Search the Community

It's definitely head hunger!!! I can honestly say...I dont think I even know what hunger is. I have been seeing a therapist most of my life for this eating disorder. I have been battling bulemia/anorexia since im small. I can proudly say I am bulemic free for 12 yrs now, but it has cause major damage physically. I know I will be totally neurotic over not being able to eat, but at this point in my life, I am so sick I go to sleep every night in hopes to wake up the next morning . I have a 12 yr old that I have to worry about, and he is the only reason I am strong at times, but as days pass, I am getting weaker and weaker. I have seen many bariatric surgeons over the yrs, but I was told I was never a good candidate for the surgery. Why all of a sudden am I a candidate for the sleeve, I dont know, but I feel it's worth a shot. Im scared out of my mind. Not of the actual surgery itself, but all the co-mobilities and then some, I am dealing with. I, to a degree dont understand how having the hernia repairs/reconstruction of the wall of my stomach, and the sleeve all at the same time, is going to do any justice????? I know this will be the hardest thing I have ever tried to tackle in my life, and realize there is no turning back. At times I feel I need the restriction, and that is going to be the only way to get somewhere, then again, I have my doubts too which I think we all experience, especially undergoing such drastic measures. I think ultimately I will just say ...what the hek, and just get it over with once and for all, and pray/hope for the best! Anyway, thanks for the advice, thoughts, suggestions, and for reading my novel . Keep up the good work

I love my coffee and with cream.. I had decaf with cream as soon as I was off clears that was about 5 days after surgery..for me... I did find that if I put a good quality Protein powder in my coffee.. (Unjury or Pure from Bariatric eating) it seemed alot like cream.. but was still considered a clear liquid... talk with your docs office. You mix the powder in a little Water and then put it in the coffee... so it will not lump... I am a brand new bander...one month out... still learning.... but the coffee and cream.. I am sure you will be able to have it on full liquids... but see if the Protein Powder idea helps you as it did me...

Funny the plastic surgeon didn't have an opinion. But I called my bariatric dr and he said absolutely have the unfill as did the anesthologist... Go figure. I am really nervous about it...

I actually went to the emergency room last Monday because of chest pain over the sternum area and then upwards into the clavicle area. It was sort of a pressure/dull pain and sometimes burning. After the first two days, i even got mini burps that were somewhat painful then disappeared fast, but the pressure/burning remained. It wasn't so much painful but annoying as all get out. Deep breaths are "tight" and a bit sharp. Letting air all the way out is a bit sharp as well. I went to two different doctors (neither bariatric) and both said that it was a muscular strain over the sternum. I still disagree. I have never had heartburn so I don't know what it feels like. I definitely feel like it is "deeper" though. I don't know what acid reflux or heartburn feels like but I think I might be experiencing it. It seems to be going away now after a week, but I wish I knew for sure what it was for sure. I, too, thought it was band related. The only thing that worries me is that sudden acid reflux symptoms can be a sign of slippage? or so I hear.

Survey on Bariatric Surgery and Body Contouring Surgery – Yale School of Medicine Help science by completing ANONYMOUS online questionnaires. We are interested in the opinions of adults who have had bariatric surgery and body contouring surgery within the past five years. http://yale.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_2blFHEywu0OsYDP 1 in 20 participants will win a $50 electronic Amazon.com gift card Sponsored by the National Institutes of Health HIC: 1501015172

