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@lisalou1968 I have completed all requirements. Going to physician on 8/29. I have to wait until October for bariatric eligibility for my insurance

Well I’ve still been taking my Tylenol 4 just about every 5-6 hrs so honestly when I lay down I don’t feel too much because of that but I’ll bet if I don’t take it I will I usually sleep on my side so I’m sure is just still some gas but still check in with your Bariatric team to make sure

Stay the course Darlin, we are going to,make it through , ME and YOU! I am nearing my wait for my RnY, I know what you mean about. HANGRY it is a real true condition, but I also have been having Tearful Thelma-itis, the cover is off of my emotions, and they are fraying. And everything is happening at once. I Hate Things that don't stay,in neat tidy rows. My landlady is trying to sell my house, I don't have the money to buy it but I don't have the money to move. Thought I'd call the Section 8 housing in my community, whew for 2 people ( my son Tomkitten and me) you have to be bringing in over a $1000 a month, excuse me, if I had a thousand I'd be trying to bribe my 💰Loving landlady to let me stay where I've lived for 18 years. And that's just one,in a line of worries. Its sad that Bariatric Surgery, where I get punctured like a cheap dartboard may be the HIGHLIGHT of the next several weeks.

Just wanted to put in a plug for Dr. Doyle and the entire Anne Arundel Surgical Specialists team, since I haven't seen her discussed on these forums. She is the partner of Dr. Alex Gandsas, who is highly regarded and is the main bariatric surgeon at Anne Arundel Medical Center. I saw both surgeons, but after progressing through 90% of the pre-op requirements under Dr. Gandas' care, needed to put my process on hold to deal with my mom's terminal illness. Once I was able to resume work and start thinking about myself again, but before I had returned to schedule a surgery date, I wound up in the ER with a gallbladder attack. The NP who treated me said I needed to be admitted right away to have the gallbladder removed. Once the Acute Care surgeon came down to see me, though, my attack had passed and luckily the Acute Care team is part of Anne Arundel Surgical Specialists. Dr. Brook Buckley saw me in the ER and noticed I was already a patient of Dr. Gandsas, and slowed that NP's roll by saying "we have options here." She saved me from two surgeries by referring me to Dr. Courtney Doyle, who scheduled an expedited appointment to review my chart and examine me for cholecystitis. Dr. Gandsas doesn't do gallbladder removals (unless absolutely necessary in conjunction with a gastric procedure), but Dr. Doyle does both bariatric and general surgeries, and was willing to allow me to finish the requirements for my sleeve and schedule a single surgery for VSG and cholecystectomy. Her bedside manner is excellent. She is friendly, spent more time with me than Dr. Gandsas, and made me feel less like a number and more like an individual patient. Post op, she was kind, caring, and firm about what I needed to do to recover. To me, that is the best balance - I want a surgeon with excellent bedside manner (something that is hard to find, in my opinion), who is open, honest, and willing to spend time to answer my questions. She totally fits that bill. Of course Dr. Gandsas and Dr. Doyle are backed by an excellent admin and dietitian team. I can reach the dietitian, admin, and Dr. Doyle's nurse all by e-mail and have my questions answered within a day. I highly recommend Dr. Doyle and her practice.

Anyone tried the new weight watchers freestyle? It looks pretty compatible with the bariatric diet. Lean protine, fruit, and veggies are free (don't have to track/count) You're given daily points for healthy fats, red meat, and whole grains (to help limit consumption to healthy amounts) And a weekly budget for treats (sugar is very "expensive" on the new program) Anyone tried it? Thoughts?

Check with your bariatric team. I was allowed to take walks for the first 6 weeks.. had to wait until they gave me the OK to go back to the gym.

