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I️ totally feel your pain. I️ was just told the same thing BUT I️ called my insurance and found the policy for bariatric surgery and there is nothing that specifies 6 months. So maybe you should call your insurance just to confirm! Don’t give up cause if you don’t do it now, 6 months later you’ll be in the same situation wishing you stayed the course! Good luck!

You'd really be crazy to get a lap band. I'd say they get taken out more than they're put in easily by a ratio of at least 25:1 if not much much more. That said there is reasons to get a band but very very few. The best reason I can think of would be as revisional surgery. For example a band over a bypass. Just as a reference point I work for a high volume bariatric surgeon. In a year we do around 600-800 sleeves 200-300 bypasses, around 100-150 lap band removals and maybe 3-4 lap bands.

Yes, my Bariatrics office has 2 in house full time Nutritionists. They see you for a year (or more if you like) post surgery. They teach you what to eat, how to eat, have recipies / suggestions..very happy with them.

I too am 8 days post op and sick of sweetness. I bought genepro unflavored protein, put a half scoop in beef broth AFTER I heat it up and bam! 15gm protein for lunch and dinner. I also bought bariatric pal box of beef broth and it is sooo much more flavorful than store bought and comes with 15gm already. The chicken is nasty but I love the beef.

Not sure why I'm posting. I think I'm posting primarily because I'd love to find some kindred spirits who "get it". I'm scheduled for surgery in 7 days (next Thursday). I'm a stay at home mom with a husband and a 1st and 2nd grader at home. My family and closest friends know I'm having bariatric surgery. I'm telling everyone else that I'm having my gall bladder removed (which is true), so I won't be able to volunteer or attend events for a few weeks. My 1st grader knows "mama is having her gall bladder removed and after that she will not be able to eat much fat or carbs so she will lose weight." He was very excited and immediately asked "will you be able to run around with us and play tag when you are skinny?" It was lovely to hear, but it also broke my heart. My husband works full time and is theoretically "willing" to help, but only if I very specifically tell him what I need him to do. This is a man who, when I asked him to bring me the clothes in the dryer and to put the clothes in the washer in the dryer, he did exactly that. When I went to get the clothes an hour later, I realized the door was open. He told me I didn't tell him to hit "start". So I have to give VERY exacting instructions if I want him to do something. (He doesn't do this on purpose - he just lacks common sense if it's not something directly involved with his work!) Anyhow, so he knows he has to pick up the kids the Thursday and Friday after my surgery.... the next week is Thanksgiving. Despite what I've told him, he seems to think that the kids will be okay home with just me to take care of them the week of Thanksgiving. I have been telling him for weeks that isn't realistic. He said if I needed help, I could call a nanny agency the week after my surgery. Ummm... nope, I don't think I'll be up for screening a nanny post-op. We went back and forth for several weeks about this. My husband offered to have his 80 year old father come to help with the kids. His dad is super smart, but will say that he doesn't understand why "today's kids don't listen and do things to irritate adults." When he came to "help" two weeks after I had baby #1 (right after my mom left), he literally announced "let's go for a walk, we've been in the house all day" and expected me to bundle up our 2 week old and my post-c-section self and go for an hour long walk in the hills of San Francisco! I did it out of respect for my FIL until I nearly collapsed (it was only the second time I had met him), but after that, I learned to put my foot down!! After hearing hubby and I argue about childcare for the umpteenth time, my 1st grader announces "Grandma needs to come. If she doesn't, we are going to starve to death because dad doesn't know how to feed us since he can't cook. I can make microwave mac n cheese, but that's not enough food." So hubby finally agreed that mom will stay for a month to help take care of my 7 & 9 year olds while I'm recovering. So my mom will take care of feeding the kids and getting them dressed for school and to activities while I am recovering. Hubby will only be responsible for morning drop-off. I'm so grateful for her. My mom is 72, so she's slowing down, but she spends a few months a year with us, so the kids love her and know her well and they will listen to her. Now I need to get my house to "grandma level clean" so she doesn't work too hard cleaning while she is here. So now I have childcare lined up, the fridge is full of ingredients so grandma can cook, I have protein shakes and supplies for post-op, and I have made my hospital packing list. I've started my 2 weeks of liquid diet. I have mostly stuck to my shakes + 6 egg whites/day (which my bariatric nutritionist said is fine), but then last night, after the kids went to bed, I took a bowl of their uneaten tortellini, peeled off the pasta part, and ate the cheesy center. Probably 20 pieces of cheese. I wasn't sure what to do about my indiscretion. I didn't think I could vomit it up, so I just went to bed and told myself I would be better tomorrow. My mom asked today if I'm nervous about the surgery. I told her that I'm feeling remarkably not-stressed about the surgery itself. I feel like there are so many things to do before surgery, that surgery itself is going to sneak up on me. Anyhow..... that's my story. Thanks for reading!

