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I have the Realize Band, and so far I couldn't be happier. I haven't been hungry since the surgery, and my doctor offers a fill in one month, not six to eight weeks. My recovery has been fantastic, and I have had very little pain. I got to compare both bands (Lap Band and Realize Band) side by side, and there was no question in my mind that the Realize Band was the best choice for me. My doctor, whose office is qualified as a Bariatric Center of Excellence, gives the patient the choice of bands. My doctor is very pleased with the results he's had in his practice from both bands. So far, I've lost almost 20% of my excess weight, with the majority of the loss in the last week since surgery. I haven't had a chance to spend a lot time on the Realize web site, but from what I've been able to do so far, it's been very helpful. One of the major reasons I chose the Realize Band was the great anchoring method it uses for the port, and the size and shape of the port. I've had very little port pain, and from what I've read, that seems to be a major issue for people. Also, I loved the Realize Band's pillow system. It's much softer than Lap Band, and such I plan to keep my band for years, I felt it would be much safer to have against my stomach as a foreign object. Also, the band itself was wider, which I felt made it safer as far as potential slips. I'm certainly not trying to discout the Lap Band. I think each person needs to weigh what is important to them for the long haul, and those were a few of the reasons I felt the Realize Band was the better choice for me.

For what it's worth...I am an RN who has been banded since March 2012. I'm just a few pounds shy of my goal and will probably revise it downward another 15 pounds. My experience with the band has been nothing but positive. I credit that to having an experienced, skilled surgeon in a highly accredited bariatric program, and my compliance with follow-up. As a nurse I researched my options exhaustively! There are naysayers to be sure, and people who have not been successful (often due to noncompliance in my opinion). A thorough look at the literature will show the band is a great option with the lowest mortality rate. And while there can be complications, they are minor relative to the complications with the other surgeries. Best of luck to you, whatever you decide.

Call the office of the surgeon (for me, that's a "bariatric diet center" and ask them what they recommend their patients do to fulfill that 6-month requirement. They may know a physician, or tell you to go to WW and check in w/your PCP, or some such. I didn't have to fulfill a 6-month preop diet requirement but I'd think your surgeon's staff can give you some tips on what YOUR insurance company will accept.

Every year my hospital (Siani Hospital of Baltimore) hosts a Protein party for people that either had or are thinking of having bariatric surgery. We have vendors show up to answer questions and hand out free sample of their product. This is being held on Tuesday March 20th 6-7:30pm. We also have door prizes. If you have any questions please feel free to ask.

I'll be three years out this upcoming April... I didn't resume my coffee habit until 2 months out. Drinking coffee too soon post-op can result in discomfort and other side effects due to its high acidity. You're only a few days out. http://www.laparoscopic.md/questions/coffee-safe-drink-after-bariatric-surgery I drink at least four cups of coffee daily without any ill effects. Your mileage may vary. Good luck to you.

Looking for a Bariatric buddy to have a surgery date close to mine with Pompeii surgical in Tijuana

I have wonderful insurance through my company. However, they will not cover bariatric surgery. However, my husband's company insurance will so we decided to switch during open enrollment. At the last minute, he was switched to part-time and has to pick up Aetna/SRC which covers the surgery but has a limited max that they will pay for everything (including doctor visits). So, I kept my insurance and he is also getting this insurance (which considers itself primary no matter what). My concern is, if there happens to be a complication, would my other insurance company cover that if they won't cover the bariatric surgery? I have this fear that, if there is a complication, the hospital fees will quickly go over what the limited insurance will cover and I will end up owing thousands of dollars, even though I have great insurance that just happens to not cover bariatric surgery. Does anyone have any experience concerning something like this? Thanks!

Ill have to look into that. I emailed the bariatric dept of our hospital here in Utah. I am most likely already going to have my gallbladder removed and since my insurance is going to pay for that I am going to see if i can just do a two-in-one procedure and find out how much it'll be to do the sleeve at the same time. Crossing my fingers its cheaper.

@hikergirl14 Fingers crossed with you! Your post op was similar to mine. 3 days Clear Liquids, days 4-14 full liquids then 14- 30 soft foods. Yay for muscle relaxants! I'm glad you're getting relief. All the hormones and changes are stressfull enough withou having other stuff to deal with. @SaraM8705 I've been at a stall for a littl over 2 weeks now, but the scale is finally moving again. I've really pushed to get my Protein and Water in the past couple days and I think it is paying off. With the DS and the SADI/SIPS you usually are in the hospital for about 3 days since there is a bit more rerouting going on. Which was okay with me, because I had plenty of help if I needed it and a great nursing assistant that kicked my butt out of bed and made sure I walked every 2 hours. Of course you don't get any sleep in a hospital but the staff I had was absolutely amazing. I think I had better care on the bariatric unit than I did for either my two C-sections!

