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I'm self-pay with Surgical Specialists of LA. They have offices in Metairie, Slidell, Covington and Lafayette. Ochsner has bariatric surgeons, but don't know if they require insurance or not.

I buy the Bariatric Advantage Calcium chews and Bariatric Advantage B-1 Thiamine from Amazon. The chews now come in Carmel 500 mg- I am required two take 2 a day. When I buy the 250mg I take 4- easier on the pocket book if you buy the Carmel 500. I initially started with the chewable calcium wild cherry but it was too chalky. That comes in a huge container. I was using Bariatric Advantage B-12 but the sublingual don't melt like they should so I buy spring valley b-12 2500 mcg sublingual from Walmart-love them. I use the Cervoite Jr that I tested when I went to the class and again I buy from Amazon. I will continue to buy Bariatric Advantage calcium and thiamine but that is it. You can also ask someone at Park Rapids what other brands they would suggest.

Type "Recipe Frenzy" in the search bar. Bobbyswife put a post together that includes a collection of free, downloadable bariatric or weight loss cookbooks available online. They are great! The previous responder that mentioned going back to the beginning of the post op diet, is correct. I wanted to lose 5 in a week in order to fit into a Christmas dress, so I just duplicated my first week post op diet. It worked! I actually lost 6 pounds! I think it is a good kick start to getting back on track again. Good luck!

oh good!!! I hope you're able to get a surgery date that soon!!! My partner is having bypass with Dr. Soloman and we're hoping for the end of March/beginning of April!! Oh, and after you see Dr. Takahashi, they are going to have you do a 4 hour bariatric surgery class over where the support groups are. I had to wait 3 weeks to get into that class because the first one was full and I think it's only offered every two weeks. They sure make you jump through a ton of hoops!!!!

I enjoy almost all of my Vitamins. Here is what I take: 2 Daily Gummies (from CVS) 2 Vitafusion Calcium (sugar coated gummy vitamins) Yummy! 1 Oderless Fish Oil (1200 mg) - This is not chewable and it is about as the big as the fish it comes from. This is the only one I don't like. 1 Vitamin D Chewable Gel (from Metagenics-Bariatric Advantage) (10,000 IU) 1 sublingual B-12 (from Natures Bounty) (2500 mcg) Most of these you can find at your local pharmacy or drug store. I couldn't find the high dosage of Vitamin D and B-12 at the store so I bought them on eBay. Hope this helps!!

Misinformation about Weight Loss Surgery If you have ever who has discussed weight loss surgery with uninformed individuals, you know that the initial reaction is likely to be negative and backed by false information or no information at all. Many people who have not investigated weight loss surgery believe that the surgery is a quick fix for lazy people. They may think that you can walk in off the street and leave from bariatric surgery a couple hundred pounds lighter; that you chose to ignore your weight for years; and that all bariatric surgery is the same;. Wrong, wrong and wrong. These misperceptions contribute to the stigma associated with weight loss surgery. People may look down on surgery as the “easy way out” for “lazy people,” instead of as a tool for hard-working people to have the opportunity to lead the healthy lives that everyone should have the chance to lead. You already know that you’re not lazy and that bariatric surgery is not a magic bullet; the next time you run across an uninformed, disparaging individual, you can patiently explain to them the steps of the process and the hard work you and every other successful weight loss surgery patient puts in. Not Everyone is Eligible for Weight Loss Surgery You can’t just “go get bariatric surgery,” and this is an important fact to understand to reduce the stigma associated with weight loss surgery. Each weight loss center has strict eligibility requirements that you have to meet before you can become a candidate. In general, patients must be morbidly obese, with a BMI over 40, or have a BMI over 35 and have health complications related to being overweight; for example, you might be eligible if you have a BMI of 35 and already have type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol levels. Most clinics have additional eligibility criteria that you need to meet before being considered as a potential bariatric surgery candidate. You need to have been overweight for several years, usually over five years. You also need to show that you have tried, unsuccessfully, to lose weight multiple times through diet alone. You cannot be a smoker or be an abuser of alcohol or drugs because the additional health risks from surgery will be too great. Pregnant women or women who want to become pregnant soon should not have bariatric surgery because pregnancy is only safe after your weight is constant. The decision to have surgery requires significant consideration and planning. Bariatric Surgery Requires Preparation Bariatric surgery itself does not guarantee permanent weight loss success, and much of the responsibility for losing weight will be up to you. Even after going through the screening process and learning that your clinic agrees that some form of bariatric surgery is right for you, several steps remain before you can undergo the procedure. The steps are in place to ensure that you are likely to succeed with the surgery and are not signing up on a whim. You will meet your bariatric team members, including your surgeon, dietitian and psychologist or psychiatrist. In most cases, you will undergo a psychological interview or series of tests to make sure that you are capable of sticking to the required diet. You may be asked to follow a specific diet for weeks before your scheduled surgery to demonstrate your commitment and ability to succeed after the operation. This step may also be required by your health insurance company for your bariatric procedure to be covered. There are Risks People need to understand that you can’t take bariatric surgery lightly. Each type of surgery has risks, although different processes are riskier than others. The lap band is relatively low-risk, with minor concerns of the band slipping out of place or infections at the incision site. Roux-n-Y gastric bypass carries a higher rate of complications, including ulcers, spleen injuries, leakage through staples and deficiencies of micronutrients, such as vitamin B-12 and iron. Nobody would choose to have a bariatric procedure if they weren’t convinced that they had tried all of their other options to get healthy. It’s a Long Process Bariatric surgery is a crucial milestone, but it is early in your weight loss journey and bariatric care plan. After surgery, you will continue to have follow-up appointments with your surgeon as dictated by your health and type of weight loss surgery. You will also meet with your dietitian regularly to stay on track with your diet. Most clinics have optional or mandatory support groups to motivate you and provide opportunities to ask your surgeon and fellow patients questions in a group setting. The surgery does not take off any weight. It’s a tool to make it easier for the patient to follow the proper diet for the long term. Contrary to what some people may believe, you do not lose any weight during the surgery. All of the weight that you lose is because of changes to your diet. The surgical procedures help you eat less by limiting the size of your stomach and making you feel full faster. Even if you lose 100 pounds in your first year, which is a standard benchmark for success, you may still have more weight to lose. Once you reach your goal weight, you still need to watch your diet and exercise regularly to keep the weight off. In Conclusion You’re already familiar with the intensive efforts required for weight loss surgery, but unfortunately, most people are not. This often leads to negative reactions when you tell them about your procedure. An important step you can take in reducing the stigma is to explain that the procedure is a component of an overall program to improve your health through lifestyle modifications.

