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If you go, try to find someone who is highly bariatric competent. We are now different beasts and "one size fits all "may not fit you. I have a PICC LINE because my gastro- intestinal system needs the rest to heal and I could not get enough protein by mouth to heal. All our cases differ but still there are a few truths to be found. Your quality of life is becoming untenable. You should not have to live like this.

Bariatric weight loss is nothing magic. Follow your plan and put the work in. Weight Loss success stories https://www.bariatricpal.com/forum/1298-weight-loss-surgery-success-stories/ Tell your weight loss story https://www.bariatricpal.com/forum/1297-tell-your-weight-loss-surgery-story/ Before and afters https://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/297668-i-want-to-see-before-after-pics-contd/

Hey guys, a few months back I posted a message talking about how rude my gastric sleeve surgeon was to me. He told me I was a failure, there was nothing else he could do for me, maybe I could get on Medifast, he didn't have to see me again, among other things. I tried to explain to him, I never had the restriction I should have had with my sleeve. He preceded to tell me, people, who don't do what they are supposed to do always find excuses. Well, well, well, guess what! He's the one who didn't do what he was supposed to do. I was able to get in with one of the best bariatric surgeons in the state and he immediately set me up for an endoscopy and barium test. Both tests came back and showed what I knew all along, he left too much stomach in. I was a little nervous because I found out that my new doctor recently got in with the group of doctors with my old surgeon. I expressed my concerns with him. I asked him could he be fair and truthful, being that this other doctor was his partner now, in a sense. He preceded to tell me his patients come first and the test doesn't lie. My other concern was how would I handle this. I knew my insurance plan didn't pay for revision surgery and I knew I couldn't pay out of pocket, but why should I when the proof was right there in black and white, that he didn't do what he was supposed to do. After I calmed down and allowed a cooler head to prevail, I spoke with my doctor about what could be done. He told me to let his office handle the insurance company, once he shows them my test results and he let them know why I need revision surgery, he believes that would get me approved for the revision surgery. The first letter came back and it was denied, but a few days later I got my approval letter! My revision surgery is January 21, 2019. I'm now in talks with the hospital, I told them I shouldn't have to pay again for something their doctor didn't do correctly. To me, this is an open and shut case of malpractice, but all I want is my surgery done correctly and to let his group know what he did. I put in a formal complaint with BC/BS and with the hospital on him. What would you guys do? Would you be happy with getting your surgery over or would you pursue a malpractice case?

@Cynisca, thank you for your honest opinion. I have always been a person that dots all my i's and cross my t's. I obtained one of the best bariatric surgeons in the state. He did an endoscopy and a barium test on me. The test came back and showed what I knew in my heart all along, there was way too much stomach left. So this doctor was not only rude, he failed to do my surgery correctly. Even though I feel this is an open and shut case of malpractice, all I want is my surgery done over and for my insurance company and the big group of doctors he works with to know what he did. My insurance plan did not cover revision surgery, but through God's grace, they approved me for revision. Now I'm in talks with the hospital. I told them I shouldn't have to pay another penny out of pocket for something one of their doctors didn't do right. The doctor I'm with now recently became apart of this group of doctors with my old surgeon. I prayed about it and asked him could he be fair with me and truthful about what his colleague did or didn't do. So far I have been very pleased with him. My revision surgery is January 21, 2019.

Hi everyone, I’m at currently at Mexicali Bariatric center 1 day post resleeve and duodenal switch. I feel feel great. All doctors and nurse are very attentive, clean facilities, great price! Can asked for more. Excited to see my weight loss and maintenance progress.

One step at a time. This is just a consultation - you're not committing to anything. You don't need to be sure to meet with the surgeon. And if you meet with him/her - even multiple times, you're not required to go through with anything. Go, talk, write down some of your concerns and talk to the doc about them. It took me a year to really decide to do this, but while I was thinking about it I continued to do the steps my insurance required. They also likely have a bariatric support group. Go to that and talk to folks who have had the surgery to see how it is. In the meantime, read your insurance booklet. It should tell you its requirements (mine were 3 months supervised diet - 1 appointment a month, 2 years diagnosed obesity, and either a 35 BMI with comorbidities or a 40 BMI). Some insurance requires longer supervised diet, some require you to lose some % of body weight before surgery approval. One doctor I saw had his own requirements. Things like doing an endoscopy, and seeing an exercise physiologist. As for recovery - that will depend on the surgery. I had the sleeve and mine was fairly easy. Post-op diet will vary by doctor. Again, go into the appointment with your mind open. You haven't decided anything. You're information gathering. That way you can make an informed decision one way or another. Good luck.

