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On December 11, 2012 I had my first appointment with the bariatric surgeon who would, four months later on March 20, 2013, install a lapband around my stomach. This decision and surgical action was major and dramatic, but I was sad and desperate as well as exhausted, defeated and no longer willing to buy into the fallacy that I could do this without surgical intervention. So I lay down my previous weapon: the cycle of "traditional" dieting which I had been believing in and paying into since I was 14 years old. Traditional dieting was so clearly not working for me; I had lost and regained weight my entire life and I no longer had the energy to do one more round at Weight Watchers, filling up on salads and bulky foods to keep my hunger at bay, gaming the points program so I could work in a dessert each day, hanging on by my fingernails from one meal to the next, and fearing vacations, birthdays, holidays, as I knew these would either see me feeling frustrated and deprived, or overeating because "hey, I've already gone over my points. Might was well start back on Monday." I had done hours of research and had a good idea of what lay ahead. I had a few fears as a pre-op, notably the fear that I would no longer be able to "eat as much as I wanted" when I wanted. I also feared the surgery itself (I try and stay out of hospitals as much as possible) but I was willing to override these anxieties to become one of those people that I see here, on this forum: a success story, transforming myself inside and out. I had made a list of why I was doing this and I brought that to the hospital where, the night prior to the intervention, I read and re-read my hopes for this surgery. I was ready, peaceful and in a mindset of self-care when they wheeled me to the OR the next morning. I am now 8.5 months post-op, almost 50 pounds lighter than I was on the day of surgery. It goes without saying that I am happy to have back a more aesthetically-pleasing exterior, renewed energy and mobility, and a load of self-confidence. My original fears about surgery were unfounded: the lapband gives me a physical restraint to overeating, certainly, but it also has an effect on my brain and how I view food now. ( I call it the nicotine patch for the stomach as it dims the appetite much like the patch works for smokers.) I should not have worried about missing the ability to stuff myself, as that is of no interest to me today. (Just the thought of that makes my band tighten!) I am free from the dieting mindset that I must seek bulky, filling foods or I'll cave and break my "diet" because my lapband clicks in and gives me satiety when I eat my small portions of lapband-compliant foods. I don't have to log points or calories, and restaurant dinners, parties, vacations or holidays are not viewed as opportunities for white-knuckling deprivation or, alternately, opportunities to go off my eating plan and eat all the cake, Cookies and candy that I can, "until Monday." I have experienced so many unexpected benefits as the result of my decision and the most striking is this wonderful sense of fierceness that I now have. I feel so strong, capable and confident! This fierceness has manifested itself in many ways. Physically: alongside my daily dedicated exercise, I now do aquagym and ride my bike each weekend when I'm out in the countryside--26 km logged last weekend through the fields of Normandy! Mentally: I travel out of my comfort zone--last month I went to Morocco, a place I'd always dreamed of going to. Professionally: I seek opportunities to speak publically and am involved in more professional conferences, meeting others in my field which has the effect of re-energizing my own committment to my job. I am so grateful that I did not try and convince myself to give Weight Watchers (or another diet program) "just one more try" last year. I know as surely as my heart is beating that I would weigh more today than I did last year at this time had I not had surgery. Instead, I am looking towards this Christmas season in deep gratitude for my self-care, not fearing the supermarket aisles filled with chocolates, buttercream buche de noel (that was a real binge food for me pre-surgery), and special holiday foods. I know that I will eat peacefully, enjoying my small portions of delicious food, and I won't be waking up on January 1st feeling fat and guilty, and embarking on another futile attempt to diet and "do it for good this time."

Hi. I was scheduled in OCC with dr Ariel Ortiz in July. They’ve been closed throughout the pandemic. Now that they’re re opening in July they came out with a tremendous amount of new requirements that are making it very difficult for me. (For example need to be there 2 days before surgery) I’m strongly considering switching to Tijuana bariatrics with dr Garcia or renew with one of their doctors. what are your thoughts? I’m so confused. 🤦‍♀️ I just want this done already!

I've had a minor set back. My knee was causing me pain, so I took a month off. I went to a doctor then was referred to a specialist. Looks like I need surgery. My patella has arthritic growths that are digging into the soft tissue beneath. Good news is that it is not related to my lifting. Bad news is that he said it was "maturity related". I.E. he called me old! I have started lifting again, but with a renewed focus on my form. I must have been getting sloppy before because I don't seem to have the pain after deadlifting nor squatting. But I played volleyball with my daughters and that inflamed it pretty bad. Surgery will need to happen, but I want to push it off as long as I can. Since you are trying to lose weight again, are you following a bariatric diet currently?

Wowzers. Didn't realize it could be so costly. Luckily in Alberta it was covered entirely by our provincial health plan. I had looked into banding in Great Falls Montana and it was $15000 US. Glad someone informed me of our renewed policy covering bariatric surgery here. Plastics however will not be covered so if I do that I will have to self pay.

And I got one from my Bariatric Dietician at the Ohio State University- WEXNER Medical Center. Asked Roy why it was on the Reverse of his Business Card? He just chuckled and said " If the resturant or in Your case- the Handsome Dude dressed in Blue- they can call him and he will re- state it personally. I don't fear being catorgorized as DRUGGIE as much as my appearance of failure to thrive/ starvation- after all I AM one- half the size of my ID picture, even if I put down 250 I was really pushing 350 at THAT TIME- ho- hum I need to renew it the Day after Christmas, yes my Commonwealth friends -Boxing Day- the difference This Year I am the size of a Small envelope instead of the Parish PoorBox- zippety do dah for ME!

