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Well long narrow neck , remind myself of a Galopagos Tortoise/turtle, you can now see my collarbones, the startings of first 2 ribs, doctors would have no problem doing carotid Doppler , nothing in the way, people do tell me I look good, the few who still recognize me. I can't shake the fear I look like " failure to thrive" but perhaps this is what people ARE SUPPOSED to look like? Remember I spent the bulk of my Adult Life looking like Bip The Michelin-Man' s Sweet Sister, all bulges and chipmunk cheeks,cuddly like a fluffy stuffed toy Teddy- Bear. Now I fear l look like I moved to Emaciation Heights. The high cheekbones of Daddy's side show now, I have maintained for years there is Native American/ First Nations blood, depending which side of the 55th parallel you're on. Yeah the only visible legacy this strawberry blond, fair skinned critter has. Yeah the Celtic shading from Mama's side but the high cheekbones which I had NO Clue were THERE, remember even as a baby sheep this lamb always looked fluffy never sleek. But every Day I weigh less, look like Dead Ancestors I never considered resembling but as I reassemble into a New Me, I have keep hanging on until the Final Countdown! Now 187.8 pounds so approaching 1/2 the size I was when I started on the WL trek in earnest October 2017, although I had really started my search 4 years ago almost to the exact date. And I still haven't had that dang- blasted August appointment, OSU Bariatrics is going to be shocked, I was still 235- 240 in April when my last appointment was. If they become shocked,let them be, I have felt abandoned, like if I don't require more surgical intervention--- I Am BORING! The animals at the Columbus zoo at least gave me eye-to-eye contact, not the emotional neglect I have felt. If I don't simmer down before the 14th, somebody gonna get a piece of my mind, and yes, I have enough mind to whack off a chunk and hurl it at their unexpecting noggin! You see I do not suffer fools gladly, and I do not tolerate being ignored anymore, this Doormat will never have mud rubbed into ME once again, as my Soul Sister Reba McENTIRE has stated I'M NOT GOING OUT LIKE THAT! Thanks for stating it in a song.So yes, although I still don't look my age, with the wrinkling I'm starting to look a little closer to True.

First, there is a specific Mexico/Self Pay forum here that might get more or better answers. I can't speak specifically for any of the MX practices, though my wife was self pay here in the states, Most follow up care is done by your PCP including routine labs, and those are generally covered by insurance. From what I have seen, most US bariatric practices aren't keen on doing follow up for other doctors (partly not wanting to support the competition, partly not wanting to get involved in someone else's surgery and potential problems) though longer term if revisions are needed, they are more than willing..... I would expect that the better practices would offer some kind of remote follow up (phone/fax/email/skype, etc.) for some time, but don't know for sure on that. The practice that we used here in the states was set up for travelling patients, so that is routine for them to do the periodic post-op follow ups as well as the annuals. One can also often join the support group for local surgeons to get that kind of support - many welcome patients from other practices - and that may also be a way in to see them if there are any problems that need attention (ask questions at the group meeting - I'm having this or that problem - and that may interest them enough to invite you to make an appointment, whereas they may refuse if you just call the office cold.

The first year post op is going to be a mental mind-screw. Your going to be VERY emotional post op. Your going to cry for no reason at all, and just be emotional in general. Hormones are stored in fat. When the fat is lost, hormones get displaced and need to be re-absorbed. This will cause you to be an emotional wreck. Stay in therapy, talk it out. Make no rash decisions in the first year post op. Make NO major life decisions that first year post op. No having babies, divorces, etc. You need to make sure you have a clear NON-EMOTIONAL head when these decisions are made. 80% of bariatric patients end up divorced post op. If your in the 20% that doesn't that's amazing. If your playing the odds, it will be SUPER easy for you to want to "step out" and find emotional or sexual support from someone other than who you are with. DON'T DO IT! Clear your head, think about your choices, and then make them with a clear mind. Relationship with your children, friends, co-workers... it will all change too.... and that's ok. Just know it will happen. Lots to come in that first 365 days..... strap in... its going to be a wild ride. Message anytime.