Hey ya'll!! I just wanted to take a minute to brag about my surgeon. I chose Dr. Mark Smolik who is associated with Mercy One Bariatric in West Des Moines, Iowa. He is a straight shooter, doesn't sugar coat anything and takes as much time as you need to answer all of your questions without making you feel like he's in a hurry. His entire staff has been wonderful. I've had to do 6 months of supervised diet visits per UHC so I've gotten to know many members of his staff over the last few months. The nurses and dieticians work with you to make sure you are doing what you need to do to prepare for surgery and life afterwards. Again, they never make you feel rushed. The office staff is friendly and helpful. I have never had to wait past my appointment time; I'm usually called back a little early if they see me sitting there. They give you a "to do list" during your first visit and schedule all of your appointments (other than clearance appointments) that first day. That was nice for me as I tend to be a planner. You are weighed on a Tanita scale every time you go in so you don't have to worry about fluctuations between scales (I had that issue at the other big bariatric center in Des Moines). They divide the process into what they call Modules. Prior to Module 1 is the lecture where you learn about the different options and have the opportunity to ask questions. It's a small conference room so there aren't hundreds of people there which was a huge plus for me. I didn't feel crowded. Module 1 is your initial RN assessment visit where you discuss your insurance criteria and they let you know exactly what you need to do. Module 2 is your surgeon consult where you'll decide which surgery you want to proceed with. They do an EKG in the office. I failed mine so I was referred to Iowa Heart for cardiac clearance...no big deal, I have failed EKGs most of my life and my heart is fine. After meeting with Dr. Smolik, you walk over to Mercy West and have labs and chest xray done. Module 3 is a diet and exercise class and these ladies are hilarious. They make it fun and you'll learn a lot. Mercy One program requires you to meet with the dietician twice but these visits DO count towards any visits you need for your insurance. You're also required to obtain psychiatric clearance using your choice of psychiatrists (they'll provide you with a list if that helps.) After you complete everything on your "to do list" then they submit to your insurance. Module 4 happens after you get approved and it's a pre-op teaching class. They'll request any additional tests needed at this time and have you go to your primary doctor for a history and physical to get cleared for surgery and they'll also schedule your surgery at this time. Module 5 is one week post-op and is a diet progression class. Module 6 is your 2 week post op visit with Dr. Smolik and also an hour long nutrition class. ((They want to make sure you are clear about your diet and vitamins and discuss these things often during this entire process.)) You will have several follow up appointments post op where they'll check you labs to make sure your vitamin/mineral levels are where they need to be for optimum health and readjust your routine as necessary to make sure you remain healthy. They also offer monthly support groups. They do give you a binder at Module 1 that you'll need to take with you to all of your appointments. I refer to this binder often as it contains a wealth of information. If you live in Iowa and are considering weight loss surgery, even if you have already seen another surgeon, I highly recommend checking Dr. Smolik's program out at Mercy One. It's the best thing I've done for myself in decades! ❤️

Hello TheSpoonieLife! I'm going through OSUWMC too, but I'm in about the same stage as you in the process, so I can't help with all of your questions. I had the psychological evaluation on 10/20 and haven't scheduled my nutritionist/medical evaluations yet. As far as the requirement for monitored dieting before surgery, I think that depends on your insurance. I have OSU insurance and I am required a 6 month supervised diet program before surgery. However, it is required by the insurance, not the Bariatric Program itself. Sorry I don't have many answers, but I wanted to at least say Hi!

When I called to sign up for Living Well, they did say when I called that they usually wait until after the evaluation at the Bariatric Clinic to schedule Living Well, to see if it is recommended by the clinic. But they went ahead and scheduled me because it's required by my insurance. I'm glad they did, since my appointment at the clinic isn't until December, I probably wouldn't have gotten started with Living Well until January. I'm really hoping to have the surgery this summer while my daughter is out of school so I won't have to worry about getting her up and ready for school while I'm recovering. I think I found the BLAST handout you are talking about and you're right it does say one meeting a month for six months. I don't know anything for sure, but I wonder if there are different levels of classes depending on insurance requirements and patient need. The "Steps to Bariatric Surgery" on the OSUMC website says to attend weight management programs and lists BLAST, Life After Surgery, Living Well or Healthy Living. I wonder if you can take Life After Surgery, which may not take 6 months, instead of BLAST. I can't find anything that says how long the Life After Surgery program is. This, of course is all guessing, you'll know a lot more than me in a couple of weeks. Maybe we need to go to another information session while waiting on our appointments so we don't explode from too many questions.

What's new for 2009 when it comes to pre-certification is for outpatient bariatric surgery: This applies to both Standard and Basic Option you can find out more by going to the website www.fepblue.org and downloading the 2009 brochure. You must now obtain prior approval for outpatient surgery for morbid obesity, outpatient surgical correction of congenital anomalies, and outpatient surgery needed to correct accidental injuries (see Definitions) to jaws, cheeks, lips, tongue, roof and floor of mouth. Previously, these types of services did not require prior approval. Like it's been mentioned here I would call BCBS Fed at the number on the back of your father's card for further clarification.

