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I woukd consider it a blessing and use it to your advantage as long as it lasts. I am year out and I find myself wanting to eat because something tastes good. That is what led me to bariatric surgery. I would love to have the days back when I only ate to sustain my body and eating for pleasure was not an issue. That being said.....can you give us a sample menu? Maybe we can help you tweak it. Are you drinking any Protein drinks to supplement your intake? I still start my day with a premier Protein Drink...gives me 11 ounces towards my liquid intake amd 30 grams of protein towards my protein intake.

I had RNY, but my liver enzymes were elevated the first year or so. My PCP said thought it was probably fatty liver, but then I read online (some reliable medical site) that elevated liver enzymes were not uncommon after WLS because the rapid weight loss can be really hard on livers. I had them re-tested later, and they were normal - so I think that's what was going on. Not sure why this possibility didn't occur to my PCP, but maybe she doesn't see many bariatric patients. I'm not saying this the cause of yours, but I think it was in my case. In any case, mine are normal now. EDITED to add I just re-read your post and you said your liver was enlarged. So your enzyme levels may be due to something else. I don't know if my liver was enlarged since that was never checked - but my enzyme levels were definitely high.

Hello! I am scheduled for my sleeve procedure on September 26. I have yet to purchase a meal replacement shake for right after my procedure. My hesitation is the Bariatric Advantage samples I’ve tasted are absolutely disgusting. I love regular protein powder, but these are way too sweet and the flavor is so synthetic tasting to me, it’s hard to get down. I know you’re not supposed to take capsule or chewable vitamins, right after surgery, but am I able to take liquid vitamins and a different protein right after surgery? Thanks for any help!

There are past threads with a lot of information. The search feature here is so=so. For expediency sake I will post my lists. They are a bit wordy. Some thing I already had. I still use everything. I may have overdone it on the Protein powder (I bought 1 ea 5 lb bag of chocolate and vanilla). Oh well, I still drink Protein shake now and again. You can mix them into batters and things so it's not a waste. What to Have at Home for liquid and Puree Stage Cottage cheese Ricotta Cheese Pasta Sauce broth (chicken, beef, vegetable beef, egg flour Soup, Lipton cream of chicken) Soups (Progresso Chicken Cheese Enchilada, Chicken, Potato, Asparagus, Broccoli, Mushroom, Tomato (mix with Vons Tomato Basil), bean & bacon, hot & sour egg flour) Chili Crystal Light Refried Beans Mashed potatoes Low-fat Greek Yogurt sugar free pudding Hummus Chocolate & vanilla Protein Powder (Max Protein from SEI) Flavorings for Protein shakes (Torani SF Syrups, SF Jello and Pudding powder, etc.) Sugar free popsicles and Fudgsicles eggs Vitamins Frozen and canned fruit Fat free cool whip 2% milk Avocado La Victoria hot sauce Canned chicken Chuck roast (crock pot) Pork butt shoulder (crock pot) Isopure liquid in Apple, Orange pineapple, Grape and Blue flavor Cheese Small 1 cup and ½ cup size containers for storage 1.5 cup sized mini food processor Small kitchen scale that measures in grams and ounces Measuring cups Small plates and utensils Blender Onesource Active Kids Complete Chewable Multivitamin Bariatric Advantage Lemon and Raspberry Calcium Chews 1500 mcg B-12

Other brands of the Protein chicken Soups I like and used a lot right after surgery - when my tub of unjury arrived and I opened the cannister I just about fell over it smelled so bad - someone here compared another products smell to "my old hamster cage" when she was a kid - omg that cracked me up, but that is exactly what that stuff reminded me of, nasty smell I am the queen of giving away the protein stuff I no longer like or can no longer tolerate at my support group meetings - I had not one taker on the French vanilla flavored Bariatric Advantage Vitamins though lol - just got a room full of sourpuss faces, I think it is a universal yuck on that flavor I used these and still like them. When I could have full liquids I strained the veggies and noodles out and they were satisfying with no hamster cage smell - not as much protein as the Unjury, but a compromise I made. http://www.familybariatric.com/store/product/113/Soup-Homestyle-Chicken-Soup/ http://www.familybariatric.com/store/product/111/Soup-Cream-of-Chicken-w-Veg./

