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Did any of you keep your surgery a secret? I have! Please give input!
BigLoser2020 replied to Freedom&Bliss's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
I guess I can understand why some would not want to broadcast the fact that they've undergone a bariatric procedure, but I haven't kept mine a secret. Anyone who knows me knows that I've struggled with weight. For me, I don't see the harm in folks knowing that I'm working to get it under control. I haven't encountered any negativity - Mostly just friends and coworkers offering words of encouragement! -
It is possible to find a new bariatric surgeon where you live now. I moved 250 miles after my first surgery and got a new surgeon as soon as I moved. You need one to keep track of your yearly bloodwork. Plus if you end up with any complications you will want one that is familiar with you.
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Is this a stall?
New&Improved replied to BigLoser2020's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Too much carbs and too many calories. I'm 3 months out and I get max 700cal and 30g carbs a day. Dietitians don't seem to understand bariatric surgery guidelines. -
Just starting the process
over65 replied to lostnowfound3's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I have been taking meds for bipolar for a number of years. Took MMPI-2 as part of my psych eval and showed I am totally "normal". Really shocked my psychologist. I will stay on meds though to be sure I stay stable. If you have mental health issues, they just want to be sure that you are: (1) stable on meds and continue under treatment (2) Addressing any eating problems. (3) You have adequate social support (family, friends, church, etc.) I was pretty stressed about psych eval because my history. Don't stress about it. If you have a current therapist, see if your bariatric center will accept psych eval by him/her. Who knows you better? Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app -
When you do see your surgeon for consultation, ask if he/she is requiring you to lose weight because you're right at 40. I would also advise you to speak to your insurance to see if they will deny you if your BMI dips below 40, unless you have 2 or more co-morbidities. This is one of the questions I asked in the bariatric FB group because my BMI is 44, and if I lose 21 lbs then I'll be below 40. Thankfully my surgeon is NOT requiring me to lose any weight pre-surgery. Sent from my Galaxy Note 10+ using BariatricPal mobile app
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So Ready ... But Yet Another Wait
JB1 replied to Machalo's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Congrats on getting approved. It's a process not a race. Use this time to get prepared. Insurance companies know that it's cheaper in the long run to pay for these bariatric surgeries up front. It saves them millions long term when we dont get long term complicated health issues like hypertension, diabetes, heart disease etc. Good luck! -
Food Before and After Photos
MarvelGirl25 replied to GreenTealael's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
Chia pudding day two Loved it so much much I bought smaller jars. This time I made a cinnamon, clove, and mashed banana mixture with milk. I topped it with apples, walnuts and more bananas. I can see myself eating this for breakfast on the daily but does anyone know if there are restrictions on chia seeds for bariatric patients? On my list of what not to eat, chia seeds were listed but the restriction was only for the first month, from my understanding. -
March 11 sleeve date
Pansypicker replied to MaineDoc's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Its costing me about 10K. Includes everything including hotel and testing prior to surgery. I pay for airfare though. They will even transport you to and from the airport and to appointments. Its Blossom Bariatrics. They will submit to my insurance and see if they will pay anything out of network.... Labs, other tests, etc. Was going to try Mexico for surgery but my husband forbid it.... -
USA Self-Pay Options
ronjsteele1 replied to Shelly Belly02's topic in Weight Loss Surgeons & Hospitals
One more question. A friend suggested I do a search for other centers like Blossom. Does anyone know what kind of search parameter to google? Everything I’m doing just brings up regular Bariatric centers vs self pay places like blossom. Somewhere on here I saw TX mentioned but can’t figure out how to find it on the web. Thanks in advance. -
Sorry to hear about that. If you meet the requirements, I don’t see why they denied you. Apparently something as small as your medical clearance letter can lead to a denial. I was told to make sure the clearance letter from my physician specifically stated that I am medically cleared for the procedure and that it is medically necessary due to my hypertension. Another issue I’ve heard is that while Cigna covers the procedure, sometimes the employer excludes bariatric surgery. I also have Cigna with a BMI of 35 even and was approved in one day. I was given a checklist of what I needed to submit for approval and can share if you’re interested. Good luck!
