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I arrived in Mexicali on Sunday afternoon, 10/2. I rode in with 2 other patients and we all visited and shared our stories. After our labs at the hospital, we were taken to the hotel and checked in about 4:30 pm. Since we were all really hungry, we met up in the hotel restaurant a few minutes later and had a really wonderful dinner. For a large plate of chile rellenos , Beans, rice, tortillas, chips and a margarita......my bill was $13.00! With a full tummy and a sleeping pill from Dr. Aceves, I had a very relaxing night at the hotel. Ernesto picked us up at 7:00 am, Monday morning and drove us back to the hospital. Since my surgery was the 2nd of the day, I was given a sedative to relax. The rest of the day is a blur. I remember people coming in to get me....blur........I remember looking up at the ceiling as I was being wheeled to surgery......blur.........I remember someone telling me to turn on my side and bend my knees for the spinal block....blur.....and OUT. I don't remember recovery at all. The next thing I remember is being back in my room, thinking it must be over and then falling back asleep again. I was in and out of sleep for the rest of the night, knowing that nurses came in and out, taking my temp and blood pressure, but not really ever becoming fully alert. Sometime early Tuesday morning, I told one of the nurses I needed to use the bathroom. Although I stumbled a bit, I made the trip successfully and immediately fell back asleep. Later that morning, they brought me those infamous 4 little cups of blue "apple juice." They weren't good, but they were tolerable. I sipped and slept, sipped and slept, sipped and slept for hours. Several times that day, Dr. Aceves, Dr. Campos and the nurses came in and told me to try to get up and walk. I'd answer "Sure, ok." with every good intention of doing it, but I'd always fall back asleep. I really had a tough time coming out of all that med-induced sleepiness. By late afternoon Tuesday, I finally got up and walked the halls. I was completely pain-free (yes, really.....it must have been the spinal block), but I felt unsteady on my feet and climbed back into bed about 5 minutes later. Tuesday night was pretty much the same as Monday night, but I woke up Wednesday morning feeling alert and energetic. I took a shower and even put on a little make-up! Wednesday, I walked several times, visited my neighbors, sipped tea and finally got a bowl of that wonderful chicken broth everybody raves about. Yes, it IS that good. By the time I left on Thursday morning, I felt pretty good - minimal pain and absolutely no nausea. It may have been this sense of well-being that caused me to completely overdo it on Friday. BIG Mistake! I met up with a friend Friday afternoon to do a "little" shopping that turned into a 5-hour shopping spree. I thought I was listening to my body.......I sipped Isopure all day........I took sitting breaks pretty often, but by the time I got home, I felt awful. My abdomen was completely swollen with Fluid and gas. I looked 9 months pregnant and felt equally uncomfortable. That was the first time all week I broke down emotionally. I remembered reading somewhere that Day 4 after surgery is the worst..........and that was definitely true for me! So, I sobbed myself to sleep Friday night and woke up Saturday with renewed energy and renewed resolve. I really took it easy that day. I stayed in all morning, sipping Protein and napping. By 3:00 pm, I felt good enough to take my son to a birthday party. It was a huge event, and EVERY single person there must have told me to eat......twice! But I politely told them I had eaten before I came and continued to sip on my bottled Water. The party lasted about two hours and I was definitely ready to come home by then. I went to bed about 7:30 pm, slept pretty soundly, and here I am at 5:00 am on Sunday, finally getting on the Internet for the first time since surgery. To sum up, I've really had a fairly easy recovery. Considering the mess my Band had made of my stomach and liver (Dr. Aceves told me it was NOT and easy revision) I've had very little pain except for the incision sights. I've experienced none of the shoulder "gas" pain I had with the Band surgery. I've had no nausea or stomach pain......just a lot of gas and gurgling. No doubt about it, those first four days kicked my butt, however, I think I'm over the "hump" now. I have one more week of recovery before I have to go back to work and I'm sooooo glad I didn't try to rush it and go back any sooner.