Sleever's don't have the pouch like our gastric bypass friends do. Most of these online reset programs or "reboots" attempt to shrink up the pouch, and from what research I've done most of them don't work. Once you have stretched it.. its stretched. The good news is, its difficult to stretch. The fact that you can eat way more 2 years out is normal. Has little to do with you having stretched out your stomach and more to do with you just returning to your ability to eat a normal meal. Post op I was eating like 500 - 800 calories a day for the first 8 months. that's normal for bariatric patients, but its not normal AT ALL. Your body can maintain that for a short while, but at some point we have to get back to normal sized portions and at or about the 2,000 calories a day target. That said... a reboot isn't a bad thing. But I see it as a mental journey, not a physical one. Do things that will remind you of why you started down this path to begin with. Start with the pre-op liquid diet for 10 days. Remind yourself of the HELL you drug yourself through years ago to have the surgery to being with. Perhaps look at some old journals, or FB posts and goals you had set for yourself then. Have you achieved them? If not... why not? Its all about fighting for you. Gotta get back into that game mentally and start making better eating choices. Smaller portions of acceptable well rounded meals and you should get back on track. Long term success is nothing more than short term success repeated daily. One day at a time. From here on out, its a mental kick in the pants. Its the mental reboot your struggling to get a grasp on which is causing more carbs to sneak back in and perhaps some weight to come back. Know its all totally normal, and totally correctable. You know what you need to do. Now just do it.

Too each their own on working out. I don’t judge if people choose to not exercise, moderate or become athletic. All surgeon’s fitness instructions are different. Do you have your surgeons’ instructions yet? My surgeons’ instructions: Walk the day after surgery to help the healing process and build up to walking for an hour. When I was released to lift. I started at the gym doing cardio and lifting. My fitness progressed from there. I'm a sleeve and got to goal in six months. I did exercise right after surgery and lost weight. None of this is a one size fits all bariatric instruction. Do what work’s for you and trust your medical team.

I totally agree that you should consult your team and personal doctor! This is just one of his videos and he doesn't say not to walk, which I think in the first months is all my bariatric coordinator's papers said for me! We share things on here to expand different thoughts...by all means, everyone should follow what is good for their bodies! I just ordered his book and subscribed on YouTube..bought his book yesterday and will report back once I read it!

Phentermine does work, and you still have your surgery to curb your portions after using it. It still takes work either way. I think bashing anyone's attempt to get on track is wrong, getting there, then staying there is why we had surgery. If it was simply calories in, calories out, and exercise wouldn't we already be there and not need surgery in the first place? I used it for a short time but after 2 days it kept me awake for like 20 hours several days....and that I couldn't handle. There is also diethylpropion and some phentermine combinations too. If regular doc won't prescribe, bariatric ones will, mine did.

don't expect to drop 30+ lbs the first month. The average bariatric patient is NOT a "My 600 lb Life" subject. The vast majority of us are starting at a much lower BMI than those folks. There are a few of us "normal" weight loss patients who drop that much, but they're the exception. Most of us lose in the 15-25 lb range that first month. If you lose 15 or 16 or 18 lbs that first month, you are NOT failing!

btw - 60 grams of protein is a pretty standard requirement for bariatric patients.

The BariatricPal Store carries a huge selection of Bariatric friendly Protein drinks at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/protein-powders. Here are some popular options: BariatricPal Protein ONE: MultiVitamin, Calcium, Iron, Fiber & Meal Replacement Single Serving Packet - 9 Flavor Variety Pack from https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/protein-powders/products/bariatricpal-protein-one-multivitamin-calcium-iron-fiber-meal-replacement-single-serving-packet-9-flavor-variety-pack Syntrax Nectar Protein Powder Sampler Variety Bag - All 17 Flavors! from https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/protein-powders/products/syntrax-nectar-protein-powder-sampler-variety-bag-all-17-flavors GENEPRO Medical Grade Unflavored 30g Protein Powder - 2nd Generation! from https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/protein-powders/products/genepro-medical-grade-unflavored-30g-protein-powder-2nd-generation Bariatric Advantage HPMR High Protein Meal Replacement - Available in 8 Flavors! from https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/protein-powders/products/bariatric-advantage-high-protein-meal-replacement Single-Serving Protein Powder Packets - Super Jumbo "60 Flavor" Sampler Pack from https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/protein-powders/products/single-serving-protein-powder-packets-super-jumbo-60-flavor-sampler-pack

