Search the Community
Showing results for 'renew bariatrics'.
Found 17,501 results
-
SCAM ALERT: Beware of Tijuana Coordinator BILL YANEZ and DR. JALIL ILLAN at HOSPITAL BC!
Alex Brecher posted a topic in Mexico & Self-Pay Weight Loss Surgery
I have recently received alarming reports from patients who have sent deposits or paid in full for surgeries in Tijuana to a patient coordinator named Bill Yanez. He is now working once again as a coordinator for Dr. Jalil Illan in Tijuana. Please exercise extreme caution when dealing with Dr. Jalil Illan at BC Hospital and coordinators Bill Yanez. They have a history of financial misconduct, having embezzled significant sums of money from me during their tenure as coordinators at BariatricPal Hospital/BC Hospital. Furthermore, I have personally experienced severe surgical complications under the care of Dr. Illan, who botched my surgery not once but twice. There are many reputable and trustworthy options for bariatric surgery in Mexico. Please do not risk your health and finances by entrusting them to a surgeon and coordinators with a track record of dishonesty and malpractice. If these individuals have victimized you, I urge you to report them to your local authorities and the FBI. Their actions are unethical and illegal, and they will face the consequences of their actions in due course. Stay safe, everyone. Let's look out for each other and ensure we all have access to safe, reliable, and ethical medical care.- 1 reply
-
- 5
-
-
How did you select your goal weight?
BigSue replied to Sigh's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
You don't need to fixate on a specific number. Look at where you are now and figure out if this is the right weight or if you want to weigh less or more than your current weight. There are a lot of things to consider, but to generalize, how do you feel and look at your current weight, and how sustainable is it? If everything is good now, congratulations! This is your goal weight. It's probably not that simple because it can be a bit of a balancing act, but figure out, overall, if you'd be better off losing more weight or staying where you are. Are you physically comfortable, able to be as active as you'd like to be, and have good mobility? (Of course, there are factors other than your weight that affect these things, but consider whether losing more weight would improve these things.) Are you satisfied with how you look, what size clothes you wear, how people perceive you? Do you look healthy or do people often ask you if you're sick (which may indicate that further weight loss would be a negative for your appearance)? How easy or difficult is it for you to stick with your current calorie level for the long term? If you're hungry all the time and struggle to stick to your plan, you may be setting yourself up to fall off the wagon and regain. If you're satisfied with what and how much you're eating and exercising to maintain your weight, it's sustainable for the long term. How are your health metrics? How's your blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, etc., and would losing more weight be likely to improve anything? Do you have any vitamin deficiencies that indicate that you're not eating enough (or not taking the right supplements)? I would take the numbers from your dietitian and GP with a grain of salt because bariatric surgery patients are different from their average patients, and without specialized training, they may not understand the nuances and may be basing their advice off the good old BMI chart. In my opinion, if they are giving you a specific number as a goal weight, or telling you that your weight is "too high" or "too low" based solely on your height and weight rather than your actual health metrics, they probably don't have great knowledge in this area. The bariatric dietitian will probably be more helpful. I know you have to wait a couple of months, but you seem to be doing fine for now, so unless you have major problems, you can probably just keep on doing what you're doing until then. -
I Can't Win for Losing! Now I'm Cramping!
Sleeve_Me_Alone replied to CarmenG's topic in Revision Weight Loss Surgery Forums (NEW!)
Try something like Powerade/Gatorade/Vitamin Water (sugar free versions) or a water additive like zip fizz to help with electrolytes. A low sodium bone broth might be a good choice, too, if you prefer savory. I use Just Better Fiber for the digestive part, and it has been tremendously helpful. Its definitely a balance keeping hydrated, keeping electrolytes up, getting protein in.... blah blah blah. The plight of all bariatric patients! -
How did you select your goal weight?
