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Mind you he says he’s going to prescribe it after he tells me I’m NOT diabetic... umm Lol, yea, I agree with you this is not meant for weight loss and I’m not going to be his guinea pig. He definitely pushed back when I said that I don’t want another pill.. he said well, you’ve lost 9 lbs since your visit with Bariatric. Left the office knowing I wasn’t going back to them, smh. I’m a little annoyed [emoji19] I didn’t even bother with scheduling another appointment. [emoji991] Instagram: milaalmodovar [emoji317] SC: almodovarmila

Hey all! I’m so excited to have found this app! I’ve just been approved for the Bariatric Surgery Program through Kaiser. I know I’m a ways out until surgery day and have a lot of steps to complete, but I’m more hopeful than ever. Kaiser told me (Oregon/Washington) they only do the RNY. I’m looking to connect with others, particularly those in similar early phases. Does anyone have experience or currently working with Kaiser in Oregon/Washington? Thanks for letting me share and for sharing your journeys!

For many years I gained weight strictly due to being lazy and eating poorly. But for the last several years, I have been driving myself crazy because I feel like I have been doing everything I should be doing in terms of eating the right foods (Whole30 and Paleo) and exercising intensely (Obstacle Course Racing and Weight Training) and nothing worked for weight loss. I have often felt like my body and brain were working against my heart and preventing me from achieving what I wanted. In my ongoing research, I recently found another Bariatric Surgeon that post his bariatric videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DrMatthewWeiner I found his Informational Seminar video to be much more informative than any other I attended during my search for a local surgeon. One point in particular is the slide I've attached to this post. The stats he shows in this slide are my exact stats. His explanation here is that to gain 100lbs over a 20-year period, a woman only has to eat an average of 50 additional calories per day. Which is basically nothing. This takes into consideration pregnancy weight gain, weight loss, and weight regain over this time period. He affirms that significant weight gain from such a low number of additional calories means that there is actually something else going on besides just eating more calories than you burn. And as many of us suspect, it is due to hormonal and metabolic changes because of both age and changes that occur from diets you go on. This alone lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. Because I am not crazy after all, my brain and body were working against me. And surgery can help me get back to where I want to be. It further confirms my decision to have this surgery and use it merely as one tool in my arsenal to regain my health! I wanted to share this for anyone else has felt like they were crazy and wondered endlessly why diet and exercised worked from everyone else but you...

I crushed my pills for the first 6 weeks, then I was cleared to swallow pills. I even found a bariatric vitamin that I can swallow instead of chew.

I originally tried to qualify for Bariatric surgery twenty some years ago. At that time, the guidelines were much more stringent. In one way I am glad that I did not have it then because I think the technique has improved over time. Now it’s endoscopic, etc. and many more doctors are very experienced with it. On the other hand my biggest regret it that I didn’t have it at least ten years ago. This is not from an age point of view but from a how much more I enjoy life and being able to do stuff point of view. I had it at 57 and I did not have any complications or problems with it. Without a doubt, it’s the best thing I have ever had done!

@Redmaxx so sorry,to hear all this. You frighten me a skoosh, I am the adult child of 2 diabetics, not whini,g as much as stating a fact. PCP and I when we were discussing me trying a second time for Bariatric surgery felt this would stop any chance for diabetes to develop. Now I hear "tain't necessarily so!" Ought oh, not what I was hoping to hear. And then another poster says the same thing happened to her, well" que sera sera", whatever will be will be. But the magic bullet just misfired, guess the bariatric world isn't perfect after all. Hope both of your cases level out, and I'll follow and still be your Bari-friend.😜