The true question is, what surgeon did you find that is willing to do a LapBand, and why would you want them to operate on you... It is pretty much standard that bariatric surgeons do not preform LapBands anymore, they maintain them, or remove them to convert to either a sleeve or bypass. Any surgeon that still preforms LapBands, would not be a surgeon I would use.

Great Job Killian. Do you have a nuts who specializes in bariatrics in place to help when you are able to eat more? Never too soon to begin learning what your best food choices are to make your journey as successful as you want it to be. Hunger will return and you will need to rely on your new eating habits to keep you on track. You can do this. Sent from my SM-N920V using BariatricPal mobile app

Your high-protein weight loss surgery diet might not leave much room for extras, so what happens when cravings strike? Some patients do better by ignoring the craving, while others are best off giving into it with a single bite of what they crave. A good solution for many patients is to find a substitute that works with your diet. Here are a few examples of common cravings and a few low-calorie swaps. Chocolate A small square of dark chocolate may be good for your heart, but the 50 grams of sugar and 20 grams of fat in a 400-calorie slice of frosted chocolate cake far outweigh any heart-healthy benefits in dark chocolate. A serving of Double Chocolate Protein Cake with 120 calories and less than 6 grams of sugar and 5 grams of fat can satisfy the craving while also providing 12 grams of protein. Or, you could try a Chocolate Dream Bar with 10 grams protein and 160 calories. Imagine pulling that out after a workout and showing your friends how you lose weight! Mac and Cheese Ahh…nothing like plopping down in front of your TV with a bowl of mac and cheese after a tough day, and then feeling oh so bad about the carb coma you just put yourself in. Keep the mac and cheese, and skip the coma, with a smart swap. Opt for cooked cauliflower chunks, shirataki noodles, or Protein Fusilli instead of regular macaroni, and a sauce with non-fat cream cheese and low-fat cheddar instead of full-fat cheeses. Mashed Potatoes Mashed potatoes and gravy are the ultimate comfort food and the opposite of the weight loss surgery diet ideal. Put another way, they’re a load of carbs, fat, and calories, and devoid of protein. Instead, make pureed cauliflower with almond milk, parmesan cheese, nutmeg, and pepper, or try pureed turnip or carrot. Turn it into an entire meal by topping your potatoes with Protein Gravy, which adds 10 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber for only 65 calories. Chips… A little crunch can be quite the welcome afternoon companion, but oftentimes, your crunch indulgence sticks on your hips instead of leaving at the end of the afternoon. A few handfuls of potato or tortilla chips can cost you 500 calories before even talking about the fat and calories from a creamy dip. If all you are looking for is some mindless munching, try celery (if you can handle the strings), cucumber sticks, bell pepper strips, or snow peas. An entire cup has less than 50 calories, and it can fill up your pouch or sleeve pretty fast. Or, if what you really want is the entire chip experience, go for Protein Chips in flavors such as ranch, salt and vinegar, BBQ, and more. …And Dip The ranch, French onion, or spinach and artichoke dip you love may be giving you more than a meals’ worth of calories, without the protein you need to keep full. Keep the calories down with salsa, or get yourself some nutrients by making a dip with a base of non-fat sour cream, cream cheese, or Greek yogurt. Chinese Takeout It was so easy and delicious to order fried rice, chow mein, or sweet and sour chicken, but was it really worth a thousand calories? Make your own Asian inspired dishes with ingredients such as Protein Fettuccine instead of chow mein noodles, low-carb Asian flavor sauce, and riced cauliflower, along with lean proteins such as shrimp and chicken, and plenty of veggies. When you are stuck for time or want a ready-made meal, the veggies, rice, and chicken in Spicy Chicken Oriental with 230 calories and13 grams of protein can be on your plate in less time than delivery. Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup It is classic but so far-fetched on a high-protein bariatric diet…until now. Get your grill on by toasting low-fat cheese on Protein Bread with 2 grams net carbs per slice. Pair your open-faced grilled cheese sandwich with Protein Tomato Soup, and you could easily get more than 20 grams of protein in a filling meal with under 200 calories. Dessert No explanation is necessary. Fruity, chocolatey, nutty, or caramel-y; crunchy, chewy, or spoon-y, dessert tastes good. Keep the good without the guilt or dumping syndrome with any number of high-protein choices. Stash Protein Bars, Protein Pudding, and Protein Cookies in your favorite hiding spots so you can grab a low-sugar treat whenever you need a lift. Whether you are craving lemon, cranberry, coconut, peanut, toffee, or s’mores, there is a choice for you. Cravings can hit hard, but that’s okay! With a little thought, you can make smart choices to satisfy your craving without missing a beat in your weight loss.

