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I wish you all the best of luck. As someone who has suffered complications (from the lack of absorption of nutrients-) I call tell you this: take those supplements religiously and eat as well as you can. Even though I did this, I have several serious complications, but you can minimize your chances of this happening. And exercise! Im out 11 years but the complications started showing up at about 5 years. Get your blood work done every 6 monthes,no matter what your doctor says. And, by the way, always check with the Bariatric Community about what your doctor says, because they sometimes are not up to date. As an RN of 32 years I can tell you for certain that most doctors simply don't have time to read all the journals to keep fully up to date, But the Bariatric Community DOES.

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 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).

Hi everyone! I have been toying with the idea of a band for a few years now. I had started the process again in early March of this year then got diagnosed with Stage 1 Breast Cancer. I've gone through surgery, radiation and now I'm on a hormone blocking pill for the next 10 years. My cancer was 100% estrogen positive and we all know that fat stores estrogen. Right now weightloss is my top priority. My MO, PCP and Bariatric Surgeon all agree. I just wondered if anyone else has been in a situation similar to mine? I expect to be banded early October regardless of whether insurance covers it or not. A generous friend has offered to cover the cost for me. Weightloss can help prevent reoccurance and even with knowing this I still can't control my food on my own!

Hello Fellow January Bandsters! I have been silently watching everyone's posts and progress and chiming in once in a blue moon. I was banded on the January 31st and have only lost less than 15 lbs. since surgery. That is the real reason I haven't been posting - I'm embarassed that I am such a slow loser. I lost almost that much on the liquid diet two weeks prior to surgery, than I have in the last 3+ months. Although the total lost is around ~28 lbs., I keep beating myself up since I only average 1 lb. loss per week. I went in today for my 3rd fill. My doctor said that I am definitely one of those patients that will most likely have to be near full capacity to achieve the green zone status. With that being said, I now have 9cc in my 11cc band. He put in 5cc in March, 2cc in April, and 2cc today. I did tell my doctor that "I love you man!" - lol. I am so glad that he will do what I ask, but gives me fair warning that it could backfire (ie. get sick, throw up, need unfilled, etc.). I have always been such a slow eater. I truly pulvarize my food before swallowing - always have. My doctor loves that since it is great for the lapband. However, the food has been going through the band and not staying in the pouch very long. Therefore, I rarely ever get the feeling of being satisfied and unfortunately can eat anything and everything I want. I feel my portions are definitely not typical for a banded person. I am hoping and praying that with this fill and my lapband being at 82% capacity, that I will finally be unable to eat more than a small portion of anything going forward. I am truly looking forward to NOT being able to eat - lol. Who would have thought that? My hospital discontinued their bariatric support group literally a few months before my surgery due to the group leader moving. Therefore, there is no local support that I can find (north Georgia). In addition, I haven't told anyone that I even had surgery except my daughter and <out of state> cousin - neither of which truly understand. So, I've been on my own in this journey and not feeling successful as a result. I definitely need the support of all of you wonderful people. Thanks for reading - will try to be more active and accountable going forward. Have a wonderful week everyone!

JustDoIt130- thanks for asking... I went this morning at 8:30a for the upper GI and the dr said that my band is in place, BUT...here we go.... As he was watching the barium traveling down my esophagus, it was very slow which is why when I eat and drink it feels like a mack truck sitting on my chest. My esophagus is extremely swollen (my terminology) or bigger than what it should be which he says can lead to a esophagus spasm. Which happens when the esophagus starts acting like a muscle to try to move whatever is stuck in there out. To put this in perspective..it looks like I have a stomach on top of my band (the esophagus) and a stomach below my band. On a good note- I do not have reflux. Which means the prescription prilosec the ENT prescribed me really wasnt doing what I thought it was. He says because of my esophagus issues, its behavior would make one think I had reflux. So he is going to sent the results to my bariatric surgeon and go from there. Basically, he says that more Fluid needs to come out my band...but you know how protective we bandsters are about our FILLs and I am screaming, NO WAY is anymore fluid coming out. I bout had a fit when they took out .5ccs yesterday leaving me at a mere 6.7ccs in my band.

@@Eli Alexander You look AWESOME. @@Aprilhoffman78 I was low on iron and b12 which i got a shot for and just all vitamins in general. I take a bariatric multivitamin that I got at vitamin world chewable and grape flavored not the best but I just drink some water with it and it seems to be OK. Guess we just don't absorb the vitamins we use to. Forever he said i need to keep up on it.

