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If I am reading the original post correctly....the OP is looking for "medical clearance" not a referral. Totally different. Medical clearance is your primary physician telling your bariatric surgeon that surgery will be safe. I had to have blood work, chest x-ray and EKG. Has nothing to do with a letter recommending WLS. OP.....do you see any other doctor that can order these tests? Gyno? Endocrinologist? Maybe your bariatric surgeon can recommend a doctor who can help you. Your primary doesnt have to agree with your decision to have surgery, he/she just has to agree that your are health/stable enough to undergo the procedure. Hope this helps!

While I was going through the prep, I only told two people. When I was approved and a surgery date scheduled, I told a few more people, figuring the gossip line would let everyone else know. Not until about 50 loss, did anyone comment. I readily told them I had bariatric surgery. Their first response generally was "I know someone else who had that surgery and they had _____ complications." Now after five months and 80 pounds, I want to discuss my surgery with anyone who has an interest. I want to be an advocate for WLS. People are going to ask how you are losing so quickly. And as in my case, those who didn't ask, assumed I had cancer or some other bad thing wrong with me. Don't fool yourself by thinking no one is going to notice or ask. I think the biggest struggle with telling or not telling is the fear of what feedback you are going to get. Most of it will be positive. But then there are uneducated (uneducated in bariatric surgery) people who will say something stupid or hurtful. When this happens, you have one of two choices. You can either allow that stupid/hurtful comment to chip away at your self-esteem or you choose to realize that this person has no clue as to what they are saying. Trying to educate them more than likely will be useless, because they know everything about everything. But you can try. Don't give these negative people the power to make you feel bad about yourself. The most hurtful thing someone can say to me is that I took the easy way to weight loss. This has only happened once. My response was "I respect your opinion, but you have no idea what you are talking about." And I left it at that. I did not give that person the power to make me feel bad. I put a lot of hard work into my weight loss. My surgery is only a tool. Generally, when someone belittles you, they are trying to make themselves feel better and more superior to you. They themselves suffer from low self-esteem and the only way they can feel better about themselves is to belittle someone else. This is not your issue, but theirs. Don't allow this to be your issue. I was married to a bully for 17 years who made me feel I was lower than the grunge build up at the base of the toilet. It took a divorce and five years of counseling before I finally realized that there was nothing wrong with me - it was him all along! Just don't give away your power to anyone who doesn't deserve it.

It isn't an essential part of the process, but more of a preference on the part of your surgeon. The extensive pre-op diets that some docs impose doesn't really shrink the liver, but is said to help reduce the fatty/slimy coating that is often present on us fatty liver/obese patients. My doc doesn't do the major pre-op diet program, just the day before clear liquids bit, but then he also does liver transplants aside from his bariatric practice, so I guess he is used to dealing with livers in crappy condition. He said my liver was in good shape when he was in there (and I gained a little in the weeks leading up to surgery, for what that's worth!)

I'm just starting the 6 month program required by my insurance (BCBS NC). I am currently working in PA but I live in NC. I'll be in PA through the end of this year and into 2015. Because of work and the travel I have to do, this is the best opportunity for me to have surgery because this is the longest I'll be in one place. My surgeon's office is aware of the fact that I will not be here long post op and I will be transferring my post op follow up care back to NC for long term. Has anyone else had a situation similar to this? There is a very, very slight possibility work could require me back in NC before my surgery. Has anyone else had their 6 month program in one place and surgery in another? I'm going to talk more about this with my surgeon but I'd like to hear from actual patients as well. The PA hospital I am planning to have my surgery at is a Blue Distinction center for bariatrics and there is one in my home town as well so insurance covers both locations.

I did not mourn food. The closest I got to that was during all liquids when I got to the point where I just wanted to chew. I like to cook and I'm okay with trying recipes that have the same flavors but are more nutritious and have fewer calories. I wonder if it's because of where I was at in my journey to health when I got sleeved. I had already changed a lot about my diet by the time I decided on WLS. Having food allergies that land you in the ER or in a medical coma changes how you view food. I'm okay with eating the smaller portions on a bariatric diet. Even better now that I am sleeved I can actually have 1 cookie and be okay.