Here is a list I've developed - some are questions I asked and many have been added to my list. This is a VERY long list, but hopefully some of the questions will be new to you I have a friend who is going to his initial consultation next week too and he asked for a list too. * What is your re-admittance rate? * What is/are the typical reason/s for re-admittance? * How many of your patients have had leaks? How long after surgery were the leaks typically discovered? What was the resolution (% healed on their own vs. % needing surgical intervention)? * Other than leaks, what is/are the most common complication/s? What is your experience with these complications – how many and how resolved? * What would cause you to change to an open procedure? * How many rows of staples do you place? * Are the insides of the staples checked, too? * Do you sew over the staple line? * Exactly how do you test for leaks immediately after surgery (before the barium swallow test the next day)? * Is the part of the stomach that is removed also tested for leaks? * What size bougie do you use to measure the “sleeve?” How do you determine the size of the sleeve? * Can the sleeve actually be stretched by eating/drinking too much? On occassion vs regularly? Why? How to prevent? * What is the biggest factor in failure after this surgery? * What is the biggest factor in succeeding with this surgery? * What is your mortality rate? Of this, what % is attributable to the surgery itself and what % was from pre-existing conditions? * What type of post-surgery support do you offer? Is there any additional cost for the support? * Where were you trained? Are you board certified? How long have you done bariatric surgeries and what other types of surgeries have you done/do you do? * Why did you chose bariatric surgery? * How many sleeves have you performed? Over what period of time? * At what hospital will my surgery be performed? * Who will be my anesthesiologist? What is his/her experience, training, etc.? * Why do you believe you are the best surgeon to perform my surgery? What differentiates you/your practice from others in the D/FW area? * When can I return to work post-surgery? What will my limitations be and for how long? * Based on your experience, in this practice, what % of excess weight does your average patient lose with the sleeve? How long is the loss maintained? What can I do to increase my success? * Why do you feel that your pre/post surgery nutrition guidelines are the best? Have you tailored your plans for sleeve patients or do you use the same plan for sleeve, bypass & lapband? If the same, why? * Do your patients have a support group on FB or via other social media? Other than the formal support group/monthly classes, do your patients have informal support groups? How do I join these groups? * How much interaction should I expect with you vs. with your staff post-surgery? If mostly your staff, what is their training and experience with bariatric WLS patients? Will I typically see the same staff members on my post-op check-ups or will it vary? * Are your staff members, such as nutritionist, available for one-on-one consultations? If so, what are the charges, if any? * What are the requirements to become a "Center of Excellence?" (does this designation really mean anything?) * If I decide to go the self-pay route, is there coverage available for potential complications? If so, where do I get it? How much is it? Will the surgery center/hospital/other docs accept it 100% or could I potentially have additional out-of-pocket expenses? * I've read that most obese patients over 50 have hiatal hernias. According to your website, those are repaired during the sleeve surgery. If I'm self-pay, how is that handled? What if the costs associated with the hernia repair aren't fully covered by my insurance or what if I haven't meet my deductible? * Are there questions I should have asked but didn't? * What would you like to share with me? Sorry for the long list - I'm one of those Type A's

Hi guys! I'm new to Bariatric Pals. I had surgery November 25, 2015 at Montefiore Medical Center. I believe I might be suffering from a hunger headache but I'm doing my best to keep up with liquid diet.

Lori don't they usually do at least an in and out cath during the surgery? since it is under general anesthesia? the PA at my bariatric office mentioned it. I do hope I'm wrong about having to have a cath!!

I have been taking Bariatric Advantage Protein bars and shakes for my pre-op diet and because of all the stomach issues I have been having my NUT recommended a dairy-free version. Does anyone have a soy protein they can recommend??? Thank you!

