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I'm on Bariatric Advantage. I get it at my doctor's office. I'd give it a 7 out of 10. Not great, but does not make me gag,

I know your asking about UIC but just a little north at Rush there is a great bariatric program and Dr. Myers has done 500+ sleeves and over 5,000 bands just some info

Hello Everyone - I'm one year 3 months post op, and I've probably had depression most of my life. I've never tried any medication to deal with my depression, just "suffered through it" most of my life. I decided recently that enough is enough and informed my PCP that I wanted to try meds. She prescribed Prozac. Anyone have any experiences post-op dealing with Prozac or any other antidepressants? I know most people are looking to come off meds after bariatric surgery - not go ON them.

If you feel like talking, there are several of us on here who have had strictures, I had an RNY, have been fighting it and jejunal ulcers since October 2018, a month and half. after my surgery on September 5th. Been a long time,healing, but I am hoping,for resolution soon. In the meantime I have learned to roll with the punches. My journey has not been average, that's okay, I am a Limited Edition anyway. And still in most ways I am much better than when I started. My High Weight was 365+ on a 5ft8in body, I am now just a skoosh over 200 pounds, haven't been weighed for maybe a week, 214 then, been losing about 3-r pounds a week so maybe 210? In some respects it is what it is, but I try to keep my fluids in, on a pureed diet basically, a lot of soups, broths, protein shakes, that is what my pouch accepts and handles. Had a PICC line for 3 months, was being fed TPN 12 hours a day, have had mutiple endoscopies, I think 13 Lifetime, another scheduled June 12th, have had to have an Iron INFUSION in March, but afterwards I did find renewed energy. What next? Don't know but I am a resilent old chick and I WILL,MAKE IT THROUGH. So I'm here if you need an understanding virtual shoulder to cry on, okay? 😝❤🌈

When I had my gall bladder problems it was under my right rib cage, I think that gall bladder problems are quite common after bariatric surgery. You might want to contact your surgeon and ask him about checking it. Hope you feel better soon!

Hi everyone, I am so glad I found this site. My name is Dona Cross. I am a married mother of three. My kids are 21, 19 and soon to be 18. Two oldest are sons, youngest a daughter. I am 48 years old and morbidly obese. Morbidly obese sounds horrifying....I thought I was just fat! Anyway, I have been preparing for lap band since January 2008. In September of 2007 I found out that I have diabetes. This didn't come as a surprise to me...my brother and 6 first cousins are diabetic, my grandmother was also. My sons weighed 10lb. 3oz. and 10 lb. 11 oz. at birth. We thought my daughter was tiny; she weighed 8 lbs. 14 oz.! After the diagnosis of diabetes I got serious about my health. I don't want to be one of those old ladies in the nursing home weighing 270 lbs. with no legs having to have overworked and underpaid CNA's taking care of me. So, I went to a lap band seminar, got my doctor's wholehearted approval and started meeting requirements for surgery. I have documented diet and exercise requirements almost done and received a O.K. from my insurance to have the psych. eval. After that, my bariatric clinician will set up my pre-op requirements. I am so excited about this. I have tried not to have unrealistic expectations, but I am looking forward to good health again. I am so happy to have contact with others who are experiencing the same journey. Some of my friends are not as supportive as I would have hoped they would be. They think I should just go to Weight Watchers and the gym and I will be fine. Don't they think I've tried that? I do however have a supportive family and an amazing church family to help me. Anyway, thanks in advance for your support. I'm looking forward to making new friends.

My Doc and his team do about 500 of these surgeries a year and has done bariatric surgery for 15 years has had only one leaker. Definatley a question for your doc.

You can google meal plans for after bariatric surgery. Put together your own plan staying high Protein and low carb. It shouldn't be very hard to do.

I did not have drainage tubes post surgery. I'm glad for you all, I can't get an answer from my bariatric team. If this is normal, I can deal with it. It's just this "not knowing", if I look it up online, it directs me to "a leak". Which is SCARY. Does anyone know if there is something I can do to minimalize this? Extra fluids makes MUCH more sense than gas, I have NOT passed ALOT of gas since the surgery, just a "normal" amount.