Chocolate A small square of dark chocolate may be good for your heart, but the 50 grams of sugar and 20 grams of fat in a 400-calorie slice of frosted chocolate cake far outweigh any heart-healthy benefits in dark chocolate. A serving of Double Chocolate Protein Cake with 120 calories and less than 6 grams of sugar and 5 grams of fat can satisfy the craving while also providing 12 grams of protein. Or, you could try a Chocolate Dream Bar with 10 grams protein and 160 calories. Imagine pulling that out after a workout and showing your friends how you lose weight! Mac and Cheese Ahh…nothing like plopping down in front of your TV with a bowl of mac and cheese after a tough day, and then feeling oh so bad about the carb coma you just put yourself in. Keep the mac and cheese, and skip the coma, with a smart swap. Opt for cooked cauliflower chunks, shirataki noodles, or Protein Fusilli instead of regular macaroni, and a sauce with non-fat cream cheese and low-fat cheddar instead of full-fat cheeses. Mashed Potatoes Mashed potatoes and gravy are the ultimate comfort food and the opposite of the weight loss surgery diet ideal. Put another way, they’re a load of carbs, fat, and calories, and devoid of protein. Instead, make pureed cauliflower with almond milk, parmesan cheese, nutmeg, and pepper, or try pureed turnip or carrot. Turn it into an entire meal by topping your potatoes with Protein Gravy, which adds 10 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber for only 65 calories. Chips… A little crunch can be quite the welcome afternoon companion, but oftentimes, your crunch indulgence sticks on your hips instead of leaving at the end of the afternoon. A few handfuls of potato or tortilla chips can cost you 500 calories before even talking about the fat and calories from a creamy dip. If all you are looking for is some mindless munching, try celery (if you can handle the strings), cucumber sticks, bell pepper strips, or snow peas. An entire cup has less than 50 calories, and it can fill up your pouch or sleeve pretty fast. Or, if what you really want is the entire chip experience, go for Protein Chips in flavors such as ranch, salt and vinegar, BBQ, and more. …And Dip The ranch, French onion, or spinach and artichoke dip you love may be giving you more than a meals’ worth of calories, without the protein you need to keep full. Keep the calories down with salsa, or get yourself some nutrients by making a dip with a base of non-fat sour cream, cream cheese, or Greek yogurt. Chinese Takeout It was so easy and delicious to order fried rice, chow mein, or sweet and sour chicken, but was it really worth a thousand calories? Make your own Asian inspired dishes with ingredients such as Protein Fettuccine instead of chow mein noodles, low-carb Asian flavor sauce, and riced cauliflower, along with lean proteins such as shrimp and chicken, and plenty of veggies. When you are stuck for time or want a ready-made meal, the veggies, rice, and chicken in Spicy Chicken Oriental with 230 calories and13 grams of protein can be on your plate in less time than delivery. Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup It is classic but so far-fetched on a high-protein bariatric diet…until now. Get your grill on by toasting low-fat cheese on Protein Bread with 2 grams net carbs per slice. Pair your open-faced grilled cheese sandwich with Protein Tomato Soup, and you could easily get more than 20 grams of protein in a filling meal with under 200 calories. Dessert No explanation is necessary. Fruity, chocolatey, nutty, or caramel-y; crunchy, chewy, or spoon-y, dessert tastes good. Keep the good without the guilt or dumping syndrome with any number of high-protein choices. Stash Protein Bars, Protein Pudding, and Protein Cookies in your favorite hiding spots so you can grab a low-sugar treat whenever you need a lift. Whether you are craving lemon, cranberry, coconut, peanut, toffee, or s’mores, there is a choice for you. Cravings can hit hard, but that’s okay! With a little thought, you can make smart choices to satisfy your craving without missing a beat in your weight loss.