I've always struggled with my weight. Always was a big girl. I spent several years without insurance so I have been unable to go to the doctors for regular check ups Until this year (2018). Fast forward to this past October, I went in for an issue with my foot, most likely stemming from my weight and poor choice of foot wear. I weighed in at 316 lbs. My doctor was concerned about my blood pressure and overall health. She referred me to a bariatric surgeon. I have an appointment for a consultation after the new year. I know I will get a LOT of information at the consultation, and I've done a bunch of research on the 3 surgeries that Kaiser offers. I'm getting married next year, we want to have kids in the next few years. From first hand experience, what should I expect? If I go through with the surgery how long does it take to schedule? How did you do recovery-wise? I felt like I could lose the weight on my own, have been working out and cutting out soda, sweets and carbs but I have only lost about 10lbs. Both my doctor and nutritionist told me to consider the surgery. I dunno, I'm nervous about surgery.

I had my first appointment with my Bariatric surgeon yesterday! So exciting! He is confident that I will reach my goal weight within 6 months post op. I hear what he is saying. I hear everyone on here. I can rationally think that the surgery will help me reach my goal weight. However, it seems unreal. I can’t imagine not being overweight. I can’t get my mind wrapped around the idea that I am going to lose weight. Did anyone else experience these thoughts? It just seems too good to be true.

I thought Bariatric Advantage tasted good and mixes well (thats what my surgeon pushed as well). But it also cost WAY WAY more than any protein supplement should, and it has a lot of "filler" crap in it (which is why one scoop is 160 calories despite having 27g of protein from Whey Isolate, and the ingredient list is the size of a small country) Its not a bad product by any means, but I do think there is far better stuff out there.

https://www.mdedge.com/acssurgerynews/article/77199/general-surgery/colorectal-cancer-risk-increased-bariatric-surgery

Sound advice My surgeon (who I've only seen once) has Bariatric Advantage samples and stuff scattered throughout the office. I'm assuming when the time comes, that's what will be pushed upon me. Any thoughts on that brand?

We had our Bariatric Support Group Holiday party and I won a $20.00 gift certificate to the bariatric store (my bariatric surgeon has a store in the office). When I go to see him next month I will be buying some bariatric stuff (food, protein drinks, etc). They had a raffle for these certificates this year, last year they had trophies.

This was exactly the kind of stuff I wanted to see! You're post was perfect! You see, I think I have a myth in my own head that I need to dispel and I'm trying to make a generalization. That myth is--that normal sized people live on the 2000 calorie day diet to stay fit and healthy paired with reasonable daily activity! But I think if more people step forward to say what they really get to eat to survive at goal, I would find they are eating less than 1000 calories per day! If you tell one of your normal, "skinny" friends that you only eat 1000 calories each day, they would probably be astonished, right? As a bariatric patient, I was expecting that I would be eating 800-1000 calories each day until my goal weight, then up the intake until I maintained. My brain believes that based on my current reasonable activity, my age, my height, and a poor set of metabolic genetics, that I should expect to live the rest of my life on a 1500ish calorie diet, but maybe this is a lofty expectation! Am I fooling myself? The very reason I'm asking for this generalization is I KNOW there are many of us who need to dispel "the myth." It will be different for everyone, but NOT incredibly different. YOU LOOK AMAZING BY THE WAY. There is a little piece of me that is sad that your diet is so restricted to keep a good handle on all your progress, but I appreciate your feed back so much. I need a good dose or realism.

I was allowed to have broth and strained soups (so healthy soups run through a strainer). Bariatric Pal has some protein soups - I didn't like them, but some people do I really like the Millie's sipping broth. Counts as some of your liquid. You can put unflavored protein powder (note - it is not no flavor, just no additional flavor).

