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For a little background info, I was diagnosed with Crohns in 2011, have been asymptomatic since 2012 and stopped my crohns medication in 2013 due to loss of insurance. I started my WLS journey 9 months ago in July. At my first appointment my surgeon thought I may have been misdiagnosed and recommended I have a colonoscopy as WLS is contraindicated for people with Crohns. He seemed pretty sure I did not have Crohn’s since I had very mild symptoms before being diagnosed. I wasn’t able to get a colonoscopy until the end of October, and it came back still indicating I do indeed have Crohn’s. My GI doctor wasn’t sure why I wasn’t having symptoms, but did see inflammation which was contained to my colon. She put me on mesalamine and wanted to do calprotectin labs to check inflammation in February. I returned to my surgeon and was informed that he did not feel comfortable performing WLS with this condition. I was pretty devastated but wasn’t going to let it get me down. I had lost 20 pounds (10 pounds more than the goal he had set for me) and accepted the fact that I will have to do this on my own. A month later I was called back into the bariatric clinic and my surgeon had went to a bariatric surgery conference in DC and proposed my case and spoke with other surgeons and all of a sudden he was able to offer me the sleeve. He advised against RNY due to if I ever became symptomatic I might require addition surgery as it could spread. I was looking to do full RNY due to the possibility of having dumping but I would take the sleeve over nothing. The catch was we have to wait until the inflammation in my colon goes down. 3 months was basically wasted on the mesalamine. Nothing changed. My GI doctor started me on a 2 month prednisone taper. Prednisone is the freaking devil. I gained 23 pounds but had the labs re-done and my inflammation went down from 374 to 81 and normal was Now my VSG is scheduled for 5/31! Does anyone else have Crohn’s? Have you had problems?
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New To App And New To The Idea
2muchfun replied to Shelleymb's topic in Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story
You're taking the right first steps. I'd recommend you google Bariatric docs in your area and attend several(not just one) seminars to get a feel for what's to come. Good luck. tmf -
12.10.12 Group
ShrinkyDinkMe22 replied to Ladylaurarose's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I'm the 10th as well. Started preop yesterday. Have to do 5 Bariatric advantage shakes a day. I can also have all the SF Popsicles and jello I want. Any clear liquids SF of course and broths. I'm so nervous and excited to do this. -
Post-op here, but I am Atlanta. Had surgery through Emory bariatrics. Feel free to contact me with any questions you might have. Good luck.
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New and early in the process - Huntsville, AL
SexyUnderneath replied to randy63's topic in Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story
Hi and welcome! I too am very early in the process. I don't have my first meeting with my doctor until Sept 9th for a referral to bariatrics. I am going through Kaiser in SoCal and have heard it takes a miracle for them to do it. I am prepared to pay cash if necessary but would love it my insurance would cover it! Sounds like you are moving right along! Congrats!!! -
What area are you in? I am in the suburbs too and my doctor was amazing. He NEVER rushes me and is happy to answer all my questions. If he has that attitude now, his bedside manner going forward when you need support the most may not be the best. I would seriously recommend seeking another bariatric center. Mine is through Central DuPage and has been amazing.
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Hi Les, Did your surgeon recommend any vitamins? I will be taking bariatric vitamins from a company called Building Blocks, as per my program's guidelines. I'm sure that you can order from Building Blocks online...just a thought. Take Care, NiceGirl
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My name is Synthia McClure I had my surgery on December 30, 2014. My surgeon was Dr. Paul Macik Northside bariatrics. My begging weight was 288lbs. I am in my third week and have lost 28 lbs. My problem is learning how to get my protein in. I am still only able to eat blended food, but I can only take about four spoons before I am full. I make a protein-shake and can only drink about 4oz. I only get about 8oz o water. I have been walking about a mile everyday. I need to get a schedule of how and what to eat to get the protein,
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Day 2 post op...hows it going?
Fox-E replied to vbm510's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I am 3 days post op. I agree...walk, walk, walk, walk. I was getting stir crazy in the hospital and was walking constantly. I was told this was the best thing I could do to start feeling better, and they wished other bariatric patients on the floor would follow my lead. I'm making progress with the Spirometer, too, so that my lungs stay open. Keep sipping Water. My headached finally went away after people suggested I might not be drinking enough water. Good luck to you!!!! PS: how do you guys put a tracker on your posts? -
@@nfjchester - just a thought... Since the Bariatric center you are looking into says they have done this kind of surgery on other Paras - maybe you could ask them if they could give your number to some post WLS patients. Maybe they would share their experiences.
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Numbness and neurological complications
swimbikerun replied to teecee's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
I've had issues also. It has to do with allowing the bariatric surgeon community to get away with it. 40-45% is the profit margin I've seen for bariatrics. The aftercare, especially past a year, is horrid. Out of places like this, thanks to Alex Brecher, I owe a lot. This is where you get a lot of support. -
how does one become psychologically ready?
