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I have been there and you need to see the doctor who put your band in (if he or she is not available then another bariatric doctor). Nothing would stay down including my own saliva when my band slipped. I would drink Water and it would come up. I don't want to scare you but you need medical attention right away. You can get severely dehydrated because no water will stay down and that can be life threatening. My band slipped last July 2009 while I was on vacation in Kauai. My kayak turned over. I climbed back into the kayak. I thought I broke a rib but when I went to the emergency room and they did a Catscan and x-ray. I had trouble breathing and I couldn't eat or drink anything. I found out from the tests that my band slipped! Luckily, it happened at the end of my vacation. I came home and went straight to the ER near my home. I had my band taken out a few days later. They couldn't take Fluid from my band because it was twisted. I thought since I lost so much weight with my band that I could have it taken out and life would be fine. That is not how it worked. I wasn't done with my work with the band because I started GAINING WEIGHT! I had a new band put in last November 2009. I could see myself gaining my weight back and gaining more! I feel I am on track now with my new band and I am taking everything very slow including my fills. I have lost the weight I gained when I lost my band. I have the hope that I can lose more weight and keep the weight off that I fought so hard to lose. Good luck to you and please post again after you see your doctor and let me and others know how you are doing. Ellen

I went to what I thought was an appointment with a nutrionist at Kaiser and it turned out to be a seminar for Gastric Bypass surgery. About 1/2 way through thank goodness someone asked about the lapband. The nutrionist was very abrupt and said "Kaiser doesn't cover that surgery". Funny, 3 different people at Kaiser told me over the phone that they do. I switched my insurance for that reason. Their 200+ page handbook says that they cover bariatric surgery. To me that would cover quite a few different surgeries!!! Including Lap Band. Under exclusions, lap band is not mentioned. Now what?? This was 2 nights ago and I am still fuming! I guess it is time to start writing letters. Everyday if I have to. Wish me luck!!

Oh man, sorry to hear that. Hopefully one of your choices at open enrollment will cover bariatric surgery. One thing you could look into even with your current insurance is if they'll cover it if your doctor declares that it's medically necessary. In that case, they might have to. Many insurance companies don't cover it right off the bat because they still consider it cosmetic surgery. It might be worth it to give your insurance another call. Sent from my iPhone using VST

You may want to double check on the jump starting the 6 month diet - as it may require your 6 month diet to have started with the NEW insurance. I re-read my bariatric coverage on my insurance and it sounds like that would count as pre-existing, as in it was being done under the OLD plan - the new plan would not cover. Insurance is very tricky - so possibly contacting someone in your HR department may be able to help you out. Or, if you know what insurance companies will be a part of the new open enrollment - you can contact them. Where I work, we don't change that much - we always offer BCBS or UHC - but the plans themselves do change each year. best of luck to you

Please don't get me wrong..I'm THRILLED with the weight I have lost. It's just slower than I thought it would have been/the drs. expected it to be (patience is NOT my virtue! LOL). I see my Primary care dr this Friday and while he is very supportive, I doubt he will have much input past "you're doing great!" LOL snce he has limited knowledge of bariatric patients. My blood pressure is down and that was his (& my!) main concern. My thyroid has been checked and my Gen Practitioner keeps up with all my Vitamins for me. Everything is good thus far. I haven't seen a dietician other than the one I saw in Mexico before my surgery but I may if things keep going as they are. My issue is that there are NO gastric drs or anything similar in my area. I'll have to research drs 1-2 hours away and even then, Ill be paying out of pocket since it's Gastric related and my insurance won't cover it. UGH. I'm like you..even just 80 would be ok with me but I'm hoping/working towards more!

I would go with the Bariatric Advantage! I think I'm going to stick to those post op! I never thought I would ever like frozen portioned meals like those and I like the variety too! I might try those again down the road for dinner!

I was reading some information on stomaphyX procedure which is done through endoscopy....isn't that basically the same as VSG, though it is done to patients who have had RNY previously and stretched out the stomach? StomaphyX - Bariatric Revision for Gastric Bypass Surgery Would sure as heck be nice to have it done without incisions.

I am scheduled for July 14, 2015. Very excited, not really nervous at all. Had great online class with dietician regarding post op diet and two months out from surgery. Very detailed information which answered all my questions. Since I get tired of measuring, I ordered from Amazon a 2 cup glass drinking tumbler that has graduated increments on the glass itself. I also ordered a bariatric Protein recipe book that had a lot of 5 star ratings. Lastly, I ordered some plastic lidded containers that hold 2.5 ounces. I will use those as serving dishes so I again will not have to measure each and every item. I am fortunate that I am not employed during the summer months, so I have until fall to figure all this out.

