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Just to touch on the liver... Back in 2005 I had laparoscopic surgery to rmeove my gallbladder. The surgeon noted I had fatty liver, and because of the size/condition of my liver it caused some extra bleeding that left me in the hospital a day longer than anticipated. So it really is important. Actually that whole surgery led to me doing the lap band today (surgeon recommended bariatric surgery way back then)

I'm starting my process now (I'm in WR) and Peachtree Bariatrics (ATL) and Wellstar Comprehensive (MARIETTA) are providers

So I have done all of the pre-op requirments and am just waiting on insurance's approval for the surgery. I must admit, there are days that I think, "what am I doing?!" I hear and read horror stories about nausea after the sleeve, leaking suture lines, and bowel obstructions. I just had a co-worker tell me about a friend of his who said they were more miserable after the surgery because of all of the excess skin he now has. I dont even know if I should believe this, knowing how hard it is to walk around in a 300 pound body. Is there anyone out there who regrets their bariatric surgery?

When I first met my surgeon in April and asked how many sleeves he had done it was 12. He had been doing them just over a year. However he has done over 650 bariatric surgeries, 2/3 of his practice is this. He is specialized in laproscopic surgery and does NO open surgeries. I asked to meet someone in person who had the sleeve and they set me up with a mentor. She thinks she was 5th or 6th of his sleeves. She is now a year out. I am not sure how many sleeves he has done between April and August but my NUT told me no one is going lapband and all want the sleeve now - problem is a lot of insurances still don't cover it. He was asked in support group this month if he had a favorite surgery to perform and he said bypass. He didn't press me to do one surgery over the other and basically let me choose. I didn't have any co-morbidities and my BMI was high 40's. I think experience isn't just in the particular surgery.

but able to get in 64oz most days. I focus on getting the fluids in, if I get in one or two Protein drinks (30g protein each) then great, but I always manage at least one a day. I can not get Vitamins and Calcium in. I am averaging only one each every day. They taste sooooo awful that I gag and feel like vomitting after I take them. I am currently using the Celebrate orange calcium and strawberry/pineapple or orange vitamins. There must be something else that is not as gagworthy? Please, a chewable bariatric Vitamin? Any one know. Also, could the tired be from not getting enough protein and vitamins? I'm assuming it is. Is nausea still common at this stage? Also, getting pulling and stretching pain (more discomfort than pain) around the incision where my port used to be and another spot about 3 inches to the left of that, but there is no incision in that spot. Also, the area where my port used to be sometimes gets hard and bloated after drinking? It doesn't hurt or anything, but I have no idea if this is normal. Other than the above, I feel good. I am seeing my dr on Wednesday and will ask him all of the same questions, but wondering if anyone had any insight in the meantime. Thanks

I decided in the very beginning that I was going to be very open about what I was doing. I've always had a personal philosophy that it's usually better to be open about things (assuming you are the kind of person that can handle any negativity that decision might bring... it's definitely not the right decision for everyone) because you never know who might be struggling with the same problem and feel like some kind of freak or need someone to talk to about it and not know where to go. Being open about my surgery is already paying off in big ways, in my opinion. Benefitting myself in that I've been having some challenges, and it's much easier to miss work to deal with them since my boss and coworkers know exactly what's going on. There is no chatter in the background that I'm somehow taking advantage of our leave or FMLA policies. More importantly, though, the other day, a friend at work brought another one of our coworkers down to me to talk about what she's going through as she's trying to navigate all the decisions she needs to make as she decides to have bariatric surgery. I was really pleased that I was able to provide help and camaraderie to someone else that is going through this. I feel that being open about it was just the right decision for me, and it feels good that my being open might help someone else.

