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I had the band in 2005. Lived with it (miserably) for 5 years. Had it taken out in 2010. My surgeon offered to convert me then, but I really had enough of living with the band and wasn't comfortable with anything more aggressive. Fast forward to 2016. I did well maintaining my weight until I had some personal issues in my life. Looking back, I did a lot of binge eating and certainly wasn't making good choices. Gained back all of my weight and am just fortunate that I didn't gain too much more than my original starting weight. I began looking into the sleeve in 2016, went back/forth for more than a year when I finally realized that I needed help, more help than willpower could satisfy. I was sleeved April of this year. I've lost 68 lbs. Since I've been down the bariatric road before, my new dietary habits fit like a glove and I feel like I've done well. I still have a few pounds to go to meet my ultimate goal with my mini-goal to get into Onderland. I did develop a little reflux after the procedure, but in all honesty, I had it before the sleeve. It varied in intensity and my doctor believes that it was largely situational (diet, obesity, etc). It's well managed now with Nexium and I'm hoping that I can consider a trial run without it soon.

I went to the info seminar the Baptist East Bariatric has. Where are you having your surgery?

Ok so don't laugh. I'm 4.5 years post VSG. I lost about 90 lbs, had some regain, had some health issues, had a doctor put me on LCHF eating (keto) and have lost all of that regain. But I never made my initial goal so I have about 25 lbs to go before I'm there. That same doctor who gave me some ugly health news has ORDERED me to start an exercise regimen. I have a cushy membership to my local Y, which is PLUSH. seriously, very very nice, clean and a huge facility. Bottom line? I'm absolutely scared to death to go. I've talked with a couple of the trainers, There is only one female, and I need to work with a female for sure. She is decently versed in exercise and fitness but not at all in the metabolic needs of bariatric patents nor anything about LCHF. I have this really bad fear of being watched, laughed at, etc. Don't know why. Used to be a gym nut many years ago in college. How do I conquer this?? Any suggestions for the gym-phobic??

I've have my first appointment with the bariatric surgeon next week, but am becoming worried that my insurance, United Healthcare, may not cover the operation. I was told by them on the phone that hyptertension counted as a comorbidity. However, after reading the lengthy policy statement, it seems to indicate that insurance is only covered if your high blood pressure is not well controlled by medication. Also, I'm at the low end of the BMI requirements. If I diet for six months, as required for the insurance, I risk falling below the required 35 BMI. This all seems counterintuitive. Has anyone had experience with these situations?

You look great! Wish I had such a good before shot. I knew it at the time, too, but the idea of getting in front of that camera in all my glory held me back, LOL. My bariatric program warns us off all pre-made food, anything you don't prepare yourself. Surprised to see quite a few people on here doing them, but I'm clueless--maybe they're super healthy. Of course, I'm living in boring, repetitive food world. Lots of yogurt and cottage cheese, chicken and reduced fat cheese. They're not even letting me eat beef yet, though I know I'll get cleared for that phase on Monday at my nutrition appointment. And there may have been a cookie incident last night I'm considering posting about, so there's that. Anyway, don't let the stall demotivate you!! It will happen to us all at some point. One of the best things about a group like this. :) Thank you! And thank you for sharing your cookie incident, I do think I need to prepare my own food and keep it simple as your team recommends. The other is what got me overweight and it’s just too easy to slip back. There are healthy premade options but it’s a slippery slope for me because then I want Chipotle and then I want take-out. I’ve also started working back with my personal trainer 3 days a week so that could be part of this stall too. I think that is making me hungrier too.

HI Sleevers! I am 11 days post op and for the past 24 hours I have been experiencing periodic stomach pains that make me stop in my tracks, hunch over, and say awe. It all started after I tried a bariatric advantage chewy vitamins and the stomach pains came. I experience the pain on the left side of the stomach. I have called the doctor and they are not concerned but I am not drinking or eating because it increases the pain. I will be going in for IV fluids. Have anyone else experienced this? * I have pooped twice in one day on day one of the pain.

It is not so much that we have to “diet forever” but that we need to eat correct portion sizes and type of food for proper weight management. The amount we ate pre-WLS was not appropriate so we need to rediscover what normal/healthy portions are. This is what normal-sized people do too, that did not have bariatric surgery.

