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Thank you! Another quick question--did you tell your coach that you had lap band? Since I read in a previous post to no check bariatric surgery, I didn't-so I could continue to set up my bugg. But does that affect your coach and how they help? Amy

I thought of that Renewed - thanks for reminding me though. I Actually PM'd the same question to ndnguy85. I want it to come with the subscription. To me that is essential. Georgia - good for you! Go and reup your subscription. I'm still so jealous - lol I'll get one - I will. :-)

OKAY... so I am very excited b/c I ordered my Body Bugg yesterday so it's on it's way. I have a question though... I was reading a Body Bugg review that says that once your 3 month free subscription to the site is over that the Body Bugg is useless unless you renew your subscription for the site at $200 a month. Please tell me this isn't so b/c I can't spend $200 a month on this. HELP!

MMM.. Are you ready? I do not have to do liquids diets but I'm pushing the liquid Protein shakes. I went to a Bariatric protein tasting on Saturday and got so many samples. Some I never would have thought to buy without tasting first and they are good! Anything you think you will miss the most? I did measurements and before pictures already. I am hoping to be down 50by October.. What do you think?

Wow StephC, What a testimony! My DH's ins. would not cover any bariatric treatment either. We are very fortunate that we could self-pay. I believe that God wants us to be our best for Him. And HE created men who were intellegent enough to invent things like LapBand, artificial heart, things of that nature. It is up to us to follow His will forus. I have been banded for 2 weeks (tomorrow makes 2 weeks anyway) and I have been struggling with the fact that the swelling is down and I have no restriction at this point. Please pray for me. Ihave been praying, and aside from a few questionable things eaten, I am doing fine. It is hard when we have this hunger, and the habit of eating too much. I praise God for all He has given to me and my family. Thanks for listening! Dana

Oh I am sorry TX4everLinds maybe they'll give you some stuff at your Pre-op appointment. OSU calls it a peri-operative but same dang thing. Got weighed, talked an Internal medicine girl doctor, she went down the list from hades medical checklist, each and every bodily system,swear we started with the head and brain and worked out way down. Wished I could have told her I had. twin aunts that died from the hiccups, anything to brighten up the litany. Then I had a nurse-practioner,who was supposed to teach me how to scrub myself with Hibaclenz, except,i am allergic to that so she had to go to Plan B D8al gold liquid soap. Second,of two showers I have to leave the suds on for at least 5 minutes and be sure to clean my navel.Hunnh? Don't shave,don't pluck my belly, double Hunnh? Dress in clean clothes afterwards. Promise not to get sick or take antibiotics before your surgery. We went down the list of my,medications, what I had to stop taking, what I could take morning of with teensy sip,water. Brush my teeth so,no germs in mouth, moot point, I have dentures. Don't break any bones before surgery.Yadda Yadda Yadda! Then I went and had X Ray , 1 front , 1 from left side. Didn't make me hold a sign , so I guess I wasn't arrested. Then it was off to the lab. Funny I didn't know I had an excess amount of blood, must have because the took out a pint. Now I had swore an oath that I don't drink, smoke, do recreational drugs, hasn't to the best of my knowledge been exposed to communicable disease, and that Promise I would not get sick. But shall we,make sure of that, let's run some tests. CBC, BUN, creatinine, glucose, some nobody else knows about. And letsvtype it, I said I know I am A rhNegative, didn't care, apparently me and the American Red Cross,know NOTHING! Then they presented me a red legal sized envelope is a green plastic bracelet with important info. This is my Golden Ticket into the WONDERFUL WORLD OF SURGERY. No tickee, no surgery! This envelope is in my safe. I will not leave home without IT! That card that RnY Bet got and I have yet, entiles you to eat off the children's menu. And I have heard some have a notation about being able to box half your entree. On the other side it usuall states you are a bariatric patient. Neat thing to Have.

Thank you so much for starting this thread!! My surgery is scheduled for 6/18. I am so equally excited and scared poop-less!! I'm 5'6 and SW 326. I am married with an 8 year old daughter and I am most looking forward to playing with my daughter...and my husband too! Good Luck June Surgery siblings!! Here's to life renewed!!!!

Each bariatric group has different limitations so you'll want to follow what your group recommends for you. I believe most groups thought, prefer our proteins to not be covered in crumbs, crackers, flour etc because they tend to want to keep the carb count pretty low and the protein count high. Best bet is to call your nutritionist or surgeon's office. Good luck!

