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Well yesterday I took a can of beef- I liken to the cold- packed beef of my childhood. Since it is processed with only sea salt I added a salt-free beef broth and heated it in my crock pot. Now after a period of time it is so tender I can chew it down with my dentures to fine enough a pulp that my tempermental RNY pouch will accept it. Don't ever believe dentures are equivalent to natural teeth,like many other repkacements, especially joints they have only a 85% efficiency rating. And FYI tomorrow morning. I undergo my 12th or 13th Endoscopy to determine why my pouch is still giving me difficulties after an nine- month duration. Until this is rectified I am still on thin puree, soup, broth, and protein shake as these are the things which do not cause emesis, my Bariatric Center calls this a Modified Level 2 Diet Plan, on which I have lost 120 pounds since Surgery Day(5th September 2018). So wish my endiscopist and I Good Luck and maybe this. "retardation of diet "will be done!

Maybe Bariatric Surgery is a degreaser? Seems to have demolished your Bubble Butt, and. you're lucky you didn't lose your Upper Story, because I did- now I have the tube sox with the 2 tennis balls. Any more and I will have to install Seat Belt Retractors so I can roll them back up and replace them in my bra. Maybe I can find a lying bra, one that makes me look "perky" not recently demolished!😳

Im from Lansing MI having GS in August Sparrow Bariatrics

It's truly the distance that bothers me... and the fact this office never returned either of my calls! What if there WAS an emergency or I needed to get a hold of them? Scary thoughts. I dunno - I'm going to consult with "my guy" and see how comfortable I feel after that visit. I would highlyyyy prefer to go to someone local. I live in West Virginia so my options are extremely limited, lol. I'd also be able to stay at the hospital I had my bariatric surgery at, which is wonderful. When I had lipo in 2009 in Baltimore I stayed at the world's worst hospital and it was a nightmare, so I know how important that part can be, too.

Oh, those first days and the anxiety over the first BMs. I remember being afraid to push, being afraid of what I'd see in the stool, you name it. Glad you're on the road to regularity. At this point in my game, I don't really take anything and am regular without any interventions. BUT, constipation is an ongoing threat in the bariatric community. Get your fluids. Stay active. Once you transition to regular food, include fiber (if you can't, supplement). I used to chew a fiber gummy every day, but I don't find that I really need it anymore. If you find yourself in a "situation", I relied on good old MOM (milk of magnesia). You can adjust the dosage based on the severity of your need. It tastes god-awful going down, but it does the trick. Other effective agents: smooth move tea, Miralax, Dulcolax. Here's to happy, regular BMs!

I’m 52 I just had my Gastric Bariatric Surgery June 3rd 2019 and I’m loving it!

I had my sleeve done on 3/7, and have been thrilled with the results. I'm already down 60 lbs. I did not go to Blossom Bariatric because I got approval from insurance to have it done locally, but it's kind of an emotional roller coaster because they don't submit the request for approval until two weeks before your scheduled surgery (after you've completed the 3 mos. of prep required by insurance [and that varies per carrier]). But if I hadn't gotten insurance approval, I would definitely have gone the Blossom route. I ended up liking my clinic more than I did initially. The nurses are great and handle any issues I have pronto. The problem I had was with the Patient Navigator who just doesn't communicate very well. Like many of you, my surgery went off without a hitch. It was much like the gall bladder surgery (laproscopic) that I had done a million years ago....I was nearly good as new once I got home from the hospital. Almost zero pain--nothing some Tylenol couldn't resolve.I was hesitant to travel to Blossom Bariatric because I had no idea what to expect right after surgery and couldn't imagine dealing with an airport and flying home afterward. (I'm allergic to TED stockings.) The out-of-pocket max on my insurance is only $2500, so my cost was less than half what it would have been through Blossom. I say all this in case someone is reading this thread who is considering Blossom Bariatric. If you need a self-pay alternative, they are probably about the best, and among self-pay options the least expensive. (I can't imagine going to Mexico for the procedure. I know that quite a few people have raved about it, but I'd be scared that the border would be closed and I wouldn't be able to get out!)