Maltese gal replied to marymary1234's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I'm wishing you all the best Hun, if I listened to the family and friends I thought would support me then I wouldn't be this far, my day is May 28th and I'm doing it no matter what. You do what's right for you Hun, I know someone who's family was totally against the surgery so he didn't say another word, now 2 years after they're so happy and proud of him, he is healthy athletic and happy now. His advise to me was not to talk about it, just do it I won't regret it. It hurt me when my daughter got angry at me when I told her, she even said this surgery was me giving up on trying anything else and taking a risk, they don't understand. This is why I love being on bariatric pal, so many similar stories and we're all here for the same reasons and so much support. I wish you the best in your decision you make for you and no regrets no matter which way you choose -
Anyone ever have him? He used to be in New Mexico and Texas, I believe. Now he is in elmira, ny. (Arnot bariatric) He is doing my surgery on 9/26. Haven't heard any reviews or anything about him.
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Aloha from Hawaii !!
christi.jones08 replied to christi.jones08's topic in Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story
Hi all, Well I had my weight check with the surgery clinic today and I was greeted by the bariatric coordinator who weighed me and put me in a room to tell me that they are going to bring me in for a preop appointment on September 2nd and that my surgery can possibly be either September 4th or October 16th. The surgeon will determine on the 2nd. I am excited and nervous all together! -
Do you ever fear if anything will happen 30-40 years later?
AvaFern replied to AchieveGoals's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
@Bufflehead is right. The sleeve is new for weight loss, but people have had part or all of their stomach removed for decades as part of the treatment for cancer. While we don't have long term studies based on VSG as a bariatric surgery there are tons of studies about the efficacy of removing the stomach for other purposes. I was also really worried about the fact that this was a forever kind of surgery, and it did concern me that in the future maybe something would go wrong, but the more I researched the more I felt better about it. I was 29 when I had the surgery, so I can also appreciate that you feel like you're a little earlier in life and you need your body to last for six more decades or so. You will be fine...but the nerves are just part of the process. A year from now you will very likely look back on this and think, whew, best decision ever! -
I did liquid vitamins for the first 4 weeks after surgery, then switched to Trader Joe's High Potency chewables. I take a double dose to meet ASMBS guidelines. Even with a double dose they are much cheaper than specialized bariatric vitamins. They are very low calorie and low carb. I have my labs drawn regularly and they are always great.
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Got the dreaded call today. UGI showing my esophagus is in trouble due to dilation and other issues with stretched pouch, then, to complicate matters my new insurance does not cover the bariatric programs in my local town where I got my lap band and I have transferred care to the new insurance bariatric program 400 miles away. I have an appointment with the new doctor in 3 weeks. The call today came from the new clinic letting me know that the band needed to come out and revision to sleeve will be done 6 months after band removal. I did not want to hear either one of these news. So, I understand the 6 month wait due to scar tissue caused by the band and time to allow healing. My question and concern is undergoing 2 surgeries, what are my chances of getting approval for the sleeve after lap band removal? What I am hoping to hear is that revision approval (if there is such a code) includes band removal and sleeve after the six months. What I am unfortunately expecting to hear is that both removal and sleeve are two separate approvals. What if I don't meet insurance requirements to qualify for the sleeve after removal is my biggest fear! I've been successful with my weight loss and the band, however, will my BMI meet the requirements after band removal? Will I need to gain weight to meet the BMI requirements? I will be devastated if I end up with no weight loss tool of any kind. Just with a few times that I had complete unfills of the band, I started gaining weight quickly. Anyone have any ideas how all this works? All insurances companies are different and I will contact mine to get more information, but, I am afraid I will end up with nothing. Jake
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Trying My Patience... Grrrrrr.
xX_iSLAY_All_Day_Xx replied to xX_iSLAY_All_Day_Xx's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Update: Diet Form Police I emailed the patient coordinator over the weekend to ask her why I had to start completely over, and her response was that the diet forms aren't filled out completely. To be safe, it's best to start over while I'm only 1 1/2 into the supervised diet. Her point is that it's likely that my PCP didnt document the information correctly into my chart as well. (e.g what kind of diet, how many calories, exercise & duration,behavior modifications etc.) and it will be used against me later on when submitting for approval. My diet forms have to correlate with the documentation in my patient chart. Also, in her experience, many denials from insurance came from insuffcient documentation by PCP's...especially because they aren't nutritionist or dieticians so they don't truly know what could/and or should be documented to possibly support a bariatric case. So in the end she was actually on my side. Tryna make things go smoothly...that's all. Bless her heart. -
Scared To Leave A Lifetime Of Food Behind
BizTraveller replied to krystal24's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I am a few days from surgery and have the same worries. I love good food. I have eaten countless meals in exotic places in every corner of the world and hope to do it all again (in small bites). I could be a producer for Anthony Bourdain. If it wasnt' for the sleeve procedure I wouldn't have considered bariatric surgery. My wife had a bypass 10 years ago and I would not have opted for that will all the dumping and such. I am banking on the idea that this surgery will get me to a better place and help me maintain a new balance for the rest of my life. As for my preceding existance....It was a Hell of a ride. Every pound has a story. Time to turn the page. We are going to be OK -
Very slow weight loss?