thanks! since i posted i have seen my family dr. and told him what i wanted done. he told me to write a letter stating all of my previous attempts at weight loss (with failures and successes) and the fact that I take Metformin, and he would submit this to my insurance company. He got my BMI and told me I needed to come in once a month for 6 months for BMI check (he gave me a diabetic diet to follow). I also went to bariatric surgeons ofc and had a metabolic cart test done, and will have next appt with surgeon and dietician feb 22nd for the H Pylori test. I am just terrified of spending all this out of pocket at surgeons office ($550!) and being rejected by the insurance! My BMI is under 40 but the comorbidity im going with is having to take Metformin for my Insulin resistance. Say a prayer for me that all goes through smoothly!

If you're near any hospitals that do bariatric surgery, call and ask about support group schedules. It's unlikely that you'll be barred for having had surgery elsewhere if that's the case. If you really mean that you worry about everything, not only things related to surgery and losing weight, there's - ahem - help for that, too.

Thanks, that was my reason for bariatric surgery was ending the yo-yo best of luck to you too!

I'm 2+ years out (26 months since surgery), so take my words and utilize them as you wish. My weight loss phase was painfully slow. It took me 18 months to lose 100 pounds. Nonetheless, I maintain my weight loss without tracking, dieting, counting, measuring, or restricting. I weigh 118 pounds and maintain on 2000+ calories daily, although I don't really track it. I'm also hypothyroid and insulin-resistant, but daily exercise has kept my metabolic rate boosted. Here's the real deal...most of us weren't able to adhere to diets for the long haul prior to surgery, so why live like that after bariatric surgery? Dieting, counting calories, measuring food, tracking, and restricting intake are all aspects of the dieters' mentality that I refuse to partake in. I am not on a diet. I eat freely, but stick mainly to lean protein because it is difficult to overeat protein regardless of your lack of restriction. We can eat 25 slices of toast (2500 calories) and never feel any restriction, or eat 2 chicken breasts (275 calories) and feel stuffed. It's all about wise choices at this point in the game. My restriction has also lessened with the passage of time. I can eat 2 fast food double cheeseburgers in one sitting even though I choose not to. I can eat 2 extra large slices of pizza in one sitting even though I choose not to. The type of food we place in our mouths matters far more than the size of our sleeves or pouches. Sliders, a.k.a. slurry foods (crackers, pretzels, popcorn, chips, bread, cookies) are the root of most peoples' regain problems. These foods turn into a liquid slurry in our digestive systems and you'll never feel full, so you can eat unlimited quantities of them. If you eat sliders, tread carefully and don't fall off the cliff. You'll notice nobody ever says, "I am regaining after eating 100 grams of protein each day. I eat chicken thighs, steak, ground turkey, and hard-boiled eggs, but the weight gain won't stop." Protein has a high thermic effect; our bodies burn considerable calories digesting animal-based proteins. Many of those who regain started incorporating slider foods into their diets. Unfortunately, sliders promote rapid weight gain since they 'slide' past the stomach into the intestines where the calories are stored as fat. Good luck to you. Let me know if you have any specific questions.

