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I'm not sure this was from my bariatric team, I will email the actual surgeon today though and see what he says.

I loathe that kind of gain, because most of my bariatric Dr. an appointments are around my cycle for whatever reason.

The BariatricPal Store carries a large selection of bariatric friendly coffee options at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/coffee .

@theexfatgirl - I think you may have already mentioned trying the unflavored protein powder? I apologize if you stated you had already tried it and it didn't work out. I put the unflavored protein powder into my jello and mixed it up (I was allowed jello, broth, sugar free popsicles, and the protein drinks or protein shakes I made myself. I have a bit of a lactose intolerance so was not able to make shakes with milk but I sure wish I could have! I added unflavored protein powder to my broth. I bought a variety box of protein soups from bariatric pal and in my 2nd week, I tried some of those. The one I thought would be the worst for my stomach, cream of tomato, my pouch actually liked but I figure I was just lucky. Also, I have a gastric bypass instead of a sleeve so I have no idea if that made ANY difference at all in being able to tolerate it. I think you said the protein drinks you tried were making your tummy hurt? I was just wondering about this as I have a LOT..and I mean a LOT of abdominal/intestinal cramping in general..and when added to the gas issues..I felt like my stomach..or what I 'used to call my stomach' was hurting so often! I don't know if it was because of my new 'anatomy' and plumbing, but I was given meds to help with this..cramping, spasms..and they seemed worse after drinking protein drinks (again, apologies for not knowing if it applies to both the sleeve and gastric bypass peeps) but I somehow managed to get them down...thinning them out helped a bit. I remember on Day 3 being VERY VERY DISMAYED and a bit angry that my hunger returned. Oh, I knew this was a chance BUT I was very envious of those who went months and even some...YEARS without feeling the return of hunger. I know some posters have mentioned trying to see if different temperatures help with your tummy issues. I found that oddly for me, warm things made my pouch MUCH happier than cold (and of course most protein drinks we drink are 'cold', well the pre-made ones I mean). I also used a heating pad for my abdominal area. Be KIND to yourself. You just had major surgery and your whole body is reeling from the impact as well as the anesthesia. This definitely made me grouchy..not saying it made you grouchy..LOL, just saying how I felt about it. I also had a hard time on my sibling thread although I was generally truly THRILLED for my surgery siblings....I am a slow loser and while I only had a few minor complications, I soon realized that a lot of what I was feeling was simply due to 1) Major Surgery 2) MAJOR MAJOR hormonal swings that I was warned about...3) Feeling in pain/uncomfortable 4) Wondering even with THREE years of preparing on a handful of days..if I had done the right thing. I was on liquids for over 45 days straight so I was VERY VERY frustrated with this. That being said, I only stayed down and frustrated for a few days. Don't get me wrong, I still get a bit down and frustrated but I am able to quickly step out of those feelings now that I'm over 3 months post-op. My surgeon and nutritionist were very encouraging when I was tripping out about not hitting protein goals..they told me to do the BEST I COULD in the first few weeks. I hope one of the suggestions or many of the suggestions are able to be of help to you..and of comfort. I will say my mood did a drastic pick up in weeks 3 and 4....and before I was even 1 month post-op, I was back in my secure feeling of knowing I did the right thing. For others it may take longer, but my fervent hope and wish for you is that you are able to find something soon you can handle to drink/eat and that the beautiful part of your journey starts (we often don't even know it has started until we look back in hindsight). Best wishes to you!! You CAN do this!!

So I just heard from my bariatric team and the coughing trouble comes from the loss of torso muscle. Wow. Time to build some muscle

Hey y'all. I've noticed for the last 3 weeks after I eat I am getting some pretty fierce heartburn. No reflux coming up, just that clean-burning sensation. I had bad acid reflux and heartburn pre-op that totally disappeared. I am taking Prilosec. It definitely doesn't feel like an ulcer or anything and doesn't hurt while eating. It's a very distinct heartburn sensation. Doesn't seem to be correlated to any type of food. Just happens shortly after I eat anything. Any thoughts on this? I was taking Arthrotec which is an NSAID but also mixed with a medicine to protect your stomach lining (prescribed by my bariatric surgeon and later by my primary care for a disc herniation). I stopped that and now I am on Celebrex, also an NSAID but required by my plastic surgeon 10 days pre-op skin removal and 10 days post-op, and also "safer on tummies". Again, this is coupled with the Prilosec. But yeah... heartburny! Sent from my SM-G930R4 using BariatricPal mobile app

