Search the Community

Any sleevers going to Blossom Bariatrics in the next couple of months (2019)?

Anyone having surgery January or February 2018 at Blosom Bariatrics in Las Vegas?

Has anyone used an App called Jawbone? It was on one of my bariatric handouts.

I found this to be true. My family Dr advised me to lose weight with diet and exercise. I was not given a diet plan or a referral to a dietician. He never mentioned bariatrics as an option.

IT JUST SHOWED UP IN MY FEED. This is BS. You feel the need to emphasize that this is a year old. It should have not showed up in my feed unless somebody else mentioned it. Your brining this up AND EMPHASIZING IT only exaserbates (sp?) the situation. This whole bariatric site is supposed to help. Honestly, I don't think to that this is helpful. Before you decide to berate me for responding to a post that shows up recently, ask. If you can't be understanding and find out the circumstances, do me a favor and DONT RESPOND. I don't find any of this beneficial. I think I will remove myself from this whole app. Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

Some people turn vegetarian for just that, the smell of meat repulses them, and that is quite a change. Mind you, we have had many on Bariatric Pal, many are lacto- ovo or pescetarian. But things may change still, that's a whole new world we are now living in now.

Absolutely no offense intended, but I could not possibly care less about anyone's point of view on American politics (or any other nation's politics) when I visit this site. I will enthusiastically entertain all input on bariatric issues till the cows come home. Anything of a divisive and completely off-topic nature, no thank you. We don't want or need the mud-slinging here.

Well I wanted quick healing and to get on with life. Oh I was going to exercise, eat a proper bariatric diet, NoBody told me I would have a PICC LINE in my upper left arm, be fed 14 out of 24 hours 7 days a week TPN and no scheduled termination. Maybe the end of January, maybe into February? March will be my Six month Surgiversity, surely not THAT LONG? Mind you I will retain it as long as Drs Needleman and Noria say so, but this was not the "paint by number masterpiece" I was planning all along. I wanted to go to Kings Island and Cedar Point in 2019, maybe the Ohio Statehouse, do I show up with my backpack , battery pump and bag of feeding fluid. I'll be right there with the people on oxygen and tubes in their moses, and when they finally remove it, will I have a permanent scar on my upper left arm? Not really That Vain but people might think I had skin cancer or they removed a small tattoo on there. But it is what it is, and although the Good Times aren't Rolling maybe they are Still Ahead?

I DO KNOW WHAT IS AWESOME! We all are, we came from deprecation, being all but invisible to run-of-the-mill people, from NO Hope into a bright beautiful FUTURE. And if you and I still have a distance to make our Goals, why we can and will. And each pound / KG we lose, each,inch/ cm we decrease in our size, it is gone forever and we move ahead. And I know I have made so many friends sharing this journey on Bariatric Pal, and when my heart wanted to give up, when I was uncertain it was worth the effort, they were only a posting away, many had gone through this trial, and there might have been a little trick to get through and move on. So today is only the prelude to better things Yesterday is good, it was only the PAST Tomorrow has not dawned, it is the FUTURE Today is now, A wonderful Bright shining Day with promise, a True Gift📦 That's why they call it the 🎁 PRESENT! Much 💘 Love to All. Merry Christmas🎅 And Every Good Wish for a Happy Prosperous 2019.😝❤😝

