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Talked to the wonderful Cris (Dr. Erbella's nurse) and mentioned the changes in my insurance (thank you so much Jim1967 for the info) at first she told me the same information as before... 6 month wait, psych eval, dietician, and letter of recommendation from my primary care doctor. My heart fell. Then I remembered I had called my insurance company the day before and had them send me the new policy on bariatric surgery. Oh man was i excited again! She called Cigna and Jim and I were correct. I only have to wait 3 months now. Insert massive smiley face here! I am currently on my 4th month so that means as long as i get my other stuff done before August I'll most likely be able to have the surgery by the end of August. Don't you know come Monday I'm calling the psych and dietician to see if they can move up the appointments. Cris is already contacting my primary care doctor so atleast i don't have to worry about that. On a seperate note, I bought my first ever scale today. Kids thought it was the coolest thing but when you weigh under 120 its easy to be excited. Heck if i was under 120 I'd be excited too. Hoping one day soon the scale will be my friend. Today wasn't the day though

That is exactly what I do, also, I have started using bariatric advantage capsule vitamins and I swallow them whole. Also, the calcium I get from GNC they have two flavored chewables from the be-Balanced brand, one is chocolate brownie and dulce de leche. The are awesome! They taste like desert!

The consensus is that there is no consensus, its all over the board.. i had another sleever at the same bariatric clinic i went to, told the exact opposite of me. i was told "no Protein drinks do not count towards your liquid goal", and the other sleever was told yes by a different NUT.. now you would think 2 NUTS (no pun intended but funny) would at least talk with each other and speak on the same page.. So here is my 2cents.. I don't count protein shakes, but I do count coffee, I drink mine straight with a little creamer.. now there is some scientific evidence that coffee dehydrates you, but the initial consumption in liquid, I can't be held responsible for how my body breaks it down (thats the 13 year old in me).. I do try and get 24oz of crystal lite in, i don't count my vodka drinks I have sparingly throughout the week .

Any fears I felt before surgery were mitigated by all the success stories and first-hand accounts I heard in my bariatric support group. I was absolutely sure I was doing the right thing, but--like so many of other people--I wondered if I could just 'do it on my own"...again. I knew I could do it on my own, but I knew I'd also gain it back. And now with pre-diabetes cured, sleep apnea cured, high blood pressure cured, and high cholesterol cured...I wish I could've been sleeved 20 years ago. Best of luck in your surgery!

OK I know I am not dating...but I can tell you this. Both my husband and I are banded as you know... When we are out to eat or we are at an event, I can almost feel us "judging" each other and our choices of and amounts of food. Now my band is fickle, but so is my stomach and was even before I was banded. Eating out has never been an easy thing for me to navigate. There are certain things I know that I can manage and then there are somethings that might have made me sick before and don't now and vs/verse. I know my hubs looks at going out and not finishing the food as wasteful, so I watch him eat to capacity and I can see it in his face when he is full but there is always that drive to finish the food. There is also this idea that we can't share the food...or purchase one entree to share....but that would be less wasteful and less expensive. We have been banded nearly 2 years now and we still don't get this. When I am out at an event, my go to was always NOT to eat just in case I would get sick, and then after to go home and indulge. This little mind tickler is still there. I have to have a conversation with myself when I am out at an event that it is OK to actually eat what I want, and not have to worry about it because I rarely get sick these days. Sometimes I will run across a food that does not agree with me, but it's very rare and since I am not eating much of it, I never have to make a run for it. I also need to self talk about not going home after and feeling the need to indulge in more food since I didn't deprive myself. I know it's a little more self conscious of a feeling when you don't know the person you are with all that well. Your judging yourself, and wondering if they are judging you...but you know what I think it's important to just enjoy the moment. To be honest with yourself and the person you are with. If your not hungry you don't eat. You eat healthy and cautiously, and you enjoy the food that you choose to eat. I would be weary of not talking about it, lest people think you have an eating disorder. Of course you don't have to tell anyone it's a bariatric surgery at all ever if you choose not to. It's just your way of eating mindfully, for your health and well being end of story Then enjoy the wine and the company and the music or what ever you are doing. Sometimes I feel like I am so fixated on food...even more then I was before bariatric surgery.

