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Hello Everyone, I'm new to this website. I went to my Dr on Tuesday and let them know I was interested in Bariatric Surgery, my Dr without hesitation said she thought I was a candidate. I've struggled with my weight and body image since I was 18 years old. Now that I am 29 I really want to do something about it, I'm tired of dieting and hating myself when I eat badly, so I thought I would give this serious thought. I got a call from my Dr. Saying that to start my process I would need to go to the 3 Hour class. I'm excited but scared had no idea it would happen so fast! So here I am nervous.. I'm scared to lose to much, I'm scared to lose the parts of my body that I love. I also cant find anyone who started around the weight that I am .. I have friends and family telling me that I'm fine but I dont feel that way. I hate getting on the scale but I think I'm about 246.00 at 5'6. Anyone else start around this weight? Also how do you prepare yourself?

I really like this one. It's not bariatric, but has loads of healthy choices and provides the nutritional information! https://recipes.sparkpeople.com/

I had this problem as well. I couldn't keep any of them down. My Dr. had me just try milk, if I could keep that down, then try Carnation Instant Breakfast for some added protein. So that is what I drank until I could have puréed foods. I know Carnation Instant isn't healthy, ( and so did my Dr. but he wanted me drinking whatever I would not vomit up) but it worked for me. I found the Bariatric Pal Hot Cocoa with Marshmellows to be simply delish! Those have 15 grams of protein and very low sugar and carbs. The peach tea is good and the mango fruit drink. They all have 15 grams of protein. I got those for summer, however, I just love drinking the hot cocoa anytime. It is my new healthy comfort food.

After the surgery it turned out that I'm no longer tolerating meats. I can eat a little bit before my stomach riots, but that amount was far not enough to get my proteins. I also tried beans, tofu, cottage cheese, greek yogurts etc as a source of protein, but those have various negative sides, such as gas, fats, sugars and so on. Finally I realized, that I was now even more focused on foods, than I used to be before the WLS. I decided to go back to shakes, but discussed that with my NUT first. Her only concern was that I might have psychological issues with relying on a single boring food, which might be considered as a low-quality life. Other than that, there are simply no solid arguments against relying fully on supplements. One may say that shakes are bad chemistry and not healthy. But we could say that about anything we get from a grocery store, right? That said, my 4 shakes (Premier Protein, which I personally enjoy) provides over 200% of daily proteins, 100% of selected vitamins and minerals (+ I'm adding extra post-bariatric vitamins as recommended by NUT), 20% of fat, 8% of carbs - with very low sugars, and just 640 calories. Basically, I take one shake (11 oz) as a full meal every 3 hours, starting from 9am. On the top of that I eat fruits and some vegetables in between, but mostly afternoon. If I want some snacks late after 7pm, I crave berries or melon. So far doing fine. If I go out with my family or friends, I'm not going nuts and eat whatever is served - my sleeve just doesn't let me go too far

I dunno, the nutritionists I have to meet with work with the bariatric surgeon, so I had kind of assumed they were bariatric nutritionists. I've never asked, though. (And honestly? I am not impressed with all of their levels of knowledge. The one seems pretty cool, and I at least like and trust her. The other two just have a bunch of rules memorized and don't listen and don't seem to know how to adjust to patients with different needs. I am having a lot of trouble separating their useful insights from their dogma.) Anyway, it's reassuring that snacks can be a part of a healthy post-sleeve lifestyle, so thank you! Really, knowing what I do about the amount of food that'll fit in a post-op tummy, I had kind of imagined protein shakes would be needed to hit the protein goals. Maybe these nutritionists just aren't counting those as "snacks."

And I will tell you from experience that snacks is not the problem. Snacks are almost necessary in the early stages to meet your nutritional goals. Unless you have a Bariatric NUT, which I'd be surprised if you do, they don't have a firm grasp on our stomach capacity and how our anatomy is limiting. I've had to educate my NUT on certain things. I'm not saying they all do, but they forget that the things that work for regular people who are dieting, or eating healthy, don't always work for us. There is nothing wrong with snacks to meet your goals. I don't want to toot my own horn but I lost 100lbs 5 months post op, 128lbs overall. And I eat 3 snacks per day. My typical meal plan looks like this: 8:00a- breakfast 11:00a- snack 1:30p- lunch 4:00p- snack 7:00p-dinner 9:00p- snack (almost always is FairLife milk) Obviously times vary, but very typical for me to have 3 snacks per day.