Walk down Wilshire Blvd and you can't help but run into a few of them! As with everything, it is a trade off. PS certainly has a higher risk of mild to moderate complications - some of which can be handled with email and selfies while others need a hands-on office exam, so being close is a big help. The compromise is on what you need to have done and how much experience the PS has with the extensive reconstruction that is often needed after massive weight loss. There can be a big difference between an abdominoplasty or lower body lift after losing 100-200lb and a "mommy make over". If all you need is an arm lift or maybe a minor tummy tuck, a "regular" PS that you know and trust may be just fine. Talk to him and see what he says. My bariatric surgeon has gotten into doing the post bariatric reconstruction, but for some of the more "artistic" jobs like the breast implants and reconstruction he brings in a breast guy to do that part of the job.

I am new here, I haven’t been on a public forum in a long time (and for a reason) but I thought it might be helpful to write out my bariatric surgery journey as best I can. I don’t know anyone who has had the surgery with chronic illness, disability, multiple medical conditions, etc. let alone anyone with M.E. (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) which is a kind of immunodeficiency. I’ve lived with this from childhood and also battled with my weight longer than I care to remember. This is long and hard to talk about without going into intense detail. I wasn’t not diagnosed with M.E. Until I was in my early twenties. It was a long road to get there and led to many questions and many other medical conditions down the road. At some point my weight skyrocketed out of control and I was at a loss as to what to do. I was diagnosed with metabolic disorders but meds made me sick and doctors don’t discuss weight. They only vaguely agree that the metabolic disorders cause weight gain. And at most prescribe risky weight loss drugs. At some point I was just too sick to know what to do. The reality is I always will be sick. It was easier to eat carbs when I didn’t feel well enough to tolerate much food. I was always a clean plate person and hate waste. My weight grew to over 215lbs and my body couldn’t take it. I needed to do something even if it took every ounce of my being. I didn’t know then what I know and doctors know now about M.E./CFS. But I studied holistic health and nutrition, trying everything to no avail. I ended up trying a combination of low carb/Atkins and calorie counting (weight watchers points) slowly I lost weight (I was 5’ 4” then 5’ 2” I kept losing inches due to degenerative disc disease and arthritis in my spine , I’m now about 5’) I got down to the lowest I’d ever been at 123lbs. But it crept back up by 10lbs. But I had to accept it. I started having trouble eating certain foods and feeling very sick. I had some major stress events happen, several surgeries on my feet and tendons, and also Major surgery (hysterectomy) I wasn’t eating the best I could for reasons I couldn’t control. Eventually my weight hit 160lbs about when I moved with my mother to a new state. I was on a beta blocker and reduced my calories further and did strict low carb again. But reached about 134lbs. I couldn’t sustain it. Not that long ago, months, my sense of time is terrible I can say what happened but not the order or time. I fought as hard as I could and would go on nature walks until I learned more about the birds and became a birder and took to loving photographing them. I went as often as I could and it wasn’t often enough. I found out the hard way that Myalgic Encephalomyelitis causes something called post exertional malaise. Doctors only now are starting to understand it and it explains a lot. Activities from simply writing out this message, taking a shower, making a meal to exercise, make my medical condition worse and cause lasting damage that I lose bits of my self. And doing no I enjoy hurts like a punishment. My weight started a sudden drastic climb from 134lb to 160+ and I went to doctors and specialists hoping for an answer why. And then again it continued to climb to 180lbs. I had thought about bariatric surgery the first time but wanted to do it on my own. But this time I couldn’t, my body just wasn’t burning enough calories and how little could I eat without getting too sick. I was eating healthy the same portions as my mother, almost the same meals, I prepared us lunch almost every day and she is the same height but at most 100lbs. It was fight for surgery or nothing. The first time I saw a bariatric surgeon he talked at me and didn’t listen, my weight was slightly below BMI to qualify with comorbidities, i had plenty. But nothing acceptable by my insurance. I had just had to have surgery for another problem and could hardly eat. But I kept gaining. And I gave up on that doctor. I forgot to say I found out at some point that the reasons some foods made me sick was my gallbladder and surgery was recommended so I decided if I have to have that then I should pursue bariatric surgery since recovery is quite similar. eventually it reached 200lbs and I was on the edge of being nearly 40 BMI. I decided to see another endocrinologist about my medical conditions. She couldn’t help me since the meds make me too sick and I explained how I eat and count calories and yet my weight skyrocketed. I was about to quit