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Bariatric Pal make protein shots that are not too bad. I like the cran grape and apple.

I have joined this forum simply for one reason. A post I saw and YOU. The kind reader who I hope can offer absolutely any advice, help, insight - anything! I can be honest and say immediately, thank you for any reply and I’m desperate for your reply with insight. im just about to look into posting my story but could not do so without first attempting to seek any help I can before I literally lose the plot! I am now around 16 weeks post mini gastric bypass. Valentines Day I underwent the surgeons scalpels I paid privately after the usual circumstances of hitting rock bottom and saying quite literally… ENOUGH! Money is not plentiful and I used my small inheritance from my late father. Lucky, I was able to do so. but… I’m struggling. I have zero support network with experience. A loving family yes but no one I feel can validate or reassure me. I have medical study experience but not enough experience or knowledge to explain my symptoms away. my most recent message I’m still awaiting reply to from my surgeons medical secretary as follows:- Hi (name removed for anonymity) Did you receive my message yesterday please? I spoke to the Dieticians yesterday too and they’ve arranged a consultation with surgeon to discuss further issues. Next Wednesday. I am hoping to attend in person but currently struggling with flu type symptoms. I don’t have other people who have had bariatric surgery to speak to who could be a support network or provide support. Do you know if there is a professional forum, overseen contact group or other network or other supportive services? I don’t feel I am having a good recovery and feel I am struggling. Plus, I feel I am that poorly now perhaps I was dismissed too readily or swiftly in my previous contacts. I am losing weight much much faster than all my peers I read. I’ve lost over 4 stones in just 13 weeks. Far too fast and I’m drained, lethargic, can barely hold my head up (albeit have flu too) but in May too! Not normally a fluey month as the norm?? Infact, I microsecond passed out yesterday and cracked my head on our bathroom sink - simply due to standing up from the loo! I do not have a supportive GP or GP surgery and am currently in the process of changing surgeries now BUT am writing to them and conducting a private appointment firstly as I do not trust full follow through handover transparency. My surgery requires professional evidence or correspondence of everything to even follow up. For example, they have borderline eGFR results and two scans showing kidney stone and cyst in situ YET won’t conduct further tests or refer until surgeon sends a letter too! It’s absurd! it’s the main reason I paid to get this surgery completed to try to be well and improve my life and stay away from GP Doctors who possibly practiced nothing more than general medicine for 5 years! I’m constantly having to contact you directly, but seem dismissed by quotes of it’s week 4, or week 6, or only week 8 or now it’s only week 16, go back to Soups and fluids, try a quarter of an egg instead of a full Egg. I’ve gone back to fluids only 3 times now! When then can I tolerate real food? Something I can use my teeth with would be nice now? I cant eat any meat barely at all now, (not even minced), swallowing gets more difficult, indigestion, heartburn is agony, my nails are like paper, my periods have disappeared completely albeit this could be normal as I’m 10 years post menopausal, my face is gray and sallowed. I look like death. I’ve just returned back from holiday but spent 5 days in bed due to tummy pain, bowel problems, agonising indigestion, feeling unwell. I also take 3 x baricol chewables a day, a Multivitamin tablet and a calcichew a day. I’ve read everything I can find, researched this surgery for 6 months prior to having it, watched videos on YouTube, nothing seems to validate or reassure me. I studied medicine myself for 2 years albeit I know this is extra bit of knowledge of human anatomy and practice, I certainly do not have the knowledge to explain my symptoms away. I know this is not psychological as I cannot tolerate warm, cold, mashed, puréed, anything I’ve been told to try and going back a step to try again. When then am I to carry on until? Perhaps until I pass out again or end up in A&E on a drip? I cant get anything down me. If I do manage one meal a day, it’s a quarter of a starter portion and I’ll nearly always vomit it back up or experience the pain in my tummy or severely painful heartburn or severely offensive and debilitating flatulence. How long until I can eat? How long until I can drink plentiful fluids without issues? Ie. More than 500 ml in a 24 hour period? How long until I feel well? How long until I can eat what my family eats albeit in a starter portion? A healthy clean hearty non processed meal! How long until I look and feel well? How long until I can eat without severely offensive flatulence? It’s disgusting and far too painful to keep inside or even attempt to get to a more private location! Once it’s there, it’s impossible to hide and I don’t feel confident even in taking my children to school! How long will my stools be pale yellow or grey? How long will this horrendous pain in my tummy last? Because it’s interfering with my daily life now too. I’m now buying omaprezol over the counter. Lamazeprol isn’t available over the counter like I was advised yesterday. How long until I can sleep a full Night without being woken by agonising heartburn or stomach pain? These are the questions I’d like to ask a support network rather than mither yourself, to then mither surgeon to then mither dieticians or worse my GP. I’m getting very frustrated now, mainly through a lack of support I think. I don’t like to join public forums or online networks normally but I don’t feel I can get the answers of validation or reassurance currently. Yet, I’ve paid over £12000 for the surgery and 2 years post surgery support. Where is the support please? Once I receive your reply I’ll Know whether to mention the letter requirements in my appointment too. I am so sorry I have to keep contacting you, mithering surgeon but I’m getting frustrated and upset now. I want to be well not worse. Plus, the more issues, symptoms I have the more neurotic I feel, yet I have nowhere else to ask. Regards So after reading this I hope you or anyone could offer some guidance or insight. simply put I am also at my wits end and do not want to regret this life changing surgery but I’m beginning to do so with intent and massive frustration. looking forward to any replies. ❤️❤️💕💕💞