But you're doing it! I'm less than a month I will,be doing it too. Don't have a band but I'm sure I could rent the Salvation Army Tambourine Band if I wanted on September 5th. Point those toes ahead, it's your DAY OF DAYS, me along with everyone else out here at Bariatric Pal are sending our very Best Wishes to you! Update us when it's been completed but we are VERY PROUD of YOU today.😛🌸😷🌺😛

@Pink nova Such a fun and active age for boys. (I have three; two are medical doctors, the last one is 19 and still trying to find his place in the world. He thinks that's computer engineering.) I feel bad in retrospect that we didn't do a lot of traveling because of me. (Now that my two oldest can do as they please, I hope they travel the world!) boys ages 6 and 8. They are so looking forward to the swim up bar and not having to get out of the pool unless for food lol. And something else, too. Think about it. Think about. Ding! Ding! Ding! You wouldn't want them going in the pool, would you? I'm more convinced than ever by my first impression of you. You're a great mom, and your boys deserve a mom that can keep up with them. I know they say weight-loss surgery has to be for ourselves first, but our kids have to be a big reason, too. I just wish I had done something sooner. That said, bariatric medicine wasn't as advanced back then. And hearing about all those lap-band horror stories (stomachs severed in half, etc), maybe I was better off fat and sassy. In truth, though, I didn't become heavy until after my ankle injury (described on my profile page), so I actually didn't need surgery when they were that young. It's all such a blur sometimes. Hmm. Why didn't we travel more?! Enjoy your nice young family. They grow up too fast.

So, I am also debating between surgeries. My surgeon said that I can't go wrong with either RnY or Sleeve, and my dietitian thought RnY might be a better option for me. I had gone in to my information session convinced on the sleeve based upon my 2+ years of researching bariatric surgery, but now I'm at a standstill and leaning more towards RnY. Statistics on RnY show more weight loss (average of 60%-80%), in comparison to sleeve (capping on average about 60%). However, the sleeve seems less invasive (not rerouting your intestines). There are pros and cons to both surgeries for me, personally. If I got the RnY, I would have to find a different medication to manage my headaches and other pain besides NSAIDS. If I got the sleeve, there is a possibility that my acid reflux would get more persistent. I wish my surgeon would tell me which surgery would be better for my circumstances; my pros and cons list is not helping me decide! He seemed sort of nonchalant about the options I had!

@Biggamehunter if you are expecting tea and sympathy from bariatric patients by refusing to believe a good percentage of the forum didn't need surgery you are the wrong place - your struggle with your concern of your wife's appearance being a medical issue is overshadowed by your opinions that surgery wasn't necessary in her case when it was clearly her decision to make. Plus 250 is MORBIDLY OBESE, 200 is OBESE, 150 is normal. Many of us have lost weight only to regain it right back because we have - metabolic issues, have been overweight for years, have food issues and consider this surgery as a tool to assist in all those things. It is never so simple as you make it seem - diet and exercise, no surgery. Well it is a moot point, we have tried to get you to accept that and yet you refuse. Over and out

I just recently bought bariatric capsule vitamins from procare health. I like them so far. Also bought their calcium chews

Oh wow. I've followed this post now for awhile, resisting the urge, trying to give you the benefit of the doubt. I even reported a post that I felt was degrading to you. BUT, this is where I draw the line. Why are you on a BARIATRIC FORUM for patients who gather together who've had BARIATRIC SURGERY, if this is how you feel? I don't think you are going to find the "support" you are looking for, and in the meantime, are vastly offending people left and right. You can't just say that because your wife only had 50lbs to lose, that WLS was a bad idea. Perhaps she's yo-yo'd her whole life with weight, perhaps she's never successfully lost weight, perhaps she has a binge eating, or other eating disorder. Many people have struggles that prevent them from losing or successfully keeping weight off. This surgery is meant to be the last option for people who've exhausted all options. And, you do realize a vast majority of people who have surgery aren't 4-500lbs...... in fact, many are in your wife's category. I can name plenty of users by name that fell in this weight range. We don't come onto this site to give and get advice from closed minded people like you, who, think this is bullsh*t. At this point, please take your concerns and go elsewhere. You could have gotten a wealth of knowledge from this community, but you've just proved that you don't take us seriously anyway. You don't agree with our decisions to have surgery, and don't see it as a "necessity". Therefore, why continue to engage us?

I went and saw my bariatric mid level, we had a talk about what our serving sizes should be. They want us at 1/4 a cup. Three meals, each meal is 1/4 a cup. If you do protein and a veggie, then 1/8 protein and 1/8 veggie. Is that normal for most bariatric requirements? I felt like I may have been a little over that during my soft food stages earlier on. But I eat a babybel for a snack and it's bigger than a 1/4 cup and it's a mini one. I'm just curious...

