Search the Community

I was recently honored to be asked to contribute to the January 2019 Special Report entitled Heavy Liabilities: Obesity, Weight Control, and Treatment Risks for Medical Law Perspectives, a publication intended to help attorneys, physicians, insurers, employers, risk managers, diet drug manufacturers, and patients who want to better understand medical-legal issues that may arise in connection with the treatment of obesity or other weight-related conditions. My topic was "How Can Insurance Benefits For Bariatric Surgery Be Obtained After A Denial?" and I hope it is helpful to anyone facing a denial from their insurance company.

I can’t believe it! My surgery date is 3/12/19!!! In less than 2 months my life is going to change!!! ❤️❤️❤️ I can’t wait! In 4 weeks I start my 3 week all liquid diet. Thinking I will try and prep for that by starting early and doing breakfast/lunch a shake and dinner a proper meal. Anyone have any tips or tricks? Tried and true recipes? Tips on stuff I MUST take with me to hospital? Thanks guys!!

Lord deliver us all from Helga the She-Devil and all her ilk! And Hurray for private rooms where you can kick back and be YOU without worries. You may have nausea, you may have flatulence, you may even burp like a 10 year old boy, so nice not to have to apologize for your organ recitals and such.😝🌈😝

HMA.... my opinion.... there are many other options than the Band or the Sleeve. In 2009 i chose the band. A 14cc band.... SW 232, LW 130, best weight 143 Current weight 155. I had my band till March 23, 2017. Till that day i didn't have any trouble. I got the flu and threw up very violently and slipped my band. This was not the bands fault or mine.... it's just something that happened. I LOVED LOVED LOVED my band and would do anything to have her back. In the almost 2 years with out her i put on 15 lbs. which i think is not bad. And the reason....because I followed all the rules and learned to eat not only for today .... but for the rest of my life. I still, eat pretty much the same portions, never drink with a meal or after..... I just joined Crossfit and i am loving it. As far as people saying the band is not successful..... well they are misinformed. I AM A SUCCESS....!!!! and as far as people saying the sleeve is the end all be all.... well again, they are misinformed. The sleeve has just as many problems as any other WLS. It just so happens that the Sleeve is what the doctors are pushing right now..... who knows what it will be in 10 years when they are saying..... the sleeve didn't work the way we wanted it too. I have a number of friends that had the sleeve and GB..... and in about 3-5 years they all are back to the weight they started. But the one thing they don't have ...... 3/4 of there stomach to do any other surgery. The only other WLS that has another option except the band is GB.... you can do Band over GB. This is the thing.... if you don't learn what's causing you to over eat, how to eat, what to eat, NO WLS is going to work. I've had two very close friends that had the band and converted to the sleeve... didn't lose a lb.... why, because they didn't get to the root of their issues.... So i say..... do more research..... go to more phy evals..... go to some support groups and listen.... make sure you have a great support system.... Then make your choice. Peach shirt was 2018 Christmas party at mine and my fiance's home (almost 2 years). Swim suit and peach dress, this summer (almost a year and a half). other two was 2018 New years eve, after a year with out the band. I was a success with the band and still a success without the band.

Protein is the bane of my existence. I am almost 3 months and still usually at 20g-30g a day MAYBE. I just had my 3mos labs drawn, all the protein tests, so we'll see. My muscle mass is totally fine. I have drank maybe 10 shakes since surgery. Sent from my SM-G930R4 using BariatricPal mobile app

I only told who I trusted like my husband, mother and sister. I didn’t even tell my job. I started the process 10/18 and by 12/07/18 I was having surgery. I had a weeks vacation left so I took it the week of surgery and went back to work the next week. I am down 30lbs and really not many people have noticed and I have now told a select few a week. In the end, it’s your body and you tell who you want! By no means is it the easy way out! You still have to watch your food intake and still fight the mental part of wanting to eat when your truly not hungry! I have PCOS so I know your issues when it comes to that as well! I still find some days are a struggle with eating. Good Luck