Good question! I'm on 2-3 Protein shakes a day and 2 small meals of lean protein and vegetables (for 3 weeks). However, I will only have clear liquids 3 days pre-op. I've been in contact with my nutritionist about what I've been eating so far, and she recommended staying above 1200 calories a day to avoid my body going into starvation mode. Which makes me wonder about extended clear liquid diets that some people have to go through. My BMI is not low...I am (or was) pretty close to 50, after which doctors often recommend bypass and/or it becomes much more expensive. Here's my question about the liver shrinking part: do they measure your liver before you start your pre-op diet? How will they know that you've been successful? You might have a huge liver on the operating table, but maybe it was even bigger to begin with. I saw an episode of Fat Doctor on YouTube with 3 sisters - one had a perfectly normal liver, and the other's was huge (they didn't say about the 3rd). What was the difference? Compliance? The amount of drinking done in the years beforehand? The interesting thing too about the surgeon is that he recommends a milk diet for the pre-op phase, and I know others here can have dairy products as well, but I can't (because of the extra sugar). Why? Why!??!?! Doctors, please come up with something standard, or at least explain what your decision making is. I sort of feel like we are all guinea pigs for the surgeons who do bariatric surgery.

Please don't take what I say as bible truth, but I review surgeries for a major insurer (not Humana). For my company, if there any policy changes, they would go into effect from the day the new policy was published. Up until that day, the old policy will apply. The issue of a request being submitted shortly before a change in policy is something we have never explicitly been told how to handle. In the end, it may be up to the insurer. I'd say, if you have all criteria met now for the current policy, then submit now. An approval cannot be "taken back" once it's been issued. My company issues approvals that are good for one year for the line of business I handle. Some lines of business have 6 month approvals. And of course, it may be different for other companies. In any case, My suggestion is if you meet criteria and are denied for the basis that you don't meet criteria for the future policy, then appeal that decision. It is almost always worth it to appeal a denial since I see so many denial decisions overturned. The only hard stop I know of is if a group does not cover bariatric surgery. Other than that, it's always worth pursuing. Hope this helps.

@Redmaxx so sorry,to hear all this. You frighten me a skoosh, I am the adult child of 2 diabetics, not whini,g as much as stating a fact. PCP and I when we were discussing me trying a second time for Bariatric surgery felt this would stop any chance for diabetes to develop. Now I hear "tain't necessarily so!" Ought oh, not what I was hoping to hear. And then another poster says the same thing happened to her, well" que sera sera", whatever will be will be. But the magic bullet just misfired, guess the bariatric world isn't perfect after all. Hope both of your cases level out, and I'll follow and still be your Bari-friend.😜

I remember that man and his outfit. How horrible that "old, not improved, and we're all sick of him" fat-shamed him. Just wait a couple of years until our resident world authority on bariatric surgery starts regaining weight..

I have 32 pounds less since my surgery on the 12th. My non scale victories: I have ankles again (still chubby) but I can see them and my feet are not swolen even today that I'm pre-menstrual. My skinny jeans that used to "choke" my belly bottom goes all the way up to just under my boobs, my towel is less than an inch to cover me. Still struggling with the stairs and is because I haven't been able to eat 5 times a day or drink or the protein they are telling me to drink (find all protein shakes discusting) and Dominican Republic don't have variety or food specifically for Bariatrics ( have to order stuff from amazon), so I cook everything. Sent from my SM-N975U using BariatricPal mobile app

Wow! One month of liquid diet?! You can do it!!! Are you able to incorporate greek yogurt during this time? It was a life-saver for me during my liquid diet prior to my gastric sleeve surgery. I’m scheduled for a revision to RNY on August 8th so I start my liquid diet on Monday July 25th. I see my nutritionist at the bariatric center this morning to go over dietary requirements for RNY. I’m not nervous about the surgery since I’ve already had one bariatric procedure and did just fine. I just remember struggling some during the liquid diet. It can be tough but will be sooo worth it! 😁👍🏻

Renewed - you took a break? Is the sky falling - LOL (looking towards the heavens). Kathy - I hope ya'll have fun today golfing and good luck with your interview tomorrow (it is tomorrow right?) Georgia - 70 laps - Oh my goodness. I'm doing good if I can get in 10. LOL. At least we have a number to work towards! Sugar - I hope you get a good report on Monday. Mamato3 - I hope your hip gets better soon. Sounds like you may need to rest it. The elliptical sounds like it may be a good option. Let us know how you are doing.

