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Stalls in weight loss after bariatric surgery are common and can occur for a variety of reasons, including changes in diet, hormonal imbalances, or the body adapting to the weight loss. It's important to consult with your surgeon and/or dietitian to determine the cause and address it appropriately. They may suggest adjusting your diet or increasing physical activity. Additionally, it's important to remember that weight loss is not always linear and can fluctuate over time. Keep track of other health markers, such as body measurements, energy levels, and overall health, to gauge progress and ensure that you are on track.

It's possible that the sneezing and vomiting could be a result of a food allergy or intolerance. However, it's also important to keep in mind that post-bariatric surgery, the digestive system is altered, and some people experience changes in the way their body reacts to food. Additionally, hot flashes could be a symptom of a larger issue such as a hormonal imbalance, and it's recommended to speak to your doctor about your symptoms. They will be able to give you a better understanding of what's causing your symptoms and provide proper treatment.

The BariatricPal Store carries a huge amount of bariatric friendly Unflavored protein options at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/protein-powders/flavor_unflavored Some popular options are: GENEPRO Gen3 Medical Grade Unflavored Protein Powder - 3rd Generation! at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/genepro/products/genepro-medical-grade-unflavored-protein-powder-3rd-generation You can get samples of GENEPRO at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/genepro/products/genepro-gen3-unflavored-protein-powder-single-serving-sample-packs Bariatric Advantage HPMR High Protein Meal Replacement Unflavored at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/protein-powders/products/bariatric-advantage-high-protein-meal-replacement?variant=17894360065 Isopure Unflavored Zero Carb Protein Powder: https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/natures-best at https://store.bariatricpal.com/products/isopure-protein-page?variant=41747900203190 Syntrax Nectar 1lb Protein Powder Bottle - Medical Unflavored at https://store.bariatricpal.com/products/syntrax-nectar-1lb-protein-powder-bottle-medical-unflavored ProCel Whey Protein at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/protein-powders/products/procel-whey-protein-flavors Super Collagen Unflavored Protein Powder by Obvi at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/protein-powders/products/super-collagen-protein-powder-by-obvi-unflavored OvaEasy Egg White Protein - Unflavored (24g Protein, 0 Carbs & 0 Fat) at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/protein-powders/products/ovaeasy-egg-white-protein-unflavored-24-g-protein-0-carbs-0-fat

My bariatric center advises never to crush medications. It's best to check with your surgeon to find out what they advise in your situation. Best of luck!

You are correct. I have receipts for the current medical policy. Click this link to the BCBSM website, or google bcbsm bariatric surgery medical policy MEDICAL POLICY - BARIATRIC SURGERY (GASTRIC SURGERY FOR MORBID OBESITY) Once the pdf opens, press Ctrl+F on your keyboard. Type 4/20/21 in the search bar. “Updated the policy to say 4 years for both BCBSM and BCN as per the JUMP’s recommendation and eliminated the 6 months waiting period statements” I also called Blue Cross Complete @ 800 228 8554. I spoke with a very helpful rep who informed me that there is no waiting period for Blue Cross Complete (Medicaid) Only documented medical weight loss program within 4 years of surgery request. Doctors determine the length of their weight loss programs. I’d give them a call and maybe do a three-way with your office manager.

Okay I have a question I have blue cross complete of Michigan and I was told they do not have a waiting period but the bariatrics place Insist that since it is through Medicaid it is a 12 month program . So I’m a bit confused

Good question. I was lucky that in my area there are many Bariatrci surgeons but I first focused on "Bariatric Centers" that are part of a major hospital. So I researched the surgeons in each program, what each center included, then reviews including messaging people on this forum that had experience with that particular center. In "surgeons", I researched each one's credentials, experience, fellowships, memberships in professional organizations/aasociations, and any writing they might have authored. It was important to me to find an all-incusive "center". One where they have in-house dieticians and professionals to take care of all of the pre-reqs. I selected the top two from my list and attended their free seminars. I then chose the one that I felt more comfortable with. My center actually assigned a "Navigator" to schedule all of my pre-req appointents (Pysch eval, Sleep exam, blood work, etc). This not only made it easy for me, but from my first doctor visit to surgery was less than 2 months. Third, reviews and advice. Not from google which tend to rely on complaints, but I reached out on this forum and several outstanding people discussed their experiences with one of those 2 centers, their surgeon, and process. I greatly appreciate the honesty those folks passed on. Good luck on your search and you are right in researching this very important surgery. You are on the right track!