My new surgeon to be, did my endoscopy yesterday and said my sleeve is dilated and has a bulge, he said it's not my fault, the sleeve was too big to begin with..causing weight loss failure. He advised that it could be revised with no issues. Now I have to wait and find out if my insurance will approve, since I have no bariatric benefits. I am so frustrated...

I ultimately told UHC to go f@*& themselves and wound up self funding. They can kiss my large arse and the sting of the cost is subsiding with every pound I lose. My experience, though, came from me following up on a number of health issues over the last year. Each surgeon/doctor I met with coached me to have bariatric surgery. I took their referrals and went straight into THE bariatric program. Seemed a logical progression. The problem is that THE program, while affiliated with the area's most prestigious hospital (out of 6 hospitals) wasn't yet certified as a "center of excellence" (bariatric certificate). They had a great staff, very supportive....and each were former bariatric patients, too.......excellent surgeon...etc, etc. They told me that it'd be no problem to continue and they'd had UHC patients go through all the time. 1/2 way through the deal UHC....who'd been supportive....all the sudden balks over the lacking "center of excellence" bullcrap. I involved the HR department of my employer......and found out that we were actually dropping UHC and moving over to BCBS. The games continued. Our policy with UHC would have only covered me at 50% anyway.....and UHC was delaying. It was looking as if the surgery would be delayed to 2016....by then I'd be under new insurance and no telling how long I'd wait then. Good news was for me, that when I did contact the center of excellence program they were fast in getting me started. They also had been at this for a while longer and had special self-funding insurance safeguards....you self fund and part of your money purchases a policy that covers ANY complication that comes from your bariatric surgery for out to 8 months. This was very appealing to me and I jumped all over it. I'd already met most of my pre-op requirements for the surgeon and my patient advocate at the new center was extremely fast, aggressive and organized. She and I stayed in contact and had everything wrapped up swiftly. The end result was that I had my surgery on October 13, 2015.......when it was looking like at best it would be late December or beyond. By self funding I was able to anchor down the timeframe and it actually cost me less than it would've to use my insurance. Wild ride. The upshot of my story is this.....when working with UHC, or any of them for that matter.......stay in step with them upfront and avoid any bs later on. Involve your HR department at work if/when you are able to. It's amazing how much they can help. Best wishes.

Dr. Rodriguez is supposed to be one of the first surgeons to start performing lap band surgery. He's a very able surgeon from what I have heard and Mellis has also corroborated in the above post what I have heard. Here's where I got Dr. Rodriguez brief profile: Dr. Arturo Rodriguez - Bariatric Surgery (lap band, gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, revision surgery) in Mexico The website also has some info about lap band costs and procedure and they list Dr. Rodriguez as one of their associated surgeons. I found it here: Cost of Lap Band Surgery | Mexico, Costa Rica, India, Belgium | Lap Band Specials |Price of Gastric Band Packages| Lap Band Surgery Cost