If the Protein you are using doesn't agree with you, I would try another kind. I am drinking the premier Protein shakes (2 a day) and that is about all the protein I can get in. I do make my meals (2 oz) with added protein if I can and that adds a little bit. Protein is important. You may want to try some of the engineered foods that are designed for bariatric patients as they have added protein. I have seen Soups, puddings, oatmeal etc. I have not purchased any of these yet myself, but it might help to use those for meals so that you are making sure to get more protein. Also, you can use the unflavored protein to mix into a beverage that you like to give you more variety. Mix it in crystal light or another zero calorie beverage. If you body does not get enough protein it will take what it needs from your muscles. This is not a good thing. Your heart is a muscle also. Hope some other members can suggest other types of Protein drinks that might help but I would definetely try some different brands. Its tough because everything is done so slowly (eating and drinking). Seems like every waking hour is consumed with remembering to constantly sip. Good luck to you!

I feel like I didn't get much instruction on my pre-op diet either. The NUT went over the things that the shake you chose needs to have, strongly recommended Boost, which is awful and I refuse. My surgeon said that I should be taking in 1,500 calories a day so take the calorie count on the shake and divide 1500 with it and 'bam, that's your diet'. Seems so different than what others are doing. So confusing and strange there isn't more of a standardized diet among bariatric surgeons. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Sorry I missed this initial question Mikeyy! I had a first appointment at Ashford with the bariatric physician in late March talking about my weight and health history, explaining the sleeve procedure (which was what I went in wanting), the pro-op diet etc. Had second appointment with the surgeon himself, Dr Michael France, only a week or so later, and was able to book in for my sleeve surgery 3 weeks after that on 2nd May. I think the out of pocket costs were about $150 for each of the visits? (may be over-estimating). With PHI the $3500 gap fee for the surgery includes all follow up appointments which so far were at (I think) 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, and soon 1 year. Anaesthetist gap was I think $400, and my health insurance excess on admission was $250. Very happy with my surgeon and outcomes. As per our recent private messages, Dr Michael France primarily does gastric sleeve surgery (and I think is the most experience with sleeve in Adelaide) but there are many others who do bypass if that is your preferred surgery.

I'm 2 days after you. I'm doing the fast track "safe sleeve" with Blossom Bariatrics. I've been looking into it for quite some time. I'll be doing all the pre op testing when I get there. Literally, I fly in on Monday, meet them in person on Tuesday, testing Tuesday and Wednesday. Surgery on Thursday. Should be a whirlwind of emotion. Do you have to "shrink" your liver? That 2 week diet is going to be hard for me. I'll be here for moral support.

Hello November sleevers!! as some of you know I was sleeved Monday. was released Thursday!y. The surgery was textbook. I woke in recovery in some pain, more discomfort than anything else. Very sore. They gave me some diludid. I woke up in my room that night with vicious dry mouth. Every time I tried to move it was so uncomfortable. For a brief moment laying in my bed a couple hours after surgery I asked "why did I do this" Then a wonderful nurse realized I was uncomfortable. She got me a cold sponge lolly pop to use on my lips and tongue. That, mixed with painkillers I received I began to change my tune :-) I woke up the day after surgery feeling better. Went for the leak test and passed. I was so happy bout that. Then they removed my catheter (guys worst nightmare) After said catheter was removed life got a whole lot better. Because I passed my leak test I was able to have water and diet juice or decaf coffee and tea. Even ate some yogurt. I was feeling much better at this point. Still sore of course, I mean I just had major surgery. I tried to fight the pain meds and that was my biggest mistake. I don't want everyone to think I was in excruciating pain, it was more discomfort from the gas pains and Soreness from the incision sites and external drain. Side note : Dr Kim is a brilliant surgeon. I honestly believe she is at the top of her field . My incisions sites look like tiny scratches, they are so clean and are healing incredibly. I want to take another minute to acknowledge her personality and her bedside manner. She made time to see me personally 4 times after surgery. With her hectic schedule that meant alot. She explained my leak test In detail to me and my mom. She explained that when I woke up it wouldnt be pain so much as a pressure in your chest. Boy was she right! So after Getting some fluids in I started to feel much better. I went for a few walks with a physical therapist that actually made me feel better, to be up and moving. They bring an assortment of bariatric fluids to your room 3 times a day, to see which one you can tolerate. Plain yogurt never tasted so good! The I had my drain taking out after realizing I was healing properly. I was able to take a shower and all was well Thank you all for asking about me..I just saw some of your posts and felt I had to let you know..It means alot to know people Ive nenver met care about my well being..I thank you all again, and hope to talk with you all often..