It isn't the Health Plan that's your problem, it's the Medical Group or IPA that you're in. I'm confused when you talk about "my clinic" and "the doctor". which is which? Your medical group/IPA handles your day to day authorizations, Health Net just pays some of the claims and writes the policies. I changed surgeons because the first one had an office staff that was chronically disorganized. You can do the same. I don't know which surgeons are in-network for you unless I know which medical group you're with. HN B & G has contracts with the Mercy hospitals in Sacramento. Here is a link to their bariatric surgery info: http://www.dignityhealth.org/sacramento/services/surgical-services/bariatric-surgery/bariatric-surgeons Dr's Eslami, Shadle, Gatschet, and Machado all have privileges at both hospitals and are part of their program. I think they all have their own offices and staff. There are two different ways for you to see a surgeon: ask your PCP for a referral, or your PCP requesting an authorization. An authorization shouldn't be required for referral to an in-network surgeon, but in the case of bariatric surgeons, it often is. You need to go through your PCP to get the ball rolling, that's just the way it works. I know Dr. Eslami wants all his patients to have completed all health plan requirements before he sees patients for an initial consult. Your health plan isn't making the decision about your surgery, but your medical group/IPA have to use the health plan criteria in making their decision. Dr. Eslami expects PCP's to order necessary preop testing ahead of time so all that is done before he sees patients initially. His office communicates directly with the PCP's to get this done. I used to work with clients out in the Central Valley, many of who surgeries done by Dr. Eslami, so I'm most familiar with his practice. I hope this helps!

Does anyone have experience buying medical tourism insurance that covers not only complications while abroad but also complications that arise upon return? The only insurance company I'm aware of that offers it is Four Corners, and it's their International Travel Medical Insurance plan. You can renew it for up to 3 years post-op. It's pricey, between $500-$700 depending on how long you want coverage for (45 days to one year). Anyway, I'm just trying to determine whether my regular insurance company will cover issues like strictures or late occurring staple leaks or if It will become a bankrupting medical issue and thus should buy the insurance.

Just protiens very few carbs. Protien Shakes with less than 6 carbs, scrambled eggs or eggwhites, yogurt with more protien than carbs, ricotta cheese, string cheese and cottage cheese. No oatmeal unless it's the specially formulated bariatric kind because it has too many carbs. My nutritionist is very big on very low carb. She said our bodies burn our carb tank first and then fat so low carb is important for fat burning.

I use this forum as my support group, as I don't have any hospital-affiliated support group. I come on here every day and I always find it renews my dedication to my mission towards weight loss and better health. It's like a continually-inspiring support team on demand! I stick with the successful bandsters and learn from their choices...what led them to success, what are their challenges, tips and strategies. I do not read weight loss blogs of dieters whose methods are futile or whose mindsets are not like my own. This would put my own motivation at risk, as it might possibly allow me to justify some non-band compliant behaviors.

I had to do tons of pre op tests like sleep studies, upper GI and even my gallbladder out. After that my insurgence said they wanted 6 month supervised diet. THEN after that my insurance denied me. My BMI was a 52 and then still denied. Luckily I have a great bariatric center and they appealed it and FINALLY I got approved as medically necessary and 3 days later got banded. It's different for everybody but definitely look into what your insurance covers . Good luck

This is really true. I don't know specifically about bariatric surgeons, but my GP, the kids' pediatrician, the orthopedist, the neurologist all have signs up in their office saying they don't take the CA Exchange plans including Blue Cross. I always have to clarify WHICH Blue Cross I have when signing in

Main ingredient in Miralax = polyethylene glycol, cost $10-$30 Main ingredient in Mineral Oil = polyethylene glycol, cost $2-$11 I had to tell this to the nurse at my Bariatric Center. She said if the Mineral Oil didn't work, try Miralax. O.o So what is the difference? I have the Mineral Oil, no taste, absoutley no stomach upset, no intestinal scrunching and it's not off-putting to take it. After you take your 2 tsps or tbsp (whatever you need to work up to) or just seems like you put on lip gloss, lol.