Well SHOOT!! I typed all of my stuff and lost it!! I have heard people say that my WLS didn't work. I don't totally agree with this. But like was said it is the choices that we make. Now the Lap Band failing I have 1st hand in knowing about. As you see my hubby had his for 13 years. He lost 100#'s with it but never met his goal. Yes, he did eat around it but it also was damaged during a fill, more surgery. Then in 2013 he went in for a revision to a RNY. It had eroded into his liver. Failed surgery. Then he got abscesses. Was deathly sick for 9 months 3 of which he doesn't remember. His Surgeon dropped him in the middle of his treatment, told him to go to his PCP or the ER. But hubby was so desperate he went back to this Dr again. Then he told him that he was a PROBLEM CHILD and he wouldn't do the surgery. He referred him to Portland, Oregon OHSU one of the best Bariatric Centers. They said they would try to do the RNY but he needed to lose 25#'s and get his A1C down to a 7 or 8. Which doesn't sound to hard right. He couldn't do both, if his Blood Sugar was good his weight went up and the same for his weight down BS up. In the mean time we find out he has Kidney Cancer but there is nothing they can do until he loses 150#. So down to Mexico self paid surgery. When they get in there he couldn't do the Rny because his whole right side is solid scar tissue so he gets the SLEEVE. This was June 3, 2016 to this day he has lost 60#'s. So pardon me when I say it isn't always easy to get another WLS. It makes me so mad when I hear someone say well, I'll jus ge a revision if it doesn't work out. We don't always get what we want. Now I'm not saying he did everything he could to lose his weight but darn the problems his weight has caused us!!! So I guess I'm saying in some cases yes a revsion is in order but if it is just because THE WLS didn't work, then they do need to go thru more counseling to make sure that their mind is on what needs to be done!!

OK Alex...looks like folks are interested. Lisa and I have been discussing the topic offline and we can certainly help with whatever you might need from us. Yes, an agenda driven meeting would be better than just sitting and chatting. It worked for us because we were a small group. Larger numbers and it runs into issues where people bunch up into smaller groups and it's just a gabfest. I very much like the idea of guest speakers from the medical community, nutrition and exercise community, and even psychological community. We could have discussions around topics we talk about here..not just what should I eat and what should I be losing but things like body image, spousal/family/friend support (or lack of) stress and avoiding emotional eating, how to deal with nosy coworkers...oh gosh there's so much out there to talk about. Have you discussed any of this with Dr. Ren or anyone else at the practice? I'm thinking in terms of a resource of both medical professionals and bariatric patients. I understand Dr. Fielding used to take folks out to dinner to give them hints and guidance on how to eat out. Alot of people are afraid to eat out and I thought it was a great idea to take people and show them that they can eat out successfully. I don't know if I'd want to be a leader or co-leader especially as I couldn't speak to the majority of bandsters with fills, but I'd be more than happy to work more behind the scenes in terms of organizing. I seem to be pretty good at that as long as I call ahead to make sure the cafe is actually open.... OK then...just let me know what I can do to help.

Turquoisekaty, thanks for the tip of mixing instant coffee with your shakes. That is a GREAT idea! My surgery is on the 14th, and I've been on the protein shakes for a week now. I am really missing my Starbucks!! Carriekos, My doc told me to get either Premier Protein shakes or Bariatric Advantage. I got the Premier Protein shakes at Costco, and they're good, so I haven't tried Bariatric Advantage. My doctor lets me have sherbet in the preop diet, so what I've been doing is mixing a little orange sherbet with the vanilla shake. It tastes like a Creamsicle! So good!!