Still here, still hanging out with you all. Have next important appointment May 24th. meeting with Case Mgr- Nurse Practioner- Dietician Thought first a "Hi Glad to Meet and Greet You" appointment but another,poster is meeting with same,group at HER hospital, this gives me renewed hope that,like her, this could be an immediate pre* surgical! You see, I have completed another C.O.E. bariatric program twice, and now having to switch,to new C.O.E. hospital, if they have no other requirements, I could be an early-mid June Bug RnY. Hope-Hope-Hope!😛

A beautiful way to give yourself the gift of better health, a thinner body and a renewed Life Future! If. any of you want to talk more, I can give you the perspective of someone 10 months out from a RNY bypass, 125 pounds lighter, many dress sizes smaller, it hasn't been picture PERFECT a recovery but It Is What It Is, it's My Story and the Last Chapters are not yet Written, for I Am Still a WORK IN PROGRESS. And I am still grateful to my surgeon, facility, and most of all , to My God who has brought me yet this far. I'm usually positive, optimistic , been through a lot in my now 73 years of life, I live in almost in the Exact Center of my state -OHIO so just wanted to Welcome You All to Bariatric Pal, I believe you will meet a wonderful bunch of People here!

PATCHES!!! <3 I have been taking the Patches for 6 weeks now and I can’t say enough about them. No pills, no chalky flavor, no getting full on them before I even get to eat my Breakfast. They are so simple. I ordered them from Bariatric Pal’s online store. They auto-renew and come in the mail every couple of weeks and cost me $19.00 a month. I take one patch and put it on my shoulder before bed and when I wake up, I take it off. You only have to wear it for 8 hours. I just leave them on my nightstand and it is the last thing I do before bed. They really work, because I went away for the weekend, and forgot to pack them (before and after that, I have been wearing them religiously) and I way felt a difference. The list of the Vitamins is great and I love that it has a lot of Biotin in them to help keep your skins, nails and hair in good form since that is one of the number one negative responses from people who have underwent WLS is the thin hair and terrible skin. I have also not experience any issues with the adhesive. I have before with other “patch” products but so far nothing with these. Great product! Hope you find something that works for you!

I am sorry to hear your frustrations as well. It doesn't sound like your doctor is giving you a lot of information to work with. I would strongly recommend you meeting with a nutritionist or dietician that is familiar with lapband surgery and get some ideas on meal plans. I will tell you that potatoes and Pasta don't work well for many of us. I am able to eat almost anything except those things and scrambled eggs. I feel like if you had specific ideas of what you can eat, etc you may feel less frustrated. There are also books on the band and recipe books. If there is a nutritionist you could see through your surgeons office they would have insight into the band. My bariatric center has them on staff and they have given me a lot of great ideas and even on how to eat overall. I am able to eat steak, ground meat (love chili), chicken, ham, etc. I feel like I can pretty much eat anything except starchy foods (incl. doughy bread) and the scrambled eggs. I really don't feel deprived at all. Truly. I hope the New Year brings renewed success w/ the band. You have done a great job so far.

