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I have had the same outcome with Bariatric Advantage. The chocolate calcium citrate tastes so bad, I just can't get those down. I purchased the full Multivitamin as well in orange and not too bad tasting but I remain sick for the rest of the day. I am struggling here even thinking about another vitamin/ sickness.... #green Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

What an inspiration you are to us all!!! I am soon-to-be-sleeved and so anxious to get to the losers' bench - I am just tapping my foot waiting for my next appts. and was kind of in a funk earlier in the week. You have renewed my optimism and excitement about getting sleeved!!! I am on a self-imposed "pre-op" diet, which is really just lower carb, higher protein, more veggies and absolutely getting in all my water every single day. I am down 10 lbs. so far and have at least 3-4 weeks till surgery (don't have a definite date yet) so I am hoping to be down quite a few more preop. You have done phenomenally well for 5 1/2 months out - I hope I can be as successful! That really is an amazing drop in sizes too - SOOOO exciting! I am a nurse as well (but I stay home full time with my little ones now) and last time I was in the workforce I was in 2XL scrubs and I am a little heavier now than I was then so I can sure imagine how amazing it would feel to wear MEDIUMS!! Keep up the great work!

Greetings Sleevers! Well, I don't know if my former employer ever made any changes as a result of my letter. I left the company in July of 2013 and took a job with another company, that as it happens, DID cover bariatric surgery. In May, 2014 I had the RNY bypass surgery. My surgeon changed me from sleeve to bypass due to my GERD; according to him, sleeve makes GERD worse, which was contrary to everything I had read previous. Today, I'm sitting at about 178 pounds, from my high of 290. My lowest was probably about 169. It was expensive having to buy new clothes all the time - especially for work. My sleep apnea went away within about 2 weeks of surgery. When i was done with the GERD meds i had to take post-op for 90 days, it was gone too. My A1C is now normal, as are all my other bloodwork. I'm feeling great and have no regrets. Best

I've done well on my pre-op diet but it is 4-weeks long which has been challenging since I must attend company meetings and dinners. When I say sorry, I'm not hungry I get these odd looks. I can't tell them why I'm on this special diet. To sit at a dinner and order Water with lemon is sometimes embarrassing, while everyone else is eating. Also, my family has plenty to celebrate with so many milestones this year. I don't want them to miss out on any of it, so, I've found myself ordering the usual water with lemon. I'm not really hungry because I usually have my shake before going so it's bearable but it feels awkward. I wish I could just hid out until I am able to eat a little bit. Soup, salad, veggies, I love veggies! I suppose I could order those, but I'm always worried about how it's prepared. I'm trying to shrink my liver here!! arrggghhh, just frustrated today. Had to let that out. Thanks Bariatric Pals for listening. Anyone out there experienced the same love to hear from you.

I had surgery at 45 I'm 49 now. I know everyone's pain level is different. Compared to giving birth to a child, Bariatric surgery was easy to bounce back from.

BC requires a BMI of 35 or greater with specific comorbidities. If you do not have those specific comorbidities you will have to have a BMI of 40 to be approved or you are looking at self pay. If you did meet the requirements they typically require a six months medically supervised diet, psych eval, nutrition eval, and bariatric eval.

My insurance covered my surgery after my deductible. I work at a satellite office and don't see our HR people but once or twice a year. I made a point when I was at the office in January (4 months post op) to go to the HR office and tell all of them about my surgery and how it has changed my life, how loyal I felt to our organization and what a better job I have been doing because of my increased self esteem since my weight loss. I am sure they think I am a total nut, but I kinda got emotional talking about it. I told them the reason I wanted them to know all this is because I know every year they are faced with making cuts and changes and how important it was to not exclude bariatric surgery to save money. They all kinda looked surprised and happy, I don't think they get thanked very often but I wanted to ensure this amazing benefit was there for others, I would have never been able to have this without my insurance. I know how life changing it is.

Actually, you can bash me, too. My doctor is affiliated with a research hospital and has a long track record of highly successful bariatric surgery. That's why I chose her. I followed her protocol for supplements. At 3 months my blood work was perfect. She said I could go back to my Multivitamin which I've taken for years. She does not treat sleeve patients the same as bypass. According to her, research shows that provided the sleeve patient is following a balanced eating plan they do not exhibit the Vitamin deficiencies that bypass patients do. So I take no special supplements. My 6 month blood work was perfect. If there is ever an issue, she said it would be addressed when presented. At 10 months out, down 88 lbs, I feel fabulous and have more energy than I've had in years. My hair hasn't fallen out and my skin is great. No supplements from month 3 has not caused me any problems. Here's the deal. I trust MY doctor. I listen to MY doctor. This is a discussion forum. I can read what others do and find it interesting. But in the end I follow what MY doctor tells me. If your doctor is telling you to take supplements... and most do... then take them.

