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Thanks Berry78. My surgeon and dietician have a slightly different approach. They encourage me not to focus on calories but more on portion size and how the stomach feels otherwise you end up eating enormous portions (of the good stuff of course) and you stretch your stomach. This bariatric process is supposed to become second nature, not a scientific one. I guess I'll just have to be patient for this last 5lbs to come off. I'm finding mixing up my exercise routine is helping.

Hiya @ Fish495, need a friend? Ready,to step into this batting cage, my new friend. My,name on here is Frustr8,I am 72 years old, and I too wi'll be having an RnY bypass. I meet with Dr Needleman, my bariatric Surgeon 7/17/18, the Final step before I get my surgical date. I have been posting on Bariatric Pal 7 months, have learned a lot here, done a lot of studies, drowned my fears in tears long ago and am moving proudly forward. I am MotherHen/Bariatric Godmother to many on here, always happy to have helped others. Obese- I have been off and on obese since babyhood. Even in childhood when I fell within normal weight charts I was never that muscular, if you hugged me I felt "fluffy". Health conditions Arthritis since I was 25, before that I was considered double-jointed, people with that have. 85% chance of early onset arthritis. I have both kinds but happy to say RA has been dormant for a while.2 knee replacements, one in December 2014 the other in February of 2017 GERD severe enough I have been on Dexilant, an uncheap PPI, would cost $350 a month if I didn't have insurance Sleep Apnea and I sleep every night with a C Pap machine. Hereditary in my family, so I may not escape it after surgery, but many people do! I stand 5ft8in, down from a height of 6ft when I was young, you almost always lose height after menopause. Weight currently 321 lbs down from a lifetime high of 356 last October Diets I think I have tried each and every one known to mankind and womankind. If it is weird and offbeat either a family member or doctor has had me on it. Family I was an only child ,married 44 years to my late husband, on here called the Late Lamented, died 4th of July 2012. Had 3 children, oldest RD short for Rotten Daughter, she gets in touch with me infrequently,usually when she wants money or sympathy. Both grandmothers spoiled her unmercilly, still thinks the world owes her everything. Yes every family has one, it is to my everlasting shame I have given birth to mine. She is the mother of myb2 grand-girls Naomi 22 and Amy almost 21. RD will be 50 in January. My second child, were he living would be 42, he died in 2008 ai 31 of underdiagnosed cardiac condition and there is not a day,i still don't miss him. He was a wonderful young man, full of promise for the future, great to know And everyone who knew him wanted to be his friend. Walked into our local fleabag hospital under his own,power and 17 hours later he was dead. The attending doctor who,did little for him to save him and admitted I Don't Know Why He Died is still practicing in this community and my wonderful son is no longer living. Life is not fair, indeed,not as it should be. My youngest, my Tomkitten lives with me, incredibly,supportive of my Bariatric Plans and makes,up for his rotten sister in spades. Now that you k,ow a little more about me,I hope you will want to be friends. Oh yes, I live in Central Ohio, lived within 60 miles of here my entire life.😛 PS you are not garbage,neither am I. We all have a reason to,be,here! 😛

I am so sorry that this happened. At one point or more we have all received this kind of treatment from someone in our lives. It comes from uneducated people who do not understand that obesity is a disease and that bariatric surgery can and will give you your life back literally! You do what you need to to feel safe with your decision. Leverage local support groups, leverage the folks on this site to help you in your journey. Once your weight starts coming off and your health improves you can have a face to face discussion with your friend about it. She is just worried for you and does not understand how you are currently feeling about your health. I wish you all the best! Feel free to reach out to me anytime!

Better than sippy cup you can get about 100 medicine cups from Amazon for about $3-5. I had to reorder after my first week. And I highly recommend that you DO in fact make a serious investment in your protein. Since you will no longer be spending money on other food you can have a spending spree on your protein and liquid and vitamins and still save money. I highly recommend Premier Protein Vanilla shakes, Vitamin Water Zero, and Pacific "Bone Stock" chicken broth. You can get these all on Amazon. The Premier Protein are READY to drink...i.e. No powder. They are $7.62 for 4 or $1.90 each and if you were getting a less expensive meal pre op let me know. The Bone Stock is ridiculously expensive at about $5 for two 8 oz servings but again that's $2.50 per meal now which is NOT expensive. Just also keep in mind that you will not sit down the day you get home from the hospital and chug an entire 8oz of broth or an entire 11 oz premier protein at once. It will take you at least an hour to get down that much of either. If you are buying powder Bariatric Advantage is the highest quality and best nutrition that there is and their Orange Cream flavor is very nice. If you skimp on this stuff, you are only skimping on yourself. If you get cheap vitamins you will not absorb them so well. If you get plain Campells chicken broth, well that is more of a salty liquid than a protein because it only has like 1 gram of protein per serving. Pre op I preferred and bought lots of beef consommé and chocolate shakes but post op I did not want ANYTHING remotely beefy or chocolatey. I'm 9 months out now and will have about 1 square a day of some REALLY good dark chocolate with almonds but I was about 3 months out before I really tried any. SPEND your paycheck on your nutrients:-) Do NOT shortchange yourself, this is not the time. Short changing ourselves is what got a lot of us to need the surgery to begin with. Take care of YOU girl. YOU Deserve it!!! [emoji4]