Congrats on six years out. You are not alone in having a weight gain. Many of us working them off. Here is a link to the vegan/vegetarian bariatric forum. Hope this helps. https://www.bariatricpal.com/forum/1101-vegetarian-or-vegan-eating/

Welcome to the group and congrats on your surgery date. Enjoy your research phase. It’s exciting taking in all the information. Breaking a stall is a bit different . What works for one person does not work for all. Surgeons instructions are all different. There are so many plans and approaches to working your bariatric program. Here is an old link on breaking stalls. (Stalls don’t happen to everyone but, be prepared to experience one) https://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/351046-embrace-the-stall/

I agree, weight loss is 70% diet 20% moderate workout and 10% genetics It’s not healthy or realistic to run a marathon on bariatric weight loss calories. Start slow and build up your exercise/activity. Absolutely choose what you enjoy and can keep up with long term. Your fitness goals may change and evolve over time. A small percentage of people choose to become, nationally ranked fencer, cross fitters, spartan runners, triathletes, power lifter, body builders, hockey players etc. If they never had bariatrics no one would view their goals as excessive.

So these aren't actually before and afters, since they are meal prep for my bf. But I'm posting anyway cause they're a lot more bariatric friendly then what I generally eat. These are larger servings though. Even 18 months post op I could eat about 1/4 of these. Poached Chicken Thighs, Thai Eggplant, Zucchini, Cauliflower Rice ($3.25/serving) Edamame Pasta Salad with Tuna & Veggies ($5.50/serving)

Absolutely many have/had a problem with it. I changed dr's @ the last minute so I ended up doing almost a full 30 days of an almost completely liquid diet. I thought the first 13 days with one dr was hard...but man, starting it back up again - full disclosure, the 'new pre-op' date I got with final dr still allowed me 3 weeks to do 'his full liquid plan' but I had a DAY break on 4th of July! I was honestly impressed that I did not gorge..and yeah, I'll use that word as I have done that before. Had just lunch and dinner from 4th of July. No desserts. I had been doing keto for 15 months taking maybe a day off every other month as my body would start to stall and just hang onto the weight so I'd shake it up a bit. However, all I can remember is the LONG 30 days. If I had known up front all of the insurance hassle and scheduling issues that would result from me changing dr's....I would have been freaked at the idea of that long of a pre-op diet. Now I'm post-op and am on Day 12 of yet ANOTHER 3 week post-op liquid diet so I'm roughly on Day 42 (and yeah, I still had that '1 day break') but today my body just seized up on the liquids. I think it is primarily due to working 75 hrs last week when I was only 2 days recovered from my RNY. One thing you have to remember - you are NOT going to be on liquids for life! You are NOT going to be doing pre-op or post-op (first X of weeks depending on your dr) FOREVER. Is it hard to get through? I THINK SO! Is it DOABLE? OH YES! You have hundreds upon hundreds of bariatric friends that are either walking in your same shoes now, have walked in those shoes or who will be walking in those shoes in the near future. Greentealael shared GREAT points about the benefits of the PRE-OP diet most have to follow in some form or another. To be honest by the time I got to..um..Day 19 or 20 of liquid pre-op...I was SO DONE. The ONLY thing that kept be going and refusing to cheat is my BMI is so high, I COULD literally not afford physically, mentally or emotionally to have my dr call off surgery because it would be too dangerous to operate. I also knew I didn't want to ever do any more days of pre-op then I already had to. POST-OP I'm living through...and it has not been easy except for first 2 days...but I remember that this is helping my body to heal..helping our new pouches adjust. I've read what happens when someone pushes the envelope or even more bizarrely..they seem to have not been given a 'post-op' diet..and I know I will make it one way or another to PUREED FOODS. NEVER thought I'd say I was fantasizing about pureed foods, but fantasize I do indeed! You are at the right place, you did the absolute right thing and as a person also known for her discipline when she puts her mind to something, that means YOU HAVE THIS - IT IS YOURS FOR THE TAKING!!

