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You can Google loose skin after bariatric to get an idea of what best and worst case senerios can look like. Loose skin is an unkown factor of your weight loss. Age, how long you have been obese and amount of weight lost will be factors. Plastics are an option. Self pay. Some insurance companies cover if the skin csuses mobility issues or rashes. Sent from my SM-G920T using BariatricPal mobile app

I'm having a revision on 3/28. I to had lost 90 lbs and, then I started having problems vomiting when eating. I went back to the surgeon and I had a UGI which showed a dilated esophagus. He took all the saline out. It was like that for 3 months, and still unable to have a fill. Then it was recommended for me to have a revision. My insurance denied me at first. I typed up a 3 page letter stating all of the problems that I am having with the band. I also called the insurance company to find out what type of physician reviewed my case. It was an internal medicine dr. In my letter I requested that a bariatric surgeon review my case, and I was approved right away. I can't wait for the band to come out. I chew so many tums! Lol. Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

Dr. Umbach at Blossom Bariatrics. The staff is wonderful! My Surgery is set for the 16th.

BCBS has so many different plans - that even have the same names - so you need to just call & ask. My husband works for a tiny company & we have BCBS Texas (not Health Select though) & they told us there is a bariatric surgery rider that the company could add on to the policy, but his company didn't choose it, so I was self-pay. Again, there are tons of different plans even through BCBS & different companies even if someone else has Health Select, so it's best to just call them. Some plans that do cover bariatric surgery only cover the lapband or bypass & not the sleeve too, so it's best to call & see what they say is covered & what hoops you have to jump through to get approval if they do cover it.

I am so lucky to have a support group through my surgeon's office. It's run by the head of the bariatrics program of the hospital where I had surgery and my surgeon's NUT. It's a drive to get there but so worth it. i learn something new every time.

It may be helpful to call your bariatric surgeon and ask them for additional information on what diet you can safely follow that would also be affordable. You are definitely doing the right thing to exercise, and sometimes it helps to change up the speed and type of exercise as well.

I only googled and found this Medicare and Medicaid Medicare covers bariatric surgery as long as all the necessary medical criteria are met and documented. Our Straight Medicaid plans unfortunately do not cover bariatric surgery in the state of Florida. However, if you are enrolled in a Humana Medicaid or United Medicaid plan your bariatric procedure will be covered if you meet the required criteria. I hope you are covered. I was not tho i am on the obamacare health plans.

I found something I like. I will use a Bariatric Complete multivitamin (chewable) I have to take only once a day in the morning and then Bariatric Advantage Calcium Citrate chewy bites I take 3 times a day for lunch, snack and dinner.

I just went to the Molina website and thought I would post what I found for others interested. http://www.molinahealthcare.com/medicaid/members/nm/pdf/member%20notification-%20vision%20and%20bariatric%20surgery%20(2).pdf?E=true So apparently there are not any Salud! programs in New Mexico covering bariatric surgery. I'm bummed out to say the least. Maybe there will be some changes in the future and they will add it back.

My doctor recommended Bariatric Advantage, I'm using that (mixed berry, chewable). It's not too bad. Good luck!

