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3 small meals, 3 snacks was the original directive. Go no more than 2-3 hours without something going on. Well honest that's what THEY SAID. My real life, water of some sort when I wake up, either plain or Nestle Splash no calorie, take am pills, try to down 2-oz every 15 minutes, hopefully I took my Carafate at 6Am and my Zofran at 8Am or my day goes badly. 9-10 am protein shake, getting down to soy and pea not my favorite or dry powder from Bariatric Pal. WARNING-DO NOT BUY THE NY CHEESECAKE flavor, I whipped up frozen unsweetened strawberries in it this AM, still FOUL! Tak8ng it 2 oz by 2 oz grimacing all the way. Why don't I dump it, hate to throw that money away. Then lunch time, strained soup with protein powder added, after long enough start on the water torture every 15 minutes, for dinner broth , soup , something with scoop of protein added. Try mightly to get the 90 grams of protein Dr Noria wants for healing those ulcers. Calories, hopefully 600-800 if I have done things right, don't miss zofran, don't miss Carafate, make sure multivitamin, B12 get taken. Live a sad little life, not much flavor, keep it smooth, keep it liquid. Don't rock the boat, I defecate every 2-3 days, often needing prompting. Void 4 to 6 times daily smells of mutivitamins et all. I know everyone has their own JOURNEY but it is lonely being a Stricture Kid, having a pouch,that hurts almost constantly, hard to descern ulcer pain from hunger, emotionally I want to eat , but my body doesn't accept much. Surgery weight was 319, now I am somewhere in the mid 270s, maybe purchase a scale the first of December, first time I have lived somewhere with smooth level floors. And the only joys I have, my son, my cats and Bariatric Pals that I have made. I do make an attempt to be upbeat but it is becoming harder, I see no bright star☀or Sun ahead, had last regular appointment in October, not scheduled for another until December 19th, the average patient is doing well, doesn't need much maintainance, well Dayum I am SPECIAL. Biweekly I go have Dr Noria go try to stretch me somemore, make comments about my,ulcerations and then back home. And like the Little Match Girl staring into the Brightly lit Toy Store, nobody seems to care. Not so much regret as feeling neglected and unfulfilled.

Thank you everyone for your guidance. I called the hospital on Wednesday to find out what I would owe and some one told me I would owe the deductible from my first insurance and they wouldn’t even touch my second insurance which sounded fishy to me because both insurances cover Bariatric surgery because I had to do the pre surgery program required by both insurances hence why it took me a whole year to get approved. so I went to the hospital which is 2 hours away I just couldn’t sleep at night not being truly prepared. The surgery registration said exactly what bluecrush said in the previous comment and that they can’t collect an accurate payment because of the two insurances so I don’t pay anything until after. The registration lady in person said The woman on the phone never pulled my account up she just told me that because people that don’t have 2 insurances have to make up deductible.

You would think that with intolerance to sweet tastes, especially artificially sweet ones, being so common after bariatric surgery that some of these companies would make their products less sweet. I bought a bariatric decaf cappuccino mix and I was really looking forward to it as an alternative to a cold shake. Even after thinning it out and adding extra decaf espresso powder it feels like I'm sipping a cup of old-school Sweet n' Low packets. You can always make something sweeter but it is so hard to make things less sweet when you can only drink a few ounces at a time. I understand products like Premier being sweet because they aren't marketed to WSL patients, but even the specific Bariatric products are ultra sweet. Back to adding unflavored whey to everything, I guess.