GenePro is a little controversial in the bariatric community. Some people swear by it. But they've been sued as a scam, too. All I'll say is that they say you get 30g of protein out of a single tablespoon. And a tablespoon is 12.5 grams. They say they have reasons why that makes sense and maybe they do, but it sure makes you wonder.

Hi everyone. Started in April but couldn’t officially start till July. Having my last nutrition appointment this Saturday. Then next mouth is my surgeons appointment to conclude my 6 months requirement. However the Bariatric center told me it will most likely be end of January or February because the surgeon is teaching and lecturing. Also switching insurance carriers in January. Hope this won’t stall things up.🤞 37yrs 5”11 SW 296 CW 291.

I am just in the beginning step of this process. ----- Message ----- From: Lauren Sent: 10/13/17 11:15 AM To: Toni Subject: RE: Referral question Good Morning Toni, My name is Lauren and I am a Registered Nurse with MD's team. Thank you for using secure messaging. I understand your request and concerns. It would be best for you to update your doctor and review options for care over the phone. This service is free of charge to you. Please call the appointment center at Everett Medical Center - 425-261-1500 option 1 or visit Kaiser Permanente member website to schedule a telephone appointment with your doctor to review your request and together make the best plan of care for you going forward. What Happens After You Request Bariatric Surgery If you are considering bariatric surgery for weight loss, this overview can help you understand the process at Kaiser Permanente. Requesting Surgery Your first step is to tell your primary care physician that you are interested in bariatric surgery. Your physician can refer you to Bariatric Surgery at our Kaiser Permanente medical offices location in Bellevue. The bariatric nurse will process your referral through Kaiser Permanente's Clinical Review Unit. The Clinical Review Unit evaluates the referral request to determine if you meet the medical criteria for bariatric surgery and if the surgery is covered by your health plan. Be sure that your doctor knows what diets you have been on in the past. It is required that at least two be listed by name. You will receive a letter approving or denying the surgery request. If denied, you will be told why and possibly have an opportunity to appeal that decision. Steps After Approval If the request is approved, the approval letter will tell you that you will be receiving a new patient intake packet in the mail from the bariatric nurse. The packet should arrive within 30 days after you receive the approval letter. If you don't receive the packet in 30 days, contact the Bariatric Clinic at 425-502-3454. There will be an out-of-pocket expense of $500 for nutrition counseling that is not covered by insurance. This will be explained in the packet. The packet includes our program booklet explaining the process and answering many questions. You will receive a checklist of the medical work up, information about the pre-op class and the support groups, as well as the nutrition requirement and diet. Your packet also will include a psychosocial questionnaire and health history questionnaire for you to complete and return in enclosed envelopes. After those are received, you will receive a call to schedule a psychological assessment. The bariatric case manager will review results of lab tests, studies, and consultations as they are completed. If necessary, the bariatric nurse will order additional medical assessments. Surgery Is Scheduled Once you have completed all required tests, studies, and referral appointments — and you have complied with any other requirements based on those assessments — you will contact the bariatric case manager to schedule a pre-op consult with the surgeon and the dietitian. Your surgery will be scheduled following these two consults. Post-Surgery Visits and Support After surgery, you will have regular follow-up appointments with the bariatric team for 5 years and be encouraged to continue to attend one of the 7 bariatric support groups around the Puget Sound area. If you live in Eastern Washington, Kaiser Permanente can direct you to support groups in your community. Also check the Kaiser Permanente Bariatric Patients page to read the monthly bariatric newsletter with helpful advice and support, and to find a support group. If you have additional questions or concerns, contact the bariatric nurse, Julie Grimm, RN, at 425-502-3454. Thank you for choosing Kaiser Permanente. Best, Lauren Supporting M. ----- Message ----- From: Toni Sent: 10/12/2017 10:16 PM PDT To: Subject: Referral question I am interested in weight loss surgery and would like a referral. Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