Hi. I have been researching bariatric procedures for weight loss for a few years. I'm 45 year old woman whose weight fluctuates between 170-190 lbs. I have met with a couple of bariatric surgeons to explore the balloon and lap band. I'm not impressed with the balloon, and the complications associated with the lap band scares me. The ESG seems like a good fit for me, however, there are no long term studies to prove it's effectiveness and safety. My body over produces scar tissue, so that is my biggest concern with any surgical procedure. I have been struggling with an autoimmune disease which is exacerbated by my weight and poor food choices. I need to lose weight and I'm unable to do it on my own. In 2005 I was able to get down to 120 lbs and maintain it until 2011 with the help of phentermine. I was buying it online and the formula was very strong. I maintained the weight loss until the online phentermine was discontinued. The phentermine prescription I now receive from my doctor must be formulated differently because it has little effect. I want to lose weight and get off the medication. In 2011 I began suffering from various immune related ailments. The doctor's believe it is Burchett's disease. I'm prone to illness and infection. The foods I eat and extra weight I carry is literally killing me. I'm a single mom of two girls, ages 13 and 16. I need to be the healthiest I can be for them . I'm desperate and scared. I have a consultation next week with Dr. Reem Sharaiha at The Center for Advanced Digestive Care at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. I will continue to post my experience through this journey to help those researching procedures. Thanks for all who share, it has been immensely helpful to read the process others have experienced.

https://www.nationalbariatriclink.org/bariatric-blog/gastric-sleeve-surgery-whats-your-bougie-size/

I have 2/3rds of your co-morbilities, substitute Severe GERD for diabetes. BMI almost identical but bear with me a second on MY story. You have been obese most of your adult life? I was born at the end of WW2 to parents who had just lived through the American Depression so what my mother's doctor told them didn't seem unreasonable. My mother nursed me, although at that time breast-feeding had largely fallen out of favor, after every nursing and yes I nursed well she was told to feed me a full 8 oz of Carnation Milk Formula. I started out my extra uterine life at 7of 12 oz, at 1 year I was 35 inches tall and weighed 36 lb. Yes the size of the average American 2 and half year old, I had fat cells set down in my body before I could walk. And I walked or lurched around on my own 2 feet before I turned 1. No wonder I have 2 arificial knees, I started wearing them out early. Although I looked in semi-average size until. puberty my flesh was always soft, never muscled up, how could I? My muscles were naturally fat sheathed. So I guess I have been lipid-challenged my entire existance. Fast forwarding many years, I will soon be receiving a RnY bypass at 72, yeah my blubber should have done me in before 72, and it dud try! Received isn't perhaps a strong enough word, I have been active to semi-actively seeking Bariatric surgery since August 2015. If I don't get it pretty soon I have lined up a box cutter, 50 pound test fishing line, hair clips , a Swingline stapler, a 3 way mirror , some surgical manuals . I am redheaded, stubborn , at least medically semi-literate and like my pen name Frustr8-ed, do you honestly think I couldn't wreak havoc? Oh and I am also high-functioning autistic, we can center on one subject to the exclusion of everything else. And my box cutter has a nice clean blade in it, a leftover from working at Wally World and they kept my work equipment sharp and up to date. When we parted company I didn't happen to generating,it so they never got it back!👉🐵👈

Brigham and Womens Bariatric Weight Loss Center in Weymouth is a good place to start. They have information sessions twice per month. I don't know what part of the Cape you are on, but that might be a good place to start.

I will be starting the process for Weight-Loss Surgery!!!! I get my email for orientation for the classes I will be taking at Kaiser Permanente by email.

Renewing your vows is a really cool idea! I know so many brides who would love a "redo" on their special day but in a sexier dress! I hope you do it! I love the picture of you standing in your old pants.... isn't that just mind-blowing? How much do you love your sleeve?!!!!