My doctor put me on Bariatric Advantage.meal replacement shakes. I ordered the vanilla. They were fine, but I was unable to stomach it after surgery. Just to sweet and thick. I now drink unflavored protein powder in fat free milk. I love it and don't even want any flavors added to it. Boy, how my taste buds have changed.

I called and ask Kentucky Medicaid and Anthem who is my medicaid carrier. They are still covering Bariatric surgeries. Wellcare had decided not to carry it anymore but I don't know if that's still the case.

I am a few days from surgery and have the same worries. I love good food. I have eaten countless meals in exotic places in every corner of the world and hope to do it all again (in small bites). I could be a producer for Anthony Bourdain. If it wasnt' for the sleeve procedure I wouldn't have considered bariatric surgery. My wife had a bypass 10 years ago and I would not have opted for that will all the dumping and such. I am banking on the idea that this surgery will get me to a better place and help me maintain a new balance for the rest of my life. As for my preceding existance....It was a Hell of a ride. Every pound has a story. Time to turn the page. We are going to be OK

Patience has never been a virtue of mine. I'm already feeling a bit overwhelmed by this process. I'm starting to get the feeling that I'm doing the wrong things and that I'm wasting a lot of good money on all this medical stuff and I'll just have to start back at square one when I (hopefully, finally) get to a bariatric surgeon. So many, many steps. I just hope it's not all in vain. Guess I'm just feeling a little down lately. It's CRIMSON TIDE time, so I'm sure that has something to do with it. Also, my nut called and said she needed to reschedule my appointment. Now, instead of going the day after my bday, I'm going ON my actual bday. That should be fantastic. :\ First nut visit where I discuss all my bad habits and resolve to change them on the same day that I usually go out for an extravagant dinner and have drinks and cake. Awesome. I guess this is as good a time to start as any... wouldn't be able to indulge like that after being sleeved anyway! I'm too tired to do the perky, keep your head up thoughts afloat right now. Just gonna ride this out and see where it takes me. I'll try not to stay bummed out. *le sigh*

Help!! I need information on Bariatric surgeon's with Bon Secours in Richmond, VA. I am currently with a different doctor, at a different hospital and have lost confidence in his staff. There's been some staffing changes, and I'm really struggling with the new person/people. I have 4 months left in a year long program, have done everything on my checklist with the exception of my PCP sign-off and that's getting dropped off tomorrow for his signature. Because i'm over 1/2 way there, and these first 9 months flew, I'm now straight up panicking even considering switching surgeons. Does anyone have any experience with the surgeons and staff at Bon Secours - either St. Mary's or St. Francis (Bautista, Carmody, Lee, Karch). I spoke with the coordinator this afternoon (Hilarie) and I felt better after talking to her...I just have spent so many years knowing which doctor I would use at which hospital, I don't know ANYTHING about these guys. HELP!! Thanks in advance!!

?????? Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App I'm assuming that the poster feels that only people who have insurance OTHER than state-paid should have their bariatric surgery covered. I disagree with that opinion. Yep, I agree with you....it's a lot cheaper to address the root cause of their chronic health issues than to spend a lifetime (and fortune) treating the symptoms of diabetes, hypertension, strokes, etc., etc., etc. Not to mention it's a lot more humane. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Well, it's resolved for now. I've changed providers and thus doctors, aftering find a surgeon who accepts my insurance and then finding a doctor who is affiliated with the same insurance provider. It turns out that Monterey Park Hospital doesn't even support bariatric surgery, so Preferred IPA was making a requirement that could never be fulfilled in order for me to get surgery. I'll be making a formal complaint about that, as I can't be the only person who has been affected by this deliberate stonewalling. Hoping for a fruitful relationship with my new insurance provider.

Every once in a while, we get a bariatric brother or sister whose pre-op tests saved their lives. Count this as a blessing. When that issue is resolved or treated, you will be in a much better place for an uncomplicated recovery. I wish you the best. Hugs frrom Chicago.

