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My Doctors office recommended them to me but let me tell you I had nothing but problems with Bariatric Advantage as a company. Their website says they get the product to you in 4 or 5 days. I ordered mine 2 weeks before surgery thinking I would have it by the time I was home from the hospital. With being busy and working and getting my house and family ready before I had surgery I didn't notice that It never came and when I called 2 days after coming home from the hospital the guy on the phone said "oh it just hasn't shipped yet" he wasn't sure of the problem but assured me he would make sure it was shipped out overnight so I could get it the next day.. The next day it doesn't show up so I call again and the same guy says "oh it shows it hasn't shipped yet" then tells me the same thing it will be shipped overnight. In the mean time I go to Walmart and buy some body fortress shakes that taste great and start with those.. I also had ordered a Multivitamin and calcium supplement from them so since I didn't have those I had to spend more money and go buy some from the Vitamin shoppe. My order with bariatric advantage was a total of 179$ which had already been taken out of my account. Plus another $45 for the Walmart shakes plus another $60 for the supplements from Vitamin Shoppe.. at this point I was furious.. The next day of course my order isn't there so I call again. The girl I talk to has no idea what is going on my shipment is still sitting in the warehouse. I ask to speak with a supervisor or someone who is in charge. He finally gets on the line and assures me he is shipping my package out and I will have it the next day. I ask him to give me the tracking number and he does. So as I am tracking the package the next day to see where it is I realize it IS STILL AT THE WAREHOUSE!!!!! It was never picked up. I call back and cancel my order. 2 days later my shipment arrives! After I had cancelled it. So I had to ship it back in order to get my refund. Which took 3 weeks! I called my Doctors office to let them know the issues I was having since they recommended it. The nurse who I spoke with said she had talked to another patient who was having the same problem a few days ago with the same company. Needless to say I will NEVER use their products and they will not get any of my money. I guess I should add everyone has had their own experiences and I'm sure some people have been very pleased with their products and services from this company. I just wanted to share my own. Look at reviews in more than one place and do your own research about their products I found some great things at different stores and online. That are not so expensive but of the same quality. I even found these awesome dark chocolate medallions like a little piece of chocolate but with calcium citrate 500 mg!! they are awesome I take them 3 times a day and it is like a little treat they are low in carbs and sugar and taste fantastic!

wow - I appreciate that you didn't blast me, but those ideas are part of a program from a very successful Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence program - I guess ymmv. For you, maybe the ideas don't work. And we have to be very careful treating the band as a 'limiter'...it WON'T keep us from eating too much...we can shovel just as much food down our pipes as we did before if we want to...it won't stay down, and will cause plenty of problems over time. also, if you eat the wrong kind of foods, it won't limit you at all. So - we DO have to change what we eat, how we eat, and how much we eat in order to be successful. I was just trying to share ideas from the program I'm in...maybe I'm too new here to be allowed to do that.

Drop out, how is it going? And who is your Primary physician? Mine is in Claremont and I just finally got assigned to her. I am going to approach her about Bariatric next visit... any advice?

After my doctor appointment the other day where I chose my date, I met with a rep from Bariatric Advantage. It was good because I got to try everything. However, I almost feel like I might be being taken by a salesman. Of course, his products were the best and no others compared nutritional wise. However, I detested his Meal Replacement Protein powder for the preop diet. When I tried to talk about other options like powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury and the likes, he just wasn't having it because they aren't Meal Replacements with all the Vitamins and minerals. After surgery, I could use those but prior to surgery he was insistent I needed meal replacement shakes. Also, his vitamins were specifically made for pre and post Bariatric surgery and, in his opinion, there just wasn't anything else out there comparable. I understands he is a salesman, but geeze, his stuff wasn't cheap. The preop shakes, bars and "chips" is $180.00. The one month postop is $129.00 and the vitamins (multi, Calcium, b-12 , and d) will run me a little over $100.00 every 3 months. I don't have a problem spending money for my health. I do have issues with spending more than necessary just to have Bariatric specific stuff and for their protein meal replacements I detest just because the salesman's opinion is that his stuff is the best and because he feels I need meal replacements (instead of just protein shakes) during my preop. I'm not sure exactly what I'm looking for here. Maybe, to know what y'all are using and your thoughts of using bariatric specific products. Thanks in advance for your thoughts and opinions. ~Amy

