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I am on day 10 of my preop diet. I am only allowed the Bariatric Advantage shakes and Clear liquids. According to my documentation, I am allowed to use milk in my shakes. I have been consuming mass amounts of Crystal Light. Mr. Smith is right ... you have to get that ketosis to kick in and carbs prevent that. I am surprised that your surgeon didn't define exactly what you can and can't have. I have lost 18 lbs. in the last 10 days.

Hi everyone, I'm jumping on an old thread to ask if anyone had experience with how it was taking meds immediately after surgery. I have a small tablet I must take everyday (not bariatric related). Can I still take it even straight after surgery? I'm going to ask my consultant but I don't want to sound like a dill. Sent from my SM-G930F using BariatricPal mobile app

Same here...due to yo-yo dieting, I had a normal BMI of 24 in October 2013. By October 2014, my BMI was up to 37 (rapid regain after a diet) and I qualified for bariatric surgery. Thank goodness my insurance company didn't demand proof of my previous weights over the years.

Hey Lorin, so how did it go today? Not as well as I had hoped. It looks like I likely won't qualify for insurance to pay for the surgery. I am a little taller than I thought, so my BMI is below 40 and I do not have any comorbidities (I did have back surgery for a herniated disc due to being overweight and have hypothyroidism so when we submit to insurance we will try including those). If we are going to try the insurance route I need to do a medically supervised diet for 6 months. The nurse practitioner and bariatric coordinator both said to not lose much weight though during the 6 months since my BMI is already below 40. The self-pay cost would be $18,025. I think I am going to check with one more surgeon in town to see what his self-pay prices would be (he is also at a closer hospital to my house). I will probably go with the surgeon with the cheaper self-pay price, so that if insurance does deny after the 6 months of dieting I can move forward with a loan. Awe, I'm so sorry. I'm kind of surprised they knew already that insurance wouldn't cover it. I think I'd call them myself. I know it sounds like a 'hell no' idea, but I've read so many people going to a specific place in Mexico and having it done. An all inclusive place, one week stay, for 4k. At first I was thinking they're crazy but thousands of patients go there with rave reviews. But if I was self pay and could afford it, of course I'd go with a qualified doctor state side. All I can say is don't give up. Do you have sleep apnea by chance? Have you ever had a sleep study? My three things that will qualify me with my insurance is my bmi, hypothyroidism, and sleep apnea. I don't have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes-->knock on wood. But I too had something thrown at me today that I sort of thought was a possibility, but hoping it wouldn't be the case. My doctor wants me to have the ds done and I just don't know how I feel about that. It would be broken up into two surgeries, sleeve first, then in 6-12 months the ds part. I just don't know. That is the mac daddy of weight loss procedures. I'm not sure why he and his nurse practitioner was so persistent to get me on board. Yes, I want the sleeve but I am trying to have an open mind because he really does know what he's talking about and has seen the outcomes thousands of times. But it's not like they're doing the ds at my first surgery anyway, so not sure why the pressure to get me to jump on board quite so soon before we give the sleeve a try, unless of course, it's to bill insurance even if the first surgery is the sleeve. I don't know why he doesn't say 'ok, sleeve first and if the results stop coming in, let's go ahead and do the ds.' That sounds reasonable.

If you go to OHIP's Schedule of Benefits and look at S120, it states that bariatric surgery is covered except for gastric banding. They specifically exclude it. If I couldn't have afforded the band, I'm not sure if I would have opted for any other option since it was the only one I was comfortable living with long term. If you want to do more research on each of the procedures that are covered, I would recommened joining ObesityHelp - Gastric Bypass, LAP-BAND and going to the Ontario forum. Almost everyone on there had OHIP covered procedures both in country and out of country. Lots apply for OOC since the wait lists are so long in Ontario. I think the procedure you choose depends a lot on how much weight you want to lose and what you are willing to live with. Each surgery requires different post op guidelines and you have to be able to live with those. Some of the surgeries have malabsorption issues and you have to know that you are the type of person that will diligently take your Vitamins daily.

Kathy - I had to use Bariatric Advantage too but I was allowed to add frozen or fresh fruit or peanut butter and even some nuts to it. I liked the chocolate blended with frozen strawberries. Not sure if you are allowed to do this but if yea I highly suggest you try it. Makes them more filling and much tastier!

I recently had mine done at Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Portsmouth Virginia. I had wonderful care. I can't say enough good things about the Bariatric doctor.