I just had my sleeve done on 2/26 by Dr.Cabrara at Mexico Bariatric in Tijuana. I did see Dr.Lopez while I was there. He checked in on me during day 2. I had the same last minute panic attack that it was a scam, etc. I am here to tell you, they are legit. Good people, great service and very compassionate. I received better care and attention in Tijuana than I ever received during my c-section or gallbladder surgery in the states. The facility, Mi Doctor, is not by any stretch what I would consider opulent. It is a basic clinic, no frills but they have defibrillators at each end of the hall and an abundance of support staff including around the clock nurses that are readily available. It's very clean and everyone practices excellent personal and professional hygiene. I do have some advice regarding luggage. KEEP IT SIMPLE! Pack a few pairs of yoga pants, flip flops, roomy t-shirts and of course undergarments. However, the only time I wore a bra and underwear was when I arrived and when I departed. Trust me, it's way more comfortable this way. You'll want to pack trial sizes of conditioner for sure. I relied On The hotel for my soap and shampoo. From past experience, I can tell you DO NOT SHAVE ANY BODY PART OR APPENDAGE 24 hours or less prior to surgery. You increase your odds exponentially of contracting a staph infection through a nick or cut. Trust me. I went back to work this morning without incident. Just be careful about bending and stretching too much. Good and awesome luck to everyone pre and post op! You've made the right decision. Be patient with yourselves. Your world will change overnight however you will take much more time to adapt to your new lifestyle. Much Love! Judy PS: beware of Isopure. Please, I am begging you, buy a bottle BEFORE you buy the case. At first it appears to be a run if the mill sports drink. NOT SO FAST! I've never, ever tasted anything like it. UGH! that being said, it's the easiest and most convenient delivery system for 40 grams of Protein per serving. I'm committed to choking this stuff down because of that reason alone. Oh yeah, no sugar, no aspertame and ZERO carbs. Reason #2 I choke this stuff down. Did I already say ugh? Just brace yourself. 2/26 Pre Op weight 205.00 3/3 post Op weight 197.00 62 Lbs to go!

My diet consists of two shakes a day. I'm using a mix called Bariatric supplement vanilla. Not bad tasting. 1 oz of nuts for a snack and 8 oz. of v8. Then for dinner lean cuisine under 300 calories. Been good. Down 12 pounds. Not been to hungry in fact sometimes miss my noon shake. So far so good.

Shianne Burns Gastric Bypass @ Boston Medical Center Referral date: 12/06/17 Bariatric program start date: 1/22/18 Program finish date: 5/30/18 Approval date: 6/12/18 Surgery date: 8/8/18

Keilsnikof besides my husband, my 5 silblings all live in different states 2 years ago on Thanksgiving we all got to together i told each one seperately my news noing my weight "issues" over the past many years, - they all were very happy for me after WLS and people were seeing "less and less" of me - they started asking how i lost the weight the first time my neighbor asked me, i replied i was eating better, healthier excersizing et al by the time i fininshed the sentence i found myself telling her - "oh, i also has bariatric surgery" she responded in the positive she then proceeded to ask me about the surgery from then on, i immediately told people i had bariatric surgery it was a load of my shoulders that i was being open I was lucky that i never heard any negative responses kathy

I'll bet it's your hernia. When I was researching Bandwagon, a few bariatric surgeons said that the band can, but is not guaranteed, to prevent reflux, and also that hiatal hernias are associated with band slips and other complications or side effects. I have an acquaintance whose reflux was cured by her band surgery,but since she also had a hiatal hernia repaired at the same time, it's hard to say whether her band or the hernia repair is responsible for that cure. Is the Nexium helping?

@@yoyolifechange11 So is that a good thing, or a bad thing? I guess what you, and only you, can determine is: what do YOU want? May I suggest going to the bariatric counseling (because we have to do that, you know, for the program) together? And if the counselor and/or your husband won't do that, can you arrange a bariatric counseling session together, once you've met with the psychologist? This will be different counseling than marriage counseling. But it will tell you and the psychologist whether you and/or your husband are ready for this. This surgery is EXTREMELY life-altering, in many ways. And it is very taxing on the emotions as hormones are released helter-skelter (anybody remember that book?! Gosh, am I old or what!!!), you say, think, feel things that are, shall we politely say; atypical. Definitely hard on a marriage, and if your marriage is rocky now, whew, it is in for a ride! I thank God above for my extremely tolerant husband, who has born the brunt of many a scathing remark............. Irregardless, we are here, we are listening, and we all care about you, so come when you need to, and find some peace....All the best to you.

