totally assembled it so all they needed to do is put on my mask. Didn't go as planned. When I arrived to PACU from operating room I was having difficulty breathing and immediately said, "I need my BiPAP." I was told it had been sent with all my other belongings to my hospital room. I really struggled to breathe. Coughed frequently to open airway and get a gasp of air. The male nurse said, "You have oxygen mask on. You don't need BiPAP." What an ignorant nurse. Oxygen isn't going anywhere when my airway is closed off. He clearly had no education or knowledge about severe obstructive sleep apnea in recovery room. I struggled for 45 minutes trying to breathe with coughs and gasps. Kept myself from falling asleep because didn't want to be intubated to fix breathing. Could hear the monitor alarming with dropping pO2. They finally decided I was stable to go to my hospital room. BiPAP was applied immediately. I finally could relax and breathe. I slept 13 hours and only awake when nurse came in to give blood thinner shot or add pain med to my IV. I emailed my bariatric center coordinator later and she immediately discussed with supervisor of PACU. No patient with severe obstructive sleep apnea should ever be deprived of their CPAP/BiPAP in recovery room. It is very dangerous. It is well-known that we need machines immediately because we are unable to keep airway open if we fall asleep in drugged state. And positioned on our back when obstruction is worst. Was a very scary and uncomfortable experience. Sent from my SM-T580 using BariatricPal mobile app

About the only way you can get revision is serious GERD. But weight gain that soon after sleeve may indicate to some surgeons you aren't ready to undergo another procedure. Check with your bariatric center and see if what you are eating is contributing to weight gain. (are you back to old habits like soda, fast food, junk food, snacking, grazing, etc,). Also be aware that some medications can cause weight gain. Check any meds you take for weight gain as side effect. You need to figure out what is really going on before considering surgery again. With the restriction gone from sleeve, your weight now depends on you and see what you can do to fix problem. Getting regular exercise? Sent from my SM-T580 using BariatricPal mobile app

I have been faithfully taking one Bariatric Fusion Multivitamin, B12, Calcium/D3 and Biotin since day one as instructed by doctor in postop orders. Been a little confused about multivitamin. I take fusion chewable once a day according to discharge orders. But bariatric center in preop education said I needed to take 4 each day. Will double check on Monday on postop visit. One thing I don't like about fusion is they do not include Vitamin K. Will ask if I need to get separate Vit K. If I take Fusion 4x a day, I get 1200mg Calcium in addition to the 1200 mg I get from Calcium+D3. I think that is too much Calcium (2400 mg). Until Monday, I am taking just one Fusion a day which gives me 1500 mg Calcium. I already have early osteopenia in hips by bone density scan so Calcium/D3/Vit K are all necessary to rebuild lost bone. Recommded D3 for me is 4000 IU per day so I take additional two D3 2000 IU per day. I really don't like that I get no Vit K in FUSION. The company that makes FUSION told me the don't include Vit K because interacts with a few people on blood thinners and that deficiency of Vit K is "rare". Then why do ALL OTHER Multivitamins on the market (bariatric, OTC and kids) all include Vitamin K? I am not believing I don't need Vit K supplement. But will wait to see doctor before I add Vit K supplement.

I can’t edit my comment, I know it wasn’t directed at me personally. But I guess it seemed an unnecessary thing to say. Each person is different. Researching surgery and meeting with surgeons is not a bad thing. And it’s up to the surgeon to discuss what’s best for their patient. For me I don’t have more weight to lose, except for skin. My fluctuations are minimal. Gaining a few lbs post surgery is different. non bariatric people fluctuate in weight. I said I can’t interpret intent or exactly express my response very well. But just my impression. I just see the words “if people want to rush it” If I could go back and delete my comments I would do so since what I said was taken the wrong way and I get jumped on. I will say honestly, I don’t think I should be posting anything more or anything regarding my surgery. I will leave it with what @ms.sss said. As I watch my health decline I want to grab it while I can ...

I’m a year and a half out from surgery and my doctor and I are very happy with my weight loss. I am also very happily pregnant (in my first trimester) and so far have had great medical care. I spoke with my bariatric nutritionist today and she mentioned that I should absolutely not lose any more weight and should work on eating more, ideally seven eating moments per day, gaining 15-25 lbs over the course of my pregnancy. I’m running 5k 3-4 times per week and have been continually, slowly naturally losing weight. I told her this and she said to just eat more so I would gain more weight. In hindsight I feel a bit like I wasn’t totally done losing weight. The shift from being focused on weight loss to gaining weight is unexpectedly hard to make, but it course I follow my doctors instructions to a T. Anyone have similar experiences with struggling to gain weight during pregnancy?

that's why I try to remember to spell things out (there are lots of acronyms in the bariatric community!) - but GB is gastric bypass (also called RNY) and NUT is nutritionist.

Maybe worth spending six months with a bariatric dietician or nutritionist see how you go? If you don't have any restricition anymore though, maybe worth your while to see a surgeon about your revision options.