The world of bariatric surgery is full of myths. Every time myths are repeated, they gain strength and credibility (deserved or not), so it’s important to look at them closely before accepting them as true. TIME TO THROW OUT SOME OLD MYTHS It’s time to throw out some old myths about the adjustable gastric band, but before we start flinging those myths around, let’s all agree on what a myth is. The traditional definition is that a myth is an ancient story of unverifiable, supposedly historical events. A myth expresses the world view of a people or explains a practice, belief, or natural phenomenon. For example, the Greek god Zeus had powers over lightning and storms, and could make a storm to show his anger. If you think myths are dry stuff found only in schoolbooks, think again. They surround just about every aspect of our lives, and travel much faster now, in the age of technology, than they did in the dusty old days of ancient Greece and Rome. They’re a way for us to make sense of a chaotic world, both past, present and future. They affect thoughts, beliefs, emotions and assumptions in our everyday lives, coming alive in our minds as we, and the people around us, seem to act them out. Some myths are helpful because they give us a shared sense of security and express our fundamental values and beliefs, but some myths are just plain wrong and can be harmful to us and to others. A good example is the myth that having weight loss surgery is taking the easy way out. Every time I hear that one repeated, I want to laugh and scream at the same time. If you’re a post-op, you know why. Weight loss is hard no matter how you do it (surgery, diet pills, prayer, magic cleanses, and so on). On the other hand, WLS is supposed to be easy, compared to the dozens or hundreds of weight loss attempts in our past. Why on earth would I put myself through a major surgery if it wasn’t going to help me lose weight and keep it off? Now that we’ve shared a little laugh (or scream) over a WLS myth we can all agree upon, let’s test out some band myths whose validity may not be as clear. This kind of examination can be uncomfortable, but believing in a falsehood is almost guaranteed to make your WLS journey bumpier than it needs to be. Let’s start with the myths that are easiest to digest and end with the ones that can be tougher for a bandster to swallow. #1 – THE BAND IS THE LEAST INVASIVE WLS PROCEDURE I believed this one at first, mainly because I knew little about the other WLS procedures back in 2007. It’s still a widely-circulated myth, one that even my surgeon’s well-intentioned dietitian endorses. So, what’s the truth according to Jean? Face it: any surgery done on an anesthetized patient, during which a surgeon cuts into the belly in several places, does some dissection (more cutting) and suturing (stitching) of the internal anatomy, and implants a medical device (the dreaded “foreign object”), is invasive. It is true that band placement generally involves less internal dissection and suturing than other weight loss surgeries, but neither is it on the same level medically as having your teeth cleaned. So while the invasiveness of a surgery is worth considering, you do yourself a disservice if you let that override other considerations. A bariatric surgery might last 45-60 minutes, with recovery lasting a week or so, but its effect on your health and lifestyle last a lifetime. Or I sure hope it does. Some people associate invasiveness with irreversibility. Although the band is meant to stay put once clamped to your stomach, it can indeed be removed if medically necessary. Gastric bypass (RNY) surgery can also be reversed, while the sleeve (VSG) cannot and only the “switch” (malabsorptive feature) of the duodenal switch (DS) can be reversed. Removal or reversal is not as easy as operating on a “virgin belly” (as my surgeon so colorfully puts it), so it’s important to weigh the benefits against the risks of reversal or revision surgery. #2 – BAND WEIGHT LOSS TAKES TOO MUCH WORK Aside from the desire for instant and effortless weight loss (which is a fairy tale if I ever heard one) that so many obese people share (me among them), this is a myth that often turns people away from the band and towards other WLS procedures. While this myth may be true in the first 12-18 months after surgery, eventually everyone ends up in the same boat, rowing hard against the powerful tide of obesity. Weight loss and weight maintenance is hard no matter how you achieve it. A dietitian who spoke at a band support group meeting I attended a few years ago said that while band patients must change their lifestyle immediately in order to succeed, every WLS patient must do that sooner or later. It’s a pay-me-now or pay-me-later deal. You can slice it, dice it, sauté it and serve it on your grandmother’s best china. However you serve it, weight loss and maintenance is a lifetime project because obesity is a chronic disease with no cure. No matter how successful we are as new post-ops, all of us must face the possibility of regain. That’s why I cringe when someone proudly crows, “XXX pounds gone forever!” #3 – THE BAND’S SLOWER WEIGHT LOSS PREVENTS SAGGING SKIN This is a fairy tale. According to several plastic surgeons I’ve heard speak on the subject. The effect of weight loss on skin depends mostly on your genetics and your age (because skin loses elasticity as we age). Other factors can be how obese you were, how long you were obese, how you carried your weight, and how much (and how) you exercise as you lose weight. I’ve heard women say that they’d rather be obese than have sagging or excess skin. To my mind, that’s a sad statement, because I’d rather have sagging or excess skin (as long as it didn’t interfere with my ambulation or activities) than excess weight. Don’t get me wrong: I loathe the excess flab on my midsection (whose nickname is “The Danish Pastry”) and I’m not thrilled about my batwings, throat wattles, or anything else that’s happened to my skin in the past few years (during which I’ve undergone the double-whammy of weight loss and the fast approach of my 60’s). On the other hand, I think I look pretty good for a woman my age, especially when I conceal my figure flaws in flattering clothing which, I might add, no longer needs to be purchased at Lane Giant. #4 – TO LOSE WEIGHT, YOU HAVE TO FIND YOUR SWEET SPOT I used to wonder how the Sweet Spot Myth could survive in the face of so much clinical evidence against it, but last year I heard the “you gotta find your sweet spot” claim uttered by a bariatric dietitian, so apparently this is a myth being validated by medical professionals who ought to know better. Instead of the sweet spot, Allergan (the first to introduce the band in the USA) uses a zone chart to illustrate band restriction, with not enough restriction in the yellow zone, good restriction in the green zone, and too much restriction in the red zone. In other words, restriction happens in a range of experience, not at a single static point. That experience changes over time as we lose weight, deal with ordinary processes such as hormonal fluctuations, hydration changes, stress, medications, time of day, and so on. It’s also affected by our food choices (solid vs soft/liquid food). In my banded days, I traveled through and around a sweet spot many times. It might last for 30 minutes, 3 days, 3 weeks, but it never stayed exactly the same, and yet I still lost weight! I don’t actually want to stay exactly the same for the rest of my life (throat wattles notwithstanding). As any Parkinson’s disease patient will tell you (if they’re able to speak), a body that gets stuck in time is a very big problem (and with my luck, I’d get stuck in the worst sinus infection or case of the flu of my life). Some people who are very sensitive to their band and its fills find sudden or unexpected changes in restriction to be very, very frustrating, and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone, either. To read more about the sweet spot, click here to go to an article, The Elusive Sweet Spot. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/page/index.html/_/support/post-op-support/the-elusive-sweet-spot-r59 #5 – NO SIDE EFFECTS MEAN MY BAND ISN’T WORKING Equating side effects with a properly working band is very common, and potentially very harmful. The two most significant signs of the band’s proper functioning are (1) early satiety and (2) prolonged satiety. Those signs are rarely expressed in large, bold, uppercase letters, such as STOP EATING NOW! Those signs won’t be accompanied by clanging bells or flashing lights, either. In fact, the less noise and distraction (such as “Why don’t I have stuck episodes?”), the more likely you are to be able to recognize early and prolonged satiety. Before I tell you why the no side effects = broken band worry is a sign of mythical thinking, let’s make sure we agree on the definition of a side effect, and how that relates to complications. A side effect is an unintentional or unwanted effect of a medical treatment, and it’s usually exceeded (or at least balanced) by the benefits (the intentional, wanted effects) of that treatment. For example, antibiotics can cause diarrhea. That’s an unpleasant side effect, but an untreated infection can have far worse consequences for the patient. Side effects can often be managed by tweaking or changing the treatment, and they are rarely worse than the original condition. A complication, on the other hand, is a more acute, serious consequence of a medical treatment, and usually needs a more aggressive approach, including surgery to fix the problem. Now let’s go back to the antibiotic example. An allergic, anaphylactic reaction to the antibiotic can be fatal without prompt medical treatment. That’s a complication, and it’s far worse than the original condition. So in the context of all that, it seems strange to me when bandsters long for side effects like regurgitation (PB’s), stuck episodes, and sliming. Instead of looking for more subtle clues from their bodies (like early and prolonged satiety), they go looking for problems, and worse than that, they tend to “test” their band with foolish eating and/or overeating, hoping to provoke a side effect that will signal to them that they really do have a band in there. One of the many problems with that approach is that it can also provoke a complication. And that brings us to the final myth in today’s article: #6 – THE MORE FILL, THE BETTER I’ve heard bariatric surgeons comment that some band patients seem to be addicted to fills. I can identify with that because I had a good relationship with my band surgeon who not only administered my fills but gave me a lot of encouragement as well as answers to my many questions. I left each fill appointment with a renewed sense of commitment and hope. How can you not get hooked on something good like that? The problem with equating fills with weight loss success is that more fill is not always better. In fact, too much fill (which varies from one patient to the next, and also varies in a single patient as time goes on and the patient’s body keeps changing) can be downright dangerous. An overfilled band, and the side effects it causes (see #5 above), can lead to a complication like a band slip, esophageal dilation, or stomach dilation. While complications can come out of nowhere, most bariatric surgeons agree that too much saline in the band puts too much pressure on the stomach. Eventually something’s got to give. That’s often hastened by the patient’s efforts to eat around the problem, and it is absolutely not a guarantee of weight loss. I gained weight several times because of what’s called Soft Calorie Syndrome. My band was too tight and I was dealing with it by consuming mostly soft and liquid calories that offered little or no satiety. The human body is an incredible organism, capable of amazing feats of growth and healing that we take mostly for granted, but it’s not endlessly forgiving. Too much fill in your band, too many eating problems, too much inflammation and irritation in the upper GI tract, can compromise your body’s ability to recover from a complication like a band slip. Sometimes a complication can be treated conservatively, with an unfill and rest period, but sometimes it requires a surgical fix, including removal of the band. And after all you’ve gone through to get that band wrapped around your stomach, shouldn’t you be doing your utmost to treat it (and your body) with respect? Finally, the fill myth can cause us to overlook a very important guest at your WLS party….you. If you are going to succeed with your band, lose weight and keep it off and keep that band safe and sound inside you, sooner or later you will have to take personal responsibility for your success. Expecting your band alone to carry you to your goal weight is like expecting your car to safely deliver your child to school without anybody in the driver’s seat. And I sure hope that you are a very important person in your life!