Please take my comments as wanting you to enjoy maximum success. I failed with a lapband..partly not understanding how to eat. I found much success with the sleeve, losing 150# in 14 months (and maintaining for years now), but I had to understand how to do this. In the early months I strongly encourage you to eat dense,lean protein(fish, chicken, beef, other seafood etc.) As your main food each meal. Eat it slowly, chew carefully. You will get full really fast! It takes a small quantity! Then have a few bites of healthy veggies. My program called for doing that 5x a day. If you are mostly compliant with that you will have long term success. I am now four years out and I do sometimes"splurge" but it is in a controlled, not daily kind of thing. During the losing phase, following the bariatric recommendations most of the time is really important. Good luck, I do know it's difficult and most of us aren't perfect...but being consistently compliant is key. Sent from my KFJWI using the BariatricPal App

100% understand your position. I was in the same boat. Have great insurance through Anthem but bariatric is excluded. Tried for 3 yrs to get it to cover some/all of it to no avail. Try care credit, prosper, the hospital may have a financial assistance program. I was blessed and able to borrow the money from my parents but please don't give up. Wishing you all the best!

Hi Cupcake. I originally was on the Beaumont diet and got a referral for that. Then I switched over to the process for the sleeve and never got another referral since its good for so many months. I just got the referral renewed. I went to my primary doc when i was sick and told him I was getting the surgery. He OK'd the test for the scope and I told him it was for surgery clearance. No one told me I had to have an OK from him. I assume they think its OK since he renewed my referral for the visits. What hospital are you using and why do you have to wait two months for surgeon?

Thanks everuone.i saw my primary he's new so iv never delt with him before . Told me I'm eating to fast yadayada n I said how am I eating to fast with my first bite lol.. whatever he told me liquids for 2 days n it would fix the issue no more throwing up.. iv been down this road 100 times but doctors orders so I did.. he said " no throwing up with the liquid right?" N I said well no its liquid it doesn't get stuck for me to thro it up. Always so first day back on solids stuck. Even my husband doesn't understand how a bite the size of my thumb tha. I puree in my mouth gets stuck. I'm not saying it's every meal but 1-2 times a day I wake up dreading when I get hungry cause food is such a battle.. maybe it's just me but this is noway to live . Getting stuck fearful of what may or may not make u sick. Or having to have a liquid diet .. that's not good at all.. so for my rants I'm just annoyed.. iv had the band for 4 years n this past year has been horrable. My doc said he's gonna do a barium swallow to see if there's any issues than he will give me the referral to a bariatric doctor

I did drink soda before my lap band procedure but after the surgery I stopped drinking it. I think I lost the desire for it (among many other things). It just didn't taste the same as it did before the surgery. I had the lap band procedure in May 2008. I had numerous fills and unfills. On a recent trip to Kauai, our kayak tipped over and when I climbed back in (with help with our guide and my husband pushing me back in from behind), I thought I broke a rib. I later learned in emergency after a catscan and x-ray that it wasn't my rib or spleen, but that my lap band slipped! It was a freak accident. I had it removed several days later when I got home by my bariatric surgeon who put it in. He says I can wait 5 weeks and have it put back in. I am still debating with myself whether or not I want to put it back in. I was in the hospital for three days taking it out because I had to have numerous tests to see if my stomach was damaged from the band slippage. I have thousands of dollars of out-pocket costs. The insurance pays for most of it but I have to pay a portion too. Having my band slipped, meant that I could not swallow liquid or food and even my saliva came up! I feel much better since it was taken out. The slippage was something that I thought would NEVER happen to me. I am fearful that I will gain my weight back that took so much effort to lose and I will gain more. I am eating the same as I was before my band slipped and exercising even more. One of my bariatric surgeons is confident that I can do this. If not, I am having it put back in. For now, I am taking care of myself and recovering from my surgery. If there is anyone out there who is recoving from having the band taken out, I would appreciate hearing from you. My band was taken out not out of choice but out of an emergency. My band was so traumatized that they could not put a new band in after they took the old one out. Is there life after having your lap band taken out? If so, what kind of life? I've been changed on so many levels just having the procedure and living with the band for over a year. Can I keep my weight off? Can I lose more?

hi, i have surgery in 2 weeks. i changed my pcp to one that works with bariatric specialist. my bmi was high enough to qualify at 43 but insurance required that i visit dr each month and talk about weight and fill out form with doctor for 6 months min. our hospital has a class each month and then you find out who does the surgery and what insurance company needs or requirements are. it will be 11 months since i started process. i explained to pcp doctor what i wanted to do and why. laying out a logical explanation to him. i think he understood my need and after visiting each month i felt very comfortable to ask for referral..i see him in morning for final visit before surgery with pcp. july 6 i see the surgeon for preop. sell it! sell the idea that this is for you. good luck. i am not sure but they want you to make the big commitment for health.

