Search the Community

Ok, I know for some of the pre-ops that attending meetings are required to qualify for surgery...but for those of us who are now on the other side... Do you willingly and happily attend bariatric group support meetings? If so, how often do you have these meetings in your area? Does your doc office run them or are they independent?

Yesss! Bariatric pal makes a protein meal replacement and it’s soup instead of a shake and I think it would be nice to have that as a savory alternative. They have pretty good reviews too but I think there are other brands that make them too.

Yes, collagen is the most abundant protein in the body, but that doesn't mean it's the miracle protein solution to add to a supplement. Heck, nitrogen is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere, that doesn't mean it's the best gas to breathe in. Did you know there was a time that cigarettes were actually prescribed by doctors to treat emphysema? A favorite discussion on this forum in the past was how the low fat or sugar free foods we used to eat had more calories than the normal versions. But people bought those products in droves because we wee told that fat was bad and carbs were bad because at the time there was allegedly extensive and rapidly growing body of scientific research supporting their claims. But as time went by, those research studies were proven wrong and turned out to be funded by the people selling the very product to solve the epidemic at the time. Ever notice on a bag of pork rinds that it states "Not a significant source of protein" even though the nutritional label says there are 8 grams per 100 calories? It's because the FDA requires them to put it there: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=101.9 To quote the relevant part: In lay terms, amino acid composition of pork rinds sucks. PDCAAS is the standard used here, which compares the quality of the protein to milk protein. Pork rinds (collagen protein) are full of fairly useless amino acids and severely lacking in a lot of the important ones. Adding Collagen to a protein blend is truly nothing more than filler. A cheaper way for people (any people, not just bariatric patients) to help their joints with a supplement would be glucosamine. Don't get me wrong, I know you are just offering a product Alex because you have a business to run. But the way you copied/pasted the marketing material as a post makes it look like an endorsement.

I believe there are many factors for length sizing, height, ethnicity and if it’s a revision vs 1st time bariatric surgery. I’m scheduled for Apr 11 and discussed length size with my doctor.

Cyclical, I think you're smart to check out as much research as possible. I do think you're jumping to a lot of conclusions, however. Vomiting isn't necessarily something you'll ever do after surgery. I haven't vomited even once. Haven't experienced any nausea. Have overeaten a couple of times and felt things back up a little. Did a little walking and deep breathing and the sensation went away within a half an hour...and taught me to avoid overeating. While people do typically hit ketosis during the liquid diet phase....you're only talking a couple weeks. You do not have to follow a ketogenic diet post surgery. I sure don't. Some folks do, and do great with it. But there are plenty of surgeons who will work with people who don't want to go the keto route. My diet is similar to Mayo Clinic Diet. Calcium malabsoption could cause dental issues....but again, that's very manageable with monitoring and taking vitamins. My labs at 3 months were all perfect. Good vitamin levels. Perfect sugar. Obviously, results are going to vary and yes, there are risks. But remaining obese is not without serious risk,either. Risk-vs-Benefit...in my opinion....strongly favors having bariatric surgery.

I saw that episode...and that dude's mouth had serious issues before he ever had surgery. The surgery might have put them over the edge due to Calcium malabsorption, but they were not healthy before hand. Happy to report I've had no dental issues since my sleeve. Just went in (my husband says to have my fangs sharpened..lol...normal people call it a teeth cleaning) and got a clean bill of dental health. I do think it's important to do two things though: 1. Keep up on your cleanings and check ups and floss well. Pay attention to your teeth. 2. Take your calcium and other vitamins as directed and follow up with having your labs checked on schedule. At 3 months, 6 months, a year, etc.. Make sure you're not vitamin D deficient, particularly if you live in the North where it's darker. If you are, make sure to correct your vitamin D to a normal level so you can absorb your calcium. Go to your rechecks! About the cancer thing.... First off, when reading your studies....make sure they are comparing incidence of esophogeal cancer in WLS patients to other obese patients. Second....the bariatric community....WITHOUT weight loss surgery has higher esophogeal cancer due to weight related reflux. Third....being fat is coorelated with dozens of other cancers and ups your odds of getting one.....so even if there was a little uptick of esophogeal cancer, you'd probably still be ahead with that risk than the risk you take being significantly overweight. Fourth....experienced surgeons are doing a better job of tightening hernias and preventing reflux in sleeve patients. Fifth...endoscopic screenings for esophogeal cancer could become a standard part of preventative care for WLS patients...and they're pretty easy to do....if more research determines more risk.