Thank you all for your well wishes. I missed it and my heart is broken... I have been admitted at a bariatric hospital. I have suffered so much. I was on my way to pick up my kids from school in the pouring rain (the 30 min ride was over an hour due to an accident), and I was on the freeway stopping every 10-20 minutes on the side to throw up. At one point in time my heart was palpitating and my fingers and toes started to go numb so I pulled over at a gas station and my husband who was over an hour away from me dialed 911 for an ambulance to come . They showed up with the Fire department and run an EKG to make sure I was not having a heart attack, my heart was racing and I continue to feel like I had an elephant sitting on my chestFire department and run an EKG to make sure I was not having a heart attack, my heart was racing and I continue to feel like I had an elephant sitting on my chest. I told them I needed to get to a place that handles Bariatric’s, But they refused to transport me all the way to Dallas where my doctor is private surgical center, as that would have been two hour ride in rush hour traffic, so I refuse to go with them to a local emergency room as I knew that they would not really know what to do with me and judging from my experience at the ER the previous day they would just try to control the nausea and let me go even though the strongest medicine they have, promethazine has not been controlling my vomiting.i also knew the wait there would be hours and hours as I would be triaged with trauma patients. My husband picked the kids and they met me in the gas station and I watch my eight-year-old son well up with tears streaming down his face when he realized mommy will not be making the mother son dance that he has been waiting for over a year )missed last year’s one due to being out of the country, and this year I promised him come whatever, I’ll be there! I even rescheduled my work trip out of county to be there (scheduled to leave this Thursday and I just don’t know how I can go...). My heart just broke and I felt like I had failed him as A mom, and even then, the crazy side of me tried to tell him it will be OK and we will still go but then I proceeded to violently vomit in front of my kids and realized it’s just not gonna happen . I had my husband stay with the kids and I still drove myself to the hospital in Dallas. Because him driving me would mean bringing along the kids for a long night and what is the point in that. I drove through the rain vomiting most of the way by the time I made it here I was vomiting every 10 minutes. Exhausted, my esophagus burning, felt like a giant grapefruit was stuck in it. They started an IV and gave me some nausea meds which did not work and I just keep throwing up spit and bile. Morning can’t come soon enough so my surgeon will come and probably scope me. sorry for long post... got nothing but suffering and time here. But I thank God he’s kept me alive, so please pray they fix me soon... I am so sorry! Sending you comfort, healing, and peace.

Hi! I'm in Chicago, too. You can find the better then boullion at any grocery store. I got mine at Jewels, near the regular boullion. It came in a jar. Also, I bought Centrum Adult chewables at Walgreens (I believe someone else mentioned them). There pretty good, big, but good. I did turn around and buy from "bariatric advantage" their chewable multi-vitamin and a separate iron pill. My nutritionist suggested them, because they are specifically designed for the bariatric patient. They also have available on their home site the "Nectar" protein supplements that BabyGotBack has described. So far, I've only tried the Fuzzy Navel, which was pretty good - I probably diluted mine more then Audree did, and the Lemon Iced Tea. It's not that bad either.

The liquid hasn't bother me much I got different flavors since I will be using it a while my Dr only let's you use Bariatric Advantage Meal Replacements during pre op I like the iced late banana gets a little much for very long but when you mix it with chocolate its better THE only thing is it gives me diarrhea and makes my stomach doesn't mater what I mix it with first I mixed with 4 oz skim milk & 4oz water then tried only water no difference so then tried sf soy vanilla milk and water I'm allowed 2 cups milk a day It just makes them taste a little better I think not using all water I've had to do Liquid diet for a month 2 weeks 2 shakes and 1 meal I have a hard time with 2nd shake I'm just feel full have to start Thursday on only 5 shakes and liquids not sure if I can do 5 any suggestions or anyone else having that problem

How exciting! I'm sure you'll do great! If anybody else likes the slippers too, you can get them at Amazon.com or thinkgeek.com (awesome site for all things geek). My surgical team loved them! First full day home today and I've successfully drank 60oz of various flavored waters, and had about 37g of protein in shakes...going to have protein added bariatric cream of tomato soup for dinner. Plus I've walked outside 2x already. Things are going smoothly so far! Tomorrow my mom is driving me to a large plant nursery where we can browse the plants and I can get some walking in- they have lots of trails. Looking forward to getting out of the house!

