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Great info in the first reply... I just started the 6 month diet with family physician that my insurance requires. I do not have any co-morbidities, if I had a bmi of over 50 they would have covered it right away. kind of stupid.. if you ask me. My first consult with weight loss surgeon is april 22nd though to get the ball rolling.

Hi Natt. I'm pretty new here too. I can tell you my experiences so far. First off I went to an informational seminar. They got my insurance info and my medical hx. They verified that my insurance woudl conver the surgery with my BMI and sleep apnea. I had been on LA Weightloss for the past year, and I had heard that some insurance co's want a 6 month physician approved weight loss. I was happy that I had already "done that", and I went in to my PCP for an appointment with him. He would be sending the letters and the approval. I'm a bit concerned because I didn't see him for 6 months straight. It may put me back. My PCP said he would do all he could for me. The other thing.. Don't tell alot of people what your doing. It's just easier on you. so now.. I'm just waiting on the next move Molly

If you have been reading this site for a long time, you'll recall that most all new bandsters come here saying they are gaining or they are as hungry as ever after their surgery. This is a very common complaint, but one that is expected. this too shall pass. This is what we call bandster purgatory, or the pre-fill stage. Any weight lost in the first 6 weeks after banding is purely bonus. You have no restriction, most often and it takes a while for your body to decide you're serious about not feeding it anymore. Most weight loss during this time is actually water and often returns by the time you actually do get restriction. Good luck and welcome!

I quit processing my hair, took Biotin the placebo, lol, for 1 1/2 years. From five months, and lasting for 1/12 years, my hair fell out, and thinned at my hairline. A great wig got me through it. I now have a healthy head of hair again. I would go easy on curling irons, coloring, and daily shampoos. .hopefully everyone might not lose their hair.

I know rapid weight loss can cause gallbladder issues. For those of you who had to have your gallbladders removed, what were your symptoms? And how was the recovery?

Thanks! Well my insurance company is who referred me to this Center of Excellence so I'm covered, but this weight loss program requirement is throwing me a loop and I don't want to waste my time or money on the wrong way of doing it. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Okay, so as you may know by now I joined a weight loss clinic to start the 6 month supervised diet. After talking to the surgeons office, they said to still go to my primary care physician for 6 months in case the weight loss clinic is not accepted by insurance. I'm confused because now I am paying for two 6 month supervised diets and that is stupid right? Shouldn't the surgeons office review my benefits or make a phone call to see if that would be suffice? Should I call my health coach or insurance about this? Help! Any thoughts, Jen Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thanks ladies. The information helps tremendously! I see you had your surgery a little over a year ago. Can I ask how long it took for your hair to grow back? Is it as thick as it used to be prior to surgery or will it always be thinner? Does this happen because of a lack of Vitamins from food? Thanks so much for your help.

Hey, I think you are doing really well... but the main focus should be on healing and letting your new tummy settle in, the weight loss is just a bonus at the moment. My first few weeks were exactly the same... the first 2-3 weeks, the weight feel off, then slowed right down and now at nearly 16 weeks out it is slow but steady; I average about 10lb a month... I used to think that was slow... but now I realise that it's average and a healthy way to lose weight. Remember to take you measurements... this way if you feel your weight loss is slow you have the measurements to reiterate how well you are doing... Good luck and keep up the good work

Greetings everyone, I am a smoker, and I'm thinking about quitting soon. I'm 9 weeks post-op, so I have a long way to go with my weight loss. I'm concerned that: A ) it will be too much of a shock to my already confused body, and B ) that it will halt any further weight loss (or even cause a gain). And while I know the benefits of quitting outweigh any perceived disadvantages, I'm wondering if I should wait until I'm closer to my goal, staying focused on one thing at a time and maximizing this honeymoon period with the sleeve. On the other hand, if the weight loss is easier in these earlier months, maybe that will minimize any potential weight gain from quitting? I have a follow-up with my surgeon on Thursday, so I'm going to ask him, but I'm curious if anyone here has quit smoking in the early (or any) stages of post-op, and what were your results? Be well… D

My hair is growing back but it's still not as thick as it was. It's going to take awhile since I lost so much. Nobody really knows what causes it. There have been some articles posted that it's just from the shock to your body that surgery causes. I don't think it has anything to do with lack of Vitamins because I took hair and nails vitamins, a multiple Vitamin, Zinc ( Dr Aceves suggested zinc)Biotin, and anything anyone suggested to me.

