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I'm doing the Bariatric Fusion Multivitamin and Mineral Supplements (4/day), a sublingual B12 a couple of times a week (also Bariatric Fusion brand right now, but I have one of the more standard vitamin brands, Nature Made, for when those are finished), and now that winter's coming uphere I will add in a vitamin D3 a few times a week (D3 is a bit more absorbable than D2; conveniently, I have a bottle of Nature Made vitamin D pills in my cabinet! and they are small!) and some fish oil, when I have permission to add that. (I'm off blood thinners, so I could add them now, but they come in really large caplet form, meaning I'd probably have to break them open. So. I'll wait and not taste the fish oil, if it's all the same.) Since I'm supposed to go back on methotrexate any day now (read: two weeks ago, but I am afraid of what it'll do to my poor stomach), I'll add folic acid tablets when I do that, as well. But it seems like nobody besides autoimmune patients and pregnant people need to supplement that, so ... probably don't? How long after surgery were you able to take the one-a-day vitamins, @Kay07? I don't mind the chewables I'm taking now, but 1) I have an unfinished bottle of one-a-days, and 2) one theory as to why so many bariatric patients end up having tooth problems is our reliance on chewable vitamins. I figure I'd like to switch over once it's safe. The one-a-day vitamins are kind of huge, though. (I'll ask my surgeon's team, too, but anecdotes are welcome!)

I take a women’s one a day since the Bariatric kinda made me super sick. But I also take extra calcium and b12. I also need more bit D since New Englanders are pretty much always deficient in that...

I use this one a day https://www.amazon.com/Bariatric-Multivitamin-Capsule-Gastric-Surgery/dp/B00JREK09G Also 2 Viactiv chews through out the day. My 6 month labs came back great and my doctor was impressed with the vitamins. It is a pill so make sure you can handle it, i know some people can't.

Excellent, thanks for posting! I loved the ground zero jump. Will be giving that one a try. Here's a link to the video, my article didn't have a link. https://www.bariatriceating.com/2015/04/low-impact-bariatric-movement-ground-zero-jumps/

Really good article. Imma print it out and put it in my bariatric folder! Sent from my SM-G930F using BariatricPal mobile app

I had surgery on July 25 started taking bariatric vitamin could not stand them. Now I am doing the patch only thing that came back low was my vitamin d. But i want to start taking pill form. Can you please show me which vitamins you are taking amd how many of what. Thank you Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

Ok, the titles might be a little dramatic. Maybe it should read more like: "How to Fu*k Up Your WLS In 11 Easy Steps". LOL. I think it should be required reading! But I think #6 should maybe be first! https://www.healtharticlesweb.com/deadly-mistakes-with-bariatric-surgery-that-can-ruin-patients-life/

Obviously dumping is something that most wls patients fear and all want to try and avoid it. But after reading countless articles and threads I find it all very confusing. There are some food which are obvious triggers e.g alcohol, high fat and high sugar foods. But what I am curious about are things like fruit - fruit is very high in sugar but a lot of the articles and recommended diet plans include fruit as an ok food. This confuses me. Are certain fruits better than others? Is fruit ok but only in very small quantities? I am also wondering if "food combining" helps. Is eating fruit with protein e.g yogurt better than eating it on its own? Does this apply to other foods as well? We all know how before going to a party and consuming lots of alcohol people would "line" their stomachs with a glass of milk. Does this kind of approach work for bariatric patients? I am also interested in if there is anything that can be done to relieve or reduce a dumping episode once it starts? Obviously there isn't a lot that can be done if the dumping gives you the trots but what if your symptoms are the shaky, lightheaded , palpitations kind of symptoms? Usually people with hypoglycaemia need to get instant , easy to digest sugar but if sugar is the cause then its not going to help.

I do not have a date yet, only because even though this is medically necessary according to the doctor they’re not sure what insurance is going to do. So they’re having me do an accelerated bariatric program so they have a lot of evidence for insurance to get an approval. I’m hoping in the next couple of months because the GERD is very severe, Doctor said some of the worst he’s seen.

I think one of the rotten facts of weight loss life is as you lose weight you are melting hormones and other chemicals out in ketosis. And it is an evil surge. There was a more seasoned poster on Bariatric Pal when I joined, boy I liked what she said, probably phrased it better then. It's like PUBERTY, except you don't get zits all over It's like PREGNANCY except,you don't get a cute baby to cuddle It's like MENOPAUSE in that you swear it never will end And you surge back and forth between stages with little rhymn or reason. Some days you taste or sweat what smells like bug spray or worse. And you have gas passing, you're dizzy and always cold, and you swear nobody knows how much suffering in the whole process you have. But to use Fluffy Chix term, Swearsies, it will and does get better, and someday will be a memory that you will someday smile at. AND the vets have promised, and I'm going,to believe it cause They have BEEN THERE, they lived and by Gosh I'm going to also!