As you begin the process of weight loss by changing what you eat, you’ll quickly feel better (and lighter). For example, look at the difference in what you now purchase at the grocery store since your operation--you see much more ‘real food’ and far fewer pre-packaged items in the grocery cart now, that's for sure. But fruits, vegetables, protein drinks and lean cuts of meat cost more than pre-packaged junk food, which can be attributed to one of the reasons some lower income people lose the battle with obesity. Since you’ve made a decision to change your life, including what you eat, you’re going to be buying several of these healthier options in bulk, as they will serve as the new staples in your nutrition plan. Your dietitian and bariatric support team will prescribe some foods and drinks that you will consume just about every day so it makes sense to buy these items in volume. I love Facebook. It’s a way I can stay in touch with my patients (and their families) here in New Jersey between office visits and once they are on maintenance after reaching goal weight. I recently posted a query asking my post-op patients what healthy staple items they buy from the big warehouse stores—BJ’s, Costco, Sam’s Club--and I received many helpful responses that I’d like to share with you. Armed with these terrific recommendations below, you’ll eat healthier, save time, money and require fewer trips to the grocery store during your weight loss journey. “What "go-to" items do you purchase from warehouse stores since weight loss surgery?” · Premier protein shakes · Protein bars · Sam’s chicken sausage with mozzarella · Muscle Milk · Liter bottles of water · Optimum Nutrition protein powders · Frozen Mahi Mahi filets · Cranberry almond chicken salad in 4 oz. cups. · Chicken breasts and ground turkey · Baby Bell light cheese · Frozen veggies · Veggie burgers · Salmon fillets · Fresh spinach · Probiotic 10 and Fiber Gummies · Ready-to-eat veggie tray · Gold Standard Whey, Kirkland Fiber Caps, Opti-Fiber, Kirkland Calcium Citrate · Mini cucumbers · Bagged chopped kale salad · Kirkland plain Greek yogurt · Kirkland citrus green tea, Crystal Light · Figgy Pops, Healthy Choice fudge bars · Quinoa · Chia seeds If you are a member of these clubs, take an hour or two and really peruse the aisles in search of healthy products that support your nutrition plan. Keep in mind, many food items can be frozen and thawed when you need it to avoid spoilage. Ask your IWL dietitian for more ideas or bring in a sample of a food or drink you’re not sure of (take a screen shot of the nutrition label before you buy it). If you’d like to friend me on Facebook, I can be found here.

hey Karey! I wasn't really happy to hear about the inner thigh lift but it was not the first time he has mentioned it. A number of years ago I had lipo on my lower body and it did more damage than good, especially on my thighs. The skin is VERY loose but I had hoped with the LBL it would get them to a point where I'd be happy... and maybe it will, I have to learn PATIENCE! *I have none!* The main questions I asked the surgeons I interviewed were about lap band experience. Because it is 'newer' I was really worried about the port being damaged. I asked my surgeon about his experience with post-bariatric patients, I asked how many lapband patients he had worked on. I asked if he would move my port and if he knew how to suture it back down so it was accessible for future ajustments. I asked if he thought a lower body lift was my best option and asked for other recommendations. I told him exactly what I wanted and asked for his honest opinion to make sure I had realistic expectations (I am learning that even with that I was still expecting much more I also asked him to show me what my results would look like. He was able to pull and pinch areas to show me what my midsection would look like aswell as thigh/butt (I swear it is flatter now but that is a whole other bitterness;) ) I also asked about recovery time, how much time I would need off of work/gym etc. I met with my surgeon several times before I committed and I think I beat every one of these questions to death along with random others that came alone but I am neurotic!

Its a problem to have a non medical licensed person practicing medicine. You need to do what you have to do to get surgery done, be smart and consult your pcp, get a bariatric nutritionist, know you and how you react. This is the beginning of our reinvented healthcare. Be Cautious and be aware. Protect you. You have come along way to change now... Always make a call or appointment if you dont get info you need.

You still have to take supplements with VSG. 90% of gastrectomy patients will develop deficiencies without proper vitamin/mineral supplements. In general, a good Multivitamin, extra Vitamin D, calcium, Iron and sublingual or injectable B12 (we can no longer absorb B12 after VSG). You should be getting bloodwork done at least annually and adjust your vitamin regimen accordingly. The most prevalent vitamin deficiency I've seen in the scientific literature is Vitamin D. Somewhere in the order of 80% of patients are vitamin D deficient following surgery. Vitamin D deficiency is also common in populations who haven't had any kind of bariatric surgery, so it's not totally clear what percentage of deficiency can be attributed directly to the procedure. As far as vitamin B deficiency, in order to absorb vitamin b complex, you must have Intrinsic Factor, which is produced in the stomach. VSG removes some of the ability to produce IF and thus absorb some b vitamin, but not all. RNY bypasses totally the part of the stomach that creates IF, hence the absolute necessity to supplement. Studies show that typically less than 20% of VSG patients will develop vitamin B deficiency. Iron and folate deficiency present in relatively small numbers as well, compared to RNY. Metformin appears to aggravate vitamin B deficiency. The key is getting blood work, as there's no one size fits all solution. I liked my odds better with the VSG, and i already take a pretty broad range of supplements. I am currently taking b12 injections because I'm not able to introduce a wider range of meats back into my diet for a few more weeks.

