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Although chronologically I was supposed to be,mature,i have done a lot of emotional growth. I am more happy in my own skin, more accepting,of myself so now I can reach out and be more accepting of others. After years,in Nobodyland, my opinions are valuable,and I indeed can mentor other others not so far along life's highway. I'm cool you're cool and, as part of a big worldwide Bariatric Family I can share in your as you share in mine. And it is FINE!😛🌸🌺🌱🌺🌸

And 🐶Moondoggie although no one has yet gifted me with a bipolar diagnosis I am surely Neurodiverse to hang with you folks. Crazy phone said first band instead of hang, but that could be true also. Got to haul myself of to Staples, they haven't decided to put me through another EGD or not, so I'll fax all the papers I have from EGD #2 and hope that suffices. Anybody who says the road to bariatric surgery,is smooth as silk hasn't been traveling with me!

I think constipation immediately after surgery is a common problem for some folks. Part of it is due to the small volume of food intake and the fact that the meals are liquids. The following are suggestions in threads from individuals on this website to counter constipation. * Smooth Move Herbal Tea * Prune Juice (warmed) * Prunes (4 in the morning and 4 at night) * Magnesium citrate * Insoluble fibers (Garden of Life Raw Fiber or Renew Life Triple Fiber). * Haribo Sugar Free Gummy Bears (be careful with this one because it can lead to diarrhea) * Aerobic Magnesium 07 * Ground Flax Seeds (but don’t try to grind it yourself). Use 2 tablespoons per glass of water every night before going to bed. * Bowel Clear (herbal blend) But because you are in the liquid meal stage, some of these options will not be available to you at this stage. Further down the road, I found that eating an apple each night before bedtime, normally did the trick and produced a good bowel movement in the morning. But you have to eat the skin of the apple along with the pulp of the apple for this to work. Apple sauce will not do the trick. Now the other observation is that when you are really, really bound up - say a week without a bowel movement, none of the above approaches will work. That is because you are plugged up. What does work is shoving up a glycerin suppository up you rear end. They are available by the jar over the counter in the drug store.

Love reading all these stories, maybe I'm a quasi-lurker since I'm a future RnY instead but your victories and joys,it's like we are still family. The Bariatric Family is big enough to include us all.😋

Hi Missouri-Lee, did you have a bad experience with your bariatric doc?

@mylighthouse. I can see why you're a Bariatric Evangelist. Thank you for such an eloquent explanation of your experience(s). Your advice about putting trust in your surgeon's experience was extremely valuable. For those of us with histories that involve a breach of trust and betrayal, it does take courage to trust people with any measure of power over us.

I'm starting my 1-week pre-op liquid diet on Wednesday, June 6, 2018. I am so ready. I've stocked up on various protein replacement powders. My favorite is vanilla goat's whey that I mix with soy or coconut (unsweetened) milk. I have been eating less and less leading up to today, so I feel prepared. I haven't had much of an appetite anyway --mostly because of the summer heat. My daughter, the pharmacist, also suggested that I combine my goat's whey with another protein powder that contains digestive enzymes and various vitamins. She also explained to me that so-called bariatric vitamins are really just a marketing thing. What's important is the bioavailability of the vitamin source. Centrum® vitamins, for example, are often referred to as "bedpan bullets" (by nurses mainly) because they run right through most of their patients without being absorbed. What a waste of money, too. Knowing what I'm up against with my upcoming malabsorption challenges -- not just iron or certain B vitamins but also some medications -- makes me eager to keep myself up-to-date on how best to nourish myself. By the way, very little research has been done concerning the possible malabsorption of many medications. Yes, extended-release meds, and meds that have receptors in the duodenum and jejunum are a problem, but little is known about most meds. Certain antibiotics are no longer effective, such as azithromycin, but the list of known meds that gastric bypass patients might have issues with is short. After completing all of my -- what I refer to as my insurance company's -- "fat-shaming requirements", my surgery was authorized in less than a week. The insurance company says that it typically takes 4-6 weeks, conservatively, for authorization, but my case seemed to be fast-tracked. I think it was because I was a squeaky wheel. I contacted an advocate who was not affiliated with my insurance company, and he helped me circumvent various gatekeepers who were erroneously giving out misinformation to potential bariatric candidates. (Apparently, the insurance company had mixed up my plan with another plan that had no bariatric benefits). My former self might have given up after being told that I had no benefits, but because I knew better I kept pursuing the matter. The advocate thanked me for bringing this mix-up to the surface so it could be corrected. That made me feel really good to know that I helped myself and potentially others. I still wonder if anyone who inquired about their bariatric coverage before me gave up after being rejected initially. It feels good to be my own self-advocate now. The power! The power! Sorry for rambling. Sometimes it helps to vent. I also hope I didn't come across as a preachy know-it-all. Because of my kids' and my own medical background, I sometimes have a hard time filtering myself... and we all know annoying people who can't curb their info flow. Again, sorry.