when I decided to say I was fighting for bariatric surgery. She said go to Cleveland clinic. It’s a far distance from me and I needed medical assistance for rides there. But I got in to see Dr. Szomstein and he right away was ready and willing to help me, I was a hair from 40 BMI at the first appointment. He didn’t quite understand all my medical conditions if at all but he knew what to do. He said I should have RNY Gastric bypass due to severe GERD and I was thankful for that since it would reduce calorie absorption as well. I was almost not expecting approval from my insurance. I had months of my doctors noting my efforts to lose weight and letters from the endocrinologist and surgeon. They had me go for pre op tests and medical clearance. I still didn’t expect anything. i was in target when my mom and she got a phone call. Scheduling surgery in two weeks and for me to start the liquid diet that day. The surgery date was April 29th. I was so unprepared my gastroenterologist had wanted me to have a colonoscopy before surgery and that didn’t happen (he wasn’t happy with that) I knew I was possibly in for hell with this, but it was either surgery or give up. surgery day I was like this is easy. But I hit a bumpy road. Without going into too much detail right now. I didn’t expect it’s impact on my chronic illness. Waking up from surgery was like a long tunnel I couldn’t get out of. I was partially aware of things around me during the entire surgery just sped up like a weird dream. In the hospital room when most people get up and walk, my body couldn’t move at all. And when I tried once I crashed hard. Every chronic pain in my body was screaming all at once in the hospital. I was having severe pain in my chest, they blamed on gas I knew it wasn’t. I was struggling to breathe and needed the oxygen longer. My surgical drain kept getting full too fast. The catheter hurt. I high pain tolerance and yet this was slamming me everywhere all at once. They tried me on liquids by day three and I just wanted out. I got home and had trouble breathing and was very weak. I struggled to do laundry and get groceries. Then I started spiking fevers. My body doesn’t react with fever when it needs to, my lungs are sometimes too weak to cough when I need to. My temp went over 102 at night then dropped to low grade by morning. I ended up being told to go to the ER but I couldn’t get to Cleveland clinic. Long story short it was another long three days in hospital, pneumonia, acute uti, and critically low potassium. My temp was normal. They pumped me with potassium and antibiotics but had no concept of pain control and knew nothing about post bariatric surgery diet of protein drinks and liquids. They brought me a regular meal for breakfast. By day three I wanted out. I left with a diagnosis of Aspiration pneumonia, and esophageal dysphasia and told to see an ent (who then told me to see a neurologist) and a incidental finding of a pelvic adnexal mass that I am see my euro/gun about. Swallowing is painful, the pain in my chest never went away it waxes and wanes and gets out of control painful at night. I am still mostly liquids. I was supposed to start purée some time ago. I tried some things that were palatable but the first tiny bite I got Nauseous and couldn’t push it even sitting drying to consume either liquid or purée took nearly an hour and the purée was just not working. I don’t regret it yet I do yet I don’t. I’m still trying to get answers to some things. Other things I won’t go into detail now. This is much too long. I saw the doctor for follow ups twice. This time he ordered a upper GI fluoroscopy, and then a endoscopy. The first is this Wednesday. I’m struggling to get in at least 50 grams of protein a day. I lost around 27lbs but am in a five day stall. I think that’s as much as I can describe for now. But my one issue no one ever addressed is no nsaids aka Ibuprofen for life. I took it three times a day to take a bit of the edge off my chronic pain. My muscle relaxer doesn’t do much and it’s impossible to grind and swallow tablets. Thankfully diphenhydramine comes in sleep melts. But I have no pain management now. And I can’t function to walk as much. I try to keep on my feet as much as I can to at least do what I need to do. But now when I crash each day I crash hard. I got extremely sick doing laundry when I had to do three loads and threw up more than once. (I have a bit of ptsd when it comes to throwing up) but this is too much to write here and now. I just am finding myself alone in this, my mom can’t quite understand how it is. And I don’t know anyone else who has chronic illness that has had gastric bypass surgery. I’m not worried about food, I can make my mom a meal and not want to eat it. Actually my taste is nonexistent. I had trouble with it prior as well as my sense of smell. But so much just tastes nasty and bitter. (Didn’t help I ended up with nasty oral thrush I can’t shake) i feel weird putting this all out there. So I hope that sometime say can relate to someone somewhere in some way. christine

I’d love to renew my vows in a nice boho gown on the beach... it’s been my dream but my weight stopped me... 28 lbs to goal and I’m considering it☺️

You've got to get rid of that head hunger. The surgery is a tool to help with your real stomach hunger, but the head hunger is up to us to manage. Have you considered therapy or group counseling at your bariatric office?