I have been on point with taking the following: Bariatric Multivitamin 1 x's a day Biotin supplement - found the recommended fairly high dose to take in either Dr. Weiner's videos or that other dr who is hysterically funny and several here follow him Have Celebrate's hair, skin and nails multivitamin (I alternate with the sublingual biotin as I was worried about what happens if you take TOO much biotin) Eating at least 64 grams of protein a day. Dr has me going as high as 80 - I usually end up between 64 and 80 day. Maybe 3 days in past 6 wks where I got less than 64 gms My surgeons started me on the bariatric vitamins when I was pre-op and doing the liquid diet. He knows I added the biotin/skin, hair, nails supplement at same time I also started using Essie nail strengthener on my nails at the same time. My nails started growing so fast, just like when I was pregnant!!! Fast forward to the past 3 weeks, I am about 4 months post-op and my nails are more brittle than I've ever seen them, they tear off so much that the nail beds are shorter than my fingers...they look like a kid's fingers who chewed all their nails off. The ONLY thing I have not been consistent about getting in is the calcium citrate 3 x's per day. Could a calcium deficiency be the reason for this SUDDEN and drastic change?

Day 8. I was really hungry when i woke up but I had some double broth for breakfast with my shake and now i feel full. Since I am down 15 lbs (since I started this journey in April) my plantar fasciitis today (so far) is not painful. I also started listening to this book called Bariatric Mindset Success Live Your Best Life and Keep the Weight off After Weight Loss Surgery By: Kristin Lloyd. She also had the surgery. Good luck today everyone!

Agreed. Okay, so I will say that I’m more of a “tough love” kind of person and can be blunt sometimes. Part of that is decades as a healthcare practitioner (do NOT try to lie to me and tell me that the dog ate your Xanax and you need it filled early) and part of it is that I carry around a lot of mother/daughter issues with my mom. In short, she’s one of the biggest enablers on the planet and then tells lies/omits truth about it. Trying to confront her about it is like trying to punch a marshmallow, so how I compensate is to be brutally honest to the point of being (seemingly) outright rude at times. I used to feel bad about it, but as I get older, I’m more of a “take me or leave me” kind of person. I need to find a good support group— so far I can only find ones online. Both bariatric centers near me have crap format and hours. Meh. Anyway, just discovered this thread. Yay! I’ll probably lurk here more than post bc I don’t log food as often or as thoroughly as I should but I love seeing the menus

I understand your feelings completely and compared- at least to me- it’s normal. Around the second week, I put different spices in my broth to make it taste better and I pretended like it was something different. The grocery store bought bone broth was the worst. But a friend told me about the Bariatric Pal store and I bought the broth - it has 15 grams of protein. They also have drinks with 15 grams of protein that taste good and not too sweet. (Everything I bought prior to the surgery is what I can’t stand now, including the whey powder, shakes, and anything sweet.) It was the only thing I could do to get my protein in at that point. The Bariatric Pal store powder protein drinks and broth ( with my own seasonings added like poultry seasoning, salt & pepper it tarragon, etc) did help. It’s hard and it’s a mind game but it’s only for now- not for always. The time will go quickly. Also, when you start eating purée food, you will feel much better because of the vitamins & minerals that real food gives. I have read & saw on other sites that about the second week post op, people can get emotional. Well, I just knew I wouldn’t - until Day 9 post op hit me & I lost it. I melted down because I tried to do too much that day to shake the feelings of buyers remorse. Then, my hubby went to Red Lobster and had the nerve to bring home leftovers. Needless to say, that was his last time at Red Lobster. I yelled at him, cried (and I’m not a cryer), and I made him throw it out with the trash. Then, I couldn’t sleep & woke him up at 3:00 am & yelled at him again. I had buyers remorse big time. I couldn’t see the forest because of the trees. I had my 1st support meeting that week - which really helped a lot. It wasn’t very long after that where I was able to eat purée food and it made a world of difference! Keep hanging on! It will get better!😇

Hello! I was in the same boat as you! I’m 22 and for the last couple of years I was doing my research on WLS. I had to get my gallbladder removed last year due to having some pain from the stones. My 2 week post op appointment the doctor who did it asked me if anyone has talked to me about WLS. And that’s how I got started, that very same day of DEC 5 2018. Now i am almost 3 months post op. My advice would be call your insurance or even go to your primary care doctor and ask about WLS and ask for a referral to a Bariatric surgeon. Have a consultation appointment and they can actually let you know before continuing the process what your insurance covers and what they ask of your