It looks like your plan specifically excludes bariatric surgery, so you could see this doctor for general surgery and be in-network, but not bari.

I believe your plan does not cover Bariatric surgery.. I don’t know if it is with him .. or your plan.. best you can do is to call your plan and ask them directly. And what hospitals, if they do, is acceptable for Bariatric through your plan. “There will be obstacles. There will be doubters. There will be mistakes. But with hard work, there are no limits.” —Michael Phelps

Hi y'all! I'm new here well, I joined a few years ago and never interacted, and haven't gotten surgery yet. A little about me. I have PCOS and chronic migraine syndrome. My BMI is about 55. With that being said, I'm looking into surgery and have found an amazing surgeon. I'm shopping around for insurance. I found a plan, and the surgeon is covered, but the plan says bariatric services are not covered (I'll post a screen shot of them) Any idea of why that could be? Would I need to go see the surgeon and have him talk to my insurance and they would need to approve me? I'm so confused lol

FluffyChix, I am using the workbook on mindful eating for people having bariatric surgery that was written by the doctor who wrote the Bariatric Times article you linked to above, Michelle May. I have been practicing mindful eating, focusing on eating when hungry and stopping when full (about a 5 or 6 on the hunger-fullness scale) for more than 2 months and have only twice eaten when not hungry in that span. I am also doing daily meditation and generally practicing self-kindness. All in all, it has been incredibly helpful. I feel well-nourished, I have been able to incorporate many of the habits I will need after I have RNY (not until spring), and I have lost 25 pounds. Loss is slow now after the initial loss when I started. Eating according to hunger and fullness generally has me eating between 1,400 and 1,800 calories a day, and I am fine with that. My meals are pretty boring (I'm no cook), but I do track, and I'm happy to join in and get ideas from others. I hate vegetables passionately, so that will always been a downfall of my meals. B: Premier Protein chocolate shake L: Tuna, string cheese, apple slices, peanut butter D: Turkey meatballs, cottage cheese, grapes

Had my preoperative appointment yesterday. It's my hospital that gives out the preoperative soap not the bariatric surgeons. They give it out for all patients having surgery to reduce the risks of infection (and to save the hospital money as they lose a ton when patients get infected). I can't imagine too many bariatric surgeons office giving out the soap but who knows... Hibiclens is the name of the product that my facility gives out, but basically any chlorhexadine wash will do. Bariatric surgery has a very low infection rate so it's not super important (if you were having a colon or joint surgery that's a different story). But it wouldn't kill you to try out

That is so great to hear and very heart warming 😍😢! I’m so happy for you and congratulate you on taking on this difficult journey. I wish you success and now that you have the support I have no doubt that you will do great! Please continue to update us on your progress. By the way, I’m sorry if you have already posted but which bariatric surgery did you have? All my best.

