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I just moved back to Savannah a couple months ago. I was banded Monday 8/25 in San Antonio, Tx just cuz I already had all my insurance requirements done and gotten my approval for there. I'm looking into Memorial Bariatrics for my aftercare. Where did you get your surgery done? How was your surgery? How are you feeling?

I don't know where you live, but where I am, CBD is a big thing. It's supposed to be wonderful for anxiety and more natural than xanax, etc. (though I take the xanax myself). I'm considering looking into CBD for my anxiety. I'm awaiting my surgery (I don't even have a date yet), so I can't relate to the head hunger just yet. I have been going to bariatric support groups, and they suggest keeping your hands busy, walking and all of that. Or a rewards system that doesn't include food (i.e., you didn't snack, give your self a marble and once the jar is full, you can buy the shoes you've been eyeing).

Well my drs office when I asked about Tespo had not heard about it. I asked about the Bariatric Vitamin patch and they want their patients to take multi in pill form for first 2 months. Sent from my SM-G900H using the BariatricPal App

Try Profect protein vials by Bariatric Advantage. They are 50g of protein 0carbs and fat in a 3.2 ounce vial. Almost a full days protein in 3 ounces!!

Removing a large portion of your stomach is extreme and comes with potential health hazzards of its own. Having to go the extreme of injury to healthy organ tissue and a diet of under 1000 calories just to mobilize fat loss that would happen in a normal sized person with moderate diet and exercise changes should be indication of how complex obesity is phisiologically. Even with surgery, long term results are not 100% for weight loss even at the 50% EWL mark, especially when you look at all bariatric surgery historically. Not everyone is willing or wants to do that or can do that due to their health, finances, personal beliefs, etc. You can change your sex with surgery too. You can also modify your looks with surgery, makeup, and hair dye enough to be seen as another race. Religion is a protected class and it is completely voluntary so saying "you can change being fat" does not really hold Water, especially when diets fail 95% of the time. My point is that saying "those fatties can stop eating" when you were unable to do so is buying into the exact line of thinking of the discriminators. Someone should not be forced into surgery in order to get a job or keep a job. Obesity, particularly morbid obesity, is a much more complex phisiological issue than just someone eating twinkies all day. You as a fat person should know better.

Dear Gail Ann I too had the Gastric Sleeve, mine was on December 11, 2014 and I was FREAKING out because I dropped 25lbs in less than 2weeks and STOPPED!!!!! It has been almost 2 full weeks and I am teter tottering at 260 to 265lbs. The only reason I think that I dropped so much right away is because my Dr. keeps you on Clear and Bariatric liquids for a full 3weeks. The Good news my friend, is that when I saw my nutritionist this past weekend she assured me that it is "Normal" to come to a slight hault in the 3-4th week, again in the 3rd month and once more in the 6th month. She said that your body is So used to being a certain weight that it is hanging on to everything you are putting in from shock and thinking that you are starving yourself even though you are not!!! Girl, Stay Strong, I promise if you do I will too because I am feeling exactly what you are feeling but I have to believe that if I am following the diet, which I am, step by step then WE MUST LOSE!!!!!! I am interested in your progress please keep me posted!!!! Luv ~T~

I never took bariatric vitamins and my labs were always great. For the first four weeks after surgery I did Wellesse liquid multi-vitamins, iron, and calcium. I took double doses of the vitamins and iron. After about four weeks I switched to Trader Joe's High Potency chewable multi vitamin -- again, a double dose for the first year. It is FAR cheaper, lower calorie, and lower carb than those bariatric specialty vitamins that are masquerading as candy and loaded up with artificial crap. I also switched to Citracal Petites for calcium and whatever the drug store had on sale (not slow release) for iron.

"The Emotional First Aid Kit - a Practical guide to life after Bariatric Surgery" by Cynthia Alexander really helped me get my head in the right place to deal with my new life. Let's you know what you can expect through the entire process with suggestions on how to deal. Got it on Kindle.

You should bite the bullet and just have all the Fluid removed by a doc. That should eliminate the severe problems you are having unless your band has slipped or eroded. No insurance will cover you unless you work for a company that has insurance and you are brought in under their umbrella. In those cases, existing conditions are usually waived. You're asking an insurance company to fork out $6,000-$8,000 and you only contribute a few hunded in premiums? That's just not going to happen. Till you find employment that has a bariatric inclusion, get the fluid removed. tmf

ALM.com https://www.ALM.com/how-to-avoid-weight-loss-plateau-after-bariatric-surgery/

Scheduling my surgery currently ???? & I am paying $8900 in Mexico. My insurance does not pay for bariatric surgery.

Hi @@laurenella82, I am in the Washington DC area. I am going through the Providence Bariatric Center, Dr. Rickford.