I was on Dexilent next, took it faithfully, felt results were good, was faithful up into my bariatric surgery time. Afterward what should rear it's ugly head but omeprazole. Oh no no, I told them THAT doesn't work for me. Their excuse: you can open those capsules and pour it on food or stir into applesauce. Moot point on the capsule opening, I was willing to cut the Dexilent capsules open if that was the rationale.Why not give me something that works instead of that stuff. But they insisted and I finally bent,to their will. 2 weeks in I stated THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG, and at first I was poo!pooed, You're swollen, give yourself time to heal, you're imagining things, my favorite We Are The Bariatric Weight Team, We Know What Is Best For Your Body, yeah Your Degree- My Body! Finally, I suspect, to shut me up they scheduled me an endoscopy, an EGJ, because of course, a bypassers duodenum is never easily visualized again, only the jejunem can be, the price RNY pays. And who was right? ME ME ME! I have lived in this body many years, give me a little credit please! And in addition to the stricture I thought I hand who should be there except 5 new nasty little ulcers 2 in the pouch near the stomal openings and 3 more on the back wall of the,jejunem, all grown with daily dosing of omeprazol. I have had scoping 12th October, 26th October, 9th November and another 23 November, just don' t have designated time yet. And,last time Dr Noria stated the ulceration is worse, I cannot longer be in the presence of an active smoker, indeed not even someone who has tobacco residue on their clothing, I am not yet bleeding or ready to perforated but who knows? Of the precipitating risks? Ischemia from the operation, Roux limb tension, dehydration, difficult to move past when Precious Pouch accepts no more than 3 ounces of anything without active rebellion. And after 10+ weeks it is emotionally wearying, so I have gone back to mini-cup therapy every 15 minutes, manage to get medications, vitamins, minerals in , thing,i may be living on them instead of effective calories. And since I am still on a limited Stage 2 diet it is difficult to be dietarily indisecreet. I have been on Zofran 3 times daily, now have added Carafate every 6 hours around the clock. James I would like to receive some,joy by now! I am dropping weight like an anorexic sailor, I'm tired, dizzy if I exercise very much. Clothes much looser, some people have noticed my weight loss, the average person can't be bothered to care. And I keep on keeping on and yearn for a change.😙😉😳😜

Looking back I had a bit of a freak out before my bypass, even though I've already been down the bariatric surgery route before (with a lapband in 2009). Now, a month later things are so much better and I really do wish I'd done this years ago. But, the Irish have a saying: "what's for you, won't pass you by". If now is the right time, you will get through this difficult stage, but if you're just not ready, then take a breather and reassess why you want /need the surgery, and if you're ready to change your relationship with food and with your body. Sent from my SM-G930F using BariatricPal mobile app

Frustr8, I had one suggestion. I am not really familiar with your case but I wanted to make sure that one more base was covered. According to the internet: Nausea and vomiting are the most common complaints after bariatric surgery, and they are typically associated with inappropriate diet and noncompliance with a gastroplasty diet (ie, eat undisturbed, chew meticulously, never drink with meals, and wait 2 hours before drinking after solid food is consumed). If these symptoms are associated with epigastric pain, significant dehydration, or not explained by dietary indiscretions, an alternative diagnosis must be explored. One of the most common complications causing nausea and vomiting in gastric bypass patients is anastomotic ulcers, with and without stomal stenosis. Ulceration or stenosis at the gastrojejunostomy of the gastric bypass has a reported incidence of 3% to 20%. Although no unifying explanation for the etiology of anastomotic ulcers exists, most experts agree that the pathogenesis is likely multifactorial. These ulcers are thought to be due to a combination of preserved acid secretion in the pouch, tension from the Roux limb, ischemia from the operation, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use, and perhaps Helicobacter pylori infection. Evidence suggests that little acid is secreted in the gastric bypass pouch; however, staple line dehiscence may lead to excessive acid bathing of the anastomosis. Treatment for both marginal ulcers and stomal ulcers should include avoidance of NSAIDs, antisecretory therapy with proton-pump inhibitors, and/or sucralfate. In addition, H pylori infection should be identified and treated, if present. I just wanted to make sure you were tested for Helicobacter pylori infection. This is a fairly common infection. About 50% of the worlds population has it. The symptoms are exasperated by gastric bypass surgery. It is a simple tests. But if you have it, it will be a little difficult to kill this bug. It will take a cocktail of antibiotics to treat and the initial treatment may not kill the infection and you might have to take a second round.