Hello fellow Bariatric pals! I am 6 days post gastric sleeve surgery. My surgery was performed April 18th, at St Francis Indianapolis by Dr Shamseddeen. Some Background info on me and my choice to have bariatric surgery: I am male, age 48 married with one adult child and two teenage children. I have been married for 21 years. We have a Noah's ark of pets but our primary pets are two cats, and three dogs (Lucretia a 6yr old female Newfoundland, Freya a 4 yr old female St Bernard, and Vivien a female 5 month old Newfoundland pup) I am a Registered Nurse who had specialized in geriatric/hospice/long term care before having a heart attack in 2016. I switched to homecare and work primarily with special needs and medically fragile children. After my heart attack with stent placement I started to number my health issues and I had a lot, obesity, smoker, copd, sleep apnea, Congestive heart failure, High cholesterol. I began to treat these with medicines, cpap, quitting smoking, light exercise. The one issue I did not really tackle was my obesity. With quitting smoking my weight went up as I replaced smoking with snacking. I had grown accustomed to being larger and just came to accept I was the fat old man, thats just who I was now so no use in fretting over it. Then my primary doctor handed me one more diagnosis... diabetes. I was just taking metformin, and was so far non insulin dependent. As a nurse who cared for older patients I have witnessed diabetes ravage my patients, I have prepped toes for amputation, then parts of feet, then legs... I was 329 lbs at this time and was fearful of dieting turning into yo yo dieting that would lead to greater weight gains. I began to research bariatric surgery. My first visit to St Francis Bariatric Clinic was September 14th 2017 (From first visit to surgery was about 7 months). I started my journey with the monthly meetings, nutrition appointments, pysch evaluation, and getting numerous surgical clearances from my other doctors. I started my preop dieting and got down to 317 lbs. When I started my preop liquid diet I was my worse enemy when my friends would come over to celebrate my surgery.... by offering me "one more for the road" food offerings of pizza, white castles, take out chinese food, etc. I appreciated the sentiments but I should have been stronger in my resolve to say no. But even with temptations, day of surgery I was about 311 lbs. My Surgery Day experience: Pre-Op prep was no problem, no complaints. IV placed, skin scrubbed, some labs drawn. Basic stuff. Rolled back for surgery, again no problem, introduced to surgical team as I was wheeled into surgical suite, moved to operating table and arms positioned at sides. I don't even remember when they administered sedation as my next memory was waking in recovery. Waking in Recovery: I won't lie..I was in intense pain and either due to sedation or just the level of pain I couldn't say how much I hurt, all I could do was moan..loudly and forcefully. I have never given any pain I have had a rating of 10 on a 1-10 scale, even when I had my heart attack, but this rated an 11+ After a minute or so I think i was given something for the pain and I passed out again. I awoke in my hospital room. Day 1 post op: In my room I was greeted by my wife and nurse. The nurses I had over the next 24 hours were great in treating me, as well as caring for my family. I was allowed one oz of ice chips to sip on and I had my PCA (pain medicine pump) to hit every 15 minutes as needed. I was wearing a truss, had a drain ball on my abdomen below the large incision site where my stomach portion was removed. I also had a foley cath placed. I have placed thousands of foley caths, but have never had one myself. I had an intense urge to urinate that made resting difficult. I kept joking with the nurses I was going to swipe a 10cc syringe to empty the cath balloon and remove it myself. Later that day I had two small 1 oz cups of chicken broth brought in for me to try. I was able to down 1 over 20 minutes and couldn't even start the 2nd. I had a 1 oz cup pf ice chips now and then but was not worried about dehydration because of the bags of saline and antibiotics they had running in via my IV. I started doing my inspiratory spirometer and I say this as a nagging nurse who has had many patients post op refuse to do them, now as a patient i can say that the inspiratory spirometer does help a lot. My first day I was walked a short distance, and that night I slept in the recliner as I found it more comfortable then the bed. I had still had pain but between the PCA and re-positioning it was manageable. Discharge day: I was walked again a little farther then before. I had my foley cath removed (Yay!) which led to 48 hours of a burning sensation on urination that eventually faded. I had my IV discontinued, and started on liquid pain meds which about a little less then 1 oz took forever for me to sip. The only notable pain I had that day was when they pulled my drain tube out. I knew it was going to be uncomfortable, but the nurse didn't just pull it out quickly, or even as 1 long pull but did it in 3 jerky pulls that sent pain rocketing from my navel down to my toes. Aside from that all was well, I had moderate pain, was sore and hurt to stand from sitting or to bend but it was all tolerable. Back Home again and starting my new reality: Since being home at first I tried to religiously follow the instructions I was given on nutrition, being on the modified liquid diet, taking my vitamins, and staying hydrated. I ran into several issues. First I had no appetite, you really do have to force yourself to eat, but also to eat properly over 20-30 minutes to get down a 2 oz cup of broth or yogurt. To quickly and I would feel nauseous and full. I would not drink within 30 minutes of either start or end of eating. I had no thirst for the first few days. Even taking small sips I found it hard to get in 40-60 oz's of water a day. I have been struggling to get in 70g protein a day. First the shakes would make using the Premier dry whey protein mix would froth a lot and give me a very full/gassy feeling. The thickness of the shake even after thinning would fill me up quick after a few sips. The taste wasn't good, but not terrible but you won't catch me saying "Ya know what would taste good right now? a protein shake" The vitamins. All of my vitamins right now are chew-able. Only problem I have is I have no teeth so I have to suck on them until they dissolve over time. Again not the best tasting, but they also seem to trigger fullness or nausea in me. I may switch to liquid vitamins, pills (when I can), maybe even the patches I saw advertised here. Some solutions I have found. I was looking over youtube videos and saw some people make Popsicles out of their protein shakes and I did the same with Powerade zero. Doing this I was able to get down at least half my shakes in a day (40g protein) and it really helped top off my liquid intake by sucking on the powerade pops I made but still limited the intake over time so I wouldn't get sick. It is day 6 for me and it is a learning process. I see that we all have many things in common but that everyone's experience with bariatric surgery is very much personal and individualized. The highlight of my week has been actually going under 300 lbs for the first time in many years and passing gas on day 5 (Hey to nurses passing gas is as much a sign of life as a pulse or respiration plus shows our digestion is working) I have been reading many of the forums and have enjoyed the stories and humor, and appreciated the advice given and I hope to read many more over the next year. Good Spring (when it gets here, I am from Indiana after all) to all