Congratulations! It sounds like recovery is going amazingly well for you! My sleeve was yesterday morning, and there was no way I had enough energy to post on Bariatric Pal after it. I hope everything works out well for you!

There are a few bariatric keto plans out there..... What I've been told is for keto do High protein 60 -80g or whatever your doc recommends. Moderate healthy fats and low carb and lower calories. Just search for bariatric keto truth and groups like that on facebook Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

Yeah and you and I wouldn't still,be waiting for the Bariatric Gods☁⚡ to rain☔ down a date for us!

Nnoi her palname is @CMD516 .Really like the interchanges I've had with this far.Remember the Daytime Columbus interview DR S had with Gail Hogan on WCMH, seemed very nice--- I hope he treated your mom nice, how is she feeling now? She can't be any more manic than me, I already threatened on Bariatric Pal to do my,own surgery with a box cutter, fishing line, 3 hair clips and a Swingline Stapler, that was if somebody didn't schedule me a date soon. Let's hope Dr Needleman doesn't read Bariatric Pal or my Little Blue Tugboat just got torpedoed!🚢BOOM!!!

Trader Joes/Pacific Brand Tomato with Roasted Red Pepper in an aseptic box... loved it! Any interest in cooking? Lentil Soup is super easy, you can just dump everyhing into a slow cooker or Instapot. Some of the Bariatric Pal store protein soups are tasty, and help meet your protein goals.

Woot! Got my approval today. Cigna received it Thursday and got approval fax today. Already scheduled for 6/21 with preop diet beginning 6/11 (during vacation). 3 protein shakes and light meal, thru the 20th, but I think I’ll do only liquids the day before to be sure I’m “empty” lol. Now it really seems real 😵 excited but nervous as hell at the same time. I’ll bemoving to a new state 4 weeks afterwards. Already located a bariatric surgeon there that I can do followups with. No stress 🙄😂

only a few of us on Bariatric Pal can say that,i vote that a bono fide NSV!👍

I'm sure people have posted this kind of thing before, but breakfast or lunch? I'm mostly at a loss for breakfast. I'm 7 weeks out and I suppose I'm still on soft foods? I'm gluten free. Anyway, I know a lot of us do shake for the protein boost and I do that often but that can get boring and I do eggs all kinds of ways. What else? I'm a good cook, but I hate cottage cheese so that's out. It's like bariatric breakfast seems like shakes and eggs and I know more than that. LUnch? I guess my brain is drawing a blank. I am not a fan of salad (yes, I know) I just can't think of stuff that's new and interesting. Looking back it looks I eat leftover breakfast, yogurt, some low fat chees, shakes. I need variety! So basically i just want to know, what do YOU eat?

I just got a new tablet, thought it would be nice to download some fitness apps. There is no sign of Bariatric Pal on Google Play Store. Are you now only on full size computers and smartphones like Android and 🍎? Please tell us, okay?

Sosewsue61 asked me to write something about myself. In no particular order of importance: I have a free-flying aviary with 20 uncaged parakeets. I keep their area clean and full of stimulating amusements. I enjoy their unconditional companionship. My newest additions are five weeks old, raised from blind and naked to happy and healthy. At four weeks, a parakeet is fully-feathered and ready to fly... and mine did. I'm married and have four adult children. My daughter is a doctor of pharmacy, and two of my sons are medical doctors (not bariatric surgeons, though!). My youngest son -- the "smart one"-- is pursuing a non-medical career. I have a medical background, too, but my actual occupation is one I can't mention because then it would be easy to figure out my identity. It's strange... but when I wrote in my topic headline about having no friends, I meant face-to-face friends. I have fans all over the world, but they know me ONLY based on my public persona. Because of past scary-creepy stalking behavior, it's no longer safe or a good idea for me to open myself up to my fans directly. It really is possible to be known by thousands of people, and still be horribly lonely.

thank you! I wonder if we ever get our tastebuds back? LOL Like I aid I don't really have any desire for any type of food...nothing has taste to me. my stomach growls but I'm not hungry so.. its all so weird to me. If I felt better then I would be much better to adapt to not wanting to eat. So im hoping something changes in the future to where I can eat and be able to handle it and feel some energy. Yes Im taking the vitamins like they told me to take ... most are bariatric advantage ones.

Hi everyone Has anyone here tried or currently using any products from the website bariatriceating.com ? I am wondering about the taste and texture and different flavors offered. I am really picky about protein and can't stand the gritty, chalky texture and taste of some of the protein out there. Please let me know your experience with these before I order. Thanks and have a great week....