Fat cells store estrogen which gets released as you burn the fat. Especially during the early months of very high weight loss, you can experience lots of hormonally-driven issues: hot flashes, mood swings, irregular periods, the works. It will even out as time passes.

All I've been told to take is multivitamin chewables. I've heard about hair loss but also heard its due to not eating enough protein. I was told to eat between 60 n 80 grams a day.

There's been a lot of discussion on this board about what causes this. Some say a lack of Protein, some say that's not it. Some think it's a Vitamin deficiency. It's happened to me too, and I'm 16 months out from surgery. My hair is much thinner now than when I started. I don't know what causes it. I'm about ready for Rogaine. Nancy

That's an amazing way to look at it! Fantastic job on your loss!!! Keep it up!

Now I don’t want to make anyone else jealous, but I just finished my psychiatric evaluation over the phone and it took all of 15 minutes. That’s it. No paperwork. No questionnaires. Done over the phone. No sweat. Granted, this did cost me $400 and it is not covered by my PPO. There was also the option of doing it via skype but since I'd have to do it during work hours and i can't use my company laptop for personal use, so I opted for phone. We arranged for a time for me to call her last week so I called her right on time as planned. She first asked why I was pursuing the surgery. I explained that while my eating has not gotten out of control, my various ailments including a bad back that may require surgery, arthritis in my shoulders and bone spurs in both big toes have made it difficult if not impossible to exercise without pain. I have not been increasing my portion sizes over the last few years as my weight climbed, but without the ability to burn off the excess calories I just kept getting bigger. Next, she asked some medical history questions (I never drink to excess because I’m allergic to alcohol and I’ve never smoked or taken illegal drugs) then asked if I was an emotional eater, a binge eater, a habitual eater or a miscellaneous eater, i.e. problems like portion control, which we’d already covered and I’d already identified myself as being. We went into a little detail about my current eating habits and previous weight loss attempts, which had mostly been successful when I could exercise freely. She asked about the kind of support I’ll have for the surgery and during my recovery at home. I explained that my daughter (who graduates from college this Friday with a BS in psych and a 3.7 GPA, thank you very much) will be taking me to and from the surgery. That’s because when I have it in late May/early June, my wife will still be recovering from knee replacement surgery. So, my kids (my freshman son was nominated by a professor for membership in an honors society that only admits 15 kids from each graduating class at his school, again, thank you very much) will be taking care of both of us. We consider it only a tiny portion of the payback they owe us for putting them through a private college. Finally, she went into a little detail about the required post-surgical changes in habits, such as measuring and logging food and sticking to the prescribed post-surgical plans, and asked if I thought I’d be able to handle. Having read through this board, some FB groups and all the literature I got from the surgeon’s office at my initial consult, I repeated everything back to her chapter and verse to confirm I know exactly what’s expected of me. I also told her that I’m far too cheap to spend all the money on the surgery only to throw it all away with bad habits. She asked if I knew about the types of complications that could arise, so again I referenced this board and the FB groups, explaining I’ve learned a lot about the types of problems that come up most frequently. She asked if I had any fear of the surgery and I said I’ve had many surgeries in my life, so I’m not afraid of it, plus I know that for each person who complains about a post-surgical ailment, there are probably fifty who do not have that problem so the odds are clearly in favor of not having complications. That was pretty much it. She said the approval will be on its way to my surgeon by the end of the day. I gave her my email address so she could send me some literature she likes to send all of her patients and her contact information in case I had any further questions. I am not kidding when I say it took me twice as long to write this as the phone call itself. With this and my endoscopy both out of the way, all I’ve got left before submitting for approval is my final visit with the nutritionist and the pre-op visit with my PCP who’ll also take care of my chest x-ray and EKG. The only real problem between now and the surgery is avoiding the temptation of pigging out at my daughter's graduation party...

I got the sleeve because I had 2 co-workers get the bypass and they just seem miserable. It just seems most people I have come in contact with was so unhappy after the bypass. While I wanted a change from the constant struggle with my excess weight I did not want to be unhappy. Beside all the medical reasons ...as I am sure you have researched the differences. The bypass is so much more complicated. Many more complications can occur. One big problem is the lack of ability to absorb the Vitamins and nutrients that is needed. The sleeve for me was the best decision ever! My weight loss results are exactly the same as the co-workers. I do not have the troubles they experience. I live a happy normal life. Socially it is easy to adjust ( after the first few months). Over all it comes down to the individual really. The surgeons expectations goes as follows: after the first 2 years bypass patients are expected to lose on average: 60-80% of their excess weight , sleeve patients 50-70% of the excess weight. However, that too is up to the patient. At my 5 month check up I had already lost 40% of my excess weight. I said all that to say..... If you follow the surgeons instructions and get the most out the of the sleeve you can have equal results..... Best wishes on your decision and surgery!