Hey guys, My insurance carrier approved me for surgery a couple of weeks ago and I am scheduled for my VSG on December 17, 2018. I have been holding off on posting and trying not to get too excited because I have been dealing with some issues because my first endoscopy on October 4 showed that I had a few duodenal ulcers, which probably are a result of me taking prescription strength NSAIDs after I had a grade 3 sprain of my ankle last Spring. So, I have taking protonix (2x daily) and carafate (4x daily) since then. I went in for a follow up endoscopy on November 9 to see if the ulcers have resolved, but they couldn't see anything because they I had too much food in my system (despite a 15 hour fast). Apparently, I probably have gastroparesis (delayed gastric [stomach] emptying), either because I have T2DM or because I am taking Victoza and now two ulcer meds (all of which cause gastroparesis). So, now I have a third endoscopy scheduled for next Tuesday and I have to be on a 48 hour clear liquid diet for this one. Fortunately, VSG is one of the treatments used for gastroparesis--if it's not actually caused by the medicines I am taking. I just hope that the ulcers are gone and there's nothing happening in my upper GI that will prevent me from having the surgery on the surgery on 12/17. My bariatric surgeon (Dr. Spencer Holover from the New York Bariatric Group) is going to be performing he endoscopy, so at least I know someone I trust is evaluating the situation. I am just going to keep my fingers crossed and I'll be able to start the journey with you guys. --Steve

Meet Diane*. She had struggled with her eating and body image as far back as she can remember. Having been on every diet under the sun, she still couldn't keep the weight off. In fact, she had dieted herself up to her highest weight ever. When her doctor suggested bariatric surgery she decided it was her only hope. Fast forward to a year after surgery, and Diane has started regaining the weight she lost. There was an initial "honeymoon" period during which she lost weight relatively easily, but now it's creeping back on. She finds herself grazing on food throughout the day, and notes that her stomach holds more food than it did a few months before. Diane cancels her upcoming appointment with her surgeon because she doesn't want to face the embarrassment of getting on the scale and fears ridicule from the surgeon over what she's been doing with her eating. So she avoids in order to save face. (And who can blame her, right?). Time goes on, and eventually Diane is back at her pre-surgery weight. She's devastated. And ashamed. And mad at herself. "I failed again. I'm such a loser," she thinks to herself. But the truth is - SHE DID NOT FAIL. And she certainly isn't a loser. Diane was suffering from an eating disorder. How is this possible? How come nobody told her? Didn't her surgeon see it? Had she done this to herself? Despite efforts to screen people for eating disorders prior to surgery, they often go undiagnosed. Studies suggest that roughly 30% of people seeking bariatric surgery actually have an eating disorder - with binge eating disorder (BED) being the most common one. Realizing you have an eating disorder after bariatric surgery can be a shock. Many times, people don't realize it until they have regained some or all of the weight they lost. The eating disorder finds ways to have you eat "around" your surgery. As a dietitian who specializes in BED, I have treated tons of people who have an eating disorder after bariatric surgery. And what I can tell you is that recovery is possible. You are not alone, and there are people out there who can help. If you think you might have an eating disorder, click here and start healing your relationship with food today. You deserve it. *Name and certain details have been changed for privacy.

I thought I was going crazy or overreacting to "normal" healing pain. I am glad I harassed the crap out of then, lol. They normally don't do followups with the surgeon themselves... just the bariatric nurses. But I was like SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT HERE. lol. Sent from my SM-G930R4 using BariatricPal mobile app

At the Bariatric practice I go to everyone seems to be of average weight. There are a couple office staff that are on the chunky side but nobody obese that I’ve seen. The 3 surgeons are fit and fabulous. That said, I have seen cardiologists that should lose some lbs and hairdressers with frizzy fried hair.

