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high liver enzyme values are not at all unusual during the rapid weight loss phase. Losing weight quickly is hard on livers. Unless there's something else going on here, your levels should stabilize once your weight loss slows way down. Your bariatric surgeon should know this. My PCP freaked when she saw my liver enzyme values that first year, too - but she was later told that this was fairly common. When we retested again a few months later, they were normal.

i had my surgery at Desert Springs hospital in Las Vegas, the surgeon was from the Surgical Weight Control Center. I cannot say enough good things about the SWCC and the care i received. Everything went smoothly and I did not have the need for any pain meds after surgery. Hospital stay was one day and the care at the hospital was was wonderful, I would highly recommend SWCC and Desert Springs for anyone considering bariatric surgery.

Spoke to the Bariatric office today and advised them of my situation. I was advised to take the Protonix 40mg 2x a day instead of just 1x a day. I really hope this helps. I did not experience major reflux until the VSG procedure. Do not regret having it done but hate this reflux.

I had a VSG through Kaiser, and my partner had theirs through MBC tldr: MBC falls short in care and cleanliness, Kaiser is cheaper but takes 4-5 months. With Kaiser, I took 16 weeks worth of classes, did pre-op tests, EKG etc, waited a couple weeks and then had surgery for about $700. Kaiser is certainly the longer but cheaper pathway. I also think there is a lot of value in getting your head in the right place before surgery, and committing to 4+ months of pre-op does the job. It is annoying and hard to wrap your head around at the beginning but it went by quickly for me, even having to drive 1.5 hours each way to classes. I’m glad I used Kaiser so we have the resources given to me for him to use as well. MBC: Surgery is scheduled 2 weeks out from pre-approval (website form) and deposit, as thats the timeline required for the pre op diet. This is VERY fast and convenient. We paid about $5000. We are all familiar enough with US standards for hospitals, so here is where MBC falls short on that front: - his incisions bled through his gown after surgery, they would not give him a clean gown and told him he should just put on his street clothes. So, he wore a bloody gown for 2 days as the waist band on his sweat pants would’ve been super uncomfortable. - bandages/tape on floor of recovery room from previous patient. - Less than ideal bathroom cleanliness in room - Broken toilet for the entirety of his stay (he requested it to be looked at, at least 6 times before just pleading for it to be turned off at the water so it would stop running so he could sleep. There was urine and vomit in his toilet for his whole stay. Care comparison: Kaiser: I was on a morphine drip and could push the button every 10 minutes if I was experiencing pain. I was given injections for nausea. Lots of room to walk the halls. Attentive nursing staff. It was overall great. MBC: any time he asked for pain or nausea medication the nurse would say “I will check” and leave the room. Then, he’d wait an hour and have to ask again, only to hear the same response. You’re pretty on your own during recovery. He found that this was also the case for the other patients he drove back to San Diego with after surgery. It was not simply a bad experience, but the standard. Technically MBC contracts with the hospital to use their facility, and the nurses do not work for them directly. They have no skin in the MBC game when it comes to patient satisfaction and it shows. We hoped that tipping would help, but it didn’t seem to make a difference. My incisions with Kaiser were glued shut. His were open and we changed the gauze every day. It’s a little scary looking and you’re left wondering, “is this normal? Are these infected?” Kaiser: no drain, no leak test MBC: drain and leak test. Kaiser: you get a full binder of pre and post op instructions with diet guides for life. MBC: all of their instructions are on their website. What you see online before surgery is generally what you get in that regard. It is convenient to google quick answers to things like how many fluid ounces I should be having, etc and accessing the info easily on their website however it is no where near as comprehensive as Kaiser. Feel free to ask me anything, I’m sure there’s more for me to add and I will in comments. If you go with MBC, you should have low expectations and be willing and comfortable advocating for yourself. Ultimately, both work but the cleanliness and lack of care from MBC made me uneasy.

