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Hi, I had my lap band placed in 2006 and I did great I went from 245 lbs to 134 lbs with eating right and lots of exercise. During that time I went through a divorce and moved back to California from Arizona, I enrolled back into College so that I could earn my degree in nursing. So with that said I stayed very busy met my new husband and started to put weight slowly back on, not much but enough to feel it. I joined the gym in January 2018 and dropped weight, toned up and put on muscle. I started to experience severe GERD to the point of vomiting while sleeping! I had not kept up with my lap band maintenance or adjustments in about 7-8 years. I decided it was time to consider removing the band after 3 trips to the ER within 3 months. I met a wonderful Bariatric doctor who suggested I consider and research a revision from the band to the gastric sleeve, now this was a surprise to me as I am 5'5 142 lbs and a size 2. He explained everything thoroughly, detailed and why medically this would be a great option, he did also give me the option of simply removing the band as he felt the issues I was having was that after 13 years my body was "rejecting the foreign object" thus the lap band plus I also had a large hard bump where the port was located due to my slimmer torso. After researching the pros and cons I decided to go for the revision, which was done 5/20/19, my doctor did the removal of the band and sleeve all in one procedure (3.5 hours) I felt this would be best as I did NOT want to have to go under twice. I had NO issue with my insurance due to the reason and medical documentation to support the revision. So far so good, I will say the one thing my doctor told me (which I have learned)is forget everything you learned and lived with with your Band the sleeve is a whole new ball game! I was only on liquids for 2 days post op, protein shakes started on day 2 as well with jello and broth, 10 days post op I started on eggs, beans, yogurt, cottage cheese, tuna salad and have had no issue. I drink a lot of water up to 1 gallon a day and that I must say has changed as I now have to sip (not chug) throughout the day. Lots of sugar free popsicles, watermelon and sugar free jello have been my best friends when I feel I need to hydrate. I've also started to go back to the gym as of day 11 post op (once I got my doctors ok) NO weights, midline or core workouts only treadmill, stair climber and spin class (modified) for an hour each day and let me tell you this has helped tremendously with the swelling and gas! My advice would be to get another medical opinion and get and stay as active as possible. It's a lifestyle change and a daily battle (for me). Hope this help :)

And @Lifeafter40, my Bariatric Sibling, I wish for you the best of everything and the smoothest surgery ever. As I look back, I do wish.I had surgery before both my knees were replaced , but at that point not everything was in place, and honestly I thought I was hopeless, I would die obese, because I had achieved what I thought an insurmountable age. But my surgeon believed in ME, I believed in ME, I took my chances, and here I am , 9 months on Wednesday, 73 years of age, ready to travel into Onederland, having lost,Are we ready?. 116 pounds since surgery. This is the goal my surgeon and his top N.P. said I had the best chance of achieving, but I still want to try for 175, and I always have said a 15 Junior. Will I make it? I believe so, it was plotted I would achieve there at 18 months instead of the usual 12 month/1 year. I trust my next blood levels will show a correct curve, had an Iron INFUSION in March for anemia which was partially due to TPN for three months, oh it kept me alive, yes it did but the calorie level slowed my weight loss way down, the month post- removal I lost 30 pounds,Ka-thunk. So my continued weight loss was slightly deferred, right NOW at a faster rate than what logic would say. I am still A WORK IN PROGRESS, where it will all end IDK but I am commited to it all . I believe you June 2019 people may even surpass me, the sky is your limit if you stay the course! Hugs and 💕from your Frustr8!!!

“I recently had bariatric surgery and am on a restricted diet.” I say it matter of fact, with confidence. If it’s someone I know well, I don’t care if they know. If it’s a stranger, well, what do I care if they judge me?

Hey Trudyt623, VSG is the gastric sleeve, one of the Bariatric surgery options. Your surgeon will go over what it means and any other options they provide. Good luck!!

From a size 22W to 16W - feeling great! Working out 5-6 days a week and feeling renewed! Thank you God for this tool.