Hi! I’m a little over a month post op and I’m having a hard time keeping the vitamin C + iron chewable’s down. I got them from Bariatric advantage & every time I take them I feel nauseated immediately. I then feel like I may have to throw up for a long time after. My surgeon had said to take these two hours separately from the multi vitamin chewable and I always do. I know these are crucial to the recovery process so any tips on how to take them would be very appreciated!

I used to hear reports that they didn't have enough of what we need, but that was a few years ago. They may be better now. I know that a lot of clinics are OK with them (including mine), but I always opted for Centrum or the generic equivalent, which my clinic's RD said were actually a better choice. here are the recommendations of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Just make sure that whatever you pick meets their basic recommendations for your type of surgery, and you should be good: ASMBS-Nutritional-Guidelines-2016-Update.pdf

Chewable multivitamins taste terrible, so I wouldn’t recommend taking them any longer than you have to. My surgeon told me to take chewables for the first 6 weeks after surgery, and as soon as that was over, I was glad to go back to a capsule. I used BariatricPal chewables, and once I switched to capsules, I started BariatricPal multivitamin one capsules. They are a great price. I got sample packs of a couple of other brands of chewable bariatric multivitamins, and they were equally disgusting, so I went with BariatricPal due to the price. The good news is that calcium citrate chews are delicious. I get the BariatricPal French vanilla caramel and Belgian chocolate caramel, and I look forward to taking them (also a great price compared to other calcium citrate chews). I also take chewable biotin and vitamin D, Natrol brand from Amazon, and they taste good, like strawberry candies. And NatureMade sublingual B12 tablets taste like cherry candies.

Slider foods are things that are yummy but have no food value or any real protein quality. For some after bariatric surgery you only have a tiny pouch for a stomach and we get full very quickly on high protein foods and stay fuller because they take longer to digest. Slider foods go to mush and we can eat masses of them or they just slide right through our pouches. So ice-cream is a good example, biscuits, crisps(chips) cake, chocolate and popcorn are my slider foods. I love them but try hard not to have them Sent from my Lenovo TB-J606F using BariatricPal mobile app

What do you do when people your not close with ask how you lost weight? I have told all my close family and friends my plans for bariatric surgery but its not something I could see myself advertising to others. For example I work with a lot of men. I feel like it will be awkward if they ask how I'm loosing the weight.

I had to crush ALL my meds for 6 weeks. I came out of the hospital off my diabetes medication and high cholesterol medication. The only meds I was on were my vitamins and mental meds. I got the chewable Celebrate baritric ones (search Bariatric vitamins on Amazon). They were pretty nasty crushed up. I just used one of my 10ml medicine cups, poured some of my crystal lite fruit punch into it, poured the crushed on top of that and do it like a shot with my fruit punch as chaser. So, so, so, gross. I also had to open my tablets (omeprazole) and pour it into my shot. So that was me.

I just wanted to share some Costco finds that are Bariatric friendly. I found these this week and they have made my meal planning super easy! -Sukhi Chicken Tikki Masala: 1/2 cup is about 145 calories with 17 grams of protein. The box comes with 2 bags. One bag provided me with three 1/3 cup servings and one 1/2 cup serving. I’m freezing the other bag for another time! -Sous Vide egg bites: one egg bite is 145 calories with 9 grams of protein -Paleo Chicken Sausage: 1 link is 160 calories with 16 grams of protein -Fairlife chocolate protein drinks If anyone has any other great Costco finds to share please do!

Try protein hot cocoa. I found it much easier to drink warm beverages in my early post-op days than cold. The Bariatric Pal hot cocoa mix is delicious but you can get other brands of protein hot cocoa on Amazon.