Good idea Fluffy Chix, an chain gang of dishwashers, gotta love it. I learned my way around the kitchen pretty early,but,mine went kinda bad. My Ant Grace was pies, my mother cakes and I was cookies. Started making Snickerdoodles at 7, and of course if there were any failures, any slightly miss' shapened they never went in the trash when they.could go down the rosy tube God put in my throat. Should have been making salads with you. Instead when I was picking up tricks of the trade we cooked enough for a threshing crew. And think,of the poor starving children in China, India etc. I now have Indian and Oriental friends, none of them expressed gratitude I ate my,portion and theirs too. So here I am, seeking surgery , for my youthful dietary indiscretions that went on and on. I am one generation ahead of , golly in the South I would be old enough to have a child your age. There's about 17 years between us,Weill my parents had just came out of the Depression where people, unless they were able to grow their own food, starved. So when I came along they wanted to make sure that their baby didn't have that problem! You had 5 siblings, I was a lonely only, and I was,loaded down with dietary excesses. Managed to keep it to slight pudgy-hood with plenty,of exercise, then puberty raised its ugly ugly year,i was told to settle down and start acting like a lady. And I bought into it and ballooned. Went from 110 to 175 in less than 6 months. Now I will try to work with my future RnY to diminish back down to that size. it is not going to be easy, well no more taking the easy eat-all-you-can way out. Junky food was an abusive boyfriend, beat me up with blobs of fat, waddle while you walk, keep you short of breath. I'm no longer going to be like those sorry broads on Jerry Springer saying "but he SAID he loved me!", Nope he did not care about my welfare or anything else associated with me. Painful as the divorce is and will be, it is happening. I have seen on Bariatric Pal there is life after bulging blubberhood, and I want and shall have it. I'm finding out vegetables taste good without buttery sauces,and a tiny helping of fruit satisfies me more than a whole Apple pie for me. And it is sometimes good to watch others with a Premier Protein shake. Oh my body is still trying to fight back, but day by day I'm going to gain a victory. I used to say if I only could be that person or that person, my lifer would be,perfect. Even wanted to be a CreekImp or Fluffy Chix, although your stories are impressive and inspiring I've got to sing my,own song,make my,own kind of music, be the best Frust8 I can be, so what if I don't end up with Fluffy Chix weight, a Creek Imp figure or one of the other pals body shapes, I can still be a good ME, love and be proud of MYSELF for what I have accomplished. And bottom line; I'll regain a healthiness I have not had for years,can't go back to being a teenager but I can be the best 72 year old possible.AND GUESS WHAT 🌏THAT IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME!😜