Not trying to discourage you, but I recommend reading this: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/292173-you-should-not-consider-bariatric-surgery-if/

My Primary Care PHysician and Bariatric Surgeon recommended the Lapband.. Thank God they did. I have several people in my support group who were sleeved, they are having reflux and/or dumping . The leader of our group had bypass years ago and has lost 250 lbs but lives on Protein Shakes and vitamins.. not sure about your history or how much you want to lose or how fast you want to lose it.. al WLS have good and bad points. For me I did not want my stomach stapled off or re-arranged. My lapband is something that can be emptied should I need nutrition (in case of illness).. All options at your age are to be seriously considered.

There are two Dr. Ortiz's that perform Bariatric surgery in Tijuana. There's Dr. Ariel Ortiz from OCC and there's Dr. Elias Ortiz at A Lighter me. Dr. Elias Ortiz at A Lighter me is the surgeon that had the patient death that this topic is referring to.

I am at fort Gordon, have tricare prime and we have a surgeon that does sleeve and they(nutrition, psyc bariatric nurse, and surgeon) have more so favored the sleeve and have coaxed us in our group sessions to choose the sleeve. I can't remember how they described it, but basically being the new age wls. Anyways I went to PCM asked them to refer me due failed documented attempts at weight loss. They set me up for the "super Tuesday" 8 hour day of knocking appts and support group out. I've been on the journey with appts through nutrition classes and one psyc appt. Was just approved to go ahead and schedule my pre-op with the surgeon. Now if I could just get the bariatric nurse to return my phone call I'll be good to go. Lol Eisenhower also have surgeons on staff to do sleeve RNY and band.

The person to ask ideally is your nutritionist. That said, the BEST Protein for bariatric patients is 100% whey protein isolate. Unless you have another reason to avoid whey (vegan, allergy, etc.) don't stray from that. The isolate version is different that plain whey protein. It is better absorbed in the body, and quicker. Blends of whey protein ( contain other types of proteins) are a distant second. Plant based Proteins and soy proteins- for soy, again, choose the isolate. It has less carbs and fat as well as less cholesterol. There is also casein- protein powders. These are absorbed much slower- like over 6 hours. And here you want to be sure the ingredient is "Calcium casein"- so you're getting a pure form. The casein protein powders are less soluble, so they don't mix as well into milk or Water. But they keep you feeling full a long time. My suggestion would be to start with the whey isolate first. Many stores sell individual packets of different brands and flavors which allow you to try before you commit to a whole tub. Your other alternative in "shakes" are clear drinks- Isopure and Protein2O, for instance. Isopure is 100 % whey isolate, and each bottle has somewhere in the vicinity of 40+ grams of it. That's a lot! It does taste very whey-like, but hey, we're in it for the protein right? Just my .52 cents worth... Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I've always been obese. Obese but quite active and healthy. Didn't eat junk. Just ate a lot of starchy food (west-african staples tend to be rich in carbs). I also played some rugby some years ago, and still regularly played soccer. Over the years I found my speed and endurance waning. I would run to one end of the field, but would walk back, slowly, completely out of breath. My Blood sugar, triglycerides, cholesterol were all excellent, but I started getting recurrent back injuries. We took a group picture after winning a local tourney, and I took a glance at my stomach.. I felt so bad. Told a friend about it, who then asked if I'd ever considered bariatric surgery? I told him insurance won't cover it. He told me to call.. I did and they said it was covered (with some caveats). I grudgingly visited my PCP to kick start the process and discovered I was hypertensive ( 160/100) . That erased any lingering doubt. Also took a look at my weight and saw that I'd moved to 356 (from 345 last winter). It was obvious that my body had started decompensating, and it was time to act.. Sent from my SM-N900P using the BariatricPal App

Hello fellow sleevers. I had my surgery last week on Thursday 11-9-17. I'm in Colorado. I just got this Bariatric Pal app 2 days ago. How do you choose a photo and out your info at the bottom? Sent from my SM-G925T using BariatricPal mobile app

I think maintenance is going to be tricky for me since I tend to lose slower. I have been a consistent 134.8-135.2 for 12 days even though I’m still eating 700-800 calories and exercising in loss mode. I’ll probably drop a pound in a few days, but I never really know. I’ve never measured myself, I just gauge how clothes fit. I’m very close to my final goal of 132 and have no clear plan what to do when I get there other than gradual trial and error. My 1 year follow up is in August, so hopefully I can talk to the dietician. The bariatric RD just had a baby so I will be seeing the imposter lol

Hello everyone. I am new here. December 14th I am going to have GSV in Mexico at ALO Bariatrics with Dr. Ramirez. I start my pre-op diet on Monday and my clear liquid the week after. They have been wonderful. I am so excited.