I just started my 6 month journey to get the sleeve. I was wondering if everyone tells people that they got surgery when it happens, or that you are expecting to. It feels shameful kind of and I know for a fact that everyone around me thinks it's the easy way out but they don't know that I've been struggling for 10 years with PCOS and Hypothyroidism and that the weight just won't come off. I'm really nervous about telling but I also want to be transparent about my journey. What did you guys do? Sent from my LML713DL using BariatricPal mobile app

And @ AprilMarie I am happy to see on another thread that your surgery finally got reapproved, sure hope YOU are doing well now#😷✌😛

Wow! You're on purees already!? Thats great. I am 6 days out (1/15/19) and im on full-liquids (hot cereals, yogurt, protein shakes, etc) which started 5days post-op. I will start purees Day 10 (1/24/19) and I can not wait. I'll be so happy bec it will be easier to get more protein in. I also had a hiatial hernia repair, but the food plan stayed the same. Yes, the gas drops they gave me at the hospital works great. Although my program encouraged us to start some form of exercise as soon as discharge, I have been listening to how my body is responding. Ive been walking at Walmart, the grocery store and running errands and doing light home arm and leg lifts and that has been about the most I have been able to tolerate. When I returned home, I had to take an Oxcycodone. I will try walking on the treadmill, using the bike and arm aerobic machine at the gym 2moro. Everyone's regimen is diff, but listen to your body and your team. The most important thing is to keep regualr movement esp the first 2wks to prevent pulmonary embolisms. Even if that means walking back & forth to the bathroom 10xs consecutively or around your house for at least 10mins. Remember, your internal stitches and staple line has not fully healed yet and your organs are still a bit swollen. Regarding the scale moving, we were told that it may show that we've actually gained for the first 1-2 weeks bec of all the gas and internal swelling. As long as we follow all the medical recommendations, we will lose weight quickly. Many Blessings to you on this journey [emoji4]

Good morning surgery buddies. Let's get up and claim this victory. I have to be at the hospital at 0530. See you on the loser's bench. Let's live our best life! Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

Had my surgery on 1/10 and started full liquids on the 18th. The last couple of days I have also felt hungry. I’m a little concerned because I’m eating my 2 ounces of food and it doesn’t make me feel full. I’ve decided I’m not getting enough water - so focusing on that. It’s tough but I’m powering through this. Can’t wait until the 30th when I can have mashed potatoes. Really hoping they make me feel full. I feel your pain.

Not meeting my protein goals :( been trying but it’s so disgusting to me! They said 60 grams a day I’m doing a good 16-19! But i was 345 the day Of surgery now I’m down to 312! But I’m worried about not getting enough protein any suggestions!!??

Medstar St. Mary’s has a support meeting the second Saturday of the month at 10 that’s really active. Medstar Southern Md has their meeting the first Monday of the month at 7 in Brandywine.

My surgery is on 1/28/19 and I am getting more and more nervous the closer the date. And yes this is normal Sent from my Acer Chromebook R11 (CB5-132T / C738T / CB3-132) using BariatricPal mobile app

Mine has been weird I had my period the week before my procedure. So for my first period after lasted 10 days when before surgery they would last 3 or 4. It was light 3 days heavy 3 days then light again 4 days.

Once a week, I have an after work obligation and don't get home until 9 or 10. So for dinner I have a shake before my obligation. When I get home, I'm usually a little hungry, so since I've had all of my protein for the day, I eat 1/3 to 1/2 cup of cooked veggies. It is my FAVORITE day! I miss veggies too.

i am only on month 2 since surgery. My period before surgery was the night before and during the hospital stay.. ( November) in December it showed up 10 days late.. but then my cycle was normal. In Jan.. now.. LOL I am not at 3 days late from the 10 days late.. LOL.. So i am sitting and waiting to see when this sucker is going to decide to show up this month.

I had mine 01/08. Few more days and I’m on soft solids. I def get hungry. Can’t wait to eat!