@ynotiniowa I'm a nurse working crazy hours in hospital too. Donuts, cookies, cupcakes and candy on every counter, that's a nurse's life at work, that's why I needed bariatric surgery...lol. I went to work after 6 weeks, so I was eating regular food and it was not so obvious to others. You will survive 12-16 hr shift by eating Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, boiled eggs, protein cereal with Fairlife protein shake, tuna pouches and prepackaged small containers with protein rich/nutrition foods (chicken, turkey, chili, veges etc). Wish you good luck and success!

I am planning on having my surgery on base. The bariatric center there is very highly rated, so I'm good with the location. I'm in the pre op stages (psych eval, nutrition, ect). At my initial appointment with the surgeon, he said I qualified because of my sleep apnea. I have tried other attempts at weight loss through Weight Watchers and Noom, but it wasn't supervised by my doctor. I also work with a nutritionist, but she hasn't been tracking my weight. Anyway, my question is, if you had your surgery on base, what was the approval process? Sent from my SM-S908U using BariatricPal mobile app

I expected a diet plan from my surgeon or the dietitians. What I got was a booklet of recipes and items I knew from my personal pre-op research online was not appropriate for a post bariatric patient. I have pretty much had to figure it out on my own. My surgeon at a support group meeting even said the surgery he performs doesn't cause malabsorption. Dude if you did the surgery you said your did - Yes it does! I never went back to a meeting because I knew I knew more about my nutrition than my surgeon. I kept the packet to the day (25 years ago) just for amusement.

My surgery was 2.5 years ago, so it's sort of a distant memory at this point... I don't mean to scare anyone -- I actually hope it will be reassuring to know that (at least for me) waking up from surgery was the worst part. I remember being in the bed in the waiting area before surgery with an IV, and then nothing until I woke up. A lot of people remember being in the operating room, having to move themselves from the bed to the table, but I don't remember any of that. I woke up in a lot of pain and for some reason, I had it in my head that something went wrong and they didn't complete the bypass. When I was able to speak, I asked, "What happened?" I guess the nurses thought I was disoriented and explained that I was in the hospital and I just had gastric bypass surgery. I felt intense regret, wondering why I did this to myself. I could barely move, but I remember looking around and seeing the monitor showing my vitals. I had a blood pressure cuff on my arm that periodically ran, and it was a lot higher than normal, but nobody seemed concerned. I didn't really feel the incisions, but I had a lot of pain that I assumed was gas pain, based on what I had read before surgery, and I knew that I was supposed to walk to help with the gas pain. I kept asking to get up and walk, and the nurses told me I had to wait until they took me to my recovery room. I stayed in the hospital for one long, rough night. I was trying to walk as much as possible, up and down the halls. I made the mistake of walking at dinner time, and the non-bariatric patients had actual food, and the smell nauseated me. I got a meal tray with a protein shake, water, apple juice, coffee, and fruit cocktail (it was supposed to be sugar-free Jello, but apparently they were out and decided that fruit cocktail was the next best thing, LOL... The bariatric nurse was very upset that they had given me something that I shouldn't eat, but of course I knew better and did not eat it). Between walking, I tried to sip as much as possible, and it was very difficult. Fortunately, I had IV fluids, so plenty of hydration (and I had to pee very frequently). After the first few hours, I had very little pain and did not need to take any pain medication. I did have discomfort in my stomach, like cramping/spasms, so they gave me anti-spasm and anti-nausea medication. I had leg compression machines on my legs while I slept. The nurses came in to check on me periodically. My surgeon came in once. Once the anesthesia wore off and I was fully awake, I was eager to get out of the hospital and go home, and I felt like I had to wait forever. In hindsight, I'm glad they kept me for longer than I wanted because while I was there, I was getting hydrated with IV fluids, which was good because it was so hard to drink fluids those first few days. Once I got home, the first few days were not pleasant, but I had very little pain and recovered quickly. So if you feel completely miserable when you wake up, just know that you will get through it and things will likely improve very quickly.

