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Looking for local folks who'd like to get together to discuss their own bariatric journey. Whatever kind of surgery you are planning to get or already have gotten is cool for get-togethers. I'm in the downtown Los Angeles area most days of the work week, and usually hang out at a local Starbucks, where I drink plenty of coffee (with a protein shake added as "legal" creamer), working on any of a number of new stories, and/or playing computer games (World of Warcraft and Diablo 3, generally). I'd love the chance to meet up with others who are on this particular journey. I look forward to hearing from you.

A lot of emotional preparation goes along with the surgery, as well as the actual prep you do to gather things you will need after. You can use that energy to get educated on what to expect. This is a great forum, but I also watched utubes of others going through VSG. That was very helpful and prepared me for the journey ahead. You could also listen to Reeger Cortell's weight loss surgery podcast ( she's a bariatric nurse practitioner and has a wealth of information on the surgery, as well as great interviews from others who had surgery). Best of luck!

I no longer have my gallbladder, had that removed in 2013 which was 4 year before my bariatric surgery

I have mine set at 50/30/20 and avoid sugar like the plague. And heed her words on avoiding no or low fat products outside of dairy...that's usually a sugar trap, as she stated. If you are trying to save calories and focus on Protein, I hope you like fish! I don't eat beef. I eat some chicken (usually canned for chicken salads), a ton of fish (especially salmon) and a ton of broccoli, brussel sprouts and asparagus. Cottage cheese (Walmart full fat large curd is so yummy), light string cheese, yogurt (Walmart light), Isopure drinks and Premium Protein Drinks are all staples every day. I have a million bariatric recipes, but I am personally a repetitive eater....I eat the same things all the time. It's just easier that way and I always have a cheat (within reason, of course) on Sundays...mixing up the caloric intake to keep my metabolism guessing.

Hey there I’m new too but wanting to make friends through this with... if u want Go to face book , find me Trina Carrie Robinson Stuart and then bariatric buddies i made it a closed group today so friend request me just Incase I have to add you😉☺️ I’m so excited please let me know when u do on here in case I can’t find you😍

I got a phone call from my surgeon's office earlier this evening saying that my insurance company is covering my hernia repair, but NOT MY VSG. I went through this conversation with the surgeon's office a week ago. I knew it had to be wrong and someone was mixed up. I called to check pre-cert myself, and they assured me that I was "approved" for all of it. So tonight, after I'm hearing this from the surgeon's office yet again, I call my insurance company again and speak with benefits. They tell me (for the first time) that my policy does not cover bariatric surgery. I tell her that I've spoken twice recently with customer service and pre-certification, and they said that I am approved for surgery. She says yes, you are approved, because you have medical necessity. I ask again.... you are telling me that I am approved for surgery because of medical necessity, but my insurance is not covering it? What does that mean?? She just keeps repeating that my policy does not cover bariatric surgery. I ask her, how is one department at BCBS looking at my file and telling me I'm all set (approved), and then speak with another and I'm not covered???? Nothing. I'm stunned beyond all belief. I've invested 7 months into this. After being "approved" by my insurance coverage, I was scheduled for surgery on 5/16, just six days from now. I'm deep into a 2-week all liquid only pre-op (the worst kind). I have pre-op labs and doctor appointments tomorrow. And I SUDDENLY might be self-pay. Dr's office is telling me that my doctor is looking into the finance department to see about getting financing for me to do the VSG portion/surgeon's fee. The rest would be covered by insurance under the hernia repair. As of tonight, I have no idea how much that VSG portion will cost. As of right now, I don't even know if I'm going forward with it. I cannot believe I've invested so much of my time, energy, money and emotions into this, only to learn SO LATE that I'm not covered for this. I am positive that at the very beginning, when I first went to the informational session last fall, filled out the paperwork and got a call the very next day from the surgeon's office: they told me that my insurance company would cover my VSG. I would not have even begun this process, let alone go this far, unless I was sure.