Yeah they do, may buy a couple of cans tomorrow when I have transportation, pop one open and sing Happy Birthday to ME! Been a Hard Candy Christmas, nearly broke until Social Security a week from Thursday, tried selling a couple items on our local buy-sell-barter radio program called TRADIO. Turns out the things I had decided I didn't need any more and wanted to sell, nobody else wanted either. Did not get a single phone call. Oh my cell phone has gotten the usual Spammers. I have been offered Viagra- husband dead 6+ years, Can you plant it like vegetable seed and grow a new man? Better rates on Car Insurance- don't owe a vehicle Hearing Aids- one so tiny Nobody would know- no but my depleted bank account would. Defraying Student Loans- come on Folks, I'll be 73 tomorrow, only thing I'm studying is how not to starve and get vitamins in and not die! Caribbean cruises- I have enough trouble getting to Columbus 48 miles away for doctors appointments Roto-Tiller- this is Ohio, December, I don't even go outside in icy weather. Evangelists- maybe a legacy from MIL, because I have had this cell phone number that long. She sent money to every crackpot that came down the lane, even the one who stated " GOD wants ME to have a Jet Plane" How wonderful but I'm not financing it! Then there was the love sick dude. in Louisiana who claimed to have gotten my phone number from me in a zydeco bar. Never ever been in a zydeco bar, not many people in Ohio even know about zydeco. And last but not least Wrong numbers and Basic Spam "Is this You? I guess Not. This is YOUR lucky day! Nope don't think so! Did you wake up this morning? Well I must have, or I wouldn't be listening now. Will your family miss YOU when you are DEAD? One can only hope so! And why, oh why, do they call it LIFE INSURANCE? Should be DEATH INSURANCE, that would be,more truthful. You are getting you are going to die, insurance company says No you are still,going to cough up monthly premium, if you win, you're dead and only your heirs are going to enjoy 💰. And unless you have pre-arrangements the mortuary takes it all for your funeral anyway. And supposedly I won a steak dinner at a local restaurant, would have given it to Tomkitten but it's non- transferable. At 21 weeks post-surgery I am, because of Precious Pouch' s Stomal Stricture , the 5+ evil bad intentioned jejunem ulcers and their potential future family marching towards the ileum, a non-glorious location for irritation, if I want to try anything P.O. it must be full liquid or super duper runny puree and 1/3 cup or less, so unless I am feeling highly "Froggy🐸" I have one powdered and skim milk based 16 oz shake and sip on it all day. But really TPN , prenatal vitamin, minerals, B12 sublingual, and what few meds I require, that's what I'm living on into Mid January. And my. liquid supplement dietician told me yesterday how many calories my 14 hour feeding gives me, Whoee, about double what I was taking when I was doing fully oral, but my surgeon's know this, they authorized it, so if I haven't hit a Stall, it will be by the Grace of God, Tomkitten on Thursday will be seeing our PCP, one of his meds requires a 3 month check, Thanx Abusers, it's one his health requires but let's just say IT HAS STREET VALUE also. So while we are there I shall utilize his professional scale and probably let you all know. Before the 60s I would either have a NG tube or slowly starved to death, might take a while, because I still have enough weight to be divided into 2 " normal" people, my heart would have ceased beating probably first. Could not have a tube through my stomach wall as an RNYer, oh Medicare suggested it when my medical team was trying to seek approval, has to have a Practical Anatomy lesson from Dr Scoville, my surgeon's Resident. Nice doctor, potentially an UberSurgeon when his residency is complete. For Christmas I attemped some sugar free protein enriched butterscotch pudding, a teaspoon and a half, sure of the amount because that was the size spoon I was using to eat, an orphan from one of my measuring spoon sets. Precious started to speak Spanish, she's smart, was made at Ohio State University so college-educated." Pelligro! Hija, NO MAS!" Yes ma'm , I do not want to wear it! But you know, I am warm, safe, loved, smaller physically than 2017, a great bariatric team I can call on if necessary, and I will get through this bumpy part of my recovery. I am God's Child and His Retirement Plan is out of This 🌎World of Sorrow and Pain. So No Regrets and I'll get better Yet!😝🎁🎅📦

Our President is doing an awesome job of keeping his promises which is why he got elected! That has nothing to do with bariatric surgery but anyone knows the post op diet and if that person ate cinnabons right out of surgery shame on them and the people that brought them. This procedure doesn't work if you can't even close your pie hole out of surgery. I really feel sorry for this person because they lack total intelligence or total will power and they will surely fail because this is a life changing surgery. But, you have to be willing to do without some of your favorite things and make healthier things your new favorites. Don't go through all of this in vain and not learn anything! This is your chance to get it right! Don't squander your second chance! Sent from my N9560 using BariatricPal mobile app

Funny I was thinking the same thing . There is a bariatric tomato soup you can make from scratch or maybe a heart healthy tomato soup would be ok ?