Hello I had a great sleeve experience with Dr. Aceves on June 16. Can you please tell me what are your follow up plans with a local bariatric specialist in the us now that you are home? Did you have any trouble since you had the surgery in Mexico? I am asking this because I was in the ER two nights ago (internal hemorrhoid not related to surgery) and the ER doctor was asking me all sorts of questions as to my aftercare I have planned now that I am home. He made it clear to me that although I can get a referral to a bariatric specialist, the doctor may not accept me as a patient since I had surgery in Mexico . Thoughts?

you're what we in the bariatric community call a "lightweight" (I don't know what the actual weight requirements are to be considered a "lightweight", but I'd say under 250 lbs). Lightweights lose slower than us heavier folks because they have a lot less to lose. I know you read about people losing 30 lbs the first month, but those folks are few and far between and usually weigh over 300 lbs. Your body's going to lose at the rate it wants to lose. The only control you have is to stick to your program. I was a "slow loser", and I have lost 227 lbs. It'll come off, whether fast or slow, if you stick to your program.

I would LOVE to help out by leading or co-leading a Bariatric Pal group in my local area. I used to attend support group meetings in a small city about 20 min from me, but they were all bypass patients and the group wasn't very band-friendly. There is a local support group (new surgery center at our local hospital), but they don't deal much with post-surgery life. They do have good sessions on cooking, etc, but deal mostly with that subject and sometimes Q&A. I am VERY interested in the certification program as well - I believe that would help others in the support community take us more seriously. Here are the more organized answers to your questions: Would you be interested in attending regular local chapter meetings in person? Absolutely YES Would you be interested in being a leader (or co-leader)? Yes - I believe I can be helpful Would you like BariatricPal to provide agendas for meetings? Yes - a framework can be very valuable What additional support could BariatricPal provide to encourage your participation and/or leadership? I love the idea of the certification program Should there be limits on the minimum and maximum numbers of members that each Local Chapter can have? Minimum - perhaps 5, built up over a specified period of time. It would be helpful to have the Chapters promoted here, and possibly through the surgeons in the area. Certification would help with their comfort level on this. What other ideas do you have? Incorporate activities like a Clothing Swap within each group; Shopping trips or having someone come in to discuss where to find clothing while transitioning; coaching / training on how to discuss your decision with family and friends; role-playing to help patients deal with bullies, saboteurs, etc; alternatives and plans for exercise based on patient's current physical condition - often standard "gyms" and trainers can be very intimidating; alternatives to grocery shopping (one of my local grocery stores has a delivery service and a pick up service - could be very helpful for avoiding temptation in the stores).

Get back touch with your Bariatric team. They will be able to analyze what's going on with you and your journey. Please, give them a call, make an appointment and come back here and let us know their recommendations. We really care. We're just not familiar enough with your program to be of any real help. We can only generalize. You and your journey probably just need a little "tweaking". You can do this. You already are...

I know everyone's surgeon/nutritionist's post op/lifetime eating plans are different. I see most folks are told to eat 3 meals plus snacks in between and second most popular seems to be ~6 small meals a day. My plan is 3 meals a day no snacks and to only supplement protein with protein shakes if need be, not on the regular. I admittedly have been having snacks in between meals like a cheese stick or something strictly high protein, everything I consume has protein, no empty calories. I cannot fathom how to get the required protein in only three post-op sleeve size meals a day. The only way I can imagine is if you eat something every meal that you add protein powder to. My manual even states that at the point I am now I should be able to get in all the required protein through food alone. I say BS if you aren't allowed a snack in between. I was curious if anyone else has this type of plan and what you think, even more curious if you follow it and how you do it? I am still losing and just had my first stall the past two weeks which broke this week, even during my LB stall I was still losing circumference so I know I'm doing OK I guess I want reinforcement. My surgeon's office also said they expect their patients to eat 600-800 (which is where I'm at) calories a day and after everything I've been reading and from this forum I think that is wrong. It seems the most successful of the bunch are into the 1000 cal/100gms protein range. My surgeon and his handiwork are excellent and I'm very pleased, but the nutritionist and bariatric nurse I feel are not progressive sticking with older ideals. I didn't go through this and pay all this money to have a couple of thin years then not be able to keep it off because I can't stick to starving myself! Just a little frustrated!! =/

Mostly because it's poisonous and acidic. Also, some post bariatric patients experience discomfort from carbonated beverages.