Sodium is a bit of a tricky nutrient when it comes to weight loss. It has no calories, but it gets a bad rap. With all that you already need to worry about after WLS, does sodium need to be one of your priorities? Here is what you should know about sodium, health, and weight loss. What is sodium? Sodium is a mineral and an essential nutrient. To stay healthy, you need to get at least some sodium from your diet, although that is not a challenge for most people. Sodium is an electrolyte, and it helps your body maintain water balance. It is also necessary for nerve impulses and muscle contraction. What effect does sodium have on health? Some sodium is necessary, but too much is unhealthy. A high-sodium diet raises your risk for high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease. Too much salt may increase your risk of osteoporosis – already a concern for bariatric surgery patients – and possibly of stomach cancer. What effect does sodium have on weight? Sodium has no calories, so it cannot directly cause you to gain body fat. Still, you may have found out personally that a high-sodium meal or day can lead to water retention and a bump on the scale in the short term! Many salty foods do tend to be high in calories from other sources (many salty foods are junk foods!), and a high-salt diet can be a red flag for a high-calorie one. Which foods are high in sodium? The biggest dietary source of sodium is salt and far higher in sodium than natural sources are processed foods. Pickles, cheese, and olives. Processed meat, such as ham, turkey breast, salami, and pastrami. Many condiments, such as salad dressings, pasta sauce, salsa, and soy sauce. Canned goods, including soup, tuna, vegetables, and beans. Prepared meals, such as frozen meals, rotisserie chicken, and meatballs. Fast foods, such as burgers, tacos, sandwiches, fries, fried rice, and pizza. Bread and most breakfast cereals. Salt that you add in cooking and at the table also increases the sodium content. Which foods are low in sodium? Fresh fruit, oils and fats, grains, nuts, and beans, peas, and lentils, are naturally very low in sodium. Unprocessed meat and poultry, milk and dairy products, seafood, and vegetables naturally have a small amount of sodium. Water is sodium-free. How concerned should you be about sodium? Well…somewhat, but not overly concerned. Too much sodium is definitely not a good thing, but your sodium consumption may not be your top priority. Losing weight as a bariatric surgery patient or candidate is going to do far more for your health than cutting back on sodium. Counting calories, protein, and carbs may be as much as you can handle for now without counting milligrams of sodium. Making generally healthy choices can help you lower sodium consumption. What are some tips for lowering sodium? You can take a healthy approach to eating and reduce the amount of sodium you consume without counting each milligram. Being aware of what you are eating is a good strategy. These tips can help you cut back on sodium without making it feel like a chore. Choose lean proteins and vegetables. Hey – this fits with your WLS diet! Read labels to choose unsalted and low or reduced-sodium foods. Get dressings, sauces, and condiments on the side, and use less when you can. Choose less processed foods when you can: think tofu over veggie burgers, chicken breast over turkey slices, and fresh fish over canned tuna. Use less salt during cooking, and experiment with herbs and spices to add flavor without sodium. Only add table salt after tasting your food. Is there anything that can counterbalance sodium? Yes! Potassium is sort of an antidote to sodium because it has the opposite effect on your blood pressure. Fruit, dairy products, beans, and vegetables are all good sources of potassium, and they are healthy choices. Also, you should drink extra water if you consume extra salt. Sodium is something to be on your radar for health, even if it is not your top nutrient of concern for weight loss. It comes down to choosing an overall healthy diet and being aware of your choices – something that you are sure to be an expert at as you approach and recover from weight loss surgery.

You may need to eat out after WLS, because Americans eat out a lot. Some estimates put one-quarter of Americans eating fast food on a given day, before counting food from casual and upscale restaurants. A total of about 1 in 3 calories come from foods that are eaten away from home, such as prepared foods and restaurant foods. With restaurants, fast food, and other prepared foods being such a big part of our culture, you may not be able to, or even want to, stop eating out. That is okay, even after WLS. You will just need to be a savvy customer to be sure that wherever you are, you get a meal that fits into your meal plan. Take heart: it is almost always possible. The Trouble with Eating Out Research has been clear on the differences between eating out and preparing food at home. Restaurant meals tend to be bigger and higher in calories. Beyond that, they are higher in sodium and saturated fat, and lower in fiber. That does not bode well for weight loss, but you are not doomed. Most restaurants are willing and able to accommodate you. You may be pleasantly surprised at the choices. Do Your Homework (Or Procrastinate) Most restaurants have their menus posted online. Many have their nutritional facts online. Check before you go to the restaurant, and decide on your meal before you get there. When it comes time to order, you need not browse the menu for temptations. Or Procrastinate It is not always possible to check beforehand, and that is okay. Just keep your goal in mind: Some lean protein, such as eggs, chicken, or fish. A vegetable. A small amount of a healthy starch and/or healthy fat. Build that meal from the items you see on the menu. The Customer Is Always Right If you need another expression to drive home the point, what about, “He who pays the piper calls the tune?” You are perfectly entitled to ask for no sauce, dressing on the side, or no bun. A surprising number of joints allow substitutions or modifications for no extra cost, although some may charge. The cost is usually minimal, and worth it. Examples include getting grilled instead of fried chicken or fish, or swapping a side salad or steamed vegetables for a side of rice, pasta, or potatoes. Best Bets for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner You can go to a restaurant with some ideas of what they might have for each meal, and search for those. Breakfast Eggs: in an omelet or scrambled. Look for egg whites if you can, and choose vegetable toppings. Cheese and turkey can also be good additions. Skip bacon and other fatty meats in your eggs. Oatmeal: plain, regular or steel-cut, without add-ons such as dried fruit or brown sugar. Nuts are okay. Steer clear of granola. Breakfast sandwich: English muffin (you can eat half) with egg and/or cheese and/or ham – no bacon, sausage, croissant, or biscuit. Create a meal from sides or add-ons, such as cottage cheese, an egg, fresh fruit, or turkey sausage. Lunch Green salad with any of grilled chicken, cheese, nuts, vegetables such as tomatoes and cucumbers, and light dressing. Skip regular dressing (or order it on the side), croutons and chow mein noodles, and dried fruit. Chicken, fish, turkey breast, a veggie burger patty, a hamburger patty, or taco beef. Skip the bread, tortilla, bun, or taco shell, and steer away from breaded and fried. Side salad, carrot sticks, yogurt, or sliced apples. Dinner Shrimp cocktail or broth-based soup for starters. Avoid dips, chips, bread and breadsticks, and fried starters. Grilled, baked, or roasted plain chicken or fish. Avoid fried choices, fatty meats, and creamy or buttery sauces. Steamed vegetables or a side salad. Avoid fries, pasta, rice, and mashed potatoes. The Final Filter: You No matter what lands on your plate or your to-go box, the ultimate decision about what goes into your mouth is made by…you. You can turn a potentially disastrous order into a not-so-bad or even good meal with some smart choices. Decide how much you will eat and pack away the rest before you take your first bite. Scoop out the filling from sandwiches and burritos, while leaving the bread and tortillas. Eat the proteins and vegetables from your plate, while leaving the fries and fatty sauces. Scrape off any breading and eat only the chicken or fish inside. Weight loss surgery is to help you lose weight, but it is also to help you live a better life. If the good life for you includes eating out, you can do it. Just be careful. Keep your weight loss surgery diet plan in mind as you order and eat, and you can lose weight as you live your normal life.