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Discouraged and need advice
darcyjae replied to Seimmaj's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
You're clearly conflating this person's situation with your own journey. You may be fine and dandy with eating candy floss or twinkies or whatever you like—and if you are, and you are satisfied with the progress you made. Bravo. It's no one's business but yours. But no one is actually giving YOU advice in this thread. The distinction worth making it that they're replying to the OP, who ISN'T fine and dandy. They are discouraged. Unlike you, they are unhappy because they are losing weight more slowly than they'd like. They came here for advice on how to change that. Fact: It's considerably outside the experience of almost everyone here that a nutritionist would suggest regularly consuming a sugar drink as part of a bariatric diet. Fact: The OP is experiencing the EXACT result one would predict from loading up on sugar. The weight loss they would like to experience is slowed. Fact: Outside of blood sugar issues, no one actually needs to routinely consume sugary drinks. No one is being holier than thou. They're pointing out the obvious. You can argue about this food or that food and the benefits of carbs. But an empty calorie sugar drink hardly seems like the right rock to die on. I guess I don't understand why you would fight so hard against the suggestion that they make a change in their diet to see if it improves weight loss. I mean, it isn't a question of whether or not they have the "right to eat carbs" or "carbs being evil". It's a question of whether eating less sugar will result in faster weight loss for them. I guess you can argue it won't, but I see whole lot of data points around here that indicate otherwise. Peace. -
Hello maintenance peeps! So I’ve had a weird week: Did 3 workouts yesterday (one of them was low-key, mostly stretching) and worked 10 hours. It was so busy at work that I didn’t get enough calories in, but I got in about 50-55gm Protein (before 5pm). After my last Pilates class I was home at 7:45pm and hubs had dinner ready: pork tenderloin and a salad pack. By the time I got home I was STARVING. this wasn’t head hunger, I was legit HUNGRY. For some reason, the pork didn’t look appetizing at all and I dove straight into the salad mix. I dumped 1 cup salad mix (usually have 0.5-0.75 cups with 2oz meat) and wolfed it down within 5 mins. A whole cup of salad mix in 5 minutes. That wasn’t the worst part tho. I was still starving after that 5 minute and like an idiot went in for.....MORE SALAD. I was about 4-5 bites into another half cup when I got the worst intestinal cramps. Thought I was gonna die and had to put down my fork ASAP. spent the next couple of hours miserable on my couch and then didn’t sleep well all night. I’ve been battling intense nausea all day and have maybe had 24 ounces of Water and 200-300 calories today (1/2 a Premier Protein, 3 bites out of a P3 thingie, and half a pack of bariatric cream of chicken soup). I’m just now starting to feel quasi-normal again, though my tummy still feels slightly full. I was able to make it through work, but had to cancel tonight’s Pilates class. Has anyone else ever done anything like this to themselves and how long does it take to not feel as if your sleeve is full even when you’ve had next to no food in over 24 hours?
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USA Self-Pay Options
Shelly Belly02 replied to Shelly Belly02's topic in Weight Loss Surgeons & Hospitals
Dr. Shillingford in Florida is $10,500, all inclusive. Blossom Bariatric in Vegas can be as low as $7,000. Call and give them your info and they'll give you a price over the phone. -
I had gastric sleeve surgery 5 years ago. My gastric reflux has recently got so bad that's the acid burns into my ears. I was given a lidocaine solution that would help with the burning pain in my throat. I spoke to my gastroenterologist about a procedure I saw online for the reflux. She said I didn't qualify so I went to see the doctor that did this procedure who happens to be a bariatric doctor. He explained why I was not good for the procedure because I had a stricture in the esophagus a hiatal hernia. Due to the gastric sleeve the acid is being forced up into my throat. The doctor wants to do a bypass which should relieve that pressure. I am going for an upper GI tomorrow. I was wondering if anyone else as experienced this. I am new here I do not go on social media so I don't know my way around I will try to find my way back here.
