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I have so much on my mind.....
DeletedMember replied to DeletedMember's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
@lisacaron Thanks, it was actually my orthopedic for my hip that gave me the final push I needed to go see a bariatric surgeon. Like many obese patients, every doctor I see tells me to lose weight (none seem to offer a lot of support, options, or advice other than to inform me that I'm fat and need to lose weight). This doctor however, sat down and had a very kind, but honest discussion with me. He told me that the reality was that I would most likely never lose this weight by myself, and that it had little to do with my desire or will-power, it was just how the body worked. However, I had to take the weight off. If I didn't, I was headed towards full disability, and he didn't think it was very far off. He suggested I contact my PCP and get a referral and just go talk to someone about my options. That did it. I think the compassion he showed me allowed me to drop my defenses and listen. I received several options for surgeons from my PCP, and I started watching Dr. Weiner's videos. I immediately liked him, and what he was saying resonated with me. I've been very pleased with my experiences with everyone involved so far (my PCP has been great, the psychologist I met with was great, and the hospital coordination program has been really good as well). While I have told very, very few people outside of my immediate family (in fact, 2). Everyone has been super supportive, much more so than I anticipated in fact. I think my family is actually relieved to see me taking this step. -
Nick Nicholson - Nicholson Clinic or True Results
Thucydides replied to transmformme's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
@@transmformme To be honest, I have found the office staff to be very hit or miss. The surgeons are great. Dr. Roshek did my EGD, Dr. Nick my sleeve, and Dr. Carlton checked in on my during a follow up. All were very positive, helpful, and high energy. I have found some of the office staff difficult to get follow-through. My first group of post-op labs, for example, took about 3 weeks to get results and those were delivered to me over the phone. Some staff have not been great about returning calls. Others, are amazingly responsive. I emailed one of the nurses with a post-op diet question. I got a long, very thorough response within 30 minutes. It is really a mixed bag. Because I have a great family physician, I have decided to navigate some of these issues with the office staff with my doctor's help. Before my follow-up appointments, I have Nicholson Clinic send me a lab order via email. I then do the labs through my family doctor a week or so before my follow-up appointment with the Nicholson Clinic. I then send my results to them. This gets me my results much more quickly, much more cheaply, and, since my dr. delivers lab results online, I can easily look them over myself and coordinate things with my family doctor. I am pretty happy with how that has worked so far and I have not had any resistance from the Nicholson Clinic in doing things this way. The only place where I was genuinely disappointed was with the post-op phone nutritionist consult. I know a lot of others have had a very good experience doing it this way, but I was pretty underwhelmed. The nutritionist that I spoke with was not too helpful and, frankly, did not seem very knowledgeable about bariatric patients. Between reading on my own, talking to the nurse educator and Nicholson, and talking to my family physician, I seem to be doing fine developing a plan that is working for me. I consistently hit my Water and Protein targets without a problem, get lots of exercise, and am seeing the weight come off at a solid pace. Were I to do it again, I would still do my surgery with Dr. Nicholson. Since I am enough of a control freak that I want to directly manage my own care and ask my own questions, the hiccups with the office staff does not bother me that much. In the end, my priority was the skill of the surgeon. There, I feel like I made a good choice. My recovery went very well, I had no complications, and my incision scars are even pretty small. -
October List of Surgery's