Hi All, I thought I would share my resent adventure in traveling after surgery. Husband and I spent the holiday in Maui. As we all know when flying there is that 3 oz limit on liquids which I was concerned about. How am I going to get my proteins, water, pills and vitamins all in with the total day was spent flying? Here is what I came up with before traveling and it worked for me. For protien: I found Bariatric Fusion sells the powder in individuals packets. I also packed in my carry on 2 One protien bars. I picked up a yogurt at the airport to mix the powder in it. On lay overs I was able to find a couple places that had healthy food choice, like the Grab and Go. For water : I took with me a portable water bottle filled it up before got on the planes. I also asked the stewards to fill it up with water and ice while on the plane and it was no problem at all they where happy to do it. For Pills & Vitamins : I got those weekly pill cases one for morning and one for evening. Filled them up with the prescriptions I need for the week and stuck them in my carry on. This included my Biotin and Probiotics. I take fiber powder everyday and was able to find Walgreens carries fiber sticks. I got a box of those counted out how many I needed for the trip and put it in a carry on. I used a back back as my carryon and was able to get everything in there that I need. In Maui there was a lot of fish options which was great for me I love fish. I lot of the time we just split a meal as they where so big and I don't eat alot. I also picked up some individual low fat milk to put my protien powder in. This is usually my breakfast so it was nice to be able to stick to my routine. I was nervous about traveling and staying on track but once I found out that I could take with me what I needed it was a load off my mind. I was able to really enjoy our vacation. I hope this is helpful for any of you who are thinking of traveling or getting ready to travel. Melody

My B12 is always high because I take a B12 supplement, and the doctor is not concerned about it. Don’t be too worried about your labs being outside of “normal” values because those values are generic, and as a bariatric patient, your results might be different from what the lab considers “normal” and still be fine. Your surgeon is an expert on bariatric patients and can review the results to see if there’s any reason for concern. I have also noticed that different laboratories have slightly different “normal” ranges for some things, so even then, if your results are slightly outside of what one place considers normal, they could be within the normal range of another place.

Waiting for insurance is the pits. I have heard that once submitted they have 30 days to either approve or deny it. Perhaps you could call the insurance and ask if they received it and when (and also whether what I heard is true in all cases). I’m the mean time I agree with starting your healthy habits. One thing that was hard for me to get used to was taking the vitamins. Perhaps take a regular (non bariatric) version but take it at the same times a day you plan to take the bariatric on (also order those soon cause they take a while to shop for whatever reason and take advantage of auto ship and adjust the date based on your surgery date if you want or just stay a little ahead. Also, getting used to logging calories and water intake. You can make adjustments to calories or not it’s up to you but getting used to logging them and your fluids are things you will eventually have to do (having some idea how much water you naturally drink now may be good to know as well cause I not everyone drinks 64oz Exactly. I actually drank way more than that). Another thing that was an adjustment for me was not drinking before or after meals. Perhaps practice some of these things now and you will be ahead of the game by the time you are approved. Your surgery time will be here before you know it.

I had my skin surgeries in 2017 and 2018 (and a face/neck lift a year ago). Before I started doing consultations, I'd read on bariatric internet forums (and it might have been this one) to expect $8K-$10K per procedure, with a lower body lift counting as two procedures since they do both front and back (in other words, it's more extensive than a panniculetomy). I had three consults in the US, and that range rang true. I did one email consult with a surgeon in Mexico, and his estimate was maybe half that (although I chose to stay in the US for my surgeries). I've had a lower body lift, an arm lift, a breast lift, and again, a face/neck lift. EDITED to add: part of it depends on where in the country you have it done. You're probably going to pay more in a city like NY, Chicago, or LA than you will in a place like Knoxville, Tennessee. I know there are some people on this forum who had theirs done in Florida, which for some reason seems cheaper than other parts of the country.

insurance... oh thats funny. Mine were like HELLLL NOOO! lmao. I had to pay my surgery in cash basically. But others in my bariatric center that had insurance that covered it many took 6 months + but yes call. I would call the bariatric center and your own insurance company to see what the hold up is.

I feeling like this is taking forever!. I thought that at my appointment in November that they were going to send in all of my paperwork and every thing I had to complete before those papers got sent to my insurance. But they needed my thyroid levels from the test results I had done by my doctors office which I handed in on December 6th. But now it's a waiting game and it's making me wonder if I should call the bariatric center and ask them about it? How long did it take everyone to get approved? It's probably just my insurance company but still 😫 I really hope I get approved soon so I can have a good start of the new year! 🤞

I had my bariatric sleeve done December 19th, so far no problems. I fix my son's meals and it doesn't bother me to be doing my full liquid diet.