RnY is a traditional gastric bypass, named for a French Doctor with the last name of Roux, pronounced Roo, n is an abbreviation for en which is French for "and" and the Y for the,2 pieces of jejunem, the second intestine portion used, really looks like a Y if you opened someone up, please don't make it me, got enough problems with my Stricture. MGB. is mini gastric bypass, another tool in the Bariatric Surgeon's arsenal. D9ne more overseas than in USA and Canada. Has its fans, has its detractors. Another one is the Omega Loop, understand they do a lot of them in Australia. Then you have what I think of as the Sleeve Sisters VSG vertical sleeve gastrectomy- very popular these days. You give up 3/4 of your stomach forever, you're left with a tube that is bana-shaped and the diameter of a garden hose. ESG endoscopic sleeve gastroplexy - your stomach gets folded up and sutured into a smaller size, there is no external incision, all done through an endoscopic tuve, so shorter recovery, sounds like science fiction but it works, often done,on. lower BMI people. Anything else I can help with abbreviation- wise? If not NBD no big deal, Frustr8 Out!

Well@ Excited for a new me, Queebee34,OlRachel, Wicked winner. Are any of you ready to join Lyleta in December? Its a beautiful month to give yourself🎁the gift of an renewed life and better health!

Hi all! Soooo my story started a few years ago (I think 6). I was morbidly obese and felt disgusting. HW was about 244 lbs (and I'm only 5 feet tall!!). I didn't have the willpower to lose ALL that weight on my own and began to realize that I needed help. My mother had RNY a few years earlier and, while she DID lose like 75% of her excess weight, she never looked healthy to me. She suffered with anemia and vitamin deficiency, never worked out, had very saggy skin etc. When deciding on a bariatric prodecure I felt attracted to the lap band due to its reversability and low operating risks. The first surgeon I went to was VERY pro the LB- in fact I think he only performed this procedure. The second surgeon I consulted with was vehemently against the band and strongly advised me against it. This was years ago when then "anti band" sentiment was just starting. I ultimately decided on the lap band because I'm a nervous person in general and wanted the "easiest", lowest risk, and most reversable procedure performed. The surgery went well and there were no problems. I was able to go back to work within a day or two. I've heard some people say they have a "love hate relationship" with the band. For me it was a "want to love, yet fear relationship" meaning I WANTED so BADLY for the band to work. But I was constantly afraid of it slipping... Or eroding.. Or food getting stuck (in public!) ... Or suddenly feeling tight when traveling and I didn't have access to a doctor... Or not being able to afford the fills and fluoroscopys... Esaphageal dysmotility, distended pouch... Etc. My doctor had a strange way of doing fills. Unlike using fluoroscopys to help me find my "sweet spot" he would just put in the needle, fill the band, have me sit up, chug water, and then release some fluid. Once I felt the water go down he would remove the needle and tell me that im in the perfect zone. Boy did that cause issues! Getting lukewarm sink water down is simple... But getting in proteins and/or veggies down was much harder! I was constantly running back and forth to the doctor for fills/unfills (which wasn't cheap or easy! He was located 1.5 hours away from me and fills we're $50 plus insurance copay. So i was constantly taking off a half day of work and shelling out $80 for this.) When I'd see him he was thrilled! After all, I WAS losing weight... And getting fitter... But it sadly it had nothing to do with the band. I was just too ashamed to admit it. Rather, I worked out every day, ate under 1200 calories/day, and carb cycled. I was on a mission to prove to the world that I COULD lose weight, and that I didn't get cut up and have a foreign object placed in me for nothing. It was sad for me, and I really did feel alone... But I made it work and got used to chewing my food up a ton, taking tiny bites, drinking a lot to get the food down. I went from 244 to 178 and was happy. I was far from skinny... But I really felt good. Fast forward about 5 years!!... I got married, moved to NY and mostly forgot about my band. I actually gained some weight back after the wedding, but started Medifast/optavia and lost 40 lbs. I was good... Until the heartburn started. My previous doctor warned that any heartburn can either be the symptom OR cause of a slipped band. I went to a new NY surgeon the next day to get all the fluid removed. A day later I felt mostly better but still tight. Foods were getting stuck and being that there was no fluid in there I was nervous. Bands that are too tight can cause a slip. My husband and I are trying to get pregnant and when I asked my surgeon what happens if the band slips/erodes during pregnancy, she just said "things can get complicated and more risky for both you and the fetus" That's when i just realized that I'd HAD IT WITH THE BAND!! I could no longer live with device that caused me so much stress, fear, and didn't even work in the first place!! (that night I went to a wedding and took a bite of chicken which got stuck and had me dashing to the bathroom and vomiting. This was simply no way to live, yet a common occurrence for me). Long story short, today I got my band removed and I FEEL SO RELIEVED! I am in practically zero pain and feel like a massive weight was lifted off my shoulders. I'll do another post about the removal process because this is already wayyyyy too long!! TLDR: Didn't have any MAJOR complications with the band, but very relieved to have it removed! It may be a less risky, reversable procedure on the outset, but the long term risks of complications are fairly high and can be nerve racking. Sent from my SM-G960U using BariatricPal mobile app