Wouldn’t your bariatric surgeon have a point of view ? And or a dietician ? I would go to your medical team - never heard of loosing weight during pregnancy ! And if ur appetite is back full force u want to try to wrestle that bear down to the ground !

Hi Junior Guru, it's probably too late to answer this question, but there is some good, published, peer reviewed medical journals on the use of phentermine as an adjunct to weight loss after bariatric surgery. Short term it shows good results. I guess the question is are you actually hungry or it is that there are so many triggers in our world that automatically lead us to the "feel good" drug of food? I'm saying that because I just saw an advert for chocolate and automatically thought "I feel like chocolate". Phentermine stops hunger definitely, but I've seen many patients that can still binge eat or drink on it out of habit.

Last Christmas I was. trying desperately to finish up prerequirements for bariatric surgery at Facility #1, only had my sleep apnea one to go. When I had gotten to my cardiologist, because of the strong family trait toward cardiovascular problems I had a more involved assesment done than average. And I found the one cardiac anomaly I possessed was not enough to bar me from surgery. I was pleased enough with her care of me that I am retaining her as my permanent cardiologist , although I cut ties with the others affiliated with that hospital system. So the majority of my specialists are either here in Mount Vernon or at Ohio State University in Columbus. I had just joined Bariatric Pal, although I was a still-apprehensive newbee, everybody here was kind and answered my questions. And I was heavier by nearly a hundred pounds then but had started trying to lose. And I was going to my appointments, dotting I and crossing it's as I went, trying my best to make them like me, I still was trying to be perfect. Christmas 2018, I finally received my RnY in September, although my recovery has been and still is bumpy, I will never regret something I still regard as a Wonderful Miracle in my life, I had. sought it for over 3 years, fought an uphill battle against age discrimination from many angles, and now I have a PICC LINE in my upper left arm, receiving TPN 14 HOURS EVERY night, could have never forecast that twist, but I believe it to be helping my ulcers to heal, when the inner swelling of my pouch subsides perhaps the stricture will better also. So at least into January I will retain this added bit but I remain very hopeful that Drs Needleman and Noria are correct, I am repairable and will be okay when all said and done.

Hi there! I only recently learned that bariatric vitamins were something I would need to take (my surgeon/nutritionist didn't mention this at all, actually,) and I thought it was something only bypass patients do. I see now that it's also for sleevers, so I will look into that right away. And I will definitely keep all these tips in mind and be sure to get in my protein/vitamins when that time rolls around. My hair is quite thick now and one of the things I am quite proud of, so I am just really worried of losing it. I think I made myself panic in the last few days reading, but I realize that it seems to be a temporary thing, and should grow back for most people. So here's to hoping, and either way.. I'm going through with the surgery, even if I go bald and have to wear a wig, lol!

http://bariatrictimes.com/hair-loss-among-bariatric-surgery-patients/ @FluffyChix It also seems that even if labs are normal, supplements have helped? (from reading other studies, not recalling exactly where, and too busy to do more reasearch) On to the gift wrapping marathon before the little buggars get back from their mom's )

I knew this was the correct decision for me from beginning and have not experienced a single regret. Yes, there has been some tough times but nothing unbearable or unexpected. Sadly, I think a lot of people "jump into" having bariatric surgery without doing a lot of research and therefore they have a lot misconceptions about what to expect. Sent from my SM-G960U using BariatricPal mobile app