You'll have a burger next year. I had a burger yesterday. No bun, topped with a small piece of cheese, onion, tomato and pickle. It was delicious! The best part? I was too full to eat anything else. You'll get there. I know it doesn't seem like it, but you'll be eating bariatric versions of normal food in no time.

I know the guy at GNC tried to talk me out of buying Quest bars there and said you can google a lot of recipes using Protein powder. I just did a quick search for recipe Protein Powder bar and found a lot of websites. You'll definitely have to look at the recipes and make sure they are bariatric friendly and not just packed with protein (low fat, low sugars, etc.) Here's one I found that point to a lot of other sites. http://bembu.com/homemade-protein-bars

My problem is, I am getting a revision from Lap band to RNY. My band needs to be removed to fix the hernia under it and the Surgeon suggested RNY because of my GERD. I live in Central Texas and I coulnt find anyone to take me. The surgeons where I work didn't want to mess with a past surgery not done by them, nor did any of the others in my general area. I didn't go back to my original surgeon because he kept giving me the run around and I think my insurance didnt cover him. They are strict about using surgeons with the Bariatric center of Excellence certification. Thanks DaronB. Im am going to the clinic tomorrow to pick up the Iron supplements they want me on. I have to take them 3 times daily. I asked about my labs done at the hospital, but no one told me. After my procedure, I was kind of out of it, so I forgot about it. I have had low iron since I was a teenager. I have taken different supplements but nothing makes then NORMAL. I agree that there was a big screw up all the way around. Even the nurse thought so too and apologized several times. Im thankful they discovered all this before doing surgery, its just upsetting to have waited this long just to be told No. Im hopeful things will work out next time.

I'm not telling my dad because I don't want to worry him. Of course after it's over and I'm dropping weight he will notice and I will tell him, but the surgery will be over by then and he won't have to worry. My kids know and my husband knows. My office knows because I had to fill out FMLA paperwork because I'm going to be off work for a week and the paperwork came back from the Bariatric Center, so of course everyone in my office knows. I don't need anyone's opinion.

I am 32 but got the same attitude when I went to my gastroenterologist & had to see an associate dr because mine wasn't available. This was a couple weeks ago & I have only been talking about getting the band- I haven't yet. The assoc dr looked at me like I was a lazy slob who wanted a quick fix. I tried to be polite & calm as she, who you could tell had never had weight issues, told me that it was something that young people really shouldn't expect to solve all our problems. She then continued to go on about how if I really made an effort I would see this wasn't necessary. It just takes discipline. She also remarked how after I had children I might feel different about playing russian roulette with my body. I was so floored at her attitude that I gave her my reasons, explained my issues & what I had done and remarked, 'actually, I've already had 1 child, my almost 2 yr old daughter. Being obese through a pregnancy was one of the scariest & worst experiences and I want to do everything I can to make my life and hers the healthiest possible.' She shut up a bit but obviously was not going to support this 'radical' bariatric intervention.. (whatever lady!) I made it clear to this dr that I knew I wasn't an expert and I would trust her opinion as well as others. If any of my drs didn't think it was a good idea for me, I'd likely not get it done. That being said, I wanted to see my regular gastroenterologist. I saw my reg gastroenterologist today & he was supportive & overwhelmingly agreed that surgery is the right decision for me. When I explained about his assoc's position & my last appt he acted shocked & disappointed. He didn't say, but I got the impression they would be having a quick chat about it. I'd definitely tell someone that you'd prefer not to work with that tech in the future. You have the right to request medical personnel you trust. As i'm pre-band too, I feel very emotionally fragile about having to defend this big decision and it sure can ruin your day having to deal with idiots like that.

The lapband is a tool that will help you control your portions but it doesn't keep you from eating the wrong foods. You sound like you have a good track record of being able to lose weight. If you are willing to follow a few basic rules, the lapband can help you keep the weight off. Talk to a bariatric surgeon. Initial consultations are usually free. Good luck! Bob

I'm sort-of, kinda new to Bariatric Pal and I have practically no friends on here. Wanna be friends? I haven't been on/in forums for a while, so I'm out of the loop on adding new friends, but please friend me if you'd like to keep in touch and stuff on here. Also, so I don't feel like the loser kid in the corner scuffing my feet (oh, hi, middle school!).