https://www.barilife.com/blog/secret-complication-after-bariatric-surgery-2/ Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

Sorry no one is in your corner for this battle! It is really hard for non-bariatric people to really understand this journey, they can give you a hug sure, but we really have to put in the time, and do all the work ourselves in the end. Celebrate all your little goals along the way - get a blank notebook or even just a steno pad from the dollar store and write all your feelings down and all your accomplishments. You can refer to them on days when you need a little boost. Good luck.

You can follow your meal plan and get your exercise in, but you are selling yourself short if you are trying to lose weight without taking your vitamins! BariatricPal Multivitamin ONE capsules can help prevent the nutrient deficiencies that are all too common after bariatric surgery. With just one convenient & affordable BariatricPal Multivitamin ONE capsule each day, you can get the vitamins and minerals you need to stay healthy! The vitamins and minerals in BariatricPal Multivitamin ONE may help: Maintain normal metabolism and energy. Promote healthy bones, joints, blood, and heart. Support normal mood. Support healthy wound healing and immunity. Maintain cellular integrity and antioxidant functions. Promote healthy hair, skin, and nails. BariatricPal Multivitamin ONE was designed and developed by a team of the world's leading Bariatric medical professionals. The fast-dissolving small veggie capsules are easy to swallow. BariatricPal Multivitamin ONE is based on the latest post-op guidelines from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) to provide over 20 vitamins and minerals. BariatricPal Multivitamin ONE is especially high in nutrients such as iron, vitamins B12 and D, folic acid, and biotin, that are known to be at risk for bariatric surgery patients. BariatricPal Multivitamin ONE Highlights: 100% of the daily value for 20 essential vitamins and minerals. Formulated based on the latest ASMBS guidelines. One small convenient capsule daily. Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free. Fast-dissolving veggie capsules. Made in the USA. Easy to swallow. Affordable. Designed for patients that have undergone weight loss surgery such as RNY Gastric Bypass, Gastric Sleeve, Duodenal Switch, and other malabsorptive weight loss surgery procedures. Available in 30-count or 90-count bottles.

Hi Kimmie K, I believe this link to Anthem's updated bariatric surgery medical policy is exactly what you are looking for: CG-SURG-83 Bariatric Surgery I'm also attaching it as a PDF. This contains all the Anthem req'ments as of their October 31, 2018 update. Hope this helps! CG-SURG-83 Bariatric Surgery and Other Treatments for Clinically Severe Obesity.pdf