I think I found a cool new product. Bariatric Advantage has just added a new Multi to their line. Includes 1000 mg B12. Iron Powerful nutrition in 3 capsules! Our newest encapsulated multi formula is the highest potency member of our multi family of products. Designed to meet the latest guidelines* just add Calcium and you are ready to go for the day. Contains a full 3000 IU Vitamin D3, 400 mg Magnesium, 45 mg Iron, and a unique phytonutrient blend to support good health. powder added to something ie applesauce. They seem not a bad price at $49/270 One only needs to add their calcium. If you are Canadian and at a loss, let me know I can hook you up with a supplier in Vancouver. She told me about these. I hope someone finds this helpful. I know I am sure relieved to have found something a little more cost effective. No buying separate B12 or Iron. Just add calcium. W.

Soooooo im starving and my little stomach is growling!!! Im on solids but they are not my friend:-( i cant eat anything more than 2-3 SMALL BITE & 2 sips of whatever im drinkin.... any suggestions? P.s. But i look great!!!!! 39 days post opp (38 lbs down (294-257) ) by Dr. Luis Cervantes w/ Mexico bariatrics in Tijuana Mx Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Then call to make the appt and tell them you're seeking a referral for bariatric surgery.

My would be surgeon presented me with the Realize band only. can I request and obtain the Lap Band instead ?. The operation would be at Banner Gateway Bariatric Hospital in Gilbert AZ. Thanks, Dave

I have summer clothes..2pairs of crops and 4 tops for someone who needs them. They are from Catherine's and the Avenue stores. I'm in Baltimore. I'm willing to meet you in DE, southern PA, or DC metro. I also have some Bariatric Advantage chewable Calcium and vanilla Vitamins for free. I will also have a selection of size 28 turtleneck rubbed sweaters from LB also. Thank you.