Honestly for me protein comes after water, but I consider pretty dang important. I can (and do) take my bariatric supplements daily. I haven’t had a single piece of fruit since February and I have zero vitamin deficiencies. Almost all of my non-protein calories are in the form of veggie-carbs and a bit of fat— usually animal fat as I tend to eat very high protein most days. I can consume 700 calories in a day and get in >90gm protein and

Day 9. Another clean day that I was very grateful for. Place that I've traveled that I'm most grateful for? First, I'm extremely grateful for my ability to travel to many incredible places. Reading and traveling is what makes my life pleasurable. My husband and I very early on decided we were going to educate our kids through travel and it has been great seeing other parts of the world with them. I'm most grateful for a couples trip I took with my brother and sis in law (my BFF) to Tahiti. Words can't describe how needed that trip was at the time. My BFF is also a physician, my brother is in a ridiculous high powered job that's even worse in stress and my hubs is an attorney. We got to that Island EMPTY!!!!!! We returned home full, renewed and in love with ourselves. I will be forever grateful for that trip. Gave me an actual measuring stick for when I need a break. B-Side Question: How has your S/O been handling all of the changes since WLS? My husband is the only person I told about my surgery and his daily support and care makes me fall in love with him daily. He's not changed towards me in any way and compliments my achievements. The best part is truly believing based on his actions, that he loves me regardless of my weight [emoji176][emoji176][emoji176][emoji176] Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

Hello! My first post... BRAND NEW here! Hi! I'm (almost) 48 and went in for my surgery back in September of this year. They put me to sleep, woke me up, and said "we can't operate. You have a large mass in your stomach." WHAT??! Long story short, they referred me to OBGYN and I found out I have a cantaloupe-sized cyst parked on top of my good-for-nothing uterus. The OBGYN said she would consult with the bariatric surgeon and if her surgery is without any complications, they could both operate on the same day. She will be the lead surgeon, as the hysterectomy takes precedence, and if there are no adhesions/nothing unexpected, the bariatric surgeon will begin his procedure once she is out. I've googled quite a bit and it doesn't seem as though there is much information out there addressing this type of procedure. I'm a little nervous but I trust that these surgeons will be safe and do what is in my best interest. But it's scary... surgery is scary, regardless. Anyway~ that's my introduction! I'm 5'7", 260 pounds, and expect to look like a 30 year old supermodel this time next year. Or an "improved me." I'm happy either way!

I would go with your surgeons recommendation since most of the folks here are not doctors. I weighed 215 (5 ft 5) at my consult....I’m thinking since I’m at the “lower” end of the BMI that he’d recommend the sleeve. I have reflux so he recommended bypass. Since the surgery, reflux is gone. My BP went from high 140’s/80’s to 120’s/ 70( or less) , the same day. It’s crazy! Do your homework, sounds like you are. Btw, your pcp probably isn’t an expert on bariatric surgery. Good luck with whatever you choose!

I’m sorry that you’re hurting I’m sorry that you’re struggling I am going to call you out though for lashing out very rudely. Whether you like the advice or not, someone took time out to give a response. Yes, maybe the wording was a bit harsh, but please take the message and go back to all of the months of physical and psychological prep that went into this. There are many of us here from decades-long veterans to those surgeried just in the last few weeks that can help. The first 2 weeks are the absolute worst. Your body is tired, your mind is tired and everything is dramatically different. However, I haven’t heard of a single weight loss patient who didn’t know this going in, so refer to your action plan and work the plan. Drink Protein shakes (if possible) Vitamins Rest Work with your NUT and bariatric clinic. They don’t disappear after surgery, they are there and want you to succeed. For the first 8 days post-op, I “consumed” a total of 800 calories. For 8 days. Didn’t hit a single protein goal ANY of those days. Emailed my NUT panicked 3 times that week bc I couldn’t hold in anything thicker than water. Her advice was to relax and not stress too much about the protein as long as the water happened. She was right and within 2 more weeks I finally hit my first protein goal. It took me 3 weeks after surgery to do that, so you’re still good. It won’t always be easy, but life changing measures seldom come easily.

