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I went and saw my primary care doctor this morning and he agreed to the referral to see the bariatric surgeon. He also thinks I have sleep apnea so he referred me to pulmonology. The bariatric department already called me today to schedule the consultation. My partner and I feel it would be best to have a baby now instead of after the surgery(so I don’t gain the weight back) so I’m going to speak with the doctor and see how long post partum before I can have the sleeve. I also want to know if I can get any of the pre-op requirements out of the way now since I won’t be getting pregnant till July anyways. I am hoping to have the surgery while I’m still off on maternity leave (California gives us about 5 months of leave for bonding and recovery) so I’m hoping within that time frame he would allow it. I hope he doesn’t feel it’s a dumb idea to even see him now since I still want to have a baby first. I’ve been wanting this for so many years and have done so much research. I just now finally have an insurance that covers it(and at 100%). Wish me luck and if you’ve been in this similar situation. Let me know what it was like.

You can mix almost any protein powder with water, they just generally taste better with milk. There's also an unflavored protein called Genepro that is used by tons of bariatric patients. I haven't tried it yet but it costs about the same as the Legion brand. The unflavored won't be any less expensive than the flavored but you are able to get more creative with it and get more bang for your buck.

FYI I also tried downloading on every cell phone I own and the same message Unfortunatly Bariatric Pal has stopped-if you have saw fit to terminate my involvement please have the decency to say so. I have tried on Samsung devices as well as LG. This is disturbing.

unfortunately Bariatric Pal has stopped

Kathy if you got things to work tell me how. Mine says Bariatric Pal is no longer functioning, I know they are, I was enjoying reading topics at 830AM when this happened. Tried accessing Alex, nothing yet.

I have been a cheerful happy contributor Suddenly at 8:30 am EDT this morning I received a message that Bariatric Pal can't be accessed. I attempted to uninstall and reinstall to no avail. I am @ frust8 and I want back in . I access you on a LG smartphone running on Verizon. HELP

One of the gentlemen in our bariatric surgery support group was scheduled for gastric bypass in 2 days time. The results from his pre-op testing came in and they called him and requested that he come to the hospital immediately. Basically he was about to have a heart attack. So he had open heart surgery instead. Then after his body recovered a few months later, he went in for bypass surgery. I can understand that is was disheartening, but in his case the doctor made the right call.

Hi Jules1, I know it's hard to get protein in. Try premier protein its sold at Costco, Sams club. It's cheapest at those two locations. It's been the best protein for bariatric patients right after surgery. Also try power aid zero I found that it went down smoother than water. I hope this helps plus the Premier protein test is really good, they have vanilla, chocolate, caramel, strawberries and cream, cookies and cream, and peaches and cream flavors.

Yes, Medicare does not deny. Since I am on disability, I have Medicare and used it to cover my surgery. The document, NCD 100.1, will provide you with the specific requirements for Bariatric Surgery. These will not vary from region to region as an NCD means National Coverage Determination.

I’m a self pay as well, my total surgery/hospital stay/hotel package is $5600 , not including my travel expenses. My surgeon is Dr. Valenzuela, she is also the most expensive surgeon at Mexico Bariatric Center. The others are around $4300, $1300 cheaper. I just did my research about her and felt she was my best option.

i can take any pill that is the size of an m&m & i just cut my big one in half & had to get a 3 a day instead of 1 a day since it was time released.i luv my bariatric advantage soft chew vitamins

Hi new friends, see what happens when I turn my smartphone off and charge it! A whole new group of May friends show up, glad I didn't miss any of you. I hope to have a RnY with you all in May but I don't have a date. Makes no never mind, I'll still be your friend no matter what. Tell,me more about yourselves,your,plans for your surgeries, where they are going to be performed? Are there questions any of you need answered?. I know a lot,but anything I don't have answer to someone on Bariatric Pal will. Feel free to hang around with us, we like to help and we want,your experiences to be good. [emoji14][emoji13] Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

I just bought wonton wrappers at the store like two hours ago because I keep seeing so many bariatric-friendly recipes using them. Tonight, though, I'm making crustless ham/pineapple pizzas with roasted broccoli/cauliflower/carrots. Both are in the oven right now. https://www.ellaclaireinspired.com/no-crust-pizza-bites/