8/8/08: Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX My DH and I arrived at Methodist bright and early. Too early for the valet parking guys, which we didn't need in the morning, but might have come in handy when I left. Followed the signs and only had to ask for directions once. The Houston medical center is a maze of buildings that connect. The signage design people must make a fortune off of them. We reported to the 3rd floor nurses station and they immediately put us into a room and gave me a lovely gown in which to change. Did the typical answering of the same questions 100 times that you do when you have surgery. This prep nurse was not going to win any miss congeniality contests, that's for sure. I would actually have described her as dour. We hung out there for about an hour... I'm convinced now more than ever that the 2-hour before surgery arrival time is like the airline arrival time - not exactly to ensure you make your plane in time, but completely for their convenience. Next time, I'm coming a little late :frown:. They wheeled me out to the surgical hallway, literally. There were patients lined up along the hallways waiting to go into their surgical suites. A nurse came by and asked the same questions again. Then the anesthesiologist who spoke so quickly, I'm glad I could catch up. Next was the nurse anesthesist and a nurse anesthesist who was in training. They'd be doing the anesthesiology -- the other dude is really just "supervising". Had a nice talk with them, since we were still waiting for the doctor. Oh, by the way, all of this sucked to some degree because I was not permitted to wear contacts and had to give up my glasses to my DH. I couldn't really see anyone I was talking to. Then Dr. Garth's resident and a VERY young intern (I swear he was 12....maybe 17) came over to talk. His Physician's Assistant and the surgical nurse also came by. I think there were 8 or more people in that operating room! Well, Methodist is a teaching hospital... Finally, Dr. Garth came by. He asked if I was ready, and I asked if he was . Then they wheeled me in, and I don't remember really anything until the recovery area. They let DH come back and see me for awhile -- had told him I was fine and he let the folks know that I had told him to call or e-mail that I was fine. Then, they were just waiting for a room in which to move me. I heard the nurses talking about the room and the fact that the upper GI was not until the next morning! I tried to break in and tell them that I was supposed to go home today, so that could not be right. They kind of ignored me but pretended like I said something that made sense. They gave me a room assignment and sent me to the 8th floor room, which suprised me because it didn't seem so much like a day surgery thing. I was SOOOO thirsty. They gave me one of those spongy things to suck on, but, man, was I dehydrated -- probably from all of the broth. When I got on the floor, they wouldn't give me anything, either. I had to use the restroom, but the nurse wouldn't let me because my pulse ox was too low. She put a nasal cannula in with oxygen, which finally got my O2 up enough to go pee! Getting up hurt like a @#$%&. I asked for some pain meds and got some morphine, which didn't really do much. A couple of hours later, the VERY young intern comes by and mentions that they put the wrong orders on my file, and I was supposed to actually get my barium swallow and go back to the day surgery ward. So, we waited to get on the barium swallow schedule which took a couple of more hours. Good thing I had a magazine :ohmy:. They took me down to radiology where they helped me get up onto the very odd rotating bed thing. She took an xray to get documentation of the location of the band. Then the very grumpy radiologist comes in and tilts the table up very quickly (ouch!). He had NO sense of humor. They made me drink several swallows of the awful fluid (the tech described it well -- like cough syrup without flavor), and then had me kind of move from side to side. I had to drink some more, and I SWORE that I had to talk my body into swallowing any more. The guy was just so unfriendly -- I wanted to watch the stuff go down and he just wanted to move on. Why are these guys so arrogant. Anyway, what I noticed is that my pouch seemed to be a lot larger than I expected it to be. I hope that's okay. My DH mentioned that there was another woman waiting for the barium swallow who had her surgery at 11. GRRRR. They didn't have any beds on the day surgery wing, so I went back up to my old bed. The very young intern "Tanner" came a little later and told me I could leave once I drank some "bariatric fluids". He didn't know what that meant, really, as he was new to the "service". God, I was so thirsty, I could have downed bottles of stuff, but took it slow. Given how fast I had to/could drink that awful fluid for the barium swallow, god knows I could get more down. At that point, I started pushing the nurse for when I could leave. At 6pm (yes, 6pm), I finally got the young intern to spring me. The gave me a script for Lortadine Elixer and sent me on my way. Stopped on the way home and filled the script, and then sat to watch the Olympics Opening Ceremony. Had a nice popsicle. Went to bed, but could not sleep. Actually, could not sleep all night. Actually went out and "slept" on the couch. I think that the pain meds have the exact opposite effect on me as they should -- they make me wide awake!!!

I'm hoping one of the Bariatric pal vets will chime in

I called today and found out that I would be covered for skin removal (tummy). But they have "conditions". I've had the policy emailed to me. I'll have my bariatric group review it and go from there. I have had rashes in the folds, but wonder if that's enough. It's been recorded at my last appointment. I'm just curious if anyone has dealt with these folks before to know if there are major hoops to jump through - or if simple documentation is enough. If they cover the panni removal...I could probably pay for a full tummy tuck. Which would be awesome.