I had mine done at BAMC Ft. Sam Houston, TX- in San Antonio. They have a new bariatric clinic there- recently moved from the Air Force hospital -Wilford Hall. Tricare covers all of it if you have a BMI of 35 or more. (For the Lap Band, I believe it is a BMI of 30. ) You will get a bill afterwards for around 35 dollars for the meals.....if you can call them that.

I also live in NorCal but I'm not with Kaiser. The psychologist I saw was named Lorraine Hutchinson. She specializes in bariatric surgery patients. You can see her website at http://www.hutchinsoncounseling.com. She did the vast majority of the talking at my appointment. She talked a lot about the types of changes and emotional issues I'd be likely to go through with this surgery and weight loss. She only asked me two questions. She asked what I was most concerned or worried about, and she asked what I was most looking forward to. That was it! Nothing to be nervous about.

That very patient and nice lady that gives you the fills isn't too smart, though. I don't blame YOU, as you're not a bariatrics specialist and you're learning as you go. But SHE should know better than to have you back & forth making your already difficult journey harder than it should be. You CAN'T keep allowing this to happen. Just imagine if something goes wrong- GOD FORBID!! Sooooo, when you go back in try to speak to the surgeon or request that the surgeon do the fill.

Thanks for posting. This is the inspiration I needed. I just my 2nd fill today. I have been slacking a bit lately especially last week since I was on vaca. After reading your post I have renewed energy and looking forward to continueing on this journey. Thanks and much continued success to you! Ally

Am approved for surgery but have been struggling with whether or not to do it. (analysis paralysis, chicken, etc.) Main concern is any potential long term negative consequences. So in reading the book 'Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies' (suggested by my bariatric team) Chapter 3 explains the various surgery options. It says "In the 1980's the term 'stomach stapling' referred to vertical banded gastroplasty' and goes on to say 'the failure rate for VBG was very high'. My question: what has changed that now makes the vertical sleeve (which uses staples from top to bottom) different/successful?

Just tried Nectar (Cookies & Cream) that I ordered from bjsbariatrics.com. Not bad really. Filling. You can choose which flavors you want to try in the 11 pack sampler. Pretty sweet.

Dr David Kim at Kim Bariatric Institute in Colleyville, Tx did my surgery and I trust him totally, he saved my life . When i first went to see him I was so heavy I was embarassed and he made me feel at ease. I no longer take any high blod pressure or diabetes medicines. I think you would be so happy you checked him out and made the right choice. He has a increble staff, support group once a month at his office and a online chat. Go for it!!!!! Oh Dr Holden is awesome also.

Beth, my insurance company required my psych evaluation, not my surgeon. It is not clear to me if your insurance company is the one who requires it. If they do, you then need to ask them what they are looking for. My insurance company wanted to know the following three criteria: 1) Am I an alcoholic? 2) Am I a drug abuser? 3) Do I have any psychological disorders? If the doctor is the only one that requires it, the only thing he/she wants to know is if you are aware of your decision and understand the ramifications and risks of the surgery. Although the fatality rate of the band is less than .01 to .02 percent, doctors still want to cover their backs. P.S. An added note: it is my understanding that there is a legal issue in most states of having a friend or acquaintance who is a shrink or psychologist doing your evaluation. One could say that he is writing the letter and knew you had issues and is doing you a favor.I know you want to save money, so the best place to find a psychologist that supports bariatric surgery is on the website for www.obesityhelp.com. THey have a list of bariatric friendly psychologists.

Hi Long time reader, first posting. I am done with all the prerequisites and have submitted to insurance for final approval. Has anyone had any experiences with Dr. Monk @ Wellspan in York, PA? He has been doing bariatric surgery for like 12 years but just started with lap bands. I am a little nervous about being his twelve bandit.

is there really a bariatric bible if so I want one

I had United Health Care through my employer and was required to do 6 consecutive visits with a nutritionist and the psych evaluation. My surgeon's office has a bariatric insurance coordinator who told me that I would be disqualified if my BMI dropped below 40 at any point during the 6 months of visits. She basically explained it this way: the insurance company wants to find any reason to deny coverage for the surgery so if they see that you lost weight with just diet and exercise, they'll say that you don't need surgery to lose weight. I started with a BMI of exactly 40 so I had to be careful not to lose even an ounce during the 6 month visits. I actually ended up gaining 3-4 lbs throughout the six month period. It seems like all policies and clauses are different so this may not be the case for you. I just wanted to make sure I passed on my experience because I'd hate for someone to get half way through with their 6 months, lose a pound, then be disqualified and have to start all over.