Insurance contracts are pretty specific about what they will and will not approve. If yours specified that you had to be above a 40 BMI for a specific time frame, then an appeal likely won't help. BUT, do read the contract carefully. It may make allowances if you have comorbidities---and your doctor might be able to make a case on that basis. Failing that, the place to go for help is your HR department. They renew insurance contracts annually, and they're the ones who are really holding the purse strings. If you ask (pressure!) them to make their coverage of bariatric surgery less exclusive, it can really make your life lots easier.

The Back Story In February of 2012 I was diagnosed with “complex endometrial hyperplasia with atypia”. Basically, pre-cancerous cells of the uterus. My gyno said at 40 it was a slim chance of my getting pregnant and I should have a hysterectomy. I asked him if my chances of getting prego after WLS would increase and he said that my egg condition would probably decrease even more and it would be a miracle if I got prego. At this time I had decided already to get the sleeve and was not sure what to do about the hyster. He said if I was not going to schedule the hyster very soon I should come back in 6 months and have another d&c to test my endo cells. In june I decided to meet with another bariatric surgeon, Dr. Cribbins in Dallas, for 2 reasons. His pre-op diet was NOT liquid only, and he did surgery with the davinci robot (less pain, faster recovery). I had the thought that maybe I could get both the WLS and the hyster at the same time, with one recovery and one bout with hair loss. He said that would not be a problem and referred me to a gynecological oncologist who he worked with before that sends his patients over for the sleeve. Today, July 11, I went and met with the gyno onco, Dr. Heffernan of Dallas, FULLY expecting to hear you need a hyster and we can do it at the same time as WLS. Well, he unexpectedly threw me a curve ball….. This is basically what Dr. H said: “Women who are obese produce an ongoing, UNOPPOSED stream of estrogen. This stream of estrogen over a long period of time changes our endometrial lining when it is not opposed by progesterone. “ So basically, some endo cancers are caused by obesity. He has had people with my same diagnosis, get RID of their abnormal endo cells and have no cancer or pre-cancerous cells! He has had women with endometrial CANCER, get cured of the cancer!!!!!!!!! What is the combination? Progesterone treatment (megace orally or mirena iud) and weight loss (recommends the sleeve)! Why weight loss? Because we lose that overabundance of estrogen created from being fat or from PCOS. He said that getting the sleeve is the best medical intervention life saving/changing thing I could do. I heard everything he said but did not process it until during my 1.5 hour drive home. I could possibly not need a hysterectomy and may not have to slam the door shut on having a child???? And, not develop cancer???? I thought my choices were, get hysterectomy, or get cancer. He gave me a 3 month scrip for megace and said it was possible by the time I had my hysterectomy my stuff could be all cleared up. Say what??? This morning when I woke up I was convinced I was going to be getting hysterectomy and sleeve in the same shot late august early sept. Now it looks like I will be getting a endo biopsy/d&c in a month, and if it is not WORSE then what I had in January, just getting the sleeve and maybe an IUD. And who knows, a year from now maybe I will be pregnant. In my 20 years of being Fatty McFatterson, I NEVER had heard that obesity was/or could be directly related to endometrial/cervical cancers. Now I am obligated to let many people know!! I REALLY hope this long (poorly written cuz it is late and my mind is racing and tired) post can help someone in their decision to change their health!!!!!! With renewed HOPE, Crystal

Its open enrollment with my company which has been bought out by another company...I was excited to renew my benefits but to my surprise this new company excludes bariatric surgery in ALL of their plans. I'm 75% complete with preop visits. I currently have to do a 6 month supervised diet with MD, which will not be complete until March. Any suggestions on what to do? This has been devastating to me.

If you prefer January you should be able to ask to schedule it for January rather than December. A few reminders- if you have all your pre-op in 2015 you will have met your deductible and part of any out of pocket limit for 2015. Come January that deductible will reset and you will need to meet it again in 2016. Depending on how big of an out of pocket limit you have if you get everything done in 2015 you likely will meet it with the hospital stay and part of the bills will be at 100%. If you split it between 2 policy years then you may not meet it in either year and have to pay more out of pocket. You also risk that upon plan renewal in January your plan could change to eliminate bariatric coverage. (Unlikely) Your deductible and coinsurance could be increased for 2016. So while it is tough to be doing a liquid diet over the holidays you may want to look closely at the financial aspects of spanning 2 policy years for pre-op and surgery. Plus you can say New Year New You and actually be able to meet that New Year's resolution to lose weight.

If I'm correct in understanding that your insurance has in fact verified that banding is not a covered procedure, your best bet is to make a case for an improvement in coverage to your employer. (If pressured--and convinced that providing this coverage will cost them less than covering comorbidities and absenteeism of morbidly obese employees, they may change the policy when it's time to renew.) Can you get coverage through a spouse's employer? (Or vice versa--through your own, if you are currently using your spouse's insurance?) If so, read the available policies to determine which is most favorable for bariatric surgery. I would not assume anyone in the doctor's office [italic]lied[/italic]. Sounds like there was a mixup, and they thought you were preapproved----and notified you as soon as they discovered the error.

