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I start my Bariatric advantage protein shakes Monday too. My big day is June 26. We are all getting close. Best wishes

Interesting article today... here's the link: http://news.yahoo.com/weight-loss-surgery-may-help-menstruation-skin-hair-180405888.html

I am 6 1/2 months post-op and found out Friday that I need to have my gallbladder removed. I am wondering what kind of effects, good or bad, this will have on me, my diet and my weight loss post-sleeve. Has this surgery had any effect on your average weight loss? How do the pre- and post-op diets for surgery fit with the sleeve's diet plan? Will this help with the constant gas and belching I have? What is recovery like compared to the sleeve? Anything you have found that helps with symptoms and attacks before surgery? The good thing is my bariatric surgeon is doing the gallbladder removal as well. I don't have to worry about someone in there who isn't familiar with my "compromised" anatomy. Since I've been going through this most medical professionals I've come across are not at all familiar with VSG and that worries me. I'm not looking forward to another surgery but I am relieved this pain is going to go away. (I'm in the middle of an attack right now and it's hell!)

From my sayings app; BEFORE ANYTHING TRULY GREAT HAPPENS EVERYTHING FALLS APART! Hi there from another Boomer(73) in Central Ohio. I have gone from 28-30W at 5ft8in to a 20, and teetering on the brink of 18.HW365+, Currently at 224, losing 2-3 lb each week, bariatric clinic is forecasting I will achieve Onderland at or slightly past my one year anniversary on September 5th. Boobs a tragedy like yours , gone from 48 DD to 42C, my goal is to be 175 and a 15 junior, why do I specify that? Because for a BIG Girl I am not overtly busty, I am a Fat Athletic build, my ortho who is also a Sports med specialist says "Impossible" I told him You are looking at one now. Had 2 knee replacements, partly due to fact I caught softball and baseball, because that was the only way my neighborhood could field a team, played center or power forward in basketball, none of my boy cousins would challenge me to horse after age 12,,i was good and I left them in the dust but I was chosen among the first when choosing sides cause nobody wanted me on the other side. I was merciless on court! Now I am an arthritic has-been who shrunk 4 height inches after menopause, I was 6 feet if I didn't flatten down my hair. And I am ambidextrous, so I switch-hit in one kind of ball, and was deadly in layups and,free throws. We were somewhere and one of my kids was playing around with a b-ball, I said give me that basketball, shot from centercourt , sunk it , no rim needed, Whaaat said my offspring, how can you do THAT? Mama had a life before you guys came along, and I still have secrets. I have bat wings and also flying squirrel thighs, maybe they go together? A scrawny turtle neck, I wonder who I will look like when this is all over, I certainly barely resemble myself anymore. Recently I have gone from Looking like my,Mama, her older sister Aunt Grace and today I look like their mother,Grandma Cora. And this is a shock, she never was above 5ft4in even on tippy toes. I just pray I still look passable and don't frighten people in the street too badly. My bit of glory, my rump is going away, I used to be a Baby who had Back, now I have gently rounded butt cheeks. Harder keeping my pants up, they have nothing to hang from anymore! And the stretch marks, low flesh and different ways my body is, those are our battle ribbons, we took our place in a deadly war and We Won!

A good friend of mine recommended this site to me for some good support and conversation with fellow Lap Bandees. I'm 24 years old and have always been a "big guy." However, in the last few years, I've become more and more sedentary and thus gained a lot of weight. So around a year ago I started looking into bariatric surgery to get me on track and help me improve my health. Well, on April 3rd, 2008 I was banded by Dr. Darrin Hansen of the South Valley Surgical Center in Sandy, Utah. So far I'm feeling really good and haven't had too much pain. I'm excited to get to a place where I can get exercising and resume a (quasi) normal life. I'm a student and I work full-time for a law firm so this downtime is hard for me to accept. I'm glad to have learned about this site and I feel I will frequent it with questions and for general support. I have a blogsite I've set up for any and everyone to check out and follow my progress. You all are welcome to comment on it. Becoming Half the "Mozart" I Am (My nickname has been Mozart since I was 8 years old...)

If you haven't noticed it on the topics listing, the next WLS clothing exchange is scheduled for April 11. You're all welcomed to take part. www.bariatricpal.com/topic/362324-greater-new-york-bariatric-surgery-clothing-exchange-april-2016/ I hope to see some of you.