Hi everyone! I was wondering if anyone had any info on bariatric (VSG) requirements with Prestige Insurance (Florida Medicaid)? I was told by member services that it is covered when medically necessary, but they wouldn’t tell me what the requirements were ie., length of time for supervised diet visits, specific BMI info, nutritional and psychic evaluations. I am scheduled for an informational session in Tampa in a week, but I can’t get any info from my insurance or perspective surgery center and it’s so frustrating. Also if you have any other FL Medicaid insurances and know the surgery requirements for them, pls let me know what they are, bc I’m still within the time frame to switch insurance plans. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!

I’m sorry to hear about this dumping syndrome. The bariatric doctor that I did a consult with says that dumping syndrome does not happen with MGB’s. Or at least in very very rare cases. Do you feel that this is not accurate? The intolerance to sugar and certain vegetables, what is this the same with your sleeve? Or did these elements just appear after the bypass? What are some of the other differences you have noted between the sleeve and MGB? Do you need to take any supplements? Do you have any acid reflux?

Stupid question, especially since I'm a nurse and soon-to-be Nurse Practitioner...but I don't really know any great plastics people and not sure how to go about finding one? A fellow NP recommended one guy to me but that's ONE recommendation, and I'm not sure that one is enough for me. I thought of tapping into some Doc colleagues but I don't necessarily want to disclose all the details and I'm sure many of them will ask. I no longer see my original bariatric surgeon so can't really go that route either! Anyone know of a good website or way of finding out who the best are in your area or state?

Vertical gastric sleeve (VGS) to Mini Gastric Bypass (MGB) ? I was sleeved about 7 years ago in Mexico. The operation added about 90 pounds of weight loss over 18 months. However unfortunately, after several years and a couple of babies, the weight has come back on. I’m exactly where I was seven years ago. 😔 I feel my pouch has been stretched slowly over the years and my metabolism is shot. Not uncommonly, one of the side effects of the sleeve was terrible heartburn. I’ve been taking a prescription grade antacid since my surgery. I recently read that this particular bariatric side affect has been linked to stomach cancer. 😳 I recently consulted with bariatric surgeon in Mexico to see what my options are and he suggested I convert to a mini gastric bypass. He said it would resolve the acid reflux complication and also I would lose the weight I have regained. Has anyone gone from VGS to a MGB that could share their experiences with me? Either here or privately? I’d really appreciate it. 🙏🏼

My thoughts and I am only 9 weeks post surgery , a year to 18 months to hit my goal, because I was coming in at over 300 pounds, before my surgery I was losing as fast as a sick sea snail,on antideppresants, so giving myself the chance to see how things go. I have lost 60 since the end of July, sounds fantastic until,you consider where I started, maybe a. 1/3rd of what I NEED to lose. 😥😪😭Excuse me as I hit 3 crying emoji. But Slow down, well I have yet to hit a stall, which is rare but not unheard of, maybe 9-10 months? Hang around Bariatric Pal, I lack the courage to remain silent, I SHARE EVERYTHING!😋😛😛