Redmaxx I’m sorry to hear that. I’d definitely want to see a specialist if that is indeed the case. maybe Track your own numbers for a while and see if it’s consistent. ??? Maybe you had a spike in glucose for that day for whatever reason, I don’t know. But after losing 100lbs+ and having most of the fat out of your arteries, your body SHOULD be processing sugar normally. Unless your diet is high fat, that could also play role. High blood sugar numbers is just a symptom, not the cause. i second @FluffyChix, eliminate foods that would cause a spike. I’m even an advocate for Plant based diets, as this is what I do. Lots of veggies and fruits, with grains and legumes. Look into it. There’s a book called Proteinaholic by bariatric surgeon Dr Garth’s Davis. He talks about diabetes and the links to diet in it. If you have time look in to that as well. I hope you find what works and that it can be remedied without meds!!!

Alas, it does. It may sound weird, but milk is my favorite food. I grew up on a farm where all the kids just guzzled it like water. I drink it with everything! So I had a loooong talk with the nutritionist about it. She said it is liquid calories and they fill up the pouch too fast. We can't drink with meals anyway. And nothing caloric between meals, so I would have no chance of drinking it. Your idea of checking out a different surgeon is a possibility. I did have another post on here about just that, based on geographical distance and lifetime follow-up appointments. I am seeing a physician in the "other" place this week, to talk about their non-surgical weight loss program. I'm going to see if I can get a quick walk-through their bariatric surgery section and answers about their eating plan. Thanks for your help! I do appreciate it.

I was also prescribed b1 after surgery. My surgeon said it is one of the more important vitamins to take after surgery because a small number of people with b1 deficiency report some serious side effects. I can't remember them all, but neurological issues like tremors, memory loss, speech problems. And those issues are permanent....so once you ARE showing those symptoms, you can't just start taking b1 again and go back to normal. You will have those effects for life. It is a very, VERY small percentage of bariatric patients that develop these issues due to b1 deficiency (less than 1%), but the side effects are so severe, it is important to prevent them. I'd say my cognitive ability is worth taking b1. I have no idea why doctors don't talk about it like my surgeon - perhaps it is just too small an occurrence, but it's so important! .

Hello! I also have BCBS Federal and I asked the bariatric coordinator which weight they send in and they told me that they only weight they send to insurance is my weight at my initial consultation. Do you know if that's correct? What was your experience with this? Sadly, I do not have much confidence in these people I am right over 40 BMI. At my nutrition assesment I was right at 39.9 BMI (she made me take my shoes off of course...). I start the 3 month diet next week.

Well I went to,his profile page, looked and he,is a fine,fine specimen of Texas manhood but....I don't see any other pictures😟 and you,know I hate to feel,left out. I ever invaded a grouchy post-surgery's discussion, snuck,into the Guys Room without an invitation. As Brenda Lee said in her 60s song "I wanna be Wanted". gosh I haven't thought about her for years, wonder if she's still,alive? You probably remember her more for" Rocking Around the Christmas Tree", A lot of the people I listened to are gone, Lesley Gore died a year or so back too, of Lung Cancer. Ah time moves on,i keep inching and inching forward my surgery. After Wednesday, a day I'll remember like our parents did Pearl Harbor, the old wheels may turn. Hopah Hopah Hurrah! First thing I did today after powdering my nose was checking in on Bariatric Pal. And who should I see but thee! Now that I've heard from Proudgrammy I can face the day. Did you know Ken S, bless his lttle megabyte ❤ when he sent me to download the Beta version made me lose my Message Envelope in the upper right bar😖)emoji crying and sad). I would adore this version if he would just restore what the update took away. I wanted to,lose weight not features on here. Did you know there is another person from Syracuse active? I decided once to tap the red name at the top left, goes to Profile, and see where people were from, and Syracuse came up. Now if I only could remember who she was. Drat!😜

