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So I'm in the process of working on the requirements for my insurance to cover surgery. I start class 1 of 6 bariatric nutrition classes tomorrow. I have to do these classes once month for 6 months. But probably in a few months, I will be moving to another state. Has anyone moved to another state in the middle of trying to complete the insurance requirements? Was it easy? Did you have to restart the requirements in the new state? Sent from my SM-N975U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

It's been a long process overall. We have an accredited bariatric surgery center located in my local hospital. That has been a huge help, insurance wise. Insurance required 6 months of doctor visits, but they did not have to be new. They could have used previous doctor visits where we discussed weight loss and issues surrounding it, I'm mostly getting the surgery for the severe GERD starting to cause Barrets esophagus. Then I needed three consecutive months with the nutritionist to prove that I can make the changes that would be required after the surgery. Once that was completed, insurance was approved. That was 3 months ago, so it took about 3 months to get it approved. However I ended up dislocating my wrist and needing a complete wrist repair and tendon graft. So I pushed my surgery out till January. Then it was about selecting the surgery date. Two weeks ago I got blood work done, and I ended up being a little bit low in iron and vitamin d so they called in a prescription for that. The pre-op appointments I had this week I met with the following: yesterday I met with the nutritionist to discuss everything again, then the nurse to go over any health changes, and then the pharmacist, who helps you with your medication, which ones you need to chew, which ones you need to dissolve, and if you are on any extended release ones they change it for you. She also gave me all of my vitamins. This is included in the package through the medical insurance. Today, I met with the physical therapist who had me do a 6-minute walk and took my blood pressure and heart rate before and after. I'll repeat the test in 6 months to make sure everything is improving. She also gave me exercises to do while in the hospital and after to prevent blood clots. Then I finally met with the surgeon who basically just looked at my chart signed it and said see in two weeks. Our local bariatric center has monthly meetings, and I follow up with the physical therapist, nurse, and nutritionist consistently for the first year. sorry this was long and not exactly sure if this is what you were looking for but feel free to ask anything else! Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

FluffyChix, Thank you so much. Yes, my Sleeve still works and gets restriction to food. As far as the fatty liver, it is Non-Alcoholic. I know without a doubt that I have a vitamin deficiency, and wanted to keep taking my vitamins until I can schedule an appointment to meet with the Doc. I just am not sure how long I should wait?? At the present time, I'm taking the OPTISOURCE Post Bariatric Surgery chewable tablets (& I absolutely hate them), but I force myself. I'm looking to make the switch to perhaps a 1 a day capsule (BariatricPal 1 a day Multi-vitamin).

Just bumping this thread again to see if anyone else has already completed a post-bariatric surgery thru hike or long distance pilgrimage? Would like to know how you handled nutrition along the way. Especially if you completed the Camino de Santiago in Spain. But experience with long distant (many day) hike would do. I am now 4 1/2 months post op. Below my doctors goal weight. Not far from a "normal" BMI. I will be leaving in late May, just over 9 months post op. I am trying to figure out how to stay hydrated, how to get enough protein, how others did with carbs (need to increase for the hike, but don't want to have to withdraw afterwards and am afraid it will be hard to go back to my non-hiking bariatric diet). I have tried asking some questions on Camino forums, but the average hiker just doesn't understand the challenges that many people face if they have medical issues that affect their diet/nutrition/hydration health. For example, a question about "Are you able to buy electrolytes along the Camino" gets responses like "there are water fountains everywhere, just drink more water". Um, yeah. I would love to do that. But I am still lucky to get 60 ounces in. What I need to know is if I can easily buy electrolyte supplements along the route. If yes, I am good. If not, I need to come up with a plan for hydration. Or someone else asked questions about vitamins and people replied "Just eat fruits and vegetables, vitamins are a waste of money". Um yeah... doesn't work for those with vitamin deficiencies. This person, like me, needs very specific vitamin supplements to maintain her level of health. While we can find a normal mulit... we may not be able to find the right dosing of each vitamin for our needs. And heck... I even talked to my nutritionist about my nutritional concerns for the hike and she tried telling me "just bring all the mulit-vitamins, calcium chews, and individual packets of protein powder and electrolytes with you for the entire trip". Um... sure... that would work for a normal travel situation. But I am packing a backpack with my clothes, bedding, hygiene essentials plus medications, first aid, and other necessary supplies. I will be carrying that bag on m y back for at least 7 hours a day, every day, for up to 7 weeks straight. Yeah.... can't pack enough for the entire trip. She at least understood when I put it that way to her.... but those who have hiked the Camino before and don't have my medical issues just don't know how to reply in a manner that is actually helpful to me. And US thru hikers send themselves care packages to local post offices along the path... but since I would be mailing things from the US, I risk packages getting stuck in customs and not arriving as scheduled and thus I might have to move on without dietary essentials. Anyhow.... if anyone has experience they can share, i would love to know how you dealt with some of these issues. Or if there were other challenges you faced because you are a bariatric patient.