I also have tufts and they do require 6 monthly consecutive visits. these can also include visits with your pcp, nutritionist, surgeon. I just had my initial appt with the surgeon last week, and he was very optimistic. Since I had 1 appt. last month with pcp last month, he said that,would be considered my 1st visit. We are the same stats and he wants me to lose 12 lbs. before surgery date. These next few months are filled with nut visits, and all types of testing, he said they'll fly by and my 6th visit will be my pre-op visit before surgery. There is a program at St. Elizabeths in Brighton, sometimes you have to drive a little to work with a great surgeon and weight loss team. It will be worth it in the long run. Definitely talk to another surgeon to get another opinion. Good Luck!!???? Sent from my SM-N920V using the BariatricPal App

for my insurance I either had to meet with my PCP or the weight loss clinic for 3 months, and like you not gain but not loose too much. they filled out a sheet each month and at the end wrote a letter recommending me for surgery. that was my supervised diet.

My favs are Lit-pre workout in candy apple or gummy fish Gives me the boost to get those last few reps out! NDS Cardio cuts-in grape Makes me sweat like crazy...which i like...lol So i use one or the other..i find pre workout doesnt do much for me if i stick to the same one. Definitely dont take either before bed🤣 I like to sip on liquid iv while i work out. They seem to keep me going...im not taking any other weight loss product. Just eating healthy and working out! Followed up by a protein shake-birthday cake remix by syntha! Shout out cause that stuff is delicious! 😋

Julester, congrats on your fab weight loss and maintance... and on your forthcoming sergery ...*goes green with envy*! You must let us know how you get on and some pics??? Any hints on how to get to that all important goal? I am 13mths out and struggling with each and every pound!! I am 17lbs of surgeons goal and just over 30lbs to my ultimate goal!! I would love to get there, but I sometimes wonder if my body is happy where it is even if my head isn't...? Good luck in Oct! =]

I didn't even know toprimate was used for weight loss until today lol. I was prescribed it about two weeks ago for my migraines. I haven't noticed a difference in my weight loss though... and 2-3 pounds a week is actually pretty good. I average 3-4 a week with rare exceptions for more.

Crap. The holidays have barely gotten here and already I'm overboard with indulging. Yesterday a professional associate dropped by our offices and gave us two presents. One was for "the office" since we had just moved into new digs and he was giving us a little housewarming gift--a pound of high-end chocolates, thank you very much. The other gift was for me personally, since I guess he thought I'd been extra helpful to him recently. This was a TWO-POUND box of the same high-end chocolates! Oh. My. God. Of course I immediately declared the entire haul to be office property, but it was very ego-boosting to be given such a gift I must say. And naturally, yesterday and today I've been overindulging in these amazing chocolates. Of course the result of that is a complete breaking down of any resistance I might have to other carbs. Tonight my husband baked Cookies, and oh, four or five of them found their way into my greedy mouth over the course of the evening. Between them and the chocolates I am in sugar shock. I have to go to bed and try to sleep it off. Tomorrow is another day, and one in which I hope there will be no chocolate. Seriously, my tummy hurts. An aside, maybe pertinent maybe not: this particular gentleman has been one of the very few people to make comments about my weight loss. He saw me for the first time in months not too long ago and his comment to me was that he might fall in love with me. He seemed really insistent that now, suddenly, he found me cute and appealing. :rolleyes The guy is in his 70s so I'm not too concerned--he's sort of a grandfatherly type from whom the sexist comments are sort of expected--but it occurs to me that the gift of chocolate is probably not unrelated. Is he trying to sabotage me, consciously or unconsciously? Or maybe he just loves to give chocolate and now thinks it's OK to give it to me?

On Friday I went to the doctor to get a little taken out of my band. She took out .3 ccs so now I am right at 6 ccs. I feel so much better now. I had thrown up food 3 times in 3 weeks and at most of my meals I would get the tight chest feelings. For a while I just thought that is how I was supposed to feel during a meal, but the vomitting did it for me. Had to get some taken out... I may go back in a few weeks to get a little bit put back in, but will wait to see how the weight loss goes first. I am getting full on about a cup of food and happy with that for several hours. :thumbup: Everything else is going great. I did not join the gym yet though... watching my pennies...