I have joined this forum simply for one reason. Your Post. I relate so drastically I can be honest and say thank you and I’m desperate for your reply with insight. im just about to look into posting my story but could not do so without first replying to you. I am now around 16 weeks post mini gastric bypass. Valentines Day I underwent the surgeons scalpels I paid privately after the usual circumstances of hitting rock bottom and saying quite literally… ENOUGH! Money is not plentiful and I used my small inheritance from my late father. Lucky, I was able to do so. but… I’m struggling. I have zero support network with experience. A loving family yes but no one I feel can validate or reassure me. I have medical study experience but not enough experience or knowledge to explain my symptoms away. my most recent message I’m still awaiting reply to from my surgeons medical secretary as follows:- Hi (name removed for anonymity) Did you receive my message yesterday please? I spoke to the Dieticians yesterday too and they’ve arranged a consultation with surgeon to discuss further issues. Next Wednesday. I am hoping to attend in person but currently struggling with flu type symptoms. I don’t have other people who have had bariatric surgery to speak to who could be a support network or provide support. Do you know if there is a professional forum, overseen contact group or other network or other supportive services? I don’t feel I am having a good recovery and feel I am struggling. Plus, I feel I am that poorly now perhaps I was dismissed too readily or swiftly in my previous contacts. I am losing weight much much faster than all my peers I read. I’ve lost over 4 stones in just 13 weeks. Far too fast and I’m drained, lethargic, can barely hold my head up (albeit have flu too) but in May too! Not normally a fluey month as the norm?? Infact, I microsecond passed out yesterday and cracked my head on our bathroom sink - simply due to standing up from the loo! I do not have a supportive GP or GP surgery and am currently in the process of changing surgeries now BUT am writing to them and conducting a private appointment firstly as I do not trust full follow through handover transparency. My surgery requires professional evidence or correspondence of everything to even follow up. For example, they have borderline eGFR results and two scans showing kidney stone and cyst in situ YET won’t conduct further tests or refer until surgeon sends a letter too! It’s absurd! it’s the main reason I paid to get this surgery completed to try to be well and improve my life and stay away from GP Doctors who possibly practiced nothing more than general medicine for 5 years! I’m constantly having to contact you directly, but seem dismissed by quotes of it’s week 4, or week 6, or only week 8 or now it’s only week 16, go back to soups and fluids, try a quarter of an egg instead of a full Egg. I’ve gone back to fluids only 3 times now! When then can I tolerate real food? Something I can use my teeth with would be nice now? I cant eat any meat barely at all now, (not even minced), swallowing gets more difficult, indigestion, heartburn is agony, my nails are like paper, my periods have disappeared completely albeit this could be normal as I’m 10 years post menopausal, my face is gray and sallowed. I look like death. I’ve just returned back from holiday but spent 5 days in bed due to tummy pain, bowel problems, agonising indigestion, feeling unwell. I also take 3 x baricol chewables a day, a multivitamin tablet and a calcichew a day. I’ve read everything I can find, researched this surgery for 6 months prior to having it, watched videos on YouTube, nothing seems to validate or reassure me. I studied medicine myself for 2 years albeit I know this is extra bit of knowledge of human anatomy and practice, I certainly do not have the knowledge to explain my symptoms away. I know this is not psychological as I cannot tolerate warm, cold, mashed, puréed, anything I’ve been told to try and going back a step to try again. When then am I to carry on until? Perhaps until I pass out again or end up in A&E on a drip? I cant get anything down me. If I do manage one meal a day, it’s a quarter of a starter portion and I’ll nearly always vomit it back up or experience the pain in my tummy or severely painful heartburn or severely offensive and debilitating flatulence. How long until I can eat? How long until I can drink plentiful fluids without issues? Ie. More than 500 ml in a 24 hour period? How long until I feel well? How long until I can eat what my family eats albeit in a starter portion? A healthy clean hearty non processed meal! How long until I look and feel well? How long until I can eat without severely offensive flatulence? It’s disgusting and far too painful to keep inside or even attempt to get to a more private location! Once it’s there, it’s impossible to hide and I don’t feel confident even in taking my children to school! How long will my stools be pale yellow or grey? How long will this horrendous pain in my tummy last? Because it’s interfering with my daily life now too. I’m now buying omaprezol over the counter. Lamazeprol isn’t available over the counter like I was advised yesterday. How long until I can sleep a full Night without being woken by agonising heartburn or stomach pain? These are the questions I’d like to ask a support network rather than mither yourself, to then mither surgeon to then mither dieticians or worse my GP. I’m getting very frustrated now, mainly through a lack of support I think. I don’t like to join public forums or online networks normally but I don’t feel I can get the answers of validation or reassurance currently. Yet, I’ve paid over £12000 for the surgery and 2 years post surgery support. Where is the support please? Once I receive your reply I’ll Know whether to mention the letter requirements in my appointment too. I am so sorry I have to keep contacting you, mithering surgeon but I’m getting frustrated and upset now. I want to be well not worse. Plus, the more issues, symptoms I have the more neurotic I feel, yet I have nowhere else to ask. Regards So after reading this I hope you or anyone could offer some guidance or insight. simply put I am also at my wits end and do not want to regret this life changing surgery but I’m beginning to do so with intent and massive frustration. looking forward to any replies. ❤️❤️💕💕💞