I see you're on the lower end of the BMI scale when it comes to bariatric patients! I had a few "exceptions" too because I got down to a certain size. It seems it varies person to person

Tbh, I'm not a fan of bariatric cook books as many tend to recycle the same stuff (don't get me started on all those authors who act like they invented the ricotta cheese bake lol) I find that you can find everything & more on YouTube! Also Pinterest if you want to read your recipes instead.

No drains for my sleeve either. I also work in an OR and do bariatric surgery and have never seen a drain have to be placed after. I’m in the US so maybe it varies in other countries or maybe even US states. But I’m my experience I haven’t seen them have to be placed.

Good morning Sassy, I was just introduced to this website by my now bariatric Dr. I am 12 years out from a full gastric bypass, after having the lap-band originally. I switched to the full bypass five years after having the band because the band slipped and was shutting off my esophagus. For either of those surgeries, my bariatric doctor did not have me do anything different as far as dieting prior to surgery except liquids the day before as well. However, this was a very long time ago...2005 for the band and 2010 for the bypass in CT and the same surgeon. Fast forward to today, actually yesterday I saw my new bariatric doctor because I am going through the procedure for a revision surgery and she has informed me that I will be on full liquids for a week prior to the surgery. I am going in for revision due to complications with GERD and trouble swallowing. Although I have gained some of the weight back - 15lbs of the 132 originally lost, the goal is to alleviate my symptoms of discomfort. So in answer to your question, maybe it is a doctor preference about dieting. I wouldn't be overly concerned. However, being it that you have surgery on the 28th, enjoy the holiday and on the 26th keep it light as far as intake if you think that would ease your mind. Best of luck, Tammi J

I'm not really sure what people are referring to or looking for when they say "bariatric" (app, cookbook, whatever else) - however, if you're looking for an app that tracks nutrition: Cronometer is all you need.

As the clock ticks down to surgery day, I'm wondering if those of you who are post-op or are in the maintenance phase have favorite bariatric cookbooks or recipe blogs that you recommend. I see Amazon has some great bariatric cookbooks, specifically bariatric air fryer cookbooks, which I'm excited about in order to reduce cooking my protein in oil/butter. TIA! Sent from my Pixel 5 using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi Im new to this whole thing, I just had Gastric Bypass 4 days ago, but wanted to ask about some of the phone apps you use to track food, or your weightloss, or anything relating to bariatric surgery Thanks 😃

That is awesome! I can't wait to get my license renewed this summer. It says 350 on it and I was almost 50 pounds more than that when I got it last time. I have also never had my real weight on my driver's license and I can't wait to put it on there in August! Sent from my Pixel 5a using BariatricPal mobile app

I am finally under my drivers license weight, I can't wait for renewal so I can update my weight.

December has been an absolutely horrible month for me. I lost my GrandPa at the beginning of the month. I have been so sick all month long with stomach bugs, viruses, flu and now I have kidney stones from all the antibiotics and a cold with a nasty cough that has my chest on fire. I can’t ketch a break in the sick department! I’m freezing even more than normal due to all the sicknesses. I have a lingering migraine that Tylenol won’t touch. It’s been horrible! My Bariatric team just keeps telling me to keep my fluids up so I don’t get dehydrated and let the sicknesses run the courses but I have never been so sick for so long before or with so many sicknesses so close together. My body needs a vacation. I guess if anything good has come out of this month I haven’t been eating so much so my weight has dropped to 184 without even trying.

I had Bariatric surgery to help me with portion control. While waiting for surgery in pandemic I did Noom. Lost 30# with portion control and 80% good food choices. At 8 wks post op I just started all foods. I'm testing a food each day. I was proud that I haven't had any dumping. I have not tried any high sugar. I still measure what I eat. 1/3 c protein, 1/8 c veggie but once a day it is carb and a fruit. 5 meals, every 2 hours. I just put my goals in Myfitness app to monitor my protein and calories, carbs and fat. It is not a diet anymore, a way of life. Plan to progress to 1 cup by 9 months to one year. Maintain that.