Start getting in better shape now. I walked, lifted, and did as much as I could 5 times a week getting ready for surgery. Started practicing eating slower for lunch. Watched many videos, talked to people who had been through it. Oh, but best work was preparing for the mental changes with my therapist and worked through this book: http://www.amazon.com/Emotional-First-Aid-Kit-Practical/dp/0976852659/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1436729032&sr=8-13&keywords=bariatric+book If you drink, like I did, you need to assess how to wean yourself off. Ditto cigs, and slowly cut the caffeine. Don't try to cram it into the final week, you will feel horrible, just put it on a calendar and do it in a controlled manner. Followed the pre-op diet to the letter Shopped two weeks before surgery for the foods I would need for the first two weeks. Revised my will and power's of attorney just in case something went wrong Tried pureed meal ideas before surgery so I had some meal plans. The result of this work - flawless surgery, up and running a day later, no real drop in energy, and ready for the change. Its been a great ride. Off BP meds/CPAP and the sex is incredible, but that's in a different forum (look up sex, oh my god sex in the men's room if you need motivation).

Cigna is awesome. They covered the whole thing. I had to have 90 days of Dr visits. I had to have a bmi of at least 40. They are awesome !!! I called them and made sure they told me it was covered. Go on cigna.com and search for bariatric and their policy comes up. It tells u what they ask for. Good luck!! Oh I'm in New York.

And it may sound sneaky but I have known of cases that are billed as Hiatal Hernia repair instead of bariatric surgery especially if you have one of the insurance plans reluctant to cover VSG or RNY, and sad to say even in this enlightened age, there are insurance providers that think Bariatrics are only "Vanity Surgeries". Wish they could walk in my moccasins, they would quickly see the error of their ways! Oh I was fortunate that Medicare/Medicaid only asked for need and a BMI over 40, I sure didn't need the co-morb I already had, my presurgery BMI at first consultation was nearly 52. And not to be rotten about it, my current one is 31.1 9 months out. So your could say my life turned around JUST in Time, now at edge of mere overweight, instead of obesity and morbid obesity. 👍🌸😝🌺, as small or smaller than I was in 1967 when I got married. Long Time Ago!

hello, Dec 20 will mark 3 years since my LAGB surgery. I lost about 40 lbs and stayed the same for sooooooo long. Got my last fill in June. And within the last couple months (started school, started going to gym more, activity level increased greatly, less time to eat) I have really started to crawl out of my slump and start using the the band to it's full potential once again. I have lost about 25 lbs in the last 8 weeks or so. My problem is, I always had a bit of GERD issues, but the past month or so (and even more the past week or so) have been having a lot of it-I usually start coughing when it starts, and can't stop coughing until I take zantac or pepcid. I can take tums for a lot shorter period of relief. (I really have an issue with PPI's and will not take them) I do not want to get an unfill b/c I am losing weight for the first time in years and am very happy with my new, improved body. Also, I can eat anything, just small amounts, and have had no trouble keeping anything down when I take small bites and chew. Reflux is mostly in the AM and when I dont eat for much more than a couple hours. I have vomited, but only 3 or 4 times since I got the fill in June and it was because I was stupid and ignored my signals. I have an appt with my Bariatric nurse on friday, any advice/anecdotes/words of wisdom would be appreciated. -Carlie

Here's an article that explains a little more on the importance of protein after bariatric surgery... http://www.disabled-...urgery-food.php Also, protein helps wounds heal faster as it is necessary for tissue repair.

Yesterday I made an appointment for next month. I asked for labs. My last labs were.... 8- 2011, My surgery was 1-11! I thought I had one for a year....... after one year I never heard from my Bariatric team again.