I started therapy today. Not bad, the therapist seemed nice enough and hopefully I can start getting something good out of it soon. I did have a rough last week with panic attacks and then this weird side pain that was so bad I had to go to the ER. They admitted me but they were so rude and kept acting like I just wanted pain meds when the CT scan looked normal. The GI team finally was nice to me and did an endoscopy and found a small hiatal hernia and said it'd be up to the attending doctor to see what would be done. Well, the doctor was basically like "everyone gets those, it's not a big deal, you're getting discharged." I'm so f-ing pissed but at least I know my bariatric surgeon, who I see later this next month will take care of it. UGH. I hate doctors sometimes.

We need some bariatric substitute Pinterest leaders... Food exercise lifestyle, I'd follow

My surgeon requires three months of group meetings with the nutritionist (or three individual meetings if you are from out of the area, like me), psychologist screening, sleep study (I am already on C-PAP), exercise physiologist, and a quiz from the nutritionist at the end to determine if you are ready. I was issued a 1" binder with all of the pages professionally printed in thick, laminated card stock. None of the information within the binder contradicted any other information. Since I was seen by a different bariatric surgeon back in April in Idaho and was referred to this surgeon in Salt Lake City, my "supervised weight loss" (from the insurance standpoint) actually started in April, so they fast-tracked me through the nutrition visits. I was scheduled each week with an individual appointment to see the nutritionist. Since June 29, 2019, (when I first saw the surgeon) I have had 16 appointments in six visits. I live in Ammon, ID and have to drive to Salt Lake City, UT each time. It is approximately 500 miles round trip. I have seen the surgeon three times so far. When I took the NUT quiz, there was an interview after to make sure I had absorbed the information - this was a contingency for my pre-op appointment. The surgeon said that if I do not get past the NUT, he would make me reschedule the pre-op appointment. That was not necessary since I passed the quiz and interview just fine. Overall, I feel that I am in good hands and am well informed on what I am getting myself into. I wish this were the case for everyone... Good luck!

So glad you mentioned Lyss. Great post, dude. To the OP, I don't think you're wife bashing or whatever you are accused of doing in this post. (skimming only). I think you are genuinely concerned. I'm sure others have mentioned, that initially due to weight loss in general, but due to quick weight loss in particular, we get to the point toward goal where we do look like melted candles--a bit--at least I'm looking decidedly melty-ish in parts these days. But over the next year, the fat will actually re-distribute and fill out some places. I'd say if the doc isn't worried, then take comfort from that, and trust your wife. This is clearly important to her. You've no idea of the beasts and battles we have in our heads re: weight, self-esteem, sexuality. We may appear the most confident women in the world and some are! But others of us fight it daily. And it's a big war within. I think your fear stems from the experience with your aunt. I'm sorry for your loss. It honestly sounds like maybe your aunt's tummy twisted and blood flow got cut off and that's why she went septic. But, I also think some of this is your seeing your wife for the first time outside the norm--as a skinny wench. And that takes us all time. The body dysmorphia applies to loved ones and friends as well as the bariatric patient. Just for reference, your wife is SMACK in the middle of normal weight for her height. Yay team! I know I'm not planning on stopping until I get to the normal weight zone. There can be a 10-15lb regain around 2-5 years, so there is that as well... I just think keep on doing your research, stay connected here for support and be supportive of your wife's journey. And it DOES help to talk it out with someone who went to school for therapy rather than us internet whackamoles! Cheers!

Fitzer's support group usually meets the first Monday of each month at 6:00. The first Monday of next month is Labor Day, so the group won't meet then. Deby, our support group leader, will announce the September date soon. It will probably be 9/10. The printed schedule says 9/11, but she thinks that's a typo. So stay tuned for more on the September meeting. Reston Hospital also has a bariatric surgery support group that meets on the third Thursday of each month at 6:30. Next Thursday, 8/16 is the next meeting date. Both support groups meet in the same conference room at the hospital: Pavilion II, 2nd floor, Conference Room A. You are welcome to drop in!