I've lost 23 lbs and I got my sleeve done at New York Bariatric

My hospital's bariatric surgery group tells you up front that there is a non-refundable (even if your insurance ends up denying you) fee of $600 that covers the psychiatric part, the nutritionist, and all other things insurance won't. But it also covers LIFETIME nutritionist appts. and support groups for their bariatric patients, so that's pretty awesome. I have an H M O, so aside from my per diem in-hospital fee of $150 p/day, I do not have any other out of pocket expenses. Oh, plus the specialist copays for my insurance, which for me is $40 per. (Cardiologist, Pulmonary doc., etc.)

These were recommended to me by my therapist and nutritionist: Mindless Eating. Why We Eat More Than We Think by Brian Wansink, PhD The Emotional First Aid Kit. A Practical Guide to Life After Bariatric Surgery by Cynthia L. Alexander PsyD (this is the only one that I've read) WLS for Dummies

I ordered ENS drink mix from Celebrate Bariatric vitamins...they have a 3 flavor 30 day pack...get your vitamins and water in lol

Hello All, my name is Steve Hudson, I am 43 and pre op gastric sleeve. I weigh about 340, im down from 261 for my pre surgical weight loss. Anyway I write a blog called cutting the fat with a knife. I will post the address at the bottom. What I am trying to do is im going to keep this blog very blunt in cases telling people the things that I feel men need to know. The reason is that I have seen many cases where men avoid the life changing and potentially life saving surgeries because of the stigma that other men have. The macho peer pressure that I am sure many of you have gone through. 1 year post op I will compile this blog into an E-book for men who are thinking about WLS. I even have a few hospitals and weight loss centers that are asking for copies when it is complete. So far almost all the books out there are by women and deal with a lot of womanly issues. I was reading one book and there was two chapters on bras and panties another on pregnancy etc. Not at all a help to me. My surgeon is actually going to appear on the blog as an ask the Bariatric Surgeon byline once a month. OK all this being said, I would like to ask you al some thing now and then to see how your experiences coincide with mine etc. So the first question I would like to ask , I will post it maybe in a top ten type list and give credit to each contributor of course unless you wish me not to, keep it a couple of sentences if you would please. Here's my first question. Was there a final straw, event or moment etc. that made you move from thinking about WLS to actually taking the steps to have it done? If so what was it? Thank you for your help. Even if you do not wish to contribute but wish to check out the blog, I do many video taste tests of various Protein powders, ready made drinks etc, with even more to come. Thank you all for your time. Oh and this book will not cost anything it is not a money issue it will be free to all. I am absorbing any costs myself. http://cuttingthefatwithaknife.blogspot.com

My story is pretty much all on my blog with the tag of bariatric surgery. http://www.theantichick.com/tag/bariatric-surgery/ I'm also a nurse, and am happy to answer any questions people have if you want to IM me or tag me in a thread with a specific question.

IV Tylenol and advil are staples for bariatrics where I work. Every patient gets them (OFIRMEV and CALDOLOR) Im surprised they're not more commonly used tbh

Thank you for responding! Yes, I was looking into dr Ariel Ortiz at occ. happy you had a positive experience. he has great reviews. a friend had it done with dr cueva at renewal bariatrics. Had a very good experience. When I called them the person I spoke to was much clearer than the person I spoke to at occ. also dr cueva is $2500 less. I would pay if necessary more money, but if I don’t need to why should I the only reviews I found about him were all positive but they were on renewal bariatrics Facebook page. I’m having a hard time making a decision.

I'm with you. I renewed my commitment today. I have 58 lbs left to lose. Let's get this done!!!!