Sigh replied to Sigh's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
I totally agree that the NSV are MORE important, and that i cant tie myself to a number— and I KNOW that the benefits have SIGNIFICANTLY outweighed what the number on the scale is, but am wondering how do you know what a healthy weight for you is? Im getting conflicting numbers from my dietician and my GP— I was self pay in Mexico and have had to assemble a team on my own, and am wondering what other people have done. I have an appointment with Bariatric dietician (not just a regular one) but can’t get in until mid September. Currently, I am 4.5 months out and already at the target on the outcomes link provided above, and understand that the number chooses you— my number on my ticker is what i was comfortable at years ago, and think it will be achievable. My dietician thinks it’s too low, and my GP advises an even lower number— and ideal weight/BMI calculators seem stupid. I know i started with a much lower BMI, but am trying to find that “healthy place” where i can keep the weight under control over time as well. -
I only found out about this site today. I began my trip down the bariatric road in late February of this year after roughly 4 years of being pointed in this direction by my doctor. I was resistant primarily because prior to back-to-back knee injuries (right first, followed by the left three months later) in 2008 which were both 'corrected' surgically but have rapidly deteriorated in the years since to the point where I'm grinding bone-on-bone on both sides, I was very active - ice hockey 3x per week including 1x week through the summer, gym 6 days/wk, cycling 100-200 miles/week, so I could 'do it myself'...except with my knees in the state they are, I can't. Having consulted with two separate orthopaedic surgeons, they both agreed I need total knee replacement in both knees - badly - but neither will perform the procedure at my weight. Having this surgery is a stepping stone to my ultimate goal of no longer being a 56 year old 80 year old. So, upon being referred to the bariatric program here in Toronto, I attended the virtual orientation class on March 7th and subsequently attended either virtually or in person, all of the other classes/consults up to and including the surgeon, and have done a sleep study and had an endoscopy and on July 7, received my surgery date; Aug 28 Being in Canada, I will only be out of pocket for the two weeks of liquid diet pre-surgery and then the regimented stages of dietary progression post-surgery. Everything else is covered including all of the diagnostics, the surgery and the hospital stay. I'm looking forward to getting my life back...
-
IMPROVED Gastric Sleeve (IGS) - Dr. Ariel Ortiz
AZCRS posted a topic in Mexico & Self-Pay Weight Loss Surgery
Hello BariatricPal, I have narrowed my sergeon selection to Dr Ariel Ortiz at OCC, and Dr. Rene Armenta at Renew Bariatrics. I have GERD and require daily medication. I was originally going to get the MGB, until I came across the IGS. Has anyone had the IGS at OCC and is your reflux resolved? Comments appriciated. -
the best thing I ever did was switching to a hairdresser that also had bariatric surgery. Because she had went through it herself ontop of her general hair knowledge I have felt so much more in control and so good about the decisions we made as far as cuts and products.
-
Hi everyone! It has been a while since I logged in to this forum. My journey started about three years ago. It has many ups and downs. Started at 284 and I got as low as 183. Over the past two years, I got lazy and stopped following my program which ballooned up to 230. So it's time to get serious and get back to what I'm supposed to do. I really don't want to lose all the progress I made. Some of the bad habits I need to kick- eating junk food, especially late at night. Also eating too many "slider" foods that are easy to go down, which happen to be ice cream, chips, crackers... all the stuff that I don't need. I still walk 4-5 miles a day but have skipped a few more days than I should. I decided to log back in here for accountability and to remind myself how far I have come. Last week, I started counting the calories of everything I'm eating and trying to keep it under 1300 calories a day. I have gone from 230 to 218 in a week. My goal was always 200 lbs, so that's where I want to get to. I have my 3-year checkup with my bariatric surgeon on 9/21, and I hope to get to my goal by then. I appreciate any advice or encouragement here. And I will try to go back and catch up on all of the wonderful stories I have missed over the past year.
