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Even searching through posts/threads to see if anyone is from Pennsylvania or using Dr. Aerrola or even Dr.Ali from Hamot Bariatrics in Erie, PA?

I had my surgery at a military treatment facility. Part of the pre op information we were given was that post bariatric surgery, a person is no longer qualified for military service. I don't know if it's the change in your anatomy or the restriction of your diet, but it is not compatible with military service. Susan

I'm torn on what to say to you, because afterall its YOUR journey to take. I will tell you this. With the band and proper restriction you will be full faster... so maybe a small candy bar would satisfy your sweet tooth rather than a whole bowl of halloween treats. One of my dear RL friends who had the RNY.... (she has gained back about 70% of the 120lbs she lost) She told me that she still ate things that made her feel like crap, but that sometimes it was worth it...... she didn't keep up with her bariatric Vitamins, she gained, she went into a depression, she has tried to commit suicide, she has been hospitalized twice,and now she is not returning calls.... She had talked about getting banded over her stretched out pouch but now she says she is done with losing weight....... I'm not saying this to scare you, but I wanted you to know the other side of what has happened to effect me and my decision to get banded.... and also.. her journey is different than yours... but I truly think the long term effects of the malabsorbtion factor have really yet to be determined. I love this woman as a sister and I have watched her change into a shell.

My surgeon's plan allows for soft Proteins starting on day three (cottage cheese, ground meat, Beans, etc- very small portions, of course). He said he stays up to date with all of the latest recommendations in the bariatric community, and has been doing it this way for years with no problems. I never had a miserable week of clears or liquids, and no eating mush for weeks on end. I've tolerated everything I've eaten, and am now 7 weeks out, and basically eating like a normal person (only real restriction is that I'm eating low carb), just smaller portions. It has made this processes so much easier than I ever expected, and I'm down 45 pounds in 9 weeks (that includes 2 week pre-op diet). I am a big proponent for following YOUR surgeons recommendations, but just wanted to throw this out there to show how much the post-op diets can vary between surgeons. ~*~ Find me on YouTube: Trisha's Sleeve Story ~*~

Of course professional psychiatric therapy would be my first suggestion. You may check with your insurance to see if it is covered. If not, there are self help books out there, free support groups through local bariatric programs, etc. Look for books or programs that deal with addiction and cognitive behavior therapy. Do whatever you have to to find the help you need. You need to uncover the reasons you turn to food and work to develop new outlets for your emotions. Another addiction recovery program mentioned in my support group was Smart Recovery. It appealed to people who weren't comfortable with the 12 step process of OA. They offer online, personal and group support. Food addiction is hard. I know I would not have been successful postop without the psychological support. 1/2 dozen books, 3+ years of personal therapy (which was more valuable than surgery itself), 5+ years of group therapy (free) and now free online forum support.

It sounds like it could WLS related but only one way know for sure so please contact your original Bariatric Surgeon if you can (or a new one) for diagnostic testing and guidance.

My Dr told me I could take ANY kind of multi vitamin, that it didn’t have to be bariatric specific. Does that sound right to anyone else? Also, I use a B12 nasal spray (prescription) once a week. It’s awesome, no injection and no sublingual.

That is the lunacy of 6-month waiting to lose weight. Most people will see worsening of co-morbidities. You are one of the small percentage who loses weight enough that comorbidity actually improves. You could raise your A1C in 3 months by eating high carb diet but not soo high to gain a lot of weight. Ironically, Medicare requires you TO FAIL a 3-month weight loss diet but my surgeon wants me to to lose as much weight as possible. I don't know how Medicare defines "failure" to lose weight but my bariatric center said to not worry about that. Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

I have a $3,000 program fee, of which my insurance company picked up $1,500. It covers having a year's worth of diet consultation, 24-hour bariatric nurse support, 12 months of personal training by an exercise physiologist, and my first band fill. I feel like I'm being overcharged for this, but I had to pay it to get into the program. Professional support is absolutely necessary, but this seems pretty much like piracy to me. I think that a reasonable cost for this service would be $700-$1,000.