Fast food is a fact of life for so many of us, so is it really reasonable to expect it to disappear from the scene after bariatric surgery? Note: This isn’t an article on “How soon after surgery can I eat pepperoni pizza and wings?” This is an article on making the best choices you can given your situation. Consider Macros That is, “macronutrients,” or carbohydrates, fat, and protein. The news is bad on the surface since the average fast food meal has more carbs and less protein per calorie than the average home-cooked meal. You can work to turn this around, though. Carbohydrates: Cut back on carbohydrates by skipping the starchy sides: French fries, potato chips, and hash browns, steamed, fried, or Mexican rice, and breadsticks. Try to go “green” (lettuce wrap) or “naked” (no wrap) with your burger, tortilla, or sandwich; if the fast food joint cannot honor your request, just eat the filling with a knife and fork, and throw away the bread, bun, tortilla, or taco shell (if you are feeling guilty because of starving children in third-world countries, make a donation. You’ll do more good than you would by adding starch to your hips). Protein: How can you boost your protein intake at a fast food restaurant to be what you need? Skinless grilled or baked chicken, lean cold cuts, cheese, and beans can all up your totals, and yogurt is an increasingly common side option. Even a small burger patty can give you 10 to 15 grams of protein, although it comes with a few extra grams of fat. A good protein goal for a meal is about 20-30 grams. You can get that for 200-300 calories with any of the following. Burger King Double Cheeseburger, no bun; Grilled Chicken Garden Salad, no croutons; or Veggie Burger with cheese, no bun or mayo. McDonald’s Grilled Southwestern Chicken Salad, no cheese; or Grilled Chicken Sandwich, no bun or spread. Taco Bell 2 grilled or fresco steak soft tacos, no tortillas; chicken or steak Power Menu Bowl, no rice or cheese. KFC Grilled Chicken Drumstick plus green beans or side salad. Panda Express Grilled Teriyaki or Asian Chicken. Fats: Your first order of business is to avoid anything fried. You will be avoiding excess grease while also avoiding sneaky carbs in breading – did you know that the amounts of carbs in onion rings and fried chicken are comparable to the amounts in bread? Also, watch the fatty spreads – think mayonnaise – salad dressings, and dips. Find the Vegetables Protein and vegetables…does this sound familiar? It should, since your goals when eating at a fast food restaurant should be the same as when you eat at home. Vegetables help fill you up without filling you out, and it is best to eat as many of them as you can handle with your pouch or sleeve. It may take a little more digging to find vegetables at fast food restaurants than at home, but you can usually do it. Here are a few leads. Ask for extra lettuce, tomatoes, and any other available vegetables on burgers and sandwiches. Order a side salad or baby carrots with your meal. Check for salads with grilled chicken as an entrée. Pile salsa and diced vegetables onto your naked burrito. When “Value” Isn’t Besides the convenience, the deals are among the most tempting things about fast food. For pennies more, you can often add fries and a drink, or you could get a second burger or taco for half the price. Don’t do it! “Value” depends on what you want and need; why would you pay extra, even if it is “only pennies more,” for extra fat, sugar, starch, and calories? A healthier definition of “value” might be to pay the least you can for a meal that is convenient, delicious, and healthy. Why include “oversized” in your definition? For those times when fast food simply makes sense, go for it – just keep yourself on track by reading the menu carefully and staying focused. You can do it, no matter where you end up. You might as well enjoy it!