I like several of the bariatric Pal soups and broths

Call on me Teacher- I know the answer! Please Please Please! Extra urine sample is for,pregnancy rule'out Blood sample- my Bariatric hospitall will not operate on someone with blood sugar above 100. They rationalize- if you have been fasting for 8-14 hours and you are still THAT HIGH, it Bears more study. Happened to me, luckily I had been early, only had fasted for 5 hours, but my big bad self,laid there until they got one of 80 and became satisfied.

And some testimony from the Elder of the Pack. Like🐭🐺(mousecat) I too had to be there at 5Am for a 7AM surgery time, first thing on my Dr Needleman's surgery schedule at Ohio State University Hospital- Wexner Medical Center, sound like a big name- You ought see how area it really takes up. But they made me feel like I was the most important, indeed like I was the only patient. Signed in at front door, had my own person to deliver me to the designated pre-surgery area, once there I changed out of my clothes and in to their patient gown. And then I tinkled, see we had a pact going, if I would void as much fluid out as possible, I would not have to be "cathed", worth it to me. Got comity in my bed, and then, since I was Surgery #1 Dr Needleman brought in the bulk of. the surgical team. That was so very nice of him, in the back of my mind was the niggling worry since this was a teaching hospital I might be someone's practice dummy. He promised it would be him and him alone doing what needed done. Promised when they bring you in I'll wave. Didn't have to do that for me, but it was so cool he wanted to allay my fears. And my anesthesiologist was named David, said I could him Dave if I liked. Stayed until I was relaxed, Dave might have slipped so Happy Juice in while we were talking, but it was okay. And in deference to my age there would be a pulmonologist and cardiologist also there, you see I was and maybe the only 72 year old patient he would have. His bio said he had done 70s before, one of the reasons I chose him. He is also the chief of Bariatric Medicine and Metabolic Weight Loss, a full Professor in the College of Medicine, trained many bariatric surgeons in the Midwest. I had said to myself" Frustr8 You are going to have this chance, your one chance, you deserve it, grant yourself THE VERY BEST possible. Like my buddy above I also have had multiple surgeries, but OSU was the first place to have non-swerving, non-wobble gurneys. Now others have said the Operating Theatre was cold, mine wasn't, that they are going to strap you down , strip you, place your arms in a crucifixion postion, nope none of those things happened. They offered to help me slide over onto the Operating table, nope this old girl can still do a few things herself. And this was the first one I ever encountered that I didn't feel I would immediately roll off the other side. And although they were super efficient, it was still quite relaxed. There was Dr Needleman over to my left,waving vigorously, yeah he really WAS THERE! And over on the other side sitting on stools was my cardio and pulmo guys, and they saluted. Then Dave tu led blankets that were warm around me, said Are you comfty, and called me by name. I said" Yes I believe I am" and that quickly I was asleep. The very next thing I knew I was in my room on 10 Doan, stretched like I was waking up from a summer,nap, except I had oxygen on and EKG leads on, but I felt good, no nausea, no tenderness, being a little of a Doubting Thomasina, I flipped my gown up to make certain they had done surgery. Figured if they had I would be heavily bandaged, nope no ABD, just 6 little criss-cross steri- strips and one in the top of my navel. Now I knew why they told me to scrub my navel well, he likes to use them. Since I had a scar on the bottom from my tubal ligation some 30 years ago, he used the top, until the swelli,g went down a little I had a kissing navel. Never had pain, my tummy was as flat as when I went in so no residual gas to expell. And I was expecting to feel like too many sit-ups, can't say I had that either. I did get to stay until Friday, because of my advanced age(on paper- I am not that old physically, PO's my PCP greatly, think I didn't break down and fall apart yet. All his Gloom and Doom was for naught!) But mine was so good I would not fear another, but Praise God a RnY is One and Done. Yeah the thing I used most was 10 foot long charging cord I got at Staples, comb, brush, chap stick and Biotene. And I will also Welcome You to the Kangaroo Klub. Why Kangaroo, you might ask ? Because, honey, we all now have pouches.😝👼😝

I was trying to tell my bariatric skrink this same thing. SHE was trying to tell me that shouldn't be a high priority goal. I was like, look lady. I'm as feminist as it gets, just shy of radical only because I know we need men to procreate.🤣 Is it so wrong that I want to look good on the arm of my wife? Not even for the sake of my OWN feelings? My MAIN reason for doing this was my diabetes diagnosis. I told my doc at the time, " hell naw! I'm 27, I aint takin' no insulin! Get off my lawn!" She told me. Well I guess yo big ass better lose some weight! OK she didn't say it like that. Tad more professional. So my reasons for doing this are very logical and reasonable. It just irks me whenever I mention that I also want to FEEL pretty, it upsets her for some reason.