doggiedaddy replied to 60&goin4it's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I will have to check it out! I noticed you do a ricotta bake, its probably the same one I do! One of the first things I made when I could eat soft foods! I made homemade chili a couple of days ago, my normal recipe except leaner beef & no sausage. Ate 1/2 cups of it & had no problem! I do add a lot of Beans to it. Tasted so good!!! @@60&goin4it - Please share your chili recipe! Not sure how good this is for all bariatric patients but I seemed to manage it 11 days out! Small dime size bites, chew chew chew, & slow! Its my own recipe & has a lot of ingredients. Terri's Chili Double batch Use large Pot 3 lbs. lean ground beef browned & drained well, set a side. In a large stock pot add 3-4 TBLS. olive oil, I use Baklouti Green Chili Pepper flavored olive oil. Mix seasoning together in small bowl: 3 Heaping TBLS Chili powder 1 TBLS Brown sugar 2 1/4 tsp. Cumin 1/2 tsp. Chipolte ground pepper or red pepper, I prefer the chipolte (can use more if you like spicy but start with this 1st.) 1 heaping tsp. Oregano 1 tsp. each salt, pepper, paprika 2 tsp. cocoa powder (opt.) Saute in olive oil for a couple of min. do not let burn Add to pot 2 large Onions chopped 1 Red or green bell pepper chopped 3 large cloves of garlic chopped Saute in seasoning till tender Add to pot 1 28oz can crushed tomatoes 1 14oz can diced tomatoes & green chilies 1 14oz can diced tomatoes (Plain, Italian or a 10oz can of rotel if you like spicy) 1 can beef broth 2 cans Mexican style or spicy chili beans not drained 2 cans Dark Red Kidney beans Rinsed & Drained 1 can Black Beans Rinsed & Drained 3 TBLS Red Wine Vinegar (don't leave out) 1 TBLS Worcestershire Sauce Mix Well Add browned ground beef Mix Well Cook on low-med Stirring occasionally 3 hrs. May add some Water if gets too thick. I make mine the day before. Just let cool & refrig. Freeze's Well, thats why a double batch, I freeze in containers enough for my husband & I each a serving. Enjoy Holy cow, that is a lot of ingredients and I can not wait to make it! Thanks so much for sharing, this sounds delicious, @@60&goin4it -
What doctor are you using? I'm using Dr DeWitt at Princeton Bariatrics Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App
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Considering a lap band - scared after reading this forum!
labwalker replied to Elrix's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
Anyone who claims to be living a band nightmare for nine years either picked the surgeon based on price or never did the requisite follow up visits. I see my doctor every four months and I can assure you no reputable bariatric surgeon would allow a patient to suffer for nine years. 90% of the band haters had a procedure under insurance that wouldn't cover follow up visits, adjustments or in rare instances medically necessary removals....or lived with a maladjusted band until their health was affected. If you have the band chose the best doctor and heed their advice. Bands are not place and forget procedures. I know people who are having problems with sleeve and bypass surgery. It happens. My band works, and all I know is it controls my appetite with zero side effects. -
August Sleevers-How are you doing??
Véronique replied to Ash_Bri85's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
So far, I've walked about 8 406 steps today. I went to the new hospital they built (and will soon be offering bariatric surgery) to see about the plans they have for offering support groups. So far, nobody knows but I walked along the St. Vrain trail until I got to the trailhead and had to walk along Highway 119 with the prarie dogs. The heat, combined with the fact that my legs keep rubbing against each other, probably means I need to rest for a little while and wait for sundown before trying to get the remaining 1 600 steps. -
While I agree that selecting the right tool is important (right for your needs, health & medical considerations, lifestyle etc.) getting your head right is equally as if not a more important part. Not everyone loses their appetite after surgery & if you do it’s temporary. We all say, the surgery changes your body but it doesn’t change your thinking. It doesn’t stop your cravings, emotions, habits. They’ll still be there when your appetite returns. You have to do the head work as well. It is possible to eat around your tool, to make poor food choices & then not lose or regain your weight. Changing your relationship with food, understanding why you eat (habit, emotional support, craving, boredom, etc.) are essential. It’s like getting a gym membership or buying a treadmill, how successful you are depends upon you changing your behaviours & actually using the treadmill or going to the gym. Many people find working with a therapist extremely helpful in understanding & developing strategies to manage what motivates or drives our eating & the food choices we make. Unfortunately, life does tend to throw crap at us at times, & knowing how to manage the emotional turmoils that usually come with it & not fall back on old eating behaviours will help you continue your weight loss & maintain in the future. As @NickelChip said, Dr Weiner & Dr Pitcher have amazing resources but I do encourage you to consider seeking counselling. Your doctor, surgeon & team should be able to recommend someone with experience in disordered eating & bariatric patients. (Many insurances require at least one visit as part of your approval anyway.) All the best.