My pills are a mix, most are capsules though. One is slow release. My doctor ironically made NO changes to my meds, didn't tell me to crush them, etc. which I had wondered about as I was switched from a VSG to an RNY. I was on a sub-therapeutic dose of Lisinopril (blood pressure med) as although I didn't have high blood pressure, since my right knee is so torn up and I am learning to deal with chronic pain, I had some back to back B/P readings that were borderline 'high' along with my normal 120/80 or even 120/66 and sometimes 117/6X..so primary dr put me on a baby dose. My bariatric surgeon did tell me to discontinue that immediately after surgery because he felt based on seeing me actually having really good blood pressure' whenever I saw him, that I might bottom out after surgery if I kept taking the medicine. I'm taking some very high powered meds for sleep as I work different shifts almost daily. I help with groups in different parts of the world so I can work until 4 AM...go to sleep...or try to..and have to be back up and working again at 9 AM. It varies from day to day, week to week. I will talk to my dr as I think they should be cut back some. I notice that instead of it taking 1.5 hrs despite enough meds to fell a proverbial elephant...the meds now hit me in about 50 minutes or less. I just want help getting to sleep. not to be comatose. My hope is that...the highest powered one can be discontinued or cut in 1/2 in next few months but it also helps with anxiety. I wonder just how much, if anything is being absorbed. To add to it now that I'm thinking..my doctor said to hold all vitamins after surgery but I'm taking an arsenal of other meds!!?? My first post-op visit is this Thursday..I think he and I need to have a chat.

My consult is on the 16th. My surgeon's office gave the okay for plastic surgery at 13 months, so I don't think he will have an issue with it. He doesn't typically work with bariatric patients, so I don't think he will have an opinion - especially since my bariatric office said it's fine. I want to schedule it the week of November 18th.

Yup, I had my gastric 13 yrs ago. I was really good about staying on track for about 2 yrs. Starting weight was 500lbs. Current weight 300lbs. Prior to WLS I was told I wouldn't be able to have anymore children. To my surprise, a year and a half later and down 100+ lbs. Positive pregnancy test. Unfortunately soon after I got so busy with life, I stopped going to my checkups and have since moved out of the city I lived in and lost track if the bariatric doctor. I need and want to get back on track. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

Oops clearly but next and final cataract removal in less than 2 months( Opthamologist THAT BOOKED!) So I will have renewed clarity there and I Plan to Keep living until GOD says it's Time To Leave This 🌎 Earth. As the woman told the Judge when she was testifying Judge- Have you lived in Ohio your entire Life? Lady- No, Your Honor , not yet! And like the Dude in" the Big Labowski" Tomkittens favorite movie-----I ABIDE.

Well tomorrow night Tomkitten and I have our Apnea Retitration, on the 14th I have my Bariatric Clinic visit, haven't seen them since April, I'm told although I am 11 months TODAY this counts as my Yearly Evaluation. Since they have ignored any pleas for help, found me rather unimportant, not of real interest, either I will leave there feeling better or Ka- Ka will be hitting the Fan! Ah --!WE SHALL see Which it may BE, But time now to get out of bed, start on my myriad of V8tamins, Minerals and Medications and let the Chips Fall where They May. I am arthritic, wake up in pain, so am not too hopeful as I start my DAY but tell myself THIS STILL BEATS DEATH ALL HOLLOW, and it will Be as It Be--- I am down to 188.8 from 365+, my arms , legs and mind still work, don't see very clearel

just be careful - transfer addiction is a risk for bariatric patients. I've seen more than a few people post on various internet forums that they developed alcoholism after bariatric surgery. That's not to say you can't enjoy a drink once in awhile. But...watch it.

I was really lucky since the bariatric surgeon and my PCM are in the same organization and it was as simple as asking him for the referral and he said I met all the criteria so it happened quite easily.

I had GERD pre-surgery. No way would I get the sleeve. GERD doesn't get worse for *everyone* who gets the sleeve, but it does for a sizable minority. There are several people on bariatric internet forums who've revised to bypass because of it. I would definitely get the bypass. I suspect this surgeon is just more familiar with the sleeve - and it's also a quicker, easier surgery, so less complicated for him. I'd be really tempted to get a second opinion. You're the one who'll have to leave with the potential GERD problem, not him.

Bariatric surgeon Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app