Hi Rocky, We at 2Life Bariatrics will be able to help you. Please contact our Practice Administrator, Asal Sepassi, at asal@2lifebariatrics.com or 866.429.5961 and we can talk through the options. Colin

I'm a year and five months. I recently started to relax and except that I'm in maintenance. The reality check I needed was a kick in the head by the vets. I'm so grateful! ( I have learned not to post with no sleep. Its the equivalent of drinking and dialing.) Vets continue to drop out of my local support group. The direction of the surgeons facilitators revolve around weight loss phase. The community of veterans is relevant. The vets have given me information that my surgeons team had no answers for. Staying connected with the bariatric community keeps me on track. Currently I am mentoring a local woman who is 600 pounds. Paying it forward works for me. It is only for a few locally. I don't feel the need to save anyone. the work is all on them. In bariatricpal there is no possible way to keep up with all the new patients. I see familiar vets. i keep up on your posts. To see the vets disappear from this site would be our loss.

forget about his medical diet and move on to another pcp right away - my pcp is the one who recommended I speak with a bariatric surgeon, and I think that's how it should be - prior pcp's just kept pushing the "eat less and move around more" philosophy on me - it's like are you even paying attention? if it were that simple I wouldn't look like this now! - since switching to my current pcp, I have absolutely zero tolerance for physicians that talk around the issue instead of getting on board with real solutions best of luck to you, I hope you find a good doctor soon

@@jesslo First of all congratulations on your loss so far, it is excellent. If you are not hitting your Protein goals you will stall out. You need to find a protein solution that works for you. I struggled hard those first few weeks with protein until I called my surgeon and told them. That call changed everything for me. The Bariatric nurse who had RNY herself suggested that I try Premier Protein ready made shakes. Each shake has 30 grams of protein, 1 gram of sugar and 160 calories. Most importantly they don't have that nasty protein flavor or the grit from protein powders. In the first few weeks, I had to milk them down with lactose free milk to thin them out. chocolate was and still is my favorite. I am now 22 months post op and I still drink one everyday. Protein keeps you healthy and actually assists in weight loss. Besides Water, it is critical for your success. You have to find a solution that will work for you but you must get your protein in to remain healthy through this process.

There are surgeons who do the "rose" revision for gastric bypass folks whose pouch has stretched. As a healthcare professional, I do not think that it is ethical, nor particularly professional to discuss how much one makes on a surgery. Payment is his business / his office manager's (whomever negotiates his rates) and is negotiated between him / his manager and the insurance company. as is stated above, if he is not happy with the payment then he can choose not to take on the insurance. Asking for additional monies to compensate him because he is unhappy with the insurance rate is not ideal nor by usual contract is this allowed (he should only take any co-pays/deductibles and then once that is met ony what the insurance pays out). However, he may have additional costs that he wishes to capture and if that is the case, then he should clearly communicate those items, i.e. additional costs not related to the surgery such as funding for post op support groups, assitant surgeon who does not take insurance, etc... Most bariatric surgeons will do 3-6 bariatric cases per day. ($2,700-$5,400) not bad for 4.5-9 hours of work. True, this is only one day most surgeons will do surgery 2- 3 days (sometimes more frequently) / week. Not too bad for just a mere $900 / case. Either way, I wish you luck!

For the first couple weeks, I wondered if I was nuts for doing this to myself. But now my clothes are hanging on me. I have never had much success keeping weight off. I feel this is chance for a new life. Are you getting any exercise? I am briskly walking 2-3 miles a day. I feel this is critical in my case to having energy. I hope you have a change of heart. Twenty lbs is a great start. Check out "the World according to Eggface". She has many Bariatric recipes that will give you ideas on meals that might encourage you to eat. Good luck.

