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So why do patients face longer wait times to receive bariatric surgery compared with surgeries to treat other life-threatening conditions such as cancer and heart disease? . One big reason: Many insurance companies (including Medicaid) require those seeking bariatric surgery to lose weight before their surgery, even though there's no data or evidence to prove preoperative weight loss affects long-term success. Patients with complex medical histories enrolled in Medicaid experienced the longest delays. Nonwhite patients also waited longer... Smokers and patients with high cholesterol or psychological disorders also had longer wait times for bariatric surgery. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180730090141.htm How long did it take before you had your surgery? How long did you wait calculated from your first visit to your date of surgery? What requirements or obstacles did your insurance carrier impose? Supervised weight loss attempts? Were you told that you had to lose weight during those attempts… and that any weight gain would impede your path to surgery? Did you have to meet with a psychologist, nutritionist, and attend required bariatric surgery classes before your surgery was submitted to your insurance for surgery approval? For those who were self-pay… did you circumvent your insurance carrier because of the obstacles/delays imposed by your carrier, because your BMI or other insurance mandated requirements did not make you “eligible” or because you had no bariatric benefits?

I have surgery scheduled for early September and am beginning to feel really nervous about it. One of the things I've been thinking of doing is seeing a therapist to help me with the mental aspects of preparing for and recovering from surgery. I just am thinking that addressing both the mental and physical aspects of what got me to my current weight would be wise. I asked my surgeon's office for recommendations to therapists that might specialize in working with bariatric patients but they seemed sort of confused by my request. They told me I could see their psychologist at my next appointment if I want and recommended their monthly support group. I was hoping for something more regular and consistent. Anyone else had experience with this. Are there therapists who specialize in working with bariatric patients? I don't know how to find them.

Oh, and one other thing: my bariatric surgeon is going to "try" to do my sleeve surgery laparoscopically, but will be prepping me for an open procedure too because of the previous abdominal surgeries and the presence of scar tissue. He said he would place the first trocar (the port for the instruments in laparoscopic surgeries) and check if he can access everything. If not, he'll remove the trocar and open me up. One thing I forgot to mention above is the "open" incision for bariatric surgery will be higher than the incisions I mention in my post above. My surgeon said if he has to open me up, it will be from just below my sternum to just below my belly button. Everything else I said above applies for this area as well. Good luck!

While I have not yet had my bariatric surgery, I have had three open abdominal procedures for other reasons. All three went through the same area, from just above my belly button to just below my belt line (below my muffin top) in my upper groin. The first one was not bad, since my skin was just skin and not scar tissue like it is now. The first one was in 1995 and they sewed it internally and stapled the outside closed. The second and the third were last year, in May 2017 and in August 2017. The one in May was mostly healed when the surgeon had to open me back up again through the same place. The one from August 2017 took over four months to heal. As for pain, the first one hurt the most of the three (but it was still tolerable with pain medicine) because it was on virgin skin. The second and third did not really hurt much because scar tissue usually does not have as many nerve endings in it. You will likely have what is called a "wound vac" installed over the incision dressing after they close you in the operating room. This is a dressing covered with sponge material and adhesive-backed plastic wrap with a tube going from the dressing to the wound vac. It looks like Saran wrap, sort of, but it is a bit thicker. What this device does is keep a constant negative pressure on the wound to draw out any fluid and blood, which if left to pool within the wound could cause an infection. The wound vac does not hurt at all and really speeds up the healing process. When I had my surgery back in 1995, wound vacs were not widely used and I did not have one. Both surgeries last year used them. The wound nurses will change the dressings every couple of days and depending on how long you stay in the hospital, you may be sent home with a portable version of the wound vac. My surgery in August last year did just that. I had to carry the wound vac with me everywhere I went, but it was small and rechargeable and not very intrusive. After a while, I forgot it was even there. I had to come to the hospital wound care clinic every three days to get my dressings changed and I had the portable vac for two months. I was in the hospital for over three weeks so overall, I had the wound vac for almost three months. It sounds much worse than it is, believe me. I did not have the choice for any my surgeries either.

My NUT rexommended them, as I cannot stand the taste of the bariatric vitamins, and most of the liquids are incomplete. They are about the only ones that the taste doesnt make me gag. I was told to take 2 daily.

She contends that anyone who stays “too long” has no life and should move on and stop considering themselves a Bariatric patient 🤷🏼‍♀️ I'm still kinda torn myself if I will continue to consider myself a patient after a certain amount of time vs a person who had surgery

She contends that anyone who stays “too long” has no life and should move on and stop considering themselves a Bariatric patient 🤷🏼‍♀️

Yeah my bariatric center has a 1 week pre surgery liquid only diet. Some folks with a BMI over 40 have to do 2 weeks pre surgery liquid diet. They said it has to do with shrinking down the liver and stomach before surgery. You may want to start sooner than the day before. I'm sure you will do great!