If there was no sleeve procedure, MBC surgeon will perform gastric sleeve and the only charge she will be responsible is the revision part ($1400). Plus travel and related expenses, additional time off work, etc...for something that should have been done correctly the first time --and was paid for. I didn't even know a "loose sleeve" was an option...I haven't seen that term used in all of the research I have done. I will make sure I ask my Dr. about this. Mexico Bariatric Center fully paid for Debra Stienmen original surgery to Dr. Ramos Kelly. MBC has fulfilled its contractual obligations with Mrs. Steimen and deems it unnecessary to provide compensation at this time. Did Mexico Bariatric Center fully pay for Debra's surgery to Dr. Kelly with Debra's money that she paid to MBC for the surgery and additional services as contracted or did MBC fully pay for Debra's surgery as a gift to her? I understand Mexico Bariatric Center trying to defend themselves. The coordinators are not the ones performing the actual procedure and can't control the doctors actions in the OR. There is a level of professional business integrity that looks to be lacking. To say that Mexico Bariatric Center has gone "above and beyond in this case" may be a stretch. The actions of A Lighter Me, Janese and Sandy show what going above and beyond means. They were able to "clean up the mess" that Debra was in --- which should have been handled by MBC. It shows there was a way to work through the negative situation and make it right. Maybe if MBC had handled the situation differently, it would have portrayed them in a different light without a need for a rebuttal within this forum. The subject of obesity and the struggles with weight are very personal. I hope this was an isolated incident that was mishandled by a small representation of the business and doesn't reflect the core values of a company that should be customer focused.