I am also Tricare Prime East (OHIO) and it took forever for me too. I am using the base as they have a surgeon who is a Bariatric Surgeon, as a matter of fact they have two now. I had the referral from my PCM, then I had to attend a Lap Band class, then on to nutrition, psyc appt which took a couple of weeks to get in, then appt with surgeon to talk over my questions and see which surgery I wanted, gastric or band. I have another appt on Jan 12 for pre-admission, labs, nutrition class, and surgeon again to make sure nothing has changed with me. My surgery is scheduled from Jan. 16 and I will be on a pre surgery diet of 1 week of liquids plus a frozen diet meal for dinner, then post op is one week of liquids, 2 weeks of mushy foods, then soft foods. He does not do a fill during surgery as he said that is what causes band slippage. CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jan

I can totally relate...my consult with the bariatric doctor was on 9/16 and my surgery is already scheduled for this monday, 10/13. My insurance doesn't cover any of the surgery so I think that may have expedited the surgery date. The first thing I did was purchase the pre and post op bariatric advantage lapband protein and vitamin supplements as well as some of the profect protein "shots". They are really weird looking and the fruit punch one I have tried tastes like really bad cough medicine :tt1:. If you feel that it's too rushed, then talk to the surgery team about pushing it back a few weeks if you have to....remember that this is YOUR journey and don't feel forced into a date just because they can schedule you. There's a lot to do before the surgery (getting clearance from your primary care doctor, lots of blood work, your psych clearance, ekg, etc.) and it can be really hard to manage it all if you are working. I don't know about others, but you may want to consider taking a few 1/2 days off of work before the surgery to get it all done. Hang in there and I wish you the best:thumbup:

Hi! I'm a little over 5 weeks. What I was told was to keep protein to 70-90gm, increase complex carbohydrates, and try to get in 1000 calories a day minimum in the 1st trimester (it goes up each trimester). I never jumped on the deli meat band wagon, and honestly most meat makes me sick now. So, what I've been doing is yogurt every morning (I switched to full fat greek), 1 cup a day of beans (Navy, Great Nothern, or Black Beans), a package of the the Green Giant microwave steamers veggies, a piece of fruit (cuties, berries), cheese snack, and then dinner at the moment is up in the air depending on how I feel (my nausea is worst at night) but I try to eat fish like tilapia or salmon and then if possible some sweet potato and maybe salad. I split a lot of those up into smaller portions and am eating about every 2hrs just to keep the nausea at bay. Other good foods to add would be hard boiled eggs, spinach, avocado (I had a friend who would literally have half an avocado for lunch every day), banana and high fiber foods. If you are ok with straight dairy add a glass of milk. If grains are your thing feel free to add them but you don't need them with the beans as long as you are still eating animal products. Oh, and chocolate. I have one piece of good dark chocolate every day. And, as a side note, I have some days where nothing sounds good at all and I just have a protein shake (the orgain organic pre-made ones). Oh, one last thing, I don't know which app you are using to track you food, but I really like cronometer as you can track possible micronutrient deficiencies, and you can change the setting for how much of each nutrient you are shooting for (makes it very bariatric and pregnancy friendly). I've found that most vitamins don't cover your full need for Choline, Potassium, and Iodine so you may need to add more foods that supply those nutrients. Hope that helps!

Wow, it sounds like you have been dealing with a lot of life. As far as your post-op food plan, can you get another copy from your surgeon? Try googling "Bariatric Center of Excellence manual" and you should be able to find some examples. I would suggest you make an appointment with your surgeon and/or NUT to discuss your health issues (especially your use of steroids). A good bariatric NUT should be able to help you get back on track. It's never too late.

Congratulations, I too am very happy for you. I seem to recall another poster whose doctor,had her on a bariatric and a prenatal vitamin,at the same time ,told he4 that way you and your baby will both be healthy. Said your body intrinsically knows which vitamins go where. 👶&👸

I'd get a consultation with a dietitian who has some experience with pregnancy post-bariatric surgery:) I seem to recall Iron was stressed during pregnancy, calcium, a good balanced diet.