I found that for me, it was theraputic. I have always stood by my philosophy that no one, other then those who have taken this journey, can even begin to understand what its like. I journaled to give my family a tiny glimpse of what I went through, of how I was feeling through all of this. Well and I love to write lol. As I read back I find that so many things I felt then, I still struggle with today. I sometimes wonder if this journey ever ends, or you just keep marching....regardless, I think I'll keep marching Posted January 29, 2011 So my ex and I walked into the seminar, meeting, whatever you wanna call it. You have to attend at least one meeting to be eligable for the surgerym so this counted 2 fold. I will admit, I shocked a little when I saw the size of the chairs that were out. It was almost insulting but I guess this was for um...people of size, but come on, I wasn't one of them....was I? The room had I'd venture to say...70 or more people. All sizes were there. New people, people who had the surgery recently, veterans, you name it. The lady who started the meeting, seminar, whatever, told the audience that she had bariatric surgery about 2 years ago. Then showed a before picture. Impressive. I had learned through the course of the night that almost ALL of the team members had it (the "team" is the whole group you work with, a nutritionist, head shrinker, insurance liason, social worker, Dr etc) I found that bit of info...interesting. She introduced the team members one by one (of course more then one team) thewn announed they would all be talking. Ok, honestly, I was bored already. The ex was listening with intensity. I was making paper airplanes. I hate this. You know its just gonna be the same stuff they say at the private meetings! The only time I really focused was when the Drs were up there. That was of interest. After everyone, and I mean EVERYONE finished the lecture portion, they played a little game (for lack of a better word) They put a picture up on a big screen in the front of the room of a former fatty and you had to look around the room to see if you could find them. No one could! Then they would set out in the aisle. Wow. It was unbelieveable. They had a Q&A after. This was my oppertunity to really dig deep. "Excuse me, but don't like 1 in 300 people DIE from this suregery?" All eyes turned to me...whaaaat? It was a ligit question!! I remembered my research!!! Of course the doctor has an answer for everything, even though I was trying to trip him up, giving myself an excuse not to continue this process. But the more I FINALLY listened, the more I thought, maybe...just maybe this was the road I should be traveling. Although I was scared I thought I should take another step and meet with the team, you know, hear them out. What do I stand to lose? I made appts that night with several team members. Oct 2nd I was set to begin. Begin what? I wasn't sure yet. *note for today...now I know it was to begin a new life This was posted later that same night... Wow, I made a huge mistake last night. My son and I went to the gym. We felt great when we left. So we went home and he did some cleaning while I cooked dinner. chicken Egg Foo Young Muffins with sauce, rice and steamed broccoli. Experimenting has been fun. Reminds me why I like cooking. So anyway, he and I ate dinner in the den, my daughter had gone upstairs. Sometimes she likes to cook with us, other times its all about Facebook and her friends. I guess maybe tiredness started to wash over me. It HAD been 12 hours non stop... but I ate too fast. I was SO sick the rest of the night. I was nauseous, crampy, my head hurt. What a nightmare! Lesson learned, I will never eat fast again! Slow, small bites it is, as dictated by the "Bariatric Bible". I'm still paying today. I couldn't even get a Protein shake down for Breakfast. Ugh. Like the turtle and the rabbit I will try to remember...slow and steady wins the race. Have a good night everyone

where did you get yours done? I'm scheduled with dr garcia with Tijuana bariatrics... Sent from my SM-G900T using the BariatricPal App

