Search the Community

Hi there, I am new to the forum and I have been considering getting a bariatric procedure. I have struggled with my weight for most of my adult life. I have tried everything I can to lose weight, but I seem to just keep getting bigger. The vanity of it is one thing, but now my bloodwork is showing me some scary realizations about myself. High cholesterol, very high triglycerides, slightly high readings on the liver enzymes (I think that's what it is, but I am not 100% sure what it means other than it's high), and my fertility hormones are all out of whack. I don't want to be this way anymore, but everything I try, I just can't succeed at because I am so hungry all of the time! It's frustrating! Even right now... I just ate a healthy, satisfying meal only 2 hours ago and I feel like my stomach is about to turn itself inside out just to get some more food. I considered having the sleeve procedure done a few years ago, but decided against it because I did not want to have an operation. My mother mentioned that she's heard some good things about the ESG procedure and I just wanted to get some feedback on what it is like on the patient side. I have done my internet research, but that can only get someone so far. I'd like to know if anybody has any negative feelings about it after having it done and of course, I'd love to hear any positives. I live in southwest florida and there is a big bariatric surgery center one city over, but it doesn't look like they have the ESG. Does anyone in Florida know of where I can get it done in Florida? I have started corresponding with a place in Houston, but I'd like to try to stay as local as possible. Any advice?

I’m almost 3 months post op and I have been cleared to swallow pills since my 6 week follow up. Recently I purchased a new Bariatric vitamin after seeing a recommendation from Alex on here. I bought mine on Amazon for free shipping. Just have to say, I’m loving the 1 pill a day. I love not chewing the chalky vitamins. And the cost couldn’t be better. Also, I take a calcium & vitamin d combo twice a day with breakfast and lunch.

I would have been dumb enough I would have asked if they had been in an car accident. Shoot I asked my friend T if she had cancer when all she had was Bariatric surgery. Facepalm,to the forehead on that one![emoji38] Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

Good, I've only been on Bariatric Pal a little over 4 months and I've learned oodles myself.[emoji13] Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

No durn it! I come with quite a story or emotional baggage, depending on how you take it. I have been through prerequirements not once but twice. After all that the 3 surgeons in that bariatric practice took a little vote and decided not to do my surgery. So I took my little hand and waved Bye Bye after being in their programs since August 2015. Now I am setting forth with attempt#3. I have an appointment with OSU staff psychologist Dr Kramer on April 25th. Depending on his approval, and who would turn down a sweet lady like myself, besides those 3 sons of Seabiscuit the Horse I was once affiliated with? When I get my approval it depends on whether I'll have any more hoops to jump through, my transcript does transfer but if they accept it all, May? Youve heard of the Million Man March? Turn on the 6 o'clock news, witness the 1 fat redhead picketing[emoji188] outside the front door of the OSU-Wexner Medical Center . I will be p*****d and vocal![emoji14][emoji779] Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

There are some other options for bariatric recipes. Just be sure they fit your plan. Bariatric foodie https://www.bariatricfoodie.com/ Inside karen's kitchen (my dieticians site) http://insidekarenskitchen.com/bariatric-friendly-recipes/ Becka the bariatric cheff https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyfRIAEWd2XLzRweLZnmDKA

I didn’t buy any bariatric specific cookbooks. I found all of my recipes on Pinterest for all stages. Searching things like “gastric sleeve recipes” or “puréed stage” etc etc got me a whole Pinterest board

Hey guys! Hope you’re enjoying your Sunday! For those that have already had surgery, did you have to take the Bariatric surgery class with Azra at Reston? My paper has that on there, but I wasn’t sure when I should do it or what all it entailed.

Has anyone purchased any of the bariatric cookbooks that are out there? I’ve seen some on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Any recommendations?

And Alex would be flattered to know you think all good things originate on Bariatric Pal, we were his brainchild until we grew into fruition. And still much of his lifework![emoji13] Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

Yes you are NORMAL! No matter how hard you study, plan and want something there is a little bit of unknown still there[emoji37]You would not be human if you didn't have ambivalent feelings the DAY before. Just watch me, my time should and hopefully will be May and the Brave Little Engine that Could will have her own whimwahs. Sure I can talk the talk but can I truly walk the walk when it's time? Sure hope so! You have to tell yourself,you are doing the right thing at the right time and for the right reasons. Mine may or may not be exactly the same but they are right for me. And yours will be for you. And if you cry when you read this, that's perfectly okay, Smile through your tears, you are [emoji179] on Bariatric Pal, you are all of our friend and you definitely matter! Now sit back, let the Bariatric Godmother give you a hug. Feeling all better? Good[emoji13]and[emoji173] Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

eghhhh so I solved my own problem by going to Google... https://asmbs.org/resources/estimate-of-bariatric-surgery-numbers I'm not sure why I thought it originated on bariatricpal but this is the one I was referring to