I'm not completely sure. I've just started reading their website. Below I've copied the info from their home page. It's suppose to bring the band back to new tightness.... I've been banded a year and only have lost 20 lbs.. I'm so frustrated so I'm willing to try anything to help. Hope below helps explain.... The 5 Day Pouch Test by Kaye Bailey Does my pouch still work? Have I broken my pouch? Have I ruined my tool? These are questions many weight loss surgery post-ops find themselves asking occasionally during their journey. Perhaps it feels like we can eat more food or we know that we are eating more food. Sometimes these questions are asked when there has been a weight regain. This is the 5-day plan that I have developed and used to determine if my pouch is working and return to that tight newbie feeling. And a bonus to this plan, it helps one get back to the basics of the weight loss surgery diet and it triggers weight loss. Also, it is not difficult to follow and if you are in a stage of carb-cycling it will break this pattern. Sounds pretty good, right? Order the 5 Day Pouch Test Owner's Manual The 5 Day Pouch Test should never leave you feeling hungry. You can eat as much of the prescribed menu as you want during the day to satiate hungry and prevent snacking on slider foods and/or white carbs. You must drink a minimum of 64 ounces of water each day. A reduction of caffeinated beverages is suggested, but do not stop caffeine cold turkey. Weight loss is not the intent of the 5 Day Pouch Test, however, many who have tried this plan report a significant drop in weight. More importantly they celebrate a renewed sense of control over their pouch and eating habits and easily transition back to a healthy post-surgical weight loss way of eating. Understanding Hunger, Appetite and Satiety Below you will find a brief list of the menu for each day. Please click the "Read more" links for further detail and hints and tips that will enable your success with the 5 Day Pouch Test. Days One & Two: Liquid Protein low-carb protein shakes, broth, clear or cream soups, sugar-free gelatin and pudding. Read more. Day 3: Soft Protein canned fish (tuna or salmon) eggs, fresh soft fish (tilapia, sole, orange roughy. Read more. Day 4: Firm Protein ground meat (turkey, beef, chicken, lamb), shellfish, scallops, lobster, fresh salmon or halibut. Read more. Day 5: Solid Protein white meat poultry, beef steak, pork, lamb, wild game Read more. Good luck! I believe you are going to like the results when you give this plan an honest try. Cheers! Kaye Bailey Days 1 & 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 Article: Slider Foods Spell Weight Regain For Weight Loss Surgery Patients Soft processed carbohydrates, slider foods, are the bane of good intentions and ignorance often causing dumping syndrome, weight loss plateaus, and eventually weight gain for gastric bypass, gastric band (lap-band), and gastric sleeve bariatric patients. Learn what slider foods are and why they cause weight regain for weight loss surgery patients. Read Article LivingAfterWLS General Store LivingAfterWLS | LivingAfterWLS Blog | LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood Home The Plan Recipes FAQ's Featured Articles Video Broadcasts The Store Blog Neighborhood Testimonials Tools Follow Us Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on youtube Free Monthly Email! 5DPT Bulletin For Email Marketing you can trust copyright 2007 - 2012 LivingAfterWLS, Ltd. Liability Co. ~~ All Rights Reserved.

Hello everyone! I haven’t been on these forums for a long time, but I wanted to stop in, say hello, and give everyone an update. I’m 9months post op. My surgery was February 24th. So far, I’ve lost 122.5 lbs from my all-time high of 380, and I’m down 108.5 from my surgery date where I was 366. Here’s the breakdown my month: M1 30lbs M2 6.5lbs M3 23.5lbs M4 16.5lbs M5 10.5lbs M6 9lbs M7 0lbs M8 8lbs M9 4.50lbs The weight loss has slowed quite a bit in the past few months as a result of my consuming more carbs… something my nutritionist recommended. Plus, I haven’t always made the best choices, and I’ve been slacking on my exercise. It’s been quite the journey so far, with lots of ups and downs (no pun intended!). And while I had hoped to have lost more weight by this time, I’m happy with my results. I’m very blessed, so no complaints here. Here’s what I’ve learned in the past 9 months or so, as well as some random observations along the way: • It’s critical that you get your bariatric team together right up front. For me, this included my PCP, surgeon, fitness trainer(s), psychotherapist and a massage therapist. I added a nutritionist a few months in. • It’s also critical that you embrace the whole process. For me, I decided to throw out everything I thought I knew, and listen to the professionals. I also tried to have as much fun with the process. I purchased nice baby utensils, fun 4-5oz glass storage jars, and a stuffed stomach plush toy (which my dog almost chewed to shreds. LOL) • Two months on pureed foods were rough, but I basically stuck with soft scrambled eggs, white flakey fish and Soups. • I started boot camp two weeks post-op (with my doctors approval), and I’ve been going 2-4x/week ever since. • I get massages as often as I can afford. It’s great for circulation, and I personally believe it helps with skin elasticity. I’ve also been taking collagen supplements. I’m not really sure if it helps with the skin, but it’s certainly been making my nails grow. • I had diarrhea almost daily for the first three months. Ugh. That sucked. • Nobody noticed the first 50lb weight loss. That also sucked. • Now almost everyone notices. That most definitely does NOT suck. • The first two months or so were pretty much all about me just wrapping my head around everything. • The next 4 months started a wonderful journey of self-discovery, euphoria and renewed hope and self-confidence. • The next month or so after that, I started to get depressed. I mean REALLY depressed. My weight loss stalled, and I started making the wrong food choices. I thought to myself “Is this it? Is it over already?”. The euphoria I had been feeling was fading quickly, and again I thought to myself “Am I going back to the woman I was? Have I really changed at all?”. • When I discussed these things with my therapist, I asked her “Am I ever going to really change?” We both looked at each other, and I said “I already have, haven’t I?”. She nodded in agreement. • At that point, my PCP put me on Prozac. I took it for a few weeks, and that helped. • I also realized that part of my depression was caused by not being happy with the way my clothes were fitting: I had lost 100+ lbs at that point, and everything was really starting to hang on me. I wore the same baggy clothes over and over. • What helped with the depression the most was throwing out all my old clothes. Over the next couple of months, I built a whole new wardrobe. I also started wearing makeup and jewelry. • Getting new clothes made me see myself differently. And that’s when people really started to notice. • Currently I can eat pretty much anything, and I can fit about 1 to 1 1/2 cups of food, depending on what it is. • Grazing is (and forever will be) an issue for me. I never used to be a grazer (I was always a binge eater). It’s something that I’m struggling with. • My stomach does not like pork chops, most popcorn and Corn Nuts (which I should really be eating anyway! heh.) • I had bloodwork done in October, and I am currently off all my diabetes meds. I have been since August. My fasting bloodsugar was 99. My A1C was 6.5, I’m off one of my blood pressure meds. My cholesterol is still really high, though my triglycerides went from 363 to 125. My blood pressure is reasonably stable, though I have work do in this area as well. • I started writing a book. • I’ve been inspired to be more creative, and have been pursuing (or plan to pursue) interests in drawing/painting, home decorating with repurposed materials, sewing, playing the guitar, photography and other things. • I’ve been more social, and feel I’m finally, after 50 years, coming out of my shell and really REALLY discovering who I am. I hope everyone finds these thoughts helpful. Be well… Denise