Okay so I have been following but not posting much for a little while. I have been frustrated, feeling like I don’t have much advice to offer others because I have been searching for my own answers and very embarrassed about my weigh gain. Anyways, for those of you who don’t know me, I had my surgery March 9, 2021 at 235 (5’8”). I lost pretty steadily down to 169 but then stalled for months on end until my appetite came back and I started gaining and continue to gain. I have been struggling uphill while searching for answers ever since. The bariatric team blames my psyc meds but the prescribing dr claims they are weight neutral meds. My family dr agrees and showed me an article about the cravings they cause but he ordered thyroid and diabetes tests too which came back fine but I continue to gain so I made an appointment with an endocrine doctor thanks to a few people on here who suggested it. I finally just seen the endo doc and My cortisol was elevated on the suppression test so I just completed the two day saliva test which hopefully will bring some more answers but what they have said so far is that it’s probably sub clinical cushings which takes a while to confirm. I thought about waiting until I had more info but they said it will be another two or three weeks for these results and I may need more tests after that. I guess MY diagnosis is not really the point anyways. My point is I have recently learned of three things that could be the culprit of my weight that were never tested before surgery and I wonder why they don’t mention these tests pre surgery. I mean They are simple blood tests. I even googled to see why the cushings thing isn’t investigated since it doesn’t resolve with bariatric surgery and all I could find was one article that said it is of course suggested if you present with any of the classic symptoms but in terms of a blanket requirement for people considering bariatric surgery this person felt it unnecessary because it’s not extremely common. I guess maybe that’s the view of my doctor too but I sure wish I was presented with the option at least. I am just curious whether these are things that are tested or even brought up by other people doctors prior to surgery or what others think about whether they should be. And perhaps to give some people things they can investigate first if they are on the fence about surgery. I just feel like the surgery was never going to work for me because it seems likely that the root of my issue is still there. I am maintaining SOME of the loss but according to what I understand about what I have read so far, left untreated I will steadily continue to gain. I know this is still up in the air and not a super common thing regardless but I can’t be the only one struggling with this pre or post surgery and I hope my experience can help someone else struggle just a little less cause watching everyone around me try to be polite as I slowly put the weight back on has felt even worse than being obese was to begin with. I am trying to hang In there for answers and give myself grace but it’s hard to not feel like a failure as I continue to gain and everyone now knows I had surgery and of course I have to wonder if I blew my one shot at surgery because I am doing these tests after instead of before surgery. Regardless, if you are someone who doesn’t really make a ton of poor food choices but just eats more than “normal” because you always feel hungry, consider a cortisol test before surgery. I wish I had.

I'm happy that I've now lost a little bit more than half of my goal. I've lost 19.8 kilos (43.65 pounds) and I have 19.2 kilos to go to reach my goal weight. Also, since I'm at 93.2 right now I'm likely to reach my goal weight of 93 this month. Of course, it's Christmas this weekend, and I have to be a bit careful, but I think it will be ok. The only negative is that I have an UTI, for the first time in more than a decade. I looked it up, and yes, there's an increased chance of UTI's after bariatric surgery. So, I went to the drs office and got antibiotics. Hopefully, they will work and I won't be sick during my Christmas break.

I've worked at Denny's for over a year now and I've worked in other restaurants as well.I grew up eating Denny's with my grandparents and its always been a comfort.I absolutely love working in the food service realm.I love cooking,serving,hosting it sucks sometimes but at the end of the day I love it! Well...Loved it.I can't imagine how I'm gonna be able to work much longer there- I mean when my parents cook its absolute torture everything smells so good but at least for the most part its relatively healthier than a restaurant and I'll be able to have solid foods in 7-8 weeks.At Denny's though everything has margarine,sugar and fat even the chicken is grilled in margarine.I don't think i'd have enough self control being around that kinda food all the time.Employees can get free soda while they work and the occasional prank call to-go order leaves food up for grabs.Maybe my opinion will change as my healing and journey progresses but as of right now I'm quite nervous.Majority of the food there will likely cause any bariatric patient dumping syndrome. Not even the salads are safe with the fat and sugar content in the dressings and the most protein packed things are made with margarine which is not measured out.I know I could not eat anything there but when you work nights like I do you rarely wanna go home and cook something not to mention sometimes its so busy you can't even eat and 4-5 hours with not eating is a no bueno coming from my surgeon.At this point it just seems extremely risky.