With restaurants, fast food, and other prepared foods being such a big part of our culture, you may not be able to, or even want to, stop eating out. That is okay, even after WLS. You will just need to be a savvy customer to be sure that wherever you are, you get a meal that fits into your meal plan. Take heart: it is almost always possible. The Trouble with Eating Out Research has been clear on the differences between eating out and preparing food at home. Restaurant meals tend to be bigger and higher in calories. Beyond that, they are higher in sodium and saturated fat, and lower in fiber. That does not bode well for weight loss, but you are not doomed. Most restaurants are willing and able to accommodate you. You may be pleasantly surprised at the choices. Do Your Homework (Or Procrastinate) Most restaurants have their menus posted online. Many have their nutritional facts online. Check before you go to the restaurant, and decide on your meal before you get there. When it comes time to order, you need not browse the menu for temptations. Or Procrastinate It is not always possible to check beforehand, and that is okay. Just keep your goal in mind: Some lean protein, such as eggs, chicken, or fish. A vegetable. A small amount of a healthy starch and/or healthy fat. Build that meal from the items you see on the menu. The Customer Is Always Right If you need another expression to drive home the point, what about, “He who pays the piper calls the tune?” You are perfectly entitled to ask for no sauce, dressing on the side, or no bun. A surprising number of joints allow substitutions or modifications for no extra cost, although some may charge. The cost is usually minimal, and worth it. Examples include getting grilled instead of fried chicken or fish, or swapping a side salad or steamed vegetables for a side of rice, pasta, or potatoes. Best Bets for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner You can go to a restaurant with some ideas of what they might have for each meal, and search for those. Breakfast Eggs: in an omelet or scrambled. Look for egg whites if you can, and choose vegetable toppings. Cheese and turkey can also be good additions. Skip bacon and other fatty meats in your eggs. Oatmeal: plain, regular or steel-cut, without add-ons such as dried fruit or brown sugar. Nuts are okay. Steer clear of granola. Breakfast sandwich: English muffin (you can eat half) with egg and/or cheese and/or ham – no bacon, sausage, croissant, or biscuit. Create a meal from sides or add-ons, such as cottage cheese, an egg, fresh fruit, or turkey sausage. Lunch Green salad with any of grilled chicken, cheese, nuts, vegetables such as tomatoes and cucumbers, and light dressing. Skip regular dressing (or order it on the side), croutons and chow mein noodles, and dried fruit. Chicken, fish, turkey breast, a veggie burger patty, a hamburger patty, or taco beef. Skip the bread, tortilla, bun, or taco shell, and steer away from breaded and fried. Side salad, carrot sticks, yogurt, or sliced apples. Dinner Shrimp cocktail or broth-based soup for starters. Avoid dips, chips, bread and breadsticks, and fried starters. Grilled, baked, or roasted plain chicken or fish. Avoid fried choices, fatty meats, and creamy or buttery sauces. Steamed vegetables or a side salad. Avoid fries, pasta, rice, and mashed potatoes. The Final Filter: You No matter what lands on your plate or your to-go box, the ultimate decision about what goes into your mouth is made by…you. You can turn a potentially disastrous order into a not-so-bad or even good meal with some smart choices. Decide how much you will eat and pack away the rest before you take your first bite. Scoop out the filling from sandwiches and burritos, while leaving the bread and tortillas. Eat the proteins and vegetables from your plate, while leaving the fries and fatty sauces. Scrape off any breading and eat only the chicken or fish inside. Weight loss surgery is to help you lose weight, but it is also to help you live a better life. If the good life for you includes eating out, you can do it. Just be careful. Keep your weight loss surgery diet plan in mind as you order and eat, and you can lose weight as you live your normal life.