Update: My family took to me to the ER on Saturday and after running X-Rays, CT-Scans and lots of blood work and cultures, they found that there was extreme inflammation of my colon and determined that I had contracted C. Diff (Clostridium difficile). They believe the antibiotic that was given to me during pre-op altered the balance of the good bacterial in my gut, thus allowing C. Diff to multiply and make me ill. This is not common. Took awhile to find the right balance and dose of pain medicine to manage my pain, they put me on a lot of fluids (and potassium) as well as started treatment for the C. Diff. The first round of treatment is 10-days of antibiotics and being quarantined. They kept me in the hospital for five days and began my treatment on the 2nd day once the cultures came back positive. I was kept on clear liquids only for the three days in the hospital and then they allowed me to progress to the Bariatric High Protein Liquid. My dietician was awesome and brought me all the protein supplements and such to keep me going while in the hospital. I am home now, yet still quarantined. A lot involved with that (including a lot of bleach). I'm staying on track with my post-op diet and today will be the first day that I'll actually reach my liquid and protein goals (which is exciting). I'm not allowed in the kitchen so I am relying on others to make my food. So far so good - but like someone else posted, I am getting tired of all the sweets. Please pray that this initial round of treatment will work and that there will be no need for a round two. The doctor told me that it's a much more intense treatment and lasts for 30-days. Yikes. I weighed myself today and the scale shows that I'm down 7-lbs from surgery date of 11/7/18. I'm happy with that loss considering everything. I can't help but wonder if next week will be a bigger loss once I get all these fluids from the hospital out of me. Seven days admitted in the hospital total - that's a lot of fluids! Unjury Chicken Soup Protein Powder - I lived off that while in the hospital. I really enjoyed it and had no issues with it. They key is to make sure the temperature of your liquid is no hotter than 140-degrees. I use a thermometer and then found that from boiling to sitting, that's about 5 minutes for 1 cup of water. As long as your not gulping and sipping slowly you should be fine. I actually use baby spoons to help me take small bites. I hope that helps, because that is my favorite protein supplement that is on the savory side. That's all for now. Going to take a nap and try and recover from this infection!

Hey everybody look I've watched dozens of YouTube vids for months made a few of mon y own documenting my journey but what I havent seen alot of is lack of and no support system through this trying blessful time I've had fake support and I'm 6 days post op and had to discharge myself out ur the hospital way before I was supposed to leave cause I had noone to be with my children this is making my motivation and determination alot better it still sucks at the end of the day because I wanted a hug from people who claim to love me but I've had a enormous amount of support from the Facebook bariatric groups my God strangers who've become my friends worldwide ....I live in nyc I dont know 1 person who've had vsg so I didnt have noone to talk to other than make YouTube vids

I love your replies to my posts, man! It's a relief to know the issue can subside after a while. That motto holds true for the keto world too....never trust a keto fart! I'm mostly fartless now though and have been for a while, but if I change my MCT products to a new brand or something, the gurgles can hit unexpectedly. Usually one Imodium will calm it down in about 30 min. Since you're so helpful, what's your take on pills...literally? How soon, if ever, can someone begin to take capsules or tablets? I take an anti-depressant daily and the tablet is about the size of a piece of couscous, very tiny. Also, I take electrolyte salts in capsule form to ward off kidney issues and muscle cramps from keto. They're your standard size capsule and I'm usually taking 3 at a time twice a day. I also have a liquid electrolye supplement that you can squirt into about anything, but you don't quite get the same dose as the capsules of salts plus it makes your drinks extra salty tasting. For future bariatric vitamins I'm looking into the Tespo thing for the all in one shot option, but what about everything else?

So I am really, really struggling with liquid protein and I'm trying different things. I have found that bariatric hot cocoa, while a bit too sweet, is much more tolerable, and it has 15 grams of protein, and if I make it with Fairlife milk instead of water it has even more. The thing is, the protein source is calcium caseinate, and I see things like whey protein concentrate or milk protein concentrate in most products. Is calcium caseinate an adequate source? Does it even matter what kind of protein it is: whey, soy, pea, rice, etc.? Thanks in advance!

* Renew my scuba license and go diving again * Ride a horse again (I live in the horsey capital of Ireland guddamit) * walk into a regular clothing boutique and not be ignored * get back into aerobics (is it still a thing? Last time I did it, it was the '90s) Sent from my SM-G930F using BariatricPal mobile app

I had my RNY on November 7th, 2018. I am trying my hardest to get all fluids I need. Has anyone found a good combo of bariatric vitamins to get everything we need? Sent from my SM-G960U using BariatricPal mobile app

i have two major goals right now that i want to accomplish. 1. Ride every darn ride at Universal Studios that i never rode because of my size. I will renew my annual pass just to do so LOL 2. Participate in a Ballroom Dance Competition in September 2019 in Miami.