Yes, she survived and gave me the courage to get a referral to a bariatric surgeon. She also convinced her husband to do the surgery. While I was at UMC getting my surgery, he was at TMC getting his (also with your doc). My friend is 4 years post op and looks great and has been in maintenance mode since year one. Her husband is down 75 pounds since surgery and 8-10 inches off his waist. I am down 75 pounds since May 20 (surgery Sept 4), am below my surgeons goal, and near MY goal. Anyhow, I know others who also had your doc and they have all been happy with their results. I only went with a different doc because my PCP referred me to a different doc. Anyhow... he may not be a female with big boobs... but sounds like he is good at what he does, and I would prefer a skilled doc than a hot doc (although the hot doc is always a bonus).

Hi Suburban Boston. I've been with my bariatric center for a year. I think its fear. I've had a few co occurring medical issues I was focusing on and those have mostly been addressed. I really need to do some deep thinking over the next few days...

Early out drinking feels like aquarium gravel, try different temperatures and flavors, bone broth, sf crystal light diluted, warm decaf tea, etc. I liked ready-made blue raspberry Isopure, if you can find it in the UK. Staying hydrated is very important as it can be hard to catch up once you are in that state. If you find yourself getting light headed increase liquids and salt. Your will be emotional on and off during this journey, hormones get wacky and you will miss food, right now you miss chewing. This all passes in time. Hang in there. Find a new hobby, go to a bariatric support group if you can.

That is the common coverage for bariatric surgery, having a BMI 40 or over or a BMI of 35 or over with two comorbidity factors. The surgery has to be medically necessary for them to cover it under insurance. They're not going to pay for someone who doesn't need it to have it.

Sorry, but I just can't let your comment go. Bariatric surgery involves huge physical changes, and for many women, it means substantial loss of in the boob department. The body changes are hard enough to cope with, and it doesn't help knowing there are men who value a woman by the size of her breasts. Your comment is insensitive to the successful female WLS patients on this forum.

Hey! Twins, huh? As you can see from my screen name, I have triplets, but they are 21, now. I just never got the band set right, just like you. So aggravating. I know some people lost a lot of weight, but did they keep it off or not have GERD, vomiting, etc.? Ugh. I may have done better had I gotten full aftercare (doc retired unexpectedly - no referrals). All in all, not my favorite decision I ever made. I just love feeling like a failure. I still can't eat huge portions, but I can eat enough to have gained all that weight back and lost it a couple of times since. This band has been more of a nuisance than a helpful tool. The VSG just sounds too easy to "mess up" with the stretching and not having so much malabsorbtion, The GERD just sounds awful. I know there's a tiny chance of GERD with RNY, but it is small. I have dealt with it already, so... RNY is what I think I want. Family members have had it and the one that took it seriously has had great success. The one that is less compliant has had a positive outcome, but their weight loss would be greater if they weren't so hard-headed and followed their bariatric diet! I would LOVE to be my absolute normal weight (130ish), but would be content with healthy and not "fat". I'm willing to put in the work. I realize I'm over 50 and menopausal, so there's that... I wish you luck! i have my two surgical consults next week - I'm excited and a little nervous! To make things worse, I had a sinus infection going into the holidays and had to take steroids. HUNGER! I ate ALL the carbs. Sigh. I feel huge!

I called my insurance company IBC PPO back in August, they sent me a copy of the bariatric policy. BMI over 40, weight loss attemps, etc. This is for it to be covered under medically necessary. Is the what everyone else used or does everyone else have a bariatric rider? The surgeons office said I was denied because I do not have coverage. I had to call the insurance company 4 times before I found someone who referred me back to the policy I was sent in August. I am so confused. I have been on the phone all day! Curious if anyone else got the same run around. Fingers crossed I hear good news soon. Hoping I don't have to pay out of pocket.

My point is its not easy to cut out 500 calories a day if you are anywhere near following the plan. This is not like non bariatrics that are eating 2500 calories a day and want to cut to 2000. Its MUCH harder to cut 500 calories when you are eating substantially less. Ive been on the same routine since around mid July.

I am about 9 years post-op, I did very well up until my 40th birthday. then things went for the worst! slowly but surely gained 20 pounds each year! Not to mention having really really bad reflux. I cannot eat anything spicy, drink late at night even brush my teeth without having reflux. I went to my bariatric doctor and I feel like he just gets angry and scolds me for not logging food. He said I have some leaking but it is my weight gain that causes my reflux and tells me I cannot have a revision because he is sure it my food choices that have caused my weight gain and reflux. I make some bad choices but nothing nearly what I was before my procedure. I almost never drink soda, I don't eat corn, rice, or pasta like at all it makes me sick and pukes it up asap! my sugar intake is low although my weakness gets me most times. I know I could do better with water intake as well. I seem to feel hungry all the time. I know I can eat so much more than I did before. I could eat a whole hot dog in a sitting where before I could only eat half. I feel i am back where I was before a procedure where it seems even a slice a bread causes me 2 pounds! I really feel I need a revision or go RNY but I am so scared to even ask my doctor as I am scared of him judging me and denying me making it seem I am neglegent of my choices all because I don't log my food on a daily! any recommendations?