Not so far, 3 months out taking Bariatric multivitamin twice daily. So far so good.

Ok so tonight I sat down to watch The Biggest Loser, whilst I sipped on my yummy chicken stock soup. There was a bit where the trainer got a bit heated with 2 contestants because they were under eating; having 825 calories instead of 1400. He went on to say they were destroying their bodies by dropping their calories so low and the body will only hold on to their fat, they won't lose it but they will lose muscle and they will go into starvation mode etc.... Basically he was saying they won't lose weight, they will lose muscle and destroy their bodies... Now I've managed about 600 calories on liquids today and even that was a bit of a mission! I'm wondering how our bodies react with the little calories we take in and whether it's different with us because we do have smaller stomachs and that may send different signals to our bodies. However, I've never (on a diet) had less than 1200 calories so this is a bit to get used to. Any thoughts on this topic? I do trust the bariatric team around me and know they wouldn't let us under eat. However, that trainer scared me a little!

Ok, not going to lie but the past couple of days have been terrible for me! This is completely consuming my every thought and the fact that all I can do is just wait and wait....is pure agony. The not knowing if this is or isn’t going to happen is a head trip. I want to get so excited and really prepare but then tell myself to not get that far ahead of myself until I know for sure. But I am in limbo as well with my weight.... I can’t lose any because I can’t fall below 35 BMI right now but can’t gain anything either and I feel like crap. I refuse to buy new clothes to fit me better because I want to fit into my old clothes.. will I end up fitting back into my summer clothes with the help from surgery or is it back to the good ol’ fashioned way for the billionth time. I have gone over my insurance requirements with a fine tooth comb 100 times. I even ran to the weight loss dr I’ve been seeing for the past 2 years just to squeeze in a last weigh in/visit for April so it would show a “recent” 3 month consecutive visit for insurance even though my drs office told me anything consecutive for 2018 would do. I called Tuesday to speak with the insurance coordinator at my surgeons office, who by the way is the nicest person and is so extremely understanding. She had the sleeve done 2 years ago so it was good to know she understood first hand the nerves I was feeling. She told me to just breath and that she has barely seen denials come through. They work really hard on making sure they submit what’s needed and that Dr. Padnani writes his letter well. But the wait for next Friday....the 12th is agony! Just knowing that’s the day I meet with him again to go over the surgery again and I guess the next step and I get my “tentative” surgery date. And I meet with Kathy, the insurance coordinator to sign all the consent papers so she can send it over for pre authorization. Ughhhhh. Please tell me I’m not the only one who has felt this way? Meanwhile... I went to the Bariatric support group meeting on Tuesday my nutritionist suggested. It was about a group of 12. Most had already had it done except for myself and 2 others who were pre-surgery. The only thing I keep thinking about is the one young girl that had it done because her whole family had it done....and kept saying she didn’t even really want it done at the time....?????? All I could do was shake my head. I swear if I don’t get approved...lol

holy hell! I'm frustrated. I'm above my bounce weight of 130's for maintenance . It's not a good feeling. I'm getting things reigned in before they get out of hand. Some days I need to shut my inner voice off. I'm telling myself It's my new medication, My sports injury, I might as well eat this because I'm already at a higher weight. The scale is not moving. I'm pressing on! I'm tracking food and I have increased my workout for the last 5 days. Keeping up all the things I have been taught by my bariatric brothers, sisters and professionals. Waiting for the scale to move again.