So happy for you, Tiffany! Aren't our bodies such amazing machines? And isn't it wonderful that we have this second chance to get and stay healthy and be able to "stick around" for the long run? This time we really know and appreciate what a gift our body is and are learning how to treat it like it is intended to be treated. It is never too late. . . Just keep on reading all the awesome tips and trick here on BariPal from all here who are your partners in this adventure. I think the main message that most will agree on is that the sleeve is an excellent tool, but it doesn't just magically make all the weight go away. The owner of the sleeve is the one who has to do all the hard work to make that sleeve work. It's often not all a bed of roses, but the closer you adhere to your bariatric program from the very beginning and for the duration, the greater the odds are that you will enjoy the permanent rewards of WLS. Happy waiting for August 11 day!

Last week I went to get my surgery date set. My surgeon's P.A. is the one I spoke to. She did EVERYTHING she could to try and get me to switch form the band to a G.B. I do not have diabetes, high blood pressure, or other co-morbidities. I have a BMI of 42. BTW, my surgeon is Blue Cross Bariatric Surgeon of Distinction She went on and on about what a hassle the band was and what would happen if I was on vacation and it got too tight or too lose. She said no one would touch it. She said we had better never move cause other surgeons won't do fills on patients that are not theirs. She mad it sound like I would never be able to travel again and that the band would become nothing but a hassle and a curse to me! Then she launched into the problems. She said 80% of all Lap Bands have problems. They get so tight they can't swallow their own spit, band erosion, reflux, esophagus dilation, having to get fills or unfills every few weeks, not losing any weight. Yet when i asked how many bands they had have to remove she said only one since they began doing them. Finally, she wrapped it up with the fact that, if I was lucky, I might lose 40 pounds of the 100 i need to lose.:smile: She said the only way for the band to work was to follow the diet without one goof-up and to exercise like a Trojan Warrior!!!! Why, why, why??? Please tell me it ain't so!!!!!

Hi, Cherie. I actually work for Health Alliance, and I'd suggest calling them tomorrow to find out what surgeons are available through your plan (The number is 1-800-851-3379 and they're there starting at 8 am). Most of our insurance plans (it depends on who you have your plan through--each employer can set it up differently) have you go through a program called I Can Change where you work with your family doctor and your surgeon for a while before your surgery to make sure you're ready for the surgery and have the education you need to be successful long-term once you have the band. If you call, then one of the customer service reps can explain more about how your plan works for bariatric surgery and give you the names of doctors who are in your network. Good luck!

Surgeons use different methods for the psych eval. Also depends on the Psychologist you have been referred to. (different standards of practice and policies/procedures ) Evals are basic to rule out mental health issues and eliminate liability for the surgeon. My two cents on getting denied. (most of us get approved) Some people are not screened properly. Bariatric surgery may exacerbate mental illness. It may be a good thing to get denied. The psychologist can refer you to restart the surgery process after mental health issues are resolved.

Kathleen, What part of TX are you in? That will make a huge difference on the surgeon you choose. I am in the DFW area and I have chosen Dr. David Provost. I couldn't get anyone here to let me know if he was a good doc, but I found this website that had 11 pages of comments from previous and current patients. I found it by doing a google search for dr david provost + dallas tx. Click on the link that say Bariatric Surgeon Profile - Dr David Provost, MD. It helped me tremendously. I have talked with his office and am currently waiting for a call from his nurse. The only draw back to him is his long waiting list. I may not have surgery until next year, but I know I'm getting one of the best surgeons in Dallas. Good luck and let us know where you are in TX.

i know the whole first year of being banded......i had a period every 2-3 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i was making up for years of having one or two! My OB said it was a reaction to the estrogen loss from the fat cell. He told me this happens a lot in women and in almost all his pcos clients that had any type of bariatric surgery

Cleveland clinic is one of the top Bariatric surgery centers in the world and Dr. Schauer is one of the most well-respected weight loss surgeons in the world. Hope that answers your question

Also the numbers your nutritionist sent you don't even make sense If you're supposed to have 35g of carbohydrates max, 20g of fat max. And eat 800-1000 calories a day this means you need between 115g and 165g of protein a day to reach those numbers. Now I'm all about the high protein thing and rarely think too much protein is a bad thing. But doesn't 165g of protein for a bariatric female losing weight sound insane? I mean it you're an Olympic weight lifter or something that's a complete different story, but it just sounds odd to me.

All the replies are interesting. I am still struggling with the logistics. The broad discrepancies of who and who doesn't need a sleep study leaves me perplexed. Essentially in any surgery there is an anesthesiologist at your head watching your breathing, your heart rate, the oxidation in your blood, all of your vitals... I completely agree that going in to this and knowing ahead of time is of course hugely beneficial, but is it really required?? Why, in my 5 other surgeries has this need never come up? I had hoped someone who has had prior surgeries AND was required to have a sleep study before bariatric surgery was in the same mindset I am in and asked what makes this surgery different. And also why not all Dr's (or insurance companies) require it if it is so vital to surgery, healing, etc...