Wow, so sorry you are dealing with this. I would like to second the popsicle advice. I even started making my own post-op with low sugar juice/water/little bit of crushed fruit/protein powder/Benefiber etc. Had to hide them from the fam though bc everyone was tearing through them! I also made - and still do even at this point actually - protein pops (I call them) - as I only like 1 type of protein shake and was having a hard time even taking that in. I mix Orgain Iced Mocha protein drinks in the blender with chia seeds, a banana, scoop of peanut butter, square of high quality dark chocolate super high in coco powder, little crushed coconut & coconut extract, several scoops of Bariatric Fusion meal replacement powder, Benefiber...I think that's it, lol. I make a huge pitcher - about 80 oz. Then pour it into little 4 oz portion cups I got on Amazon (they are called jello-shot cups, but are basically plastic take-out sauce/dip cups w/lids). I put all the lids on and put them in the freezer. Every morning I take one out when I wake up. By the time I start to feel hungry (45-60 mins) it is softer, like water ice. I just use a spoon and scoop it in! It tastes great, is awesome for me, and because it is not really a solid or liquid, it goes down really easy. Initially I was using popsicle molds and freeze-pop molds, but it was too messy that way. They also have 2 oz cups for early days post-op and also for a quick snack. - You don't have to wait for them to thaw either, just pop it in the microwave for 10 seconds to soften if you don't want to wait. This made it so much easier to get in protein/vitamins/calories the first few months, and now I just look forward to it and still get all those benefits. Sorry so long - just another suggestion - I couldn't drink a lot of water for a long time - actually drinking a lot of anything, even now, makes me feel way too uncomfortable. So, I have sucked on a lot of ice. Ice chips, crushed ice, ice quarter/half moon shapes. Helps get fluids in (albeit slowly) when you just can't take drinking too much. Also helped me with dry mouth from my meds. I use a metal water bottle so it doesn't melt too quickly. Good luck w/everything!

I can tell you an answer, at 70 you will weigh 320, and you looking will start looking for help, you will try to find a program, nearly complete the only one you think will accept you , for many have a 55, 60, 65 year old age cutoff, then for reasons not yours your job and insurance terminate and you resign yourself to trying to lose weight on yourown, and you start trying multiple diets, and it doesn't work, you might lose 5-10 pounds only to regain it all and then some. You drag your fat self to your Primary Care doctor, humble yourself. and ask for some chemical help. You are put on a medication other patients have used with success, you keep a perfect diet journal, and you really are trying hard. At the end of the month you go back to be weighed and re-evaluated. And you have LOST no weight, instead you have GAINED 30 more pounds which you can ill- afford. PCP looks from you to your journal and back again. He does not say so, but you can see disbelief in his eyes. Finally he throwshis hands up, says " I have done what I could, go back to the Bariatric Surgeon." So once again you go back , at 365 pounds, more than you weighed for the first attempt. Since it is now 18 months later, you have to re-fulfill all the previous requirements plus now they add 2 more specialists. But still you go do them in good faith, and the time is approaching to be scheduled a surgery date. And you wait and wait, finally you start calling the office, and each time you are given a new excuse, flimsy as they be. Finally the end of February, when they bled all the monies out of your insurances, they announce they will not perform your surgery. I will not dignify them by stating their reasoning but it was an attack upon my very psychological/ emotional being. The only thing keeping me from binging on good at this point for solace was the fact I was too nauseous and somewhere deep inside remained the one shred of self- respect they had not stomped to death. I cried, I puked, considering suicide but they had convinced me I was such a screw-up I couldn't do THAT right either. A week passed, I looked at my swollen eyes in the mirror, Said " Old Girl, you are better than this- are they going to kill all your hopes?" There were 2 other facilities in this city, all rated Bariatric Centers of Excellence, what would it hurt to explore their programs? So I booked at their seminars, looked up bios on all the surgeons at both places, did the research I should have done before attempting facility #1 where I was assigned someone. This time I would do the picking, I would secure someone wh9 be as close to perfection as I could find. After #1 had told me No One Would Want Me, this new facility welcomed me with open arms, asked how they could Help me to achieve My Dreams instead of being "takers" that regarded me as little more than a meal ticket, these were giving loving individuals who seemed to have my interest at❤and I had the feeling of being home. So I was accepted into their programs and it will be soon time to chose a surgeon , after some minor loose ends of requirements were tied up. And I looked , I prayed, I thought about both of them, and I knew which one I was hoping for but when Jessica one of the pre-coordinators called I was nice and. said " Whichever has the first opening" finally I stated the one I REALLY WANTED, Dr Bradley J Needleman, the chief of Bariatric Medicine and Metabolic Weight Loss at the Ohio State University in Columbus Ohio, who performed my RnY on September 5th 2018, at 72 the oldest patient he had ever had, but in many ways healthier than the run-of-the -mill 72 year old and I will be forever in his debt. In my ❤of❤ he is a miracle worker. And even though facets of my recovery have been and remain difficult, He and his Partner Dr Sabrena Noria have worked to make things better and like me, we will see things through to their conclusion. I wish I had found them sooner, wish I had not had Dr Evil Mc Nasty and his band of misfits in my past, wish I could have had my surgery at a much younger age, you simply heal much slower in your 7th or 8th decade of life, but at least they have given me a chance to live healthier, longer and Praise God thinner than I once was. Don't wait until your BMI surpasses 50 to seek yours, I have lost 110 pounds since High weight but I STILL have about 80 to go, I was carrying around an NFL linebacker on my body, my body was breaking under the weight, I have sacrificed both my knees to science, and replacements,nice as they are, only 85% as good, there are activities my body cannot do again, I was a power forward/basketball center, a baseball/softball catcher, I was so good my boy cousins stopped challenging me to "Horse" their tender egos couldn't stand being trolled. And I was the only person in my neighborhood with a strong enough arm to throw to bases, didn't pitch because I DIDN'T want to, and the windup in Girls Softball was asinine in the first place. So have I given you enough reasons to seek surgery at this Golden Time? Don't let Obesity side-line You like it ended up for me, Go and enjoy fitness in Your Life! Frustr8 out for I have spoke my piece.😝🎄😝🎁and Happy Christmas!