Sure. I usually eat a homemade egg frittata for breakfast. I mix up what I put in it so that I don't get bored. I also do egg muffins that I can reheat for on the go. https://kalynskitchen.com/cottage-cheese-and-egg-breakfast/ My snacks consist of: -Greek yogurt -Cottage cheese -Raw veggies with Greek Yogurt veggie dip (and I eat a lot of dip LOL) -Hard Boiled Eggs - Turkey roll ups -Tuna to-go packets -Edamame -*New* favorite is Chia seed pudding yummmmm -String cheese - Guacamole and whole wheat or black bean chips. - Avocado toast (usually a half of a half, as a snack, a whole half as a meal) -Apples and peanut butter -Berry mix with some Greek yogurt and stevia to take the bitter edge off. - Brussels Sprouts (3 small ones hits the mid-day snack spot) - A cup of FairLife Milk, with SF chocolate syrup. 13 grams of protein For meals: I make a lot of meat. And I accompany my meat with veggies. Mostly Brussels sprouts, because they are my FAV. But I will occasionally mix it up with broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, ect . - My go too is different seasoned or marinade chicken and veggie Kabobs. - I do frozen wild salmon patties with a lemon garlic, minimum butter sauce - I will make stuffed peppers with cauliflower rice, lean ground beef/turkey, shred cheese, sour cream, salsa, ect. I can usually get two meals out of one pepper (so long as I'm digging eating the pepper). - I make lots of things with WonTon wrappers. I make little lasagna cups, taco cups, chicken cordon bleu cups, ect. And these are great for reheating! https://www.barilife.com/blog/10-single-serving-meals-you-need-in-your-bariatric-life/ -I will make chicken legs on the grill that go a long way. I can easily make on here or there for lunch or snacks. - I eat A LOT of soy meat. I haven't mastered cooking with soy, but I buy the Gardein brand and make that for a lot of lunches. I started doing this to naturally lower my cholesterol, and it has seriously WORKED. - I make this tuna macaroni salad, that is a good cold version of Tuna Noodle Casserole. I use tuna, protein noodles, capers, tad bit of olive oil, lemon juice, Greek yogurt, sugar free sweet relish, and green onion. - I make protein pasta a lot. My mom buys me this amazing pasta that is made from black beans and edamame (22grams per 1/2 cup) and I make a really meaty pasta sauce. She finds it from this specialty store in Chicago. I could go on and on.... I'm still a foodie at heart! LOL. But I don't use any protein supplements unless I'm extremely busy and know that I won't be able to get my protein in. So I do keep a couple single serve powder packets on hand for those days.

I hope you mean the OP's rotten excuse,of a doctor and not me. I sure don't resemble your remark, I'm a soft tender low-drama mama trying to get,her bariatric game together.

Weight loss is a different animal as the years pass. Actually experiencing weight gain, weight holding on, and slow weight loss may be hard for newer people to understand. It's a great that you are posting this topic. Yes, get with your team to get the professional advice and confirm or rule out medical issues. The bariatric plan that once worked may not work for you now. it will be trial and error to find the calories and macros that get your body in weight loss mode. This will be specific to your body physiology. Weight loss at years out is not a one size fits all. It is fine tuning your diet to find where your body loses weight. To find the calories and macros that work: Use your food log. If your body is carb sensitive lower your carbs. If your not losing at a certain calorie levels. Raise/lower the calories. Spread out meals a day. Start with three adjust it to four, five six. How you fuel your body is key. Whole foods, Keto, intermittent fasting, vegetarian diets. It still gets down to your calories and macros on any diet plan.