VerticalSleeveTalk Newsletter Hey Sleevers!Welcome to summer! We hope you’re looking forward to some well-deserved rest and relaxation, to an exciting vacation or to some extra time with friends and family. VerticalSleeveTalk.com is the happening place to be this summer, and we’re always delighted with the kindness, insights and chatter that our members bring to create this welcoming community! Here are the contents of this month’s newsletter: Sleever Poll: Where Are You in Your Weight Loss Journey? Member Spotlight: Meet M2G! Summer Weight Loss: Tips to Help You Stay Focused! Weight Loss Surgery Safety: Hydration in Summer Things are heating up at VerticalSleeveTalk.com, so don’t miss a moment! Enjoy the newsletter, then head on over to the boards to talk about it – and whatever else is on your mind! Thousands of members are online, so come join the fun. Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder VerticalSleeveTalk.com Sleever Poll: Where Are You in Your Weight Loss Journey? One of the great things about our community is that our members are all in different stages of their weight loss journeys. So, we’re curious – where are you in your journey? I’m still exploring my options for weight loss. I don’t know if weight loss surgery is right for me. I’m definitely going for bariatric surgery, but am not yet sure which type. I’m going for the sleeve and have set my surgery date (or am trying to get one set). I got my surgery already and am busy losing weight. I am within 15 pounds of goal weight or am already maintaining it! I am not a weight loss surgery patient, but am on VerticalSleeveTalk.com to support someone who is. Other. Choose your answer and tell us more on the discussion boards using this link! Member Spotlight: Meet M2G! This month, our Member Spotlight is on M2G from Colorado. This busy print graphic artist and student struggled with her weight for 15 years with yo-yo dieting. She didn’t have high cholesterol or blood pressure, but got the sleeve because she was “sick and tired of being fat.” Still hesistant to share her starting weight, this 5’6” woman says she was closer to 300 pounds than 250. Her surgery was in July 2010 and she is at a comfortable, non-obese weight! She’s also proud of her husband who’s approaching his two-year sleeve anniversary! M2G says that the biggest difference in her life has been how she feels about herself. She also appreciates the freedom that she has from not being “weighed down.” Now, she’s able to “do normal things” like climbing stairs and tying her shoes without thinking about them. Her great moments come from “not worrying about weight limits!!” She can go do whatever she wants now, such as sledding, going to Water and amusement parks and playing with her kids on the trampoline in the back yard. She also loves knowing that the clothes in her closet fit and look good, and that she doesn’t have to shop in the plus size section of the store. M2G is proud of her husband for getting off of his blood pressure medications after his surgery. The daily grind has been one of M2G’s greatest challenges. She says that hearing people say that “this surgery isn’t a magic bullet” is one thing, while actually living the challenge is something else. She had to learn to make the best decisions for her weight and health instead of trying to justify a cookie or some cheesecake. M2G says that from the beginning, she was grateful for the information she could get from VerticalSleeveTalk.com. Her surgeon was great but relatively new – M2G was only his 15th sleeve patient! As she says, “the forum was a lifesaver. Virtually “meeting” others who had been sleeved, and not only lived to tell about it but who also shared their experiences was so comforting.” She used it for reassurance that her symptoms were normal and also to get recipes and product ideas. Now, she takes comfort in knowing that the forums are always here if she needs them. Her advice for others is that “the sleeve is a tool; use it wisely.” She suggests underfilling the sleeve rather than risking overfilling it. Nearly three years post-surgery, M2G still eats only 1,100 to 1,200 calories per day. She also reminds other sleevers that the journey “has no destination.” You always need to mindful of your diet, and the sleeve will help. M2G, thanks for making time in your busy schedule to be in our Member Spotlight! Congratulations on looking great and on leading a healthier life with your husband! Do you like learning more about our members? Help us keep the Member Spotlight feature going strong by nominating a member on our Member Spotlight forum. You can also nominate yourself! If you’re shy and don’t want to post on the forum, just send Alex Brecher a private message that you want to be in the spotlight. Thanks! Summer Weight Loss: Tips to Help You Stay Focused! You can get off track with your weight loss if you lose focus during the long, hot days of summer. This year’s New Year’s resolutions feel like ancient history; the city streets are emptier because children are out of school and people are out of town on vacation; and in June, the summer ahead seems limitless. Don’t let the long, hot days of summer interfere with your weight loss. Here are a few tips to keep you on track. Set your goals. Make them specific and realistic, and work towards achieving them every day. Pick one or more events to “get in shape for,” and think about them as you’re sticking to your diet. An upcoming wedding, family reunion, vacation or summer party can keep you motivated. Stay positive. We can all feel a little bit down when it’s just too hot, but keep your eyes on the prize. Remind yourself to just take it a day at a time, and think how proud you’ll be at the end of summer when you’ve stuck to your diet. Reward yourself. An ice cream social isn’t the thing after weight loss surgery….but a trip to the beach can keep you cool. Pack a healthy lunch and hang out all day. Walking on the sand is a great workout! Go shopping. The air-conditioned mall lets you walk and window shop. It’s a great time to pick out your dream outfits so you can stay motivated to lose enough weight to fit into them! Don’t fight the heat – beat it! If it’s too hot, don’t exercise outside at high noon. Instead, keep to the cool hours of the early morning or late evening and drink plenty of water. You can also avoid the intense heat by going to the air-conditioned gym, working out at home or walking laps at the mall. Go swimming. Many public pools open in summer, so use the opportunity to try a new activity if you’re not a regular swimmer the rest of the year. Walk or jog in the pool, swim laps or take a water aerobics class. Freeze diet iced tea, lemonade made with a sugar substitute (such as Splenda) or a low-calorie diet juice drink (such as diet Snapple) in ice cube trays. When you get a craving for something cold and sweet, don’t go for the ice cream. Instead, grab an ice cube and save hundreds of calories. Prepare your Protein ahead of time. It’s too hot to cook or bake frequently. Instead, make enough grilled chicken breast, hard-boiled eggs, and lean ground turkey for several servings. Refrigerate or freeze your protein so it’s available whenever you need it without needing to turn on the oven or stove. If you follow these tips and stick to your bariatric surgery diet, you’ll see results by the end of summer. Let 2013 be a summer to proudly remember because you did everything you could to lose weight and get healthy! Weight Loss Surgery Safety: Hydration in Summer Everyone’s at risk for dehydration in the summer, but weight loss surgery can present an extra threat. Drinking can make you feel nauseous or too full. After surgery, you can’t have sugary treats like sweet tea or iced mochas, or carbonated soft drinks. Some patients even find that water doesn’t taste good anymore after surgery. So how can you stay hydrated? Try ice water. Jazz up your water with lemon, lime, or mint leaves. Try chilled diet iced tea. Try shaved ice with sugar-free syrup. Make low-calorie cold coffee drinks with sugar substitute instead of sugar. Drink sugar-free Kool-Aid, Crystal Light or another low-calorie fruit drink. Keep a water bottle with you all the time so you automatically sip on it between meals. Drink extra before and after workouts, and sip regularly as you’re sweating. Let your weight loss surgery motivate you to stay healthily hydrated this summer! When you get enough to drink, you have more energy and are less hungry. That’s what we have for this month’s newsletter! We hope it was motivating and helpful. Don’t forget that we’re always happy to hear member feedback, so feel free to contact us! If you ever want to look through the old newsletters, you can check them out, too. Thanks as always for your support! Take care of yourself and each other. Sincerely, Alex ============================================================== If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, you may unsubscribe by going to your Control Panel and clicking on the Newsletters tab, or clicking on the following link: {unsubscribe}