March 16, 2016 Hello! If you're reading this you might be considering getting your surgery in Mexico at the Mexicobariatriccenter. I am post op sleeve day 6 right now, have a fever of 102.5, and am feeling pretty crummy atm. FYI: I am a nursing student in my 4th block so I have some understanding of pharmacology and the importance of sterile/aseptic procedures. The positives: Price was about $4300 plus airfare, incidentals, tipping, etc. I estimate I spent close to $5k in all. Hotel accommodation and staff at the Hyatt Place in Tijuana was great. They will give you as much chicken or beef broth, sugar-free lime popsicles, or various flavors of sugar-free Jello that you want. Surgeons and the Anesthesiologist were professional and did a first rate job. 30 minute ride from San Diego Airport to the Mexico Border and another 15 minutes to the hotel. The hospital is only 10 minutes away from the hotel btw. Negatives: Oh..... where to start.... Mexico Bariatric Center has outsourced their aftercare to a third party. The "nurses" responsible for helping with post-care are no more knowledgeable than Medical Assistants, although they do have a little medication administration training. However, their severely limited training, and understanding of bacteria becomes quite evident when witnessing their attempts (or lack there of) to prevent the spread of bacteria. Here are just a few examples: I never once witnessed a "nurse" use the hand sanitizer on the wall or wash their hands upon entering my room. I did witness my "nurse", Cesar, blow into his gloves to help open them up before sticking his hands in them. That sort of thing would probably get you fired in the United States. IV ports were frequently not cleaned or were simply given a quick single swipe of the alcohol pad before injecting medications into them. Those IV ports gets dragged all over the place and probably have little microscopic bits of feces and drug resistant bacteria on them. Which is a little like mainlining feces directly into my blood stream. When I told them I wanted them to do it correctly they would respond with "It's ok, don't worry, don't worry." And they'd just keep on doing what they were doing, as if my objections were completely irrelevant. Eventually I had to call and speak to the hospital administrator to have my "nurse" replaced with someone more competent. INTEGRITY is not something I found a great deal of with the non-management staff members. Perhaps placating (i.e., lying) is par for the course over there, but it was common enough that very quickly I realized I couldn't trust anything I was being told on face value. Please understand that this was a big issue that reoccurred on multiple occasions. Trusting the staff to do what they say they are going to do, or when they are going to do it, is a huge mistake. This includes the drivers as well. I can't overemphasize this enough.... to be fair, the management was great though, however they have nothing to do with patient aftercare. The third morning after the surgery several of the patients had been cleared to go and we were driven to a "Pharmacy". The "Pharmacist" behind the counter was selling anything and everything. He was trying to get us to buy different antibiotics than the ones we were sent home with. I don't think he realized that not all antibiotics work on all bacteria and you can't just take whatever. He did give out free samples of vitamin-B shots and Viagra for those who were interested. Did I mention this was the pharmacy the Mexico Bariatric Center sent us to? I ended up buying a few items while I was there only to discover we had been charged 300-400% more than the pharmacy at the grocery store across from the Hotel. The driver will then offer to take you and the other patients on a "tour and some shopping". These stores inflate their prices for the patients and provide a kickback to the driver (and most likely the Mexico Bariatric Center) just like the pharmacy did. PAIN MANAGEMENT! Unless you are willing to pay the extra $1000 for the pain pump that comes with either morphine or Dilaudid you will be offered the ghetto version of pain meds (e.g., Ketorolac, tramadol). Although these medications do help offset the pain they do not provide the additional benefit of the euphoric feeling from narcotics. They will offer you all sorts of ridiculous reasons whey they don't want to give you those medications and if you don't have a background in pharmacology you may actually start to believe them. But, they are lying to you. Remember, if you spent the extra $1000 you could have all the narcotic pain meds you wanted in the form of a patient controlled pain pump. I honestly believe they tried to keep people in enough pain that they would agree to spend the extra money. One "nurse" told me that they wouldn't give them to me because of the nausea. However, they give you meds for nausea. "Doctor" Sing tried to convince me that the reason they don't give narcotics is because people are less likely to do their breathing exercises..... Ummmm.... the #1 reason people don't do breathing exercises or participate in their aftercare not a lack of motivation or education on the benefits, but is lack of pain management. That's not my opinion, that's a fact. It was just one stupid excuse after another. The additional pain I (and many other patients) endured as a result of these penny pinching, dishonest, dimwits would be criminal in the United States. You'll get plenty of narcotic pain meds if you choose to have the surgery here in the states. I was advised by that I do not need a passport, by Leili Kohan my patient coordinator, to enter Mexico because their company has a special medical pass, which lets them get across the border without the long wait times. Leili was adamant about that. What she failed to mention was that in order to re-enter the U.S. you definitely need one. I was fortunate in that I ordered a passport just in case otherwise I would probably still be in Mexico right now. Summary: I am glad I had the surgery despite what I have and continue to go through. I wouldn't be opposed to having some other type of surgery in Mexico at a later date. I would absolutely NOT RECOMMEND the MEXICO BARIATRIC center. Additionally, make sure that narcotic pain medication (e.g., Percoset, Vicoden) will be available and have them put it in writing stating you get a full refund for all services rendered if this is not the case. Trust me on this, unless you're one of the rare people who felt absolutely fine, you are going to want narcotics.

GIRL!!! I'm waiting for my insurance card too. I have HIP medicaid as far as providers you have to go onto the Health Plus website and look up participating hospitals and providers for bariatric surgery. I am getting my surgery dome by Dr.Nishamura South Nassau Hospital (LI).

Ok thanks! i have checked the Health Plus website and can't find any providers for bariatric surgery...so I've got to call them which I will be doing TODAY!! lol thanks for the advice and when r u getting your surgery done?! congrats! :bolt:

I don't know when I'm having the surgery I am going through all the pre surgical testing but i hopr before the end of the year. I had a set back because i lost my job and insurance so I have to start all over again with the new insurance medicaid. I don't know If you close Health Plus when you applied for medicaid but it's better to pick United Health Care or HIP ad managed care because they have many bariatric surgeons who accept them.

In the B Vitamins, aside from what you get in the multi- it is best to just do a B12- that Vitamin is not absorbed from food in the sleeve. My list is Muti vitamin- look at what is in a bariatric one from Bariatric Advantage or Celebrate and find the equivalent to two of them if you dont want theirs. Calcium - carbonate requires more stomach acids than we have after surgery, so that is why the recommend citrate- you need 1500 mgs a day B12- sublingual is advised- they have this at Trader Joes. Those are the main ones- and you dont want to become low in anything as it really hard to rectify. The thing is, though this is not a malabsorption surgery your intake of food will be dramatically less, thus the need for vitamins. I have heard that skipping this can really lead to low energy, exhaustion, etc. I have also heard it is pointless to pic your Protein shake etc. before surgery as your taste buds change. I have a bunch of samples I will be trying in the next two weeks as I start my liquid diet tomorrow prior to my 5/9 surgery. I have set of a box also- i have my vitamins, my magic bullet for pureeing food, my shakes, my shaker/blender, my crystal light if I want to spruce of the flavor of my Water, etc. This place is a great resource and you will find threads everywhere to add more info. Good luck!