Hello, My name is Debra Steimen. It has taken me several months to recover from my mexico bariatric experience to talk on these forums. Now it is time. Please feel free to ask me any questions regarding my experience. If you don't ask you may fall victim to: Mexico Bariatric Center mexicobariatriccenter.com WeightLossMex.com SOURCiS, Inc., doing business as, Mexico Bariatric Center. Address: 705 E. Bidwell Suite 2-111 Folsom, CA Last April my lapband of 5 years slipped and needed removal. I was told that it would cost me $40.000 out of pocket to have it removed because my insurance did not cover the removal. Desperate, I contacted Christy at mexicobariatriccenter. Christy told me that the owner was in business for years leading me to believe that the company was in business for years. Christy was very believable and seemed very concern with my welfare. I trusted her and the company and went ahead to schedule a lapband removal and a gastric sleeve. Christy suggested that I use a specific doctor because of his experience, since she did not think the other doctors had enough experience with revisions. It would only cost me $6,500. My Surgery was scheduled a few weeks later. I arrived in San Diego and was taken to a little hospital. The Mi Hospital. I was being registered by a Mexico bariatric center assistant that seemed very shady. He made me feel uneasy. After being register I was moved to a normal hospital room. I was undressing when a staff member came in and told me I needed to be moved. I was then escorted down to a different floor in a room with no nursing attendant and no other patients. I was a little confused but I was trying to go with the flow until I realized my hand had swollen up three times it size. The needle that was inserted penetrated my vein. I rushed out into the hall asking for help by anyone that I thought could understand english. Finally someone ran upstairs to get a nurse. I was so freaked at this moment. Debra Swiszcz <dswiszcz@gmail.com> 4/9/13 to cindy Hi Christy, I'm pretty nervous right now. They have not been able to get an IV in me. I was put into one room and moved to another room down on the second floor. I don't think there is a-nurses station on this floor. Finally they called a surgery nurse to put the Iv into my hand. She thought she go it in however 20 minutes later I look down and my hand was swollen 4x it's size with fluids. People are all very nice here but I'm still a little confused about my room. It has no call buttons for a nurse. I had to run and find someone to look at the IV in my hand. I'm really getting worried about the safety. Sent from my iPad Debra Swiszcz Things didn't get better during my stay. I was in that room for a day and a half before they moved me into a real room. 4/12/13 to christy Hello Christy, I hope you had a nice day. I was up early and walked a total of 5 miles. I paced myself and did it in intervals. I spoke to Daniel this afternoon around 2pm and he told me doctor Kelly was going to stop by this evening with the return to work certificate. It is now 7:55 and I haven't heard anything from anyone. No note, not what time I should be ready in the morning to leave for the airport. It's a really good thing Im very independent and smart enough to reach out to you early enough so you can help with some answers. With that said. Can you please find out what time Victor will pick me up at the hotel? Victor told me that Daniel should have contacted me with the information. Also is doctor Kelly really coming or do We need to figure out another way for me to get note. I really don't understand why Daniel couldn't run the note over this afternoon to make sure it was in my hands. It's only a five minute drive. I really don't know what his problem is with me. Yesterday he's ask me if I would like him to pick up omeprazol since he was going for other patients. I.asked how much was it and he told me around $15.00. I didn't have change and I gave him a twenty. I told him he owed me five dollars back. Some how I knew he would not give me the money back. If he handed it back to me I probably would have told him to keep it but since he didn't bring it up again. I just though wow he thinks he deserves at 35% tip. He is leaving a bad taste in my mouth and today is just adding to the pot. Ps my phone does not work in Mexico. I'm in room 219 if you want to call me at the hotel. Warm regards, Debra S Desperate to have the revision that I went through hell, something I would never have accepted in the States. In Mexico I guess I just expected this was normal. I'm well traveled so once I was at the hotel I was pretty much on my own. I felt fine after the surgery and could eat just about anything I wanted. I was starving. What was wrong with me? Several months after the surgery I gained 20 lbs. I contacted the doctor and Mexico Bariatrics. No response. I finally got this email telling me to stop eating. "Really" Stressed and my whole self esteem deflated I just felt something was wrong. I contacted MBC and spoke to the owner Ron. I told him of my concerns. I didn't believe the doctor they recommended preform the gastric sleeve. He ask me to get some test done in the states to verify my concerns. Again out of my pocket $3000.00 later I was told by my doctor her in the states the procedure was not done. Mexico Bariatrics washed their hand of me. I was shit out of luck. My story got out to others by an x-employee of Mexico Bariatrics Janice from A LIGHTER ME called me and asked me about what had happened with my surgery. I told her my story and she was dumbfounded. She then confirmed the rumors I heard about Mexico Bariatrics. MBC was only in business for a few months at the time of my surgery. The owner Ron at MBC was the webmaster for a Lighterme and had no experience. Janice reached out to her boss and owner of A Lighter Me, Sandy Johnston. Sandy contact me herself and listened to my story. She was so nice. She offered me to come to Mexico with A lighter Me at cost to find out what exactly was performed on my stomach that cost me $6500. On February 2014 I had a surgery performed by Dr. Ortiz from A Lighter Me On his report ( I have copies ) It states that no gastric sleeve was performed. He himself performed the gastric sleeve. It is now two months later and I have lost about 10 pounds. I hear from Ronda the dietitian once every two weeks to make sure i stay on track Sandy the owner has called me as well as Dr. Ortiz himself. The care and concern from the staff at A lighter me has been wonderful. A difference of Night and Day from MBC. The moral of the story. Research carefully what you are about to do with your body in Mexico. The Dr. that performed my surgery was DR. RAMOS KELLY ( I am not the first patient that he has done this too.) Please if you have questions contact me. I would love to help anyone about to undergo a bariatric surgery in Mexico.

Tomorrow (June 21) is my first visit for the 6 month diet. I have bcbs in California. My ins requires 6 mo class, nutritionist visit, psych visit, upper gi, and a barium x-ray ( can't recall the name for that). I am right at 40 bmi and I am worried about falling below that during the 6 mo and then not qualifying. Not happy that I have to wait so long but after reading other's experiences, it appears to go fast. I am thankful that I have a supportive husband but I have chosen to not share this journey with family and friends. I am realize that I am one of those people who has lived in denial about my weight my entire adult life so it has been difficult to come to terms with myself. I am thankful for these forums and reading your stories and experiences. I will have my surgery by Dr. Boone in Fresno, Ca and they have a great program with ALSA. My insurance only covers 5k for bariatric so I am looking at 11k out of pocket. Not sure where exactly that will materialize from but I have faith.

