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I wanted DS however I wasn't comfortable having it done in Mexico and not having my surgeon local with such a major surgery (not that the sleeve isn't major but the routing of the intestines worried me) so I decided to do the sleeve. I was over 50 BMI and so far I'm so happy with the sleeve (I'm only 13 days out so I'm far from the poster child for success). Have you figured out who would provide care if there are complications that arise after surgery (I know your primary care doctor is going to provide after care but there could be things that arise that he/she can't handle). I would definitely discuss with both your bariatric surgeon and your primary care to help determine which surgery would be best for you.

Do you currently have gerd or frequent heartburn? Do you have access to bariatric care closer to home if there were a complication? If so, what procedures do they perform? How keen are you in taking daily supplementation? (Vitamins) How enthusiastic is your primary care physician to take care of you after surgery in Mexico?

In less than 10 percent of cases the sleeve fails due to anatomical issues, poor surgical technique, or other issues that are no fault of the patient. Also, a tiny percentage of unfortunate souls have no favorable markers of chromosome 15, rendering them nonresponders to bariatric surgery. Nonetheless, 90 percent of sleeve failures are due to the person failing the sleeve (e.g. behavioral issues). http://thebodyimagecenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/why-we-hear-so-many-stories-of-failure-after-bariatric-surgery.pdf

I just need to vent for a moment. Nearly everyone I've told about this surgery thinks they have some way to relate. What is it with people? If they've dieted, they think they know the same issues, or had another surgery, or ate baby food. Has anyone else had this? I'm glad I limited who I've told. This is annoying.[emoji36]

pretty much all clinics require a few months of classes and clearance testing. The insurance company should know this since they've covered bariatric patients in the past.

I just remembered a few more... pureed cauliflower with cheese, baked ricotta, & baked pumpkin custard. Search pinterest for bariatric diet purees and you'll get lots of good ideas! I just remembered a few more... Pureed cauliflower with cheese, baked ricotta, & baked pumpkin custard. Search pinterest for bariatric diet purees and you'll get lots of good ideas!

@@TinyTink LOL!! I will have to have my passport redone also. My drivers license doesn't renew until 2020 so I can't wait for that. Suppose I will hold out as long as I can (or until someone tells me I am completely unrecognizable ????). I had blood work done this morning and the lab tech kept questioning me. Nicely actually. Kind if funny. I just didn't realize it was THAT different. Clearly it is. I know I am thinner at 95 pounds down. I don't have sort of body dysmorphia (the I think I had that problem in my former self as I never recognized how large I actually was) but I sure wish I could see what others see!

I am very sorry that this is happening to you. There are a couple things to remember, not every lump is breast cancer. Over the years I have had many and they can be very scary. I learned after the first one not to panic and make myself sick. Second if it turns out to be cancer, it is better you find it now and deal with it. Having Bariatric surgery is already risky enough. You want as clean a bill of health as you can get going into WLS. In terms of bingeing. You now recognize one of the major behaviors that you have to stop. Clearly you feel worse now than you did before you ate all that junk. We all have days that make us want to run to Burger King or the gas station. Sometimes it happens but you have to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start fresh today. I hope that this turns out to be nothing and you can move forward. Hopefully you will get the test done soon so it will give you the info you need to move forward. Good luck, we are all here for you if you need help.

You've got to find your inner strength. Just to clarify have you already had bariatric surgery?

I am so sorry you are feeling like this. It must be scary for you to find a lump in your breast but aren't you glad it has been found so it can be tested and treated if need be? You are at the beginning of this journey and will be undergoing a whole barrage of medical tests. If you haven't been to the doctor for a while and/or have been ignoring your health it is entirely possible that they will find other things that you need to address. You can't fix something if you don't know about it. I found for me, it was important to approach this process from a place of fearless honesty about myself, my healthy, and my obesity. Is it uncomfortable? Yes, absolutely. But, if I want to be healthy and get my life back its absolutely vital. It sounds like you use food to numb your feelings. Most of us do or did to various extents. This process is about learning healthy ways to handle stress, uncertainty, and other uncomfortable feelings. Numbing them with food is what is killing us. Since you have been to your first class, have you found a counselor or therapist already? Is there one on staff at your bariatric program? I would suggest you consider talking to a counselor or therapist. You may also want to attend a bariatric support group and/or a twelve-step recovery group like Overeater's Anonymous (OA.org). In the meantime, why not pour the pop down the drain and throw away the junk food? Eating junk won't solve your problem and won't help you feel better in the long run. Keep us posted on how you are doing.