Hi everyone! This is our first thread for daily menus. I borrowed this concept from another support board and it's a very popular thread. I am hoping it may help us with accountability and also help other to help us when we may get stuck or have food issues to work through. To begin we will just do a weekly thread and anyone can join regardless of their surgery status or type of surgery. Just follow your own plan as given to you by your doc according to where you are in your journey. To participate, just hit reply and type in the day's menu. You may want to take part in the discussion that goes along with it. Here's an interesting article in the Bariatric Times about Mindful Eating and Bariatric Patients. For the next few weeks, I thought it would be fun to look into the concept of Mindfulness as it applies to bariatric patients! I don't know about you, but that's one of my top rules from my surgeon and nut. I must eat MINDFULLY. I can't eat in front of a tv, standing up at the counter, in front of the computer, while talking, etc. I have to be present and focused on the bite of food in my mouth. It's harder than it sounds! I've been practicing Mindful Eating since May and it has really helped me hone in on only eating set meals each day per my RD. Per the RD and surgeon, they want me eating 3 meals and 3 organized snacks daily. Wow! That's a lot of eating, but it's on a set schedule and is helping me prepare for my post-RNY life. Ok everyone! Let's get started. Please feel free to post your menu for each day. (Each day of menus will be a new reply to post entry for each of us.) So here's the QOW (Question of the Week): Mindful Eating: Why do you eat?

Had my sleeve done Monday the 6th by Dr. Fernando Garcia Govea at Hospital CER via Tijuana Bariatrics. Honestly, I was so nervous beforehand that I truly believed I made the wrong choice. However, after everything was said and done I believe it was a great choice. The hospital was cleanly (honestly, I don't know what I was expecting), but it was way above my expectations. I honestly haven't felt the urge to really explore Tijuana though. I don't really have the energy, lol. How long did it take everyone to be 100% and ready to return to work?

My nutritionist said 48 oz min was great! Yes 64 oz if you can but if not (right now) it’s ok!!! She’s said it dozens of times & it’s in all the printed info from my bariatric team, (“A Center of Excellence”) plus I’ve read the same thing online in several places so I know it’s true. I have the EXACT SAME ISSUE!! As a matter of fact that’s why I was looking at the latest forum postings! I havn’t been able to get in any water & I’m 3 wks post op. Yikes. But I really need to work on it. So I read today (online as well as when I got out & read in my nutritionist handouts) that all liquids DO COUNT toward the daily intake amount!! So if you can choke down broth, tea, flavored waters, even your protein shakes count! It made me feel a sigh of relief. So protein shakes are 11 oz a piece & I can drink two per day so at least I’ve been getting in 22 oz a day. Not great but it’s something. Today (because I’m very unhappy with my wt loss results so far of 6 pounds since surg day), I choked down 20 oz of water. It’s about noon so I’ll make myself choke down more later today but it’s a chore to me!! I sympathize w/ you!!

Hello all, I am very new. I have been reading a lot about bariatric surgery. I haven't gone to my first appt., it is tomorrow. I have read that a pro to the vertical sleeve is that it stops the hunger causing hormone. Does RNY do the same thing. It seems since it is left and reattached that the hormone would just run out into the intestine, but it would still be absorbed and cause hunger. This is one of the biggest questions I have on deciding which surgery.

Hey, I had my band inserted on Monday and was wondering about smoothies. My Bariatric nurse says very thin milky smoothies are ok but what about seeds from fruits?

Definitely Bariatric Advantage. Its more costly but i only have to buy 1 multi since it has everything we need in it, and 1 calcium citrate. Easy breazy. And they're super tasty!

I like the bariatric advantage multivitamin and chewy bits. The chewy bits are almost like little candies.