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February 2022 Surgery Buddies
SoCalEm replied to MeganMyers's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Hi! My program stresses lean proteins at the stage I'm in (pureed), so I'm eating canned chicken breast, tuna, and sometimes egg salad. They cautioned me on sodium, which is usually very high in canned and condensed soups. I think the concern is sodium can dehydrate you. Sounds funny, but I searched on Pinterest for simple recipes I could make at home and customize to my liking. Many of the pins link to bariatric patient geared sites with people years into their journey, so there's lots of insight and tips. -
Starting my wls journey but I dislike the dietitian at the clinic.
XtinaDoesIt replied to lussa's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I dont love my dietician either. She is nice and all but I don't find anything she says particularly beneficial. When I ask her about certain bariatric snacks and recipes I see online, she doesn't really know what I'm talking about. She keeps telling me to email her my questions but then takes days to respond. All she does is reiterate things that were in my wls workbook. I'm post op and have to see her everytime I see the doctor (quarterly for the first year). I just smile and nod in her session and thank her for nothing... A friend of mine loves her though... to each their own... -
August Sleevers-How are you doing??
etc. etc. etc. replied to Ash_Bri85's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
Is anyone else cold all the time? I used to be very warm-natured. Heck, I was sweaty, even in winter. But now I'm freakishly cold-natured. My fingers are ice cubes. I went from not always bothering with a winter coat to needing to wear hat, scarf, and gloves to leave the house. I drive with gloves on sometimes, because the steering wheel is too cold. I'd heard this happens to some people after bariatric surgery, but it's still been surprising. -
You will do fine. Keep walking & walking. The gas will go away. Talk to your bariatric center and follow their suggestions. Keep us posted. . . :wub:
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Any other Canadians out there?
lindarobinson57 replied to henner33's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
The one in Richmond is the West Coast Bariatric Surgery http://www.westcoast...ricsurgery.com/ Dr. Nam Nguyen, and Dr. Sharadh Sampath Are the surgeons, I go for my inital consult at the end of Jan. I am looking forward to this. Linda -
Traditional Bypass Vs. Sleeve
DLCoggin replied to Butterfly66's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
RNY and sleeve both have their advantages and disadvantages. Some factors to consider: Sleeve is still relatively new - about 15 years. RNY has been done in various forms since the 1950's. RNY is by far the most common bariatric surgery. Approximately 80% of all bariatric surgeries worldwide are RNY. Becuse of the two factors above, there is a great deal more experience and long term statistical information on the outcomes of RNY surgeries compared to sleeve. This may be part of the reason that some insurance companies are still hesitant to cover the sleeve. RNY is more invasive than sleeve but average weight loss for RNY patients is substantially higher than it is for sleeve patients. That may change as more experience is gained with sleeve and better procedures and techniques are developed. RNY is widely acknowledged as the single most effective "treatment" for type 2 diabetes currently available to medical science. RNY has a greater risk of malnutrition than sleeve because RNY involves both restriction and malabsorption while sleeve is restrictive only. Both surgeries appear to be equally safe as far as mortality goes. However, non life-threatening post-op complications such as infections are more common for the more invasive RNY than they are for sleeve. -
This thread is everything that is awesome about my Pal, Bariatric. I fell asleep earlier than Lipstick Lady, and look at all of you motherflankeders. I think we all must agree that the first step is admitting that we have a problem. In my case it's not so much hunching over in my cave in the dark, with yellow eyes, scarfing down cake after cake. It's more that I had a series of long-seated behaviors that did me no favors. Along with a series of reasonable behaviors. As the dust is clearing from the bomb I dropped on my life, I can see that my disordered behaviors extend(ed) into all sorts of things. Like the pre-Hoarders state of my desk. Like my avoidance of cleaning out that big closet downstairs. Like my insomnia and worry about things that I should be doing if i am going to be the completely together person I want to be. Grabbing control of this aspect of my life might also start to trickle over into other areas. I can see now that I effectively checked out somewhere between 5 and 7 every night when I poured myself a glass of wine and fixed dinner (that I only ate sometimes, and then obviously sometimes overate.) I'm a relaxed, happy drinker; I was never passed out on the couch after yelling, "You goddamned kids!" but I was anesthetizing. And now I am clearheaded because of the diet and its restrictions, and it has lifted the blinds on my other behaviors. Kinda skeery. So, obviously I am right in that stage that GG talks about. I'm sorting through the detritus of my "old" life and figuring out how I want to be going forward. It's odd. I am feeling my emotions (as my friend said) but now that they're here and up-front they are not as frightening as they were when I was blocking them. Thank you for letting me work this out virtually. I'm sure that was at least 2 or 3 therapy sessions right there. Let me know where to send the check.