I try not to take too much offense at folks who make these kinds of flippant remarks. What I think a lot of them don't realize are the very real physiological reasons why many of us aren't/weren't successful with traditional diet & exercise means as a way to lose weight. Unless we're very open about ourselves, (which I'm not) it's probably not public knowledge if you suffer from diabetes, sleep apnea, food addictions, or any number of other things that stand in the way of losing weight through diet and exercise alone. That's not anyone's fault. What is important is that we realized we needed help, we realized that bariatric surgery could be a tool that can help us reach our goal along with the diet & exercise. Easy way out? Please. This is the hardest thing I've ever done.

Hi, Ive just found a doc in central IL I've talked to the office of sidney Rohrschieb in Clinton, IL. He'll also do lap-banding at Carle Surgi-center in Champaign. His office charges 14,500, and it includes the first fill, preop physical, and nutritional consult. The rest of the fills will cost $78. I know that some of the mexican doc's include fills for life, but the cost of getting there will be more than $78, so I'm thinking of getting mine here. Has any of you heard about Dr Rohrschieb? I don't know him and am hoping he's ok.

Good luck ) Ok i have some questions... probably more of a complaint really... lol I'm on the bariatric advantage shakes, 6 a day with broth, sf jello, sf popsicles, allowed. My head is freaking killing me. My eyes hurt too. Is this normal? Also my mind is playing tricks on me. Trying to convince me I dont really need/want this surgery. Making me crave salty fatty things that I dont even eat... I feel like I'm going crazy... This is day two. Yesterday i only drank 5 shakes. I couldn't choke down another. Is it going to get better? Does this headache go away soon? I know I'm not going to die but I'm sure not feeling very strong right now, mentally that is. Band date is oct. 28th. Did anyone else start getting a little cold feet?

I'm the only person I know in real life who is banded, or had WLS at all, for that matter. The bariatric support group from my hospital was comprised of pre- and recently-post-op patients. I stopped attending those meetings mostly due to scheduling issues. A few people on this site are my role models. They don't necessarily know who they are, but they are forces of good here and are always supportive not only to me, but to newbies. Love them to bits.

Day 10 of pre-op diet and I am fully back on track. Over 11 lbs lost so far and I can definitely tell a difference in my body already. Specifically, my back fat seems to be melting away, lol! Weird, but I will take it. Made a trip to the grocery to stock up things I will need for after surgery, ie. soups, liquid Tylenol, sugar free jello and pudding. My surgeon does liquids only for 1 month post-op, so I'm going to have to get creative. Found a couple of good bariatric food blogs to get ideas from. Also, I made some creamy vegetable soup to freeze and have on hand starting next week. Can't believe the day is almost here!

I know the hospital I am having my RnY at, OSU-Wexner Medical Center in Columbus Ohio is still doing Gastric Balloon but it is only for a 6 month duration and usually for lower BMI or to get some people in shape for more bariatric surgery but usually the former. Looks like it's pretty expensive for what you're getting.[emoji6] Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