I wasn't specific enough in my previous post. MarinaGirl is correct about taking iron and calcium at separate times. Here's information from one of the handouts from my surgeon's office: Gastric bypass patients need to take more vitamins than lap band patients or vertical sleeve gastrectomy patients because, in addition to only being able to eat a limited amount of food, part of their small intestines have been bypassed. People absorb most vitamins and minerals in our small intestines and with part of them bypassed, they end up absorbing fewer nutrients from the food they eat and the supplements they take. The vitamins you need may vary based on your individual needs and the results of your blood tests, but here's what the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) recommends you should start with: *An adult multivitamin, containing 100% of the recommended daily allowances (RDA) of at least 2/3 of all nutrients, including 18mg iron and minerals like zinc, copper, and selenium, twice daily. *1500mg to 2000mg calcium citrate (not calcium carbonate or tricalcium phosphate) divided into three to four doses of about 500mg each, taken at least two hours apart. RNY patients don't have enough stomach acid to break down calcium carbonate or tricalcium phosphate for absorption. That means supplements like Viactiv, Tums, Caltrate, and Citracal gummies aren't good choices. *An additional 18mg to 27mg iron for menstruating women *350mcg to 500mcg sublingual B12 daily or 1000mcg B12 injections once a month *B-50 complex is optional Note that the ASMBS recommends an adult multivitamin. While some surgeons and dieticians recommend children's chewable vitamins to patients, these are usually missing some key nutrients that gastric bypass patients need. Read the label of any multivitamin you are considering carefully and make sure it has 100% of the RDA of most ingredients and that it has minerals like copper, zinc, and selenium. ---- I take a multivitamin, calcium citrate, magnesium citrate, iron, Vit D-2 (doctor's prescription), and sublingual B12.

Dr Esquerra at Mexicali Bariatric Center

One of the concerns with any multivitamin is whether it contains all the vitamins and minerals that a bariatric patient can absorb. If the calcium in the multivitamin is calcium carbonate, it's not bioavailable (easy absorbed) for you because of the changes to your body. You need calcium citrate. The type of iron is also important. Some forms of iron are no longer bioavailable for you. B12 is also a problem. It has to be sublingual (dissolves "under the tongue") or you need to take injections from your doctor. Also, does the multivitamin contain certain micronutrients such as zinc, copper, and selenium? NEVER, ever, ever, ever use a GUMMY vitamin. They are a waste of your money because they are the worst at bioavailability. Write to me privately if you have any more questions.

Only on Bariatric Pal is "overweight" a compliment! Congratulations,🎁Green Tealael

I have UHC and I had to do the 6-month supervised diet. You should be talking to Optum Healthcare, and get assigned a Bariatric Services Nurse. Have you called them yet? That's the first step (and required) with UHC. I believe the number is: 866-534-7209

I know they are fabulous but this isn’t a thread about whether I should buy one or not. The question is how well do bariatric patients do with eating food from an Air Fryer? What’s your experience? Every non-bariatric person I know loves theirs. But I’ve seen several articles lately discussing how the end product is not good for those that have had WLS as the food isn’t as tender or smooth as it should be. Most articles referred to items with crunchy outsides. So, thoughts?

I have had 2 knee replacement surgeries, had my fall bladder out in the bad old days when everthing was OPEN. I have had other surgeries, some Ambulatory some requirng hospitalization. And at 72, a LOT CLOSER to MORTALITY than you! And I am not frightened, not a bit. Lets examine just a few reasons. 1 I really really want THIS Surgery. I started seeking it,is August 2015. I have suffered twists, turns, ups and downs in this persuit. If I tried to sell my story to TV they would refuse it as implausible, not even real enough for a soap opera, yet I LIVED it! 2. I have few people left in my family. In the 2000s I have had a lot of deaths in my life. My mother,my mother- in- law, both,in the same year, 11 aunts and uncles, some i,loved as extra parents,my godmother, many friends and acqaitances, many,of them younger and seemed to be in good health,my husband 6 years ago at the age,of 70 on the 4th,of July, yes the day I should have been celebrating my country's Independance and a son suddenly at the age of 31 suddenly. And although there a few still left to,mourn me every year the number grows smaller. It has gone from a massive funeral, wake and procession to local cemetery to a picnic,luncheon at the local park and a scrapbook for people to look at. 3. It can only improve my health,mobility and future life. A body riddled with arthritis, obesity, being short,of breath, unable to walk around the block only once before I have to rest, not,being able to sit in many chairs because they are too narrow, being more comfortable in bed then up and,moving. Sure I still have a life, but it is not giggles and laughs anymore. 4 I do trust,my surgeon. Oh Frustr8 is VERY very careful who she trusts with her body. Scars, dings, missing paint here and there on my chassis, but IT is STILL MINE. I checked out my doctors reputation, his bio, his statement of purpose, whether he had patients my age before and,most important had he ever had fatalities as a general or Bariatric Surgeon? Since i,now love ME I wanted to give myself,the very best I could. And he is perfect as a surgeon, but I still wanted to meet him, how did he present himself? He is more than a people mechanic , he will,hold my very,life in those hands. Wanted to,make sure he had no tremors or twitches. And all is good. 4 I learned as much as I could about surgeries available. I am 72, no time for "do overs" this has to be,very good. Actually had decided before I met my doctor, Dr Needleman, what surgery I would seek, sure I might listen to his medical advice, but MY BODY, MY CHOICE! So on September 5th I will March proudly through the front doors of Rhodes Hall, the admission area before 5 AM, with a sm8le, happy that,he day has finally come. I don't know what all the steps from them on will be but I can and will go forth happily. And at 7AM, give or take a few minutes, I will be wheeled through the Operating Doors, frankly I would prefer to walk but I will make that concession. And there clad in all his Sterile garb will be my Bradley J Needleman MD, the Big Kahuna, the director of Bariatric Surgery and Metabolic Weight Loss at the Ohio State University-Wexner Medical Center, a full Professor in the College of Medicine. When Frustr8 went surgeon fishing she landed herself a Trophy Specimen.I sure there will be a lot of other people there,this is, after all, a Teaching Hospital as well as a Bariatric Center of Excellence. I will go peacefully to sleep, my arms extending out to each side, I will be intubated, my gown removed,my tummy blown up with CO2 gas to the point I look like I am expecting octuplets, and quite a few more people will learn. that I am a redhead all over. Makes no never mind to me, I'll be sound asleep. And I will receive my RnY, my tool , my key to a brighter thinner future. And I expect to wake up,in the Recovery Room still smiling. What not, if I weren't lying down I'd be wagging my tail. A little tummy pain? Pish Tosh, I've had acute pancreatitis, this has got to,be a walk in the park after THAT PAIN! I expect to be,up and walking, no Cath in place, so it will be "Tinkle Time", walk walk walk and sip sip sip until I recover in a few days to go home. Only concession to my age is I might get to stay longer. Que sera sera! So my young friend I am not waiting for death, I rather look to life triumpant afterwards and you should too. What came before is merely a prelude to the Future.