OP I will address the copay. You likely should not be paying any copay for your 6 week visit. You should be in your post-op day period. Any care that is within the post-op period is considered part of the fee for the surgery. The surgeon should not be charging you a co-pay and should not be billing insurance, nor should the insurance pay for visits during the post-op period. Any major surgery should have a post-op period. It will vary depending on the surgery. The insurance companies use fairly standard guidelines. I think for the sleeve it is 90 days. (If you have a visit with the same surgeon for an issue not related to the surgeon a copay would apply.) The surgery fee is a global fee. I would check with the office and your insurance to verify if you will even have the $50 copay. If not, I would reschedule with the NP/PA. I would not use your PCP for the follow-up. Use your surgeon's practice for follow-up. The surgeon and his staff have the experience with bariatrics, your PCP not so much. If the NP/PA has a question or concern then the surgeon is right there to ask or maybe even pop in the room. If you plan on doing any future follow-ups or if you do have complications and need to go back then your bariatric record is all complete and at your surgeon's office. When I did my follow-ups I also saw the dietician. I would think that your bariatric PA/NP is going to be better versed in the nutritional aspects for a bariatric patient than your PCP will be. (Assuming you don't see a dietician separately). Can you tell that I pay health insurance for a living? 10 years ago I tore my ACL. I used a very good surgeon. He had awful bedside manners but is a great surgeon. I did not mind seeing his PA. His PA was able to spend much more time with me, he was easier to ask questions and gave more detailed answers than the surgeon. I was paying the surgeon for his OR skills. Yes, I paid the higher $40 specialist copay for his PA. But I got more bang for my buck with the PA for the follow-up visits than I would have with the surgeon. I view picking a surgeon as two fold: I am picking his skills as a surgeon and I am picking his program. That program includes his pre-op diet, pre-op testing, post-op diet, post op care and his staff. Like you I was 1 hour 15 minutes from my surgeon's office. I quit an orthopedic doctor's office over his front office staff- they never returned phone calls, never passed messages to the surgeon and let me run out of refills on my medicines even when I started calling for a refill 1.5 weeks before. My PCP recommended him for my husband and I would not let him use that practice. The staff is a very important part of the program. Don't shortchange the NP/PA that your surgeon picked. There is a reason they employ that person. Presumably they trust them for a reason. Like I said if the $50 copay is one of your big sticking points you should verify that you will even owe it for this visit. Maybeing have the visit free will make the drive worth it to you.

Of course we checked on you, you are one of us on Bariatric Pal and we take care of our own!

My "moment " came in May of 2018 with a series of events. I was 246 pounds, and didn't want to hit 250. I was wearing a 3x in clothes and they were getting tight, and I didn't know where I'd find clothes. I was out of breath and sweatty just walking to my car from work, and I had diabetes type 2. High blood pressure. I was literally a hot mess, and I said to myself "that's it!" I went to the informational session with my husband at my bariatric surgeon's office on May of 2018, completed Anthem's 6 months of requirements, and had my gastric bypass on March 27, 2019. Although I've had complications Im thrilled that I had the surgery! Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi Shawna, Are you pre or post op? This is only from my experience and information from my dietitian. Protein shakes, bars, bariatic store processed food supplements are for first stages when you can't eat enough food to hit your protein goal. My dietitian does not want patients dependent on protein shakes, bars or bariatric store products long term. Once you can hit your protein goal with real food there is no need for shakes etc... My hunger is not satisfied with protein shakes or add water meals. they are slider foods. They easily break down and slide through your new stomach. Real whole food keeps my hunger under control. All of us are busy. Some of us use a day off work to meal prep. Below is a link to the low to no cook thread for meal ideas.

Well my OBGYN and bariatric team strongly encouraged RNY because of my PCOS. This surgery is really supposed to help with symptoms and get rid of it all together, part of my symptoms are completely irregular periods and never ending periods like unless i used depoprovera mine would never stop so I'm 2 months post opp RNY and as of yet no changes in my symptoms I've been on my period almost since surgery with only 2 weeks free, but i feel it's almost gonna stop. Now my current issue now is i can no longer use the depoprovera needle cause of osteoporosis so I'm still working with my team as to what birth control/hormone treatment will work for me with Rny. Also i was told by my team that as more weight comes off the symptoms should disappear. So here's hoping they are right.

I have HIP Prime HMO too, and my surgery is being covered. Dr. Nishimura at New York Bariatrics in Hewlett takes the insurance. Try them out.. they aren't in Brooklyn, so it's a drive for you but it may be worth it since they take your insurance.