-
I recently had the sleeve revision to gastric bypass and I have been going through so many emotions. First, I was really beating myself up about not losing what I thought I "should" be losing. Then I all of a sudden started to feel like my husbands extremely petite new assistant has the hots for him. I read texts... She was just too chummy for my liking but didnt even say anything that bad. Just a lot of LOL's after things that werent funny and asking for favors to fix her boat while she is a cheerleader. He doesnt respond at all the same way and is very short with his answers and they are all professional. And, he is not a cheat. I know that in my heart, but these emotions that I have are making feel worse about myself than ever before. I cry out of nowhere and have fabricated this potentional office romance and can't stop checking the call logs or texts. The one line stands out when he asked her what her jacket size was and her response was "well I am small all the way around but I guess I can take a medium for a jacket". Like just say medium!! I know the way that I am feeling has a lot to do with how I feel about myself and my own insecurities, but I dont know how to stop. Google also doesnt help. I went for my follow-up today, I am 5 weeks out, and she said I was doing great. I asked her if it is common to have these waves of depression and anxiety hit out of nowhere. She said she has seem some patients with the issue and told me to try Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Probiotics Mood+ Acidophilus Probiotic Supplement. She said sometimes with the bypass we are not getting enough serotonin in our systems and this could probably lift my mood. Just wondering if anyone else had any issues like this or if they are taking a supplement with serotonin? I also had a talk about what my expectations were for the surgery and how that could be affecting things. I am beating myself up because I am not seeing things drop as quickly as I thought they would and I am terrified this will be another bariatric sugery failure for me. I didnt realize that the weight loss wouldnt be as quick with a regular bypass before I had it. All of my other health issues seem to be getting better though, except my mental health haha. -
Feeling so depressed, is it due to serotonin levels?
Daisy1210 posted a topic in Revision Weight Loss Surgery Forums (NEW!)
I recently had the sleeve revision to gastric bypass and I have been going through so many emotions. First, I was really beating myself up about not losing what I thought I "should" be losing. Then I all of a sudden started to feel like my husbands extremely petite new assistant has the hots for him. I read texts... She was just too chummy for my liking but didnt even say anything that bad. Just a lot of LOL's after things that werent funny and asking for favors to fix her boat while she is a cheerleader. He doesnt respond at all the same way and is very short with his answers and they are all professional. And, he is not a cheat. I know that in my heart, but these emotions that I have are making feel worse about myself than ever before. I cry out of nowhere and have fabricated this potentional office romance and can't stop checking the call logs or texts. The one line stands out when he asked her what her jacket size was and her response was "well I am small all the way around but I guess I can take a medium for a jacket". Like just say medium!! I know the way that I am feeling has a lot to do with how I feel about myself and my own insecurities, but I dont know how to stop. Google also doesnt help. I went for my follow-up today, I am 5 weeks out, and she said I was doing great. I asked her if it is common to have these waves of depression and anxiety hit out of nowhere. She said she has seem some patients with the issue and told me to try Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Probiotics Mood+ Acidophilus Probiotic Supplement. She said sometimes with the bypass we are not getting enough serotonin in our systems and this could probably lift my mood. Just wondering if anyone else had any issues like this or if they are taking a supplement with serotonin? I also had a talk about what my expectations were for the surgery and how that could be affecting things. I am beating myself up because I am not seeing things drop as quickly as I thought they would and I am terrified this will be another bariatric sugery failure for me. I didnt realize that the weight loss wouldnt be as quick with a regular bypass before I had it. All of my other health issues seem to be getting better though, except my mental health haha. -
3 week stall, still have nasty gerd, and FINALLY found restriction...
heatherdbby replied to SleeveToBypass2023's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
my office requires chewable. no gummies bc they have hidden carbs and sugars. no capsules bc they add additional barriers on absorption. My surgeons office gave us a full long list of their recommendations, and broke down which ones had additional supplements we had to add with it (example, if you take flintstones complete, you need to add calcium and b complex) I chose the one that was a complete that didnt need additional supplements, and the dietician said that she does not see defiencies with that one, its bariatric fusion, the one that says complete chewable. https://www.bariatricfusion.com/collections/bariatric-multivitamins -
Not going to lie. . this scares me a bit
catwoman7 replied to BabySpoons's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