Just as a reminder, please put on your calendar the Fifth meeting of the Bariatric Pal Local Support Group. Is today May 21, 2015 @ 5:30 PM @Whatcoat United Methodist Church (18 North Main Street Camden, DE). The Community Center is now available and we will meet there for their tonight. I will try to watch for some folks still trying to go to the church. Please fill free to invite anyone Pre- or Post-surgery who is seeking support. Text me if you need more info 302-632-8111.

Just as a reminder, please put on your calendar the Third meeting of the Bariatric Pal Local Support Group. The date is March 19, 2015 @ 5:30 PM @Whatcoat United Methodist Church (18 North Main Street Camden, DE). The meeting will be on Second Floor in the Adult Sunday School Room (middle section of office section of the church) for now. I hope the Community Center will be available soon. Please fill free to invite anyone Pre- or Post-surgery who is seeking support. Text me if you need more info 302-632-8111.

@ Kingcake, if you can wait less than a month, on September 5th i, the about oldest Bariatric Pal active on BP, will tell you in my verbose way my RnY😷 surgery experiences. I do have a way with words (fuf,i do say so) even though my dexerity at texting is maybe C×, my,problem is my fingers go at a sedate 45 mph, my brain is out at the Bonneville salt Flats setting a land speed record. But cross,my heart and,the,promise to have to drink,Protein Shakes into infinity, I WILL Tell All. Okay my friend?

Hi, my name is Beatriz and I live in the Greater Chicago Area. Thinking about bariatric surgery and looking for info and support. I thought my latest blog post would be a good introduction: Moving to a new city meant I had to get a whole new set of doctors. I’ve been lucky enough to find good ones that (seem to) know what they are doing and with very short drives from home. My first visit with the endocrinologist was great and I’ve been taking care of myself, following (almost) all his recommendations. Next appointment was with the OB-GYN to discuss my rather frustrating femaleness and the whole trying to conceive thing; not an easy task for a person like me. I am not blind to my health issues. I am morbidly obese (that took courage to write down!), I have type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol levels, a poor-functioning thyroid gland and other conditions related to my weight. It annoys me to no end when people talk to me as if they think I have no idea of what I have to deal with. Yet I don’t do enough to change things; or maybe I do but it doesn’t work. I’ve been chubby all my life. I have tried every single diet in the book. I remember my mom making me drink grapefruit juice and other badly-tasting concoctions every morning when I was a kid. When I was in 5th grade I went to see weight-loss doctor who ended up giving me amphetamines to everyone’s dismay. When I went to college I saw a doctor who was very much in vogue with the Atkins diet. I’ve seen tons of dietitians; I’ve done the Herbalife thing and some others. In 2005 I was able to lose 50% of the weight I need to get rid of all by myself, but once I left the discipline of eating healthy and going to the gym every day I’m back at square one. It happens all the time. I’m not going to elaborate on the psychological consequences of the “Yoyo Effect.” I think I’ve managed to have a pretty normal life despite being made fun of when I was a kid, feeling rejected by the guy I liked when I was a teenager, being told I wasn’t good enough to attend a certain college where only pretty people go, etc. And while I have to admit all that has played a role in my development as a person, I think it’s a matter of personal responsibility to deal with it and take the steps to change certain things that don’t work. So now the focus is my health and the fact that if I want to be ready for conception I need to take a very careful look at the options out there. That’s why when my OB-GYN asked me if I’ve ever considered bariatric surgery I decided that I’m going to look into it. I’ve heard horror stories and it’s scary, but there are also the good stories and it doesn’t hurt to ask. I talked to my cousin – who’s a doctor and one of the people whose opinion I value the most – and when she told me “by all means, go for it!” I knew I had to get more information. So I’ve been reading a lot about lap-band surgery, I joined a message board and I’m trying to get an appointment with a surgeon my OB-GYN recommended (still waiting for the office to call me back). From the looks of it, I’m a good candidate for the surgery, and I know it will be a long process but I think it’s worth a shot. In Spanish we say “A grandes males, grandes remedios.” – It means the bigger the problem, the bigger the remedy needs to be. Maybe it’s time for me to think bigger.