I understand the rant, *smile* I don't think people know what a healthy BMI looks like. People cant help but notice our weight loss. Yes, Is it rude that people comment on our appearance. WIll it stop them. NO. The rapid weight loss is hard enough for us to deal with. People don't realise the comments can be a mind fu**. I kid you not, My bariatric support group nurse told me I would look less skeletal if I gained 10 pounds (I was at a healthy BMI nowhere near anorexic) The same day my surgeon told me if I lost 10 pounds I would be my ideal weight. Visit with my family Dr. The front desk secretary had not seen me in six months. As I passed her desk, she reached out and wrapped both hands around my thigh and said "your so small" In what world is this appropriate - Awkward moment. Top weight loss comments Don't lose any more weight Do you have cancer? You look gaunt and old you didn't have to work as hard you look great now - (I guess I looked crappy before) Years out, most people just except this is me and are used to my size. They have forgotten how overweight I was. The comments have stopped and life is normal.

All of us here have struggled with our weight. Diets did not work for us long term. This is the reason we had surgery....... Some things to think about and try . Pre -operation weight loss: I had a six month weight loss requirement by my insurance. Many people here are also losing weight without surgery to get approval. It's a more realistic diet plan. People in pre op phase can relate to what you are going through. They will be a great support system. Pre op weight loss for me was 1000 to 1200 calories 60 to 100 grams protein - 50 to 80 grams carbs - Carbs came from mostly plant based sources-( no bread, rice pasta or processed food) My dieticians bariatric recipes - Nutrition should be flavorful to sustain it long term: http://insidekarenskitchen.com/bariatric-friendly-recipes/ Food log and drink plenty of water: Log your food in myfitnesspal or lose it . It becomes habit and much easier to do over time- If you are not logging you have no idea where your calories actually are. You can't out exercise a poor diet - Knowing your calories and macros will make a difference. food app downloads: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.myfitnesspal.android&hl=en_US https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fitnow.loseit Search for pre op weight loss in the search option on this site for support: https://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/416984-pre-op-weight-loss/?tab=comments#comment-4661471 https://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/421170-weight-loss-pre-surgery-doctor-required/?tab=comments#comment-4720075 https://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/421661-what-is-expected-weight-loss-in-pre-op-diet-anybody-else-had-issues-with-menstrual-due-to-diet/?tab=comments#comment-4727598