Alex, great idea for local BP chapters, meetings, etc. As a physician and as a VSG patient, I could assist in this process. Also, my surgeon is one of the leading surgeons/Bariatric surgeons/ endoscopic pioneers. Maybe there's some way to partner. How might this discussion be furthered re: "details," once you might have some? Again, great idea.

I would be interested. There are several bariatric surgery groups in the St. Louis area that regularly hold support meetings.

If that comes thru, that is the bariatric surgeons' comment in my medical records and that one item is true (so many things I had to correct). I've been noting up the times he wrote in the records that I had pain after surgery and I was left for months with it. He said it was because I wasn't eating. I said if you got rid of the pain, I would eat. He even acknowledged I gained weight after getting rid of the gallbladder.

You might be a candidate - if your bmi is at least 35. You can check your bmi here: Calculate your BMI - Standard BMI Calculator I was banded in Mexico at the OCC (Dr. Ortiz) because I didn't fulfill my insurance's requirements - my bmi was about 40, but I hadn't been that heavy in the previous two years. To get banded at the OCC you just need a bmi over 30. I'm getting my next fill in nyc - at nyu bariatric. They have an excellent surgical team. Check them out here: Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass - Types of Surgery - Surgical Weight-Loss by Laparoscopy, NYU Medical Center Good luck! Susan

I am having mine on 12/18. My bariatric Dr said he could install a low profile port. My plastic surgeon said he didnt think it was necessary that he could work around it.... so I am going to leave it alone and hope for the best. My port isnt very visable all the time... just occasionally.

My daughter had the bypass surgery. She lost 100 pounds in 6 months. However, she did have a dumping problem and unknown to her she had ulcers in the part of her stomach that was bypassed. This is a real issue for people who have a tendency to have stomach ulcers. Her ulcer went undiagnosed. They thought the horrible pain was a gall bladder attach. She had her gall bladder removed on a Thursday and died on the following Saturday of a perforated ulcer in that part of her stomach. So, for my husband (who had the sleeve done in August) and myself, having the sleeve on January 16th, there was no problem deciding. We went with the sleeve. Not everyone has this problem, but if you have severe pain, even years after, it is imperative that you get to an emergency room and have them call your bariatric surgeon. It could save your life.

NO. They make them for bariatric patients as well! They will be slightly tight, but that is how they are supposed to be!

Hi Sterf, I am in the beginning stages of getting approved by Kaiser for WLS. I was told by a coworker that has had the surgery that one of the things I need to be sure to do is to speak up. Her doc would not approve her for the referral until she was able to ask directly. I made an appointment to see my PCP and just took the bull by the horns. I didn't beat around the bush and I asked "I am interested in WLS. What do I need to do to start the approval process?". My Dr was very supportive even though I've only seen her once prior. She told me that I needed to attend the Weight Loss Surgery Overview class (free) first and that after the class I could ask her for the referral. I went to the 2 hour class and then contacted her to let her know that I still was interested. The class gives you the info in a "clinical" way, just straight info, no frills. LOL It was at this class that I learned that Kaiser does three types of surgery: RNY, Lap Band, and the Sleeve. The info I got there has me interested in the sleeve over the RNY. Now I wait to be contacted by the Bariatric Surgery Dept and go through their approval process. I understand it takes 6 months. They want you to take some classes, join a support group, lose some weight, meet with a psychologist, and some other things. I learned that Kaiser will use your highest weight in the past year to determine your "qualifying" BMI. They don't penalize you for losing weight as they want you to anyway. The class will give you all the info, but you have to be direct and ask your PCP for the referral to the class. Big hugs to you. It's intimidating but no one is going to give you the surgery unless you are able to speak up and be an active participant. As for family. I've only told a few (my mom, husband, daughter) and a few friends. Based on the reaction from some of my friends who haven't had WLS, I won't be having an ongoing discussion with a couple of them. I need support, not someone to second guess me. I've talked with friends and coworkers that have had WLS (no one has had the sleeve - all RNY'ers) as I am interested in their experience. But beyond that, I'm not ready to talk to people about it. It's a decision I've made based on very personal issues. I can't expect others to understand, so I don't want to defend how I feel. They will find out soon enough Let's keep in touch. We're so close in the process, it'd be nice to have someone close to the same timeline. ~Kari