I just started taking the first steps in this journey to a new me. I have some roadblocks already. 1) The surgeon at the hospital that I work at is leaving in September. The surgeon who is replacing him has been working alongside the current surgeon doing bariatric surgeries. He has experience as a surgeon but the wls are a bit newer to him. He hasn't been performing on his own yet. If I go to the hospital I work with (and my ins approved me for wls) then I have better ins coverage. Or...I can go to the surgeon at a neighboring hospital and still be covered but not as much. More experienced there too....what should I do??! 2) my ins requires a 2 year history of documented weights/BMI. I've never been one to go to a pcp...I don't even have one. I do have a long standing history with my obgyn...(i've had 5 kids.) My last appt was in March to have my iud removed due to my concerns with the wgt gain and mood swings I had from it....prior to that was almost 2 years ago when I gave birth to baby #5. That's it. That would be all I have for medical history. How do I know of my ins will accept this? Or are they just going to say I have "baby wgt" and need to eat better and exercise? In so stressed about this. I have an appt with the hospital down the road who will cost more and ins doesn't cover as well with them...but I also am registered for the seminar at my hospital that provides my ins at the end of June... Any advice or knowledge about the 2 year recorded weights? Or about choosing the right hospital? I did make an appt to start seeing a pcp. They got me in for June 1st. I want this surgery so bad. I'm 31 and I feel like I'm 60. My feet hurt like someone is crushing them all the time. I'm tired. Its depressing. I want to be able to run around with my kids and not have to tell them "later" all the time. My mom had bypass surgery 13 years ago. Obesity is very prevalent in my family as is DM2 and heart disease. I'm not on a good track right now...I need this tool to help me get where I want to be.

Just read ur post and was curious who did ur surgery? I live in upstate SC (Liberty) & went to Bariatric Solutions in Greenville, SC. I had RNY 10/10/11 & have had only a few complications. My sister went to a surgeon in Spartanburg & is disabled from seizures as well. She had a PICC line that got infected & they think that affected her brain. You are right, the psychiatric ramifications are a huge part of the surgery. They really don't focus on that as much as they should, which is a shame. Hope things get better for you. I will keep u in my prayers. -Mandy

Thank you so much. I just tell you life like this is very hard and it infuriates me when people tell me "Oh you went the easy route" no way shape OR form is gastric bypass easy. It messes with you emotionally, physically, spirtually..basically completely! I'm going the 10th to see what is supposed to be a very good bariatric surgeon. My lower half seems fine now, but its the upper I guess where the stint is. My spasims are so severe they feel like a heaart attack. It's horrible. I can truly honestly understand why suicide rates are so high due to this surgery. It's horrible. I'm probably scaring all these poor people to death, but i'm just trying to be honest and show you all that not everyone wakes up off that table "healed." Obesity is a disease something we all have to figure out ourselves. How why when did we get this way and then comes the hard part accepting you did it yourself...no matter how hard you try to deny it. Trust me I did it. Advice to those having surgery. Listen to your bodies you hear full, you stop walk away. Learn to eat things you thought you never would. Tofu is my favorite and your going to laugh but dehydrated vegies are also my favorite. I can't drink any milk because I became lactose intolerant afterwards. Be careful and listen to your body please. i have a friend who is the same amount of time out of surgery as I and she's already gained back. I teeter between 124-133 and have since 2011. 5 years post op and saying that I feel is a big thing. I'd like to see the ones having surgery come back wih the same success stories. I wish you luck and if you need me just hollar. Thanks yall