Obesity has been officially categorized as a disease for four years now. The categorization of obesity as a disease puts more of the burden on doctors to help you lose weight, but some people are still wary of the title. Who cares what obesity is? You might wonder whether it matters whether obesity is a “disease” or not, especially if doctors have not managed to help you lose weight, except, possibly, your bariatric surgeon. But, the name actually does make a difference. It gives obesity and obesity treatment more attention. It can help remove the stigma surrounding obesity. It gives doctors a mandate to treat you. It could lead to increased medical insurance coverage for obesity treatment, from diet programs to bariatric surgery. Here is why obesity is a “disease.” Obesity meets a definition of disease comprising three criteria: "an impairment of the normal functioning of some aspect of the body;" (changes in organ function, for example) "characteristic signs and symptoms" (excess body weight, for example) "harm or morbidity” (obesity-related complications, such as diabetes and arthritis, for example) The American Medical Association, the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, and The Obesity Society are among the respected organizations who agree that obesity is a disease. Obesity is not only a disease but an epidemic based on the number of people it affects. It affects 35% of American adults, not including the other 30% who are overweight and at risk for obesity. Nearly one out of five children are obese. Healthcare providers can take charge. One point of calling obesity a disease is to allow and even require, healthcare providers to treat it. No longer should they simply tell you to lose weight, or, worse, ignore the “condition” in the first place. Instead, they should provide care for obesity, including developing treatment plans and following up with you to discuss progress. Now there is a roadmap. Now that obesity treatment is in the realm of medical professionals, there needs to be a standard approach to treating it. The American Heart Association, along with the American College of Cardiology and The Obesity Society, have published clear guidelines for treating obesity. Identify at-risk patients and patients with obesity using BMI, and monitor them at each appointment. Enroll patients with BMI of 30 or over in a medically-supervised weight loss program (note: this is not the same as your doctor telling you to eat less and lose weight on your own!) Keep weight loss surgery in mind for patients with extreme obesity and an obesity-related condition). Weight loss surgery is a recognized treatment for obesity. The third prong of the roadmap is especially important if you are considering weight loss surgery. The recommendation to consider it when treating high-risk patients has a few effects. It reduces stigma, from primary care physicians and your other regular doctors, surrounding WLS. It increases the number of patients who may have WLS covered by insurance. It encourages patients and professionals alike to learn about WLS. No longer is weight loss surgery considered to be an extreme or fringe approach. The ASMBS states that experts who agree that bariatric surgery has a role in obesity treatment also include the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the American Diabetes Association, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Further progress is needed. There is still much to be done in the medical arena. Healthcare professionals aside from bariatric specialists are often still in the dark about recognizing obesity and treating it. Worse, many still have stigma or bias against overweight patients, and still, engage in patient-blaming. Obesity almost certainly has genetic components along with lifestyle factors. While it may be a disease, it is also a disease that you can work to treat. Now that it has officially been recognized as a disease, let us hope that patients and healthcare professionals can work hand-in-hand, each doing their part to fight obesity.

1-Go for it. 2-Feel great. 3-Exercise. 4-Roundhouse kick your coworkers in the mug. Generally speaking, people afraid of surgery are people who haven't had surgery. Bariatric surgery has vastly proven to be the best alternative both cost effective and healthwise. I'm willing to bet hard cash against anyone that can bring me a scientific paper from a reputable source that says otherwise. When you go back in a few months and look at this thread, looking and feeling great, you can print it and place it on a prominent place at your workplace.

Hey yall , I got my surgery booked for August 22nd at Mexico Bariatric Center, with Dr. Rodriguez. Has anyone had surgery with him? I'm super excited and just all around curious. Hw:271 Sent from my SM-N970U using BariatricPal mobile app

Thanks for replying. I finally broke my stall without IF. I did some research on it and it is strongly discouraged in the first year to year and a half for anyone who has had Bariatric surgery so will keep it on my back burner for down the road. I sort of do it anyways because I eat my first meal at 9 a.m. and I don't eat after 8 pm anyways. How far out from your surgery are you?

When I went for my psych evaluate Tues that there is a support meeting held monthly at the Valdosta Bariatric office. Good to know, cause I hadn't been informed of that yet.