This is a great topic, even if it's an old thread. I've been at / below goal for 14 months now. And I definitely take notice of heavy strangers when I'm out and about -- probably more now than I used to. (BTW, I don't pay much attention to the size of people I already know, because I'm focused on what we're doing together or discussing.) It would be hard for me, as a WLS patient who recently lost 100 pounds, not to notice others' sizes and wonder if they look as big as I used to be, or bigger, or how our sizes compared before I lost weight, or how our sizes compare now, etc. The thoughts and emotions I have about these heavy strangers are all over the place, depending on my mood, how they present themselves, and so many other things. Do I feel superior to them? Honestly -- sometimes, I do. But that feeling is immediately coupled with immense gratitude to the fates / my surgeon / my PCP / my own efforts / whoever invented the sleeve / etc. that I'm no longer in their shoes. I'm also overwhelmed by how much change I've undergone in the last two years. Often I project my old memories of obesity onto these heavy strangers. I think I know the pain in their joints and back. I think I know the mental exhaustion they go through just finding the energy to go to the grocery store and the resolution it takes to keep moving their carts toward the back of the store and finish their shopping lists. I think I know from their lack of eye contact how frustrated / embarrassed / mortified / angry they are about their situation, their appearance, their health concerns and how disadvantaged they feel at work and in their personal relationships because of their growing weight. Sometimes these encounters are emotionally overwhelming. For me, being obese was brutal. It was an awful way to try to live. It's hard to see others in that situation. On a related note, I recently started being a guest lecturer at my bariatric surgeon's all-day educational seminars for patients now prepping for their own WLS. When I'm standing in front of those folks I feel like I'm with my tribe. I try to tell my own WLS story in a way that makes it easy for them to identify with the "skinny bitch" I now look like at 135 pounds and to imagine they could soon feel renewed health and social freedom. I show slides of myself over the years -- of unflattering weight fluctuations, aging, with obvious growing exhaustion and health challenges. From their head nods and strong eye contact and smiles I know we're connecting. I wouldn't walk up to a stranger and offer them some version of "WLS could save you, too." But those pre-op patients are sitting where I sat three years ago. I know how badly they NEED TO FEEL that their hope is not irrational and that they really can escape the prison of obesity. I feel so honored to give back this way.

I ams so sorry to hear of your dear child's struggles.....have you spoken to your pediatrician for advise.....? Perhaps, seeing an adolescent therapist might be of help at this juncture ? A child of 13 is still developing on every level and it would be worth checking out every other possible medical evaluation...including seeing an endocrinologist to see if there is an underlying medical problem.....? How did she gain the weight? Was it s sudden onset or did it develpop over a period of time ?Running to a so called surgeon in Mexico to have this most serious surgery done would be difficult on every level......the so called surgeons in Mexico do not have the Post Graduate training as do physicians in the USA.....should something go wrong....as they often do......there clearly is no recourse.....none ! There are plenty of fine bariatric programs geared to children that are connected to teaching hospitals.....and, often, they are funded so that you could get the assistence that you might need,,,,even in the USA....it is a long process.....it takes time......and it should....there should be clearance done by a psychiatrist,aocial worker, gastroenterologist, pulmonologist,cardiologist,primary care physician.....an adult who goes through the surgery often has some set backs.....and it is not easy......a person must be emotionally and physically ready to go into that journey.....it is not a quick fix.....I thought ot going to MExico for this procedure and after doing my due diligence.....and lots of research.....I decided to find a program in the USA with a Post Graduate trained surgeon at a teaching hospital that had ALL of the Safeguards built into the program.......I understand how hard it must be as a mom to want to help your child......I have experienced the very same issues with one of my own children.....there is help out there.....but, not in a so called 'surgeon's' office in Mexico......much too risky....and much too dangerous......there must be a teaching hospital where you reside......? Wishing your child all the best for good health.......

Chunk - here is some information I put in a previous topic - that you may find interesting. If you go to www.surgery.com, it will tell you the following (I got this from typing "deaths from sleeve gastrectomy" into my search engine) The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery lists the complication rate in vertical sleeve gastrectomy to be relatively low, even among patients considered to be at high risk. Cumulatively the overall mortality (death) from vertical sleeve gastrectomy is 0.39 percent—lower than with traditional bariatric surgeries. (last updated 11/24/2009) From an article on www.gastricbypassfacts.com, here is a extract from "How Does the Sleeve Gastrectomy Work?" The risks and complications of the sleeve gastrectomy:As with all forms of weight loss surgery, the vertical gastrectomy does carry risk and these will clearly vary from one patient to the next and must be discussed with your physician. Complications might include: Gastric leakage and fistula 1.0% Deep vein thrombosis 0.5% Non-fatal pulmonary embolus 0.5% Post-operative bleeding 0.5% Splenectomy 0.5% Acute respiratory distress 0.25% Pneumonia 0.2% Death 0.25% http://healthengine.com.au/article/sleeve-gastrectomy.html This article quotes " The mortality rate in gastric sleeve is 1:500 and it lies between the gastric band, which is the safest, and the laparoscopic gastric bypass, which carries the highest risk." So the first source says 3.9 patients out of 1000, the second source says 2.5 patients out of 1000 and the third says 2 out of 1000. So I would feel comfortable (based on these 3 sources) saying the death rate is somewhere between 2 and 4 per 1000. To contrast that - imagine 1000 people walking around that are your height and weight - with your exact health problems. How many of them would die in the next year from their health problems? From something I was reading this week on another forum - surgeons who perform 100 or more sleeves per year have lower risk rates. Hospitals that perform over 150 sleeves per year have lower risk rates. If you are considering a surgeon, ask how many procedures he/she has performed in a year, and how many he/she has performed in total. Then ask the same two questions about how many of his patients died. This will give you an idea where your surgeon is versus the norms. Also ask about the hospital you will have the surgery performed in - how many procedures do they do a year? Any surgery is scary and has risks. You can't go through life avoiding all risks. For me - the risk of dying of heart problems from NOT DOING this surgery and staying obese was much higher than the risks from the surgery. This surgery was the right decision for me. I wish you good luck on making your decision.