Practicing eating mindfully and making small changes to start was really helpful to me. I found the book by Michelle May, Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat for Binge Eating, to be very useful. There is a companion workbook for people having Bariatric surgery.

We understand your concern. Most of us have the same problem. Don't box yourself into a corner thinking that you've got to have everything figured out before surgery. This is an on-going process of learning and behavior modification. In some ways, our new "tool" is the teacher, i.e. dumping or foamies UGH! In addition, find local support groups. Mine has a speaker every month and lots of people with whom to discuss the ins and outs of life after surgery. Start going to those meetings now. Take advantage of every learning opportunity provided by your doctor's office. You never know when an "aha!" moment might hit! Most of all, if your insurance covers it, try going to a counselor that specializes in eating disorders. It's even better if you can find one with bariatric experience. I plan on seeing a counselor to work through my food issues, because, like you said, that's how I got here.

Just wanted to thank you all for your kind words and advice. I wanted to post my appeal letter... I think it came out well. My goal was to appeal to their sensitivty... we'll see if that works : P Dear Sir or Madam; I recently received a denial of benefits for the proposed Laparascopy, a longitudinal gastrectomy (i.e. sleeve gastrectomy) based on the fact that I have not been at a BMI of 40 or higher for 5 consecutive years. I am appealing this decision and hope that based on the facts that I present in the following letter, that the decision will be overturned and I can be approved for surgery as soon as possible. I have attached a copy of the denial to this letter for your records. I understand that the policy states that I must be at the current BMI or higher for a minimum of 5 years, however I firmly believe that in 5 years, not only will I be much heavier, but I will also have a long list of comorbidities to add to my current morbid obesity. In 2005 I weighed 193 lbs. In 2010 I now weigh over 230 lbs. At the rate at which I am gaining weight I will easily weigh 280 lbs by 2015, which far exceeds the title of morbid obesity. It is this hypothesis that has led me to the option of bariatric surgery, which for someone like me, will literally save a life. I come from a long line of obese individuals. Not one person in my immediate family is not classified as obese, and many of my extended family member s are morbidly obese. I have a cousin who died of morbid obesity in 2005 at a weight of 650 lbs. She was living life in a wheelchair because she had lost mobility and eventually had a heart attack and died at the age of 35. Diabetes also runs rampant on both sides of my family; my father, sister, uncles, aunt, grandmother, and grandfather all have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I tested borderline for gestational diabetes for both of my pregnancies and one of my biggest fears is being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. In addition, hypertension and high cholesterol also permeate my family?s medical history. My mother, father, sister, aunts, uncles, and cousins ALL have hypertension so severe that they are on medication. My grandmother, mother, and father all have high cholesterol, also severe enough for medication. I see myself as next in line. Currently, I have chronic heartburn which I fear will transition into GERD in no time. And I have begun snoring, which has the potential to turn to sleep apnea as time passes and my weight increases. You see, I simply do not have 5 years to wait and see how sick I become. I am attempting to be proactive and save my life. If not for myself, for my 2 young children. My daughter is 2 and a half, and my son is 9 months old. My prayer is that I can have this surgery not only to lose weight, but to bestow upon them proper eating habits and nutrition as well as the love of exercise. As it stands right now, my mobility is affected by my weight and it breaks my heart that I can?t be the mom I want to be simply because of how heavy I am. I am essentially dragging around at least 100 extra pounds with me every single day, which makes it difficult to do simple things like walk up the stairs in my home. I don?t want to write a research paper about the benefits of the sleeve gastrectomy because I do trust that you are an informed medical professional. But I want to explain why I am choosing this surgery over all of the other options out there. The reason why I am not simply accepting gastric bypass (e.g. Roux-n-Y) or gastric banding (Lap-Band? or Realize?) is because both have very high rates of long term failure. And the reason why I have chosen not to apply for the Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch is because I feel as though the surgery is A) extreme for someone with my BMI and also leads to nutritional deficiencies and high rates of osteoporosis as the malabsorptive properties of the surgery are almost ?too effective? and can lead to malnutrition. I do believe that the vertical sleeve portion of the DS surgery (sleeve gastrectomy) is the best option for me because it is a highly successful restrictive procedure and I can still absorb the essential nutrients that my body requires without extreme amounts of Vitamin supplementation. Supporting Literature A systematic review of the literature covering LSG through January 2009[1] was published in June last year. Conclusion: From the current evidence, including 36 studies and 2570 patients, LSG is an effective weight loss procedure that can be performed safely as a first stage or primary procedure. From this large volume of case series data, a matched cohort analysis, and 2 randomized trials, LSG results in excellent weight loss and co-morbidity reduction that exceeds, or is comparable to, that of other accepted bariatric procedures. The postoperative major complication rates and mortality rates have been acceptably low. Long-term data are limited, but the 3- and 5-year follow-up data have demonstrated the durability of the SG procedure. A handful of additional work has been published since that literature review concluded, with additional long term durability data and adding considerable support to the efficacy of LSG in resolving diabetes.[2],[3],[4],[5],[6],[7],[8] Two International Consensus Summits for Sleeve Gastrectomy have been held, the first[9] 10/25-27/2007 and the second[10] 3/19-21/2009. At the second conference, during the consensus part, the audience responded that there was enough evidence published to support the use of SG as a primary procedure to treat morbid obesity and indicated that it is on par with adjustable gastric banding and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, with a yes vote at 77%. In conclusion, I ask that you please approve the Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery for me based on the medical information that I have provided as well as personal consideration and kindess. I truly need this surgery to save my life, and I pray every day that it can happen. I appreciate your time and sincerely hope that you can assist me in changing my life and my children?s lives. Kind Regards, Alexis