this article does say that she'd complained about abdominal pain for months, and that the opioids they found in her system may have masked some of the pain. Other articles I've read also said she'd had pain for months - although babyspoons said she'd read that LMP didn't have pain. So...not sure what the real story is here, It does say, though, that bowel obstruction is a rare complication (and that I knew....) https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/lisa-marie-presley-death-rare-risk-bariatric-surgery-rcna94373 -
Not going to lie. . this scares me a bit
myfanwymoi replied to BabySpoons's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
When I had the Petersens hernias (which create blockage because loops of intestine have slipped through a hole in the sac that keeps your guts in place / sorry forgot name of it!) I had intermittent pain. It was hard to describe- crampy mainly, pressure a bit - I’d get relief from going on hands and knees and rocking my hips- looking back that may have helped loops to slip back in. anyway I went to emergency departs twice or three times - showing a text from my wls surgeon which said Petersens hernias likely please do a cti. They did x/rays which won’t show the issue - or the tear which causes it and sent me home. Another time they said why wasn’t surgeon seeing me himself - was past date when he had to under the private contract- they said he’s a rich man he should see you. (He’d just retired as senior consultant at that hospital which is a bariatric centre) my pain had gone by this time as I’d not attempted to eat or drink in 24 hours (I’d told them that too) and they sent me home insisting I did it properly with a go referral. which I did. got an appointment at same hospital -told will re it’s d be in touch within six weeks. Call next day - oh we have a cti cancellation can you pop in. Did so and they then had another magic cancellation to schedule repair op. Turns out half my small intestines had migrated through this tear. Shiny new doc told me this and older once shushed it down as they were obvs worried I’d litigate. I was just pleased not to have died. Petersens used to happen after peptic ulcer ops and were common- changes in treatment of ulcers made them more rare - they’re increasingly common again as post wls issue. so - point of this long post - intermittent issues- and this happened over a six month period- need checking out too. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out which foods caused it and it was actually just the food moving - or intermittently not, through my small intestines… -
Not going to lie. . this scares me a bit
Jeanniebug replied to BabySpoons's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
Abdominal pain. Abdominal pain in bariatric patients should never be ignored - no matter how far out from surgery we are. All humans are at risk of a bowel obstruction. Bariatric patients are at a higher risk. The main symptom is abdominal pain. It's often accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea. -
Not going to lie. . this scares me a bit
BabySpoons posted a topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
In the last few days, news revealed that the cause of death for Lisa Marie Presley was complications from bariatric surgery. No info on which procedure she had or when, but seems she developed a small bowel blockage caused from scar tissue developing and adhesions many years later. I did a search here for this particular problem and know it is a rare occurrence, but I can't help but think she probably had the best of doctors and well... how does one recognize if they have a blockage or adhesion before it's too late? Doctors reveal how bowel obstruction behind Lisa Marie Presley's death can occur (msn.com) -
Food Aversions After Surgery
CarmenG replied to MasonMoonGirl's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
You're crazy, lol. But seriously, though. Too much protein will put a strain on you liver, gall bladder, and kidneys. According to what I've read, the amount of protein a person needs before surgery depends on your gender, age, and weight. After surgery, it will depend on if you're absorbing everything you eat, or if you have a malabsorptive surgery. Protein intake for bariatric patients, pre or post op is meant to replace the protein we lose with weight loss. -
My doc gave me a restaurant discount card
MasonMoonGirl replied to KathyLev's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
I would feel way more comfortable asking the server if I could order off the kids menu because I had surgery than busting out a medical card that announces that I am a bariatric patient and can't eat their regular meals. Seems passive aggressive haha -
I had that problem during the second week after my surgery. I was just wide awake all night. I developed such bad RLS (restless leg syndrome) that I was already feeling it in my arms. It was horrible. When I talked to the PA at my doc's office he said to start taking extra B12. I told him that maybe it was the Famotidine (Pepcid) I was told to take at bedtime that was causing it. I asked him if I could take it early in the morning and he said whatever worked for me. I also read that melatonin was the best solution for insomnia in bariatric patients. When I started taking 24mg of melatonin at night, taking the Famotidine and extra B12 in the morning, I started sleeping through the night. Of course, it's ALWAYS best to check with your doctor. My personal experience is not medical advice.
-
So for the past couple of days, I've been having black diarrhea. Is this to be expected? I know iron can cause black stool and I've been strictly on liquid diet so could explain the diarrhea, but how do I know it's not an ulcer? I just don't know what I can do over the weekend when the surgical group I had the surgery with or the bariatric coordinator at the hospital to contact for my questions are off for the weekend.
-
High LIver Enzymes and Ferritin 8-7 months post op, help?