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November sleevers
MaxRuth110917 replied to BabyFat23's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
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 -
New here and very nervous...
Frustr8 replied to OhioSparkle's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
Hi again @OhioSparkle. There's also @ CMD516, she will be going to Riverside late Autumn- Early Winter, hav8ng the same Dr Rana Nnoi had. There's Lynn in Cincinnati, Marcus,up in Fremont, DRoseman in NW Ohio, I think Bowling Green And there is my other Bari-pal Merc Merc, now she is extra-special. She had her surgery on July 25th at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Until her I wasn't aware they,have,an Adolescent Bariatric Program. Since she had her first,surgery there, she,had her Bypass done there also. And Dr,Marc, the head guy and Dr Needleman, my own guy ,did it together. Ask any of us any questions and we will do our,best to answer. You are a good mother by investing in their future, insuring they will have and keep their mommy. And you will,be a more fun mommy when you can do more, play more and be fun to be around. Don't believe the horror stories, that's all they are, stories. Keep talking to Nnoi and me, we will tell you the up side to it all, lots more joy than sorrow to this. And go ahead and answer Sosewsue61 if you like , I also will be a bypass, I havemy reasons why it's better for me, but notwithstanding, I love everyone of my sleeved buddies, we are all fighting the same weight wars, after all! So smile, be sweet to the kiddos and we will talk more when you have time, okay?😝 -
banded, banding, bands--verb--To assemble or unite in a group
BetsyB replied to LeighaMason's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Anne, I'm glad today is better. Weather affects me, too--just a handful of gorgeous days makes all the difference. I've found that walking outdoors, even on dreary days, really helps me, emotionally. There is something about observing the changes in foliage and animal life this time of year that is so spiritually renewing. Elfie, I'm SO glad you're going to ask your doctor about your pain. It really should be investigated at this point--and hopefully, until its cause is pinned down, she can offer some relief. I have chronic pain issues from a long-ago accident, and good pain management is actually pretty crucial to my weight loss. First, pain ups cortisol---which interferes with loss on a number of levels. And secondly, pain makes exercise so much more difficult. (For me, I should list those the other way around--for me, exercise really is critical.) It's good to see you, Gloria! Count me in on your no-hands challenge. My incident last night involved eating with my hands. Ordinarily, I cut everything up into tiny pieces. Last night, I got cavalier with cold shrimp. BIG MISTAKE. So yes--I will join you, and let you know how it goes. I suspect that after my fill next week, it will make a huge, huge difference. Plus, it just feels like "official" eating when it's not done out-of-hand. I am finding that being mindful makes a big difference, emotionally. Okay, the furry beast is telling me, "Time to walk, woman!" So off we go....well, maybe after a little more hydration. -
I think this is not part, buy maybe the entire issue. Between bowel habits, sexual positions, underwear photos, etc. this board is both extremely intimate and yet anonymous at the same time. Sort of like a glory hole for bariatrics. I guess it's not odd that we have trouble establishing/maintaining boundaries. I'm not sure how many people even want the boundaries. They come here to discuss things they're not discussing with friends/co-workers. If you're asking a website full of anonymous strangers for support, you can't predit what you might get.