My future bariatric hospital treats their RnY patients that way. Sleevers, both kinds have to do the more traditional levels, maybe because of their. stitches or long staple line popping open easier? Don't know[emoji27]] but that's how I see it[emoji3] Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

Little Ms Hateful,must have a supervisor, kick It up if you have to! [emoji13]Funny, when I had UHC I had a liason person who was also a nurse to expedite things. It wasn't for Bariatrics but something else. And that was only a little over 2 years ago. Maybe corporate has gone downhill![emoji38] Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi abarr, hope there's none of your namesake Candy bars in your future. Know temptations are there but you and @ kandk are going to be triumphant in the. Bariatric Wars next week. Almost over but the shouting for you 2. Excitement reaching a peak yet? Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

(Hi there, have just signed up finally, and will post a proper intro later) I'm in Australia too (Adelaide). I've avoided "diet" foods and meal replacements until now because I'm sensitive to artificial sweeteners, soy, and MSG (in it's many hidden forms, yeast extract, hydrolysed protein etc) which trigger nasty headaches and migraines, and all diet foods contained one or more of these 10+ years ago. I looked at optifast ahead of my first surgeons appointment last week, and was disappointed to see it had aspartame and other artificial sweeteners, and MSG in their soups. At my first appointment with my surgeons bariatric physician I explained my intolerance of sweeteners and asked if there are any alternatives I can use in my pre-surgery liver-shrinking diet - she directed me to a fairly new Australian company called Formulite (I have placed an order online for both honeycomb and choc-hazelnut replacement shakes and will review them once I receive and sample them next week, the physician said she'd had the honeycomb one and it was very good). They have pre and pro biotics and are sweetened only with stevia. https://formulite.com.au/ Although it's only available for purchase online at this stage, this might be the best option for you if your intolerance is to the artificial sweeteners? Cheers, Taoz

I became intolerant of whey protein isolate. Anything containing whey made me extremely nausea, protein shakes, powder, bars etc. I tried different protein drinks, and found that the premade Muscle Milk Pro shakes don't bother me, and the chocolate tastes decent. The Muscle Milk and some other premade shakes, like Lean Shakes, EAS Advent Edge Carb Control & SlimFast, and I'm sure others use milk protein isolate as their main source of protein, and that seems to agree with me. I also bought some Medifast soups, bars & powders. Medifast mostly uses soy isolate. The Medifast items aren't as protein dense as the stuff using whey, but the ones I bought taste pretty good, so I'm happy with them. They are super expensive though. Once I'm through those I'm going to try some of the Bariatric Pal soups, and pastas, as they are mostly whey free, and less expensive. I also tried some vegan shakes, powders and bars. I found them to be absolutely vile. If you're going to try those, don't buy a case from Amazon like I did!

Never thought the term would be a compliment but on Bariatric Pal it is! My goal isn't in the normal range, that would be around 130 lbs and that's nearly 200 lbs away. Ain't gonna happen, that's still okay, I'd be satisfied with under 200 but thrilled if I could just make it to 175. [emoji13][emoji126][emoji178] Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

I'm supposed to be on a full liquid diet right now, but oy, this is hard. Protein shakes are making me want to gag, but even if I grin and bear it, I can't get a lot down because I start to feel so full. I am totally not accomplishing my goal of 60-70 grams of protein a day - not by a long shot. Broth is disgusting, too. So I'm living on Fairlife milk, blended with a little bit of protein powder, decaf hot tea, water and SF jell-o. This is my life. So many forums and other things I've read on websites say that the soft food stage can start on week 2. But I messaged my bariatric counselor at the Mayo Clinic and they said, no - stick to the plan - 2-3 more weeks to go on liquids. So - me, being the queen of rationalizing anything - think that I should stick a little toe into the water and start to dabble in soft foods/purees/mashies. I mean, at the very least, in order to help me reach my protein levels. I'm thinking a spoon full of hummus on one day, maybe some blended - very small curd - cottage cheese the other. And I also think this would help with my constipation. I'm not going because there's probably nothing in my system to even make it! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hey just a heads up, I also have Oregon BCBS (Regence) and they quit offering any benefits for bariatric surgery on January 1st. I’m self paid but I wanted to give you a heads up.