In my pre-op weight loss group there was a bariatric nurse who was planning to undergo sleeve surgery. She told us all a bunch of horror stories about what can happen when people move too quickly on their diet. It cured me for sure! Apparently it has very little to do with how the patient feels and a lot to do with the possibility of leaking at the surgery sites. She said it can be caused by too much pressure, foods that are too irritating, and a host of other things. The problem is no one knows which camp they fall into until they try it. I'm happy to hear that you're doing well and feeling well enough to try something like that. Your nutritionist and doctor would probably be pleased to hear it as well and might even give you the go-ahead. But if they say no I'd stick to it.

@ mainelykaren if you think you're too old for bariatric surgery , look at my stats I've got everyone else beat age-wise. But if you need a BariBuddy consider me, I make a pretty nice friend!

Thank you sooo much for the reassurance and taking the time to write such a lovely post. It is so reassuring to hear back. Especially being so close. Every time I get a chime that I have a Bariatric post to check out my heart leaps and I’m encouraged I will keep you posted. Congratulations on your surgery dear and sending you health blessings and love on your weight loss journey

To the weight loss surgery patient slider foods are the bane of good intentions and ignorance often causing dumping syndrome, weight loss plateaus, and eventually weight gain. Slider foods, to weight loss surgery patients, are soft simple processed carbohydrates of little or no nutritional value that slide right through the surgical stomach pouch without providing nutrition or satiation. The most innocent of slider foods are saltine crackers, often eaten with warm tea or other beverages, to soothe the stomach in illness or while recovering from surgery. Understanding Slider Foods The most commonly consumed slider foods include pretzels, crackers (saltines, graham, Ritz, etc.) filled cracker snacks such as Ritz Bits, popcorn, cheese snacks (Cheetos) or cheese crackers, tortilla chips with salsa, potato chips, sugar-free cookies, cakes, and candy. You will notice these slider foods are often salty and cause a dry mouth so they must be ingested with liquid to be palatable. This is how they become slider foods. They are also, most often, void of nutritional value. For weight loss surgery patients the process of digestion is different than those who have not undergone gastric surgery. When slider foods are consumed they go into the stomach pouch and exit directly into the jejunum where the simple carbohydrate slurry is quickly absorbed and stored by the body. There is little thermic effect in the digestion of simple carbohydrates like there is in the digestion of protein so little metabolic energy is expended. In most cases patients in the phase of weight loss who eat slider foods will experience a weight loss plateau and possibly the setback of weight gain. And sadly, they will begin to believe their surgical stomach pouch is not functioning properly because they never feel fullness or restriction like they experience when eating protein. The very nature of the surgical gastric pouch is to cause feelings of tightness or restriction when one has eaten enough food. However, when soft simple carbohydrates are eaten this tightness or restriction does not result and one can continue to eat, unmeasured, copious amounts of non-nutritional food without ever feeling uncomfortable. Many patients turn to slider foods for this very reason. They do not like the discomfort that results when the pouch is full from eating a measured portion of lean animal or dairy protein without liquids. Yet it is this very restriction that is the desired result of the surgery. The discomfort is intended to signal the cessation of eating. Remembering the “Protein First” rule is crucial to weight management with bariatric surgery. Gastric bypass, gastric banding (lap-band) and gastric sleeve patients are instructed to follow a high protein diet to facilitate healing and promote weight loss. Bariatric centers advise what is commonly known among weight loss surgery patients as the “Four Rules” the most important of which is “Protein First.” That means of all nutrients (protein, veggies, complex carbohydrates, then fat and alcohol) the patient is required to eat protein first. Protein is not always the most comfortable food choice for weight loss surgery patients who feel restriction after eating a very small amount of food. However, for the surgical tool to work correctly a diet rich in protein and low in simple carbohydrate slider foods must be observed. The high protein diet must be followed even after healthy body weight has been achieved in order to maintain a healthy weight and avoid weight regain. Feature courtesy of BariatricPal.com

Guys thete is a great remedy out there which is the albuterol medication that is put on the asthma nebulizer machine. I no of testimonies that shows that it helps after bariatric surgery

I heard that in mass. There is a surgeon that does cosmetic surgery after bariatric but he does it for free. Dont no how true that is....

I usually start eating at 1pm stop at 8 or 9pm. I'm still following the 30/30/30 bariatric rules also so I'm really only eating in a 4hour window. Other than that hydration from mostly tea & water oh and one coffee w/premier Its actually not hard because I'm so focused on hydration until meal times. It has its benefits. I can't say I'm not getting my fluids in.

And I hope somewhere in the beautiful. Commonwealth of Virginia she may find a talented sympathetic surgeon with a professional yet staff,that can help her. As someone who postponed and waited till the,later portion of life to seek Bariatric Surgery I want,her to find a surgical,home base. I thought there was no hope, no,place to turn for me, life had cursed me with obesity I couldn't diet away. I found my hope and I hope she finds hers also. And then she will have a chance to watch,her babies grow up!

