Search the Community

Keep in mind I'm 2.5 years out and have been in maintenance for 1 year. I drink with meals. I don't follow the 30-minute rule. I've never consumed the recommended 64 ounces of water a day. On most days I'm lucky to down one 16-ounce bottle of water. Too much water sends me to the toilet every 15 minutes. I'm a snacker. My favorite snacks are peanuts, string cheese, turkey sausage, and fruit. Snacking is discouraged in the realm of bariatric surgery. I don't chew my food 20 times before swallowing.

Hi! Just wondering if a small amount of sugar-free peanut butter cups, if sufficiently mashed/pureed, would be ok in the puree stage. I know I can ask my bariatric dietitian, but I'm just wondering if anyone here has some insight. Pre-op, I have enjoyed both Quest brand and Reece's sugar-free. Reece's has less fat (8g per regular serving) than Quest (13g). I wouldn't have a full serving, at least not all at once. I just want to have something a little indulgent on Halloween, but I don't want to get sick.

I do all liquid vitamins from Wellese. I'm on Multi Vitamin, Iron, Vitamin B 12 and Calcium with Vitamin D. Absolutely Love them, beats eating chalk, I would gag on the Calcium Lozenges. From Bariatric Advantage, I couldn't do it anymore.

I think to some degree you can "cheat". I stuck to clear liquids until day 6 or 7 and then tried pureed and full liquids. I think in that case it's ok because although a thicker liquid...it is still a liquid. And I only skipped one or two days ahead. I would however...not eat any solid foods yet. None...atleast not until week 3 or 4...which is what my doctor states. And he's at a bariatric center of excellence. Also always take in small, tiny amounts and slowly to see how you're body will react..still eating solids is probably a big no-no right now.

I think it was very generous of you to make such a detailed list. I do want to mention that hair care isn't something that everyone will need, so for others please don't automatically assume you will have this expense. I have had no additional costs in this area, never took zinc or Biotin (as my doc had not told me it was necessary) and had virtually no hair loss. Maybe I shed a bit more than usual - but not much. And I've lost 110 lbs in about 7.5 months - currently at 145. I would think that would have made me a prime candidate for hair loss, and it didn't happen. Nothing wrong with prevention, but it's expensive and debatable as to whether it will help. If it helps you feel better you are doing something about it, and you have the finances... why not. Also, I initially spent a huge amount on all sorts of Bariatric Advantage Vitamins, just to find out after surgery I couldn't tolerate them. So, I take gummy vitamins from costco. Cheap, cheap, cheap. My Vitamin levels have all been fine so far - if farther out i have problems I will have to switch to a more "serious" vitamin. Also, my doc had me swallowing pills the night after my surgery - not crushed, regular sized pills. All my worry about needing liquids, needing chewables, crushing - unnecessary. Of course each doc has a different approach to that issue. In any case, my advice is that whatever you get pre-surgery, buy very limited quantities. And somehow when I first posted I missed that you just had your surgery! I hope it was a huge success! Congrats on a new you.

Bariatric advantage sells chewables that are actually not bad. Good variety of flavors.

In louisville. Had surgery 3/9 with Dr. Oldham at Baptist Bariatrics.

DE Area Bariatric Clothing Swap? Does anyone know if there is a clothing swap for our area ? It would be nice to have if there is an interest - I know I have stuff that I'd like to swap out. I hear it's better not to buy too many things in each size since you'll keep getting smaller Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Just as a reminder, please put on your calendar the August meeting of the Bariatric Pal Local Support Group. The date is August 20, 2015 @ 5:30 PM in the Simpson Community Center (6 North Main Street Camden, DE This on the corner of North Main Street and Route 10) and we will meet there. Please fill free to invite anyone Pre- and Post-surgery or family member who is seeking weight loss support. Text me if you need more info 302-632-8111. Thanks, Doyle

The bariatric lifestyle class on the 30 the at 3:00pm??

The error word in the above posting should read" inspiring" because it is, to finally find such a bariatric home in this desert of disregard I in the past have encountered.