Consider Macros That is, “macronutrients,” or carbohydrates, fat, and protein. The news is bad on the surface since the average fast food meal has more carbs and less protein per calorie than the average home-cooked meal. You can work to turn this around, though. Carbohydrates: Cut back on carbohydrates by skipping the starchy sides: French fries, potato chips, and hash browns, steamed, fried, or Mexican rice, and breadsticks. Try to go “green” (lettuce wrap) or “naked” (no wrap) with your burger, tortilla, or sandwich; if the fast food joint cannot honor your request, just eat the filling with a knife and fork, and throw away the bread, bun, tortilla, or taco shell (if you are feeling guilty because of starving children in third-world countries, make a donation. You’ll do more good than you would by adding starch to your hips). Protein: How can you boost your protein intake at a fast food restaurant to be what you need? Skinless grilled or baked chicken, lean cold cuts, cheese, and beans can all up your totals, and yogurt is an increasingly common side option. Even a small burger patty can give you 10 to 15 grams of protein, although it comes with a few extra grams of fat. A good protein goal for a meal is about 20-30 grams. You can get that for 200-300 calories with any of the following. Burger King Double Cheeseburger, no bun; Grilled Chicken Garden Salad, no croutons; or Veggie Burger with cheese, no bun or mayo. McDonald’s Grilled Southwestern Chicken Salad, no cheese; or Grilled Chicken Sandwich, no bun or spread. Taco Bell 2 grilled or fresco steak soft tacos, no tortillas; chicken or steak Power Menu Bowl, no rice or cheese. KFC Grilled Chicken Drumstick plus green beans or side salad. Panda Express Grilled Teriyaki or Asian Chicken. Fats: Your first order of business is to avoid anything fried. You will be avoiding excess grease while also avoiding sneaky carbs in breading – did you know that the amounts of carbs in onion rings and fried chicken are comparable to the amounts in bread? Also, watch the fatty spreads – think mayonnaise – salad dressings, and dips. Find the Vegetables Protein and vegetables…does this sound familiar? It should, since your goals when eating at a fast food restaurant should be the same as when you eat at home. Vegetables help fill you up without filling you out, and it is best to eat as many of them as you can handle with your pouch or sleeve. It may take a little more digging to find vegetables at fast food restaurants than at home, but you can usually do it. Here are a few leads. Ask for extra lettuce, tomatoes, and any other available vegetables on burgers and sandwiches. Order a side salad or baby carrots with your meal. Check for salads with grilled chicken as an entrée. Pile salsa and diced vegetables onto your naked burrito. When “Value” Isn’t Besides the convenience, the deals are among the most tempting things about fast food. For pennies more, you can often add fries and a drink, or you could get a second burger or taco for half the price. Don’t do it! “Value” depends on what you want and need; why would you pay extra, even if it is “only pennies more,” for extra fat, sugar, starch, and calories? A healthier definition of “value” might be to pay the least you can for a meal that is convenient, delicious, and healthy. Why include “oversized” in your definition? For those times when fast food simply makes sense, go for it – just keep yourself on track by reading the menu carefully and staying focused. You can do it, no matter where you end up. You might as well enjoy it!

I'm just flat out too chicken to travel to MX. Nobody in my family would support that decision. I've just barely gotten my husband to support having it done in the states. But really I thought paying cash for the surgery was going to be 20K + because that's how much one of my local bariatric hospitals charge. Then I started googling cash pay gastric surgery in OK because I saw that you had yours done in FL for what I thought was a pretty reasonable price. I found a surgeon and hospital who will do it for $10,000 and they are only 2 hours away from me. It was then that I actually had some hope. I can't swing $25K but I think I knew I could finance the $10,000. Then I realized that there is potentially another $2500 to pay! I'm really going to be stretching it. I am thankful that they are relatively close to me.

Check with Bariatric Pal MX hospital, they seem to be very transparent with their pricing etc. Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

I found these 10 bariatric recipes that look amazing! I've never used wonton wrappers before, but I'll be trying for the first time very soon! The chicken cordon blue ones sound the best! https://www.barilife.com/blog/10-single-serving-meals-you-need-in-your-bariatric-life/

I have ordered a few things and want to share with others. After quite a bit of research I made the decision to go with the Unjury protein powders and vitamins for post op. They have a "starter kit" with all 6 flavors (one is high protein chicken soup) and most of the vitamins needed for first 90 days. www.unjury.com These are medical grade protein products made specifically for bariatric surgery patients. From what I've read, people tolerate them very well post op and everything I've read says they taste good too. Insert fingers crossed emoji here! LOL! I can let you know when my order arrives. The site also has recipes for things like "strawberry banana pops" that sound good. I also got a water consistency high protein drink for post op called "Isopure zero carb". 40 g protein and no sugar. I like the blue raspberry flavor, COLD. I don't need ice, but room temp doesn't do it for me. Otherwise, I like it a lot. For pre op I bought BioChem Whey Isolate protein, unflavored. I already use it in my smoothies. 22 grams protein and no sugar, 90 calories. It has a vanilla flavor and is somewhat sweet alone. I usually add fruit to mine to sweeten and for the fiber and vitamins. They do have a vanilla flavored choice with cane sugar in it. I found that too sweet with fruit. Going to try the Premiere protein drinks pre op too but haven't picked them up yet. I've seen others have researched further along than I have. I still have no idea what I'm going to do when I have to puree! I'll get there. Any thoughts and ideas are welcomed! I tried to buy things that will be easy to put together because I'll have limited help after surgery. Start my pre op "shrink the liver diet" next week. I've noticed a lot of products for bariatric patients include sugar substitutes and I'm struggling with this because I already KNOW I'm addicted to sugar and carbs (bread & pasta). 50% of me wants to be able to give up these foods altogether. The other 50% of me has no idea if I can really do it! LOL!!! Thoughts?