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Hi November sleevers! Going on 3 months 2/4. It’s been like a 2nd job, but feeling a little bit better. I’ve also experienced a lot of weakness and low energy. Rest on the weekends. Through this course of bariatric it was discovered that I have a condition called Hereditary Hemochromotosis. Surgeon did liver biopsy during sleeve and I was dx with iron overload Scale of 0–4 my liver iron overload was at 3. Good news no cirrhosis. Along with dropping about 2.4 lbs per week I just started aggressive phlebotomies to pull iron off my organs. It’s been tough, but I rest on the weekends and pace self to be able to make it through the work week. I’m down almost 40 lbs. Trying to increase my calories to 700, like others I’m just not able to eat much and I’m full. When I look back at where I was in May when I went to the seminar... I’d have to say even through I’m weak, mentally I’m gaining strength. Regaining my old self. Thank you everyone on this thread and site for encouragement. It’s great to read about others, struggles, challenges and know we’re all here to lift one another up. Gloria
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Vacation/Travel/Socializing after surgery
catwoman7 replied to lisafrommassachusetts's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
as someone else said, this whole thing is more of an issue when you're early out, but here goes: 1) take protein powder or protein bars with you (I don't eat protein bars regularly because I'd abuse them, but when traveling, they can sometimes be a godsend when you don't have other options). I also used to take beef jerky and cheese sticks with me (cheese sticks can be left out of refrigeration for several hours). Eating on the road - chili, ordering a grilled chicken sandwich and ditching the bun, getting a taco and just eating the innards. 2) that first year, I switched most of my lunch and dinner dates to coffee dates. I later felt safe doing dinner and lunch dates again, but I try to limit them because it's so easy to go over my calorie range on days I go out. And yes - I usually get an appetizer or order some "safe" meal and take half of it home with me. And absolutely I feel comfortable doing that. I have a number of skinny and normal-weight friends who eat like that all the time! 3) I cut down on my cooking a lot when I was in weight loss mode, but I'm cooking about as much now as I did pre-surgery - I just make (mostly) bariatric-safe dishes. -
Just starting the process
athea.lei replied to lostnowfound3's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
From what I heard from another bariatric buddy is that what they look for is if you can handle the extreme life change with food so that you don't continue with the habit that got you there in the first place. Sent from my SM-N975U1 using BariatricPal mobile app -
10 yrs post Lapband Surgery - weight gain - band is fine- need help!
BariatricGal212 replied to c566's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
Hi, fellow lap banded and future RD. I sympathize with your struggle. I lost 115 lbs and have rebounded almost 25% with a unhealthy rapid gain of 12% my UBW in 3 months. There are not established energy requirements for bariatric patients - at least no one agreed upon measures, though there are practitioner or article specific ideas. Calculate your basic energy requirements using an online Mifflin St Jeor calculator. You should never go under 1200 calories a day without a significant medical reason or supervision by a healthcare practitioner and definitely not at your height. The basic way to estimate protein requirements 0.8g x kg method. (kg = lbs/2,2). Unless you are under physical stress, such as when you had surgery these needs might be elevated a bit but 0.8 g is the DRI. Consider seeing an RD who takes your insurance for really tailored educated energy requirements, especially since you are concerned about a specific macronutrient. Try to find one that specializes in bariatrics (search through ZocDoc or get a referral from your surgeon), as she make understand the weight rebound common with Lap band patients, have creative, targeted strategies for LB patients and also recipes that are Lap band friendly. -
Revision if you already have a gastric bypass?
John04073 replied to Polishanita1's topic in Revision Weight Loss Surgery Forums (NEW!)
