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ahh good luck everyone, my path totally changed with my new bariatric group. I wont be joining the September team. Perhaps, I will be a December snowboarder or a January change your life high roller... No matter what the insurance protocols are, my doctor demands a 6 month weight in. Thus far I have 2 months under my belt. I wont be able to have my final surgery date until November, than I have to have labs done 30 days prior to surgery. I must say, I was disappointing at first but the group at Lenox Hill (NYC) hospital offers a lot of support and state that they do not want to see patients fail. I didn't have this support with my last surgery, need all the help i can get. Also I am scheduled for a host of new exams my 2nd surgeon didn't care for. Also I had to sign a document re: you will not receive a surgery date until all preop is completed! lol To do list: Pulmonary test--Friday, August 23, 2019 1:15 PM EDT Sleep Apnea consultation-Wednesday, July 24, 2019 1:15 PM Upper GI ----- August 26th 8am Nutritional class August 13th 1130am Nutritional one on one August 21st 1pm Completed testing: Abdominal ultrasound, psych clearance, endoscopy, echogram, PCP clearance and initial Blood work,

Endoscopy is a pre-op requirement for bariatric surgery. Sometimes they word thins strange. My patient portal lists an endoscopy as surgery. Insurance tends to word things rather odd as well, and I have never heard of gastric bypass done by endoscopy, only laparoscopically. The only procedure performed by endoscopy is minor stitching, balloon dilation, but never full on surgery. I had laparoscopy RNY, Six incisions plus the drain. I also needed my gallbladder removed. Low functioning Hida scan and turned out to be chronic inflammation. I don’t think any doctor would do open surgery unless in an emergency.

All good responses above. I had the same reaction after visiting some bariatric forums. It’s normal to worry and stress over surgery procedures. There are risks with ANY type of surgery. Talk to your surgeon about the statistics for complications. Know that your team will take good care of you. Your pain will be managed with medication. I’m five years out. No complications.

Awesomely. I lost a little over 5lbs last week and felt amazing. I am essentially sticking to my modified diet indefinitely. I am actually getting MORE protein now than I did before because I brought back the dreaded protein shakes (which actually taste fine, lol). I still enjoy a "regular" bariatric diet on the weekends, but for the most part I am sticking to this new thing I have going on during the work week. I definitely feel full so much quicker - even cottage cheese is difficult to eat at a full 8oz like I was before.

I used soups and chilis quite a bit after my RNY gastric bypass surgery. I fortified them with protein and that allowed me to quickly reduce my reliance on protein shakes. I put some of the recipes at the end of the following article. How 
I
 Survived
 Bariatric 
Surgery


Most of us will say we only wish that we had done this surgery sooner. A year ago at this time I could not have imagined doing this. It had a nasty stigma attached to it and a feeling of failure. I met with a regular dietician at the same time as my bariatric consultation. I knew I needed help as I never felt satisfied. I am only 2.5 months out but the restriction you get is really everything it is advertised to be. I had major problems with portion control but now I get that physical reminder and there is just no need to keep going after that. I wish I did this sooner I just didnt want to admit that I needed help. This community has been very helpful during my journey.

I know they have "Sipping Broths" and I bet most of these things at the Bariatric Pal Store. Reasonable prices, great shipping time frame, and all things formulated from our Bariatric Viewpoint. Why enrich Jeff Bezos and his ever- expanding spider of Amazon? And I will tell you, I have been VERY SATISFIED with my BPStore purchases. Planning to redeem some more of the points I have accrued in the Near Future. I get even better delivery time than many things in my Home State(Ohio) and They are in New York!👍😛❤

And although you and I don't always agree, YOU ARE AN ASSET TO BARIATRIC PAL, and your advice tends to Be Spot On. Sometimes it pinches but , hey you're a Truth Teller, and it just maybe was WHAT I needed to👂 Hear!