HEY! I’m having the VSG May 23rd!! Has anyone gone to Mexico to get it done? If you have, how was it? What is your thoughts

Okay, now you've got me thinking. . . I tried to look up the quality of the two places. Even though I have heard from people who have had surgery in both places and loved their programs. The one I've started is a comprehensive center, while the other is a low-acuity center (which I don't quite understand--but I do know I am going into a specialized clinic and I think the other is part of a hospital setting). (the ratings are from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery). I looked up my surgeon vs the one I'd have if I switch. Mine is older, and thus has more experience, and is also a specialist in the GERD clinic they have there (I have a nasty hiatal hernia caused by gastritis/GERD) His name is followed by "M.D., FACS," so his training has been more rigorous. There are 3 other surgeons (all FACS) there as well. In the other program they have one doctor, an M.D. I don't know about the long-term followup in the one I've started, other than that follow-up appointments are required and support groups recommended. One of my big frustrations right now is being too far away to get to support group meetings because I can't drive at night (and these are dark, lonely, country highways). But I don't know if the new one I'm looking at even has support groups, I have searched the web and can't find anything, even though it is a much bigger city. Hmmmm... I'm starting to like the idea of sticking with where I am and then transitioning the aftercare.

Yeah but no one closer does RnY! My local hospital started in November doing lap band and sleeve, that's not what I require. I'm already on Dexilant for my GERD, gastritis and Hector my little baby ulcer from too many NSAIDS. Trying to keep him asleep so he doesn't grow and either bleed or perforate someday. Thank goodness I have insurance because Dexilant,costs $350 a month and that's at Wal-Mart where medicines are cheaper, they would charge much more at the other local pharmacies. I have gone through 2 sets of bariatric requirements, only 1 requirement I could do locally, the rest back and forth to Columbus. Why have I not had surgery yet? You would have to ask the stupid son of Seabiscuit the Horse who capriciously kicked me to the curb February 20th. The excuse I was given was so bogus, basically he and his 2 partners had themselves a little meeting and decided they didn't want to do my surgery. I'm sure Medicare/Medicaid paid them and all the other doctors I was sent to for consults handsomely.What did I get out of it? The fuzzy end of the lollipop, sorrow, frustration and a temporary lowering of my self-esteem. I cried for a few days, picked myself up, dusted,myself off, looked myself in the mirror and said F*** the 3 of them, I'm going to still have this surgery, called the 2 other Center of Excellence hospitals in Columbus, made appointments, attended 1 seminar Match 9th, liked what I heard, filled an application and in April 25th I have an appointment with OSU staff psychologist Dr Kramer for 2 hours 10AM-noon, after that since program#1 released everything to them, signed a release form March 9th, barring any further questions or requirements I could have surgery in May. That's how things stand now, I don't drive so the transportation I've had to be ingenious about, called in past favors, been transported by my local senior citizen center and once had to hire a taxi,from local transportation company, that I'm still paying off in increments. They aren't as worried about that as I am, they don't have to come up with the money and besides they know where I live. There is the current status of the Frust8tion Kid, ME[emoji13] Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

My insurance required me to go to a "Blue Distinction Center" for Bariatric surgery. I had to go about 3.5 hours away. It was a hassle. You don't realize how many appointments there will be. My insurance didn't require much, but I had to go up for a initial consultation, nutrition class, a bariatric class, a pulmonary clearance (and it had to be from the doctor's that would be monitoring me after surgery), pre-surgical appointment, pre op testing, and then all of the after surgery appointments. 1 week, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year. If you do the math, that is a lot of visits to a doctor that isn't nearby. I know that 50 miles, isn't 3.5 hours but... just keep in mind that you will have to go many times. There is already enough stress around surgery, and traveling doesn't lighten the load.

Sounds like he should have been run out of town on a rail instead of slinking off into the sunset and leaving you people high and dry! [emoji20] I suppose he kept his medical licence current, people like that usually do. Does he have. no shame,or compassion for anyone? I don't even know the dude but I'm angry on your behalf! Bariatric Pal people are my friends and I don't like my friends trifled with.[emoji107] Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

Haven't been back to see him[emoji107] since, figured at 72 and sexually continent at this point, dang it, not enough,is going,on down there to require a Pap test. If I had an unquenchable desire to have one My PCP could do it, and. Medicare wouldn't pay for one after 75 anyway because then they don't think it mandatory. And my PCP is pretty polite, if he isn't I call him "Junior" and he usually backs down. In fact he's one of my biggest cheerleaders when it comes to me having bariatric surgery. Said not only would I feel better about myself physically and emotionally, he' d like to keep me as a patient for many more years. He said that and then I swear, we both blushed, well at my age it could have been simple flushing but I accepted it anyway.[emoji13] Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app