All diet plans and surgeries fail if you eat over your weight loss/maintaining calories/macros. Sorry you are feeling anxious. Your surgery is going to be a great tool to help keep you on track. This will be different than other diet attempts. We are adults. Learn your bariatric basics. Find a long-term sustainable plan that works for you. Call it what you want, we are all on a diet. (Dietitians plan, vegan, keto, intermittent fasting, low carb paleo…. the list goes on) If you choose keto, don’t eat over your calories/macros. If you choose your medical professionals plan, Dont eat over your calories and macros.

Are we allowed to donate blood? Has anyone ever been given the go ahead? Prior to donating they encourage you to eat a high iron food items and be well hydrated, both of which can be issues for bariatrics. Just curious if anyone had asked their doctors about this.

I ended up going with a surgeon who has an extensive resume in "post-bariatric body contouring". The fact that he has done so many of these types of surgeries makes me feel more at ease. I saw endless before and after pics. He was able to advise me on aspects of the different surgeries that the other 3 surgeons I consulted with did not even mention. And he was the only one who advised me of a program on how I can apply to have insurance to cover a portion of the surgeries. The others only told me that my surgery was not covered by any insurance. So yeah, I think it's a good thing to go with someone who's been around the block a few times. I had actually already decided on another surgeon because this one didn't have a consult available until end of July. But then a space opened up and I decided to take it, and am glad I did. Going with this surgeon actually meant I had to push my date to December (his earliest opening), from my original plan of August, but I'm okay with it. I believe I'll be in better hands.

Yes, I went there for my sleeve and I got better care then i ever got here in America! my insurance doesn't cover bariatric surgery so I go to Dr Illan. he is a brilliant dr and the hospital is beautiful.

I feel you on driving far for surgery. My endocrinologist's rec for a bariatric surgeon was an hour away - so I choose a different one. Before you decide, maybe ask your PS a few questions. Does your PS have a few references for the arm lift? Maybe before/after pics? How many has he done and how often? "I do them" and "I do them well" are two different things. If you go to your surgeon's support group, maybe ask around to see who people go to?

I want to go to the plastic surgeon that did my breast reduction because he did an awesome job and is 30 min away. My bariatric office said I should see someone that focuses on bariatric patients and skin removal, and referred me to someone 2 hours away (longer during rush-hour - DC traffic UGH). I tried calling them twice and no one calls back, which is VERY discouraging. Also, after every surgery I've had (including the two plastics), I've had complications. I don't want to have to drive 2 hours for check-ups and emergencies??? I called several other plastic surgeons a bit closer and none do arm lifts, EXCEPT my plastic surgeon. My bariatric office says they like my guy personally, but his interest is on breast reconstruction so they refer people to this other person who is far away. I haven't consulted yet with my guy, but his office says that yes, they do them. Does it truly matter if I go to a "specialist" surgeon? The distance is very scary to me, given my history... and I already know my guy does awesome work. Did you go to someone that focuses on bariatric patients?

That is awesome! I became eligible for bariatric surgery based on BMI after 2 years of a happy relationship. So, now it is time to take off all this weight and become happy and healthy. Of course, my fiance has only gained about 15lbs and can probably take it off in 2 weeks.

And I am a willing slave to Squeaky and Cassie! Squeaky is on my lap right now, told her " Mommy Human has to leave in a few minutes" she looked at me like " So What!" She is the Sun, Tomkitten and I are just planets that revolve around her. And she feels that's just the way things have to be. I should have her self-confidence, I would have informed Late Husband I was going to have Bariatric Surgery, because our then- insurance covered it and had my surgery at 40 or 50. Instead I stayed brow-beaten, sub-servient and didn't burp without his permission, that's how girls in the 40s, 50s and into the early 60s were raised! A MRS was the only desirable degree to get and up,inever bucked the tradition. I was grossly unfair to ME! And now look what the Real Me is, strong, an individual who can and does stand on her own two feet, and I settled for so little then. Why'why-why? Nobody respected me for ut!