astarwalker replied to astarwalker's topic in Weight Loss Surgery Success Stories
HI Monica. So after talking to several nutritionists specialized in bariatrics, and researching, I now made peace with the rate of my weight loss. Somebody here posted a table of weight ranges according to age and height. This also helped. I am 61 will be 62 in two months. Have had already major weightloss with my lap band years ago, so this is my second surgery. All nutritionists said these two details are a big factor that will affect my weight loss. I have now lost a total of 33 pounds in 3 months. My lab tests just came in and I am in the absolute normal range, which means no more cholesterol. No more diabetes. No more high blood pressure. This in itself is already my great victory! I now [emoji817] % fir sure that I will loose the rest 20-25 Kgs (40-45 pounds). If it takes a month longer that is also fine. My full bonus is already here, I am medicine free!! I feel great (except for the occasional gas which sometimes,drives me and my hubby crazy kkk) and hope everyone here has great success with their journey. We have all carried our weight too long with all the pain and I suffering that it involved. Now we are all getting a second lease. This in itself is a great thing. So let us all enjoy the ride. be kind and loving to ourselves and also patient with our bodies. They have endured a lot already. Lots if live to everyone. Sent from my D6603 using BariatricPal mobile app -
Here are my recommendations: For multivitamin I use the bariatric support vitamin that the vitamin shoppe (I hope there's one near you) has to offer. It is made by twinlab. For calcium and vitamin D I use Viactiv caramel soft chews. There is some sugar in these chews just FYI. Caltrate also makes chews with slightly less sugar but IMO they aren't as tasty ( vanilla flavor is best). I get my B12 from a once a month injection I do at home ( you need a script from your doc). There are also some good B12 products at the vitamin shoppe or a website called bariatric choice. Good luck on your journey!
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6 days out - NO real pain
Lynnlovesthebeach replied to MikeRNY's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I never had any pain either. They gave me pain meds in the hospital but I never took any pain meds once I got home. I followed the guidelines they gave me and have had no issues. I did have the “foamy” stuff come up a couple of times in the early stages when restarting solid food due to either eating too fast or too much but otherwise no vomiting or nausea. It doesn’t take too many times of doing that to figure out your bodies cues to slow down! I consider myself to be having a textbook journey and am grateful. I don’t get stressed out if I have a day where I don’t get my protein in. I just do better the next day! I did get hunger back after 4 weeks but it doesn’t take much to make it go away. I used to live on sugar, now I have no desire for sweets or junk food. Now I just look at junk food and think to myself, that’s what got me to the bariatric program in the first place! I’m doing the best I can and so far it’s working. I’m no longer Pre-diabetic and no longer take taking BP meds. Good luck with your journey. It’s ok to being doing great! Your doctor will be proud of you! -
Well whether you choose Dr Needleman or Dr Noria, you will have a wonderful surgeon. Dr Needleman did my RNY September 5th and Dr Noria does my endoscopies every 2 weeks I developed a stomal stricture and 5 post-surgery ulcers, rare except on Bariatric Pal, we have quite a group here. But I will never regret my surgery, OSU is a wonderful place to go. Everyone treats you kindly, they really want to make life better for you! I was in another bariatric program, nowhere as nice as OSU. You picked a quality place to go, in my opinion THE BEST! if you have any questions please ask. I'll be only too happy to help you any Way I can!😝🚩🏣
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Most insurance companies and Bariatric centers of excellence require a 3,6 or 12 month program. They want to make sure you are truly ready for all the changes required to be successful. This time requires that you go to monthly appts with a nutritionist that monitors and coaches your progress, a physcologist to ensure you really are ready, a fitness specialist who helps you build a plan to get moving, a Bariatric surgeon who examines you and works with you to determine the best WLS surgery given your health issues. Some programs even require you to go to classes and support group meetings. It is because this is not easy, and they want to ensure if you have the surgery you will put the time in. I will tell you, it is so worth it and today I am thankful for the 9 months my program took because it really did help me get ready in my head and take the right actions ahead of time. If you smoke, you will have to quit. If you drink caffeine or soda, you will have to quit, you will also learn mindful eating habits and the rules of WLS. There are a few that will ensure you are successful. In terms of the checklist it is mostly checking off if you qualify under the program. Some checklists require you have met with your PCP, they look for information if you have sleep apnea, if you have not been tested they will likely request that you have a sleep study which by the way helps get insurance to approve you. You will likely need to have a BMI over 40 or have a BMI over 35 with comorbitities like sleep apnea, diabetes, high blood pressure, reflux to get approved through insurance. All this stuff is on the checklist. Also on mine I had to write a diary of my weight gain and loss and all the diets I ever tried. I also had to write a paragraph on why I thought WLS was the solution for me..... I know it sounds like a lot but again it is worth it.
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Bariatric Surgery Lawsuit - Regarding issues with the surgical staples
Mzdiggs replied to Scottyd1264's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
My daughter is a surgical tech and actually had assisted my surgeon in prior surgeries, she says that the staples are used for every thing. This article ties them to bariatrics when in fact they are used for several internal surgeries.