I'm doing pretty good. I'm a little worried that my metabolism/hunger signals might be broken or something though.. as I'm really not getting very hungry on the pre-op diet despite only being on 600-700 calories.. and yesterday and today I was really late having my lunch - was planning to have my shake at 3pm but a friend stopped over and was here chatting until 5pm... I figured it was a bit late to have a shake at that point so just had a slice of cheese and a small tomato for lunch ahead of meat and veggies for dinner at 7. So many others are posting that they feel like they are starving on the pre-op so it seems really weird (though I appreciate that I'm lucky to not be feeling hungry!). I did have a laugh at the big RED LETTER WARNING I got after downloading the myfitnesspal app and trying to submit today's total food in the food diary... it was warning me that it's unhealthy to eat so few calories (608) and could cause nutritional deficiencies and stuff.. and that if I was logging less than the minimum (I think 1000?) it wouldn't display the food log in my feed or include it in 5 week projections or some such. Looking it up online, it's apparently to avoid fueling eating disorders etc, but it doesn't help much when you are actually on a scheduled bariatric pre or post op diet! nevermind, it still stores your food log and at least it helps calculate calorie and macro nutrient totals (which I had already pretty much figured out in an excel spreadsheet using nutrition labels and googling nutrient profiles for things like tomatoes.) I'm also due TODAY for Aunt Flo to come ruin my week but no sign so far... I have surgery in 9 days and have crazy heavy painful periods for the first 4 days.. the last thing I need is it hitting on surgery day, so she damned well better hurry up already! (def not preggers as hubby got sorted over a year ago ) I've been really busy trying to get everything I can done in my Autumn veggie patch before I'm unable to garden for at least a few weeks (got my broccoli and pea seeds in a month ago, garlic planted last week, and carrots a couple of nights ago, but still need to clear off and plant a 1m x 4m bed with onion seeds!).

I've been banded since 2007 and I only recently started visiting this site... Stupid on my part. I learned quite a few things here. I wish I had been on here when I first started out. While reading different posts to help me with my pouch dialation problems 2 weeks ago I noticed many people who have had their bands removed. In the past I had port infection due to a tummy tuck, esophogeal hernia( which they originally thought was a band erosion) it was only when I was under anethstisia did my doctor see the problem and when I woke up I was totally ecstatic because I thought I would be waking up to having my band removed.it wasn't and I was grateful. I read so many people saying how it was the worst mistake by getting banded, but I feel so lucky. It's worked so well and the problems I had were my likely self induced, you know not chewing properly, the dumb tummy tuck which wasn't necessary. Those problems could have been avoided. The thought of being without my band it frightening. This last problem of pouch dialation was a strong reality check. I have to remember how to eat and chew properly. Just because so many years have past I must not become complacent . I was lucky to find so much info on these post at bariatric pal. I grateful for the posts I read and for future knowledge I can obtain just by reading other people's stories. I just wish I read more stories of people who have had great success with their band. I know I did and I love my band and can't image myself without it.

Has anyone gone through them for weight loss surgery recently? and if so what does the pre-op all day intake appointment consist of? My appointment is tomorrow.

First off, welcome and congratulations on the start of your journey. Take it one day at a time, one step at a time, and ask questions. The better informed you are going into this procedure, the better you will fair post-op. If you are not already doing so, I would also advise beginning mental health treatment as well. Even though I was seeing a therapist prior to surgery, I never foresaw having my world completely upended. I am finding myself fighting clinical depression now that I am post-op but it's a fight that I am slowly and gradually winning. The hardest part of this whole process is the mental game. If you follow your bariatric program, it is almost a foregone conclusion that you will lose weight. Also, for your own sake, please don't watch My 600lb Life. I hate that show because it does not contribute anything positive. Instead, it makes overweight people look like carnival sideshow acts; to be reviled, feared, or awed as a spectacle. The show makes me so angry at the world that if I watched that show I would be horribly depressed and pissed off simultaneously.

I just had my sleeve done last Tuesday and I wasn't nervous until everyone started to ask me if I was nervous. I fear the future a bit, I know 2 close friends who had a bypass, one has it 12 years ago and gained about 25 back, the other cannot control herself and eats like she did pre-surgery and she had her bypass less than 3 years ago and has gained every single pound back plus MORE. Her diabetes is back and almost uncontrollable. So...I worry, but then I think of how hard I worked tO get here and how I feel right now (not the best, but not the worst ever either) the change is up to us. To me, failure is not an option! And I am sure every bariatric program has its support groups. My group is an hour and a half from me but if I feel out of control or lost, I will definitely go. It's a tool, not a magic pill or fix (as we all know). You will do great!