Hi All, I was sleeved about 8 months ago and I was pretty active on VST in the 3 months leading up to my surgery until about a month or so after surgery and I've been pretty absent since then. There are a variety of reasons for this, including the fact that I am a grad student working on my Master's thesis and I don't have a lot of free time right now, but probably the biggest reason that I have been absent is because I hit a months-long stall from about 2 months post-surgery until the 7th month after surgery and I was feeling very much like a failure. I lost around 40 pounds within the first 2 months of surgery and then virtually nothing--well, maybe 3 pounds that I kept gaining and losing--for 5 months! I know that I am not the only person to have this type of experience and it seems logical to come to this forum for support, but I personally have this tendency to withdraw when I should reach out for support the most (and I suspect that others do too). I can only speak for myself, but I also didn't post for a while because I didn't want to come across as negative about the surgery and wind up discouraging anyone because I would definitely still choose to do this if I had it to do over again. For whatever reasons, I think that a lot of the people who are struggling don't post on here nearly as much as the success stories, so it gives a skewed view for both the newbies who are considering surgery and the veterans who feel like they are somehow failing at this. I know that when I was reading here pre-op, I definitely felt that losing quickly was the norm and slow losers were in the minority and mostly people who started out with a lower BMI. I think this forum is a wonderful resource and I'm not trying to scare anyone, but my number one advice to anyone considering surgery or anyone who has had surgery and feels like it's not working or that they've failed is to remember that this is not magic and to know that there may be a fair amount of work on your part (mentally, physically, and emotionally) beyond surgery to reach your goals. My number one wish for everyone, on the other hand, is that the pounds just fly off quickly with no stalls and that maintaining goal is a breeze, but I don't think that's terribly realistic. Anyway, I had gotten really discouraged because I felt like I had tried everything (exercise, more calories, fewer calories, more carbs, fewer carbs, more fluids, etc) but then I talked to someone I know in real life who has had the surgery and, although I'm convinced that her surgeon made her stomach really, really tiny - she's 4-5 years out and can still only eat very small amounts, like 3/4 of a hot dog w/o bun, based on our conversation I changed my diet to consume fewer calories but much more Protein and this seems to be working. I have lost 10 pounds in the past month and I have a renewed hopefulness that I can and will get to goal. Now that I'm not in the deepest part of despair, I have come to my senses that it is helpful to have support on this journey, so I'm reaching out to the VST community again. I'm also on MyFitnessPal with the same username if you care to add me. My school quarter starts tomorrow and I have to finish my MA thesis within 10 weeks, so I may still not be online very often until I'm done, but I will try to check in on both sites as much as possible. Best of luck and/or continued success to everyone!

Hi sunnylady98! I'm from Roanoke too! I sent you a private message a few weeks back? Who was your surgeon? I'm planning on getting the vsg surgery but am very interested in hearing about patients' experiences with the Roanoke Bariatric office. Congratulations!

The paper i got from my doctors only had bariatric and another brand like it. And also i can eat 0sugar popsicles and 0sugar Jello, and chicken broth (tasted it hated it) and tomato soup:/ I dont like any of these. (other than the popsicles and jello but i cant live off of that) and i paid 105 for my bariatric meals so i have no choice sadly:/

Whoooo Hooooo Renewed! That's something to celebrate!! I hope to be there soon!

Congrats luluc and Renewed! Those are some great NSV's!

Hello, everyone. My name is Nicole and I just found this forum website from a Google search. This is my first post, my introduction. I am 32 years old, I am a mom of three (12, 9, 7) and I am engaged to an amazing man. We live in Greensboro, NC. I had my RNY on July 30, 2007 and just this past week was the first I'd experienced any type of problems. I will get into that more here in a little bit. I had my RNY, as I stated above, in 2007, and I went into the surgery room weighing 257 lbs. My highest recorded weight was 315 lbs, and my lowest was 128 lbs. Right now I am hovering around 160 lbs. Since my RNY I have gone through a 12 year relationship/10 year marriage that was rather abusive, as well as a separation from that marriage, a new (and amazing) relationship, two moves (from PA to VA and then VA to NC), three knee surgeries, an emergency gall bladder removal surgery and just this past week an emergency perforated stomach ulcer surgery. Like I said above, this last week's incident was the first problem since having my surgery (aside from the occasional "dumping", vomiting, dehydration, etc.) and it was VERY scary. I was admitted to the local hospital, with what I thought was a heart attack because of the symptoms I was displaying, only to find that a ruptured ulcer produced a perforated stomach. I spent 7 days in the hospital, having gotten out just yesterday. My "pouch" was repaired, however I am back on the DYS 1 diet of pureed and soft foods, and I am being set up with a bariatric surgeon and his team (one that works with the surgeons who worked on my stomach last week) in the next 2 weeks because there is a good chance that I will have to have a revision done. I am on some medications right now, to continue the healing process, but the surgeons think that there is going to be no option other than the revision. Um, let's see ..... I truly have strayed from the "RNY way of life" with all of the craziness and stress that has gone on in my life, but after this past week I know that I have to get back in line. As I said above, in 2010 I had gotten down to 128 lbs (around a size 4) and while I really enjoyed it I just crept back up after the first knee surgery. It's going to be a while before I can get back into the gym, but that's my last worry right now. I just want to get better. I hope to meet a lot of nice people here, to offer advice and to get advice. Just because I'm 5 years post-op it doesn't mean I know it all, and I never claim to. I am posting two pictures along with this post - the first is my highest and lowest weights (2006 and then 2010) and then myself and my children, back in August, at my current size. I hope that everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving week and weekend. Nicole