And I like the veggie broth ftrom W-M as. wrll, use it , coconut and almond. soupbases also I have grown tired of commercial soups. But if you're not, CampbellYES brand butternut squash, Progresso Light, I either Strain out the solids or blenderize them to a smooth consistency. And remember take anything in small anmounts, take them in , but wait between bites, lay your utensil (spoon of fork) down between bites. One of the hardest things for me to learn, its okay to throw things away when you stomach says " No More", although I was a small-town girl type I was raised " country" And we cook lot at a time and aren't naturally wasteful. But Precious Pouch can be a Wicked Strong- willed Emitters of my Life, since my surgeon and I invited her to become the Center of My World, I deal with it Odd isn't it, I use to be Foods Slave, now I am in slavery to an egg- shaped piece of gastric flesh. But most days the positives outweigh the sorrows and miscues I have encountered. Wonderful weigh- tloss, my son , my dietician , and main doctors say I LOOK Good, certainly don't resemble the obese for Years Frustr8, don't know who I shall resemble at the Finish, for I am, at 10 months, still A WORK IN PROGRESS. Dug out snapshots of ME at a comparable weight and that was maybe 1966- 1967, before I married the Late Lamented, my husband of 44 years and the father of my kids, and NO I DO NOT LOOK LIKE HER EITHER! She was a Youthful Chickee- Baby, now I think I LOOK, like RoaD Kill. but Tomkitten,my PCP Dr Carroll, my orthopaedic Dr Doolittle and even my Dietician Roy at Ohio State, they as an Unit tell Me You are doing Fine, looking GOOD, within Okay ,preeminently reaching my Goals at acceptable times, except I am basically on Stage 2 and pureed because I had pouch stricture, jejunal ulcerations, the things that seldom happen to a FINE UPSTANDING SPECIMEN like myself. But day by day I inch to closer to a Final Victory, am an Optimist that ALL will heal, I will come to the terms legally I am a Success with an Elective Proceedure, even at moments that I DONT FEEL SO emotionally, I have taken all my meds, vitamins, minerals, got Q.S. of liquids. So stop beating myself up and realize I am BLESSED. ¬ that much of a MESS. I am down 170 or so pounds from my High Weight, have dropped 130 pounds from Surgery Weight, a wonderous achievement for someone 72 at surgery, now I am 73, in an 18-19 after starting as a 28-30 plump woman size,havi,g to buy Mens Sweats because THAT was what fit over All of Me, not really into Cross-Dressing but one does what one does to keep my body covered. And I was ashamed but felt powerless to affect a change. So IN MANY MANY WAYS my RNY Bariatric surgery saved my life,improved it and I have now a chance at a FUTURE. What will my final chapter of my Journey read like? Even I don't know, but I came" In It to Win It" and came too far to attempt aborting what I HAVE GAINED, no matter how my body feels or acts its been QUITE A 10 1/2 Months, and I am still a Big Lady, but This formerly Fat Lady will sing a HAPPT SONG at the end. This is MY PROMISE and I ALWAYS KEEP MY WORD!😝👍

People rave about the protein soups available here in the Bariatric Pal store! You should check them out. They have quite a variety! I personally didn't get jazzy with soups on the pre-op phase cuz I was supposed to only have broth. So I got bone broth and Central Market HEB low sodium organic chicken and beef broth. I also love the HerbOx Chicken or Beef Bouillon packets that come in a box. They are no sodium but aren't boring and I think are only 10cals. For post op, I would add unflavored protein powder to any broth or cream soup while it was room temp. The protein powder mixes better and without clumps that way. Then I would thin it down with more broth or with Fairlife Milk fat free. And slowly slowly slowly warm in the microwave. If you exceed 140 degrees F, then the protein will coagulate. It's still edible, but you would need to throw it through your Ninja or blender to get rid of the clumps. Good luck and congrats on your coming surgery!

https://labblog.uofmhealth.org/body-work/new-endoscopic-procedures-offer-alternative-to-bariatric-surgery This is all I could find on this procedure. I'd never heard of it.