Regarding getting mad and being upset…I try hard to keep these forums civil. I want everyone to be able to express their opinions, ask questions, and disagree in a way that is not offensive to anyone. I think we can all benefit by remembering to take a few breaths before answering any post, and also to remember that what you type might not be read exactly as you meant to say it. Regarding bariatric vitamins…the ones you need to take and how much you need to take depend largely on your surgery type. Like some have mentioned, the gastric band doesn’t interfere with nutrient absorption from food, so you won’t need as many supplements with the lap-band as you would with the bypass or sleeve. The supplements you need also depend on your diet. Right after and maybe for months or years after WLS, your diet will be pretty restricted – you won’t be eating much food, and you might not be eating a huge variety. That means it’ll be hard, if not impossible, to meet your nutrient needs from food – so you need supplements! Yes, it is good to have your doctor monitor your levels for life to see which supplements you need to start or continue to take, and/or if you need to change your doses. It’s also important to remember that calcium doesn’t show up on any easy test. You can get blood calcium tests done, but they don’t show how good your calcium levels are in your bones.

I haven't been here in a few months but I had not given up on getting VSG surgery approved. I've written some posts which tell more of my story if anyone is interested and is going through the same thing: http://www.verticals...er-suggestions/ This has been such an emotionally draining time that I wanted to share that I have finally had SUCCESS and I thank all of those who encouraged me to keep trying. I will be having a Lapband removal and revision to Sleeve - Surgery date not scheduled yet since my surgeon's office said they have to see if any pre-tests will be required. I was originally denied by UHC in August stating that I had not met their requirements since I hadn't completed a 6 month pre-op physician supervised diet. I was, however, approved for the Lapband removal due to complications. I wanted both done at the same time and found the fact that they approved one and not the other completely illogical. My surgeon's office suggested I move forward to start a physician supervised program (since UHC says it specifically cannot be a Bariatric physician). I started seeing my primary care Dr. specifically for weight loss. I had recently moved to FL so had to find a primary care Dr. to begin with. So essentially I decided to go down both tracks - appeal the denial as well as work on the six months pre-op diet so, in my mind, worst case I would still qualify by March. However, I was still upset about the whole 'principle' - or lack of - principle of requiring someone who lived with the Lapband for so long to do another 6 month pre-op diet. I sent an appeal letter to UHC and received the most ridiculous response I have ever seen - let alone another denial. They had another Dr. review my case - someone supposedly with knowlege of bariatrics and his lame reason for denying me was that since I had failed with the Lapband I would just fail again with a Sleeve and then I would be asking for a gastric bypass - almost his exact words... no lie. This infuriated me and showed a total lack of knowledge on his part in my opinion. I mean, just like that, this Dr. who does not know me at all, has never even spoken to me, let alone examined me, decides that I am just a BIG failure!!! I was told the next level of appeal would go to my employer since my employer self insures the plan or something like that. In the meantime I continued to go for my monthly Primary Dr. visits and the first few months lost about 5 lbs then after the holidays gained that back and more. I forgot to mention that my Band was unfilled back in July and my appetite has been worse than ever let alone that I can now eat a whole lot more plus things I couldn't eat for years. It took me another month or so to finally write my second appeal letter which went to my employer. By the time I sent it off it had grown to 70 pages - 2 for the letter and the rest my prior letter, denials and other medical records. The first appeal letter was 4 pages of a letter and 30 pages of records but I went ahead and obtained more records in the interim from my podiatrist, etc. I didn't intend for this post to be so long - I guess I'm kind of venting along the way so forgive me for that. I finally received a letter from my Employer the other day stating that they, too, had had another surgeon review my case who had bariatric experience and this Dr. (bless him) completed validated my case - stated that both surgeries are absolutely medically necessary and that I was correct in pointing out that UHC's own Bariatric policy contradicted them denying me both times before. I choked up as I read his words - and just praised God for his answer to my prayers! I don't have a date yet - I am supposed to hear from the Nurse at my surgeon's office on Monday to go over my health questionnaire to see if I need any pre-tests for sleep apnea, etc. I am really healthy other than my morbid obesity and even when I had Lapband in 2006 only had to have a pulmonary test done aside from the routine blood, etc. So if all goes well I may still have the surgery by the end of the month or in March. All this to say that if you are going through the same type of thing - particularly with UHC - DON'T GIVE UP!!! I'm willing to share my letter with anyone interested - email me if you want a copy. It's sad that they make us go through all of this; upon reflection it has all the more strengthened my resolve, but will still really unnecessary. As my plans progress I'll post in other topics. Thanks. Susie

Call number on card ask for bariatric case worker for your case.