I think that the sleeve would work just fine for you since you probably only have 60-70 pounds to lose to place you into the normal range. If you already have acid reflux issues or Gerd, those issues can be agitated or worsened by getting sleeved, however, and many people undergo a 2nd surgery to convert to GB because of this. If that is the case, you might be better off with GB instead. Other than that, see below: Gastric Sleeve vs Gastric Bypass Comparison of the Bariatric Surgery Procedures Comparing the various methods of weight loss surgery can help you determine which surgical approach is the best option for you. As weight loss surgery is only a tool to assist with weight loss, what works best for one individual is not necessarily what will work best for another individual. The following chart is a side-by-side comparison of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), also called gastric sleeve surgery, and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. The information is intended as a general overview of these two types of weight loss surgery to help you quickly compare the similarities and differences of these procedures. Weight Loss Procedure Gastric Sleeve Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Approach to Weight Loss Restriction Limits food ingestion Controls hunger sensations Restriction & Malabsorption Limits food ingestion Reduces food absorption Changes to Stomach Stomach size reduced 75-80% of the stomach is cut away along the greater curvature and removed from the body Stomach size reduced and new stomach outlet (stoma) created Stomach is separated into two and stoma is created in the smaller upper pouch; lower remaining portion of the stomach is bypassed Changes to Small Intestine Kept intact Cut and rerouted Small intestine is cut in the middle; upper section is bypassed and lower section is attached to the stoma Changes to Pyloric Valve Kept intact Bypassed Average Operating Time 1 to 3 hours 2 hours Average Hospital Stay 2 to 3 days 2 to 3 days Average Time off Work 2 weeks 2 to 3 weeks Average Recovery Time 3 weeks 3 months Surgery Advantages Safer and less complex procedure Limits food ingestion Reduces hunger sensations by removing the portion of the stomach that produces Ghrelin, the hunger hormone Digestion occurs naturally and does not cause nutritional deficiencies resulting from intestinal bypass Does not cause Dumping syndrome as the pyloric valve is kept intact Few problematic foods Option for high-risk patients (very high BMI or medical issues such as anemia, Crohn?s disease, anti-inflammatory drug use, or extensive prior surgery) Greatly controls amount of food that can be eaten Malabsorption assists with weight loss Dumping syndrome prevents intake of sweets Considered gold standard for bariatric surgery based on long-term use and results Surgery Disadvantages General surgical risks including infection, bleeding, and blood clots Leakage along the stomach sutured/stapled edge Not reversible Lack of long-term data Considered investigational and not covered by some insurance companies General surgical risks including infection, bleeding, and blood clots Complex operation Leakage along the staple line of the stomach Stoma obstruction Nutritional deficiencies Gallstones, ulcers, reflux, and bowel obstruction Dumping syndrome Causes Dumping Syndrome No Yes Dietary Guidelines 600-800 calories per day, during weight loss period 1000-1200 calories per day for weight maintenance Meals should consist of high-protein, low-carbohydrate and low-fat foods Drink 6-8 cups of water or other low-calorie liquids per day 800 calories per day during weight loss period 1000-1200 calories per day for weight maintenance Meals should focus on protein-rich foods and nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables Drink 6-8 cups of water or other low-calorie liquids per day Chew foods thoroughly into a pureed consistency Eating Habits Eat five small healthy meals each day Do not eat and drink at same time Do not overeat, skip meals, or snack between meals Eat three small protein-rich meals each day Do not eat and drink at same time Chew foods into a pureed consistency Do not overeat, skip meals, or snack between meals Problematic Foods Not many problematic food as the stomach continues to function normally, but high-calorie and high-fat foods and drinks must be avoided and daily calories limited for weight loss to occur Foods that are dry, sticky, or fibrous can cause discomfort or blockage, including tough meat, bread, pasta, rice, raw vegetables, nuts, popcorn, and skins of fruits and vegetables, and chewing gum Sweets can cause Dumping syndrome Carbonated beverages can cause bloating High-calorie, high-sugar, high-fat foods and beverages will ruin weight loss efforts Nutritional Supplements Multivitamin Calcium Vitamin B12 Multivitamin Calcium Vitamin B12 Iron Average Weight Loss Studies show greater than 60% excess weight loss at 12 months after surgery and a maintained excess weight loss of 53-69% at 5 year follow-up.(1) Rapid weight loss during first 6 months Weight loss settles 18 to 24 months after surgery 70% excess weight loss at 1 year 60% excess weight loss at 5 years