I'm a sleeve patient and I was provided with Omeprazole the day I was released from the hospital. I have only taken it maybe three times as I have noticed certain foods I have eaten gave me that funny almost heartburn feeling. I was not given any directions from my doctor as to how long I should be on this, and my bariatric doctor's name isn't on the prescription. I don't know who this is smh. Maybe it's his partner he told me about at my 4 week follow up (shrugs). Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi Everyone. Had my gastric sleeve on Mon, 1/6/20 and discharged on Tues, 1/7/20. I walked several times the day of surgery and the following day. My belly became severely bloated and swollen as I was getting dressed to leave the hospital and got even worse the next day. Wednesday I spent half the day researching how to reduce the swelling and bloating and found one medical center that said they put abdominal binders on every bariatric patient immediately following surgery. Received my ab binder from Amazon on Thursday and was amazed at how much better I felt immediately. My weight when I got home on Tuesday was 7 pounds more than the day of surgery. Wednesday the scale showed 1 pound less. Thursday, 1 pound less. Friday, after wearing the abdominal binder for one day, 3 pounds less. The light compression helps support your stomach and helps your body release the excess fluid. I wish I had thought about it before surgery and been prepared. I had liposuction and a tummy tuck years ago and compression garments were placed immediately after surgery so makes sense to do the same after bariatric surgery. That swelling and bloating has been the worse part for me and could have been avoided had I been prepared.

Hi I had BPDS Switch on April 2. I have lost 101 pounds since surgery and around 140 since starting the process. Main issue I am having is I have swelling in my lower legs very day due to low protein and pre albumin levels. I am now taking additional supplements for iron along with my bariatric vitamins. Glad to hear everyone checking in! Highest Weight 264 Surgery Weight 224 Current Weight 123

Hello Everyone, I hand my Bariatric Sleeve on 1/9/2020 and the pain I’m feeling is no joke. I was not prepared for this much pain happening and I’m constantly burping all day long. I got pain mostly in my upper abdominal areas and pain on both sides especially on my right abdominal side. I also just stared passing gas a day in a half ago and it hurt during that time also. Have anyone experience this and can give me tips on finding relief?

Bariatric surgery is safer then a hip replacement

This is definitely NOT a medical recommendation. I take Cyclobenzaprine for my degenerative disk disease and a friend just recommended Tart Cherry supplements for inflammation. I've heard Cyclobenzaprine is not great for bariatric patients so I'm checking with my surgeon about that. I'll let you know how the Tart Cherry works and if I notice any improvement. Cherry juice is supposed to work as well, but has a lot of empty calories.

I’ve heard great things about “the gastric sleeve bariatric cookbook” it’s supposedly cheap on Amazon . IG has a bunch of people who post their bari meals with recipes

I used Pinterest. There are loads of post-bariatric recipes out there.

I have many recipes & used my IP many times. I was just wondering if there were any recipes geared for us bariatric peeps.

@Shparks You are not alone! I'm also struggling after a huge regain. In total I lost about 75kg or 165lbs. Then I regained 27kg or 60lbs back. My surgery was only about 2 years ago. I feel like such a failure. I can't explain how bad this is. I can see why there are so many mental health issues associated with bariatric surgery. I had the sleeve but I don't know if there would be any point to a revision to the bypass for me. Nevertheless, like many on new year resolution. I'm trying all over again. I've lost about 3kg (7 pounds). It does feel like a very long road back. I just hope I can do it.

I have used Bariatric Advantage chewy bites for the last nine months or so: https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/multivitamins/products/bariatric-advantage-multivitamin-chewy-bites-available-in-4-flavors I have only tried strawberry/watermelon and really like them. I had originally used tablets but couldn't take them after surgery. They had to be ground to a powder, and taking them that way was completely disgusting no matter how I tried to disguise the taste. I then tried to chewable tablets and found them disgusting as well (particularly the smell). The chewy bites have worked well for me. (I also take the calcium chewy bites.) As for protein shakes, I'm also a big fan of Premier Protein, especially the caramel flavor. I love to put it in coffee, but I also drink it straight. I did not find it too sweet after surgery.

There are plenty of insurances that will cover bariatric surgery. You will just need to research the insurances available to you and see which ones have the best coverage. That said... you will probably have to wait for a period of time before they will cover a pre-existing condition. Medicare and Medicaid cover it. I have Federal BCBS and many BCBS do cover it. But I suggest looking at the insurance section of this site... you might be able to find posts to give you an idea of who covers it. Look for insurances that seem to do better with preventative care, because they are more likely to understand that if you fix the obesity problem now, you are improving the obese patients overall health and fixing and/or preventing other health problems. Of course, this is a new concept for many insurance providers when it comes to bariatric surgery. Medicare/Medicaid/BCBS seem to get it, but I don't know who else does!