Hey also check,out BariatricPalMx.[emoji41]Hospital Alex Brecher the founder of Bariatric Pal was having a revision to mini bypass this week with Dr illan, if he trusts him with his own life the doctor has to be GOOD! And the prices there have got to be more reasonable than US or Canadian ones.[emoji13] Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

Hello! I have been fighting doing bariatric surgery for a few years now, but my health has gotten to the point where I have started to take medication for pre-diabetic that is going to be diabetes quick and my weight is not starting to effect my ability to be active, which I am VERY active. So I have made the decision to make some serious inquiries and research into it. I know I want something that is reversible, because I want help with the weight loss, but I really want to maintain it on my own. I went to the seminar at our bariatric surgery center to learn about the different types and the two that I am very seriously considering is the Lap-band and the Gasteric Balloon. I would like to step away from the medical professionals and get some real life input on what people's experiences have been with both. Things I am looking for are... Alcohol consumption (I know its not recommended, but can I really not have a glass of wine here or there?? I take clients out on a regular basis and I enjoy a glass) The Balloon states pretty much no carbs and a lot of veggies are out. So am I going to a liquid and meat diet??? What about physical activity of each??? Are any of you playing sports like softball, basketball, volleyball after you have the surgery? Do you feel any lightheadedness doing these type of activities? Any other issues with contact sports? Anything else that you all are willing to share to help me make a decision I would really appreciate.

Syntrax Nectar has coffee flavors with 20 grams of protein. I think there's other bariatric ones too! SW: 366 CW: 315 GW1: 200 RNY Dec 18, 2017!

Thank you for your comments, you are correct that the term Clinical Strength is a marketing term. While New Whey has been a leader in liquid protein since 2009, they have worked with consumers and medical experts to formulate an updated version specific to the needs of people on medical weight loss programs. Not only has their complete protein matrix been updated with a blend of collagen, whey, and casein proteins, but they have also added nutrients that are commonly deficient on medical/bariatric weight loss protocols (B12, Folic Acid, Calcium & Iron). As it relates to Collagen, although it is only part of their protein blend, it is a critical part. There exists an extensive and rapidly growing body of scientific research showing collagen to be beneficial relative to: Enhancement of body composition in combination with diet and exercise Increase in muscle mass as part of a structured strength training program Increase in fat loss in combination with diet and exercise Recovery of joint cartilage Strengthening of ligaments and tendons Helping to increase/augment skin elasticity Strengthening and growth of nails Helping to reduce wrinkles and fine lines Enhancement of wound healing Reduction of cellulite Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body and is rapidly absorbed, presenting in the bloodstream within 15 minutes of consumption, which makes it an excellent complement to the whey and casein proteins also in our protein matrix. Finally, we agree that protein powder is another good source of supplemental protein. Their focus, however, has always been to provide an incredibly convenient, concentrated liquid protein that users can transport easily, consume quickly with no mixing or no mess. There are many good ways to add protein to the diet.