Congratulations on your progress so far. I like your attitude. I had no issues either and I'm 9 months out. I just did what I was told to do and didn't' worry if I had an occasional day where I may have been a little low on protein or fluid. I figured if I was doing my best that's all I could ask. I didn't compare my weightloss to anyone else. I thought I would reach my doctor's goal in 6 months but I didn't. It took me 8 1/2. No big deal, time is going to pass anyway and it will happen when it happens! I stay away from the stuff that got me to the bariatric service in the first place! Sugar and junk food. After a while it becomes easy to say, "Yes, that looks delicious, but no, I don't want 'just a taste'."

Just continue following the instructions your bariatric team gave you and it will happen. My hair loss started at about 5 months and continued for about 3 months. Luckily, I had a lot of hair to start with.

I have always assumed, ok..in the last few weeks when I changed dr's and the new one said that I could indeed have a gastric bypass and that based on the weight I need to lose, etc. it would be the best best - especially as my insurance is a "one and done" (i.e. you only get 1 bariatric surgery..EVER)....I assumed the RNY would be done via laparoscopy? Hopefully the days of "open" RNY's, etc. are a thing of the past. However, I just got my "official copy" of my insurance approval and it says "Gastric Bypass by Endoscopy" What the heck? Is this a normal part of RNY - do they go down your..um...esophagus and also do little incisions on your abdomen? I've been so heavily sleeve focused for past 3 yrs, I feel like I've missed something crucial..or I just don't understand. Why am I drawing a blank on this?? It's just made me....pause (not changing mind - still having surgery on 7/25)...and try to 'catch up' on just what is going to happen "now". I mean, I've watched videos, TV shows, etc. but so far I've seen the use of robotics/laparoscopy or just laparoscopy. Maybe I wasn't paying attention enough or missed that part of the show?

Maintenance is a total head game! We are so good at the weight loss and watching that # go down is so motivating! I had a tough time switching from bariatric eating mode to something I could live with long term. At first as u add in some carbs and calories u may feel guilty or terrified of piling on pounds. Guess what? You won’t. I kept losing for awhile as I tried to find that sweet spot where I could maintain. I had to get to an average of 1500-1600 calories to maintain. Amazingly that’s what the charts said I’d need for my age, weight and height. Now I had thought I’d need to put on 10lbs or so and just couldn’t imagine my body would like hanging out at 121lbs but it seems to like that # for now! 3weeks in a row! Don’t stress too much and add in 100-200 extra calories a day each week till u find what works. Stick with healthy, lower carb foods but let those carb levels go up some...u won’t magically regain all your weight doing so. I still track my food because left to my own devices I would be perfectly content eating 800 cal a day which would be unhealthy. It actually feels like I eat all day long and that’s weird but I sure don’t feel deprived.

I met with my GP, here in Canada, yesterday. I told her what I had planned. I am having the surgery in Mexico. My original gastric band was self pay in Sweden. My gastric bypass was covered by Insurance when I lived and worked in Washington State. Now, I am back, retired in Canada. I would not qualify here, because I really am healthy at this time. Fortunately for me, my Dr. is from Colorado and had many patients in the US who had bariatric surgery. She is supportive, but is performing more tests today. This year, I have had endoscopy, abdominal ultrasound, and bone scans. No problems found. My mineral levels are good now, after a lot of work so I feel good to go. She is wondering why I have a fatty liver and is just giving me a diabetes test to see if I am diabetic or insulin resistant. She gave me copies of all my tests for the surgeon in Mexico. My surgeon said he has done 200 revisions, including redo of the RNY. I am nervous, of course. I do not have kids, pets or plants so if I have problems..... no one dependent on me so that helps me handle the risk. Plus, I have a winter home near where the procedure is taking place, so I can hang around for a month in case there are any problems. Honestly, the struggle with weight has been life long, like so many of us. I work so hard, in the gym, walking, and I am so careful what I eat. I do not even have sugar in my house and have not for years. I do not eat any junk food, soda, frappes. Once or twice a year I binge on a pint of ice cream. I drink wine. I track calories. It takes years and years of dedication to lose 30 pounds and then: BAM One bad winter and all 30 are back. I just can not do this yo-yo anymore. So I will take the risk. My last four months have been about portion control and counseling to find ways to stop the evening eating (where all my extra calories come from). So.... that is also a big reason why I am taking the risk. I need help. Yes, I can lose it again with dedication, but will I keep it off? I need help......and now...…. I am mature and disciplined enough to do this correctly. Thanks for all the interest and I will keep you up to date. Pre Surgical diet begins in 4 days. I will post from the hospital and will appreciate the support.