Here you go!! Dr. Aceves is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. (FACS.org) This means that the American College of Surgeons has done an extensive background check on the doctor. He has to exceed the same standards as a US surgeon. His background is completely verified, his licensing, credentials, certifications, absolutely everything. If he does not maintain his reputation and current standards he cannot maintain his affiliation with the FACS. FACS is a really impressive issue in the world of medicine. Not all US doctors can maintain the background and honesty necessary to be a Fellow of the ACS. But Dr. Aceves can. There is a doctor in MX that claims to have almost 600 VSG procedures completed. He claims to have been doing this procedure for 3.5 years. Yet according to his CV he was just trained in the procedure 2.5 years ago. We know full well he has not done as many VSG procedures as he claims but unless you know what to look for you won't know that his statistics are impossible. This is why going to an FACS surgeon is critical whether you are going to a US or MX surgeon. Surgeons from all over the world (including the US) inflate their stats so they appear more experienced than they are. If they told the truth about their inexperience they wouldn't get any business. So, they are less than honest. Dr. Aceves is the Vice President of the Mexican version of the American Bariatric Assn. This is a position that is voted, so the doctors of MX voted him into this position. They recently voted again and he will be President this year. There is another organization called the International Federation of Surgical Obesity. (IFSO.com) This is an organization where weight loss surgeons all over the world belong. A few years ago Dr. Aceves holds the position of Secretary for this organization so this means that even the US doctors voted him into this office. Dr. Aceves is a proctor surgeon meaning he trains other doctors in various bariatric procedures. He typically travels to one country a month and either attends lectures to further his own knowledge on the new advances in medicine or he trains other doctors in various surgical procedures. He recently returned from Chile and Argentina training their doctors in the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. He trains US surgeons in the various procedures as well. Mexico has been doing the sleeve longer than US doctors and there are simply very few doctors willing to train other US doctors because then they would have competition. Dr. Aceves believes competition in this procedure is good as patients have more surgeons to choose from. Dr. Aceves has done 1,000 Gastric Sleeves, and over 1,000 Gastric Bypass procedures. This means he has over 2000staple lines, a technique that is critical in a safe surgery for a VSG procedure. When researching surgeons you want someone that has done at least 250 VSG and at least 250 Gastric Bypass procedures. The reason is that the Gastric Bypass procedure has a very difficult staple line. It is an interrupted staple line and quite difficult to do. If a surgeon can do the more difficult Gastric Bypass staple line, he can do the easier VSG staple line. There are only 50 VSG surgeon world-wide that have done at least 250 VSG procedures *and* have excellent stats. Dr. Aceves is the only doctor in Mexico that has done over 1,000 VSG and never had a major complication. Leaks are a potential problem with this procedure but he has a technique where he over sews the staple line and we believe this one of the many reasons he has only had one leak with a VSG. I think one big issue here to remember is that just because someone is practicing in the US, that does not make them a good or skilled surgeon. Just because someone is in MX does not mean they are not a skilled surgeon or a person without ethics. I had a choice to go to any surgeon I wanted for my own sleeve and the only doctor I wanted to go to was Dr. Aceves. He is the surgeon with the most skill, the best stats, the best reputation, and the safest location. Another upside to going to Dr. Aceves. In the US if you have the VSG you will likely spend one night in the hospital. Dr. Aceves does not agree with this. He keeps you in a fully equipped hospital for three nights following surgery. He believes you need to be medically supervised, have a total of three leak tests to be 100% certain you have no leak upon returning home, and he wants someone monitoring your vital signs, drain tube, and he wants someone available to manage your pain should you have any. He does not believe in sending you home before three nights/four days. Keep in mind, he is completely and totally depend on reputation for business. He has no insurance companies referring patients. He has to do it by reputation. Dr. Aceves has been operating on US citizens for many years. He wouldn't have the reputation he does if he didn't do the best possible job for each patient. . He has another belief,; he only hires educated people around him. training. His Office Manager is an engineer by trade. Her Office Assistant is a Law student. His OR techs (OR techs are used in the US and typically have 9 months of training) are actually 4 year RNs. His hospital coordinator is a retired teacher that previously taught English in the MX school system. His Aftercare Specialist is a PhD. She is a licensed psychologist in MX and available to all Dr. Aceves patients by phone or email. I think you'll find that he meets or exceeds the standards of any US doctor or hospital.

Hello, The go to surgeon in the Tucson AZ area is Dr. Jeffory Monash. He is Board Certified in general surgery and specializes in Laproscopic bariatric lab band, VSG, and RNY. All the best.

I had sleeve gastrectomy March 2014 and have done great however I have a friend who had surgery 7 months ago with a different surgeon who I have some serious questions about. She stayed on a liquid diet for 3 months post op with his approval and encouragement and since trying to reintroduce food at about 4 months out is unable to eat even 3 bites without vomiting. I'm concerned 1) that her surgeon who is a general surgeon now heading up a local hospitals "bariatric program"; 2) she had egd about 2 months post op but nothing since; 3) I'm concerned that she might have developed either stricture or adhesions or volvulus. In addition she lost 68 pounds while on liquid only diet but has not lost another pound since that same 4 month mark. She stalled at 220 and is frustrated and very upset that she is both unable to eat and still not losing weight. I don't live with her so I'm taking her word for what she's eating but she swears she throws up everytime she eats and that she only eats 3-4 bites at a time. Has anyone else had this issue and what is best advice /course of action for her to pursue?