Sorry, the chart doesn't show up well on mobile. A general outline of the advantages/disadvantages of each: VSG Advantages: Safer and less complex procedure; Limits food ingestion; reduces hunger sensations by removing the portion of the stomach that produces Ghrelin, the hunger hormone; digestion occurs naturally and does not cause nutritional deficiencies resulting from intestinal bypass; does not cause dumping syndrome as the pyloric valve is kept intact; few problematic foods; option for high-risk patients (very high BMI or medical issues such as anemia, Crohn's disease, anti-inflammatory drug use, or extensive prior surgery) VSG Disadvantages: General surgical risks including infection, bleeding, and blood clots; Leakage along the stomach sutured/stapled edge; Not reversible; Lack of long term data; considered investigational and not covered by some insurance companies. GBP Advantages: Greatly controls amount of food that can be eaten; malabsorption assists with weight loss; dumping syndrome prevents the intake of sweets; Considered the gold standard for bariatric surgery base on long-term use and results. GBP Disadvantages: General surgical risks including infection, bleeding and blood clots; complex operation; leakage along the staple line of the stomach; stoma obstruction; nutritional deficiencies; gallstones, ulcers, reflux and bowel obstruction; dumping syndrome.

And THAT is a great NSV, now isn't it? I know my bf is pleased with my renewed, how shall we say, vigor, for that particular activity!!

Read more about the program at http://www.mexicalibariatriccenter.com/ and http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/bariatric+surgeon+profile+Alberto+Aceves+lpc.html

I watched the Larry King interview last night and I listened to what she had to say and I have kind of hopped the fence and gone a little towards her side. First of all, she found out about the executive producers not renewing her contract from her husband through her agents and managers, not form Barbara or Bill. That was not cool to me...as closely as she had worked with Barbara Walters I thought she would have found out from her...I would have wanted it that way. Then, she knew about this since 04-21-06 and she was still a professional everyday and never let it be known that she wasn't renewed in her contract on air. And then I guess what drove her to finally crack and say something on Tuesday instead of Thursday like they planned was the way it was becoming a media circus outside her home and she didn't want it to be that way. Would you? She is an attorney, first and foremost and she knows that she can screw herself by going on national TV and lying...so why would she. And as far as her weightloss, everyone knows how personal it can be and yes she is a celebrity but she is still a person with feelings. So she didn't come out and say..."I had WLS!!!" But she did say that she had 'medical intervention' and anyone with a brain knows what that means. But at the end of the day, what does it really matter and who is it hurting. So what, she had it, she lost the weight and is probably healthier now than she was before and I hope that she can go on with her life and be 'healthy'...to me that is all that matters. All this other BS is just a bump in the road of being a celebrity. Everyone has their own opinion and this is mine. Agree or disagree. Life is too short to worry about what other people think, you pick up and move on and i think that is what she is trying to do.

Has anyone been following the upheaval on "The View?" It appears Star Jones/Reynolds is history and upstaged Barbara Walters by announcing her departure without warning. Star went to "People" magazine and told her version of the story forcing Barbara to make a public announcement on the show and deciding not to have Star return to work out the remainder of her contract. Barbara provided Star the opportunity to become a star and kept her employed for 9 years. Star's contract was not being renewed and ABC said Star could state whatever reason she wanted to for leaving and they would back her up. I think Star's actions were juvenile and a slap in the face to Barbara Walters. She might have been ticked and felt that Rosie O'Donnell was the causative factor in her contract not being renewed but she lacked grace in departing with dignity. OK, I know many of you will disagree with me but it's good to get different points of view... pun intended. LOL.

My name's Jessica. I was banded in 10/06 by the fabulous Dr Aviv Ben-Meir at St Vincent Charity Hospital Center for Bariatric Surgery in Cleveland, Ohio. I'm here for support...which I should've been looking for um, around the time i had surgery? But nobody ever said I did things in the right order, lol. I still have about 80 pounds to go, and i'm having problems staying motivated...