I am. I have bariatric multivitamin chewables I got from the vitamin shoppe but forget to take them sometimes. I think that's why I feel so exhausted when I dont take it.

Yep.. Everyone pain is different and docs close the incision differently also. I had glue, a drain that was removed on second day.. As said before it was the weirdest strangest feeling. I was lucky and had no issues and was up a couple hours after surgery. Never stopped going since! I've had several bariatric surgeries and only had bad gas in my shoulders on one of them. I've had 3 ten lb babies and laparoscopic surgery is a piece of cake in comparison

Congratulations on your new journey and welcome to Bariatric Pal. Seems like you have been rocking and rolling. I wish I only had 3months of nutritional visits..

Yea the shakes are what the bariatric office provides but i was free to buy any other shakes i want. I do have a case of fairlife and i am going to get premier protein here in the next couple days as i do like those. Nutritionist said to use premier protein or any other protein shake i like as "Creamer" in coffee lol

Just to let you Bariatric Bullies know--when someone posts a question here it is because they truly don't know or want constructive criticism! Not to be laughed at or made fun of or be answered condisendingly! Some of us know more than others and that's why we are here! You are not supposed to be a BULLY about it! I for one have been talked down to and literally laughed at for my question about protein!! I was new an knew very little about it and thought I was safe to ask anything here! BOY WAS I WRONG!!! There a quite a few Bariatric Bullies here! Grow up and be an adult already! I wondered why children bully and now I see its adults as well! =

Drink water. I usually buy a bottle of water. Even though they only sell that nasty tap water Dasani. Sometimes I drink coffee. If you call ahead they will brew a pot for you so you don't have to wait when you get there. You might as well get used to making good choices with what is available to you, and not sneaking food into the movie theater. Nicer movie theaters have Brussel sprouts and other things that are bariatric friendly. Post-op life is easy if you understand nutrition and your nutritional needs. You can find something to eat/drink almost everywhere if you understand the basics.

I only had to get an EKG and then my cardiologist asked me if I could walk without being extremely out of breath. That was it and they sent that in to the Bariatric center as my cardiac clearance needed. I even have a slight heart arrhythmia I got diagnosed with last year but he still said I am clear and ready for surgery.

There is an AMAZING group of Bariatric Surgical Specialist in Louisiana & Mississippi. They are SURGICAL SPECIALIST OF LOUISIANA & MISSISSIPPI, & their # (985)234-3000 for the office I use, & they can direct you to your closest location. They have a very informational website, www.whyweight.com. The dr I use is Dr. Rachel Moore & she is top-notch! After 19 years in Medical Field, I've experienced, seen & witnessed it all. I floated from ER, all ICU Units, OR & Trauma, & I know all about physician credentials, what flags to look for, etc. so, in short, THIS GROUP IS IN A CLASS OF THEIR OWN! Take a few minutes & go check out their website I listed. BEST OF LUCK & GOD's SPEED

I would go with the Bariatric Advantage! I think I'm going to stick to those post op! I never thought I would ever like frozen portioned meals like those and I like the variety too! I might try those again down the road for dinner!