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@MyBeesgirl you asked and I am repliying. I have not started my diet yet, I will August 1st. My diet says : for females weighing less than 400 lbs. No, I don't weigh 400 but the way my weight was skyrocketing,i could have before long. Okay here it goes. 1 daily bariatric or prenatal vitamin plus any your blood test shows you are deficient in. I take extra A, D, calcium citrate, iron and magnesium. 4 high protein meal replacement shakes I have,my choice of these as long as there are less than 200 calories, less than 10 grams fat, more than 10 grams protein,less than 10 grams carbs and above 10 grams protein. At this time, I'm leaning toward Premier Protein. 1 fruit must be small apple, small orange, small banana or 3/4 cup unsweetened fruit. Unlimited non-starchy vegetables Cooked or Raw. No pitatoes, corn or peas. Vegetable salad with light/low-fat dressing.No cheese nuts,dried fruit,egg, bacon. 1 meal either below 300 calorie frozen entree , also less than 30 calories carbohydrates OR 6oz lean meat(chicken,fish , turkey, pork) and 1 cup non-starchy vegetable 64 oz or more calorie-free, caffeine-free beverages and water. So Sample Menu Breakfast 1 meal replacement shake Snack 1 fruit Lunch Salad with 2 oz light dressing & meal replacement shake Snack 1 meal replacement shake Dinner Frozen Entree Snack 1 meal replacement,shake My Bariatric Hospital is Ohio State University Hospital Columbus Ohio 43210 and my surgery will be Wednesday September 5th At 7 AM EDT, my surgeon is Bradley J Needleman MD and I am excited to have it fiinally happen and i,will be having a RnY bypass.😛👍😛
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Surgery July 18th and I have to be honest and say I have had a couple of days of buyers remorse... but several people tell me that’s normal even Bariatric nurse case manager.. out of surgery wanted 34 ounces of water which was damn near impossible.. some of the things by body likes my stomach doesn’t like carnation no sugar added breakfast essentials.. I’m post op day 9 and my stomach is still the boss of what it likes... things that are too cold or too hot it doesn’t like... my nausea has improved and the pain is just with movements.. the spasms are less frequent primarily when things are to cold or my stomach is full... I prefer to eat protein and not drink protein.... i can’t wait for that stage..
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Rainbow Warrior- it's Great to Hear from YOU once again. You were one of my Inspirations when I started on Bariatric Pal- and now I am 1/2 the size I once was , if my calculations and equivalents are correct I am 4 kg from my GOAL at 5 days past my One Year anniversary- thank you for making this scared lady believe She Also Could Do This- and I DID! I am at X-Large going into a straight L and I am now the Junior Sized person I was at High School Graduation 56 and 1/2 years ago! SO Celebrate the Re- Birth of "Frustr8 "although I started with the Pen Name of "kkatlady"😝, it's still ME through it All!