Morning! I have been doing well. This morning I felt nauseous after taking my vitamins, so I may look at another brand, currently using Bariatric Advantage. I went back to work this past Wednesday, and whew! When I met with my boss, I told him he was interrupting my nap time :). Food has been interesting. Mainly I do tuna packets on a Wasa cracker for lunch. For breakfast I will scramble an egg with ricotta, I only eat half, maybe, then have the other the next day. I found that I like the cottage cheese from Aldi the best. As far as day to day goes, if I forget to eat, you better believe its noticeable. I lost track at work on Thursday and boy that was not a good thing. My mood swings have been wild. Some days I find I am down right angry. I know its hormones and it will pass, but jeez. I do keep a journal so I can at least see when things ramp up. The angry days were right around the start of my cycle, lets hope the next time won't be so bad. This first cycle post surgery was 3 weeks late.

My day of went pretty smoothly. My surgery was at 9am. I was allowed water until 3 hours before surgery so, I got up early, showered and had a big glass of water. My hubs and I walked to the hospital (just live a couple of blocks away), and I got checked in on the ward. I was pretty nervous, but the nurses were wonderful and reassuring. I was put in a room, got changed into a hospital gown, and then we started the pre op process. They took my vitals, went through all my Rx meds, went through all the pre op questions, and then they gave me a shot of heparin. A little while later, a porter came to walk me and my hubs down to the surgical holding area. I was told to get comfy on a stretcher. My surgeon and anesthesiologist both popped by to say hello, we talked for a minute about the surgery and they left. After another 30 minutes, a nurse came to wheel me down to the OR. I said goodbye to my hubs, and we were off. The nurse wheeled me to the door of the OR, and then I walked in and got up onto the table. We again went through the pre op questions, name, birthdate, what surgery were they doing. They hooked up my IV, and strapped my arms down. They put on the blood pressure cuff, some leads to monitor my heart, and then they put me under. I don't remember much from being in the recovery room. It's actually a little confused in my head with other times I had been in there. I do recall when they moved me out of recovery, the feeling of motion and watching the ceiling go by. The next thing I remember is waking up in my room, my hubs sitting beside me. I had to pee really bad, so the nurses helped me out of bed (the special bariatric hospital bed was a pain in the butt to get in and out of). I spent the next 12 hours sleeping, dealing with pain meds, and peeing. I hope all that helps and I wish you all the best with your journey! Sent from my SM-G960W using BariatricPal mobile app

My surgery was scheduled for 11 am. I was NPO at midnight but could have clear liquids until 6 am. The NPO didnt bother me and after my shake for dinner I didn't feel the need for anything else. I got up at 5 and had a cup of tea and watched the news. Then I showered and put on comfy clothes and waiting until it was time to head to the hospital. I got registered and only had to wait about 10 minutes before heading back. In preop they got my IV in and took a bunch of health questions. Then I got to walk. And walk and walk and walk. My surgeon wants all his bariatric patients walking before surgery to prevent blood clots. No laying on the cart watching Price is Right for me. And after 45 minutes of walking up and down the same small hallway I definitely wanted to. 11 oclock came and went, as it sometimes can in the surgery world. His first case started a little later than scheduled and was more complicated than anticipated. I talked with anesthesia and walked some more. Then I finally talked to my surgeon. It was getting closer. My preop nurse then gave me a couple medications including IV pepcid and a shot of Lovenox (blood thinner) in my abdomen. I waited another 15 minutes or so while the OR Team got the operating room ready and when the nurse came to get me it was a couple more questions from him and then I was wheeled back. HA! I wish. I got to walk back to the operating room as well, hop up on the OR table and wait for anesthesia to kick in. I woke from surgery it seems only minutes after and remember being in a lot of pain. That kept me in the recovery room longer than normal. It only felt like half an hour to me but I'm told I was there closer to an hour and a half.

Don’t worry about it! Whoever is gonna love you will love you anyway. I didn’t get my surgery yet and I’m also a little bit concerned about loose skin. Some insurance pay for plastic surgery when your weight stabilized after Bariatric surgery. Do it for you, you will feel great and will irradiate that.

Hi All, I just got my “welcome to the bariatric dept” letter and a denial letter on the same day. The denial said I don’t have a history of failed diets. My GP noted my failures specifically in my chart though. I’ve done so many diets, and Weight Watchers more times than I can count. I remember being on WW in my teens. My first prescription diet was early elementary school for G-d sake! Now I have to jump through appeal hoops. I have Kaiser (Oregon) via Medicare (I’m disabled). Any tips and encouragement is welcome!