And you both inspire me, lI have arthritis and have since 25. 2 knee replacements and I'm a very,painful 72. I'm still struggling to get my surgery, I am hoping to get accepted into another bariatric program, I have a seminar March,9th and one booked also for March 10th. If #1 does pan out I'll cancel,my reservation at #2. I'm actually hopeful of #1, probably should have gone there instead of where i did. I vow to win my surgery, I won't let my bad experience stop me. I don't have to meet a minimum like you girls I have a BMI of 47 with 2-3 comorbidities.But I want to have both of you as friends Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

I did the Bariatric advantage shakes pre-op but for the first two weeks post op those were actually too thick. So I just resorted to premier protein vanilla (I could not fathom chocolate at that point). I drank about 4 oz at a time over the course of an hour in my little medicine cup shot glasses. Good luck!

You,know My Surgery is Next Wednesday SEPTEMBER 5th, do you suppose,if I asked SWEETLY Ken S. or some nice person could enter IT? On A Beta Android Bariatric Pal app. I have not A Snowball's,Chance in Hades of getting thongs updated. For a reason known only to God and Ken my profile (I amTold) thinks I had surgery in 2004 or 14, wasn't even a Bariatric Newbie the!

Thanks for the support Jim and congratulations on your success! Sometimes I get cold feet and think 'is this the right thing to do?', but your enthusiam is contageous! I agree it would be nice to get this group going.... do you go to support groups? Or have you ever visited obesityhelp.com? My dr.s office recommended that one. One little gripe I have with that one is it is for all kinds of bariatric surgery, not just lapband. Take care S.

So it took 3-4 months at Blossom Bariatrics? They have not mentioned anything about months of waiting, but I did just complete the 6 months my insurance required before turning around and saying it was not even a covered service. It feels like it has been one road block after the next.

My sleeve was done by Dr. William Johnson (http://www.atlantabariatriccenter.com/meet-the-atlanta-bariatric-team/meet-the-surgeons) at Johns Creek Emory Hospital. My experience with him and that practice was great. My neighbor and her daughter had bypass surgery done by Dr. Hart at the same practice. Good luck with your sleeve experience. I had mine done back in November and it has truly been a life-changing experience.

Ugh, so a friend recommended a local nutritionist in private practice. She raved about how wonderful she is, how she doesn't just lecture about what foods to eat and what not to eat. She's a counselor as well and works with her clients on emotional eating, relationships with food, etc. Sounds great right? Well I was just on her website and reading about her philosophy, and she goes on a lengthy rant against bariatric surgery and how it's a horrible mutilation of the body. Now I'm angry and discouraged. She won't be getting me as a client. I want someone who respects the decision I made and will work with me to insure my continued success toward a healthier life. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Yes, I am using the Tespo vitamins. I didn’t buy the machine because I wanted to make sure I liked them and they worked well for me before I spent money on the machine. I got the on the go which is 12 and vitamins to start with. I like it a lot, just pour the powder into a little water shake it up and drink. I had a lot of problems with nausea and vomiting and it’s been the only vitamins that does not upset my stomach. Find it very easy and convenient. The taste isn’t my favorite but it’s not bad either just a little tangy for me. I had my blood work checked at my last checkup and everything looked really good with my levels so they are working. Initially my dietician said they didn’t have enough but she misread the website and didn’t see that for bariatrics there are two you take the women’s and the Bariatric formula.. I take one women’s and one bariatric in the morning and another bariatric in the afternoon. It’s not the cheapest but I do think the quality is very good and like I said my blood work shows they are working well for me. Hope you find a vitamin that will work for you :)