Sooo i realize this is super random, crazy, unconventional and all that, but that’s kind of what i’m known for lol, so here goes nothing! 😊 So i’m in 4 other bariatric related groups online with thousands of members (most of them are women based but i would like to open this up to everyone) I’m noticing that sooooo many of those posts are not wls related at all but dating/ relationship questions right and people love to answer them and help each other out. So my thought is to start judgement free thread where you can literally ask whatever you want related to the topic, nothing is off limits and maybe we all can help each other out. No shame. Nothing should ever feel uncomfortable or embarrassing here. I’ve met plenty of people that just need help finding what their looking for, or translating what the opposite sex actually means, i’ve even seen people ask questions simply because they just don’t have any actual real life experience. All of that is ok, ask away. My only rule here is that there should be no negativity, or arguing in this thread. We all already have more than enough on our plates, no need to hurt anyone. Also, if you have a question that you’re not fully comfortable sharing with everyone or you just need someone to listen to you, by all means feel free to send me a private message and i’ll try my best to help you out as well.💖💖💖🤗🤗🤗 -Jay

So, I am 2 weeks post op today and doing okay. Trying to get my 85g of protein in daily but I'm getting to 60s some days if I'm lucky. Water, 64oz. is in a far off galaxy but I am doing my best at about 35 oz. I had a revision sleeve from the original VSG in 2012. I am extremely fortunate to not only have a second chance and get my health back. I lead by example of what not to do as my husband is also having the surgery done later in the year or early next year. I had my first post op visit with the dr.s office yesterday and everything looked great! Surprisingly, she told me my water % looked very good so, I'll take it. I am out on short term since the day of my surgery, July 25th and come to find out this past Monday that I will no longer be employed of my job of almost 9 years. Basically, I am bonded every year because I handle money and every year that bond is renewed. So now enter in my story of why... Last May of 2017, my dog suddenly went limp in his hind legs and needed emergency surgery. French bulldogs are prone to a condition called IVDD or Intervertebral Disk Disease. It is a common cause of back pain, rear limb paralysis, and inability to walk or feel the back legs. Basically, the pressure on his back from the disk was pressing on his nerves that send signals to the brain to control his back leg movement. Without removing that part of the disk, he would be paralyzed. With our minds racing, it was emergency surgery with a 90% success rate or pain management over time to see if he would recover,a 50/50 shot. My mind was made up immediately. My dogs are my world. His emergency surgery was 8k. Crazy to some but to me, I wouldn't have thought twice and would do it again if I had to. My boy was recovering nicely with his medication management and physical therapy at home. I would sit with him and stretch his back legs and use massage like they showed me at the vet. He improved and I am happy to say he is back to himself today! This 8k bill was put on a care creditcard and paid on time for 3 months. After that, I couldn't keep my head above water anymore. I reached out to a debt consolidator and had all of my bills rolled up into one monthly payment. It couldn't have come at a worse time. My son was going to be turning 1 in July and we had a bunch of expenses with him understandably along with some other typical bills that go along with owning a home. This debt wasn't the worse thing in the world but I knew I had do to take action. Fast forward to now. I have faithfully paid my bill every month but took a risk. This consolidation dipped my credit rating. I had forgotton about this. Enter in my job. They do my background check and can't bond me so I can't work for them so here I am. They have a severance package for me along with COBRA if I decided to take it. YEAH THE F *** RIGHT...At 900 bucks for 1 month for just my son and I, yeah, I think i'll pass. My husband is putting us on his for now through his full time job. I am currently seeking employment but it stings knowing I'm getting penalized for making a decision I needed to make. Just gonna keep my head up. That's all I can do. I have my health back, my family and that's all I need..well a job too

lovely,little stinker,isn't it? JP is a Jackson-Pratt drain, named for the Medical dudes who developed/refined this little rubber fellow. Used primarily in gynecology , Bariatrics, and abdominal surgeries, although I guess a surgeon could use it other areas where he/she expects a surgical wound that produces more fluid than the body can easily reabsorb. When it is removed, it should not hurt, maybe a tugging sensation, maybe you don't feel much at all. Now I haven't had my bariatric so don't know if Dr Needleman routinely uses them in his surgeries The once I had one before, I did feel something. Now no ROFLMAO but I felt. swooshy sensation, like you punched your finger into bread dough and then pulled it out. Still have a teensy tiny bit wider area in my incision scar, yours will not even do that. I had mine,in for than a day or two. If you have one placed then your Doctor is looking out for you. 😷👍😷