Glad you're home Renewed! Take it easy and call me if you need me to update everyone for you. Praying you recover quickly!

WHOO HOOOO....congrats renewed!!! I'm hoping to be there soon myself!!! I certainly will be doing a happy dance that day - I don't care if everything jiggles to much! :frown: Keep up the good work! And yes Travelgirl you can do it!! We're in this together remember?? Kel

Food is fuel, simple as that, and sometimes it can taste amazing! Navigation in the beginning is tough. A few bites of something you used to eat (that may not be so good for you, I personally don't go there yet) tastes JUST as good as the six cups you previously ate, or half the -insert food here- you used to eat. sometimes I will admit that once in awhile i get sad that I can't eat that whole bowl of fabulous pasta at my favorite restaurant, but seriously? I did this to change my life for the better, clean, healthy eating, nothing processed, feeding my family healthy meals, not mad and cheese and chicken nuggets anymore. to each their own, and it's HARD, damn hard when you start out! Everyday is a learning experience, everyday is a chance for a new you. Therapy is a good thing, I go not just about food, because unlike many bariatric patients i didn't have underlying food issues except carbs and depression. But talking about the surgery is important. Good luck. Please take care of not only yourself but your new stomach.

Chew your food thoroughly Digestion begins in the mouth. Your saliva contains important enzymes that begin to break down food in your mouth, so it will be less work on your stomach. Ideally, you want to chew your food until it reaches applesauce-like consistency. Chewing more thoroughly also helps you to slow down. For many of us, it is a habit to take a bite, chew a couple of times and then swallow it down with a chug of water. But after bariatric surgery, you can no longer do that so it is even more important to chew your food. Use a baby spoon While it is important to chew your food thoroughly it also helps to take small bites of your food. Using a baby spoon or chopsticks may slow you down and regulate your bite sizes. If you are having a difficult time tolerating chicken, try smaller bites before giving up. When you eat smaller bites, less food will reach your stomach all at once and it may prevent nausea. Eat every 2-3 hours Since you can no longer tolerate large portions at a time, it is important to eat small amounts of food every two to three hours. This will give you more opportunities to eat enough protein. You can have protein drinks or eat a high protein snack like string cheese. Eat protein at every meal By building your meals around protein you will be more likely to hit your daily protein goals. Every meal or snack is an opportunity to help meet your daily protein goals. Pack high protein snacks Having high protein snacks on hand is key to meeting your daily protein goals. Examples include cottage cheese, string cheese, tuna, hard boiled egg, and sliced deli meat. These are portable snack items that you can store in the fridge at work or in a thermal lunch container. For more ideas on what foods to eat after bariatric surgery, please be sure to check out my Top 10 Dietitian-Approved Foods to Eat After Bariatric Surgery. Experiment with different types of protein Everyone has different tolerances after bariatric surgery. I have met some people who never had any issues with food, while others need to avoid certain foods for a period of time. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different types of protein. After surgery your taste preferences may change, so be willing to try foods that you previously didn’t like. If you cannot tolerate chicken then try yogurt. If you don’t like yogurt then try white fish. For other ideas on different protein sources to try download my free guide, Top 10 Dietitian-Approved Foods to Eat After Bariatric Surgery. Eat protein first The cardinal rule after surgery is to eat your protein first. This may seem counterintuitive because you may have been programmed to eat your vegetables first. But after surgery, your pouch size is so small that you need to make sure to fill it with protein first because you may fill up quickly. Yes, vegetables are important too. but you will be able to eat more of them as your pouch size expands. In the meantime, please make sure to take your multivitamins. Add PB2 to protein drinks PB2 is a peanut butter powder, but it is lower in fat and calories than your traditional peanut butter. Although peanut butter can be a healthy source of fat, it’s usually not recommended right after bariatric surgery due to its high calorie and fat content. PB2 can be a flavorful addition to your protein drinks, smoothie or yogurt and be a sneaky way to get more protein. Use protein drinks Including protein drinks in your diet is essential to meeting your protein needs in the first few months after surgery. Even if you ate protein at each meal you would likely not be able to meet your protein goals because of your new pouch size. Most surgery centers recommend using a protein drink during the first 6 months after surgery. As your pouch size expands you will be able to get most of your protein from food and reduce your protein drink intake. Experiment with different protein drinks to identify which one you tolerate best. Although whey isolate is usually recommended if you cannot tolerate it then try a different one such as egg white protein. Use Quinoa as your grain If you have started to include grains in your diet then quinoa can be a good choice after surgery. It is higher in protein than other grains and high in fiber. You can have a small amount with a stir-fry or add to soups. Please join my Facebook group if you would like to receive Dietitian-Approved Bariatric Recipes on your weight loss surgery journey.