Things I baseline Do Not Regret Going through 2 and half bariatric pre-surgical programs. I did meet a lot of nice co-journeyers,on Bariatric Pal. I did learn all lot of info on the "ups, downs, and the when will ever end?"facets. My current surgeon- Bradley J Needleman, skilled, smart, full professor in Medical College, so a teacher and technician, but basic core values I can honor him for! My Facility- everyone from nurses, surgical techs to ho7sekeeping to dieticians, kind, smart, comitted to their professions. What I resent, oh and there is a few things here. First I resent I was encouraged to enter a fi4st program who did not have my best interest at ❤, They varied between ignoring, giving poor or inaccurate informations a surgeon who had no depth, and never cared for me. They ripped off me, my insurances, my time and were all smoke and mirrors. I paid $200 out of my own pocket pocket for dietary consults I never got, maybe insurance suspected something since they refused to,pay for this "service". 2.I resent the way my body is healing. Oh my surgery was smooth, not frightening, painless, in fact I checked myself out when I woke up in my room, wanted to see if I had incisions, he had merely marked on me with magic markers or if they had let me sleep off the anethesia and I was going home in a couple minutes. 3. I resent feeling I was on "room arrest" After all the stories I heard related on B.P., I expected to meet other freshly operated people in the halls. Figured I would have gas to walk off, the idea was to be up and ambulating. Ha Ha! I'm sure there were other,people there, can't prove it by me. Took my journal for autographs, e-mail addresses, still blank. Maybe that's the way things are done there, but I FEEL CHEATED 4. Why when things were going smoothly, if I was following their instructions, did I develop a stricture, and why when I brought up the possibility was I poo-pooed? I heard everything from it was imagination, swelling, pleads for attention, if that was true, it wasn't working, we are the medical professionals, you're just a patient- this might be true but I have lived in this body many years and I DO KNOW WHEN SOMETHING ain't right! It's early days, give yourself to time to heal. Well could,be true, but why not heal right? Well, maybe to stifle my complaints, they conceded to perform an endoscopy and Guess Who Was Right? ME ME ME! OCTOBER12th- Precious Pouch was a skosh swollen but that did not negate the fact,i had a 9 mm stricture of my stomal opening into the jejunem, 2 new ulcers in my pouch, 3 additional on the back wall of jejunem, this with the fact I already had Hector my gastric ulcer in the main part of my stomach, discovered by my gastroenterologist in December 2017 while already,on omeprazole therapy? Should this not given a hint I was an Ulcer Producer? Although Dr Noria, my surgeon's Junior partner now prescribed Carafate, should I have I not been on it from the beginning? Now Hector's stepbrothers had a 5 week start and we are playing " Mop Up" to use a sports term. My mental picture is Hector was Gizmo the Gremlin, unusual but rather sweet, not much trouble to anyone. Now we have the 5 stepbrother ulcers, like Stripe and his evil ilk, in locations more likely to bleed, cause me perforations, potential kill me? So Dr Noria attempted to stretch my stoma, 1 mm and THAT WAS IT! Repeat booking October 26th, 2 weeks later, no improved results, and much as I hate to quibble, they might have slightly sedated me. but unlike the 3 previous endoscopies in my lifetime, I failed to go to sleep, oh it was interesting to watch on the monitor, saved me having to look it up on YOUTUBE, did not feel scope going down due to throat- numbing spray, it did take long enough I felt it being extracted, sort of a swish-swooshy sensation, not too bad to endure, I had 3 natural or quasi-natural childbirths, numbed me for episiotomies stitching, had also skin and tongue lacerations sutures sans any deading. I may kvetch at times but I'm pretty stoic. Other doctors present in procedure room acted like I was delusional when I rolled over and announced " I supposed you all know I am still awake", anything you need to know about how it all goes down, ASK I'm your woman! Only Dr Noria looked abashed, told me to remain on the same diet( such as it is) and she was going to try again on November 9th at 2:50 pm, the fact she was able to roll off date and time, shows me this was planned ahead of time.. And I can be a little stinker, dare me to ask " Do I go to sleep like I did October 12th or stay awake like October 26th? That way I know WHAT to expect. 😝Pudgy Princess 1 Medical community Nil. And lastly the foreboding that although they keep telling ME I appear still healthy, scrawnier but good color, I am functionally malnurished, starving myself, even with vitamins, minerals and various drugs they ordered me. Yeah does me little good if I am a more petite corpse the pallbearers have less trouble lifting. I kind of want to see who blows the 🌎 up -Kim Jong Un, Donald Trump or someone I don't even suspect, I always hate leaving parties EARLY! Why is my body, who I used to trust with my life, literally , so MALFUNCTIONING? And no I do not want to return to 355 pounds and no health hopes, I like 127kg, 278 pounds and still lowering!👼💇

@mylighthouse Yes, I like to keep up on all pain medication research. I used to take tramadol once upon a time. https://www.drugs.com/article/tramadol-need-to-know.html My pain was no longer controlled by tramadol, however. I now take morphine (300mg per day) and oxycodone for break-through. I take gabapentin as well. For a while, I was excited by research regarding sea snail venom. https://www.sciencealert.com/sea-snail-venom-could-provide-a-new-long-lasting-alternative-to-opioid-painkillers and cone snail venom https://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/cone-snail-pain-killers-could-be-100-times-effective-morphine/ https://www.wndu.com/content/news/Chronic-pain-relief-How-marine-snails-may-be-able-to-help-477550613.html In my profile, I describe my bypass surgery and how I was not treated as a chronic pain patient having bariatric surgery but only as a bariatric patient. There is a huge difference. The pain medication I require to be comfortable is significantly greater than the average patient. This is a subject in which I can quickly go off in an incoherent tangent. Pain changes a person. It affects one's personality and makes life a day-to-day struggle. For others who experience chronic pain not associated with their WLS, please share your experiences.