So sorry this happened to you, and unfortunately it happens too much among professionals that damn well know better. Write that letter and spare the next patient that doesn't have your strength to bear this. If they talked about you like this, it is very likely a part of this office's culture and needs to end. The letter needs to go to the office manager and the surgeon, not the offending parties. I would stress that since the conversation was so blatantly mutual among the parties that this cannot possibly be an isolated occurrence. Ask for discipline to be brought against them, nothing less than discipline will put an end to it, suggest transfers even, add that you are copying your state regulators. I know this sounds extreme but it happens too often. (Someone in my surgeon's office doesn't want to work with the bariatric patients because she 'can't stand them' - well guess what? She sure as hell isn't working with them because she is gone)

After goal, all the sex and sizzle of rapid weight loss and comments are gone. Things get normal. My interests change and evolve over the years. Things that I used to do. large amounts of alcohol and food at parties/holidays laying around the house Watching the food network and my 600 pound life going to bariatric group negative people in my life - Poof they are gone people pleasing

I wonder how the bariatric pal cold teas are? has anyone tried them?

If I wasn't an RN, I might not report it. But I feel just like I am a mandatory reporter of abuse for the elderly and children, I am a mandatory "feedback giver." Unfortunately, they crossed someone who knows all too well exactly what ethical codes they have violated, not to mention HIPAA. I will let them know in writing, likely the PA, the MD, and the office manager. And I will be discontinuing care with them. I didn't want to add fuel the fire, but the PA's plan of care was completely inappropriate for my case. She wanted me to get allergy tested (right, b/c after 44 years of living, a brand new food allergy developed 2 weeks ago--yes, it can happen but it's unlikely.) And she recommended I take a medication with aspirin in it, which the MD expressly told all patients never to take. In fact, I have his printed packet stating not to take it. So odd. Having just gotten over a peptic ulcer d/t taking celebrex with nexium (also rx'd by a different PA)--which is not optimal to take as a bariatric patient, but is indicated sometimes, I am extremely leery of taking any NSAIDs or aspirin. I can say that I did personally grow from this and will be even more on guard to protect my patients. But it is just sad that people who are trusted with the care of others are so blase about it. Anyway, thanks folks for your help! I feel better just being able to vent! I will let you know how it goes.

Whew what a nest of hornets were aroused! Be assured you are our sister and we Bariatric Pals protect our own.-Virginia RN. What they did was so ethically wrong, we hate bullies of any kind, that was verbal bullying as well as violating HIPAA. Of all the advice I believe I prefer Orchids and Dragons. If that approach does not work, take it up a step, no surgeon wants his staff to bring discredit,on him, he is very dependant on public opinion, Bad office staff= NO Patients NO patients= No practice, at least in That Town. Hits him right in the Wallet!

@ Palomabella, my precious, you have ME! Yes the self-same oldest presurgical person on Bariatric Pal. You're worried at 56, sad to say I could be your mother, I'm 16 years older yet.Yep 72, I'll be 73 the day after Christmas. But I am marching forward, head held high, well maybe my neck is frozen in that position, but I don't think so. 3 weeks from yesterday I will have my surgery. Its a toss up whether I'll resemble a shar pei or basset hound afterward. I might have a body,only,Jabba the Hut could love but it beats being dead all hollow. And if I look like an Irish Setter with mange, so be it. At least,this winter I can pull on a knitted or crochet hat, I must have 2 dozen lying around, I went on a craft binge a couple years ago. And by spring new hair will have sprouted, maybe I'll get my birth curls back, I was a very cute infant with curls all over my head. My mama said so, went,to her grave,believing,i was the greatest thing since sliced 🍞 bread. I probably will look like something the dog dug out of the garbage and just left there. I have very fair skin, strawberry blonde hair, I probably will look like Ronald McDonald after an alcoholic weekend with dark circles under my eyes. Now you couldn't look THAT BAD! I will probably be holding onto my son's arm, flinching as I walk but I will have a s***-eating grin on my face, I've proved all the nay-sayers wrong. I could do it, I did do it and by golly I'm going to rock the rest of my years. This is a new lease on life for ME! Now don't you want to join me? Gonna be like nothing the world has seen , I need a Thelma for my Louise, are you game?

Is this a legit post? Are you pre or post-op? Are you trying to lose weight or in maintenance? Mashed potatoes are considered a slider food, with low nutrition, so for most bariatric patients and normal eaters, not a regular food staple.

I'm starting to suspect that the cramping I've been experiencing (in my left calf) for the last few weeks might be related to my knees. A blood clot was ruled out. The pain radiates up and down my entire left leg at times. It feels numb and tingly sometimes, too. I had both knees replaced when I was at my heaviest (303lbs). Now that I've lost a little under 50lbs, I'm wondering if my "new" knee isn't the source of that pain. Has anyone one else had knee replacements and then experienced pain in one or both legs after losing weight? Anyway, I'm planning to see my orthopedic surgeon and find out his take on this theory. The frustrating thing for me is that my pain meds don't even touch this pain. With the amount of morphine I take daily (for a chronically bad ankle), I'd normally not even notice pain elsewhere unless it was off-the-charts. This pain is severe.

Maybe they,think Bariatric Surgery and Weight,Loss is a cult and you need protection from US. Well not me, unless you unleash my red-headed temper I'm mild and meek as a marshmallow. Just want get through my surgery and start on a new life of health. No threat to nobody, except my own fat and I'm going to obliterate that. But that is my own personal battle, one I will win. But convert anybody, nope, I'm Too Busy.