I had lap band surgery in March of 2008. During that first year I began having back pain in the upper right back. Didn't think much about it, but it progressively has gotten worse. In the last couple of years I have been to doctor after doctor. I've had xrays, cat scan, mri and bone scan. Nothing shows except some arthritis in lower back and scoliosis. The pain is not constant. It comes and goes. But it hurts mostly when I am working with my arms up on the computer or desk at work and especially in the evenings when I am trying to get dinner an clean up afterwards. I have also done physical therapy with core strengthening exercises. I am at the end of my rope. My Bariatric Dr. says it is not from the band, but I still feel like it is. The dr. is trying to get an experimental transdermal cream for me to try. But even if it works to stop the pain, I still won't know what is causing it. When my band is filled I get horrible reflux to the point of not sleeping, or being able to eat or drink. When it is taken out, (even a little), the reflux goes away, but I am able to eat too much and the weight is coming back. I originally lost 120lbs. but I have gained back about 25lbs. and I don't know what to do. The back pain is very bad right now as I type this message. Thinking about having the band removed and getting the sleeve.

Hello All, This Maine group looks pretty dead, but I thought I'd see if anyone has any thoughts on the staff and doctors of the Bariatric Center of MaineGeneral in Augusta. I'd love to hear them! Thanks!

Hi there, I am going through Maine General. I have had all of my nutrition appts, my psych, and I am waiting on them to bring my case to team, then insurance. My surgeon is Dr.Trieu. He is wonderful, as are the staff at the bariatric center:) Best of luck to you, glad to see fellow Mainers here! Kerri

Hey Kerri- The meeting tonight is 5:30-6:30. I can't find the address for it, but it's at Granite Hill Estates, in the main building, which is 1/2 way up the hill of the "community" that Granite Hill is. It's not in any of the smaller housing outfits there. Man, I wish I could remember- i just plug it into my GPS. Maybe you could call the bariatric center and ask for good directions? I remember I took a left somewhere on Western Avenue in Augusta, onto route??? You may have an easier time by asking the center! You are coming from a different direction. Or, if you think you could, we could meet up beforehand somewhere, and you could follow me. i can email you my cell #.Just let me know. Tonight's topic is "dealing with body image changes", I don't know about you, but every meeting seems to turn into a gab session, and the topic never really comes up!! lol- we are all there to support eachother. Kayaking! WHOOO!!! What fun! Man, do you feel like a new woman, or what?? It sounds like you are going to have an awesome summer! Maybe if you go tonight, you can ask what you can do about the plateau? If you arent there, I will ask for you! (If you want!). Well, chat later, Just let me know what you want to do! Sarah

If you go to Me general's website, you can look at their calendar, or call the Bariatric center for a schedule. The schedule they handed out at a meeting the other night looks like there are 2 meetings a week, as well as 1 excersize class taught by Nate. Don't give up! Were you "reversed" or do you still have your band? You can still go for fills and try again! Me General and another Bariatric center in the area merged about 2 years ago. That may answer your questions as to why things arent as they were when you were banded. They also now refer Psyc evals out to K valley Psyc I think they said. Hope this helps

Juli, my PS wants me to be completely unfilled a week before surgery - just in case I get nauseous from the anaethetics, he doesn't want anything obstructing me being able to throw up (yuck). But one week after my surgery, my bariatric surgeon will refill me to approx 80% of what I have now, with monthly fill visits thereafter for a few months to ensure I don't gain. Actually it's one of the reasons I don't want to get too much under goal by the date of my PS. My bariatric surgeon wants me to stop losing at 70kgs and has indicated that if I get too much below that, he won't refill me to the kind of restriction I have now, so that I can stop losing and start maintaining. But I LIKE this restriction! So I'm trying to get to, and stay around, 70kgs right up to my PS surgery date.