Any veteran gastric balloon patients? I was wondering how things are going long term with this procedure. I know there are risks with all bariatric surgeries. The FDA released this update in August 10th 2018 https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/letters-health-care-providers/update-potential-risks-liquid-filled-intragastric-balloons-letter-health-care-providers-0

B-side... Seeking help for my mental health. Yup, I've done it (prior to my experience at the bariatric clinic) and I'd do it again. That said, I think there is still a stigma around it. I know when I told people that I was having appointments with the mental health department with my clinic, some people would give me a bit of side eye.

Yes, I have for the most part, waited until I'm close to Goal #3. I still won't do this very often. Even though mine are very LC. Here are the instructions from my old blog--this bariatric recipe is modified a little bit. http://fluffychixcook.com/mile-high-keto-biscuits-owl-low-carb-gluten-free/

Had bariatric surgery and now you want to become a beast of physical fitness? Let’s use this are to share workout ideas, diet plans, goals and accomplishments!!! About me... HW 356 Gastric sleeve - May 2016 CW 214 and 14% body fat Lifts currently Squat - 315 Bench - 205 DL - 405 Let’s get this going!!!!

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***BIG RANT*** 2.5 months out are you training to compete in something??? or to lose weight???? Did you tell him your workout goals??? Am I reading this correctly? How many hours a day? Why is he having you workout every day and some of it returning to the gym for 2 to 3 times each day? No rest days? Look into building muscle...It builds on rest days. I would love to see if he is certified. and what type. ACE or ACSM? Your trainer may have worked with other patients. Ask what type of education he has in bariatrics. Majority have none. https://www.bodybuilding.com/content/make-the-most-of-your-rest-days.html Only you can gage if what your experiencing is normal DOMS or needs medical attention. None of us here are medical professionals. I don’t give medical advice. Trust your professionals. Check in with your Dr. for medical issues, dehydration or unusual inflammation. Dehydration is nothing to mess around with. You are 2.5 months out. We all start out with a lower fitness level and work our way up. I would caution against upping your calories this early. The last thing you need it to sabotage your weight loss. Talk to your dietician for nutrition advice due to increased work outs. Give them your calorie burn and your workout schedule. They will advise you if you need to change up your diet plan to support your workout, May advise you to seek a different training program. Many of us here are competitive lifters, power lifters, and endurance sports, I am a distance runner. - If you choose to become an athlete look into a sports medicine dietician -

That's a pretty good and normal rationale. Ok, maybe this'll help you feeling better: "food for fuel only forever" is a common wet fantasy of bariatric patients that won't ever come true.

Hello Dee Tee, I guess it depends on the insurance and the surgeon. After 7 years of the lapband of which the final 6 months were hell and bondage! I'd had enough. I self paid for the lapband was why I tolerated it for that long. I found out my current insurance covered bariatric surgery so I bit the bullet and met with the surgeon April 24th, got approval for lapband removal as my surgeon does 2 separate surgeries so that stomach can heal (I was initially gutted that I couldn't have the sleeve done simultaneously but now I am glad for all the research and preparation it afforded me). My surgeon was convinced that for Aetna, I had to do the process of 4 months supervised nutritional visits, psych evaluation, etc was needed again to qualify for the approval especially as my BMI is 35 (I am prediabetic and have been prescribed metformin which was my final straw by the way!!). I asked the surgeon's office review to please submit the one surgeon note that was in my file for the lapband removal. I wanted to know my fate early on and not go through all the hoops and be denied honestly! She submitted May 1st initially but they had the wrong CPT code, found that out May 8th, she then resubmitted May 15th and I was approved May 29th!! Even unbeknownst to my surgeon whom I saw May 30th for the first Dr. Supervised nutritional visit. I told her and she was flabbergasted as she didn't even know the office woman had submitted for approval. After that visit, I was given my surgery date as she said I didn't even need to do the 4 consecutive months visits any longer. She just needed 6 weeks after the lap band removal. My point is that it's okay to push the envelope and not even go with what the office says. Especially as this is for a revision. The reason I pushed was to know my fate early. They wanted to give me a June surgery date but I chose to wait till August, chose to continue to see the nutritionist and learn everything I need for this new tool but it's at my own leisure without all the angst of approval swirling around my head. Good luck!! I wanted to share my experience. Hope it helps. Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

I had mine done at Blossom Bariatrics in Las Vegas on May 15, 2019. They have a 'concierge' type program set up for out of town patients, very efficient. They include lodging at a nice hotel and transportation. I had a good experience and would recommend them to anyone wanting the gastric sleeve.