Don't beat yourself up. Obesity is a multi factorial disease. It is caused by many things. Eating habits, activity level, genetics, gut microbes, hormones and who knows what else. The medical community can't even tell us exactly why weight loss surgery works. We just know that it is the most effective treatment that we have at the moment. Everyone is different. Don't compare yourself with anyone else. I also believe that stress is a big contributor as it affects our hormones and our genes. I still see my bariatric nutritionist at 20 months out and have no plans to stop because we have to be diligent and do everything we can to fight this disease. If you have access to one, I would highly recommend doing that because you are right, there is so much misinformation and information that does not pertain to us out there. Time and time again I have found her information to be spot on. She reels me in back to nutrition and away from the confusion. Also, I have said it before and I still believe that if we get to a point where we feel like we are loosing control, reaching out for psychological help is a good thing. It can't hurt and I've seen many people who said they were so glad they did. You can do this.

Gummy vitamins have a sugar base, so ⬆raises your carbs, supposedly not assimilated smoothly, most put you on chewables, I guess if you're like me , wearing dentures , and can't chew,the concrete critters, you can crush them, you can then,put them in sugar free pudding, unsweetened applesauce or sugar free cool whip, and spoon with your little baby spoon those suckers in, and most chewable vitamins taste atrocious. That's why you look for one that tastes least obnoxious. Look for reviews from others on here, I think As part of their training bariatric surgeons should taste the things they tell others to ingest. Most never have, and need to be brought down a peg or two. Just Saying!😏

I'm sorry you are feeling out of control with your weight. Set up an appointment with your surgeons office. Get their opinion if you have stretched your stomach. They can help you get back on track. Another option to consider is counseling/therapy. It will help address your mindset with weight loss. Food choices and grazing will cause significant weight gain. Grazing is the consistent, day-long consumption of low value food items, in other words: snacking. For example, mindlessly finishing your child’s breakfast cereal, stopping at mcdonalds, popping two donut holes into your mouth at the office, eating a protein bar mid-afternoon and a strawberry Greek yogurt with granola at night. The best way to address grazing after bariatric surgery is to employ preventive measures prior to the onset. That said, many patients will not succeed preemptively and must therefore deal with the problem of grazing only after it presents. Should you find yourself in the habit of grazing after bariatric surgery, the obvious resolution is to break the habit. This is no doubt easier said than done, but consider all that you have achieved to this point. The first step is to ask for help. It is unlikely that you can resolve your maladaptive eating alone. So simply ask for the help. Use your support network and those professionals who are currently among your inner circle. Begin to monitor yourself closely. Write down or log your food in MYFITNESSPAL all that you eat or drink for a period of three days or so, and then compare your notes with the nutrition plan from your bariatric surgeon’s office to note how much they do or do not correlate. Learn the different types of hunger, specifically head, eating out of boredom and physical hunger. In addition, cut out all junk food. Sit when you eat, and mindfully enjoy the meal. Eat meals that contain protein and fiber in the form of fresh and lightly cooked or raw fruits and vegetables because they make you feel full. Drink plenty of water over the course of the day except at meal time. WIshing you the best, Jenn

Hang in there!! I had an endoscopy done by a non bariatric doc and she couldn't even find the band!! I flipped out and called the surgeon..he started laughing!! (I had been in the hospital for 5 days already) So he came in to see me the next morning and looked at the pictures and showed me exactly where everything was..our pouch is SOOOOOOO little that non bariatric doctors look "right past" it and say it isn't there. None of the other drs could figure out what was wrong with me so he signed my discharge papers and out the door I went! 6 weeks later we figured out it was extremely low potassium. My surgeon also told me to never again have an endoscopy done by any dr that wasn't a bariatric doctor..they could damage the band. I hope your results come out good!!! You will be in my prayers!!

This is a good article. Due to a family history of polyps I need to have a colonoscopy every 3 years. After my sleeve, I was scared of doing the prep stuff so i called my surgeon's office to ask about it. I found out, low and beyold, they do GI surgery and they do colonoscopies! I had so much peace of mind going back to my trusted Bariatric surgical practice for that!

My physician is Dr Ruby Gatschet with Northern California Bariatric and Metabolic Institute

@@Ryan TN Tennova Turkey Creek (unless things have changed very recently). They used to be at Parkwest but moved their practice and hospital center to Tennova a couple of years ago. They take great care of you there -- the whole fourth floor is for bariatric surgery patients.