Hi everyone, I’m helping my wife begin the process of preparing for gastric sleeve surgery. We have ChampVA, and the people in the government bureaucracy (some of which are truly good people,) are incredibly ignorant. No one can tell me what “documentation” I need to prove medically supervised weight loss. Has ANYONE here succeeded in having ChampVA approve their bariatric surgery, and if so, how EXACTLY did you document your proof of medically supervised weight loss? I don’t have any papers from my wife’s docs that state anything SPECIFIC about her failed diets, only that the docs recommended weight loss attempts, and her weight just went up and down due to health problems. I don’t want my wife to be denied for surgery because it’s her only viable chance for weight loss! Her BMI is 40, she has high blood pressure, has one knee surgery, can’t exercise, has PCOS, chronic pain and fatigue, takes meds for depression and anxiety (for YEARS,) and has tried various diets with no success for 20 years. I love her to death, but I know if she has to jump through hoops for 6 months “medically supervised” to fail at another diet, it’s just gonna crush her emotionally. So if anyone here HAS succeeded in getting ChampVA to approve their surgery, I’m begging you to PLEASE reply or message me! Thank you, and God bless.

To that_prime_mom: What happened with your claim? Did ChampVA approve surgery? My Wife has ChampVA and has been trying to lose weight for 20 years, but has never succeeded- knee surgery, chronic pain... tried weight watchers twice, keto/atkins, many types of diets, but always failed. She has many chronic health issues. But she has never reported to a doc each month with any kind of “supervised plan”. It was more like the doc/docs constantly told her to try to lose weight and made suggestions for what she could do, but something always derailed her attempts— she had her gallbladder removed for gallstones, couldn’t exercise because of bad knees, has to take anxiety/depression meds which CAUSE weight gain, etc. I know my wife can’t succeed on willpower alone; bariatric surgery is her ONLY chance. So, did you convince ChampVA without a huge paper-trail of doc visits? Was it enough to just “write a letter”? I’m praying my wife doesn’t have to spend 6 months trying to diet again, only to fail, and be crushed once more, all while being “medically supervised” by her doc.

Well, I can be blunt - I am retired IT and we like to get logical 1's and 0's. You are angry. Now maybe this is the emotion you display when worried, if that is the case you are probably displaying it in that manner to your wife too. It won't help the situation (and I would tune you out.) The decision was made, the surgery is over, the weight loss is the result, the body changes are right in front of you in black and white. As far as a medical issue, there could certainly be some issues since food is making her sick. The unused stomach portion left in can develop an ulcer, she can develop malnutrition and vitamin/mineral deficiencies. Has there been a full blood workup for bariatric patients? What was the result? Has she had a scope to check anything internal? Is her skin overly dry, dry brittle hair/nails, how are her teeth/gums, etc? Is she tired ALL the time? These questions/answers are real evidence, not skinny legs and loose skin. At 10 months she should be able to consume more calories than you state unless an issue is preventing the consumption. Is she sick immediately following certain foods - does she have her gall bladder ( I might have missed that on your post)? Does she take any NSAIDS or pain meds? Does she take acid reflux meds or other meds - thyroid, anti-depressants? She could have food aversions, not uncommon with wls patients. Gather more hard evidence when you make a concerned case, but be kind when giving the facts.

Hi, oh dear, your situation sounds challenging. I’m 3 weeks out also, to be exact. 16 days, and healing ok, inside and out. Very little nausea, onto soft mushy food.. Did you have a upper GI the day after surgery? The Dr. then checks for any leakage and/ or problems after surgery and if so, keeps you in the hospital for further observation/ correction. It’s pretty standard procedure..Yes, your abdomen and stomach will be swollen a bit after surgery, normal, but your situation sounds unique. In comparison, I take my chewable bariatric vitamins daily, Isopure Protein Drink and Premiere Protein Drink, 1 Greek yogurt, smushed banana or avocado when the mood strikes,..Refried beans have been ok, not spicy..sugar free jello is nice. Campbell’s chicken noodle soup. (more soup than noodle) and constant hydration.. your getting hydrated and nutrition through your IV. which is great. The calories add up quick so, I would keep at at about 1,000 in the future, once your situation stabilizes..Maybe your body is going through a shock or serious readjustment. Maybe your very sensitive to surgery.. it’s possible your liver or gall bladder is acting up.. if your dialing back any medication after surgery, that could be giving you headaches. Protein is the key. For future reference, Unjury medical quality protein powder can be added to anything to bump up the protein levels.. but, I did meet a gal last week who couldn’t have the surgery because she couldn’t tolerate any protein due to kidney or liver problems (I can’t remember which,, geez). I’m so sorry..your experiencing this. I would ask some hard questions if this doesn’t start to ease up in another week.. Hopefully it will, and this event will be a distant memory.. Hang in there...Good Luck!!