I also have Aetna insurance and the whole six months of Dr visits I didn't know I could not gain so of course I was denied cause I did!!!! Well after feeling defeated I talked to the Dr office and was told I could do the three month program of dr visit, nutrician and excersise program they offer. My hospital had a program just for bariatric patients to do so they can get approved. I have lost 8 with it and as long as insurance sees a life style change I was told I will get approved.

I have PCOS as well, am insulin-resistant and have thyroid issues. I take medication for both plus HBP meds. I am 44. I wear a size 22/24. I have been going to monthly support groups since the Summer of 2014 and going through all the insurance requirement visits with my last nutritionist appointment just last week. I am struggling so much with which surgery to go through. My surgeon said RNY is best for anyone with sugar issues. I am not diabetic--yet! I do, however, take Metformin every single day since TTC 12+ years ago (have two children now). I don't want to end up with diabetes--this is my biggest fear. But my sister had RNY in November 2014 and has been in the hospital three separate times for dehydration. I'm really struggling. At the support groups, it seems like all the newbies have gotten or are getting the sleeve. It seems so much easier to deal with after the surgery to have the sleeve. Also, I believe if you get the sleeve, you do have the option to later 'upgrade' to the RNY if needed, but who wants to count on that?? But I believe there is more risk of putting weight back on later with the sleeve and my nutritionist said I would lose more weight with RNY. Uggh. It is so tough. You talk to almost anyone who has gone through with RNY, all say they would do it again in a heartbeat--even my sister I think! This is just so hard. I am really struggling. But then wonder if my worries are just another excuse which all of us who struggle with weightloss are so very good at--making excuses. Problem I am experiencing is that I don't really think these bariatric surgeons truly understand PCOS. I no longer see a reproductive endocrinologist for my PCOS because I am no longer TTC, but I do see a regular endocrinologist. I wish I could see a study of PCOS patients who have undergone the surgery and really see their long-term results--like over one to two years out? I will be mortified if I get this surgery and then stretch out the sleeve or pouch only to get fat again.

Hi Everyone, I’m scheduled to undergo the gastric sleeve surgery next Monday, December 2nd. I’m anxious and scared about this life changing decision but I’m also excited about the journey ahead. I’m on day 4 of my 11 day pre-surgery diet and the Protein Shakes are gagging me. I’m limited to using shakes from Bariatric Advantage and Bariatric Fusion. Any tips on how to make them taste better? I’ve tried using extracts and drink mixes. I’m also hoping for some encouraging words for this surgery. I hope I’m making the right decision. I have this fear that I’ll feel nauseous for the rest of my life and I won’t be able to enjoy food ever again.

@@OKCPirate I never said I was looking for a MAN or WOMAN, you know what they say about assuming.... Also, I don't need your advice about where to find dates, being single for so long, I know what avenues to work. I never said anything about what I am looking for because, I do not know, all I am looking for now, is exactly what I posted so, please, don't be so "cavalier" with giving out advice when people have not asked for not. @@OutsideMatchInside You do know Tinder is notoriously known for just hookups, right...? Also, same thing I told OKCPirate, I didn't ask for advice ------------ Comments like the ones I'm receiving always remind me why I never participate in Bariatric forums/communities. People think they're being supportive by telling you what THEY think is best for YOU, most of the time when that is not even nearly close what you've asked for. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I take over-the-counter Centrum vitamins. My nutritional lab blood work results are all perfect. There's no way I'd pay the extra money for bariatric vitamins unless I had a procedure with some malabsorption such as a distal bypass or a duodenal switch.

It may be hard..but u are taking care of yourself. Your health ..your appearance and your energy. Is there a way u can politely ask those who live with u to be aware of your needs right now. I am at a point that my husband eats anything he wants in front of me. However, he did consider me till I to this point. Keep your hands busy so that the noise u hear in the kitchen is taken away by what u are concentrating on, read a good book, read bariatric pal articles yo inspire you, go to your bedroom if u need yo till your head hunger passes. You have control over this situation more than u think. As for as eating out..limit your visits to restaurants. You have options..u r in control of your environment.. Also ask for that consideration.

well if you want the cheese cake, buy he bariatric kind and add lemon to it...you can get 7 servings and have all you want then.....i ordered some for variation in diet on ways to get protein,,,,,some days i can have desert and not feel quilty that way