Welcome! A Truly inspirational story. The bariatric surgery is just a small part of what you have done. All of those changes took courage and a great deal of determination. You made the right choices, are doing the hard work, and are seeing the positive results. congratulations!

If your biggest concern about this surgery is loose skin, you are not ready for bariatric surgery.

Hey everyone, been nearly 24 hours and I feel pretty good. Surgery went great. Spent the night in hdu because of my sleep apnoea. I think I'd have been here anyway as my blood pressure was 180. Settled now but still on high side so I'll monitorat home and see my gp to review. Could just be the whole experience right now raising it. I've been having IV fluids mostly and can have 50mls fluid an hour. I'm doing a barium swallow shortly and if there's no leaks I can have full clear liquids. Going to bariatric ward in about 90 minutes too where I'll have my own room. My pain is manageable, only discomfort at the higher incision sites. It was quite painful in recovery initially. I had nausea then too and felt like I needed to burp. Gas pain does hurt but I don't have much of it and when it comes it's only a few seconds only. Going home tomorrow as long as I'm drinking around 1 litre.

Hello everyone, I'm Stephanie and I've been on this journey for a little bit over a year I had my surgery April 24, 2023 weighing in at 291. I started this journey March 7, 2022 at my heaviest weight ever 382 lbs. All my life I had always been overweight but never had I ever been given the diagnosis of morbidly obese. September of 2019 I had the biggest scare of my life, I almost died. My heart was in Congested heart failure, I was going septic, and was put into a ketamine trip so they could shock my heart. After that I ended up having atrial flutters on the right side of my heart. I was put on Lasix and while I was still in the hospital I lost 13 lbs of water weight. I've had tachycardia for years, was a smoker and extremely overweight. The doctor didn't sugarcoat it for me at all he flat out told me my smoking and my weight was killing me. He said I qualified for bariatric surgery and that I should look into it. 2020 I had an ablation done to fry the nerves to the right side of my heart so it will beat normal and it worked I haven't had any issues with my heart since. I've been on a beta blocker; and I had to do a sleep study and I have sleep apnea. I stopped breathing 13 times in an hour. Which brought me to bariatric surgery. November 13, 2020 I quit smoking cigarettes, before my surgery I had lost 82 lbs had the duodenal switch surgery and as of May 5, 2023 I have lost a total of 100 pounds. The most weight I have ever lost in my life. I don't regret my decision at all about getting surgery cause I feel better and healthier and I want to get out of bed and I want to exercise and I just love the way I'm feeling everyday. Stephanie Ellis

I don't have any friends or know anybody else who has had Bariatric surgery before. I would love to add some people on here to connect with. I know a support group makes a big difference. Please add me and I will add you back if you see this. 🙂 Even social media would be cool. I don't post much but I need accountability buddies.