I would love to have something to chew! Doc has me on a liquid only diet. No sugar over 5 grams and 15+ grams of protein each serving. I can have clear broth and sugar free jello/Popsicles. That is all. The bariatric advantage multivitamins are also making me nauseous... I am not sure why my doc has such a strict pre-op diet but I lost 8 lbs the first week and lost 3 more so far this week. Guess that's a good thing! I just keep telling myself it is all worth it!! I know I can do this!!!

Stacy, I am also a nurse and also a sleever. I certainly understand her concerns. I also faced opposition from the Dr I work for as he is NOT a bariatric surgery advocate. However, as Dr Oz says, "If you are morbidly obese at the age of 50 you have the same mortality rate as someone will a solid cancer. Would I recommend surgery for them? Yes.The same goes for the bariatric patient." You have the chance to show her that if done correctly with dedication, and proper follow-up, the sleeve can be lifechanging, and often lifesaving. You might be the one to change her mind, and even make her an advocate for her patients who need this tool. Good luck!

My primary care doc (now, former primary care doc) had never heard of the sleeve, so no matter how I tried to describe it to her, she thought it was the gastric bypass surgery. the note she sent to the bariatric doctor was not supportive as she says too many people have complications and regain weight too. She is basing that on her gastric bypass patients! Not every doctor or nurse is really educated on bariatric issues - so - it could be your SIL is not informed about this specific procedure.

OTR Sleever your 100% right about the types of Protein, I'm sure you already knew that, and I found an article that really explains it in detail. I thought I would share it with everyone. Thanks for setting me straight and helping me get started on the right foot. Protein supplements & Weight-loss Surgery by Kimberly Mahoney, MS, RD, LDN To view a PDF version of this article, click here. When you step into a health food store or a Vitamin shop, there is often an abundance of protein supplements to choose from and sales people claiming they are “nutritionists” trying to sell you the best liquid or powder protein products on the market. There is a large assortment of protein supplementation available to consumers; however, it is essential to recognize that some supplements are of higher quality than others. For weight-loss surgery (WLS) patients, it can be very confusing if you are not aware of what to look for when it comes to protein supplementation. Why is protein important? Proteins are a part of every cell, tissue and organ in our bodies. These body proteins are constantly being broken down and replaced. The body does not store protein for later use, therefore consuming adequate high quality protein is necessary, otherwise the body will inevitably suffer. When protein intake is not adequate, the body will break down lean body mass to compensate for poor oral intake. Loss of lean body mass is inevitable for WLS patients or individuals following a very low calorie diet. To minimize that loss, sufficient high-quality protein must be consumed. When should liquid or powder protein supplements be used? Most WLS patients rely strictly on liquids during the early post-operative phase, and the majority of their calories consumed during that time are often from protein supplements. Liquid or powder protein supplements may also be used post-operatively when patients are unable to consume adequate protein from food alone. This may be due to volume restrictions or food intolerances to protein rich foods. Is there a risk of developing protein deficiency? WLS patients, who have undergone the BPD/DS, are often at a higher risk of developing protein malnutrition. However, all WLS patients, despite the procedure, who do not comply with the recommended dietary guidelines are at risk. What is the best quality liquid or powder protein supplement? Commercial protein supplements are available in many flavors, textures, tastes, mix-ability and price; however, the product’s amino acid composition is of the most importance when choosing protein supplements. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. There are nine indispensable (essential) amino acids (IAA) and 11 dispensable (nonessential) amino acids (DAA). The IAA must come from dietary intake because the body is incapable of producing these compounds. During rapid weight-loss, when protein supplements are the main source of dietary protein intake, it is essential to choose products that contain all of the IAA. Also, it is important when choosing protein supplements that they have a score of 100 on the protein digestibility corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS). This is a system that was developed as a method to evaluate protein quality. PDCAAS scores of as close to 100 as possible are desired to indicate that it contains the appropriate amount of IAA that the body needs. Protein supplements that are made from whey, casein, soy and egg whites have a PDCAA score of 100. It is important to recognize that many of these protein sources are sold as either concentrates or isolates. Isolates In general, isolates tend to have a higher concentration of protein than concentrate forms. For whey protein isolates, the filtration process removes a lot of the lactose, minerals and fat in the product; therefore, these products have very little or no lactose and often provide more protein in smaller volumes. These products may be beneficial to those patients who have lactose intolerance. Also, isolates tend to have a better mix ability and cleaner taste, therefore compliance is often better with these products. Concentrates Whey protein concentrates have a lower concentration of protein and higher concentration of lactose. Although the protein is of good quality, the percentage of protein will vary. Consumers can always view the nutrition label as well for accurate quantities of protein. How much protein does the WLS patient need? Many surgical weight-loss programs recommend between 60-80 grams of protein per day for the adjustable gastric band (AGB), vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) and the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). The biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD/DS) requires approximately 90 grams of protein per-day to accommodate for the malabsorption associated with this procedure. These recommendations are for individuals without complications (malabsorptive procedures alter digestion, thus causing the food to be poorly digested and incompletely absorbed). Those with complications will have different protein needs. The exact requirements for postoperative WLS patients with complications are not defined. It is recommended to follow-up with your surgeon and dietitian to assess protein requirements and adequate protein intake. Protein supplements and Meal Replacement shakes – they are different It is important to also recognize that there is a difference between protein supplements and meal replacement shakes (i.e. Unjury® vs. SlimFast®). Many meal replacement supplements often have a blend of soy, casein or whey protein to enhance the texture or taste of the product. Meal replacement shakes also have higher amounts of vitamin and minerals and varying amounts of carbohydrates and Fiber. One thing to consider is that meal replacement shakes are often designed to supplement a diet that includes animal and plant sources of protein. These should not be used as the sole source of protein or calories in the diet for an extended period of time. What protein supplements should be avoided? Collagen-based protein supplements are not a good source of high-quality protein and should not be used as the sole source of protein intake in WLS patients. Collagen-based protein supplements do not contain all of the indispensable amino acids that the body needs. When consuming collagen-based products as your sole source of protein, the loss of lean body mass can occur despite meeting your daily protein goals. Do WLS patients need liquid or powder protein supplements for life? As you begin to consume more food after surgery, the need for protein supplementation often declines or ceases. Relying solely on protein supplements to meet your protein needs is not recommended after the early post-operative liquid stage. Foods of high biological value are encouraged (meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, etc.). WLS patients who cannot meet their protein needs from food alone may benefit from supplementation of high quality protein. What are the dangers of excessive protein intake? If you are not well hydrated, excessive protein intake may contribute to dehydration. It is also important to remember that additional protein intake, above the recommended amount, may inhibit the consumption of other important nutrients. Conclusion WLS patients are going to get the best bang for their buck when they choose supplements made from whey or soy isolate and avoid whey concentrate and collagen-based products. It is also important to remember that the use of protein supplements are typically decreased or cease throughout time as the WLS patient is able to meet daily protein goals from food of high biological value. About the Author: Kimberly Mahoney, MS, RD, LDN, is a bariatric dietitian at St. Joseph Hospital in Chicago and has been working with weight-loss surgery patients for the past five years. She is currently the chair of the Bariatric Subunit of the Weight Management Dietetic Practice Group through the American Dietetic Association.