Morning team! Going in for my endoscopy today. Ahhh finally wanting to know if my pouch stretched which I am sure it has! It’s been 11 years since my last Bariatric surgery. Also suffer from bad heartburn. I’ll keep y’all posted once I have my results. Spoke to the patient coordinator yesterday, my echogram results have not yet been reviewed. Ahhh. Hopefully it is done this week.

After reading your post, I dug through my closet and found my wedding dress. My husband and I escaped to Maui to get married in 1997. We have both been married before, and both wanted to do it up "right" this time. We told no one, except my 3 sons who love their step daddy to death. So, we fled to the islands for a weddimoon. I want to fit into my wedding dress and renew our vows in the Tropical Gardens on Maui, on May 2, 2022. Our 25th anniversary. I also found the one piece swim suit I wore when we were there as well. I would like to fit in it and go snorkeling and diving, just like in 1997. I'm glad I hung onto my beautiful dress now. So many times I have looked at it just hanging there and thinking "why do I keep that! I'll never get back into it." Now, I'm thrilled I did. Thank you.

Yes in October 2018. Restriction is holding out well so far (though not as restrictive as it was) and I rarely feel hungry. Like all bariatric procedures its a tool and it works well if we work it well. Compliance of post op diet guidelines particularly volume of food is important to ensure the sutures/anchor points/stomach melding/scarring heals properly to ensure the accordion effect is durable and as long term as possible. I am a member of a some esg facebook groups and some people haven't had success in different ways. Some feel they haven't lost as much weight or lose weight as fast as VSG or RNY - which is to be expected as the ESG doesn't reduce the volume of the stomach as much as the VSG and there certainly isn't any bypass. Others possibly through overeating and/or not following the post op diet guidelines in the first couple of months have lost restriction. Then there are the ones whose doctors possibly through inexperience didn't do a good job of the ESG - insufficient sutures, loose stitches etc. Finally, there are those that despite how well the ESG was done, how well they followed/continue to follow all the guidelines just don't feel the restriction and haven't had much success. Some people have already had revisions to VSG or RNY and some others are also using saxenda or other appetite reducing drugs prescribed by their doctor. Despite all the above there are plenty of success stories. I chose ESG because I liked the non surgical aspect of it, reduced complications and quicker recovery time. I knew that weight loss would be lower and slower than the surgical options but I was happy with the trade off. I continue to struggle with sugar/sweet cravings/head stuff. I am still working on replacing those mindless eating habits by replacing them with better/healthier habits. I would like to lose another 5 or so kilos by October, if I don't its not the end of the world, I am much healthier and fitter than I have been in a long time even if my BMI is not in the healthy weight range. Are you considering topping up your sleeve with an ESG to help with further restriction? I don't recall that any of the members of the ESG groups I belong to have had an ESG following a surgical weight loss procedure but a few have asked about it. Sorry for the waffling

I LOVE BariatricPal. These forums help me feel like I have a "family" of supporters who understand and empathize the experiences that we all share in this weight loss journey! I was elated to get replies of encouragement, and well wishes as I prepared to go to my interview this morning (which I think went really well). I may never meet you wonderful people face to face but please know that your kind thoughts/words made me walk a little taller and prouder today. I too, will make it my effort to encourage my "Bariatric sisters and brothers. We are a unique community and sometimes our own flesh and blood don't get it, but to know that there is someone out there that does makes this journey a lot easier. Thank you BariatricPal and thank you my B-Family:)

Some people can tolerate whey protein isolate because it does not contain lactose? Dunno. If that's the case, you can get each of these flavors in powdered Isopure Whey Protein Isolate (from Bariatric Pal or GNC). You might try a sample and see how you tolerate it? Avoid adding fruits or sugars of any kind! Good luck!