I am even farther out, 9 monthsn my same complication as Briswife started at under 3 weeks, confirmed at 1st endoscopym They didn't believe me, tried to tell me I just had remaining surgical swelling. And my stricture doesn't seem to want to leave me. I Have been on Carafate since then, let's see, I started it October 12th it's almost June 12th so 8 months? How do I like it? Well it has become second nature like most of my other meds, I take it 6AM, noon, 6 PM and Midnight. I would complaint it keeps me from sleeping but I wasn't sleeping that solid anyway. I take the pill Forman mainly because my Medicare Part D medication insurance provider is too dang cheap to grant me the liquid. With. the pills, you dissolve it in water, my surgeon told me originally boiling but it will disolve in room temprature, just takes a little longer, stir up the slurry I usually drink,it down before it stops moving, if you wait it takes 2 medicine cups of water to get it all, I liken the taste to white flour water, not especially lovely. Although I am still ulcerated the few times I am late they hurt more. And although most people after having their stomas stretched get all better, I believe Briswife' s has progressed I nay be the exception to the rule. Every time they try to dialate it ,seems prone to snap shut. But this Wednesday we shall try again, I'm assigned a different doctor for this one. I believe it is my 12th or 13th EGJ, see when you're post RNY they look at.your esophagus, stomach pouch and your jejunem, the second part of your small intestine that your pouch attaches to, you never can see your duodenum and residual stomach again without a lot of fancy-pants maneuvering or being. cut open with a open incision. I just read recently some. of the surgeons can still do it laprascopically. But I remain optimistic, I believe I still will be repaired, even if it takes more surgery, even if it is an "open" incision, that's how my galk- bladder and appendix were removed, that was before laprascopic was prevalent. I know how long it takes for an abdominal incision to heal, and, although they vastly prefer to do things laprascopically, every surgeon worth their salt knows how to do things the other, and you really can see things perfect with it. In the meantime I am still stuck on thin- like purees, broths/soups, protein shakes. Doesn't sound too fun? Well I'm used to it, I make sure I take all my vitamins and other meds, stri protein powder into every thing where it doesn't occur naturally. Still taking a PPI, omeprazole DOES NOT WORK for me, in fact every ulceration I have had was while on omeprazole so I am on Dexilent, the Ferarri of PPIs, would cost over $300 monthly without insurance, I am lucky I only pay a $6 co-pay. Still also take Zofran, if I try cutting it back the vomiting returns in force. Now for the thing which is good and keeps me moving forward! I have lost almost 120 pounds since surgery, 165 since my highest weight in October 2017. And I needed badly to lose the weight. I have had arthiritis since age 25, in fact I had to stop having babies after 3 because my hipbones were starting to spot-weld, any more would have been C section and with my weight, although I was not quite as big, I was still a Big Girl. And although I did finally have to have both knees replaced , they hurt a lot less now. I can do things better, move quicker, maybe now I could escape fires. Since my surgery I have been much more vigilant about my health status, had many more testing done, found some minor things that had been hiding, No Big Thing , they are all managed now. Before I was a Walking Time Bomb- in my family we had ❤disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, depressions- it was by God's Grace I dodged as many of those bullets as I did. My PCO was threatening I would not make it to 75, would be wheelchair- dependant because my joints were screaming No More No More! Now I am ready to drop into a size 18 after being a 28- 30 womens. To be honest I mostly wore mens sweats in the autumn, winter and into spring, even Wal-Mart didn't have that big a selection in that big a size! And my quality of Life was bottoming out, didn't get up if I didn't have to, didn't walk if I could stand still, didn't stand still if I could sit, and why sit if I could lie back down? Figured I was rated to just die, so stop moving so the Death Angel could find me! Then I heard from someone about Bariatric Surgery, asked my PCP and , surprise , he said I should at least try. And if I was going to die anyway, what did I have to lose? If died on the Operating table, at least I would have died trying, and my life wasn't that great anyhow. Do I started seeking, most places seemed to say I was too dang old, well my red-headed stubborness was firing up! How dare they say i wasnt good enough, deserving enough, worthy of their time? I went through one program not once, but twice, quite a backstory there, only to be refused by their head surgeon! Did ibstop there? Nope! Fueled by the fact that Dr Doofus and his minions bled so much insurance monies off and then said I WAS DEFECTIVE! I had known these people for 2 and a half years and now they're trying to say there is Something Wrong with ME? Their diagnostic skills seemed pretty crappy to ME. So I set out on my Fact- Finding Journey. I had taken my PCP at his word that Program #1 would be best for ME, Now I would search for the ONE best for ME! And why not the Premier, the one I truly wanted, the one centered at our Land Grant university, the place I had even once dreamed of being educated at, the Ohio State University, well I went to their seminar in March 2018, after being " kicked to the curb" by Program 1 in February, and my oh my I Liked What I Heard!! Program #1 had assigned me someone now I could make a chouce! Pulled up their bios and studied them like finals, well in a way that WAS what this was, instead of risking a career I would be risking my LIFE! And then waited for a call- back, I. wanted THEM but did they want ME? Didn't have a very long wait, maybe 5- 6 days, and not only did they WANT ME, they wanted to work with me to make it a Good Experience! And I had made sure I had excellent references and acknowledgement of all the pre- consults I had already done. Wasn't too difficult because I had an excellent lawyer in Columbus, and there was something not kosher with these people, at the very least a breach of trust if not promise. And since they didn't want their dirty laundry examined..... Anyway the next month I met with a Staff Psychologist who just happened to be a specialist in a condition I have which was not public knowledge, perfect recommendation, next month met dietician and exercise physiologist and nurse-practioner, met again with her for a more in depth in late May/ early June, still everybody wanted ME, didn't think I was neither foolish or too old for seeking this, they met with my surgeon, the one I CHOSE in July, had a PreSurgical exam, found little to Barr me, actually something I could repair myself, a fatty liver,went on the luver- shrinking Diet for the entire month of August, made my liver shrink and look beautiful, lostc15 pounds, ME with the Basal Metabolism of a Sick Sea 🐌 Snail. And on September 5th 2018 I received my RNY from my chosen surgeon, The Chairman and top dog of Bariatric Medicine and Metabolic Weight Loss, yeah the Big Kahuna, Bradley J Needleman MD. Gave me a surgery with 7 tiny slits, basically pain-free and the Start of a New Life for ME. And I shall be incredibly grateful to him and Ohio State , and if i require more surgery I am safe within his hands! And I gave absolutely no fear, come what may! I know this is LONG but I did want to explain, give a little shout-out to my wonderful hospital and staffm Probably my problems re just that I healed funny, but I still trust things are going to work out just fine for ME.😛👍And 8 am so incredibly lucky🍀to have this chance for a future!