May 11th! Tomorrow is the day. Duodenal Switch. What is everybody having? I don't have any friends or know anybody else who has had Bariatric surgery before. I would love to connect and add a few people on here to connect with. I know a support group makes a big difference. Please add me and I will add you back if you see this. 🙂

Pale is usually due to fat malabsorption, I believe, and that's to be expected. I remember having those the first month or so post-op. Gray - iron, maybe? Check with your surgeon, but multi-colored stools aren't that unusual the first few weeks after surgery, though. I think mine only lasted the first 4-6 weeks, though. P.S. I just read that pale is the result of not enough bile salts in your stool - possibly due to an obstruction.. Although that article wasn't specific to bariatric patients. I'll see if I can find something specific to bariatric patients. Although again, weird stool colors arent' that uncommon early out - which makes sense when you consider they've re-arranged our digestive systems. But it's always good to check with a doctor just in case... P.P.S. I just cut and pasted this from the UC-San Francisco's bariatric program Web page: Bowel habits Bowel movements vary greatly after bariatric surgery. Stools may be foul smelling, associated with flatulence, or a different color than normal. Taking iron supplements, for example, will make your stools dark or black. Until you're eating more solid food, your stools will be soft. Most of these changes resolve as the body heals and adapts to changes. Please call your bariatric surgery team if you have persistent diarrhea.

It seems the Bariatric Pal site has some good snack options. Also been curious about Flock chicken crisps though I'd be concerned about the fat content. Those Adkins candies or Russel stover candies seem like a somewhat decent substitute with extreme moderation if you want something sweet. I'm with everyone else who says talk to your nutritionist to see what they come up with. My nutritionist has been sharing little tricks and tidbits about meals and she probably knows a few good tips about movie snacking too. If all else fails - low fat cheese sticks, nuts, small roll ups of meat and cheese, protein snack packs (I know Kroger has them, not sure of any other place). Oh, how are you about protein water? You can probably use that instead of soda. Or get a bottled water and a sugar free flavor package as a treat.

Oh man, my tastes change daily. I feel like a picky toddler. Bariatric Pal makes a cran- grape protein shot that I'm quite fond of.

Great, thanks so much for the info! My bariatric center has their own tracker app I have been using for a while, but it doesn't have the detail I'm looking for.

Hi everyone, new here. Just figuring this site out. Are we all scheduled for the same facility at Bariatric Center in MX, TJ?

Yes! you hit the nail on the head with that one. So excited for this new chance at life with out joint pain! I hadn't even thought about a bariatric trainer. I'm definitely going to look into that now lol

Yeah I take my dog for a walk in the evening after work plus I'm up and down ladders at work. But I wanna keep my muscle cause I've heard it help keep fat off. I'm in touch with a bariatric trainer. I'm so excited for this new chance at life with out joint pain

Hello everyone! I'm new to the forum and didn't really know where to begin, so I figured why not start a thread about my journey? So, I've always been kind of obese (there were a few years that I lost a lot of weight sticking to a low carb diet) I hovered around 300lbs give or take for many years. In 2012 during a divorce, I ballooned all the way up to 365lbs and I swore I'd never get to that point again. I started doing low carb and got all the way down to 235lbs before getting re-married and gaining back about 50lbs. During COVID in 2020, I just completely fell apart and ended up getting to my all-time highest weight of 385lbs. I drive trucks for a living and in August of 2022, I had to go for a sleep apnea test and I failed miserably. Failing the sleep apnea test put my career in jeopardy. I decided immediately afterwards to contact my local hospital about bariatric surgery and immediately started a 6 month program in October, 2022. Since I had already had the sleep apnea test and failed, I'd already knocked that part out at least. I literally just got back from my final doctors appointment and they told me that it's up to my insurance provider to approve or deny me for surgery. I'm really excited but also really nervous. The only time I've ever stayed in a hospital overnight was to take my sleep apnea tests. I started this journey at 385lbs, today I weighed in at 365lbs. I had my ups and downs, but I'm really looking forward to this journey and really looking forward to getting to know everyone and to share my journey.

Thanks everyone. It really is good to know I’m not alone. It’s hard for the none bariatric friends and family to understand. I have more friends with the sleeve and I know it’s not quite the same either. My doctors office did reply back and said it is fairly normal as the internal stitches are healing and should be less pain as time goes on. They said it was ok to wear a binder if it helps, but not to wear it all day to take it off from time to time. I’m just happy I’m working remote right now, but dread going back to the office.