I've been super busy the past 3 weeks and have slipped into some "grab & go" habits that aren't serving me very well. No loss for 2 weeks and today got on the scale and was up almost 2 pounds. I'm close to goal but it's been very elusive because I've gotten lazy about my choices. Anyone have some good standby meals that are quick and easy when you're on the go? One of my problems has been not making time for meals so I've noticed I grab a little of this and a little of that......which really translates to grazing all afternoon. Old habits die hard............ What are some favorites for healthy, high protein, low carb, bariatric friendly choices? Think it's time to clean out my kitchen and start over. Easy to get a little cocky since I've gotten closer to my goal weight.......which is exactly what I don't want to do!! Thanks for any input!!

I was taking the Flintstones and didn't mind them, however, I recently bought the Bariatric Advantage "Band" kit. The multi's are actually pretty good and has a lot more Vitamins in them then the Flintstones. But all in all, I take multi vitamins, calcium, Vitamin C and Iron, all chewables.

Any Bariatric surgery (except the band) can cause dumping. The risk of dumping severity and longevity increases with the bypass. In my support group we have 4-5 Sleevers that have dumping.

Your doctor's office will tell you tomorrow. What you will learn here is that of the thousands of members on Bariatric Pal, each of us have different doctors, different eating plans, insurance requirements, tests, pre-op classes, nutritionists, psych appointments, but once you get the ball rolling it moves quickly. Best wishes as you go through the process. Listen, learn, read, ask questions and get prepared! Happy for you!

just make a Pinterest account and search: bariatric puree food and the recipes are endless!! i cant wait to make this pizza with no crust: http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2015/01/low-carb-pepperoni-pizza-chicken-bake.html?m=1#more then they have grilled chicken zucchini boats, turkey meatball, egg omelets & more. Sent from my iPhone

Nerves are normal, just keep in mind that you made the decision to get healthy. And its removable. Not that, that would be a choice f mine, but that seemed to help me before the surgery. I also spent time researching post op menu plans. I found this to be very helpful http://www.pvsurgical.com/bariatric/LB_Diet_Guidelines.pdf It goes along the same guidelines as my surgeon told me, but this is spelled out for you. I found it to be very helful.