@@Inner Surfer Girl I am waiting for BCBS to let me know how many appeals there can be... my biggest fear is submitting it... getting denied, appealing with peer to peer review, getting denied and then not having another chance to appeal after having my brain surgeries. I told my bariatric doctor today that after having 2 brain surgeries, I just do not know if i will have the drive to have another surgery. I am thinking it is safer to have the brain surgeries, follow the 6 month diet, and then decide if I can handle another surgery. It is frustrating that a less invasive, cheaper surgery could cure me but, insurance would much rather cover not one but 2 brain surgeries, and WLS. It just doesn't, make since at all.

I called my claims administrator today, I was starting to get panicky about the timeline, and someone offered me some solid advice and calmed me down until I could call. I'm very concerned about being able to have my sleeve done before the end of the year. Effective January 1st, my insurance will change, and I will lose my bariatric surgery coverage. I started this process officially end of July, but had seen my PCP in June and July to try and see what could be done about my weight. So, I called. We rearranged my appointments a little bit to get about another week squeezed into my timeline. I'm up for team review the 25th of September, from there, I schedule my consultation with the surgeon. I'll have two more visits to meet insurance requirements, the last one is on November 1st. After my appointment I call this gal back and she submits everything to my insurance. She said it should take a week, but we'll have an answer by November 8th. After that, it's just a matter of pre-op, and scheduling surgery. Could be all said and done as early as December 6th. SQUEE

Well a bunch of us were going to break in and get you out of that prison , 'cos we couldn't couldn't send a bariatric patient a big pie with tools in 😉 Glad you are safe home and hope you heal quickly x

I am 3 years post-op RNY. For over 6 months prior to my surgery, I walked 30 minutes per day. This really helped my recovery process and reduced my pain level. I told the anesthesiologist that I did not want any pain medicine after surgery. So after I left the recovery room, I received no pain medicine. I didn't really need it because I had very little pain. I was up and walking the halls every 2 hours after surgery around the clock. I could not even tell when my surgery anesthesia subsided. It was a little difficult on the first day to walk the halls because I had to drag around a rolling stand that contained the IV. But by the second day they took this all away and it became easier. I was in the hospital for two days and I obtained very little sleep during that time. I could drink the Water because my taste buds changed and water tasted overly chlorinated. But they had a type of sugar free popsicles that were great. It was basically a waiting game until I was discharged. As I walked the halls, they had several before and after photographs of other individuals that underwent bariatric surgery. It is important to make sure they have a trapeze type bar installed over your bed. It makes it much easier and less painful if you have one.

I'm not sure about OC but I know Loma Linda is good as well as St Bernadine's. I'm going through Western Bariatrics which is at St Bernadine's. Sent from my iPhone

Of course professional psychiatric therapy would be my first suggestion. You may check with your insurance to see if it is covered. If not, there are self help books out there, free support groups through local bariatric programs, etc. Look for books or programs that deal with addiction and cognitive behavior therapy. Do whatever you have to to find the help you need. You need to uncover the reasons you turn to food and work to develop new outlets for your emotions. Another addiction recovery program mentioned in my support group was Smart Recovery. It appealed to people who weren't comfortable with the 12 step process of OA. They offer online, personal and group support. Food addiction is hard. I know I would not have been successful postop without the psychological support. 1/2 dozen books, 3+ years of personal therapy (which was more valuable than surgery itself), 5+ years of group therapy (free) and now free online forum support.

Take a look at bariatric foodie and also the one with the ricotta bake lol be right back with the name. world according to eggface has great recipes for every stage

I currently take 300mg of Fluvoxamine (Luvox) at night. For those who are unfamiliar, it's an SSRI usually used for individuals with OCD. Any who, since my roux en y, I have been having just a heck of a time taking these. Initially, the general bariatric doctor cut me down to 200mg, which was way too fast of a "wean" and I had severe withdrawal symptoms, so back to 300mg for now.* Despite cutting them up, taking them hours apart, etc., I am always sick when I take these now. I have pain, immediate gas, sweats, and then it settles down after 30 minutes or so. I'm currently looking into getting them compounded because I vomit when they are smashed to a raw powder. I also try to take them with food, which only helps a tad. Anyone have similar experiences with medications or tips on how to settle the roaring gut? *If you are trying to get off an SSRI, Benzo, etc., do NOT ever stop taking them or make drastic cuts. You need to wean off these!