I was in a terrible car accident on 10/26/18 and just noticed this hours ago. Both my steering wheel and knee driver airbags deployed. Lots of chest and face contusions. I felt something that caused some discomfort at Port, but now seeing this is freaking me out. I had my LB Surgery in 4/05 and love life, but now.... WTH.... going to see a W/C doc tomorrow, and hoping my bariatric doc calls me before the appt. Be Well Folks and please drive safe!!

If Death was a definate possibility, would there still be so many posters on Bariatric Pal? Probably should be a large mural outside Wedding Chapels stating " Marriage May Be Hazardous to Your Health!"& do you think people would slow down their headfirst jog into the nearest one.?🎉🎊🍰💑

Gastric bypass reversals are VERY rare. Some of what you’ve read may be Internet trolls, fear mongerers, patients that had issues pre-surgery, didn’t follow post-op instructions, have other health issues but are blaming them on their GB, or that didn’t have a very good bariatric surgeon. Again, serious issues are very rare so try not to let that derail your decision to have GB surgery. Note that some post-ops lose a lot of weight, get to normal BMI, but then their family/friends tell them they’re too skinny/malnourished, even when that’s not the case at all. People in your life may not be used to seeing you thin, or be jealous of your new look/lifestyle and tell you untruths. Unfortunately, some of those patients may then think they need a reversal when they don’t at all.