you shouldn't have to be at a BMI of 40 for five years. Find out where it states that in the policy. I would approach it that you would be exposed to a lot of risk during the next 4 years. Checking with you surgeon or PCP for ideas is a good way to go. I was initially rejected for some stupid reason, and my PCP called up the bariatrics and told them they should be ashamed of themselves. I was in orientation the next week. It's good to get someone on your side, to help you fight the battle. Don't give up.....fight it.

I was just stating what my doctor told me, a person who has performed over 4000 bariatric surgeries. He was also Duke fellowship trained. They are one of the best bariatric programs in the country. So I think he may know a little something. I oozed and absolutely had no problems.

I started my pre-op diet on July 3rd and am scheduled for the 17th for surgery so far so good I find that if I eat things that are high in protein I'm good and I definitely know if I have waited too long to eat my one meal of the day I start to get very week I don't get to have any bars just clear broth, sugar free popsicles & Jell-O, 3 ounces of protein and 1 cup of vegies and of course water & flavored drinks I have lost 14 lbs. in one week crazy that has never happened before the bariatric advance high protein shakes are pretty good I like the Iced Latte, Orange Cream and Banana flavors I find that it has gone by fast and my husband has been a real big support for me. oh I forgot the nurse said if I had the urge for something crunchy I could have a dill pickle and it works pretty good have done that twice.

Reposting this sound advice......The struggle you're in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow... In the end we only regret the chances we didn't take, relationships we were too afraid to have, and the decisions we waited too long to make... The cost of not following your heart, is spending the rest of your life wishing you had... Get free daily bariatric success email @ MyBariatricLife.org

Had my sleeve done Monday the 6th by Dr. Fernando Garcia Govea at Hospital CER via Tijuana Bariatrics. Honestly, I was so nervous beforehand that I truly believed I made the wrong choice. However, after everything was said and done I believe it was a great choice. The hospital was cleanly (honestly, I don't know what I was expecting), but it was way above my expectations. I honestly haven't felt the urge to really explore Tijuana though. I don't really have the energy, lol. How long did it take everyone to be 100% and ready to return to work?

Congratulations on your new journey and welcome to Bariatric Pal. Seems like you have been rocking and rolling. I wish I only had 3months of nutritional visits..

Call the ship and let them know you are a bariatric patient the chef will accomadate your dietary needs.