Whatever you Celebrate I hope you have a great HOLIDAY SEASON In 2016 I am going to: Get a better electronic scale - one that measures body fat. Get a Bod Pod reading done - I was supposed to go last week to get a baseline body fat % but my mom got sick. REACH MY GOAL WEIGHT Be consistent with exercise Be outside more with my nieces and nephews doing things like taking walks, biking, hiking, etc. Do a zip line tour Take my Vitamins and supplements EVERY DAY Continue to attend my follow up appointments with the bariatric team Continue to attend my monthly support group Help my mom through the process of getting a surgery date for herself That's it for now!

Good for you! I'm so happy that you're able to do that. You know, only 5% of people are able to lose weight - and keep it off - with diet and exercise alone. Only 5%, isn't that crazy?!? Praise the Lord there are alternatives (like medications, or bariatric surgery) for the other 95% of us.

Southwest Bariatric Surgeons - Lap Band & Gastric Bypass Weight Loss Surgery - Austin, TX located in austin

Hi everyone! I am fairly new to app and appreciate all of your advice. I am currently covered under Tricare Prime and have been working with a civilian provider. Everything has been going very smooth. I originally decided to get the Lap Band, but after talking to several other patients, attending support groups and information seminars, and doing a lot of soul-searching, I've decided that the sleeve will be a better option for me. As many of you know, Tricare does not cover the sleeve surgery at civlian providers, but they will cover it at an MTF. I refuse to go to the surgeon at Winn (the MTF on the post we are on) because I had an AWFUL experience with him. He is the reason why my husband and I requested a civilian provider. I am half way between Fort Jackson and Fort Benning and am willing to go to either of these facilities to get the sleeve procedure. I was curious if anyone knows any MTF bariatric providers at the on-post hospitals on either of these bases? If so, please let me know. It is a four hour drive either way for me and don't want it to be a waste of a drive! Please help me!

I searched online and found this under FAQ: Lap Band Surgery, Minimally Invasive Bariatric Surgery to Lose Weight, Obesity Management Asia What I don't understand is they say the band can be tighter in the morning,(changes in Water retention) but the band can't be tighter during flying. so I'm guessing that some people that have problems with tightness might be flying in the morning or since the morning tightness is associated with water retention, perhaps some people eat something before the flight that makes them retain water, they get tight and blame it on fyling instead of the food they ate??? Maybe they ate salty airport food? I am flying soon, I think I will make sure not to eat something salty and I will stay well hydrated. There are also old threads about this, that you can do an "advanced search" to find.

Steve, in our case, when DH retires, DD will still be in HS. If something happens to us, we want her taken care of. If something happens to DH, I need the income to help us survive. That's just our scenario. On another note, some one mentioned earlier about having been hospitalized and insurance not liking that. I was outpatient for my surgery so in that regard, I should be okay. It would be if they have a problem with bariatric surgery and having had it less than a year ago. Guess I'll find out when we try it!

@InfiniteButterfly: The Starbucks is something you would not be able to have post-surgery. Definitely not immediately, and with the amount of sugar in even the non-fat varieties, it's definitely a very, very occasional treat (if even that. I used to LOVE non-fat, no-whip green tea frappucinos pre-surgery. I took one look at the sugars post-surgery and said goodbye forever) When you say you don't have Starbucks, etc. anymore, is that because you just don't want it, or is it forbidden for some reason? I've read conflicting things on the sleeve/WLS, but I'm learning all I can. Some people discuss head hunger, while others state that it biologically altered what they actually can eat and/or crave from that point on. And honestly, if your goal post-surgery is to follow Weight Watchers? I don't know that it's nutritionally sound for a bariatric patient. You would need to discuss that with a nutrition counselor (I know from when I tried Weight Watchers that there was a helluva lot of food that I couldn't possibly eat post-surgery or likely ever) I'm not really sure what the "right" answer is for a psych consult, all I can say is that I'm not a lazy WLS candidate. I've done a lot of things in my life, up to and including being an athlete, and I've never been non-compliant with medical advice. I don't, by any means, plan to eat small amounts of unhealthy foods until my stomach expands to its original size, because I've seen WLS people do that and think it's such a waste. I want to get thin again and stay healthy. @Moonlitestarbright: since you havent done your nutritional counseling, how are you supposed to know? go get your nutritional counseling and then another psych eval. i think you might have put the cart before the horse. Right....how would I know? I'm not non-compliant and I'm not post op (yet); I'll follow whatever diet plan the doctor deems appropriate, because I want to heal and look good and keep it off for the rest of my life. Perhaps you were right that I put the cart before the horse. I don't believe I'm a bad candidate for surgery, because I've molded my diet to a lot of different things before and adhered to them (Weight Watchers, South Beach, etc.). The hunger, at least on Weight Watchers, is what is currently getting me to surpass the points I'm allotted, so I thought stomach reduction and getting the hunger hormone cut out would be especially helpful.

