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So far I have had my labs done and have attended the Welcome Group for Bariatric people who are going through the same thing. I have met with the PT and the NP both went very well. The NP prescribed me all my Vitamins I will need, she also said I would need to see their endocrinologist as some of my labs were abnormal. So that appointment will be made on Monday. On Tuesday I will be seeing the Nut and Psych. I also have to have a sleep study done, that will be done next week as well. Then I finally will get to meet with the surgeon, so I am looking at possibly a March sleever. Does everyone have to have an endoscopy done? Thanks

You will LOVE the care you receive from Crystal Run!! The entire process is fabulous--from the staff to the private rooms to the pianoist in the lobby. The surgeon I had is no longer there,( I'm 5yrs out) but knowing that Crystal Run is a "Bariatric Center of Excellence", so I'm confident that the new surgeons are of superior reference. Say, "hello" to Janet Kover for me. She is one fantastic knowledgeable and supportive NUT.. You are off to a wonderful beginning of your WLS by choosing Crystal Run. I'm confident of your success and your bariatric journey being a joyful one.

I went to what I thought was an appointment with a nutrionist at Kaiser and it turned out to be a seminar for Gastric Bypass surgery. About 1/2 way through thank goodness someone asked about the lapband. The nutrionist was very abrupt and said "Kaiser doesn't cover that surgery". Funny, 3 different people at Kaiser told me over the phone that they do. I switched my insurance for that reason. Their 200+ page handbook says that they cover bariatric surgery. To me that would cover quite a few different surgeries!!! Including Lap Band. Under exclusions, lap band is not mentioned. Now what?? This was 2 nights ago and I am still fuming! I guess it is time to start writing letters. Everyday if I have to. Wish me luck!!

hi; I had to be on liquids for 2 weeks pre op and almost lost my mind and my cookies (pun intended)! I spoke with a bariatric nurse at the Cleve Clinic where I had my band put in and she said you can have creamed soups and yogurt. It isn't easy but it will pay off in the end because it gives you a mind set about a new way of eating. Keep up the good work, you will be happy you did. Jugazi:thumbup:

Have a band of belly fat in midriff area that I cannot seem to get rid of. 15 yrs out from surgery March 1999. When I had my tummy tuck done, the doctor did not do this area and suggested lyposuction in 2002. Does anyone know if any of the advertised belly fat reducing supplements are safe for bariatrics to use and do they work? Thanks

I have been taking meds for bipolar for a number of years. Took MMPI-2 as part of my psych eval and showed I am totally "normal". Really shocked my psychologist. I will stay on meds though to be sure I stay stable. If you have mental health issues, they just want to be sure that you are: (1) stable on meds and continue under treatment (2) Addressing any eating problems. (3) You have adequate social support (family, friends, church, etc.) I was pretty stressed about psych eval because my history. Don't stress about it. If you have a current therapist, see if your bariatric center will accept psych eval by him/her. Who knows you better? Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi DuranFan1969 There is a good reason more and more insurance companies like BCBS are accepting and paying for bariatric surgery. I have diabetes and other co-morbidities. In the long run it is cheaper for insurance to cover this large bill for WLS, because over the years insurance will have to pay much more for medical supplies and medicine for people with such ailments as high blood pressure and diabetes, sleep apnea etc. So getting the WLS makes sense to the insurance company. I don't think insurance is paying for WLS out of the "goodness of their heart" it just makes good business sense. Good luck with you upcoming sleeve you will be very happy kathy

Twin Labs is a very reputable vitamin line, and I am familiar with it. I will head to the health food store and look for the chewable calcium citrate. thanks for the tip!!! I may have to try the Centrum chewables. I hate that I spent so much on the Bariatric Advantage. Ideally I would like to use those up first, but there are 120 tablets in the bottle. I can't bear to think of chewing 120 of those horrible things!!!