I am writing this to help those whom have United Health Care. Here are the following things to know and tips: Before reading these tips, contact UHC for confirmation that Bariatric surgery is covered under your plan. Confirm the requirements. Confirm that your surgeon and his associated hospital is In-Network (if they are not, it will be like paying for the surgery without insurance). Make sure you have an understanding of what the insurance wants to see or have done. 1) You are eligible if you have a 40 BMI or Higher / Greater than 35 BMI with Co-Morbidity. 2) Once you find your surgeon, you will have to do 6 months worth of testing, dieting and education. 3) You will have to make 6 visits (once a month). This does not include your consultation. 4) One of your visits will be with a Psychological Evaluation. This will determine your surgeons view and the insurance company's view of your case. They take a look at your mental and emotional health. They ask about your family and your support systems. They may ask you how you feel about yourself. Stay away from the negative views you may have of your body. Understand that they have seen hundreds of people like you and may have some prejudice in regards to whether you will succeed or not. Remind them that you are a person, not a statistic and bring some human to your discussion. 5) Your surgeon may require you to keep an eating and exercise journal. I use MyFitnessPal and I have a FitBit. 6) You will be asked to do an EKG to see how strong your heart is. 7) You may be asked to do a sleep study. Depending on your surgeon, it can be a requirement. In my case, the insurance company denied it. They did not deem it as a necessity. 8) You will have to do an Ultrasound which is to see if you have any issues with your liver (fatty liver disease) or other organs. 9) The next thing is an endoscopy. This requires you to head to an outpatient clinic, be sedated and have a tube stuck down your throat. (Update: You will need to have lab work done no more than 1 month prior). I learned that I had an hiatal hernia (where part of the stomach enters the diaphragm). This can cause you heart burn. Be aware of H. Pylori. This is a bacteria that can cause ulcers and heart burn as well. It takes a lot of antibiotics to cure. Be mindful that your throats will be sore and some sharp pains may occur as they most likely scrapped some samples from your digestive tract. 10) In between these visits, you will see an dietitian and nutritionist for further help. They will slowly walk you through changing your eating habits. Be honest with them. It is very important in the long run. Also try to keep your weight lost in small amounts. If you lose too much in a short period of time, the surgeon and insurance company will feel like you can lose the remaining weight alone. 11) Your last visit will consist of an overview. The surgeon will check your weight and may discuss further with you about your feelings towards the surgery. Hopefully you are approved by the surgeon. My surgeon was great during the process. I met with him more times than anyone else. He literally kept giving my information and sites to read to understand this tool. 12) They will then submit your information to the insurance company. Now it can take up to 2 - 6 weeks for approval. I was approved in one week. My fellow UHC Members, I hope this assist you in your endeavors. 6 months will fly by so quickly you won't even realize it. Remember education is the key to success. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Just finished 48 hours on clear liquids. Feeling great and back down to 130.5 pounds. Today is day one of full liquids. Started the day with a protein shake. Hadn't had a protein shake in a really long time. Post op they made my stomach nauseous, Tolerating it fine today. Maybe I can re-incorporate into my regular diet for breakfast? That would be good! I had intended to do green smoothies, but I just don't get to it before work. I can keep a stash in my fridge at work and a stash in my fridge at home and always have it on hand for when I am ready for breakfast on the go. You know... there really is nothing wrong with my plan. My nutritionist had me do PRE-OP and then again POST-OP. I have done it two and a half times already. One and a half times before surgery.... once for many days, once for a few days.... both times guided by my nutritionist. And then of course the post-op one lasted a month also following nutritionist instructions. The nutritionist used it pre-operatively to get my weight a little lower AND to train for post-op. By now, I know what I am doing. And both hubby and I are nurses, so we both know how to watch for problems. It is also recommended by many surgeons as a pouch reset. When you start eating more than you should you stop recognizing the signals that you paid attention to the first few months post op. Does it really shrink your stomach back down? I suppose that depends on how badly