Hello everyone. I'm new to this and am very nervous about this whole thing. I have been seeing my primary doctor for years about my weight and have tried numerous diets and pills thru my doctor. I have UMR for insurance but they go by the United healthcare choice plus guidelines for bariatric surgery. I have received different answers from different representatives through my insurance place regarding the 6 month diet requirements. Does it need to be consecutive? How far back can those 6 months go? Does it have to be doctor supervised or can I show weight watchers logs? My surgeon office initially told me it doesn't have to be consecutive and can go back 2 years. But I was just doing some reading and saw that some people with this same plan had to have consecutive visits and within the 6 months prior to the authorization being sent in. Does anyone have any experience with this?

Yes! Also doing bariatric food coaching/meal plans/books. My old blog I no longer keep was low carb keto. I also had a fasting days healing days blog for a short period. fluffychixcook.com fastdayshealingdays.com

My goodness that's alot of food for 1000-ish cals. Have you considered doing a bariatric meal prep side business? You could probably make a killing.

I'm sending out lots of good thoughts you get the call soon! I think mine was so quick because my insurance was changing and no longer allowing bariatric surgery, so it was a race against the clock to get me on the surgery table before the change happened! I suspect my patient coordinator had something to do with it going so fast out of desperation, she said it usually takes one to two weeks, so I'm crossing my fingers for you that it's quick!

Thanks for sharing! The only Vitamin B12 I am taking is in my bariatric multivitamin... which lately I keep forgetting to take! I wasn't too concerned until I looked up high bilirubin with high vitamin b12... and together they indicate possible cancer and so of course it is a bit concerning. Of course, Cancer isn't the only cause... but just scary possibility. If others have a high b12 after surgery, I am less concerned though will continue monitoring and talk to the doc when I see him. I think I will keep my Dec appointment unless he calls me in because of labs... and then I will drop off a copy of my labs at my PCP office and SHE will probably call me and we can talk. I thought this might all be surgery/rapid weight loss related, but the web search had me worried. B12 is water soluble, so normally you just pee the extra out. Trying to up my fluids to see if it will help.

It takes this below to keep my blood work dead on, Key is absorption - You can go with all the marketing or you can go to the facts - I have found the most powerful ones that have the highest levels of absorption are the weight lifting ones - The black GNC powder realy hits me hard, use less and it does go in my system. The bariatric ones are often passed and not even 50% absorbed so be careful Key is the little supplement 1oz blasts also they add the extra mix

just check to make sure your vitamins meet the ASMBS (American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery) requirements. It usually takes two multivitamins per day to meet the guidelines, plus a couple of extra individual supplements (usually iron and calcium). You have to scroll down to page 6 to see the requirements (page six is entitled "Supplement Recommendations to Prevent Post-WLS Micronutrient Deficiency"). I take two Centrum Silver tablets (or the generic equivalent) every day. Here's the section with the page that lists the requirements: https://asmbs.org/app/uploads/2008/09/ASMBS-Nutritional-Guidelines-2016-Update.pdf

Why don't you use a 1-per day capsule? I used BariatricPal Multivitamin ONE "1 per Day!" Bariatric Multivitamins from https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/bariatricpal-multivitamin-one! BariatricPal has an offer just for this group where it'll cost you only $99 for an entire year supply! Check it out at https://store.bariatricpal.com/products/bariatricpal-multivitamin-one-1-per-day-bariatric-multivitamin-capsules-yearly-subscription With just ONE convenient & affordable BariatricPal Multivitamin ONE each day, you can get the bariatric vitamins and minerals you need to stay healthy! BariatricPal Multivitamin ONE was designed and developed by a team of the world's leading Bariatric medical professionals. Please take a calcium supplement separately to prevent interference with absorption of iron. You can view a large selection of bariatric friendly Calcium supplements at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/calcium. You can find many other bariatric friendly multivitamin options and brands at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/multivitamins

I asked my Weightloss Center and they only support vitamins that are sold by the WLC. It's a horrible place to go and I do not recommend them to anyone. Anyway, I bought Bariatric Fusion Tropical Fruit Bariatric Multivitamin Soft Chews for Post Bariatric Surgery Patients Including Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy, 60 Count, 1 Month Supply and I asked my WLC dietician and she was upset that I did not want to take the Celebrate MC r18 that they sold. I explained that the chewable they sell makes me sick and I cannot even force myself to eat them without getting ill. She said "fine" then told me that I could take the ones I bought but didn't tell me how many I needed to take or if the recommand two chewable a day were fine. Anyone know if two chewables a day are fine? I'm not sure if it's natural and I never noticed, but today I was able to see my hair start shedding and I had my surgery 3 months ago today. I haven't noticed this in the past.