I was still on the liquid diet when we went on a family vacation and I was far from pleasant!! I was a total bitch!! Everyone was eating and having a good time and I was watching them getting madder and madder!!! I really had to make many apologies at the end of that vacation!! But my friend it does get better!! I still have times when I crave certain things and I do have problems with wanting to snack before I go to bed (I try to eat healthy things but some are semi healthy)!! I am 7 months out and I still have to weigh my food and time myself between bites and I may have to do that for a very long time!! But I joined the gym and I have come off my blood pressure medicine (I was taking 2 a day), no more sleep apnea and I feel better than I have in years!! Yes my hair has thinned but I’m hoping that it will soon start growing again! Vitamins, I use the chews from Bariatric Advantage and I have not had a problem at all and they taste pretty good!! Things will get better and you will be thankful for this journey!! I am still in my infancy of this journey and my fear is going back to my old ways!! But I am more aware of the things I really need to work on!! Yes you will over eat from time to time, I have thrown up many times but now only every once in a while! Good luck!! SW: 246 GW: 160 CW: 151.2 Now the hard part is learning to maintain through a different way of living!!

Most of this just need time. On the hair, the best you can do is get your protein and vitamins and hope. Some folks also do some other supplements, so hopefully they'll post here. Most people don't start feeling full until they start eating real food. And sometimes that fullness feels differently than you're used to. Tired - I was really tired for the first 6 weeks. I started teleworking on week 3 and, I'll admit, it was hard. But by week 4 I was back at the office and made it through every day. I'm now just over 7 weeks out and don't feel tired anymore. On vitamins - try different things. I've been using the Bariatric fusion chewables - orange. I started out with 2 a day and fairly quickly worked myself up to the recommended 4. If you're worried, it might be worth seeing which vitamins have a sample pack and getting a few to see which ones work best with you. Like I said, I'm just over 7 weeks out and my life is pretty much back to normal. I'm no longer tired. Sure, I eat less, but I can eat pretty much anything I try (although I don't eat beef or poultry, so not sure how they'd go down right now). I was able to go out to eat with a friend before a show on Friday. Had a great dinner- shared some shrimp and asparagus tapas with her and she got another one for herself. I didn't feel at all deprived and it was super fun to be out. You'll get there - it just takes time.

I had surgery about the same time you did. At 8 weeks, I'm cleared to eat anything other than raw veg (but I dont eat beef or poultry, so my NUT didn't have to worry about that). I typically have a protein shake for breakfast Some of my go-tos for lunch/dinner: Ricotta bake (someone posted above). I'll also add well cooked and well chopped spinach to this. Tilapia or Mahi-mahi. basically just spray a bit of olive oil and sprinkle some herbs (or cajun spice) and sautee. Or sprinkle with herbs and parm and bake. Also fire roasted tomato tilapia from bariatric foodie Shrimp - basically the same as above. Or saute with garlic tuna salad egg salad beans (I still mostly puree these) with cheese melted tofu with veg and a tiny bit of sauce hummus with parm chips an egg (sometimes I'll add some salsa, cheese and guac) To this I'll add at least a bit of veg: riced cauliflower, zucchini, green beans, etc. And for a treat sometimes, I'll have hot chocolate: 1 cup fairlife milk, 1 TBL unsweetened cocoa, 1-2 packets stevia, and a drop of vanilla.