This is a copy and paste from the "Tell Us Your Story" forum Yesterday was my surgery. I had a check in time of 12:00 noon. I was very thirsty, as you can imagine! They brought my husband and I back and we worked on some paperwork and the final pre-op weigh in, I was down about 30 pounds since I started with this doctor last June. 13 pounds were from the pre-op diet alone. I also got a huge heparin shot in my leg to prevent clotting and an anti-nausea patch behind my ear. The hospital was running a bit late (they kept apologizing) but brought me to the OR at 1:45. I was having some anxiety laying on the table, but the put me under very quickly. Next thing I knew, I was awake and the nurses were asking how I was doing. I remember replying "Hot, thirsty, nauseous." I'm not sure how it all happened, but the next thing I knew, I was in the big hospital recliner with a bottle of Water to sip and a fan pointed right at me! I felt much better at that point. They wanted me to get up pretty soon after that. Walking was not at all a pain, but I was having trouble focusing my eyes. My DH was there too, and he sent out some texts to the family that I was all done. I passed out at that point. The rest of the evening kind of went on that way: sip, sip, sip, walk, doze off. I listened to music and podcasts to help keep my mind at ease. DH had to leave to help out with the kids at home. I had my surgery at a stand alone bariatric hospital, and there was only one other patient there overnight. My abdomen was a bit sore but not too painful. However, my right shoulder was. Luckily I had brought a heating pad that is helping A LOT. I asked for chicken broth, but before I could try it, I had a dry-heave thing. The nurses waved some alcohol wipes under my nose and that helped it to stop. I waited a bit longer till it had totally passed to try anything else. At abut 5 this morning, the nurses got me up and dressed. I did some more walking and sipping. I had to really play around with the sipping. Too little and I think I was swallowing too much air which was VERY uncomfortable in the esophagus area. To much and my tummy kind of spasmed. Around 7, I had to go back for the barium swallow/X-Ray which was AWFUL. Apparently, the liquid is having a hard time moving into my stomach (refluxing) and is kind of just sitting in my esophagus. She also saw a big air bubble sitting in the top of the stomach. That sort of explains why swallowing has been (and is still) very uncomfortable. Not painful, but really strange feeling. At that point, my husband returned and I got discharged to come home. I'm still having the weird feeling in my esophagus. My surgeon said the swelling there should go down in a day or so. But other than the general discomfort, nothing super acute has been bothering me. I think I might feel a smidge worse tomorrow. I've been drink water, Vitamin Water Zero (the lemonade is good and not too sweet, the mixed berry is good too) and some warm chicken broth. I am trying to take it all slowly. The weather is really sunny day, so I may even take a little walk outside! Please let me know if you have any questions about the surgery, my background or even the pre-op diet!

I'm curious about something.... If you have made the decision to not move forward with any type of bariatric surgery, and you plan on losing the weight and keeping it off in your own chosen method, why did you feel it was necessary to come here and let the world know of your decision? Although there are some people on this website that are still in the decision making phase of their journey, you've made your decision if I'm correct. Did you post hoping that someone was going to try and talk you out of the decision you've made? And if that wasn't your intention, what made you think that anyone here really cared that you decided not to have surgery, not to mention you've continued to defend and fight against other members comments. If you've decided you're not having surgery, then just leave the forum and go on with your life however you chose to live it. Why continue with any conversation at all?

Yes I have a nut. And I will not gain it back. I had bariatric surgery and I do not have an eating problem I am down to 221 I will be fine. I have been a gym rat most my life and I am a runner I just gained this weight after doing the shakes only for a year I have not been heavy all my life. I promise I will not gain it back. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using the BariatricPal App

I am talking to mexico bariatrics Dr. Luis Cervantes, I have done all of my paper work and pd the 500.00 down but I email them and I do not hear back from them. I paid through pay pal so I can get my money back. Just afraid of being scammed. How was the process? And congrats on your weight loss!! GREAT JOB!!

So I am coming up on my 1yr mark. While I am happy that I've lost 142lbs from HW in Feb 2018, 93lbs since sleeve, my weight loss has virtually been stalled. My macros are have been on point(1200-1400 cals, 90-125g protein, 50-60g carbs per day) while walking 4mi six days per week plus 1.5hrs lifting at gym 4-5 days per week. Per Apple watch, I am burning 4500-5500 cals per day depending on workouts but yet scale has not moved in more than 2lbs in two months. Frustrated as heck but I haven't let off the gas pedal. My personal goal is to lose another 35lbs while getting by BF 15-20%. Definitely have much more noticeable definition in arms, shoulders, and legs but yet scale not moving. Could overtraining be the reason for my stall??? Am I just not able to get enough calories in to keep metabolism burning?? Have I reached my loss period??? I am afraid if I lower cals, I'll start to lose my muscle gains. Any trainers out here with experience in bariatric surgery? Anyone go through this??

I agree we are bombarded with weight loss Information and online forums to beat weight loss, diet, surgery, fitness, eating disorders and body image into the ground. Wow, I don’t see many of these topics and being a closeted subjects. To each there own about disclosing WLS. Some may want to shout the lifesaving benefits of WLS to the world. Others may simply be private people that keep their medical info to themselves. Some of us share with only people that are honestly interested. No need to beat your head against the wall with the many people that have negative opinions on WLS. Are we lacking in getting the word out on WLS? No – Google it! About 253,000,000 results (0.65 seconds) TV shows: Many discussing weight, WLS, my 600 pound life, Celebrities sharing there WLS experience, skin removal, diet, eating disorders, exercise, body positivity. Social media: Drs and hospitals advertising WLS, Instagram, bloggers, bariatric recipe site, pod casts, fitness and food log apps, YouTube and forums including bariatricpal. How many of these accounts are WLS patients and professionals? With all this information out there, Many of us don’t feel the need to be the weight loss or weight loss surgery spokesperson. Its not all about shame.. Side note: How many sites and forums on the topc of sex...LOL its a choice on how open you want to be on that topic as well.