Have them send you an actual COPY of your policy with all appropriate riders... This will tell you if WLS is excluded. The "No bariatric resource coverage" sounds like a big red flag that WLS is NOT covered.

There seems to be a range of acceptance among the programs discussed here. I've had recent experience with two local bariatric programs. The surgeon in each was clear that there was to be zero use of nicotine in any form. Cigarettes, cigars, smokeless chewing tobacco, e-cigs, gum, etc. They both were really firm on this when they covered with the classes. It came across really harsh, actually. Zero tolerance. As a former smoker I knew how stern those proclamations must have been to the smokers in the room. In both classes, someone raised there hand and asked when they could resume smoking after the surgery. The responses they received were harsh. It pretty much shutdown any future discussion about the subject. After going through the pre-op stuff......and now healing up post-op........I can say that everything went really easily. If I'd have had to deal with quitting smoking at this same time I would have been a grumpy bastard. The pre-op liquid diet while not having a cigarette..........whooooooeeeeeee, I'd have been one mean sob. So grateful that I could stop things in stages. The smokes went away 15 years ago.......the booze has been gone since April. Changing eating habits has been much easier than the rest that led up to it. You have my respect and sympathy trying to work through this stipulation.

a ketogenic or strict low carb diet would be < 20 per day - but my plan which is considered regular low carb would be <60 per day. some people are on that strict low carb ketogenic diet, but other people have a bariatric team that prefers a more balanced approach to dietary needs.

Here's link to a site that calculates what to expect statistically at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months: https://www.obesitycoverage.com/the-complete-patients-guide-to-bariatric-surgery/ You have to scroll down a little to get to that part.

Hello Everyone, My name is Iris and I am with Bariatric Support Specialists and I would like to take this opportunity to invite the members of LapBandTalk.com to join us and Dr. Lloyd Stegemann of New Dimensions Weight Loss Surgery based in San Antonio, TX for the LapBand Buddies Weight Loss Surgery Cruise & Conference. The cruise & conference is scheduled to sail aboard Carnival's Elation from the port of Galveston, TX to Cozumel, Progresso and Belize, May 14 - 21, 2006. We have a great educational conference planned that will cover things like nutrition, exercise, mental health issues, fashion shows, makerovers and much much more. We have some great pricing for the cruise & conferece that makes it affordable for everyone. Even better we have a payment plan that makes it even more affordable. If you would like more information on the LapBand Buddies Weight Loss Surgery Cruise & Conference please send me an email to bariatricsupport@gmail.com and I will send the information out to you. This is a great opportunity to meet your fellow LapBanders and I hope that everyone will be able to join us. Sincerely, Iris C. Slack, CTC, ACC, CBSGL Bariatric Support Specialists

Makes you scratch your head...Bariatric centers with tables that can't hold more than 400 pounds? How about johnnys that are not big enough, regular hospital beds that aren't big enough, wheelchairs, regular chairs etc. I've seen it happen and the Johnny thing happened to me. I loved the Bariatric Center I was in but, the wing was new so they didn't have all the supplies they needed yet. You bet your uncovered bottom, on my survey at the surgeons I told them they needed to get items for us bigger folks so we can feel comfortable and walk around like required, with dignity instead of cold butts lol. (Thank goodness a friend who had the surgery a week earlier warned me to bring my own bathrobe ) I can't blame you for being upset at all! I wish you the best in finding a center closer to you

My primary doctor blew me off, but when I went to my bariatric doctor, he thinks I need my gallbladder out. He ordered an ultra sound, I'm waiting for results. I am also having trouble eating, it's like my band is too tight, but it's not. The doc said he thinks I'm having esophegeal spasms. All I know is that I'm anxious to get this stuff taken care of so I can tighten my band back up and get the rest of this weight off.

Hello everyone and Happy New Year. I have the NewYears Blahs! Trying to get over them. I have been eating poorly which is really what I think is making my mood bad. I did get on the bike and rode 6 miles this morning! Have a good day. And Welcome New comers. Troy if you don't want to go out of the US click onto the NewHope Bariatrics banner and see if one of there locations is possible.