UNJURY has vitamins "formulated" for bariatric patients and all chewable.

I've been off the site a while... Busy living and loving life. I had surgery June 9, 2014. My goal was to lose 70 pounds. I hit that at 5-1/2 months out. I never dreamed I could even hit it, but I followed the food plan, worked out 4-5 times a week, walked all over my town and here I am now, 9 pounds lower than my goal. I went from a size 16/18 jean to a 4 (baggy now -- think I'm going to have to go find some 2's). My brain is still trying to catch up with the weight loss. When I buy clothes I struggle with picking up that small shirt or medium, take both in the dressing room and almost always walk out with the small. I lost over 60 inches between my bust, waist, hips and thighs. I feel like so much in my life has completely changed. I have a new boyfriend who is active and very fit -- instead of huge meals together we eat reasonably and go for long walks together (power walking around the mall with all this snow). And we're taking swing lessons and go out dancing 2-3 hours every Friday and Saturday night. That counts as exercise, too and I would have never had the stamina to do that before. I hit the gym 4-5 times a week still -- worked out with a trainer for a while to learn lots of body weight exercises and other weight lifting programs, so I can build up muscle. I ran two 5k runs back in the late fall... will do that again this year. Signed up for a 5k mud/obstacle run with friends this spring (I know -- crazy). I feel like I've gotten a new lease on a happier, healthier life. No more sleep apena (after about the first 25 pounds), never any reflux. I enjoy the food I eat and the body I have. This Christmas I was a model for the fashion show my surgeon puts on at his holiday party for former and prospective patients. This surgery was a life-saver for me. I know they say the surgery works on the stomach but not the brain, but I'm pretty sure my bariatric surgeon did some brain surgery, too! Just wanted to share!

What would you like to know? I can tell you the Dr. Lewis and his staff are top notch. The aftercare is a HUGE piece of being banded and I am so thankful to have them on my side. We have other bariatric patients in our support group and their after care is laughable in comparision. I don't check LPT oftern so feel free to email me: my2buckaroos@yahoo

Hi I have BCBS-MA. They were very helpful and informative when I called to inquire about bariatric coverage and promptly emailed me the relative policy which I brought to my consult. I was told at my consult that they are extremely easy to work with. They also base their approval on your starting weight. Unlike some insurance companies that go by your weight the day of surgery. This would be relevant if you are at a 35 BMI and just qualifying - you would then have to be careful not to dip below that. Not with BCBS-MA. I've had lots of appointments/tests going through the program, and they've paid for everything (minus appropriate co-pays). That's about all I've had to go through with them so far.

I have been hypothyroid for over 20 years. Apparently, my TSH has dropped too low and my Dr. has to adjust my meds. My surgery was scheduled for July 17th, I was in the middle of my pre op diet and I received an email stating that my primary care dr will not allow me to have surgery until my levels are normal. The surgeon and bariatric clinic did not have any issue with doing surgery. My Primary put a halt to everything. My thyroid dipped down to .15. I am going to recheck in two weeks, does anyone have any suggestions on how to bring the levels up quick?

I drink right up to the time I eat. I wait 30 mins after to eat again. I posted the video (yes, Once again) For someone new to the site. A quick explanation that is outdated. I like the funnel demonstration. If I have have fluid with my meals. Hunger kicks in on me. All of us experience things with bariatrics differently.

I am two and a half years post RNY surgery and am still working on making sure that my Vitamin levels are correct. Very rare in bariatric patients, but I developed HIGH Iron. I was instructed by my bariatric doctor to take gummy Vitamins because they NEVER contain iron (they are not able to put iron in a gummy). I had my blood work done again earlier this month and it showed that my iron levels are now great. The other problems that I have been low zinc levels and low thiamine (vitamin B1) levels. I take additional supplements of both with my multi every day. Even with the additional supplement, my zinc level is still low, but is trending up. My thiamine level has been fine as long as I take the extra supplement. Foods naturally high in thiamine are sunflower seeds, some fish, like salmon and trout, pork, and wheat bread. I am in search of a new multi that will better fit my needs. One that does not contain iron but has more zinc and B1 in it than what I am taking (Women's One A Day Gummies). Good luck! This is why it is so important to stay on top of your blood work. In order to achieve the health we want we need to make sure we are getting the nutrients that we need. Carol

If you are concerned for your health and safety - Ask your bariatric surgeon and your cardiologist.

Thanks for the fascinating link. I liked reegers story and voice. I look forward to more bariatric podcasts when I have a bit more time.