I'm not a sleeper but a potential RnY, that's Ok we are all allies in this weight loss war, you guys are Army, I'm Navy but we all want to murder the Ghrelin Monster once and for all. According to my ex-surgeon I am 180 pounds overweight, that's a NFL placekicker to lose, haven't heard current surgeon's take on it all but I suspect at least a cheerleader. I am currently at 3-how much did you say? hundred, knowing I'll have to go clear through Twoferville and well into onederland before my journey is completed. So I too will be watching from the sidelines with nary a snack unless you count a chilled bottle of Premier Protein sitting on a TV tray. L9ve and Well Wishes from Your Bariatric Godmother Frustr8 the Plump.💦👵💦

Pearldrop, DearDraya and Mia. what a day for you all. Today is Your REBIRTHDAY, the literal start of the rest of your life. Gosh I am so jealous, envious, whatever word you want to use --I have the reassurance from my own Bariatric Center that my own day will come, should be no more than a month or so, but I do yearn to be where you all are today. Every bit of discomfort, say to yourself " it's okay because Frustr8 wants this too" Even if I regress temporarily to a walker, walk bent over, clutching. my Bariatric Stuffed Bear to my wounded tummy, I still want it. Set me a good example my ladies, that will assure me I can do this too. I already can talk the talk, show me by example how to walk the walk! Loving you all and sending my very best wishes. Your future veteran friend Frustr8😛

Hi I am married to a man who has been on some kind of diet since I met him over 30 years ago. Pills, calorie restriction etc have never worked. At 310lbs he and he is at risk healthwise. So tommorow is his surgery. I will be his caretaker and I am also an RN but have no experience at all with bariatric patients. I know the textbook versions but I am wondering about the TRUE patient experience that might help me anticipate his needs and post op feelings. If Im prepared I can soothe him and look for anything that needs to be addressed. You are all brave people and I admire your courage! I am from the opposite camp and once had anorexia before anyone knew what it was. It was due to my fathers death. I am thankful to be healthy weight now. With will power all can be overcome. Any advice? Thank you!

I will be 11 weeks out tomorrow post Bilopancreatic Deudonal Switch and I still have trouble somedays getting my fluid/protein in. There are days I have to make myself eat and some days I will be starving for one of my mini meals. I feel that my weight loss has been slower than what I would like however my surgeon says I'm in the range of what he wanted to see. He says some have lost more and some have lost less. As far as the taste I still don't feel that my taste buds are like they were before surgery. Also for the vitamins Bariatric Advantage has a vitamin that is specifically for DS patients (High ADEK Multi capsule) and I only have to take 2 a day with an added iron and calcium. Sent from my Pixel XL using BariatricPal mobile app

Licensed psychologist, Dr. Colleen Long has worked in the field of bariatrics for 10 years and discusses the ins and outs of the pre-op psychological evaluation to put anyone getting ready to go through the process at ease. Every time I sit down with someone to do their VSG and Bypass psych pre-op evaluation- they are understandably nervous and on edge. My first question is: "Has anyone explained to you the reason for why you need a psychological evaluation?" and there answer is always, "no, I have no idea why I am here." I explain to them the reasons are threefold: 1) to make sure they understand the risks, benefits, and outcomes of the surgery, 2) to understand any psychological/behavioral ties to food that would benefit from behavioral recommendations/modification, and 3) to help the surgeon understand one's personality as it relates to a healthcare context, to better inform treatment. 1) Most people have been able to go over the risks, benefits, and outcomes with their medical team, but if not- I make sure last minute questions are addressed before they proceed. 2) During the evaluation- we talk about the patient's unique eating behaviors and how to modify them to help with maximum weight loss after the surgery. For instance, last week- I met with a guy who said he normally has a bowl of cereal at night in front of the TV and it provides him with a sense of "contentment." We talked about other ideas to create that same sense of contentment without sabotaging his weight loss surgery outcome, such as reaching out for support, taking a hot bath, listening to music, meditating, journaling, and/or creating a self-care ritual each night before bed. 3) The results of psychological testing provide me with really strong insight into each person's psyche as it relates to a medical setting. For instance, some results will say- " this person is uncomfortable talking about health care issues with strangers and may require more prompting than the average patient," or " this patient is likely to look compliant by being overly agreeable, but has a tendency to venture out on their own, and therefore frequent follow up is recommended," or " this person is uncomfortable in the patient role and will become increasingly agitated in the event of long-term health issues." The 3rd piece of this evaluation is of concern to some, but for the most part- it is meant to help better inform their treatment plan. If a surgeon understands that a patient is more apt to look compliant but "go rogue," they are probably going to incorporate more frequent follow up to make sure that person has the best chance of success. In the end- a psychologist's goal is not to be a hurdle in a patient's weight loss journey, but a catalyst.