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United Healthcare History/Requirements
BadWolfGirl replied to Deemarie1221's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
So I have UHC but through a different company obviously. I worked with a Bariatric Center of Excellence where I live. I need 6 months of consecutive doctor visits where I was weighed and we discussed my weight and health concerns. for me, this was not difficult because I was suffering from severe stomach issues, including gastroparesis, which is why I was recommended for the surgery in the first place. I had also had consecutive visits with a endocrinologist for my PCOS. They did not require the 6 months to be from the date of, but could also be backtracked. In your case since you may not have this history, you may need to start from the beginning. But 6 months is not bad and it goes very quickly trust me. UHC also required three consecutive months of visiting with the nutritionist. This can be done in tandem I believe with the 6 months of doctor visits. You need to show that you can change your habits and lose weight during this time with the nutritionist. they also require that you meet with a psychologist to evaluate if you're mentally healthy enough for this surgery and the life changes it will bring. I did have to deal with Optum as well on their side, and never had an issue. I had to speak with a nurse for a few months and she would keep up on where I was, let me know where the process was on their end, and they did some follow-up post surgery. I really had no problem with them at all. They were very nice. All in all my process was very smooth, I had no issues getting approved, and it went quickly. I am not sure if part of that was because of how well the bariatric center was run, but I am very pleased with both United healthcare and my center. I did have to pay some out of pocket for vitamins and some hospital copay, but it was under $500. I hope this answers your question as best as I can, I realize that the insurance coverage may be different depending on the company and the program. But if you have any other questions let me know. Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk -
United Healthcare History/Requirements
Deemarie1221 posted a topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Hi! I’m new to the forums. I am hoping to have WLS this year. Somewhat ironically, I work in Prior Authorizations for a health insurance company, so I’m very familiar with what it means to require auth. However, every company is a bit different. I’m a newlywed and my husband added me to his policy. This was planned as my previous coverage was not as good, and his plan covers bariatric surgery whereas mine did not. So we now have UHC Choice through T-Mobile. I have checked the coverage requirement thoroughly and have a couple concerns: A. They require a 5 year weight history. However my coverage before this has been fairly bare minimum. So I mostly only went to the doctor if absolutely needed. And the eye doctor, who does not weigh. How strict are they on having a five year history? Do I only need a couple weigh ins throughout that time? Or multiple a year etc? Also will they accept photo documentation or a written statement? I mostly gave up on getting help from my PCP’s previously as they’d tell me I “wasn’t trying hard enough” whenever I failed to lose weight. But I just established care with a great PCP in order to get everything checked out/ruled out prior to asking for a referral and recommendation for the surgery. B. I know when I’m ready for a consult etc. I will need to go through UHC Bariatric Resource Services through Optum. What is it like working with them? Do they actually help and guide you as if they’d like for you to get approved? thank you in advance! just to note: My BMI is over 40, and has been at least over 35 my entire adult life. I have attempted weight loss with phentermine multiple times, as well as keto, weight watchers, and CICO. I have hypertension, hyperlipidemia, exertions dyspnea, chronic back problems, and chronic muscle tension. I am active and I do watch what I eat, just fail to lose significant weight. When taking weight loss medications I lose up to 20 lbs, but then regain as soon as I go off the med even when sustaining my same lifestyle. -
Shake recommendations please! (everything is tooooo sweet now)
Cruzntx replied to GottaLearnToSlowDown's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
I bought some protein soups at the Bariatric Pal store. The cream of chicken is my favorite. I was sooo tired of the sweet tastes too. -
Weight Gained Since Having Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Polara replied to sleeve 4 me's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I am only a bit over 9 months out, hit my goal weight in June, and in mid-July hit 135 lbs. Since then, my weight has fluctuated between 134 lbs - 136 lbs depending on the time of the month for me and if I've been overdoing the sodium. One of the things that has really helped me maintain my weight is following the eating guidelines given to me by my NUT and bariatric team. I've also become very active and am now part of a women's rugby league again, which is fantastic because rugby was something I had to give up when I became obese since I couldn't do it physically any longer. As a mortician (funeral director), my job does entail lifting quite a bit (caskets and human bodies can be quite heavy!), so that also helps me keep in shape and active, as morbid as it sounds. Overall, I think the combination of following the dietary guidelines I was given and being very physically active has really helped me maintain my weight loss. I don't plan on changing my eating or activity habits, so hopefully, I'll be stable where I am now for the foreseeable future. I am VERY happy here, as this is the weight I was before I gained over 100 pounds due to psychiatric medication, which is what started me on this path (I have severe schizoaffective disorder and was given Zyprexa, which pretty much made me gain 5 pounds the moment I filled the script, no joke). I'm now on a combination of weight-neutral medication that works for me with notes in both my physical and mental health files that I can no longer be put on any medications classified as weight-positive (THANK HEAVENS!). It's been a long, long journey so far...but I would do it again in a heartbeat!