Northern New York covers a lot of territory--but I'd suggest finding out if your bariatric practice has any support groups. Mine, through the Orange County Regional Hospital, did, and I was required to attend two meetings. Otherwise, you might find out whether your doctor's office knows of any or if they'd allow you to advertise your interest to see if others would respond.

Alex, 4 years after VSG I too am fighting a serious persistent GERD. I actually was diagnosed with Barrett's about 5 years ago which was one of the precipitating factors for my initial surgery. My surgeon really felt that with my weight loss the GERD would resolve. It did some, but returned with a vengeance. Of course I struggled with some regain but have pretty much lost all of that and the GERD remains. So I too face a revision, to RNY. I am a bit nervous but at the same time I'm excited to return to acute bariatric patient status in the hopes that my GERD will disappear. Good luck!

Yes I do and probably always will. At 4 years out I still say "i'm a bariatric patient". Sadly, I had some regain and had to fight my way back from that and have 7 lbs to go. HOWEVER, when I saw my surgeon last fall we talked about the fact that I still have very persistent GERD, and take a PPI twice a day. I've maxed out doses on 2 of them in the past. As a FNP I'm very familiar with the risks of long term PPIs, so I'm STILL probably facing a revision. I see the surgeon again late July so I'm hopeful that maybe things will turn around before then...

@LilMissDivaIrene, hi! I didn't know you in the Bad Old Days, but ProudGrammy did. if she's said you're a good one, I may have made myself a new friend. Kathy's been a good buddy, keeping me from going bonkers while I wait and struggle to get to surgery day. You have had 3 surgeries?, Well this will,be my third(and I hope final) attempt to convince a surgeon my proper place is on his operating table. I have somewhat jokingly said I would do my own RnY. I already own a box cutter, fishing line, hair clips and a Swingline stapeler, that pretty much covers things except for the 3-way mirror on top of my dressing table. I don't have any drinking alcohol let alone any other anesthesia but maybe I could hold my breath,until I pass out? I'm 72, time is running out for me, I don't have time for somone to dither around or go play darts somewhere. So I sit here in Central Ohio,with a smile pasted on my face,waiting to see what happens next in my life. I have an important(to me) appointment April 25 with Staff Psychologist Dr Kramer at Martha Morehouse Pavilion in Columbus Ohio and hopefully he will clear me for Bariatric Surgery at OSU-Wexner Medical,Center. Kathy says I should stop saying hopeful, she bellieves in me. I ten to think in a defeatist frame of mind and she says that will get me nowhere. So like Don Quixote ,I go forward to tilt with my own windmills.. Answer back,of you feel like it, okay?😭

Yep. The surgeons bariatric physician actually wanted me on a 4 week pre op diet (BMI 49 at the time) however when I saw the surgeon a few days later he had a surgery date available only 3 weeks from that day that he was happy to book me in for so I started pre-op VLCD immediately after the appointment lol. I was assigned VLCD shakes for breakfast and lunch, with a more regular meat and veggies for dinner, however I found my tummy won't tolerate a shake in the morning (makes me nauseous for at least an hour) so I've been having a single scrambled egg and coffee with 200ml 1% milk for my breakfasts. It adds up to slightly less calories than a shake, and I'm still getting minimum 80g protein a day (the shake has 34g).

I have a weigh in on Wednesday and I *think* I may be at my goal? My highest weight was 380-390lbs a year and a half ago. When I started the Bariatric program in January of this year my weight was 339, I had lost 40 or so pounds from exercise and mild/inconsistent dieting. They wanted me to get to 322 to approve me for surgery. My scale says I’m at 316 now... but that’s my naked weight- so I figure as long as my clothes don’t weigh more than 6lbs I should be okay. My *personal* goal is to get below 300 before surgery. The reason why I’m so focused on hitting these goals before surgery is I know my weight is a result of diet. If I can consistently lose weight before the surgery, it means I’ve started to really tackle the root cause. I have had some success- like now I actually prefer water or no calorie Powerade to soda. I’ve gotten better at portions and self control. I’ve really got more work to do with meal planning and breaking up with my good friend the potato... [emoji23].

I talked to my bariatric surgery coordinator and she said that they will go by start weight [emoji106] she said insurance can't fault you for losing weight when they are the ones telling you to be on a 3 month pre op diet (makes sense). She also told me that insurances are more lenient for conversion patients. I'm feeling much more at ease after she told me that.