Pre-op it was Optifast, and I could only get them either from my surgeon or from the Bariatric Clinic Office at HRH (I got mine from my surgeon). POST-op I used Isopure Dutch Chocolate (powder) exclusively...i found this was the least sweet of all the powders I tried. I blended it up with water, ice, a tsp of decaf instant coffee crystals and 2 tsps of Benefibre. In the mornings I may add a capful of Miralax if I was backed up (which happened often!). I also had some Isopure Unflavoured to add to food. I got these online from https://www.bodybuilding.com/en-CA/index , found this to be cheapest, even with the conversion and shipping costs. The giant tub (with the handle) is the best value. But maybe try a sample first before you commit to such a large amount (my husband drinks it too, so it was worth it for us). My surgeon was XXXX. Had 7 follow ups with him (1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 1 year). Again very uneventful. In and out really (I did not have any complications nor issues with weight loss). He's great. It was kind of a downer to have to go so far for so short an appt (I'm in north T.O., he's at Sheppard West), and his office was always very busy, so I often had to wait past my scheduled appt time to see him. Not really a big deal, but worth noting. There is no plan to see him again, but I was told to give them a call if I ever find the need to (I haven't). Edited to add: I put my surgeons name, but just removed it. Figure maybe I should DM you this info instead, lol...I sent it to your mailbox. Edit to add, part deux: I should mention that there are also (separate) follow ups with the clinic at HRH (1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years). My next scheduled appt will be next year at my 3 yr anniversary...i actually have no idea how long these will go for. I see the Nurse and the Dietician at these follow ups. I get my labs done, then they adjust vitamin regimen if needed, as well advise me on my reported eating. Personally, I don't get anything out of these follow-ups in terms of dietary advice that I don't already know. But getting my labs done is good. Also it sucks to have to drive all the way there and pay $25 for parking.

Hey guys, I go in and meet with my surgeon again on March 31 for my pre-op appointment. On April 4 I will begin my 10 day liquid diet, and the surgery is scheduled for April 14. I know that, with time, I will have this, and other, questions answered by my surgical team. However, at this point, a million things are going through my mind. My main question is, how much time did you guys take off of work? At one of the surgery meetings I had at the bariatric center, we were told that it would require 2 - 3 weeks off of work but for more sedentary positions (such as my job) it is possible to return to work after as little as one week but it all depends on the surgeon and his decision. I know that everyone's post op experiences are different so that also plays a role. My surgery falls on a Thursday and, when I requesting time off, I told my boss that I would plan to be back sometime during the middle of the following week but it could change, and if it did I would let them know. So, the question is, how long did you guys have to take off, especially those of you with desk jobs? Thanks for the input!

I'm not sure how long it has been since your surgery. The challenge I found in the first couple of months when going out to dinner was getting enough protein with very limited capacity. As a result, I brought along my own protein when I traveled (powdered shakes) and had them in the hotel before going out to eat. I would then have just a small appetiser or something to drink at the restaurant while others were eating. You could do the same at family events, although I realize that's easier easier said than done. In my case, family and friends kept insisting I eat things because they were low-calorie, without understanding my need to prioritize protein and not fill up on other foods. It can be quite challenging to keep telling insistent relatives that you really don't want to eat more. For the road, there are some wonderful snacks in the Bariatric Pal store than you can bring along. None of this is ideal, but it's worth the effort!

I am looking for someone in the Quad Cities IA/IL either side or surrounding area. I am going through Genesis Center for Bariatric Surgery, I would love to be able to talk to someone who is or has gone here. Hope to hear form someone! Thank you! Amy

So you do the bariatric twice a day and the regular women’s multi once a day at the same time at the bariatric? I noticed it has the calcium in it so I’m guessing we can’t use it until a month post op

Bariatric Advantage has a one a day which I started taking because the chewable made me nauseous. The size is ok about the size of one antibiotic capsule or slightly larger. It does not bother me and there is minimal after taste. The first few days it made me burp but then went away. I found taking them 10 minutes after eating helps keeping them down.

I'm hoping one of the Bariatric pal vets will chime in

HI... I'm new here too. My journey started last January when I first talked to my GP about getting a referral to the bariatric program at our local hospital (things work a little differently here in Canada), and my doc was so excited that I asked about it I thought he was going to fall out of his chair. It took a few months to get into the program, but now I have appointments once a month with different people (my nurse, my surgeon, nutritionist, mental health, etc). I know there are a lot of hoops to jump through ... just had my gastroscopy last week. All good! ... but I'm hoping that I'll get a surgery date sometime in the spring or summer. I have a wonderfully supportive husband and 2 great kids (7 & 5). Most of my friends and family are supportive, but some have accused me of 'taking the easy way out' (haha... as if). I'm looking forward to getting to know people on here, and following their stories.

Because our hair grows in cycles, my dietician instructed us to start taking our Bariatric vitamins and biotin now. And to make sure we get in our daily required protein!!! Hopefully, this will help prevent hair loss post op.