I don't know whether to laugh, cry or raise my fists to the heavens. My story is I had a lapband in 2009 in Australia which never worked. I have/had Type 2 diabetes so my Irish diabetes doc referred me in 2016 to Irish Bariatric Doc to look at having revision surgery. Long waiting list (Ireland only does 150 bariatric surgeries on the public list, a year) , but I finally got at appointment with him in Feb 2018 (two and a half hour drive to see him) and he suggested revision to sleeve and put me on waiting list for surgery (I even have that letter that says I am on the waiting list for SURGERY in capital letters!!) In the meantime, I try again with lapband although fills bring on reflux. I hear about the EU cross-border directive (EU law says any EU citizen can get needed medical treatment and home state reimburses cost) and think yippee. At June appointment with Irish Bariatric Doc's junior team member I ask them to write referral for overseas and they say no they don't do that. Disappointed I do bit more research and discover if I'm already on waiting list I can use that as my paperwork. Because Irish medical system is so bureaucratic they make it seem like you really need prior referral from your Irish doc (even though EU law doesn't require it) I google Irish Bariatric Doc's email and email him directly to ask if he will sign prior approval application. He rings because email got garbled and I should send it again. On phone, he cryptically replies he doesn't think overseas surgery is "best way forward for service" (what the hell, does that mean? I can tell you what it sounds like: "I don't want to lose all my patients and funding for our research projects to overseas because its quicker and cheaper"). But he never replies to my email request. So I give that option up and decide to have the surgery and just put in the paperwork for reimbursement and hope it works because I fulfil all the EU law requirements even if the Irish want to make things hard. The Belgium experience goes off without a hitch ONE MONTH LATER (up yours waiting list) and my diabetes instantly resolves, I am 16 kilos down and counting. Loving getting thinner, can move more easily etc, helloooooo better health. Didn't bother telling Irish Bariatric Doc because he never got back to me. I put in a Freedom of Information request to get all my medical records from Irish Bariatric Doc so I can show I needed to have the surgery and I was already on waiting list etc etc etc. They give them to me, lots of lovely referral letters and discussions about lapband not working and reflux problems etc and being referred for sleeve etc. So, today I get a letter from Irish Bariatric Doc to say he is not going to fill in the prior authorisation form because he doesn't even know whether I need surgery, I'm on waiting list to see bariatric surgeon for appointment to discuss but that's a very long list, and let's talk about it at our next appointment (which will be June 2019). What. The. Hell? Seriously. I don't know whether to laugh uproariously or spit in rage. AYAAA! Sent from my SM-G930F using BariatricPal mobile app

You look great! Wish I had such a good before shot. I knew it at the time, too, but the idea of getting in front of that camera in all my glory held me back, LOL. My bariatric program warns us off all pre-made food, anything you don't prepare yourself. Surprised to see quite a few people on here doing them, but I'm clueless--maybe they're super healthy. Of course, I'm living in boring, repetitive food world. Lots of yogurt and cottage cheese, chicken and reduced fat cheese. They're not even letting me eat beef yet, though I know I'll get cleared for that phase on Monday at my nutrition appointment. And there may have been a cookie incident last night I'm considering posting about, so there's that. Anyway, don't let the stall demotivate you!! It will happen to us all at some point. One of the best things about a group like this. :)

Ok, sorry I couldn't get here to post. Hate posting from my phone and was out all day yesterday. Gah! So I don't know what to say to you hon? I do know some peeps with kidney and cardio issues survive on much less than the 48oz our surgeons tell us is the "dead" minimum for us. I think at the end my dad had like a 1000ml limit per day? Or something like that? What I do know is that as we age, we have a tendency not to fully hydrate and we also lose our thirst mechanism. So many old peeps are chronically dehydrated. That causes ALL kinds of health issues especially as it pertains to vitamins/mins/electrolytes. I also know that when we make ourselves drink, we wake up our thirst. Don't know why or how it happens. I can easily forget to drink. But when I do, I'm much, much, hungrier. I also think that it makes swallowing for me harder? Can't substantiate that though. I can now gulp water--if it's roomish temp. But if it's cold, then I have to slowly sip cuz it goes down in big "rocks" or lumps. And I can drink warm water/tea/coffee all day at very hot temps and I just want more and more. Probably the most of my liquid or at least 50/50 is in hot liquids. Cups of hot stuff. The only thing that concerns me about only having 20oz per day, is that humans get as much as 80% of their "water" from foods. And as bariatrics, we're not eating that much! So we have to realize that our fluid consumption has to be thought of independently. What does your doc say about the amount you drink? Great that you have wonderful labs, but also know you're early days for lab crap to really show its ugly face. That can take as long as a couple of years of more? Maybe you're just "special" We know you are, princess! Queen of Cardio! 🦄

I was doing my morning obsessive reading and came upon this interesting PubMed article that gives a nice, comprehensive list outlining the effects of macronutrient/micronutrient deficiencies on your skin. Linky to the article..."Skin changes after bariatric surgery" https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4371663/ A screenshot of the chart for quick reference is below. Direct linky to the chart image https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4371663/table/t01/?report=objectonly

Hello all, I would sincerely like to thank all of you who participated in the survey I posted on here a while ago collecting data for research regarding psychological support post bariatric surgery. It is my honour to announce it has been published by 'Obesity Surgery' Journal in the US. You can see the article here: https://rdcu.be/bbOIJ Thanks Again, Ashley Ristanto.

I do too. Although each fillet is 6oz and all I can eat is 2, so that’s a bit inconvenient. I’ve tried to chop them frozen with a cleaver, but that makes a mess. :). So quick to cook. Made a great tilapia the other day. Bariatric Foodie’s tilapia with fire roasted tomato sauce (minus the asparagus) - so good!!!