Thank you so much @MarinaGirl! Your words are so encouraging to me! Indeed tomorrow I will be going to see a Bariatric Psychologist and pour my heat out. I will be looking for resources and support groups, because I am really not as interested about how much I will weigh 1 year out vrs 5. And you are right, I start the official 1 week pre op on Wed, but have already stopped all the obvious nonsense. Food funerals are futile...I can’t hold on to the taste, and just cuz I have it, does big mean I will not crave it again. But it does mean I’m setting myself up with more to loose. I’ve ordered some Food Addiction books “Emotional First Aid” for Bariatric patients etc. This is gonna be a battle, that is physical, but mostly mental. I am trying to get my Whole Head into it with focus and determination to succeed. Just praying I wake up from Surgery anc am given a chance to get this right!

I’m so sorry you’re going through this. There are many stories on the Internet of people being successful after Lapband->VSG->RNY. Do not be scared. You need to set yourself up for success with surgery by following ALL pre-op & post-op instructors. Do not have a pity party or food funerals. You can do this. But please keep in mind that bariatric surgery does not necessarily curb psychological cravings for food. Nor does it necessarily change emotional eating patterns. Emotional eating after WLS leads to LESS weight loss and can lead to weight regain. So make sure you’re doing the work to address the mental side of obesity - don’t be afraid to seek out assistance from a bariatric-focused psychologist. Good luck!

Millie’s sipping broth (in Bariatric Pal Store and on amazon) are nice shortcuts to flavorful, interesting broths! They’re like teabags for “curry spice” “Thai lemongrass” and such. I like the spicy tortilla one a lot. I also purchased several skinny syrups from skinnymixes.com to add into Protein Shakes and other liquids. Love the mint chocolate chip and raspberry especially! I also bought a sampler pack of Protein powders from BP site so I’d have variety there as well. Edited to add:I’m two weeks post-op and have been on liquids only since 7/16, so I feel your pain! I won’t be starting puréed foods until 8/20!