I thought you all may want to see the infor below.. Insurance Company to Cover Newer Method of Bariatric Surgery by Kerri Seidler on April 21, 2010 ? Comments | Weight Loss Surgery Aetna, one of the nations largest health insurers, revised its policy on obesity surgery this month to include open and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy among its covered bariatric procedures. The sleeve gastrectomy procedure, often referred to as the gastric sleeve, is a newer method of bariatric surgery that is gaining in popularity as a treatment for morbid obesity. The gastric sleeve promotes weight loss by reducing the size of the stomach to help patients eat less and feel full faster. It appeals to many patients as it does not require a medical implant or need adjustments like laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding and does not require cutting and rerouting the small intestine like the gastric bypass procedures. Prior to the policy change, Aetna considered the sleeve gastrectomy ?investigational? and did not cover the surgery. As of 4/9/2010, Aetna revised its Clinical Policy Bulletin for Obesity Surgery and stated that the ?sleeve gastrectomy is considered medically necessary when criteria are met.? The policy now reads: Aetna considers open or laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), open or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, open or laparoscopic biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) with or without duodenal switch (DS), or laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding (LASGB) medically necessary when the selection criteria listed below are met. Although the sleeve gastrectomy is included under bariatric procedures, coverage for obesity surgery is still dependent on benefit plan details and approval by Aetna. Aetna?s decision follows in the footsteps of United Healthcare, another healthcare giant, which began covering the procedure in October 2009. In response to the Aetna and United Healthcare change in policy, The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) issued a press release announcing its support. In the statement, John W. Baker, MD, FACS, President of ASMBS, said ?We are pleased that Aetna and United Healthcare now includes sleeve gastrectomy among its covered bariatric procedures?Sleeve gastrectomy has now reached that threshold where the data and our experience with the procedure supports its safe and effective use in people affected by the chronic disease of morbid obesity.? The ASMBS, which is the largest organization for bariatric surgeons in the world, is a non-profit group committed to educating medical professionals, patients, and the general public to the various effects, risks, and benefits of bariatric surgery. The decision of Aetna and United Healthcare to cover gastric sleeve will benefits patients who are morbidly obese and considering weight loss surgery. While weight loss surgery is the most effective treatment for morbid obesity, it should not be considered a ?one size fits all? approach. As the best surgical intervention for obesity can vary from patient to patient, insurers who cover a wider range of options will better allow surgeons to treat patients on a more personal basis.

Find a therapist you can talk to, and one that has experience dealing with bariatric patients. Talk to several before you decide. Here are some additional resources that might help: The Emotional First Aid Kit: A Practical Guide to Life after Bariatric Surgery * RECOMMENDED by Cynthia L. Alexander, PsyD Dr. Alexander discusses many of the difficulties a bariatric patient is likely to encounter and some realistic and practical strategies for dealing with them. Most people go into bariatric surgery full of motivation and hope, only to find day-to-day postoperative existence more stressful than they imagined. Here are the psychological tricks of the trade to help make your own journey a successful one. Exodus from Obesity: The Guide to Long-Term Success after Weight Loss Surgery * RECOMMENDED by Paula F. Peck, RN Paula Peck provides the information, encouragement and guidelines for maintaining long-term success after weight loss surgery. Ms. Peck has been a Registered Nurse for over 30 years and personally has experienced a weight loss of more than 175 pounds twice in her life: Once unsuccessfully from "white-knuckle" dieting, and once successfully from weight loss surgery 5 years ago. Ms. Peck interweaves intelligent discussion with humorous stories about herself and individuals that have faced diet after diet and ultimately chose the gastric bypass procedure. The Success Habits of Weight-Loss Surgery Patients by Colleen M. Cook Colleen Cook, a weight-loss surgery patient since 1995, has taken the real-world experiences of thousands of weight- loss surgery patients and condensed them into the principles you'll find in this book. These time and people tested principles are the results of years of research of long-term weight loss surgery patients. They work regardless of the particular type of weight-loss surgery you may have had. Weight Loss Surgery For Dummies by Marina S. Kurian, Barbara Thompson, Brian K. Davidson A guide to weight loss surgery – before, during, and after. This compassionate guide helps you determine whether you qualify and gives you the scoop on selecting the best center and surgical team, understanding today's different procedures, and achieving the best results. You also get tips on eating properly post-op and preparing appetizing meals, as well as easing back into your day-to-day life. Before and After: Living and Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery by Susan Maria Leach In addition to more than 100 recipes in this book, there are ideas to help a post-op cook stay on the path and adapt his/her own recipes. Includes tips for eating out and cooking during the holidays. There is an introduction to Protein, sugar, and carbohydrates for those who are post gastric bypass surgery, as well as a list of sources for special foods and ingredients. Eating Well After Weight Reduction Surgery by Patt Levine The author has created 125 recipes that contain no added sugar, are very low in fat, and get their carbohydrates almost exclusively from fruits and vegetables. Each recipe includes specific guidelines for preparation of the dish for every stage of the eating programs for Lap-Band, gastric bypass, and Duodenal Switch patients, as well as suggestions for sharing meals with those who have not gone through gastric surgery. Recipes for Life After Weight-Loss Surgery: Delicious Dishes for Nourishing the New You by Margaret Furtado, MS, RD, LD/N, and Lynette Schultz, Chef, LCRP, RT Margaret Furtado and Lynette Schultz have a combination of almost 40 years experience in clinical nutrition and the culinary arts. Together, they will help you navigate your way through the sometimes turbulent waters after your weight loss surgery, and will provide you with general clinical guidelines after your procedure, as well as helpful hints for easing your transition from surgery to your new, healthy lifestyle. With sections on home entertaining and eating-on-the-run. Laparoscopic Associates of San Francisco (LapSF): WLS Lifestyles Magazine: http://www.wlslifestyles.com American Society of Bariatric Surgeons: www.asbs.org