Good Morning Bariatric Pals! So I've been going through my closet cleaning out clothes that I've sized out of or just never wore. I hate dropping them in those donation boxes because I feel they never find their way to people who can actually use them. My husband and I have tons of clothes we'd like to share. Some of the items still have tags on them!!! Yes, I made the fatal mistake of buying clothes as I was dropping weight and now have an over abundance of stuff. Hubs and I clearly have a shopping problem - but that's for a WHOLE OTHER FORUM! LOL 😂 I'll post pictures and sizes of stuff as I make my way through the bins. We have everything from dresses, work apparel, tanks, tees, leggings, golf shirts, dress shirts, jackets, swim suits, brand new bras with tags on them, etc. Mens XL for the most part - Shoes Size 11 Womens 8-14 (M-XL). Shoes size vary from 6 - 7.5 If you're in need, let me know and I'll be more than happy to send you what I have. Why buy clothes if you don't have to? Smoke free/pet free home. Much Love 💘 Amanda

Someone else said this too, but a goal outfit would be awesome. and then maybe some of his favorite, bariatric approved, treats.

I've had multiple surgeries. Some in the states, one in Mexico. My in the states Tummy tuck was first. I was not that pleased. I lost my curve and looked like spongebob square pants. This was done in a surgical center. I was kicked out and sent home pretty quickly after surgery. Not the best experience. This was in 2015 My second surgery was covered by insurance. A breast reduction that was also performed in the states. I am surpised how small he made my breasts, but I've always hated them and wanted small breasts so I was happy. I did end up with dog ears and some keloid spots. I didn't have them addressed, but I'm told it's pretty simple to address both issues, so I may in the near future. This was done in a hospital. It was a more pleasant experience. I did go home the same day. This was in 2016 During COVID I gained 50 lbs and had bariatric surgery. Lost 60 lbs The third plastic surgery was a brazilliam butt lift. I had this surgery in January. I explained that I wanted lipo to try to give me my curve back and a natural looking butt. This was done in Mexico. I am absolutely amazed at this procedure. He lipo'd my back and flanks and extended tummy tuck? Basically gave me back my hourglass figure. He inserted the fat at my hips and butt. I stayed in the hospital for a week. I had round the clock nurses care. I didn't need it. I would have preferred being at home but I don't like staying in hotels/hospitals. I want to sleep in my bed. I found that they do specialize in weightloss patients and have a long waiting list. But cancellations occur and you can move up your date rather easily if you are flexible.

My biggest suggestion is to just be patient and supportive over the first few weeks...all those bodily changes can have some really, um...interesting effect on the mood! My mom got me a bunch of gift cards for clothes after my surgery and I appreciated it so much...after being overweight for years it was actually fun to go try and figure out what my personal style was when I wasn't as hamstrung by having to find the few items in the store that fit me. (19 months later I'm still trying to figure that out, but I'm learning!) Another suggestion for gifts might be a nice bariatric-friendly lunchbox or meal prep stuff for when he returns to work and starts eating a wider variety of foods. Having ways to transport your meals is important!

Insurance usually dictates the length of time between initial visit to surgery date. What testing and counseling is required by them and how soon you can get it all done with medical clearance. I was told 3 months best case scenario with my bariatric team since my BCBS insurance had no time restraints. I was determined to meet that goal and did. I got a lot done in that short amount of time. (Pulmonary, stress test, heart EGD, catherization, psych eval, sleep study, 3 months with nutritionist, exercise coach) And lastly an endoscopy which showed a hiatal hernia. Surgeon scheduled me for surgery 2 weeks later. If you are required 6 nutrition consults, sounds like you are looking at 6 months minimum. I'm going to guess after completing all your appointments your next step will be an endoscopy. Good luck!!!

1. No the price isn’t outrageous but prices vary by region (and relative experience). One way to lower the cost is to see if insurance will cover part of it and pay the rest. You may have to work with your primary doctor or Bariactrics surgeon to establish a need such as skin irritation/infections not resolved by medications. Another way is to travel to a competitive area that has lower costs and that may include medical tourism overseas. Definitely get multiple consultations to see what the prices are in and out of your area. Some surgeons will provide free consultations and quotes (virtual) and some will charge a fee. 2. Anything non surgical might just be a waste of time and money that you could have used to pay for the skin removal surgery. Liposuction will remove additional fat from the area and retract some of the skin through wound remodeling but not large amounts of skin. 3. Definitely more painful than Bariatric surgery. But it was worth the recovery for me. 4. I did it in office where there was an en-suite OR but I had surgery in the competitive plastic surgery market of Miami where that is the standard not the exception. You have to choose what you are comfortable with but also if you can get insurance coverage that may reduce the hospital portion as well. Good Luck!