The early-bird pricing deadline is coming up this Friday, June 5, and we don’t want you to miss-out on your chance to save on registration! The affordable early-bird pricing starts at just $30/day or $95 for a Full Convention Registration. These prices will increase after June 5, so if you have not yet registered for the meeting, make your plans today! The OAC’s National Convention features some of the most prominent thought leaders in the field of obesity, such as: Dawn Jackson-Blatner, RDN, CSSD, LDN Dawn Jackson-Blatner is the registered dietitian nutritionist for the Chicago Cubs, a blogger with the Huffington Post and on the advisory board of Fitness magazine. She is the author of The Flexitarian Diet, ranked a top plant-based diet by US News and World Report, and received Lifetime Television’s 2011 “Remarkable Woman Award” for her work in the field of nutrition. Merrill Littleberry, LCSW, LCDC, CCM, CI-CPT One of the most popular Convention speakers each year, Merrill Littleberry is a psychotherapist and understands the debilitating effects of emotional and physical weight. Her training as a licensed chemical dependency counselor and Nationally certified case manager adds to her insight and expertise to improve the unique goals of one’s mind and body. Lloyd Stegemann, MD, FASMBS Dr. Lloyd Stegemann is a metabolic and bariatric surgeon with almost a decade of surgical experience. Dr. Stegemann’s southern charm and personal, down to earth approach to the surgical treatment of obesity has made him a sought-after speaker at local and National events. With the early-bird pricing deadline right around the corner, it’s time to make your plans to join in, “Our Journey: Restore. Refresh. Renew.” at the 2015 Your Weight Matters National Convention. By attending this 3-day educational event, you’ll have the opportunity to experience the BEST education presented by renowned experts! To register today, please CLICK HERE!

I went to my first seminar last week. The surgical team brought with them the head of their insurance department; who's been doing this for years. I told her that I currently have Aetna and she said they are THE worst when it comes to paying for Bariatric surgeries. My plan is to take on new insurance next month when my company comes up for renewal. I'm lucky to work for a major Pharma company that has GREAT insurance choices. Anyway, she told me to go with Blue Cross/Blue Shield or United Healthcare; as they are the best for approvals of the surgery, customer service, etc. What I am doing now is getting all my 'pre' work done with Aetna, then I'll switch 1/07 and have the surgery approved that way.

My surgery date is 12/2 with Dr. Perez with Renew Bariatrics. I'm on their FB group. Seems like FB is the place to go for a lot of these groups.

I have Tricare Standard and I saw my pcm in July and told him I wanted to have weight loss surgery. My PCM's office took a week and a half to send in my referral. Tricare approved it the day it was sent. Tricare has been super fast with approving referrals and authorizations. Love it!. I saw my surgeon on August 5th and my first weigh-in was on August 11th. My Surgeon's bariatric program is 4-6 months long. I have almost completed my bariatric programs required appts except for the sleep study doctor. I had my sleep study test on Sept 1st but my appt to get my results isn't until Oct 27th. My ecg came back abnormal so now I have to get a cardiac clearance done. I have one more weigh-in and nutritionist appt to do on Nov 2nd. Once I get my cpap fitted and we figure out the appropriate pressure as well as my cardiac clearance done all I need to do is see my surgeon again and we will set a date. I am hoping for December. My bariatrican said that December is usually booked up because everyone is trying to get hip and knee replacements before their insurance renews hahaha. I am still crossing my fingers tho.