I personally like both Matrix and Nectars. My surgeon's office sells both so I would take that as an endorsement by them. I have read that the human body cannot digest more than a certain amount of Protein at a time. The numbers I have seen vary from 20-30 grams. What I recall is that most of the studies regarding the high protein at one meal was done for body builders. That having higher amounts of protein per meal did not result in better building om muscle mass. It seems to me that this has then been twisted into the thought that we cannot absorb/digest more than X grams of protein per meal. I have not been able to find legit research that has been done to document how much protein is too much protein per meal as it applies to normal everyday people not body builders and their goals. I certainly have not been able to find how it relates to bariatric patients. Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and may be way off base with what I am reading. If somebody has a link to research on how much protein is too much protein from a legit source I would love to read it.

DS, get real -- most people would be angry if a spouse became disabled. If I was the disable spouse, I'd be angry. If I was the healthy spouse, I'd be angry. All of their long-term plans are to the wind. They have financial crisis. Spouse #2 works all day, comes home and has to tend to children and now spouse #1 who chose elective surgery. What sort of saint-like humans are they supposed to be? There are no unicorns pooping rainbows in that household right now. @Thom I, too, have a disability -- a slowly progressive muscular dystrophy. I, too, am choosing bariatric surgery to lessen my long-term deterioration. I have a brother with the same condition as me who worked successfully for a 30-year career and now he's retired in his early 50s. I Can retired at any time, too -- I'm thinking about before my surgery. I have a cousin with the same inherited condition who didn't make good decisions, and has been on govt disability for a decade. When he moves to SS, his income will be in tatters. Its not an education thing -- I'm a PE, but both my brother and cousin never graduated college. One chose to work, the other looked for a way not to work . I would urge you to find a suitable job and contribute meaningfully to your family. You may think you are too nauseous to cook for your kids, but billions of women time immemorial have done this while nauseous and pregnant.

@@Smjnranrk Tell your nutritionist! If they don't work with your choice find a way. You should not have to compromise your principles. There are tons of vegetarians who've had Bariatric surgery. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I have the same issue with the bariatric advantage calcium chews. It's takes me forever to eat them, it's like a meal, and they upset my stomach. I have been looking on Amazon and barimelts has a calcium tablet that melts in your mouth and had good reviews. I am going to try that one.

Go on Pinterest and look up Bariatric puree recipes. Tons of ideas! I get to switch to purées on Tuesday (2 weeks out) and I can't wait. I'm gagging down shakes right now. I have yummy things planned. Scrambled eggs with feta. Chili. Refried Beans with chicken, cheese, and sour cream. Ricotta bake. Ground beef and ricotta in marinara. Tuna with mayo and pickles (no peel). I see so many people complaining about being sick of Soups and yogurt. Think outside the box, people!

Hi there & welcome! I had RNY bypass nearly 16 months ago. I chose to do it because I was diagnosed with stage 3 chronic kidney disease. I was already dealing with type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, very severe Gerd, psoriatic arthritis and severe osteoarthritis of the spine. My decision was initially about getting healthy. I chose bypass because it was the best solution for someone who has Gerd. The sleeve can make that worse and in many cases create it. Lap and was not even in my decision tree for the very same reason. I have lost 136lbs. I am about 8lbs from goal and am no longer overweight. For the first time since I was 19 I have a normal BMI. My diabetes, Gerd, high blood pressure, high cholesterol all gone with a month or two of surgery. My only regret is not doing this sooner, before I did so much damage to my spine and joints. I am 52 years young and have had 6 back surgeries and looking right in the face of 1 more. Don't wait, run as fast as you can to the nearest Bariatric center of excellence. Call your insurance company, they can tell which clinics are centers of excellence that are covered. They will also share with you the requirements. Be prepared for a period of supervised diets, most insurance companies require them. These surgeries cost a lot and you really only get one shot at it. They want to make sure you really are prepared to make changes in your life. Use whatever time your insurance company requires to start making changes now. It will help you be more successful down the road. Having this surgery is the best thing I ever did for myself. Don't wait!