So, $7,000 is the total cost for VSG at Rockwood Spokane? Does that include hospital stay and anesthesiologist fees? My insurances covers 80% of bariatric surgery cost (after my $3,000 deductible), so if I understand correctly- my 20% out of pocket = $1,400. Plus my $3,000 deductible. For a grand total of approx $4,400? I am crossing my fingers this is correct! My surgeon consult appointment and dietitian appt are both on June 6th. So I suppose I can find out for sure then.

Know what you mean, my surgeon is 50 miles from my town. They are thinking of starting a modified Bariatric program at my local hospital, only lap band and VSG so far. Knew I couldn't wait until 2020 and I had to be a Bypass, it would correct all my problems, whereas the Sleeve would not, and I didn't want to try for Revision later. So I went to Ohio State, a Center of Excellence hospital from the word go, my surgeon is the Big 🐕, the chief of Bariatric Medicine and Metabolic Weight Loss, a Full Professor in COLLEGE of MEDICINE. And a wonderful skilled surgeon, if I have a crush on him, it is for his abilities, he is the kind of doctor I once aspired to be. Of course I doubt I would have wished to become a General Surgeon, let alone a Bariatric one, my chosen dream was Immunology. And I believe I would have been a Good One! But life, love and finances got in my way and all the Woulda- Coulda-Shoulda in the World can't repair that! But I still cry when I see the United Negro College Fund commercial comes on, the one that says "A mind is a terrible thing to waste" and I am white but it still applies to ME so I cry💦for the lost opportunities. And now you know something about me that few dom

Hey No Problem, I'm almost a Bariatric Godmother around here, certainly old enough to be many people's Grandmother or Great-grandmother. 72 was pretty old to have Bariatric Surgery. But I have a new motto to go with my saggy, baggy, but smaller body. The rest of my LIFE will now become the best of my LIFE! And it will, I have paid my dues, my fears were washed away by my tears, now if I can get my pouch not to be structured and all my jejunal ulceration to heal, I will have my Heaven , having already had my He'll on 🌎 Earth.

OMGoodness, Frustr8 I was born in 67! LOLOL You are so amazing and I enjoy reading your replies. You are so supportive and encouraging to all of us. I guess that is why you are a bariatric legend. You are also right about the "Vanity Surgeries" I wish they could walk in our moccasins/shoes. I wake up with my back hurting, plantar fascitits, coughing hysterically from gastric reflux. I told my husband there is nothing beautiful about the way I sleep, pillow in front of me, pillow in back of me, pillow between my legs and cpap machine nose/mouth mask. LOLOL I probably would scare my grand babies if they came in the room late at night! I told the nutritionist today, I try to exercise and when I do it flares up another ailment of pain some where! So hoping to hear from the Doctor's office soon! Thank you again for responding and also keep up the good work of weight loss, I cannot tell you when my last BMI was at 31.1. You make me excited about what my future could hold! Thank you again for your kindness!

And it may sound sneaky but I have known of cases that are billed as Hiatal Hernia repair instead of bariatric surgery especially if you have one of the insurance plans reluctant to cover VSG or RNY, and sad to say even in this enlightened age, there are insurance providers that think Bariatrics are only "Vanity Surgeries". Wish they could walk in my moccasins, they would quickly see the error of their ways! Oh I was fortunate that Medicare/Medicaid only asked for need and a BMI over 40, I sure didn't need the co-morb I already had, my presurgery BMI at first consultation was nearly 52. And not to be rotten about it, my current one is 31.1 9 months out. So your could say my life turned around JUST in Time, now at edge of mere overweight, instead of obesity and morbid obesity. 👍🌸😝🌺, as small or smaller than I was in 1967 when I got married. Long Time Ago!

I had my barium swallow test today and the doctor that was present stated he saw a small hiatal hernia and asked if I was on medication, I told him I was for the Gastric Reflux and he said, "Well, they will probably just change your medication!" I am so hoping this do not deter me from getting approved for my lap-band (banded since 2009) removal as well as my revision to Roux en y procedure later. I was told my insurance covers 90% but hope I am approved to have it done. Haven't heard from my Bariatric surgeon's office yet but again only had the swallow test today. #keepingfingerscrossed. Can anyone tell me how long it took for the approval. Also had my first nutrition visit today as well and I was told I have to contact a psychologist for an eval. So, why would I have to go through all of this if I am not going to be able to have the surgeries?