Hello everyone, I'm new to this website and just in the investigation stage -- Thank you for your positive thoughts and advice. I am 60 years old and have battled with my weight all my life. I have contacted my insurance (and they do cover lap band surgery) and have contacted the local bariatric surgical clinic (which has mandatory meetings with other surgery patients, psycologist, nutritionist, etc.). I looked into this surgery about 2 years ago but "chickened" out and said I could lose weight by myself -- NOT!! I recently became a grandma and have a reason to make myself healthier. I am now ready to make the commitment and take care of myself

Glad to know I wasn't the only one. My husband of 32 years was absolutely, positively against this surgery. I am absolutely positive that his objections were due to fear of losing me, meaning death. My surgery was 11/12/12 and I am down 90+ lbs. and still happily married. I had thought long and hard about this for about 9 months. When I finally told him about my intentions he was mad. Then when I told him I had called the insurance to find out if it was covered he had problems that I hadn’t discussed it with him (furious is a good word). I explained my reasons and there were many. He went with me to the doctor visits and he did ask questions. Then my gallbladder decided it was wanting to come out and my bariatric surgeon did the surgery. I ended up in ICU because I’ve always had a bleeding problem. Everything was fine though. I pointed out repeatedly that this was a sign that I would be okay. He didn’t buy it. He started coming with me to the monthly WLS group meetings. I’d get excited and he would just always bring me down. We argued about this for about 6 months. At that time I did have to wait the 6 months for insurance reasons. My knees popped out on me in February and I ended up being taken out of my work in an ambulance and staying overnight in the hospital (I tore my meniscus, but not enough for surgery). One of my arguments had been that I have arthritis in my knees and the surgery will help. I was on a walker for 3 months and then physical therapy and onto a cane. I was waiting for him to say something about understanding my reasons for the surgery. Never came and we had another “discussion.” Then his health changed (Sarcoidosis) and I made the appointment to take him to Mayo Clinic. I cancelled my surgeon’s appointment for this and this was the one where I was going to get my surgery date. When we came back, I started with the hematologist and specialists for the bleeding. We were still having our discussions. I changed yet another appointment to take him back to Mayo in June. He had lost 60 lbs. since December without trying (ironic isn’t it?). He was fine and they attributed the weight loss to stress and the Sarcoidosis. I rescheduled my surgeon’s appointment and got a date for July 7. His reaction in the doctor’s office was not good (he was also on 40 mg/day of Prednisone). Well, the hematologist called me said I had to cancel the 7/9 surgery. I was devastated. He wasn’t. I went for more testing and just needed a filter put in, platelet transfusions before surgery and no blood thinners. I was ecstatic. He wasn’t. I scheduled my appointment with the surgeon yet again. I also had another chat with my husband. We have always respected each other’s opinions. It was very, very difficult for me to be doing something that I know he was so against. However, I had reached my limit. I told him it was my body, my business and that I was doing this not just for me, but for us. I wanted to live longer and be able to travel and do more things. I also suggested we meet with the therapist that I had to see before the surgery. We went and the therapist said he wanted to see my husband again without me. This therapist was a life saver. My husband is still going to see him once a week. The therapist helped him through the surgery (he was on the phone with him during the surgery). It was the best decision for both of us. My husband is still on the Prednisone but not as much. I do know this was a contributing factor to the harshness of his reactions. He has had some problems with my eating after the surgery. I wasn’t quite on the schedule that the surgeon gave me and I finally told my husband that I wasn’t going to eat to please him. I was going to eat what I can and get over it. We are okay and he is seeing that I’m doing more than I used. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat! Sorry for the life story here. During all this, I was looking on this site for anyone else experiencing the same thing. I didn’t find anyone.

I was taking the Flintstones and didn't mind them, however, I recently bought the Bariatric Advantage "Band" kit. The multi's are actually pretty good and has a lot more Vitamins in them then the Flintstones. But all in all, I take multi vitamins, calcium, Vitamin C and Iron, all chewables.