Hi bugsy Sorry I just now seen this post! I'm not around a whole lot on the weekends. Anyhow, I'll tell you I ate a lot of eggs for the first few months post op. I also ate a lot of Lower Sugar oatmeal from Quaker. I liked ground turkey for my meats. You can make that into a bunch of different recipes. Here's a few websites I'm sure you will find helpful: http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/ That website has TONs of recipes for bariatric folks like you and I, especially if you are newly op'd. I also liked: http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/index.aspx Fabulous dishes there! Good luck!

If you are out there and have had surgery in Mexico (I'm having mine in Jan. by Dr. Kuri) and you have/had fills in MN/metro area - or even Wisconsin - please let me know. I'm able to locate doctor's or bariatric offices that do fills - but most only do them for their own patients. Also (at least on the phone) they are down on people that have had their surgey in Mexico. Any Happy-to-serve-you-and-take-your-money fill doctors in MN/WI? Along with another "to-be-banded" I am going to try and set up an appointment with a fill doctor - just to discuss the situation. I think it would be worth it in order to feel confident if something comes up after we are back in the good ol' U S of A. Imanotlean but Iwannabe!

Hi there! My name is Tonya and I live in Asheville. It seems that most of the people on this board are in Charlotte. Are the any WNC people out there? Would like to find some to talk to! A little about me: I am not banded yet. I went to the info session at Mission Bariatric here in Asheville a little over a year ago. They have an arbitrary maximum weight that have to be under in order for them to do the surgery. I have tried and tried to get there, but with no support I just can't get there. :cry I am currently looking at other options. I have BCBS and have looked at the "Surgical Centers of Excellence". The closest one to me that does the lap band seems to be Concord or Charlotte, both of which are at least 2 hours away, and even with that I'm not sure if they'll pay for the lap band. Anyway, I'm glad I found this board! Talking to other people in NC who are banded is great! Tonya Asheville, NC

I started with my surgeon in late October 2009. I had to meet with a nutritionist (twice), get a bariatric test, get blood work, meet with a psychologist, go to the cardiologist, and then back to the surgeon. On January 5th, my insurance approved the surgery and it's scheduled for this Thursday, Feb 4th-SO many appointments, but I think the end result will be great!

Thanks! Med school has always been a dream of mine. I started the application process prior to getting the band, but I think that getting it has helped me increase my confidence. Also, it will be easier to go through the stress of all of it without an extra 80 lbs stuck to my body! I have considered doing bariatric medicine, but I really do not want to go through the general surgery residency.

A lot has happened in a year. The Valdosta Bariatric clinic is now at Choice Family Medicine. Just happens to be at the office of my primary care manager Dr. Richard Rickman's office. Jody Young is there (Awesome!) and Dan Ayers, I didn't know him from last year, but he's been great to work with so far as well. They work with more than one surgeon, so if you go, there are options. I was initially going to see Dr. Michael Baptista in JAX but had a paperwork hangup between their office and Tri-Care and since I had already had an approval last year for surgery with Dr. Cywes, Jody has been working this closely. Now I'm approved to go with Dr. Christopher Smith in Albany (Tifton). There is a support goup meeting held at the office each month, although I haven't made it to one yet, I definately will be.

I waited and waited a bit too. My insurance has a whole Bariatric department and once I touched base with them it was approved in less than 2 days. :biggrin: Good luck! Sydney

Second, it was all "good" until the very last paragraph which states: "Client would be a better candidate for bariatric surgery if she took time to prepare for sugery by addressing psychological issues. Major areas of concern to be addressed would be potential for symptom substitution once food is no longer an option and eating behavior that causes reflux. I recommend that client seek psychotherapy prior to and after surgery to address these concerns." I actually don't think this sounds all that bad and I'd let it go. If you are obese, severely obese, or even morbidly obese, there is no doubt all of us have issues with using food as a substitute for dealing with other things in our lives. Yes, we will have to learn how to manage eating for eating sake and not abuse food. I would recommend, and I plan to continue, to see a psychologist/counselor to continue to talk through the feelings I know I will have with dealing with having to limit my food intake and not eating to celebrate, eating when sad, etc. What the letter doesn't say, which is very good, is "I do not recomend this patient have bariatric surgery." they could have been that straight about it and since they didn't I'd just get busy going to a few appointments with a counselor like the others have suggested to document that you are getting prepared in advance of surgery, and that you are willing to work on what they said to do.