Thank you sooo much for posting this article from the May 2008 issue of Bariatric Times!

This is kind of long... I suffer from autoimmune disease and have heard that the band can be good or bad for it. Some docs won't touch you if you have it. The only article I can find linking it to autoimmune disease in a quick search is the one below http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/sites/entrez We report 2 patients who developed sarcoidosis after the implantation of adjustable silicone gastric banding (GB) in Germany. Before implantation, no pulmonary diseases were evident in the medical history of either patient. The 1st patient suffered sarcoidosis 12 months after GB. He has been treated at a hospital specialising in pulmonary diseases. Because of the treatment with corticoids, the patient has regained weight after the initial weight reduction. The 2nd patient developed signs of pulmonary infection on the 7th postoperative day (after GB). Pulmonary sarcoidosis was diagnosed 4 months later after consultation with a pulmonologist. On the other hand- this article states that it helps: Bariatric Surgery Improves Asthma, Autoimmune Disease WASHINGTON, D.C., June 2008 — Obese people with asthma, osteoarthritis or autoimmune diseases who undergo bariatric surgery may be able to say sayonara to their steroids and/or the other immunosuppressing drugs they use to treat these diseases within about 18 months of their surgery. This is according to new research presented at the 25th annual meeting of the American Society for Metabolic amd Bariatric Surgery. And that's a good thing, as long-term use of these drugs can have harmful effects on health. Precisely how bariatric surgery can help resolve or improve these diseases is not fully understood, but losing weight may decrease certain inflammatory markers that are known to be elevated in autoimmune and inflammatory disease, according to study author Elizabeth A. Dovec, MD, a bariatric surgeon at Western Pennsylvania Hospital, a teaching hospital of Temple University School of Medicine in Pittsburgh. The new study comprised 49 morbidly obese people who were taking steroids or other immunosuppressive medications to treat co-existing chronic autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), myasthenia graves (a neuromuscular disease characterized by weakness of the skeletal muscles) and lupus, or inflammatory diseases like asthma. In autoimmune diseases, the body engages in friendly fire against its own organs or systems. More than 50 percent of the study patients were able to discontinue or significantly reduce the use of oral steroids and immunosuppressive agents within 18 months. Specifically, 89 percent of people with asthma who underwent bariatric surgery were able to discontinue their steroids. What's more, 33 percent of patients with the inflammatory skin disease psoriasis and 25 percent of those with myasthenia graves were able to stop taking their medication. In addition to improvements in autoimmune and inflammatory disease, the study participants lost 65.2 percent of their excess weight, and 80 percent of the study participants showed improvements or resolution of many of their other obesity-related diseases, including type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea and high blood pressure. "Patients with compromised immune systems [such as occur with autoimmune disease] or taking steroids for chronic inflammatory disease [like asthma] may have been excluded from bariatric surgery because they are at higher risk for complications related to their disease or immunosuppressant medications," said another study author, Daniel J, Gagné, MD, director of bariatric surgery and laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgery at the hospital. "However, this study shows not only that these patients can safely have bariatric surgery, but they can achieve significant improvements or elimination of many diseases." — Denise Mann

You can get packets of powders from Bariatric fusion and unjury.