You don't say whether you are in an HMO (which requires a referral for the surgery), but that's what it sounds like. I would hit him with a two-pronged approach. The first would be scientific: Go to the website for the American Society for Bariatric Surgeons and go to the section called "The rationale for surgery." It does deal mostly with bypass, but the rationale holds for ALL bariatric surgery. The NIH, The American Heart Association, The National Heart Lung Institue of Health (part of NIH) have all endorsed bariatric surgery for patients with a BMI of 40 and above. I think the Heart Association has too, but I don't remember for sure. Look up their position papers. I know I saw all of these position papers in an appendix of a book on weight-loss surgery (it was about bypass), but I don't remember the name. Then I would get him all of the information on LapBand (maybe Inamed could help you there). But I would also take Alexandra's approach and pour your heart out to him. Document all the diets you have been on, all the weight you've lost, all the weight you've regained. And tell him what being obese has done to you as a person - how you feel. You could do this in a letter if you want, but I would hand him the letter in person. It will be harder to ignore that way. You might also see if ObesityLaw.com has any advice. I think they deal mostly with insurance companies, but they may have some useful info. Good luck. Nancy nancy

I just met with my Primary Care Doctor and had my annual check up. He took me off one of my meds for Diabetes. He also half dosed my BP med and Metformin. He said without a doubt I wont need to be on any meds except for one by the time I have surgery with my Bariatric Surgeon in late Aug or early September. (as long as insurance approves!) which both doctors think it should be a no brainer about the approval since I am doing so good losing during my 6 month supervised diet.. I SEE THE END OF THE OLD ME COMING and the START OF THE NEW ME!

I have lost weight also just by working out and eating better also....just to have it come back, MANY times. I needed bariatric surgery, perhaps as a last resort. I have met my goal, and still loosing. I have no desire at all to over eat, nor do I have any bad cravings. I say bad, because everyone has "Head" cravings, say for Cookies. But when I pick one up and take a bite, I quickly realize I really don't want it and throw it away. being banded is the best thing I have ever done, don't regret it for any reason. cannot predict the future but the way I feel right now I cannot see this as ever failing.

Anyone going through UW Madison bariatric center?

I also hated the liquid, luckily my doctors office sells the Bariatric Advantage line below wholesale (muti-vitamins, iron, calciim and sublingual B, etc), they are all chewable they taste great. If anybody wants the website info to order online just let me know! karen

If you are interested in participating in a focus group regarding WLS(band or bypass), call Rose at the Murray Hill Center in Los Angeles, near Culver City. Each group is 3 hours and pays $150. They are scheduling for 12 noon and 4pm based on your answers. I am in the 12 pm group. 310-923-9625 Ask for Rose or tell them you are calling about the bariatric study. I don't have any more info that what I have posted. Melissa

I'm officially done with all of the pre-work. All I have left is to meet with the surgeon and have the pre-op class, then surgery! I'm so excited. I've been following the Pre-Bariatric Surgery eating plan for about a week and a half now (3 meals a day and 2 protein drinks, eating out of only 4 food groups) and I'm down almost 7 lbs. Today I finished up with the psychologist and reviewed the scores from the MMPI test. Although she cleared me for surgery, she suggested that I meet with a psychologist locally to follow up for another session or two. My scores were great in most areas except two, self-image and emotional coping. The self-image I totally get, and need to improve because I'm afraid that even at my goal I'll still see the fat girl in the mirror. The emotional coping - I thought she was crazy until she explained what it meant - and there is no way I could have argued. I went through some childhoold trauma and my parents had an explosive, horrid divorce about 7 years ago that I was in the middle of. I guess you don't make it out of that without some emotional baggage and surprisingly enough, ignoring it was not the correct thing to do. So I have some work to do, but not work that will hinder me having surgery. Besides, I want to be healthy and part of that is mentally, not just my body. The psychologist asked for a few days to get her report to the surgery coordinator, then I should be hearing from the nurse to set up the appointment with the surgeon. The good news is, I've almost completely satisified my deductible so my surgery should cost me next to nothing. I've managed to get about 10 weeks worth of pre work done in 4, so as long as I keep moving at that pace I should be able to be banded by the end of April or early May.

Congrats on your first step on embarking on this journey! I am also in AZ and was banded by Dr. Robin Blackstone of Scottsdale Bariatric Center (Scottsdale Bariatric Center). I don't know how much you have already researched surgeons, but I just wanted to give you this link in case you are still comparing and deciding. Different surgeons can be very different as to what they require pre-op and post-op, the education, and support they provide. SBC is a 'Center of Excellence' and there is no liquid pre-op diet required prior to surgery. Also, I was allowed to start eating real food 4 days post-op. I feel like the care I have gotten from SBC has been top notch. If nothing else, maybe just go to her informational seminar in addition to Dr. Simpson's because she explains all the WLS procedures which I found very informative and made me more confident that I was picking the right one by choosing lapband. Best of luck to you! We are all worth it!!!