complications aren't common - I've been involved in various bariatric forums for about five years and there aren't all that many issues with ulcers and vitamin deficiencies. If you follow the rules and keep on top of your vitamins, you'll likely be fine. The only "vitamin issue" I see coming up among people who are rule-followers are iron deficiencies. Some people don't absorb oral iron well and develop deficiencies even though they take their iron. So...they end up having to get infusions. But most people do fine on oral iron.

https://www.bariatricpal.com/magazine/710-keto-and-bariatric-surgery/

I saw a Bariatric doctor last year and he said if I converted to a mini gastric bypass I would no longer have to take them as acid issue would be fixed. Have you heard this?

My program has three dietician visits in the first year. Five yearly checkups with the surgeon. Honestly, after my first two years. I have not gone back to my surgeons check up's. I have blood work done with my family Dr. If patients need more than the three dietician consults, The hospital has free bariatric cooking classes with nutrition information, behavior change classes and support groups. They have been offering these programs for many years. They will keep these programs if the hospital can afford it.

And then there is the person who is certain I am dying of cancer. I tried to set her straight that it was a good loss due to Bariatric Surgery only to be told "THE LEAST YOU COULD DO IS ADMIT YOU ARE ON CHEMOTHERAPHY!". So I'm sure she's out there , lips a-flapping, telling all our acquaintances " Isn't it a shame about poor Frustr8 dying?" Well whatever-- I know my surgery was done for life and the chance to live it more abundantly! I pray I am given many,more years to l8ve and prove Her Wrong! And her discrediting? Oh that will be an extra added blessing!!!!!!