I had full RNY bypass in 2005 and lost approximately 80lbs. I was able to keep the weight off consistently for about 10 years until I suddenly lost the “Feeling Full” after meals and the weight started to creep back on. I struggled with almost a constant feeling of being hungry, which I had never had, after the RNY bypass. I returned to my original surgeon to no avail. His feeling was that I must be doing something different and not following the same lifestyle. I was referred to another Bariatric doctor who found a gastric fistula (essentially an opening in the pouch), and via surgery installed a metal clamp (also referred to as a bear paw). While this seemed to help initially, something still was not the same as it had been for the first 10 or so years. After much research and visiting several other Bariatric Specialists over the last few years, all while the weight slowly continued to increase, it was recently discovered that a portion of my pouch had attached and formed a connection to my original stomach, thus allowing food to be processed by both the new RNY pouch/digestive path as well as the original stomach/digestive path. Also the metal clamp previously installed was missing, and probably passed in the normal digestive process. This leads me to where I am today, having been informed that the best solution at this point is for a RNY Bypass revision. They will be going in and separating the pouch from the original stomach again, and suturing/stapling both sections off. I am waiting for the official revision date/insurance approvals etc, but the doctors office does not think it will be an issue at all. Fingers crossed that I will be back on my way to weight loss soon. -
Discouraged and need advice
Fatboyslim1 replied to Seimmaj's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
While I usually disagree with much of what you push, I am a proponent of the controlled drinking alternative to alcohol addiction. But where we disagree is that for WLS, controlled drinking runs parallel. With controlled drinking, one can potentially survive the addiction, but while doing so be vividly aware that they are still drinking (and becoming intoxicated). With WLS there is a bunch of bizarre and completely wrong "advise" out there that when, what and how much someone eats (or doesn't eat) does not somehow correlate directly to weight. The controlled drink argument under that same scenario would be" I control my drinking, but I don't become intoxicated". the AMA should fund a study to determine the correlation between short and long post WLS surgery failure with people reading bad advise on Bariatric forums. -
Discouraged and need advice
Seimmaj replied to Seimmaj's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Yes she is an actual bariatrics nutritionist with 20+ years experience in bariatrics. -
Discouraged and need advice
Taj replied to Seimmaj's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Hi Seimmaj. Just as there are bad doctors there are bad nutritionists. I have spent months reviewing bariatric eating plans from hundreds of hospitals and the most important factor is cutting out ALL refined sugars from our diets. It’s really alarming that a nutritionist would tell you it’s okay to drink regular Gatorade or anything containing sugar. Even adding a cup of regular Gatorade to 32 oz water is sabotage. Powerade zero is delicious and has less sodium and zero sugar and I add water to it because after four weeks of absolutely no sugar I can’t stand the taste of anything sweet. Maybe your nutritionist is under the false assumption that all artificial sweeteners are bad, but stevia isn’t artificial and doesn’t effect glucose levels. It is simply a fact, attested to by the thousands of people on this site, millions of doctors, and years of research that any refined sugar, especially after bariatric surgery, will prevent weightloss and even cause weight gain. Think of your new stomach as a newborn stomach and ask yourself if you would give Gatorade to a new born baby. If you don’t believe us, maybe attend a group session for bariatric patients or maybe ask your surgeon their opinion. Wishing you a successful journey. -
who are the go-to mx surgeons now?
MarinaGirl replied to amy_again's topic in Mexico & Self-Pay Weight Loss Surgery
Mexicali Bariatric Center is the only place I’d consider for revision surgery (VSG to RNY). Good luck! http://www.mexicalibariatric.com/ -
Discouraged and need advice
Hop_Scotch replied to Seimmaj's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Have you actually counted how many calories you are consuming in total from foods and the calorie drinks? If you think your weight loss is slow its because you are very likely consuming a lot more calories than you should be for the post op stage you are at. Is your nutritionist actually a bariatric nutritionist? -
Two silly questions re: protein and lower starting weight
catwoman7 replied to CheerfulLoser's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
most of us are told to get 60-80 grams or protein a day. he may be telling you that because 180-ish is probably about an average low weight for a bariatric patient, but there are lots of us who have pushed through to a normal BMI. Just keep following your plan, logging your intake, and exercising. It's really up to you how low you want to go. and yes - you're most likely in a stall. My first one lasted two weeks - and I know someone who's first one last 3.5 weeks (although that's a bit unusual). Mine also tended to last longer the closer I got to my goal weight.