So I started my period just after surgery even though it wasn't due. The nurse told me that this surgery makes almost everyone start their period. Then when I talked to one of the nurses I work with who used to work on the floor with post op bariatric pts and she told me the same thing, her exact words were, "that surgery makes everyone start their period, even the men lol" Sent from my SM-N920T using BariatricPal mobile app

Thanks everyone for your encouraging words I hit the gym hard today re packed my refrigerator with much needed fruits and veggies got a weight in to my surprise I'm up .4 pounds feeling a lot better its must be the hard work from last month that saved me feeling renewed and highly motivated

Jazsleeve Insurance goes by the BMI at the time of your consultation. If your BMI is over 50, you wont lose so much weight you won't qualify. Your Bariatric Surgeon knows more about the process than your pcp. Stick to the advice they give you. Talk to their insurance specialist. On the other hand, the nutritionist and psycholigist will quickly approve you when they see you have adapted sound eating habits. Focus on your goal. Thank God I had my husband telling me that the entire time. Six months seemed like forever! I just finished my 6 months and am about to be submitted for insurance approval. With God's will, I will start my preop diet in 2 weeks and be sleeved in 4 weeks. I always tell my kids.........lots of people start the race running fast but the one who can endure to the end always wins!

Our plan says never, citing statistics that Bariatric surgery patients who continue to drink have a 8-10x greater percentage chance to develop cirrhosis of the liver than the general population. That's interesting. I've never heard that. Could you provide me with the reference? The specific wording in our manual is "*the bariatric center* has a policy never to recommend alcohol consumption after any bariatric procedure. Eighty percent of the alcohol you ingest will go as a toxin to the liver resulting in a higher level of intoxication and more liver damage." The 8-10x increase in cirrhosis was listed on the presentation slide, of which I unfortunately do not have a hard copy of. (hopefully it's not something they pulled out of their @$$, they are supposed to be reputable...)

My bariatric center won't release me unless i have someone to drive me home....they won't even release a patient to a cab!

I am in the Chicagoland area also and I'm still in the pre-op stage. Mainly I made my decision based on where my PCP said my insurance (BCBS) would send me. I had the option of Loyola or UIC hospitals because the hospital my PCP works through does not have a bariatric program. I tried to research as much as I could between the two and just trusted my gut (no pun intended!) Then I attended the doctor's seminar I felt most comfortable with and I came away feeling that he would be a good surgeon for me. I am going through Loyola's Metabolic Surgery and Bariatric Program and using Dr. Bipan Chand. I like the fact that they have a whole medical and surgical approach to weight loss and would tell you if you were better suited for one over the other without automatically operating on you. I trust my decision that the sleeve is right for me, but if for some reason a medical professional felt otherwise, I would want to know beforehand. Bottom line, you have to go with who you feel most comfortable with. Good luck!

Hi everyone! I'm looking forward to getting to know some of you and reading thru the wealth of information in your posts as I embark on my weight loss journey. A little bit about myself... I'm 33 yrs old single mom of 2 boys (8 & 9 yrs old... My body had no break lol) my heaviest was 256lbs I currently weigh 238 lbs (which is what I used to weigh when I was 9 months pregnant) My goal is 120 - 130lbs. Originally it was 150 but I think I can be less and still feel good about myself. I lost the first 20 lbs when I ended my relationship and moved = major reduction in stress and more sleep, I was only sleeping like 2-3 hours a night if I was lucky due to school and work. I attended the mandatory orientation for my bariatric surgery program on June 18th. I had my initial consultation with my surgeon on June 23rd. I met with the dietician on July 24th. I will met with the psychiatrist on Aug 13th. After the required psych visit I can submit to insurance for approval. Once approved, I'm looking to have the surgery about 2 months later so I can get coverage for work, but have the procedure before the end of the year. I know there is a lot of work involved! I'm ready to do whatever it takes, but I'm only human and it helps to have support from those who really know what ur going thru. I'm lucky to have a few coworkers that had the Roux Y gastric bypass and are around18 months out or more. Although the sleeve is different, they are a great resource for me. I will do my best to keep everyone informed about my progress but preop and especially postop. I am open to any advice or recommendations and suggestions that you may have. If I ever say I'm about to do something that you know is a big mistake, please do not hesitate to speak up! I welcome constructive criticism!

Wow. I can't believe that any type of bariatric surgeon wouldn't be ensuring his patients were knowledge on the crucial basics. This could be dangerous. The kind folks here can get you on target.