I have went to the bariatric doctor and she told me I meet the criteria for the weight loss surgery. Now I have to attend a seminar and I have to go back to the bariatric surgery on 2/13/19 and she will set me up with a surgeon. She said it will be about four months out. I was right on the cusp for meeting the criteria with a 36 BMI with high blood pressure. She told me not to lose any weight or gain any. She made it sound like I am on my way, but I know there are other things I have to do. I checked with my insurance company and they will pay, but I'm so afraid something will happen to keep me from having it. I am 5'4 and 220 pounds. Anyone else with my height and weight had the surgery?

🐭🐺glad the Bariatric vets have started taking better care of my buddy! Stands to reason, very little in, very little out! Stay sweet through all you encounter, we are going to heal!

Check out the Skinnytaste website. The meals aren't bariatric, but they're diet-friendly and she posts all the nutrition information

Hola! The majority of everyone knows I am tackling a marginal ulcer. It was pretty much healed up, but they I mysteriously started getting severe nausea last Tuesday - present. I've had a bit of nausea since surgery.... but now it is SO much worse. Gets way worse by 3 or 4pm through bedtime. I've been on Zofran, Phenergan, and Reglan, all of which didn't help (the Reglan may have, but it made me fall asleep instantly, lol). I also take some aloe juice because why not, I guess. The emergency room gave me a script for Compazine. I took some last night along with a 40mg Pepcid and it worked. FINALLY. Compazine is for severe nausea AND an antipsychotic. Has anyone taken this long-term? I am already on an SSRI and Compazine affects dopamine, so I don't think it'll interact. I am just happy something helped, really. The dry-heaving has re-irritated the ulcer, which was *almost* healed. I gotta be on something to stop this. They thought the nausea was since I (now) haven't gone #2 in 13 days, but a CT Scan revealed I had NO stool in me at all. No leaks or anything, either! Nothing going on in any of my organs, including the pouch. Labs all perfecto. I'm thinking it's just bad stomach acid in the evenings. No one has an answer... saw the ER doc and they consulted the bariatric surgeons on-call. Full of mysteries! Is there a question in all of this? I dunno. LOL.

Have you tried Pinterest? They have a lot of meal ideas. I am not 6 weeks out yet so i cant help much, but i have looked on Pinterest and there is a lot of Bariatric recipes out there.

I was using my fitness pal n my dietician says that my fitness pal is for general weight loss it does not take into consideration that bariatric patients caloric needs are different not as many calories needed. So she guided me to a site called baritastic. My issues is focusing enough to track and log and portion consistently. Sent from my SM-J327T using BariatricPal mobile app

Because some9ne unknown did that to me a 22nd I can't repair it. Many people and I suspect yo7 are one, work off a laptop or other computer. I do not, my correspondence is on the Android app on my semi-Smartphone. I say semi because it spells and posts items willy-nilly. I'm sure you remember December 2017 when I came to Bariatric Pal as a rank newbee, you remember all my trials and tribulations until I finally achieved my RnY on September 5th 2018, yet that erroneous date follows me around like an unwanted rectal fissure. And I am Ding-Dong-Delled if I can find a way to repair it! I begged Ken and Alex on bended cursor to somehow purge it off of me, because I don't have the Internet Knowledge to rid it. At 3-and- half months post I am just an early 2nd semester Freshman but I look up to you Sophmores and want to follow in many of your footsteps but yet drag that 2014 date along with me. In 2014 I was obese , sad and didn't even plan a Bariatric Future, thought I was too broken down, no surgeon would give me the time of day, let alone operate. So it is Wrong Wrong Wrong!