Hi @ aliciacollete, I also will be a RuN bypass, mine will occur on September 5th when I too become a Kangaroo. I have been on and off obese since babyhood. I grew to loathe myself, I dieted, I Yo-Yo'd like a demented child's toy all over the place. And diets, every time a new one came out I tried it, perhaps this will be🏆the Holy Grail, the one that would work as others didn't. And I had some weird ones, all-meat, grapefruit(I now hate grapefruit with a loathing bordering fanaticism) structurelised starvation Don't work, your BMR goes⬇instead). a lot of pain , sorrow and self-loathing. In October 2017, I asked my PCP for a diet drug to assist me in that search,for slenderness, he put me on Phenteramine, and I Journaled my foods, exercise and feelings, in less than a month I GAINED 30 pounds. And I am a GOOD compliant person, I tried to fit,into someone,elses idea of "perfect", of "normal". of " average" and it never satisfied anyone for very long. After being obese off and on,for my entire life, I grew to self-loathing.I hated to way I looked,I hated being over 300 pounds, a weight more suited to a tree than a human body, I hated my existance, for what I had was no real life, I hated being in pain, of waking up and knowing this was the least pain you would have all day, I hated knowing every day brought me closer to dying. And I was sad. I hated being told by relatives I should commit suicide, that I took up too much space, was a waste of the world's resources and besides no one of any consequence loved me. And I sat, shook and cried. Who could I count on, who cared for me, who cared if I lived or died? And a moment of clear, rational thinking ensued. Who cares about me, just ME, Who could I trust to still 💖me? ME. Who really believes in ME, with all my scars, dings, missing paint,on my chassis? ME. And since I now 💖ME, I will give myself a beautiful, beyond cost 📦, Bariatric Surgery. For now I DO WANT TO CONTINUE to LIVE. So I asked my PCP for recommendations. I did my own research,and decided because of some of my comorbidities, yes I did know the RIGHT term for it all, an RnY would be my best commitment to my future. So I went through,a hospital program, jumped through every hoop they required, crossed every T, dotted every I, cried myself to sleep every night, it was wearying, did my very,best with everything, tried to,maintain a happy attitude through all slings and arrows sent,my way. Then their surgeon decided, after rapeing my insurances,of all the money they could get, after I paid out $200 of my hard-earned money for,pre and post surgical dietary advice, which I didn't get and the 💰 wasn't returned., that I was , ready for this? I was emotionally and psychologically unfit and too stupid to understand the ramifications of Bariatri Surgery" FYZi although I don't attend the local meetings I AM MENSA- eligible So I sat, I cried, I shook and shuddered to my soul. Like,the King in the Bible I had been tried and found UNWORTHY. Then I had a moment of clear thinking. I am a child of God, God does not make mistakes and I as a being created in his image cannot be flawed, in perfect and I have still a Life's Mission. So,i stood up with,my 2 replaced,knees, for I am Noon if there. Was I going to allow a group of maladjusted individuals who claimed to Christian and looking out for,my well being to derail my hopes, to block my chance for better health? NOPE this will not and cannot happen. I have strawberry blonde hair and as a bonofide redhead I do HAVE A TEMPER. So I picked,myself up, brushed off the dirt thrown at me, all the degrogatory phrasing and set out for Ohio State, the premier program in Central Ohio, the place,i would have chosen had I followed my own mind instead of listening to someone's recommendation. They accepted me after an introductory,seminar,in March, met with their staff psychologist Dr Kramer in April, dietician , nurse- practioner and exercise physiologist in May, took my presurgical blood labs that day, met with my surgeon-of-record Bradley J Needleman MD for my surgical conference and physical , Was assigned my surgical date at that time, I will meet with someone from the Anesthesia Department August 24 and then at 7 AM EDT, on my Wonder Wednesday, my REBIRTHDAY,occurs and I think I am the oldest surgical candidate at 72, nut I have no fear,he has no fear and something WONDERFUL,will,occur. All my fears were drowned in my tears. I am thrilled, a little awed to strong,in my belielf that this is THE RIGHT THING, AT THE RIGHT TIME, FOR THE RIGHT,REASONS AND FOR THE RIGHT,NOW WORTH PERSON, ME. and how,you gave the Frustr8 Story. And do you know why we will be Kangaroos? Because we will leave our O..R. with,our own little pouch. So sproing, sproing my Bari-Sister, sproing sproing!