Ok sorry that I'm bombarding this forum with my posts but it seems I have so many questions. I was wondering if after getting the bypass surgery (either RNY or mini gastric bypass) are will still able to digest and absorb Vitamin pills (and not capsules) like prenatal Vitamins for example? Also I came across a Bariatric once a day capsule under the brand name ProCare Health . Was wondering if any of you have used it before? Is it advisable to use a once a day pill? I have read somewhere that chewables are the best for RNY patients and it has to be taken 2-4 times for best absorption.. Is this true? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

He works out of the Bariatric office at the hospital. It's on the 4th floor of Medical Arts I think. Phone number is 762-1547

Atelectasis, or a partial lung collapse is a known complication of general anesthesia. It could happen with ANY surgery and is not specific to bariatric surgery. That's one of the big reasons we have to do that incentive spirometer. Do your incentive spirometer as directed in your post-op instructions. Make sure you're communicating with your doctor with your symptoms.

As long as you don't breast feed there is no problem with having an adjustment about 2 weeks post partum. Bariatric Nurse Sent from my SM-G930F using BariatricPal mobile app

I am a bariatric physician practicing in Sacramento who has been trained to do band fills. My charge is around $400 for an initial consult and fill, and we are getting some insurance coverage. Follow-up fills are $110. In my opinion, having a lower priced option will encourage band patients to use their band as it was designed. I see many patients who had only one or two fills, then stopped because of the expense. Here is the page on my BestBand program: http://www.keepitoff.com/our-programs/best-bariatrics-weight-loss/best-band-postoperative-weight-loss-program/ Also, I want to invite you (and any other band patient) to a monthly band only support group. It is held at Sutter General Hospital the third Saturday of the month from 10:30-12:30. Sincerely, John Hernried, MD The Hernried Center for Medical Weight Loss www.keepitoff.com View my Bandster Profile! Help!!! Just moved to CA and need a new Dr. permalink I just moved from WA to CA. I live 1 hour from Modesto and 2 from Sacremento. Most facility's are not accepting patients from other doctors. And when they are I am quote $1800 for an intial visit and fill. I don't currently have insurance until the begining of the year. Does anyone do where I can get fills for a reasonable cost?? Or is there an insurance company that I can pay for to help with the cost of seeing a new doctor? Join Date: Nov 2009 Age: 24 Posts: 2 City: Walla Walla State: WA View my Bandster Profile! Help!!! Just moved to CA and need a new Dr. permalink I just moved from WA to CA. I live 1 hour from Modesto and 2 from Sacremento. Most facility's are not accepting patients from other doctors. And when they are I am quote $1800 for an intial visit and fill. I don't currently have insurance until the begining of the year. Does anyone do where I can get fills for a reasonable cost?? Or is there an insurance company that I can pay for to help with the cost of seeing a new doctor? I just moved to the Sonora area and have been shocked at the prices I have been quoted for a new patient. $1800 for first visit and fill (no payments allowed). I currently do not have insurance and can. Does anyone have ideas on a doctor that I could go to for a more reasonable cost. Or know of any insurance that I could get that would cover the intial fees for a new patient?