Well , my goal all along has been size 15 Junior/175 pounds. The junior because for a Once very obese 🐤 and now lost feathers, claws and spurs, and probably my break and comb next, joke I already look like a Plucked Pullet in neighborhood of 190, scrawny neck, what seems like sunken- in cheeks, the whole sad train- wreck I think I LOOK like , although most people say I DON'T. I maybe chose 175 because it was a little over one- half the High Weight I once had 2 years ago, and after having Medical personnel say " OMG, You're at least 175 pounds overweight; that number, like a Bad Scar, I just can't escape it showing.Will 175 give me that cherished hope of a Size 15? Not certain, at this point I am either a 18 or 19, depending on which style pallets I'm dabbling in. I do miss Me, some of the old look I used to have, even the last time I was this size, Maybe summer of 1967, I still looked quite different. Although many say I do Not LOOK MY Age, I fear I look closer to the years I really have lived. Will they know ME when I walk into the Bariatric Clinic on August 14th? If they don't, IT IS THEIR OWN STUPID FAULT, not MY CHOICE not to be seen for 4 almost 5 months. Either it is Benign Neglect or I am NOT as interesting as once I was. Nurse Practitioner Valerie has decided to "grandfather" me into Good Health, does not want to do an additional EGJ even though I feel my ulcers are back again, the gnawing sensation eating , drinking milk, or even abstaining from food, nothing seems to relieve it. Yes I faithfully take my PPI once a day, have taken Carafate every 6 hours around the clock since October 12 2018, missed very few doses, probably could count them on my fingers and HAVE a digit or 2 left. But Valerie has made up in her little mind I am all BETTER, a miracle healing, Maybe she Moonlights as an TV Evangelist? Oh it is ONLY MY BODY after all, how dare I believe I might not be PERFECT by now? Oh,I have kept my faith with my surgeon, the Great White Kahuna of it All, I promised on July 17th 2018 if HE would permit and perform my Surgery he would never hear a Whine , Complaint or me saying I regretted Anything about my Road TO and Through RNY and I have kept My Promise! I, on the other hand made No Such Promise to Ms VALERIE Moore, Certified Nurse- Practioner along with her other titles , like Masters in Nursing, Advanced Practice Validation/ Certification and GOD himself knows What Else. I am basically placid, sweet- tempered, put up up with enough BS to fertilize A Very Large Garden Plot, but at 73 just how much do I Endure before fighting back at least verbally? I have submitted, rolled over until I can't launder the soil out of my clothes, I would cry at the injustice but turning the " Other Cheek" gains one 2 bruised cheeks and permanently Red Eyes and Ragweed season is nearly over, can't pass this off as Allergies as I once did. So better off or worse? I am thinner, look better, almost have a figure that Appears like a More Average Woman. But to gain this, I had MAJOR surgery, elected to make myself an Gastrointestinal Cripple. Yeah, in theory since I was an RNY, I could be reconnected since I did not lose my stomach, just had it divided into 2 sections, but what Guarantee do I have that ability to. take more than 6 ounces of anything in food, renewed enervation, natural peristalsis and all the things I once could take for granted WOULD work once again ? And Although I know my surgeon has more than adequate skills to effect this, would he be willing to? Would Medicare/ Medicaid fund another and MOST IMPORTANT-- Could I actually survive another? Yeah Alex Brecher did, but He's a Whole Lot Younger and his was to Save His Life, not to. merelyfeel better. Sorry folks, but tonight The.Big Brave Cowgirl has rode this pony until we are both 😫 Tired, stable one or both of us until Sunrise.💦😪&🐎

Hello all...Dr Metz did my surgery on July 16th 2009 and I have lost right at 70lbs...He was awesome, repaired a hiatel hernia too...Dr. Metz will not be back to COlorado Bariatric...he is traveling all over and did not renew his contract. I was there last week and was told that my "new Dr" is Dr. Brown...wasn't thrilled since I have never even met him, however Allison and Dawn the 2 PA's totally rock...They have always done my fills and answered any questions I have had...I think it sucks that Mets never even notified his patients...