I realize that most people will probably gloss over this topic...because for most 1 surgery works and is enough and if you fall into this category, please know how fortunate you are. This is not my story I am 5'8. In 2007 I was 273lb's and miserable! I got a Band. Following 13 fills and unfills the best I lost was 60lb's, I never achieved restriction, and unfilled to have 2 kids. All weight returned. In an unrelated accident my port flipped, and in 2015 at 265lb's I was revised to a Gastric Sleeve (Also had my gallbladder taken out, a Haital hernia repaired and the band removed). I lost 60lb's in the first 4 months and then...stopped loosing. At 205lb's I would have been happy with my results, but then, I felt no restriction and started to regain! Fast forward almost 3 years to today...I have developed GERD pretty bad and I've regained most of what I lost back! My stomach feels hungry every hour or two, I could always eat WAY more than my sleeved friends, and once I got myself full, it would not take long for the deep primal hunger to return. I have no relief from hunger. Especially at night, I'm ravenous! I became a grazer! I felt that the Ghrelin was back with an Army to fight me! A 80% international traveling job plus unlimited access to food in the best restaurants around the globe did not help. I have felt dejected, humiliated, like a failure, angry, frustrated and the list goes on for miles, if you are still reading, you probably know how I feel. And indeed, It's not just about how I look...it's about how I feel. Horrible!! My weight is pressing, intrusive and pervasive. There is no time that I am not aware of it. I have sleep Apnea, I can't keep up with my 6 and 7 year old's and the simple things in life are hard again. Completely demoralizing... After almost 3 years, I finally said "Enough" and went back to a new Surgeon. An Endoscopy revealed it has not all been my fault. My Sleeve was cut too big to begin with! My new surgeon reveled he knows the work of the previous surgeon who apparently was not very skilled at the time and making sleeves too big to be successful. A Bougie 42 was was too big to begin with but in my case, even that was very loosely cut. To top it off, my Sleeve was mis-shapen to begin with as well, setting me up for failure and I have a Stricture in the middle, causing me to have an Hourglass shape. Top fills up, stretches, bottom is hungry, then food goes to the bottom and is still there, top is hungry, in short...a hot mess! Miraculously given the Haital Hernia, GERD, Stricture and botched initial surgery, my insurance (that does not cover Bariatrics) has approved a revision to Bypass on Aug 22nd. I've been combing the internet for Sleeve to RNY revision but such information is not as readily available as 1st timers. I am so nervous...so frightened to go through with this. Scared of Anesthesia, scared how I would do, scared of the 3 week post op liquid only phase. Scared that I will fail again, that this will not work. Some Surgeons (like the Pound of Cure guy say you can only expect to loose 10 - 25lbs on a Sleeve to RNY revision, woa?? ) But I have to try...I want to live a full and vibrant life and not just exist like an Amoeba! This is truly Project last chance. My husband is supportive, but my friends, judgmental and not supportive. and if ever I needed some advice, encouragement, support etc...it's now... Nervous but cautiously hopeful, and very much in need of your support... Ellie

I realize that most people will probably gloss over this topic...because for most 1 surgery works and is enough and if you fall into this category, please know how fortunate you are. This is not my story I am 5'8. In 2007 I was 273lb's and miserable! I got a Band. Following 13 fills and unfills the best I lost was 60lb's, I never achieved restriction, and unfilled to have 2 kids. All weight returned. In an unrelated accident my port flipped, and in 2015 at 265lb's I was revised to a Gastric Sleeve (Also had my gallbladder taken out, a Haital hernia repaired and the band removed). I lost 60lb's in the first 4 months and then...stopped loosing. At 205lb's I would have been happy with my results, but then, I felt no restriction and started to regain! Fast forward almost 3 years to today...I have developed GERD pretty bad and I've regained most of what I lost back! My stomach feels hungry every hour or two, I could always eat WAY more than my sleeved friends, and once I got myself full, it would not take long for the deep primal hunger to return. I have no relief from hunger. Especially at night, I'm ravenous! I became a grazer! I felt that the Ghrelin was back with an Army to fight me! A 80% international traveling job plus unlimited access to food in the best restaurants around the globe did not help. I have felt dejected, humiliated, like a failure, angry, frustrated and the list goes on for miles, if you are still reading, you probably know how I feel. And indeed, It's not just about how I look...it's about how I feel. Horrible!! My weight is pressing, intrusive and pervasive. There is no time that I am not aware of it. I have Sleep Apnea, I can't keep up with my 6 and 7 year old's and the simple things in life are hard again. Completely demoralizing... After almost 3 years, I finally said "Enough" and went back to a new Surgeon. An Endoscopy revealed it has not all been my fault. My Sleeve was cut too big to begin with! My new surgeon reveled he knows the work of the previous surgeon who apparently was not very skilled at the time and making sleeves too big to be successful. A Bougie 42 was was too big to begin with but in my case, even that was very loosely cut. To top it off, my Sleeve was mis-shapen to begin with as well, setting me up for failure and I have a Stricture in the middle, causing me to have an Hourglass shape. Top fills up, stretches, bottom is hungry, then food goes to the bottom and is still there, top is hungry, in short...a hot mess! Miraculously given the Haital Hernia, GERD, Stricture and botched initial surgery, my insurance (that does not cover Bariatrics) has approved a revision to Bypass on Aug 22nd. I've been combing the internet for Sleeve to RNY revision but such information is not as readily available as 1st timers. I am so nervous...so frightened to go through with this. Scared of Anesthesia, scared how I would do, scared of the 3 week post op liquid only phase. Scared that I will fail again, that this will not work. Some Surgeons (like the Pound of Cure guy say you can only expect to loose 10 - 25lbs on a Sleeve to RNY revision, woa?? ) But I have to try...I want to live a full and vibrant life and not just exist like an Amoeba! This is truly Project last chance. My husband is supportive, but my friends, judgmental and not supportive. and if ever I needed some advice, encouragement, support etc...it's now... Nervous but cautiously hopeful, and very much in need of your support... Ellie