Read this Today. Recent study of obesity and loss of taste buds. This is the conclusion half of article. So Dando looked at one more group of mice – a bunch of mutants that can't produce a molecule called TNF alpha, a compound that creates inflammation in the body. TNF alpha and other compounds that create inflammation are naturally higher in obese individuals – both humans and mice — and cause them to have a higher background levels of inflammation. Even when these mice became very fat, they also didn't lose any taste buds. "[It means] taste bud loss is really related to that inflammatory state," Dando says. That's a key finding, says Dr. John Morton, the chief of bariatric medicine at Stanford University, who was not involved in the new study. "We've known for a long time that obesity is a disease of inflammation," he says. "Before this study, we didn't know that there is a connection between inflammation and the proliferation of taste buds, and that actually leads to the decrease in taste sensitivity." It's important to note that this study was done in mere mice, but Morton says that the situation is likely the same for human beings, too. "In this particular circumstance, it's reasonable to make that extrapolation [to humans.] We've done human studies that have similar findings," he says. That blunting of taste may make it more difficult for obese individuals to adhere to certain diets, Morton says. With a diminished sense of taste, people need stronger, more richly flavored food in order to enjoy it as much as someone with 25 percent more taste buds. "Often that means more sugar and fat," Morton says. "And more calories." It's not a permanent loss, though. Studies on bariatric surgery patients show that they start noticing food tastes better and more intense a couple of months after their operation. "This is a two-way mechanism. Probably the opposite happens," Dando says. Taste buds do come back.

Bariatric Psychological testing- 2 hours with Dr Kramer April,25 2018. Martha Morehouse Pavilion Ohio State University-Wexner Medical Center Columbus Ohio. Yipee Yipee Yahoo![emoji14][emoji14] Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

so i met w my nut yesterday& went over the soft chew vitamins they recommend,bariatric advantage or celebrity.ive been researching& trying to compare prices & decide the best route to go.my nut says i need to have chewable for life & the sublingual b12/injection/spray.any advice or information on what everyone is doing both early on & yrs out would b so appreciated.thk u in advance.

Yep logicwand, B.P.and I had trouble with me signing in one day. After trying everything I could think,of to get back in I said,"ooh you frust8 me "and they ,let me back in good standing with a new nom de plume. Yep but I'm still doing business at the same bariatric roadstand. Some days I'm barely literate electronically but doggone if I'm still loveable as all get out.[emoji12][emoji12][emoji12] Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

Call the bariatric surgeon's insurance intake person and ask which pcp i your insurance group does the most referrals.

Need recommendations of primary care physicians who are Bariatric surgery friendly in Denver!

I need to find a primary care physician to write a medical necessity letter who has written them before. I moved to the Denver area and do not have one. I have a couple of co-morbidites, and am in the pre-op stage. I am at the 4 month wait period and need to get the letter ready to submit to insurance. How do I narrow the search down to find a primary care physician who does not have a problem with Bariatric surgery who will write the letter?

I think this is a topic that I can help you guys with. Many moons ago (almost 10 years), I got the Lapband. It was put in at my highest weight...385lbs. I lost about 115 pounds in about a year...then gained back about half of the weight over a period of two years. My band was filled way too tight. The only thing I could get down was junk food. I had lost my health insurance at the time...which is why I lived with it for so long. Fills were expensive, I couldnt afford to fill/unfill. I had terrible GERD. I couldn't sleep at night without spitting up fluid. I was taking antacids (prilosec, tums, etc..) every day! Long story short, I got insured again and went back to the doctor. I found out that my band had dilated my esophagus because it was too tight! They unfilled the band and life was good again. I could eat healthy food. I actually lost weight once I could eat other things besides sour cream, ice cream, and salads drenched in dressing. Anywhoo...A few months later, I got the revision to RnY. BEST DECISION I HAVE EVER MADE! The weight has come off slowly since the revision. Most revision patients lose slower than first time bariatric patients. It has been 2 1/2 years since my revision, and I am less than 25 lbs to my goal weight. I can eat healthy food with no problems. Broccoli, steak, chicken, green beans, apples...you name it...I can eat it. I now love whole foods and rarely touch junk food. One word of caution I have for everyone is that the surgery alone does not fix everything. In addition to the support of my bariatric medical team, I also do the following: 1. Psychotherapy: Address the reasons why you are a compulsive over eater. If you need weight loss surgery, you likely have a food addiction. Find out what is causing you to turn to food for comfort. I see a therapist bi-weekly. 2. Diet: Get rid of sugar, flour, pasta, bread, and rice. Those items are for thin people who need to maintain their weight. Not good for people who need to lose weight. Stick to proteins, vegetables, and a limited amount of fruit. 3. Exercise: Find some type of physical activity that you enjoy. Do it regularly. 4. Support: Whether it is spiritual or just a support group, find a community that understands the problems associated with obesity. It could be a church or a medical support group. I personally go to O.A. (overeaters anonymous) even though I don't follow "the steps". I go for the fellowship and the weekly reminder of where I came from...and where I want to go. Another tip... help answer questions on these boards. I don't do this often enough, but when i do, I find it is very therapeutic. Help yourself by helping others.