Lol done the same thing !!! In fact, my friend who had this done told me she did as well! I was really tired too of no caffeine and way less calories but it does get better. I also ordered bariatric vitamins ( multi, b12, and biotin). We can do this - only temporary !

Durned if I know for sure. My story is sad and convoluted. I finished one program in January 2016, my job terminated so lost primary insurance. Did not realize my secondary had less stringent requirements so I dropped out. Started back up in Autumn 2017 recompleted all prerequirements and was waiting on a surgery date. February 20th the 3 surgeon's in the practice had themselves a little meeting and unanimously voted not to be performing My surgery. Cried my fool eyes out for several days ,got back up and dusted myself off and started looking for alternate programs. Attended a Bariatric Seminar March 9th, decided to make an attempt there, a called back from OSU late last month. I have now a 2 hour appointment with OSU staff psychologist Dr Kramer on April 25th. Depending on how much if not all,of my credits transfer from other program and Dr Kramer gives me favorable assessment it could be sometime in May. If I have more to do maybe late May-early June. Wanted it completed before my class reunion in August, want all those people not to recognize the skimmer ME,I can become. Now you know a brief summary, in the meantime I cheer others on towards the Date[emoji414] of Destiny[emoji13] Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

I have 2 friends who have preceeded me to WLs, one sleeve and one RnY, seems strange in a city of 18,000 there aren't more. I can tell you in my own city and county there are MANY who could profit from bariatric surgeries, we tend to,be "corn fed" I would love to lecture them on the wisdom of Bariatrics then I remember I would not have appreciated it before. I took suggestions of weight loss as a personal attack, after all I was good enough a person already. I think you have to come to the decision for yourself, it is not something you are ordered to do!! My thought: You reach a point where surgery is less fearsome than continuing to live obese, sad and feeling society's rejection everywhere you turn. You are at best 2nd class citizens, bullied and reviled for nothing more than taking up more space in life than they are willing to grant you. Often they do not see the "you", they see a fat shell instead.I don't think I've been normal sized since puberty, and before that? Pudgy ,on the high side of average at best. Shoot at 1 year.I was 36 inches& 35 pounds, I was drafted into obesity before I was old enough to enlist. I was always "Big for Her Age" until puberty when the kindness stopped and I became only the Fat Red-headed chick on the outside of every group and clique around. I seldom dated,no guy wanted a girl who weighed more than them, not even the football and wrestling teams. And they all missed out,because even then size be d*****d I was and still am a wonderful person to know,smart, witty yet kind-hearted, if they had only given me a chance! But still I went on, if I couldn't be pretty, cute and perky,I could,be smart so I buried myself in books where I couldn't be misjudged. Anybody looking for someone who can recite the US presidents, name the 88 Ohio counties and tell an important fact about each one, recite the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence? No one else did either. At one time I could recite every Ohio Governor from territory through statehood and quote the length of term. But dance? The only ones willing to dance with me were my girlfriends, when a guy finally asked,me to dance I had an embarrassing tendency to Lead, well I always been the tallest so....... One said to me' Stop trying to lead", my answer was" One of us has to and I'm not too confident of YOUR ability!"Needless to say I was on the side lines, with all the other wallflowers soon. Now,after all the dings of life, bearing more than few scars , I present myself at the altar of Bariatric Surgery,begging to be granted an audience and the surgery I so earnestly went. Will I have success? I have every intention of it, a wise woman, I believe it was@ proudgrammy, said "There is only Do or Not Do, there is no Try! " So I move forward with the hard won courage of my life toward the Target, not running but firmly stepping each step to the conclusion.[emoji13] I can but hope there are others who will cheer me on but if not-- I am still,persevering . And I will be the very best ME I can be for at the finish,this is truly My Own Victory[emoji304],[emoji573]alone. [emoji13][emoji295] Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

Most bariatric surgeons want each patient to have the cpap machine. Anesthesia can be tricky for anyone, let along an overweight person. It just helps with recovery as well. I has trace of sleep apnea which means it was barely detected during my test but the docs said I had to have it since I was going through the bariatric program

No hon not personal at all im a more open book than a library i have maryland physicians care currently i am using dr friesen with gbmc i dont know who accepts medicaid i think hopkins will. I know they do for my sleep apnea stuff. So you can try hopkins beyview. Thats who my sleep dr recommend to my hubby for bariatrics Sent from my LGLS676 using BariatricPal mobile app