Ambivalence can be paralyzing or, probably more accurately, is a device some of us use to stay put. The alternative certainly seems making a decision, but there's another route that worked for me. I can't even recall how or why the idea of surgery first occurred, but I was no where near ready to say "Yes, this is for me." In order to begin exploring the possibility I chose to play any head game necessary to take any step at all. All along the way it was "Just do [this] to see what it's like and then you don't have to do anything else." The first move was to attend an info seminar: "Go see what they have to say, what it's like, and then you won't have to do any thing else." Okay, that wasn't so bad. Next was an initial appointment with the bariatric practice -- same thing, "Go to the appointment, see what it's like and then you won't have to..." Each subsequent step followed in the same pattern. Finally, when I made appointments for endoscopy and [gulp] colonoscopy (both required probably because of my age, but I don't remember for sure), I knew I meant it: No one consents to endoscopy or colonoscopy just to see what they're like. My whole deal was walking backward toward the OR. When I actually walked in, the entire crew was robed, gloved and masked. Each person turned toward me with a rousing greeting, making me feel as though I'd arrived at a surprise masquerade party in my honor. My best suggestion to you is just attend the initial info seminar and ask questions. Going to the practice's support group can also be helpful -- hearing others' experiences with the ease of face-to-face communication helps, especially since more questions will occur to you as time goes by. (Certainly bring your questions and concerns here, too.) My other best suggestion is to begin a running, handwritten list of reasons (a nice notebook) beyond the healh concerns you mentioned. Add to the list as new things occur to you. Keep each reason narrow in scope, e.g., "So that my favorite gold chain hangs lower instead of fitting like a choker" instead of "So that necklaces look better on me." Another might be "To wear size 6 knickers" instead of "To wear smaller sizes." No reason is shallow, silly or vain. Certainly include the health considerations and any/everything else that has significance to you. Each reason/goal should be what you want for yourself for a lifetime. (There are those who'll squawk at me, but I think that reasons such as special occasions, e.g., weddings, are solid for the long term. They have expiration dates; the wedding lasts a day and then what?) Then, as you lose weight and achieve the goals, you can check them off in your notebook. When you have clearer clarity (?!) on what you really want and why, you'll know that you can do anything. Even better, you'll have confidence to make the choice.