Well, how did you do? One of the biggest "foodie" holidays of the year just passed us by, which can be a MAJOR trigger for those who struggle with food addiction. If you're shaking your head in regret, please read on below to learn how to quickly get back on track. Well, how did you do? One of the biggest "foodie" holidays of the year just passed us by, which can be a MAJOR trigger for those who struggle with food addiction. If you're one of the lucky few, who is able to look back over the holiday proudly, and say "there is nothing I would have changed," then congratulations! I am genuinely interested in reading your comments below about what worked for you; did you remove yourself from the triggering environments, distract yourself by playing a card game or talking with another family member trying to do the same, did you re-read your bariatric surgery "why's," to reinforce your motivation that day, or was there something else that worked to keep you on track? "It's not how we fall. It's how we get back up again." - Patrick Ness For those of you who are shaking your head in regret this morning, you are not alone. There are thousands of other WLS patients who struggled to stay on track over the holidays. The biggest struggle I've hear throughout the years is that the motivation is dented, diluted, or zapped when one first gets off track from their plan. Enter code CYBERSALE to get my Full From Within Psychological Tools for WLS patients course 50% off today only. There is a lot of psychology behind this. Part of the magic in resolutions is their novelty: an implicit contract within the self that says "this will be unlike anything I've ever done before." When we relapse (or "slip" as I prefer to call it), the self goes "oh wait a minute, I know how this goes, maybe this is no different than before, who am I to think I could do this, I have no willpower, etc., etc., etc." So the idea is to find a new plan. It can be bits and bobs of the one you had before, but it needs to have that new car smell again to have longevity. I am including an excerpt of an earlier article I wrote about how to do just that: What do we do when we fall from grace? The research on relapse (with any addiction; food, drugs, alcohol) is that recidivism is the rule not the exception. So why do we get so down on ourselves when we fall short of our goals? Why is it so hard to get back on the horse with the same vigor we had when we started? And how do we give ourselves a renewed sense of hope and motivation for change once we've fallen? “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” - Socrates Everyone does well out of the gates. We all impress ourselves when we start, what we believe to be, a new lifestyle change. However, "out of the gates," can mean different things for different people; for some it is two months, for others (usually depending on how strong the addiction or habit is) it can be two minutes. But what do we do when we fall from grace? The research on relapse (with any addiction; food, drugs, alcohol) is that recidivism is the rule not the exception. So why do we get so down on ourselves when we fall short of our goals? Why is it so hard to get back on the horse with the same vigor we had when we started? And how do we give ourselves a renewed sense of hope and motivation for change once we've fallen? One magical ingredient in the secret sauce (and one of many concepts I talk about in my book and my wls courses) that is lifestyle change is the novelty effect. The new plan to quit something or change a bad habit is something unlike we have ever done before, so we hope that we can achieve something we have never done before. The problem is that the moment we slip, that novelty loses its magic - and each time we start over, it loses its power to give us hope. So the solution is to cultivate more novelty. Our ability to continually grow and change is largely limited by our creativity. The more creative we become, the easier it is to take a different approach to change. To open a window when life seems to shut the door. In other words- what I am telling you, is that the only secret to long term weight loss maintenance is the knowledge that there isn't only one secret. There is no ONE diet that will forever change someone. Eventually people get tired of eating bacon and eggs every meal on Atkins, or grapefruit, or cabbage soup- but the thread they all share is their novelty. This is why all of them can work initially. Even as powerful as weight loss surgery is- people still find that they start to plateau or even gain the weight back if they aren't simultaneously addressing the behavioral and psychological factors that got them there in the first place. They too, must also continuously be creative about renewing one self throughout their lifetime. So the following is for all of you who are struggling today. Those that feel they have lost their way and perhaps feel disenchanted or disappointed. Below is a recovery "map" I created a long time ago for my clients, some struggling with substance abuse, others with food. It all works the same. Print it out, or copy and paste it in the notes section of your phone and take 20 minutes to fill it out with the things that are personally meaningful for you. This is not THE answer to long term recovery from addiction, but it is a fresh approach for many who feel stale at the moment: Baptism - Some ceremony to signal a renewed sense of hope and a fresh start. One client trying to recover from substance abuse, buried all of his wine and liquor bottles in his yard. Another client had a "garbage party" with her kiddos, and they loved smashing all the processed foods they had in their pantry and throwing them in the trash. Associations/triggers list all of the things that get you into trouble (being at a bbq, wanting to Celebrate something, holidays, 7-10pm at night, date night, etc) Coping Skills (what gets you through the crave waves) These are the behaviors that you do INSTEAD of the addictive behavior. Extra credit if you are able to make a coping skill for each trigger listed above. Enter code CYBERSALE to get my Full From Within Psychological Tools for WLS patients course 50% off today only. Higher Desires/Vision of Self when you let go of your attachment to food and all the self loathing, mental, and physical heaviness it brings- what are you freeing your life up for? will you write a book? will you do more outdoor activities with your kids? do you want to resume an activity you once loved as a child? Is there a role model that inspires you that has done what you want to do? Cons Why are you doing this in the first place? These are the things that are hard to keep in mind when our reptilian mid brain (see last article) is at the wheel. What is personally meaningful? Does it age you? Does it make you feel out of control? Do you dread going on airplanes because you know you'll need an extender? does it prevent you from going to amusement parks with your kiddos? Spirituality (religion gets us into heaven, spirituality gets us out of hell) All addiction is what disconnects us from our deeper self and edges us further and further away from God (or whatever you like to call it) and our deeper spirituality. Spirituality is what allows us to move into the unknown, be comfortable with discomfort, and have faith that everything will be ok. It can include a gratitude practice, volunteering, play, aligning one self with nature, connecting with a spiritual e newsletter (mind body green, daily om, etc), generosity, etc. Daily Recovery Ritual (symbolic gesture to self every day that we are consciously devoting time to our recovery) What are the things you can do daily to symbolize to yourself that today is a new day? Keep it realistic or you won't do it. Vitamins, meditation, lemon Water, supplements, self care, reaching out to a loved one, exercise, etc. Reward System What will you do for yourself if there is a certain period of time reached where you meet your goals? Will you get a massage at the end of every month? Will you plan a vacation after three months of solid goal hitting? Will you reward yourself with one day per week of going to the movies in the middle of the day and playing hooky if you're on the straight and narrow for five days? Strategy This is your "what." What are you doing daily to ensure that you are in alignment with your goals? Are you reading something fresh all the time? Do you make a timeline of your addiction and how it has affected your life? Do you go to local support meetings each week? Do you keep in touch with an online community? Do you make sure to give yourself small breaks while with the kids every day? Do you have a self care space set up in your house? Do you talk to a partner about how to change behaviors of theirs that might be hindering your efforts? can they get a mini fridge? Do you do acupuncture to balance your chi? Do you do yoga to manage your depression? Do you find a therapist? Recovery Resources (try to hit one each morning) what resources are in your pocket when you are feeling weak? bariatricpal.com? WLS journeys on Instagram? The Fix, Reddit, unique blogs documenting their weight loss journey, wls and vsg searches on Pinterest, etc. Good luck on your fresh start! Need extra motivation? Use code "CYBERSALE" to get my course: Full From Within Ultimate Psychological Tools for WLS patients half off today only, or try my FFW mini for free.

well I am out sitting on my side porch. Ordered. some items from Bariatric Pal store Monday. Should have been delivered Wednesday, got a text from them stating it was in my town and the USPS postal person would be bringing it. Oh Goody Goody, I think, then I get a text stating they needed a signature and I wasn't home. WRONG' the front porch, where my mailbox is, right next to my bedroom window, would have heard them, and although I have 2 more porches my house is small enough I can hear knocks there also. So tried to track this thing down, BPS stated We sent it, why didn't You want it? Oh I do want it, please help me find where it is. Called the number off of Google, national number for USPS, says you have reached the Customer Service # no live person , went into 3 minute dissertation about the Carolinas🌲🌴 and how water-logged the Post Offices are there. Hey, I am sorry for them, been praying for them ever since it first happened but hardly responsive to my problem. Never a sign of a live person! So dug around the house and found an old phone book, which I hadn't recycled yet. Glory Be, a local phone number for the postmaster! Started calling, and kept on until I had to go to a doctor's appointment. Have a theory on this one, yes they have a number, either shut it off or leave it off the hook, only use it to call out, don't want incoming. Never got anything but busy signal. So here I sit, on my side step, attractively clad in an Ohio State sweatshirt and a long tie dyed skirt, remember I'm 3 weeks post surgery, Levi 501s and I have not renewed our friendship, zippers on my sore site scars , dont think so. Somewhere between 9AM and 10 AM they should be here. And it's maybe 55 degrees, if I get sick or develop bladder spasms, can I sue the government? No? Well it was a nice thought in passing!💇 FYI the stuff from Bariatric Pal store is very nice, been enjoying the small amounts I ordered before, this is a BIGGER order.My only gripe, it is horrid getting the order placed, maybe because I am older and crabbier than most, but taking a hour to complete it? Somethin' wrong there, Lucy,Ricardo! So if I don't freeze to death maybe the box and I will get together?😦🎁😋