Jeanniebug replied to Laura M's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
3 months post op: Jan 9th - Ferritin - 162 (normal range 13-150), AST - 35 (normal 5-32), ALT - 51 (normal 5-33) 7 months post op: May 12 - Ferritin - 90.5, AST - 43, ALT - 77 - Ferritin has come down to normal and liver still going up. I saw my surgeon the day before yesterday. She said that high ferritin and high liver enzymes is fairly normal, after bariatric surgery. -
Promethazine (also known as Phergan), is an antihistamine with sedating properties. It's used for allergys. Do you mean pantoprazole? I find esomeprazole more effective, but they are the same class of drug. They belong to the proton pump inhibitor group or PPIs. They are of benefit when stomach acid escapes back up into the esophagus. Bariatric practices will routinely prescribed a short course of a PPI, say for 3 months. However if you have a liver disease, this could be a problem, but your surgeon would have thought about this before prescribing a PPI. Were you not supplied with these?
-
Depressed before surgery
MasonMoonGirl replied to MasonMoonGirl's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
Thank you!! Yes I did not go to that restaurant i was invited to at comic con, my fiance and I went to benihanas instead and I am so proud of myself for just eating steak and veggies and saying no to that rice! Yes I am now doing private therapy once a week and joined a binge eating support group and life after bariatric surgery support group. In the literal week I've been in therapy I've learned a lot about myself already and family patterns etc. It's amazing what a difference it makes! I really haven't told anyone I'm getting WLS except for my sister and two close friends. We told my fiances family the first time I considered getting it and they were scaring my fiance and me telling us about this person who know this person who had complications and this lady who can "spiritually" heal me from overeating instead of surgery (Hispanic small town problems lol) and I didn't end up doing it. So now we will tell them when I'm out of surgery, I don't need any negative opinions, this is my journey and no one else's! -
does kaiser pay for a tummy tuck?
bluemather replied to carlacv's topic in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
I just met with my surgeon yesterday for my 6 mo post op visit. I brought up this same question as my sagging skin is becoming more apparent as I continue to lose (at 90 lbs lost). He said that most insurance will pay for this procedure as a cause of Bariatric surgery and done by a plastic surgeon. He mentioned that you need to first lose all the weight, then maintain that weight for at least 6 months, before they would approve the surgery. He stated arm or leg skin surgery would not be covered but tummy tuck was. I was hopeful to hear this although I have not gone through the process yet to vet the accuracy. I’m sure it depends on your specific insurance plan benefits and worth a call. -
Good Morning Everyone! QOTD is what is your favorite recipe/foods/shakes for your pre or postoperative surgery? I am still able to eat many foods except for carbs still so I haven't delved into Bariatric recipes yet, but I will share mine once I do! For now I've been trying a lot of different protein shakes from Premier Protein including chocolate vanilla, chocolate peanut butter,cake batter, strawberries and cream and caramel. I love all of them, except for strawberries and cream is not my favorite, but they have been great for when I'm craving dessert! I have one for breakfast in the morning and I mix it with a scoop of Vital Proteins Collagen to keep my skin looking great during this process! I feel like that and my Solgar Biotin and Hair Skin and Nails has already been helping. I am big on skin care amd a Sephora "junkie" and can give anyone advice on that!
-
Honestly and genuinely, and without disagreeing with anyone here (because only they can know what has worked for them and all of our experiences will differ) stalls and plateaus are a completely normal part of losing weight after WLS. If you stick rigidly to the plan you have been given then in the vast majority of cases stalls will break, plus eventually (sooner or later - and people get there at different rates) you will get to your new set weight. That weight might not be your ideal weight but that's what the surgery does. All of the side stuff you do along the way makes little to no difference IMO. It's window dressing. And we kill ourselves angsting about it. Sure, if we've been on a long stall and we then decide to increase/decrease protein/carbs/exercise/type of exercise/duration of exercise/CALORIES/whatever, and we resume losing weight, it is human nature to attribute the renewed loss to whatever we did. But we're working with an experimental group of 1 (me) with no control group. Basically if all the time we're sticking to our programme then that's what kick starts the new loss, not the other stuff. If I could go back in time 20 months I would just say to my post-op me "stick to the plan, use your tool, and see how far you can get. You will lose rapidly and lose slowly with no rhyme or reason. Stop comparing yourself to others - they're different to you. Surgery works, stick to the plan!!!!" I really hope this helps someone else.