you treated your stomach post operatively and for how long you abused your "new" stomach. I know I treated my new stomach VERY WELL for the first year. It is they last... up to 6 months that I believe I have pushed it beyond what I should. I believe I have a good change of shrinking it back down if I do this now. But if I chose NOT to do it now and don't get my diet under control then it will be much less likely to work as time goes on. Can I just start weighing and logging again? Sure. But I felt this was the better option for me to reset and retrain. BACK TO THE BASICS. FROM THE BEGINNING. Following my nutritionist instructions through the stages and back to lifestyle eating. Am I starving myself? Heck no! I have the extra fat to burn to sustain me through the last two days which is the only two days I am totally depriving myself of nutrients. Did I feel a little hungry now and then? Sure. But I drank a little broth or ate a little jello to get me through. Today I am going to make sure to pick the most nutritious full liquids I can. Done this before, I know how to do it. Am I lacking energy? Not really. I am pacing myself and keeping hydrated. Must have peed 50 times yesterday (exaggerating... but I was peeing very frequently yesterday). I also timed this with my vacation from work. It's Spring Break. I spent the first couple days catching up on housework. Now I am taking it easy while I get through the clear and full liquids stages. By the time I go back to work I will be on soft regular foods. I know how to do this, so I made sure to time it well. "sometimes these weird desperate extreme fixes sort of reinforce disordered eating habits". I find this statement baffling. This isn't a weird desperate extreme fix thing. This is a well established SHORT TERM diet plan that is prescribed by surgeons and nutritionist for a variety of reasons. Kick starting weight loss is one of them. I did not wait until my weight was out of control to do this. I am doing it when I am seeing a negative trend that I want to stop in it's tracks... to help me get back on track. I know my nutritionist would approve. How do I know that? We discussed this last year... when we were talking about stalls. And "reinforce disordered eating habits?" That is a lot of assuming about me. Yes, I was 100 pounds over weight... but I didn't gain weight for the same reasons everyone else may have gained weight. I didn't eat excessively large amounts of food... but I did eat like an average American. I have never been bulimic. I have never been anorexic. I have never followed unhealthy crash diets. Why did I gain weight? Well... the docs think it was triggered by many years of undiagnosed sleep apnea. And coupled with drinking a lot of calories (pepsi) and not picking the healthiest of foods. So tell me, how exactly is following a short term often medically prescribed diet followed by resuming a medically prescribed lifestyle diet going to reinforce disordered eating habits for me? It's not. This diet is not going to reinforce me drinking sugary drinks. Haven't done that for over 1 1/2 years and am not doing it during this pouch reset diet. And it is certainly not encouraging me to eat American size portions. Just the opposite. It is going to remind me what my portion sizes are going to be. And as for sweet cravings? Well... I might have them. But I am being very mindful during this and reinforcing good choices as I move through the phases. That is a good thing. And the grazing which is my actual problem right now? This is going to help me reset into a normal scheduled eating pattern with small portions which is my biggest goal. SO, will this help me accomplish my goals? YES IT WILL! As long as I stick to the plan and advance to my proper post-bariatric lifestyle diet. Again... don't need criticism. Just because you think you aren't criticizing doesn't mean it is true. Feel free to comment if you want to be supportive. Or not. Again... this was my "holding myself accountable" post. Because I know I need to hold myself accountable. Accountability is one of the keys to success. So... today and tomorrow full liquds! Which for me means mostly protein shakes and greek yogurt. Yes, my nutritionist considers greek yogurt to be a full liquid... and since it has protein and nutrients it goes nicely with my protein shakes to get me through the full liquid days.

I thought it was just me. I take the bariatric advantage multis and have gotten sick after taking them twice. I am trying to find the best time to take them .... sticking with them because they have B Complex in them AND the biotin level is amazing. Would like to know the answer as well.

I think most people just don't know the difference between gastric bypass and gastric sleeve. I feel like most of the world thinks bariatric surgery is a big huge terrible horrifying thing you do to lose weight because you give up. People are just not informed and even the media screws up the message. Ugh!