Thank you for your supportive responses. Have you found any insight into my question regarding general "aging with the sleeve" or chronic malnutrition inquiries? The latter of which was brought to my attention by a therapist I saw recently to help out with this choice. However, although she practices counseling bariatric surgery clients her thoughts are totally rooted against WLS and she holds many erroneous beliefs; E.G. "One month after WLS the majority of patients will need to return to the OR to have their galbladders removed as surgery will place one at risk for stones." However, being obese and middle aged, I am presently at risk for gallstones. I assume this risk will actually decrease if I lose the weight. She also stated that due to chronic malnutrition my cognitive acuity would decrease (as in I will "get stupid"?). Needless to say I am shopping for a new therapist.

Hi Y'all! I'm Amy from Texas, I'm not yet banded but I have my first visit with a bariatric specialist on Januray 4th, 2007. So I have been out scouting around for a support system that looked fun and helpful... this place beats the rest I've seen. I will be going to Dr Richard Collier in Conroe. Al little about me... I am 35, a recently remarried mother of two bratty preteen kids (and I say that with love! hehehe no - really they are great, but don't tell them! ). I love creating art and craft projects, singing, dancing, raising ponies, cooking and baking. I am 5'1" and I am starting at about 238 lbs. I figure my goal is somewhere in the 125-130 lb. neighborhood maybe, as that is around where I was in college before all this weight started showing up. I was no skinny-minnie, but that size worked for me. But really my ACTUAL goal is simply to be able to ride my ponies again without being cited for pony abuse!:nervous I am really looking forward to having this procedure done so I can get on with my plans. I think I do have realistic goals for weightloss speed and the amount of effort it will actually take to use this tool. I know, Rome wasn't built in a day and neither was my butt! What I am hoping is that, with this tool, I will be able to remove food as an object of obsession and make it what it is supposed to be - a necessity. Trust me I DO know what I'm SUPPOSED to eat (wink), my problem has just been the "wanna" behind it and my T-Rex-like apetite! Hopefully, having physical restrictions put on my intake ability, I can refocus my head on what I need to eat and making the most of nutrition in that smaller stomach space! I look forward to meeting a lot of you on here, so you can help me through my wobbly times and cheer me when I am being a good girl! :clap2: Toodles! Amy

Take a deep breath and------------------THINK! You have to be committed enough, strong enough, informed enough and independent enough to travel your WLS journey ALONE to be truly secure in having a successful journey. When everything and every one around you collapses you only have yourself to rely upon. That/you should be enough to see you through to your new life style and healthier you. WLS is only part of the solution. The rest is up to your BRAIN. Start wrapping your head around that now. Many times a good bariatric therapist is the answer on just how to do that. You have to get any eating disorders/addictions under control and understood BEFORE surgery. And, NO, my friend. Food funerals are not bad. They are a meant to be a final farewell acknowledgement of your eating lifestyle that you are knowingly and gleefully leaving behind. FINAL farewell---just before you start your pre-op diet. ONCE done----not an excuse to binge every time you get stressed through out your 6month pre-op experience. You will have to learn different coping skills. Once again, a good bariatric friendly therapist can be a valuable asset for you. I had a food funeral. I will cherish the memories of that day for the rest of my life. My SO made it a very special event for me ---leaving me feeling much loved and much encouraged as I looked forward to my "new life". Don't let anyone talk you out of that experience. (MHO). Take time to be kind to yourself. Write down your "pros and cons" list of having WLS. Post the lists where you will see them everyday. Read them out loud to yourself. You will build up your self confidence to the level where no matter what ANYONE says, YOU will know that having WLS is the right move for YOU. I look forward to following your SUCCESSFUL and JOYFUL WLS.