@@Brandon Long Let's get real for a minute. Yes it's probably too early for you to be asking about having burgers and pizza the way you used to eat them but as my Dr. always says "this is gut surgery, not brain surgery!" We all have food addictions or we wouldn't have gone to the extreme of having WLS. My philosophy on this is I will follow what I've been told to be successful by my Bariatric team of experts. This means NO Pasta, rice, bread, tortillas, sugary sweets, etc. EVER again! I must respect my new pouch or I will gain the weight back. Too many people have. Look out there, they're having new WLS saying their old surgery didn't work ... bull! It works but we have to do what we're told!!! Now that being said, my goal is to look for healthier ways if making my old favorites that fit within my strict Mayo Bariatric guidelines for life. I had quiche when I was able to start soft foods. It is one of my staples and goes down so much easier than any eggs I could ever make. Not to mention it tastes delicious. One serving is only 121 calories and has 12 grams of Protein. You can also make tasty pudding with sugar-free fat-free Jello pudding (dry in the box) and 2 cups of Premier Protein Drink. Makes four 1/2 cup servings for 85 calories and 10 grams of protein. Now that I'm 5 months post-op I'm finally having one of my all time favorite foods, pizza! Since I'll never eat bread again, there is a way to enjoy this and my single serving size is only 246 calories and 31 grams of protein. If I'm going to be successful, I'm going to eat what tastes good ... and there are lots of tasty recipes out there to help us all. When you get further along on your journey (definitely NOT yet), try this pizza recipe. Trust me, you'll love it. If you want to see a pic of it, check out my post "Pizza, Glorious Pizza"! Congrats and continued success Ingredients One pound ground (raw) chicken breast ¼ cup grated Parmesan ¼ cup Reduced fat 4 cheese Italian shredded cheese – ¼ cup shredded cheese is 1 oz. by weight ½ teaspoon garlic powder ½ tsp salt ¼ tsp black or cayenne pepper (I used cayenne) Tools Mixing bowl (stand mixer - easiest combing method) Baking sheet, pizza pan or pizza stone (crispiest crust) Parchment paper Wax paper Rolling pin Pam or any vegetable non-stick cooking spray Instructions Place pizza stone in oven, if you’re going to use one (my preference), and preheat oven to 450°F. In a medium bowl combine all of the above ingredients.Place a wet paper towel on a flat surface then place your parchment paper on it. Spray it with Pam and then put your chicken mixture on top. Chicken mixture makes 6 – 3 oz. portions, so 6 individual crusts (approx. 6"x4"). Lightly spray a sheet of wax paper with non-stick cooking spray (makes for easy removal). Place wax paper, sprayed side down and evenly press using a rolling pin to get it as thin as you’d like. Remove the wax paper and place parchment paper on pan or pre-heated pizza stone and bake until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes (depending on thickness). My individual (very thin) crusts baked on pizza stone in just 12 minutes!Put the crust between two paper towels and pat to absorb any grease. It is chicken after all. Then place it on a new sheet of parchment before topping it. Top baked crust with sauce, cheese and healthy toppings. Place back in oven and cook until melted and bubbly 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven and enjoy! Crust: Nutrition Facts Servings 6.0 Amount Per Serving: Calories 114 Total Fat 3 g Carbohydrate 1 g Dietary Fiber 1 g Sugars 0 g Protein 19 g As Prepared : 2 Tbs Prego pizza sauce 2 Tbs Sargento reduced fat 4 cheese Italian shreds 1 tsp sautéed Vidalia onion 1 tsp sautéed red bell pepper ½ oz. cooked 90/10 lean ground beef Nutrition Facts Servings 1.0 Calories 246 Total Fat 10 g Carbohydrate 6 g Dietary Fiber 1 g Sugars 3 g Protein 31 g