Just a quick update. I started back on track about 10 days ago. I forgot how amazing I feel when I eat right and get my water in. The first 3 or 4 days were hard coming off sugar and caffeine but I don't want it anymore. Yay! Doing the pantry purge helped so much. For anyone who read this post because they had lost their way it's ok you will find your way back. Start small and the rest will fall into place. You got this!!!! [emoji4] Sent from my SM-G965U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

So, I purchased a product ’Egg Whites International’ to add additional protein to my Premier Protein Shakes. Is there a protein limit for each sitting? Or can I realistically add an additional 10-15 grams of protein to my shakes ? Look below

Agreed! Don't look back! And throw yourself in front of anything that is going to help you keep eating healthy..cooking classes, support groups, outings that include exercise. My goal right now is to get my steps to over 8000/day (10 would be better but 8 works for me for now!). I don't make it everyday for sure, but I'm slowly progressing. So as said above, focus on the future!

I'm sorry you are struggling and happy you've had an "Aha moment" and posted about it. I've been saying this from the beginning of my personal WLS journey. If we don't get right in the head, the surgery--which face it, it's not magic bean surgery--is not gonna do all the heavy lifting. We are such crafty, smart, surviving specie(s) haha, that we WILL figure out a way to outsmart our surgery. What I still hear however is more magical thinking coming out of your mouth. Tomorrow, nothing will be different. You will wake up, resolve to mystically "do better"/"be better" etc, but guaranteed by 3-5pm, you will break and go for the fix. There is NO magic in this process. No WISHFUL thinking. Unless/until you accept that your success depends on being accountable for your actions, and decide that will make concrete changes that are actionable, you will continue to despair and the beatings will continue until morale improves. Honestly, the ONLY way to confront this issue we ALL face is to have a great plan. In your case (and in many of our cases, the key to the plan needs to include strategic partners: surgical team (who needs to know you're struggling and doing things you aren't supposed to do, bariatric counselor/therapist, RD), reading books on ending these self-defeating behaviors whatever they may be, making a concrete check list you USE and follow faithfully each day, decide on zero tolerance of going off-your checklisted plan, and being content that it takes time to correct behavior and weight. It also takes a physical plan for exercise. Then you have to DO YOUR PART. You must log. You must weight foods. You must PLAN. You should maybe think about weighing daily, measuring monthly. Check things off your list. I doubt seriously that you've stretched your pouch. Most likely, what has happened is that your pouch has matured which carries with it a natural "opening" or relaxing of your tum, which means you "CAN" eat more. It doesn't mean you "SHOULD" eat more. If you go back to your rules and follow them, you should begin to feel your restriction again. Set your rules! 1. No more than 1 cup of food at a meal by volume. 2. Eat dense, dry, lean protein first (60-80g per day). 3. Eat al dente or raw veggies. 4. No meat lube, sauce, compound meals that are highly caloric. Keep your food separate! It will hang in your pouch better and provide nutrition without a bunch of added calories you don't need. 5. Cut your carbs to 20-30net carbs (carbs - fiber) per day. 6. Aim for almost zero sugar. 7. Drink your water (100+ ounces per day. 8. Don't drink your food! No liquid calories. 9. No eating/drinking 15 mins before and 1 hour after 10. Exercise daily. Try for 10K steps each day. 11. Take your supplements. 12. Get a real life support group and attend regularly. 13. Come here and get involved and on the BP facebook group. 14. Above all--see your doc, RD to get a plan for success. AND get a referral to a bariatric counselor. 15. Consider joining OA. I wish you success, health, and a good life. I don't mean to beat you while you're down. I'm trying to make sure you don't waste any more of your honeymoon period spinning your wheels and participating in a giant fantasy.

I’m 3 days out, 1/17/19, and I’m feeling much better today. I had the worst gas pain in my hips and shoulder. Today, I was able to get out of bed without my fiancé’s help. I’m able to advance to stage 2 (purées) today but really nervous... I’m so tired of protein shakes and I’m so tired of the taste of “water”... Gas-X has been my best friend! Anyone have tips for starting to work out? So nervous! I want to get the scale moving but not hurt myself!!

#19 - My vitamins & supplements

I'm gonna claim it. Yesterday I hit 144.8lbs and today I'm still at 144.8lbs. That means that technically, I've just crossed over into the very top end of my "Normal Weight Category" for my height of 5'4". Yippee!!!! I'm still 4.8lbs away from 2nd Goal, but I will just keep trudging along. These last 10 pounds have been brought you by Matcha and green tea, the teas that boost your metabolism. And by my gastro guy who insisted on me going back to my 1cup or less per meal portion control.