ht3013 - (sorry for the delay, work)....I am still pre-op, (having my VSG on the 27th). My gastroenterologist is on board with this, (and her opinion was a very big factor for me). She would prefer I get it done in the US, but understands the need to look elsewhere due to way the US medical and insurance industries are. My PCP has not been supportive, but since I see my gastro doc much, much more than the PCP, I could not care less. At this point, my plan is to go to one of two pre-selected, (by me), highly rated ER's in my area should an emergency situation arise. I am still hunting for a bariatric surgeon in my area who would be willing to provide post-op followup care, but so far have been unsuccessful. Heck, no one is even willing to do a simple 10-day post-op incision check for me. It can be frustrating, but you have to weigh what is important to you. For minor things, I can use my gastro doc. For surgical needs that are an emergency, you should do your homework on your area ERs and the surgeons that are affiliated with them and the hospital. A general surgeon spends plenty of time on people's insides, and will be able to handle things that pop up.

Well, I didnt have to do one. But I thought I would anyway, for all the reasons you've got running through your head. I did last 3 days. Before i started fainting every time I stood up! Called my doc, he said I was mad to do that to myself if it wasnt even necessary and pointed out that its an extreme measure for an extreme circumstance and NOT a healthy way to lose weight at ALL. He said if it was difficult, made me feel sick and had me passing out, then stop doing it. I knew for a fact my liver was not particularly fatty and not enlarged at all and it wasnt going to be a problem for surgery. So I just ate sensibly in my last few weeks again. Not doing a liquid diet does not mean eating everythign not nailed down either. Cutting out the white carbs, getting rid of carbonated drinks and for me a huge one was cutting down drastically on caffeine (knew I wouldnt have the stomach space for my normal coffee intake afterwards) is going to help enormously. I have renewed respect for those that do do it. I've never done such an awful diet in my life. I couldnt do it now WITH a band.

I had a gastric sleeve in June 2016. Was 225 lb now 167.5 lb as of Oct 27. I have been concerned about a sagging abdomen... it's a flap of skin and stubborn fat that gets worse the more weight I lose. I also had twins, so it's not just the weight loss that caused the situation. I am concerned that I can't do any more surgery like a tummy tuck, not just because of expense but also because I had a life threatening blood clot situation with the gastric sleeve. All mesenteric veins and portal vein became almost 100% or completely 100% blocked with blood clots and I almost died. I later discovered a family history of blood clot problems after surgery. I have been reading about a non-surgical treatment called Venus Legacy for skin tightening and fat removal basically by heating it up with radio and other electromagnetic radiation. Has anyone tried this? It's about $200 per treatment and you need about 8 treatments, it says, to see a full effect. I am skeptical but some of the before and after pics look great. I am struggling to lose more weight because of the horrific flap of skin that gets saggier and saggier. I'm scared of what it will look like if I lose more weight. I'm 20 pounds from my goal. The arms and thighs have it going on too but it's nothing like the abdomen. I'm getting irritated and sore under the flap of skin. Any advice?