This isn't a slam the needs of protein, but this article came across my email and caught my attention. If this is what is noted for the average healthy person aging, I'm curious to know how it relates to those of us after bariatric surgery. Just a random article I thought I'd share... no comments needed. https://www.silversneakers.com/blog/3-weird-reasons-youre-gaining-weight/?utm_campaign=SilverSneakers - Newsletter Yes&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=67292921&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--bgIkZMMoXHl8eJUMMRjxMMUuiYzaEtVkTcwRgP-UiUdHdA3Q8fweyYpH_KzVU4cVE4_dnLCDov6AACwajYuSl8JItqA&_hsmi=67293380 3 Weird Reasons You’re Gaining Weight By K. Aleisha Fetters | October 31, 2018 Staying slim through the years isn’t as simple as calories in, calories out. Here are the age-related changes that can mess with the scale. As you get older, it becomes more difficult to keep your weight in check. You’re likely well aware of this fact. The most common culprits: slower metabolism, less active lifestyle, or menopause for women. But sometimes, the source of weight gain is much more mysterious. “A lot of changes occur in the body during the aging process that people aren’t aware of,” says Craig Primack, M.D., an obesity medicine physician at Scottsdale Weight Loss Center in Arizona. “And these changes can have a large impact on weight.” Here are three such examples, plus simple ways to tip the scale in your favor. Weird Reason #1: Your Body Doesn’t Absorb Protein Like It Used To “As we get older, our bodies become less sensitive to protein and can absorb less of it,” Dr. Primack says. And since protein is critical to muscle health, this means it becomes more difficult to maintain your muscle mass and continue burning the same amount of calories every day. Remember: Muscle burns more calories than fat, even at rest. Your body also absorbs amino acids, the building blocks of protein, more slowly with age. Recent research published in the Journal of Nutrition, Health, and Aging found that while amino acid levels spike in one hour after protein consumption for adults ages 20 to 25, it takes three hours in people ages 60 to 75. More research is needed to determine exactly why older adults absorb less protein, and do so more slowly. But we do know that stomach acid levels decrease with age, Dr. Primack says. And since stomach acids play a role in protein digestion, it’s one possible explanation. Tip the scale: Increase your protein intake. According to the National Academy of Medicine, the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for adults in their 50s and older is 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of bodyweight—or about 0.36 grams per pound of bodyweight. But research shows that roughly 40 percent of women and men ages 51 and older don’t meet those recs. Meanwhile, mounting research suggests that for optimal muscle health and metabolism, adults ages 50 and older should consume at least double the RDA for protein. That works out to about 0.7 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight per day. For a 180-pound adult, that’s 126 grams of protein per day. For maximum benefits, space out your protein throughout the day, suggests Rob Danoff, D.O., director of the family practice residency program at Jefferson Health Northeast in Philadelphia. Getting 25 to 35 grams of protein at every meal will help keep your muscles fueled with the protein they need, increase your daily calorie burn, and help reverse weight gain, he says. These protein-packed breakfasts and high-protein dinners can help. Weird Reason #2: Your Sense of Smell Isn’t What It Used to Be Loss of sensitivity to smells, called anosmia, affects between 10 and 20 percent of all older adults, according to 2017 research published in the Journals of Gerontology. What does sense of smell have to do with weight gain? Smell plays a large part in how foods taste, Dr. Primack explains, so when smell fades, foods can taste bland. This may result in a loss of interest in food, which could cause unexplained weight loss. But it can also lead people to seek more flavor, so they eat fewer healthy foods and more processed ones high in artificial flavors, sugar, and salt. What’s more, when people stop finding pleasure in the taste of foods, the next thing they look to is texture, Dr. Primack says. And the most commonly preferred texture is the creaminess of fat. Tip the scale: If you think your sense of smell or taste is dwindling, ask your doctor for a referral to an otolaryngologist (a.k.a. an ear, nose, and throat) specialist. The ENT will be able to rule out nasal problems like polyps, blocked sinuses, and seasonal allergies. If all checks out, simply understanding how sense of smell can influence your eating habits can help you eat more mindfully going forward. Try adding flavor with herbs and spices or marinades. Plus, harness the power of exercise to sharpen your senses. Weird Reason #3: Your Circadian Rhythms Are Off There’s no end to the list of ways poor sleep can trigger weight gain, including increasing levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin and slashing levels of the feel-full hormone leptin, Dr. Danoff explains. Even short periods of too little sleep can have a big impact. A 2015 study published in Diabetologia found that as little as four days of sleep deprivation reduces the body’s insulin sensitivity, which increases the risk for fat storage. Not making it a priority to get seven to nine hours of sleep each night is one thing, but if you’re physically unable to fall and stay asleep, changes in your body’s circadian rhythms could be to blame. A research review in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism shows that production of melatonin, the hormone that helps you sleep at night and regulates your sleep-wake patterns, decreases with age. This often causes people to wake up earlier, not sleep through the night, or need naps during the day, Dr. Primack says. Another potential disruptor: cataracts, which happen when protein that’s naturally found in the eye starts to clump together, making the lens cloudy and obscuring vision. In people with cataracts, light might not effectively enter the eye to help your body know it’s daytime and time to be awake, Dr. Primack explains. Tip the scale: Start by prioritizing good sleep hygiene—no excuses. That includes going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, avoiding electronics at least one hour before bed, and using your bed only for sleep and sex—no work, TV watching, or anything else that’s associated with a wakeful state. (See five ways to fall and stay asleep, starting tonight!) Also, try keeping a sleep journal to track how many hours you’re sleeping at night and when you find yourself needing a nap. This can help you ID and deal with any lifestyle issues that are keeping you up at night. If good sleep hygiene isn’t enough to score you a good night’s rest, the next step is talking with your primary care physician or a sleep specialist. He or she will want to check for any underlying health problems like sleep apnea. Last, for those dealing with cataracts, talk to your doctor about whether surgery makes sense for you. A 2017 review published in the International Journal of Ophthalmology found that cataract surgery improved sleep in people with both cataracts and insomnia.

I don’t think leaks are a common issue with people that have had multiple bariatric surgeries. Instead, it sounds like it may be an issue with your surgeon’s practice. You may want to investigate further. I had revision surgery in July 2018 and have had 5 abdominal surgeries in my lifetime. My surgeon, who is one of the preeminent bariatric/GI surgeons in the U.S., did not tell me I was at increased risk for leaks. I have suffered no complications post-op.

I'm curious. When I had my surgery, there was another bariatric patient a few doors down. We had different surgeons (thank God!) Anyway, her surgeon would not prescribe anything other than Tylenol for post-op pain. This is his normal practice, not an unusual case because she was an addict or something. My nurse told me that the woman wouldn't get out of bed to walk or anything because she was in so much pain. This seems cruel to me. My question is: Why would anyone go to a surgeon like this? Do you think that patients just don't know?

My mother had Gastric Bypass with duodenal switch 26 years ago, she turns 70 this year. I promise you, she wouldn't have made it this long if she did not have the surgery. Them saying that people dont live long after bariatric surgery is patently false.

I will definitely give it a go then, I struggle to hit 80g a day. I have like every Bariatric Advantage flavor and, to me, they're all just awful. Thank you for the tip!!! We got this, girl!!!!