Guys I'm feeling so fucked up. So much stuff is going on that's not bariatric elated. I really need some help. I'm at work right now so I can't take my proper medication. The next best thing for me is music because I refuse to acknowledge the pile of treats and crap given to me by various people at our holiday party today. I'm tired of my playlist. Send me some positive vibes. If you can embed a video from youtube great! If not just type the song name and artist. I'll listen to any genre anyone submits as long as it's positive! Help me Obi-wan Kenobi. You're my only hope!

Were you denied by the insurance company or the bariatric program? It **seems** like the insurance was on board--is OSU not an approved provider? Are they considered out of network? If OSU denied it, you might need to find a new program, as they could have more stringent guidelines than your insurance. University centers can be very strict because they usually have targeted populations that they want to recruit for research purposes, tied to their grant funding. My advice is to call both your insurance and OSU, find out exactly where the hiccup was, and then appeal if appropriate...or find ask your doctor to refer you somewhere else. Good luck!

Sorry to bump an ancient thread, but I have been dreading getting my first colonoscopy since long before I got my VGS surgery. I was wondering if anyone had experiences with any of the alternative, new colonoscopy methods that are sometimes recommended for bariatric patients?

Hey Y 'all, I'm In need of a Little Help, If Possible...…..Its a Long Shot.... Does Anyone have any Unopened OR Extra products of the Bariatric Advantage Brand*?!? My Dr has told me that at my Pre-Op Class I 'HAVE' to Buy their Bariatric Advantage(Pre-Op) Kit* OR buy the Products IN the Kit* OR They WILL Cancel my Surgery!!! I'm scared I wont be able to get it; since I had late Notice, and this Surgery Means Everything to me(and my Kids Future)!! The Kit cost $320, and I was JUST told about this recently; and with the Holidays here we are short on money(have 3 kids)!! Here is the List* of Products(I NEED) in Kit(ALL Bariatric Advantage Brand😞 2* LG Bags of HPMR (Protein Powder) Multi-Vitamins Chewable (60Count) Iron Chewable (90count) Vitamin D Gels (30Count) Omega3 Chews(60Count) B12 Melts (30Count) FloraVantage Probiotic Chews (90Count) Calcium Citrate Chewable (90Count) Balanced Soup (Carton 14packets) … I know Its a Long Shot but if anyone might have any of these, and not using/Extra I would be Very Grateful if you could send them to me!! Thanks in Advance!

Just be careful. They make us consume so much protein because bariatric surgery patients become protein deficient if we don't, especially in the rapid weight loss phase. Ditto on vitamins and minerals, especially calcium. I was reading about this in journal articles on Pubmed. Pissed me off a little that the nutritionist never explained WHY. Here I was thinking it was like an Atkins thing, when really far more important than that.

I agree. I've found it used friendly and awesome because it's tailored to bariatric patients. Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using BariatricPal mobile app

I had my surgery on June 1st, 2018 by Dr. Monk in York, Pa. I've experienced nothing but good from Dr. Monk and his team. I chose this surgeon because he has an amazing sense of humor, a stellar track record, and he preformed my grandmother's bypass years ago. I know I definitely made the right decision. If you are looking for a surgeon in south/central PA, I highly recommend Dr. Monk and his team at Wellspan Bariatric Surgery in York.

What-t-t? Bariatric Surgeons usually fix such things during the surgeries. You need Sherlock Holmes on this case! Paging Dr Holmes!

I have a rant/complaint. This is December 5th, yeah less than 3 weeks until Christmas and I'm not sleeping. Just saw an Aldi commercial on TV for the eleventeenth time. Now Aldi' s is a nice enough place, have shopped there and saved money. And this advert is saying Food=Love. How many of us found ourselves heading to Bariatric Surgery for this reason? It is difficult to recover from alcohol addiction, rougher yet to recover from drugs, but when you are a "foodaholic: it is a life-long trial to become fast-food, high calorie SOBER. And it could have gone back to the 3 bags of Aldi chocolate chips YOU THOUGHT would make you a BETTER personmvNews Flash, They didn't!😧😪😧

Meant to add the psych evaluation and all the other jazz is also to be done as mandated by your bariatric center. They also prefer you elect what they call “a center of excellence” as a place you have the procedure done. You can verify if your center is one by either calling or when you can log into the site with your policy info.

Hi, Jessica! I used to be an everyday smoker but quit when I realized I wanted venture down this journey I quit and that was back in April/May 2018. I was completely honest with my whole Bariatrics team in this process even though it delayed me getting the surgery. My first drug test came back Positive, which was devastating but kind of expected and had to wait three months to get my second one. I passed my second drug test with flying colors. It’s always important to tell your doctor things that you’ve taken or done just in case, you never know what could happen. My Mom has been as avid weed smoker and has been for many, many years, when she has surgeries her anesthesiologist always suggest she stops smoking before hand because they’re worried about how her body will receive the anesthesia. Just be careful, girl! And good luck!💜

I'm not at that point yet, but found several recipes on yummly for post bariatric surgery. Sent from my LGL59BL using BariatricPal mobile app