I prefer protein powder over ready-to-drink shakes, and powder tends to be less expensive. My favorite brand of protein powder is Ideal Lean, but it is really a matter of personal taste. For ready-to-drink shakes, Equate brand is pretty much the same as Premier Protein but priced much lower. I am almost 2 years out now and I no longer drink protein shakes. I get plenty of protein from food, and I'd rather eat food than drink a protein shake. It is really important to budget for what you'll need post-op, and don't forget about vitamins. The best value in bariatric vitamins is the BariatricPal brand multivitamin, which is $99.99/year for a subscription (I recommend you buy a smaller bottle first and make sure you like them before you subscribe; also, you'll probably need chewables for the first few months after surgery). Depending on your program/bloodwork, you may need additional vitamins (I take calcium, chelated iron, vitamin B-12, vitamin D, and biotin in addition to the multivitamin, and I also use pre-workout and essential amino acid supplements). Vitamins are super important for gastric bypass patients, so you have to make sure you're prepared to buy them before you have the surgery. In the early post-op stages, I was eating so little that the costs balanced out. Now that I'm eating regular food and larger portions, though, I am spending a lot more on food than I was before surgery, even though I'm eating less. I used to shop sales and buy cheap food. Things like chips, crackers, cookies, candy, frozen meals and snacks, baking ingredients (sugar, flour, oil, butter), etc., can be very inexpensive when you buy them on sale. Now, I buy a lot of fresh produce, meat, fish, herbs, and spices, plus some healthier substitutions (sugar-free sweeteners, protein bars, low-calorie salad dressing, sugar-free condiments, olive/avocado oil, coconut flour, etc.) and prioritize health and taste over price. I'm sure I could spend less and still eat healthy if I really needed to, but I have invested so much into this surgery and losing weight that I'm willing to spend more money on food that helps me stick to my plan.

How many carbs are you allotted per day? Who prescribed that amount? My doc only asked that I focus on grams of protein (60), which is a modest #, based on what I've seen others post here. I highly recommend the book called "Proteinaholic" by (bariatric surgeon) Dr. Garth Davis. Dr. Davis is also very active on his FB page and happy to answer questions there. "A Pound of Cure" by (bariatric surgeon) Dr. Matthew Weiner is a good read, too. Dr. Weiner also has many lectures available on Youtube.

I get it. There are other things that are questionable: 1. I spoke with another surgeon with a gold status on here - and a patient needing their own CPAP machine to bring with them for use with recovery is rare and done only in the most extreme cases. Since majority of overweight patients considering surgery also likely have some degree of sleep apnea - its not uncommon to experience some breathing difficulties in recovery in which the hospital will provide a CPAP machine on the fly for such cases. <<< Never have I had a complaint or noticeable issue with sleeping. I had my appendix removed and did have difficulty breathing in recovery...they hooked me up to a machine for the night (which I had to stay anyways) and that was the end of it. I was not required to bring my own machine first or asked to continue use of it post surgery. 2. All that being said - I made peace with having to have a CPAP machine of my own for recovery. What I did not make peace with is the requirement from the sleep doctor to be on the machine for several weeks (in which they would verify its use through information stored on its processing chip) before they would authorize me for bariatric surgery. It is very clear - that every doctor has their own preferences or concerns that they highlight more than others. This other doctor, thought what this doctor was asking was extreme an unnecessary. To my knowledge - no one has died from sleep apnea in a recovery room in a hospital. If they did - I'm sure the hospital would get sued 3 ways from Sunday.

Thank you ❤ I feel really amazing for almost 3 weeks post op. I'm almost back to normal, incision nearly completely healed 😍 My Surgeon Dr. Ziyad doesn't specialize in bariatric patients either but i have seen his results across the board and they great . I believe @ms.sss can answer brachio questions

Great minds think alike! With so much down time right now - I'm thinking of getting my horrid bat wing arms done over the summer to be compatible with Dr. Dana's other magic. Might you message with the Miami surgeon you like? Dr. Dana is less experienced in bariatric type skin - but very good. Would like options... Do keep us posted. Take good care. Hugs! Does anyone know what to expect with this procedure? Downtime? Recovery? How are you healing, GT?????? x o ;]

For a multivitamin with iron included I think I'm going to order these. Only one a day and it's chewable and cheap. http://www.procarenow.com/Chewable-One-A-Day-Bariatric-Multi-Vitamin--30-ct_p_10002.html