Congratulations on your weight loss and also for reaching out for help. It takes a lot of maturity to do so. I agree with what others have posted above. Do you know what your Protein goal is? If so, are you getting in all of your protein and Water every day? Getting enough protein and water will help you feel more satisfied. Keep a water bottle with you at all times so you don't get dehydrated. I think Snacks are fine as long as they are protein-based and that you plan for them. I too have found MyFitnessPal invaluable for tracking my protein, etc. I have worked for years with college students and have taught Freshman seminars. One thing I suggest as a student and as someone who has had WLS, is that you make sure you use a calendar. Use it to plan out your days and weeks. Include everything that requires your time and attention like: Classes Deadlines Study Time Homework Assignments Exams Exam Review Projects Project Milestones Commuting Time Meal times Snack times Exercise times sleep (make sure you schedule enough time to get some sleep!) Social Time Parties Football Games and other School Activities Club Activities/Meetings Church or Spiritual Practice Appointments Errands Laundry/chores (You probably get the picture.) The point I am making is that you need to plan ahead, especially as it relates to your food, water, exercise, and sleep. Learn to practice HALT. Don't let yourself get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. All of these can lead to grazing and bad food choices. You probably won't have time to get Bored -- another thing that leads to grazing and bad food choices. You may also want to see if you can find a local support group and a nutritionist who works with WLS patients. See if there is a Bariatric Center of Excellence near you and ask for a referral. Your school may or may not have a nutritionist on staff which might be an option for you but I would make sure whatever NUT you choose that you find one who has experience with WLS. Also, as someone mentioned above, don't be afraid to talk to your campus food service folks to make sure they have things available that work with your program. Fortunately, most college food services are extremely focused on providing healthy choices. Best of luck with school and with your continued success.

I am in the beginning of my journey and obviously changing eating habits. What are some of your favorite recipes or websites to find bariatric friendly recipes. Thanks in advance.

Wow, this is NEWS for Aetna folks. Aetna has changed its Coverage Policy Document on bariatric surgery. It doesn't actually embrace lapbanding, but it DOES open the door for people who have significant contraindications for RNY. There are some contraindications listed, but as we all know they can't possibly predict all the cases. For example, if I were going to try to appeal my denial again now, I'd make a strong case that the rapid weight loss following RNY surgery was in itself something I could not accept. That sort of rapid weight loss significantly disrupted my life 13 years ago, when I lost 75 lbs in 12 weeks on Optifast. For the full picture, visit Aetna's website at www.aetna.com and look for Coverage Policy Bulletin # 157. I see more Aetna bandsters in the future!!

Well I have finally joined the bandsters. I am surprised how well I feel today. I had my procedure on 3/24 and yesterday (3/25) I felt less than perfect. But today (3/26) I am feeling great. A little sore but good. I was so impressed with the after care at the hospital. They talked to me quite a bit about the band and were so positive about the choice I made to have it done. The second day I had a nutritionist visit me and explained all about the diet, and then they had the bariatric counselor come talk to me to answer any questions I might have and let me know about the support groups they have available. It was great, I felt very cared for. Hooray, I'm on my way:banana

Just in case anyone needed to know, Surgical bariatric associates in Syracuse will do fills. They are going to be doing them in the office as well as under Fluro. If anyone is interested in the number just let me know and I will post it. I am also doing a support group June 14th in the building where they are located. PM me about that if anyone is interested in that as well. On a sad note, my DR., Dr. Munshi told me that he is leaving at the end of August :cry . It won't be a problem for me to get my fills because the other 2 MD's plus the PA will be doing fills as well. It is just a sad thing.

Thanks for your replies. I know the bariatric place where I'm going will handle insurance stuff, but maybe I'll do a little more digging before I go to the seminar. i'm just now learning that some companies make you see a dietician for 6 months and/or have other stipulations. Now I'm afraid this could get complicated. The research is overwhelming. Especially when I have next to no downtime (stay at home mom to 3 under 3). This forum looks very informative!

Hello everyone! This is my first post. I'm very excited about getting a lap band. Last week I went to a seminar given by Dr. Chua in Milwaukee and this Friday I have an appt. to see the nutritionist and the psychologist. I called my insurance and they do cover bariatric surgery however someone at Dr. Chua's office said that my insurance (WPS) does not cover the lap band because they consider it experimental. I would rather have the lap band insted to getting the bypass done. I'm wondering if anyone out there has a lap band that has WPS insurance?:phanvan:(