Duodenal switch surgery is a combination of a gastric sleeve and gastric bypass surgery, in simple terms. It decreases both the quantity of food that can be accommodated by the stomach and the number of calories that can be absorbed and used by the body. It is considered one of the more specialized weight loss surgery procedures and is only performed by bariatric surgeons who have successfully undergone procedure-specific training to perform it. WHO IS APPROPRIATE FOR DUODENAL SWITCH SURGERY? Duodenal switch revisional bariatric surgery is sometimes performed as a secondary procedure after a gastric band or sleeve gastrectomy surgery did not achieve the desired overall weight loss the patient hoped to achieve. This lesser know procedure actually offers the patient the highest opportunity to lose the highest volume of weight loss. DUODENAL SWITCH KEY FACTS: *It may reduce hunger significantly. *You may have nutritional deficiencies and must take multi-vitamins daily *You will not experience dumping syndrome if you consume sugar. *You will carefully monitor your diet to ensure you are consuming enough healthy foods. Duodenal Switches involve stapling about 70 percent of the stomach off and leaving the rest of the stomach connected to the first part of the intestine (the duodenum) which is then re-attached at a lower area of the intestine. This procedure prevents bile and digestive juices from processing food further down the intestine which results in less caloric absorption. Because of this longer period between eating and digestion of food, the food passes to the colon faster, and the patient doesn't process the full amount of calories he or she normally would have. The positives and negatives of DS Surgery Duodenal switch surgery has excellent results, with the average patient losing 70 to 80 percent of excess weight in the two years that follow the procedure. However, patients who choose this type of surgery are at higher risk for nutritional deficiencies than with other types of weight loss surgery. Nutritional supplements, including vitamins and minerals, will be necessary for the lifetime of the patient. If you are still considering your bariatric options, talk with your surgeon about the viability of this weight loss surgical option for you.

Today. Yes, Today. It's so easy to defer things until later. Until the time is right. Until you're more ready. I've been there too. You're surrounded by a massive to-do list of things that seem to be a higher priority at the moment...or at least they seem more fun. Do you put off making changes that you know you'll benefit from for reasons that really just wouldn't fly if it were your best friend telling you those things? Is this you? I'll start back at exercising....eating better...sleeping more...consider changing jobs.... ...once the boys' hockey schedule isn't so hectic... ...after I get my diabetes under control... ...once I know the price of gas will stay down... ...after every ounce of snow melts in Boston ( - and you live in Phoenix!) You've made promises. Commitments. Resolutions. But haven't followed through. What now? Empty promises that you make to yourself do more than derail you from your dreams. They rob you of hope. They erode your trust. They can make you feel worthless. But What if...? There are what if's in every direction. What if I don't get the job? Sometimes the opposite question can be even scarier - What if I do lose 80 pounds? Ouch. A lot of times we don't realize that not knowing how we'd handle positive changes in our lives holds us back as much as or possibly even more than our fear that things might not work out. It doesn't matter if your nemesis is needing to lose weight, quit smoking, or not sleeping enough to keep yourself focused all day. The core of what paralyze us is often the same. Whether you're curious about weight loss surgery, have had it, or don't care a lick about it, I invite you to watch this video prepared by the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons (ASMBS - Disclosure: I'm an ASMBS Integrated Health member). Watch it with an open mind. Then - think about what's holding you back. Now. Make it real. Say it out loud. My next request is a big one. Really big. I want you to talk with someone about an important change you want to make and what's holding you back. Talk to anyone. Comment here, tell your doctor, tell your best friend. Tell someone you'll never see again. Say it in a forum, say it to a baby, message me privately. You've got 5 minutes to take action. Go!

Yeah, I recently injured a knee and it is not healing. No issue with the joint, but the meniscus is torn. I'm normally a reasonably active person, but now I can't do most of the things I like to do in terms of physical activity. Which is only strengthening my resolve about surgery. Thank you very much for the reassurance! I also have a torn meniscus, which has halted my favorite activities: African Dance, jazzercise and hiking. I started physical therapy and my therapist taught me all sorts of fun stuff I can do in the pool. I jog laps with various kinds of "weights" made from styrofoam and plastic, walk forwards, backwards and sidewise, kick with a kickboard, lunge walk, and do squats and heel lifts. I suspended my jazzercise membership and as soon as my PT period ends, will join the hospital gym and pool, and go after work. I am also in the process of completing my pre-requisites for bariatric surgery...I am just completing a horrid round of anti-biotics to get rid of an ulcer caused by painkillers for the knee, and will be issued my CPAP next week. I hope to have the surgery in October or November. My plan is to see if weight loss relieves the joint pain. If not, then I will look at knee surgery in the spring. Oh yeah, I'm 56.

Don't give up on your best friend too quickly!... she is probably afraid for you and doesn't know about all the advances in bariatric surgery. Most people don't. Could she go to a hospital seminar with you?