Welcome. This is a great question and you have come to the right place. I was completely against the idea of surgery for a very long time but was at the end of my rope. My PCP encouraged me to consider WLS and suggested I at least learn enough about it to make an informed decision. He referred me to an awesome Bariatric Surgeon. The more I learned and the further along in the process I went, the more I knew this was the right decision for me. I went from 110% against the idea to eagerly ready to do it. I was sleeved April 20, 2015 and couldn't be happier with my surgery, my recovery, and my progress so far. I am healthier and happier than I have been in a very long time. I started at almost 600 pounds, practically immobile, and on disability. I am over halfway to goal, getting my life back, and getting ready to return to the workforce. I swim regularly and am no longer effectively housebound. Best of luck with your decision. The good thing is that you don't have to make any major decisions today. But, I encourage you to take the next step and at least attend a seminar with an open mind. I encourage you to find a good Bariatric Center of Excellence. They should have a good process so that you will be fully informed and educated and have the support and tools to be successful no matter what you decide. Keep us posted on how you are doing.

If you live in the Dallas Ft Worth area and are willing to pick this stuff up in North Oak Cliff, I have a bag full of goodies that I couldn't use. It includes 2 Tubs of nectar Protein (one has 1 serving missing), 2 bottles of the Bariatric Advantage Vitamin crystals (I might have used 2 servings out of one bottle); some Bariatric Advantage chocolate Protein Bars, A few single serving Bariatric Advantage shakes, a chewable multi vitamin, and a few other odds and ends that I was supposed to use post op, but couldn't. I hate to just throw the stuff out, so I am hoping someone can use it! Message me.

Pre surgery here but I just bought the Bariatric Advantage Multi Vitamin with Iron and a bag of their calcium chewy bites. Hoping to find good alternatives after this first batch.

I've only taken Bariatric Advantage CHEWY multivitamin, calcium, & iron vitamins since my surgery 12/1/16. Do you know of any equivalents that are not as expensive? I don't mind making a switch as long as the quality is there AND they MUST taste good (don't want to feel like I'm eating chalk) Please offer any advice you have. Thank you!

Which one? The dad or the son? I have a friend that had the dad for a RNY a few years ago at The Methodist Hospital, when they were on the reality show "Big Medicine". She said he had an amazing bedside manner, and was so supportive in the clinic. Try to relax, these guys have many years of experience in bariatric medicine and surgery.

Update: Diet Form Police I emailed the patient coordinator over the weekend to ask her why I had to start completely over, and her response was that the diet forms aren't filled out completely. To be safe, it's best to start over while I'm only 1 1/2 into the supervised diet. Her point is that it's likely that my PCP didnt document the information correctly into my chart as well. (e.g what kind of diet, how many calories, exercise & duration,behavior modifications etc.) and it will be used against me later on when submitting for approval. My diet forms have to correlate with the documentation in my patient chart. Also, in her experience, many denials from insurance came from insuffcient documentation by PCP's...especially because they aren't nutritionist or dieticians so they don't truly know what could/and or should be documented to possibly support a bariatric case. So in the end she was actually on my side. Tryna make things go smoothly...that's all. Bless her heart.

So, my question is two-fold.... My husband and I started our 6 month supervised diet on January 27th. First...I have been trying to reach our insurance company's bariatric department to confirm if they just need 6 letters (Jan, Feb, March, April, May, and June) or if they will need the 7th one effective July 27th or later? Second...We had to bump our 2nd appt up to February 5th but have been on track every 4 weeks plus or minus a few days since then. Did I mess up making the appointment too close? Due to work and personal issues, there wasn't any way we could've done the appointement 4 weeks from the first one. I was told I would have a case worker assigned to my file in two weeks. I was hoping to find out from others experiences before then. Does anyone have any insight? Thanks in advance...

http://wlsappeals.com/avoiding-bariatric-insurance-denials/

I had to wait 10 months because there were so many obstacles to overcome. I just had surgery 9 days ago and the long wait actually made me prepared, confident, and successful. However, there were times when it felt like I was waiting forever and that the surgery may not actually happen. Learn as much as you can about bariatric surgery and diet through research or from forums like this one. Losing weight and exercising before surgery will help you in the long run and help you reach your weight loss goal quicker after surgery. Good luck!