It is completely normal to be nervous. Just make sure you hang on to the things that got you to this point. You may find yourself questioning it, but I will assure you it does get better. I am exactly 2 weeks post op today and I feel SO much better than I did the first week and a half. Each day is a step in the right direction. Just follow your bariatric team's rules and plans and you will do great!

Be mindful that all bariatric surgeons aren't skilled in every type of bariatric surgery. There are surgeons out there that will discourage you from having a surgery that they don't perform. I would try to find a surgeon that is skilled in both surgeries so that you can get an unbiased assessment of the best surgery for you.

Hi Happy2BMe1 Like you I am a bit worried about the mortality rates for the VSG. However, I have still decided to have the sleeve instead of the band. My surgeon who is one of the leading bariatric surgeons in the UK said that he hardly does bands anymore. They have too many complications and a lot of people need additional surgery. I think the VSG is a good alternative and not as dramatic as the bypass. However, there is still a risk, but hey what's the risk of you staying at 345 pounds. You are relatively young and might not get any problems with your weight, but problems do often come up when one gets later. I've just weight up the pros and cons of doing the VSG vs doing nothing and the VSG won even though I've got very young kids (and I certainly want to be around to see them grow up). In the end, only you can make this decision though.

I posted this thread in the Success Stories section by accident. :confused1: This is where I meant to post it: Hi everyone! I see a lot of questions on this site about pre-op diets. I thought I'd post mine, just as a guide for those who aren't prescribed one, but think they might need or want one. Good luck to everyone. Pre-op liquid Diet It is recommended by your surgeon and dietitian to follow a low calorie, low fat, low sugar and high Protein liquid diet for ___ days prior to undergoing bariatric surgery. The purpose of the liquid diet is to reduce the size of the liver, reduce the risk of bleeding during the surgery and to show commitment to the program. Below are the nutritional guidelines for the pre-op liquid diet. You will need to measure your intake and keep a food journal. Depending on which items you choose to consume throughout the day, your intake should be approximately 1000 calories and 60-80 grams of protein. You will be expected to lose 5 lbs per week on this plan. The nutritional guidelines are as follows: UNLIMITED SECTION: These liquids can be taken in any amount since they do not contain sugar. 1. sugar free or diet beverages such as Crystal Light (Great Value @ Walmart), Sugar Free Kool-Aid, Sugar Free Tang, Diet Snapple, FUZE, Powerade Zero, Diet V8 Splash, Propel, Fruit 2 O, coffee, Tea and Water. 2. Low Sodium broth Soups (chicken, vegetable, beef- tomato Soup is not a broth soup). It needs to be a clear liquid and can NOT contain bit and pieces of meats, tofu, noodles or vegetables. Each 8 oz serving shouldn?t be more than 140 mg of sodium. Bullion cubes are not acceptable as they are too high in sodium. 3. Sugar Free Jell-O and Sugar Free Popsicles LIMITED SECTION: Please do NOT consume more than the maximum # of servings listed in each category for each day you are on the diet: 1. Juice: Limit intake to 2 cups or 16 oz per day. Fruit Juice(apple, orange, cranberry, grape, and grapefruit),Gatorade, G2, Vitamin Water, Life Water, Snapple, Powerade, Low Sodium V-8 juice and V-8 fusion ? limit intake to 2 cups or 16 oz per day. 2. Limit to 3 servings per day: ? cup of Regular Jell-O, Popsicles or NO ADDED SUGAR Fudgesicles. 3. Limit to 3 servings per day: 1 cup (8 oz) of milk (skim, 1%, Lactaid, Almond, or Soy), 6 oz of LIGHT or Greek Yogurt (no more than 110 calories and 12 grams of sugar/serving), ? cup of SUGAR FREE Jell-O pudding, ? cup of FAT FREE or LOW FAT Cottage cheese 4. Protein Shakes: Limit to 2 servings per day: The following are approved protein shakes: Muscle Milk LIGHT (costco, Target, GNC and major grocery chains), Pure Protein shakes (Trader Joe?s), Premier Protein Shakes (Costco), NO ADDED SUGAR Carnation Instant Breakfast (Target), EAS 100% whey Protein (Walmart), Isopure (GNC or The Vitamin Shoppe), Zero Carb Isopure (GNC or The Vitamin Shoppe), Body Fortress Protein Shots (Walmart), Body Choice Liquid Protein Shots (Costco). *** DO NOT BUY SLIM FAST, ENSURE OR BOOST ? these drinks are high in calories and sugars. If you chose a brand that?s not listed above please check the nutrition label first and make sure it meets the following criteria: less than or equal to 160 calories, less than or equal to 6 grams of fat, 15+ grams of protein and less than or equal to 6 grams of sugar. ***For those that are lactose intolerant please choose the following: Isopure, Zero Carb Isopure, Body Fortress Protein Shots or Body Choice Protein Shots. ***For those patients with diabetes, we recommend that you consume 15 grams of carbohydrates every 1-2 hrs. Be sure to monitor your blood sugars and contact your doctor if necessary. If your blood sugar is >150 mg, spread out your sugar sweetened liquids over a 3 hr period.