I'm four days away from my gastric bypass surgery! Since I'm a nurse (with experience as a pre and post op bariatric patients) my anxiety about the procedure itself is fairly low. Honestly, I was more terrified when I had oral surgery to remove my wisdom teeth lol The nutritional component and meal progression is second nature as I have preached it so many times to our patients. I work for the federal government and have been blessed with great health insurance so getting approval was a breeze (my provider submitted my info on a Monday morning and received the approval by early afternoon the same day). I am taking 5 weeks off to recover, time to go through the progression and some "me time". (which includes welcoming my 2nd granddaughter at the end of February). My concern lies with the fact that as a nurse, I work the craziest bizarre hours and how I can consistently coordinate the correct "good habits" while at work. My hours typically are 3:30pm to 8am (yes 16 hours evening into the next morning) and 11:30 to midnight (12 hours). I would love some feedback from other healthcare peeps who deal with the 24/7 demand in our field while maintaining adequate nutrition, exercise and keeping a schedule while at work, even when distractions or "train wreck" situations comes up on the job. My boss has been great and when I return I believe I'll mostly work 12 hours shifts (which will be a godsend so I can have enough sleep) but any advice on how to avoid falling back into the normal "pitfalls" that nursing can foster? Nurses literally are the worst snackers, vending machine finding, "let's order out" people ever!!! Thanks in advance! Jacki

So I'm going to just copy and paste part of my about me section to make this a bit easier lol: "in May 2019 I had VSG, and for about a year everything seemed to be doing fine. Initially, I was successful and almost 100 lbs down. I got down to 174lbs within a year. Almost 14 months later, I was dealing with a new stressor in my life (an abusive situation) and ended up developing extreme GERD, reflux, and would feel burning acid come up each night--sometimes choking on it and breathing in my own stomach acid. I ended up suffering with bronchitis and pneumonia due to the extreme GERD several times within a short period of time. My surgeon stated that this is one of the possible side effects of VSG as well as extreme stress, and offered revision to do the RNY and a hiatal Hermia repair. All went well, and at first, I seemed to have recovered well. But now, here I am in 2023 and I have slowly gained over 30lbs in the last 2.5 years, going from my lowest post-bariatric weight of 174 lbs to now at about 207.7 lbs. Not really sure if it was a result of surgery, or poor eating habits (or both), because from the moment I woke up from surgery and in each phase of my bariatric diet, I felt as though my "pouch" or new stomach was no longer feeling restrictive, and I was able to eat much larger portions than before. " I know 30 lbs may not seem like " a lot" to most, but to me it is a big deal and has been stressing me out a lot. Lately, I have been considering seeing either my old surgeon or possibly a new one for a check up to see if there is something "wrong" with the size/my surgery failed. Or perhaps, maybe this is hormonal, stress-related, etc. One thing I would like to add is that the majority of this weight regain started the moment I started taking SSRI medication (which I am still on for anxiety and depression). Looking for advice on what to do....as I have been trying to motivate myself to get back on track...

Do any of the military bases have a hospital that does the surgery? I'm getting mine done at an Army hospital here in Colorado. I do advise some caution, though. Our bariatric center here has high standards and is a Bariatric Center of Excellence. Good luck. Sent from my SM-S908U using BariatricPal mobile app

i dont know what part of Florida you are at but i got my surgery done at the Baptist Bariatric Center in Jacksonville, Florida. They have several surgeons. Process was pretty simple.

You stated "My primary care put in a referral and Tricare approved it for Dr. A" and "my weight loss trial and all the pre-reqs are done". So I am assuming you completed these thru your Primary Care Doctor and they have all the documentation. I also assume you have Tricare Prime not Tricare for Life (what I used), either way you have recieved insurance approval. You must be in the panandle or down in the muck near Clewiston but there has to be more Bariatric surgeons than just that one office within an hour. But I woud NOT go with a surgeon that is still seeking insurance credential. Tricare is adminstered by Humana which is not a small organization. There are many Bariatric Surgeons throughout Florida. Just curious, is this specific surgeon in the same medical network as your primary doctor? I would request a new surgeon or center thru your Primary Doctor. Submit all the "completed" documentation to a new surgeon and explain your employment situation. They might still be able to sched for March/April