https://www.bariatriccookery.com/category/bariatric-budget-buster-recipe-2 Hey guys, I found this website and thought I would share it.

Well I'm here waiting on this seminar to begin. I was super excited driving here knowing this is finally the first step to the new and much improved me! I hope I get my first appointment soon after this. I am not a patient person at all. Something else I need to work on but just so excited!!!! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using BariatricPal mobile app

I had things documented via my bariatric surgeon (who transferred all of their docs to my plastic surgeon. They often work together). I had taken pictures of rashes for six months, but did not need them. Plastic surgeon took his own pictures of the skin and that was it. I'm guessing it was in combination of his recommendation and my bariatric surgeon.

I have not had surgery yet or been pregnant but I did ask my surgeon about pregnancy after surgery. It's my main reason for surgery. He said that I should continue to take my 4 vitamins a day (Bariatric Fusion) when pregnant and then take a prenatal on top of that. The 4 a day are for me and my needs, the prenatal is for the baby. Makes sense to me.

I am in OH-'' my guesses low BMI, no co morbidity, company deleted to save money (which is a DIRTY trick) hadn't worked at current employment long enough for coverage or somehow else fell between the cracks. Ohio Medicaid does pay for bariatric surgery, 3 months of nutritional consult etc. So otherwise your guess is as good as mine! And if you have the Obamacare, it's covered, when they added maternity coverage Bariatrics got "grandfathered" in. This was told to me by someone in the know Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

I lost 16 of the 17 lbs needed before my surgery. (no surgery date yet, but I do have a consult with my surgeon next month). I have been taking Jardiance for the last month, which helped me to get OFF of insulin and helped me to lose the weight. Then when I tried to renew the script for another month, I get denied. they said it's too soon! So until they release it, I have to go back to insulin. I've already gained back 4 lbs. will this set me back with my surgery date?? I should get the jardiance again in about 1.5 wks. so I know i'll lose again. but this is killing me! I worked so hard to get it off and POW! Anyone else have issues with regaining some of the pre-surgery weight loss? What did you do?do>tomm@comtechindustriesinc.com?

Would anyone be interested in a “bariatric care package” of sorts? Quick backstory- I was sleeved on 1/23 and have been doing great! One “side effect” (I guess you could call it that) is that anything with preservatives, sugar substitutes, and the like tastes AWFUL to me. I am basically only eating meats, fruits, veggies, nuts- that type of stuff. The only problem I have with this is that prior to my surgery and shortly after post-op, I went balls to the wall and bought all these protein shakes, protein soups, protein lemonades, vitamins, Crystal Light, etc that I now have no use for because I physically cannot tolerate the taste. I was wondering if anyone would be interested in some of the products, free of cost? I would basically just throw a bunch of different stuff in a box and ship it to you. It would be great for people who are pre-op and aren’t sure of what to buy or what you might like or dislike. If you’re interested, please PM me and let me know! I wanna get all of this stuff out of my house ASAP! HW: 252 SW: 239 CW: 214 GW: 145 or lower Height: 5’3 Age: 31 Blog: https://fearlessagentofchange.wordpress.com Twitter: hd_buttahz Instagram: agenthdbuttahz