I am on day 10 of my preop diet. I am only allowed the Bariatric Advantage shakes and Clear liquids. According to my documentation, I am allowed to use milk in my shakes. I have been consuming mass amounts of Crystal Light. Mr. Smith is right ... you have to get that ketosis to kick in and carbs prevent that. I am surprised that your surgeon didn't define exactly what you can and can't have. I have lost 18 lbs. in the last 10 days.

your pouch probably has not stretched. try doing the pouch reset Plan. the first day drink a Protein shake for breakfast snack lunch snack dinner and snack on the second day have a shake for breakfast one for snack one for lunch and then do not eat until about 6pm cook a 8 oz chicken breast and eat it slowly. when you start to feel full measure what is left. that will tell you what your pouch is holding. should be about 6 oz. good luck the plan is on the Bariatric Eating.com site along with two different plans to get rid of the regain.

So I went on vacation to Europe for a month. I know, you don't feel sorry for me! There was a lot of sausage, bread, and beer to be had! I did not have any problems with getting stuck...at first. Two weeks into my trip, I fell off a horse. OW ow ow ow ow! I did a few things wrong after that: 1) I took Aleve because I knew I was going to hurt like hell later, and 2) Later, my hosts forced me to drink the Polish medicine, which is normally vodka but they thought I needed something stronger so it was cognac, and 3) I proceeded to eat a normal sausage-y dinner. It was not long before I was stuck and sliming. I've never been stuck before, only had an uncomfortable feeling when I eat too fast or too big a bite. The sliming eventually led to vomiting, and there were streaks of blood in it. Oh how scared I was! I was in a foreign country, vomiting blood, and I just knew that if I went to the hospital, they wouldn't know what to do with me. So I only told my husband, who was freaked out but agreed to stay quiet and keep an eye on me. I sipped Water for the rest of the evening, then just ate soft stuff for 24 hours. I felt fine the next day...well, my stomach felt fine. My body was extremely sore! I had to be more careful with food after that, I seemed to feel tight/stuck more easily. I visited my bariatric doctor when I got home, who checked my band with the x-ray and everything looked great. I ate basically whatever I wanted for a month and gained a pound. Not bad! We walked a LOT, and I was not the person everyone else had to wait for, as in past trips. 7 months of exercise allowed me to be the person in front for a change! So other than the horse fiasco, I had a really great experience.

Sorry to hear that you have to go through ANY of this at this point in the journey. I am getting my "surgery date" on Dec 3 which is also the day they are submitting to my insurance for approval. My insurance had a check list and my Bariatric Team had a check list of items for me to complete including NUT classes and multiple doctor visits and tests. I've completed every single thing and all of the clearances are done so I'm hoping for a smooth ride. Sounds like nothing is a "sure thing" though, is it? Hope it all works out for you!

I have a card in my wallet that I can hand to food service that says I have bariatric restrictions. That way they have to let me have 1/2 portions or order from children's menus. I'm surprised too that they took that I think if you completely restrict the occasional treat you'll go crazy and pig-out. Sounds like you did well and do sweat it!! Good job @ your inches and lbs lost!