My husband tried some of his coworker's and really liked it. Thought I might want to get some. Has anyone tried this brand? Is it good for bariatrics? I think it has to be purchased directly from their website.

I too am 9 months post RNY. Except for peanut butter and beef, which I eat occasionally, I'm not sure how I would tolerate eating all the other stuff on your list because that is what I chose to give up based on the advise of my bariatric team. That stuff is what got me to where I was pre-op! I don't miss any of it. I have no problem going to restaurants and Texas Road House is one of my favorites. There is always something I can eat and then I always have leftovers for lunch the next day and probably the day after. I can honestly say nothing makes me sick now but I choose to eat lean healthy nutritious food in very small portions. I don't have to cook for anyone so that definitely helps. For me, it's all my choice and I choose to go shopping for size 4 jeans instead of eating a Krispy Kreme donut. I'm old enough to know I've eaten enough of them in my lifetime and I don't ever want to go back to my old habits. I'm thankful that I was adequately prepared by my team to know that this process took major changes in eating habits for life and some things just aren't worth eating.

Hi, in the intro section I explained that, after 19 1/2 years, I am going to have a "tune.up" Revision details in my other post This is my third time with bariatric surgery, and I am ready this time. I am working, hard, on my three major obstacles to a healthy post bariatric life. 1. Small portions I had my friend, Annoying Jan, come and stay with me for two weeks. She is 70, looks like senior Barbie, is incredibly active and is always dishing out advice. I decided to listen to her for a change. She spent time with me looking at portion control, frequency of eating, dealing with the evening hunger that has always defeated me. I told her "F Off!" A few times.... but she was patient. The first week was hell. The second week I began to eat like Jan, Small breakfast, Small lunch, Small dinner and a very small evening snack. Very wonderful food. Organic eggs, fresh veggies and fruit, nuts, beans, low fat cheeses, soups, guacamole. We had "tapas" for dinner. Small portions of delicious things. Thought I would die at night, but I got into the swing of it. I tripled my water consumption and took a lot of walks and completed a lot of tasks on my todo list. Also went to bed early. Its been two months and I have stuck with the routine. I am still friends with Annoying Jan. She made me walk up hill two kilometers last week. I did it, much to my surprise. Having a friend that believes you can do something is so helpful. She came with me to the surgeon consultation and is so supportive. She has not had bypass surgery, she is just really aware of what she is consuming and she has been studying me for years, trying to coach me. She believes in the surgery after doing research. Its the best for me and she will support me. I love Annoying Jan. 2. Timing drinking and eating Target: No food after drinking anything for at least 20 minutes. I am going for 30. More difficult: No drinking while eating. Most difficult: No drinking for at least 30 minutes after eating. I am targeting 45 minutes. "OKay Google... set timer for..." is my most frequent phrase. 3. Getting the nutrients in What a difference 20 years has made! I have planned for and ordered the special bariatric vitamins and minerals. I am setting up reminders on my phone to alert me to take my pills. I have been reading labels and testing protein powders for the past two months and have ordered everything I need. I have ordered several books, recommended on this forum site where I can find recipes to make nutritious smoothies and soup. I was 10 years old on my first diet. I am 62 now. I am blessed with no serious health issues, a strong body and a couple of really good friends. And now, I have this wonderful community to come to for inspiration. I feel that all this pre surgical work, on setting up routine and dealing with night hunger is going to help me long term. I have gone through some serious health issues in the early years post my first by-pass, and turned my health around and that took about 10 years of work. I maintained most of my weight loss. now, I am ready to get the last 50 off. Some of you might have an annoying friend who may be your biggest supporter if you are willing to accept their help.

Hi, Christina, and welcome! Sorry you're struggling. You could find an app like Baritastic or my fitness pal to log and track your food. They have nutritional information. I use Baritastic. It is geared towards bariatric patients and reminds me to drink and take my vitamins. Many people like MFP. I'll be your buddy if you want! Hang in there. Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app