For me it’s forever 😑 I had a RNY to correct a failed (12 years old) surgery to fix my hiatal hernia. Before RNY my esophagus was L-shaped and half of Diaphragm was above where it. Lately I have also been having to take Pepcid to control the reflux. I need to find a new bariatric Doctor Who can monitor me. Because of the reason that I had the bypass my surgeon was not a bariatric doctor he actually told me to get all of my information about the surgery and what needs to be done after in my lifestyle changes from the Internet I also need to find a Gastrologist because pills are getting hot when I swallow them just like they did before the bypass. I think my esophagus needs to be stretched again. I’m very sad about all of this because I was told that by having the bypass it would fix all of my problems permanently. Losing 70 pounds was a big plus out of it!

With the New Year comes the New Year Resolutions. For many people, one of the largest resolutions is a change in lifestyle - that includes losing weight! I remember my resolution in 2012 was to lose weight and get healthy. And I was able to do that with the help of the vertical sleeve. 2015 is going to hold that for many people and thousands of people undergo weight loss surgery to help them achieve their healthy goals for the new year. For those of you that are just thinking about surgery, I want to encourage you to know that you are not alone! You have a wealth of resources at your fingertips. I wanted to take a moment to share with you some amazing resources that you may find helpful on your journey! Websites BariatricPal.com Of course, BariatricPal is one of the very best websites to find information and support. Here there are “rooms” geared for each surgery as well as pages for recipes, articles, and much more. You will find information on everything you might want to know from before surgery to years after. I suggest checking out the Before/After pages for a good dose of motivation and inspiration! 7BitesShow.com 7 Bites is the first cooking series on YouTube geared specifically toward the bariatric community. The website has videos, recipes and blog posts. weightlosssurgerychannel.com Weight Loss Surgery Channel has a collection of videos on everything WLS related weather it be health, food and recipes, and more. BariatricFoodie The Bariatric Foodie has some great recipes for those that still love food, but want to stay on track TheWorldAccordingToEggface Eggface is one of the most popular of the bariatric cooking blogs. You will find great recipes, blog posts and giveaways on her blog. BariatricCookery.com This is a great resource page for everything from recipes to products. Books The “Big Book” series by Alex Breacher and Natalie Stein. There are four books in the series and all are great reads. They have a wealth of information on everything you need to know before, during and after surgery. The very best thing about these books is that they include personal stories from people that have been there. Breaking The Chains: A Guide To Bariatric Surgery by Jennifer DeMoss and Suzette Munson. The ladies of 7Bites pull from their and others’ experiences with weight loss surgery to provide a simplified, but comprehensive guide. Information on everything from how to pick your surgery and doctor to how to survive the first two weeks after surgery are included. The Sleeved Life by Pennie Nicola. This book tells about Pennie’s experience with the Vertical Sleeve procedure and discusses the ins and outs of the surgery from start to finish. Weight Loss Surgery For Dummies. The everything you ever wanted to know and then some guide to all things weight loss surgery. Many, MANY doctors and nurses recommend this book to their patients. Another great resource not listed here is your local bariatric support group! If you haven’t found one yet, contact your Surgery Center of Excellence or your nutritionist, they should be able to give you a good idea of one or two in your area. Or you can check out the list here on Bariatric Pal - it’s a very comprehensive list of support groups around the world!

yaborhoo I have attempted the 5 day pouch test and lost 3 lbs that was 10 lbs ago:(,Im not having any ill side affects from the medication I started today, the other medications that has weight gain warnings I cam off of 4 months ago,and the new medication for BED is the only one on the market as of now,I have also tried kundalini yoga, Miss Mac I haven't meet the bariatric Dr yet,More like the game Frogger ,me being the alligator trying to eat the frog,I only meet with a nut once or twice so I am so lacking in that department any advice would help, FrankiesGirl that is a great question my beloved husband does the food shopping I have been fired because I try to get more fresh fruit and veggies he dosn't like it retired cop needs his donuts,and he is constantly telling me I have to eat something I cant not eat.he also gained some weight ,Freshman 15 ha more like FL 30.but he has a 6'3"height advantage. BLERDgirl ED oh had to think about that for a moment ( I dont have those parts) eating disorder yes that I do have,I figured I would try here first.but that does sound like a good idea, thank you all so much