It took me a year to get my surgery date. Mine was unusual because I have some medical issues so they have done a lot of testing. I would suggest getting a copy of your insurance policy about bariatric surgery, then you know all requirements. There was some confusion at my hospital and it cost me several months.

Biotin does not help and taking it could impact lab work so best to not use it. The hair loss associated with bariatric surgery (and other surgeries, acute illness, and trauma) is called telogen effluvium and has to do with the normal hair growth process, stress to the body, and hormonal changes. It often starts abruptly and doesn’t usually last longer than 6 months. Not much you can do to prevent it from happening or shorten the process.

I use the bariatric advantage chewy bites. You can get them from the store on this site. They taste like softer starbursts to me.

Thanks everyone! I just ordered some Bariatric Advantage chewies

My sleeve surgeon was Dr. Brebbia, Medstar Montgomery Hospital in Olney, Maryland. I don't know the exact percentage of stomach removed. My understanding is that, in general, around 85% is removed. I was just sleeved a few weeks ago, so can't answer the long term question. However, my surgeon said I needed clear fluids for the 2 or 3 days after surgery. It's hard to get much down then, so I had stocked up on a few bottles of Isopure clear flavors. A large bottle has 40 grams of Protein. I'm not sure having protein right after will help with the hair loss, but I figure there would be no huge drop off in the amount of protein I'm taking in, so no shock resulting in hair loss. I get all my Vitamins from Bariatric Advantage: 1 Calcium citrate caramel-flavored cube in the morning, 1 Ultra Multi Formula with Iron in the middle of the day, then another calcium citrate in the evening. That way, the calcium and iron won't negate each other... they will always be more than 2 hours apart.

Hello, Jenny. I was very interested in your allergic reaction, and that you had seen warnings about this in the manufacturer's brochures. I was not aware of any such possible complications, and had planned to keep my band in for the rest of my life. This past May, I started having severe pain and feeling generally rotten. One doctor (who obviously knew nothing about reading CT scans and x-rays, but who does install lapbands!) said my band was "upside down and out of place, and had to come out). He tried to take the saline out of my band and only succeeded in hurting me. I elected to go all the way back to NJ to the surgeon who had put the band in before we moved. The band was not "upside down," nor out of place, but my esophogus was badly swollen, part of my pouch was above the band, and I needed to have my gall bladder out, plus I was full of infections and had to be on antibiotics before and after surgery. He said he'd try to keep my band in, but had to remove it because of the swelling of my esophogus. I gained 27 pounds quickly and have been filled with panic. However, in one week, I managed to lose 5 pounds, and have been going twice a week to a cardiac rehab class working out on machines. I still attend a bariatric support group which also helps. The one thing that has really helped me food-wise is making homemade Soups, and having a mug of hot Soup to start the day. Somehow, this seems to keep my hunger level down! Plus, making the soupos myself, I know what's in them, and can keep the sodium level way down. I cook a whole bunch of veggies (some frozen, some fresh, depending on my mood) and 3-5 chickn thighs. Then I use a slotted spoon to take out all the solids and dump them with a little of the liquid into the blender. Blend, then dump back into the liquid still in the pot. After it all cools down, I pour some into about 5 containers to put in the freezer, leaving just one out for immediate use. Sometimes, I add a jar of baby food (like chicken,rice and veggy meal) too. It tastes better than the store soup, has almost no salt at all, and I know I have a constant supply in the freezer in 2-day amounts. After hearing what some others have gone through, I am thinking twice about having another band put in after 6 months of healing. Now I think I should use that one year I had (lost 100 pounds) as a wonderful jumpstart, and have lots of soups and drink lots of ice Water, plus several small meals daily. My hope is that I can lose another 75 pounds and learn to live this better way. My NJ surgeon had wondered if I wanted to consider gastric bypass, but I have heard too many horror stories about that to think about doing such a drastic thing and possibly dying in the effort to lose the weight! I too have a lot of allergies but not as many as you have. It has taken me about 2 months to recover from the surgery when my band was removed and at the same time, my gall bladder. I'm starting to feel human again & am determined to do the few exercises I can do (I'm in a wheelchair some of the time, and use crutches to walk the rest of the time, so I can not work out the same way as most people can, but there are some good exercises I can do.) Also, I'm training myself to use commercials on TV as an exercise time -- when the ads come on, I can do all sorts of arm exercises and even rotate my feet back and forth until the program comes back on. Stretching a few minutes upon waking up in the morning seems to calm my hunger too; I have always awakened RAVENOUS! I do hope you will gain strength back soon and maybe find a bariatric support group where you live. Being with people who have experienced this is so helpful. Doctors may have lots of knowledge, but few of them understand at a gut level what this Life Battle is really about for us. Try the soup routine? Take care. "C.J." (user name CJBD)