I am not pregnant or planning to be pregnant -- but I can tell you what the bariatric nurse told us at surgery boot camp. She said they strongly advise against getting pregnant until you are one year out, but after that they think it is okay. You would need to work closely with your OBGYN and your surgeon's office about nutrition. She also disclosed (and I don't want to appear like I am endorsing anything here, I AM NOT) that each year they have at least a couple of pre-one year pregnancies among their patients, because a lot of women just get more fertile after surgery and also aren't as careful as they need to be with birth control. She said that with all of those patients, they had to work really hard with their OBGYN, the dieticians on staff, etc. to get the proper nutrition and vitamins but they all ended up with healthy moms and healthy babies. I wouldn't advise anyone to disregard their own doctor's advice, this is just what the nurse told me and my fellow pre-op patients.

Just as a reminder, please put on your calendar the August meeting of the Bariatric Pal Local Support Group. The date is August 20, 2015 @ 5:30 PM in the Simpson Community Center (6 North Main Street Camden, DE This on the corner of North Main Street and Route 10) and we will meet there. Please fill free to invite anyone Pre- and Post-surgery or family member who is seeking weight loss support. Text me if you need more info 302-632-8111. Thanks, Doyle

Hi there: While we don't have a week long retreat we do have a weekend retreat to focus on YOU. We have been doing them for 4 years now and they have been extremely successful. folks leave with comments like I Can Do That!!! Renewed in their commitment to themselves and with a plan to win at the weight loss surgery game. Our next one is coming up April 20-22, 2018 in Portland Oregon and we would love to have you attend. We have had folks from Australia and Canada. Here is a link to the event which we call Spring Into YOU WLS SUCCESS MATTERS SPRING INTO YOU WEEKEND. In addition to that we offer a Back on Track Class via webinar (we use Go to meeting) that meets for 6 weeks on a specified day for about 2 hours. There are books and homework involved in this very thought provoking class and folks have lost regain in that 6 weeks from anywhere between 4 pounds to 24 pounds. Here's a link to the next class coming up. If the time difference doesn't work for you we have done classes at different times of day so let us know what time (US Pacific) would work and we'll see if we can put one together Back On Track Class Finally W e have a Facebook secret group which is 24/7 365 where everyone is working to achieve their goal weight and we (2 bariatric coaches) are in the group facilitating, doing one on one coaching, teaching, motivating and presenting weekly lessons and weekly challenges (focus points). Here's the link to join our next group which begins January 2018 with all of the details THE ORIGINAL WLS SUCCESS MATTERS WEEKLY WEIGH-IN GROUP you can read about us and all we offer at WLS SUCCESS MATTERS BECAUSE YOU MATTER Feel free to ask any questions you might have about any of our programs.

Board makes changes for PY2011 :: Employees Retirement System of Texas Actually, I read this and believe this to mean they are covering bariatric (not sure which) surgery effective September with a $5000 deductible in addition to the normal charges, but you have to have 5 years of state employment history to qualify. It is a very exciting development!! Now, if they will just show me which hoops we're going to have to dive through...

Hi, I'm so near you. I live in Wadsworth, IL, just south of you. I attended an orientation at Froedtert Hosp. in Milw. They were very informative there. But their fee was 35,000. I'm a self pay. Alexian Bros. Hospital (Elk Grove Village, IL) has a wonderful bariatric group. 16,500. My surgery is 11/6. Next week!!! How far along are you? blueyes

Not sure if most of you are aware but BariatricPal.com actually started off in 2003 as LapBandTalk.com! I've had Lap-Band surgery since 2003 and started this community the night I came home from my own Lap-Band surgery. As mentioned in my recent article "Types of Bariatric Surgery: By the Numbers and What It Means" Lap-Band surgery has dropped 86.93% since 2011. There were still 7,310 new bands in 2016. There isn't any perfect WLS. The band has been an awesome tool for me over the last 15 years. I've had minor complications along the way but nothing like the complications I'd have had walking around with an extra 100Lbs.