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Yes, I can see that coming. I will see my GP in a week or two and I will ask him, but honestly I do not think he will have an answer as he is not a bariatric surgeon or an expert on this field. The next time I will see my surgeon is going to be in October, hopefully he will have some answers... When are you going to talk to your surgeon?

My insurance changed! I started my journey November 2018, with a consult with my (then) surgeon at Riverside Medical Clinic. With my (then) insurance, Anthem Blue Cross ***, I only needed 3 month (12 continuous classes) supervised nutrition/weight classes. As of now, I finished 10 out of my 12 classes. Last week I found out my insurance changed to Anthem BC PPO and they now require me to go to a Dignity Health Facility to be covered 100%. Well okay... I call my nearest Dignity Health bariatric surgery center to find out more. I was told at Western Bariatric (St. Bernadine -- San Bernardino, CA) that I needed 6 months of classes and basically restart my journey. I started to bawl my eyes out! I'm 25 (November birthday) and I'm getting real close to end of my insurance coverage under my parents. When I had started my journey, I was hoping to have my surgery by March or April. So, I'm worried about having my surgery before my cut off. Anyway, I sucked it up and started making calls. I attended their Seminar, where we filled out new patient packets and made copies of our insurances. The next step is to wait for a call to schedule my consult with their surgeon. I was told that the consult would count as 1 of the 6 months of weight classes. Does anyone believe they will accept my 3 months of classes Ive already taken? (and maybe only need 3 more months to meet the 6mo requirement?) Will they consider the original surgeon consult from November 2018 too (as part of the 6 months wight management?) I'm honestly hoping that Western Bariatric will consider my start (Nov.) to my current (Feb.) for a total of 4 out of the 6 required months. I didnt want to be set further back, but ill take whatever they'll take and Im hoping for the best! Can anyone can give me some insight? Similar situations? Anyone go to Western Bariatric? I'm really anxious.

In my experience, it takes three or four days for all of the anesthia to "wear off". You're body is finally coming fully aware---and it hurts. After all, you just abused it and it is now telling you just that. It's "cranky". From here on out everyday should get a wee bit better. If not-----do NOT hesitate to call your bariatric team. They know you better than anyone on here. Feel better and be kind to your body----cranky or not.

Thanks for all the feedback you guys! Very helpful. Yes, Shirley, they have suggested an Endoscopy but mainly b/c I have terrible pain in my left side under my left breast/rib area. But it's only after I eat so I KNOW it has to do with eating. I can take 2 bites and the pain is there I can eat a plate of food and the pain is there and then there are the times (which is 90% of the time) I never have pain. I do plan on having it done before I make the decision to remove the band or not. My family situation is very stressful right now and I have noone to take me home. I have to drive 60 miles to have it done. My husband doen't drive, my parents dont drive, my dad is very ill and I have been taking care of him for months now. NOT making excuses, just telling you the facts. I HONESTLY dont' have anyone to drive me home. I will work it out soon, I hope. There is a Bariatric Clinic opening up in our town and I hope to transfer to their services when they get established. Does anyone know if you can even change doctors? Are you given a hard time if you change? Or do you have to keep going to the surgeon that did you surgery? If I could have it done here I could take a cab home. There is a part of me that is scared to do the scope because they might find something wrong then the other part of me wants to know what the hell is going on. I am usually the type person who wants to KNOW what is going on so I can fix it. I just think I am putting myself on the back burner b/c my dad is so sick and I am the only family memeber who can help him and my Mother. They said the scope was not urgent so I took that and ran with it.......... I KNOW I KNOW....get it done. Sounds like I am talking to myself, doesn't it? LOL

You could try the new Bariatric Advantage Calcium Crystals with Vitamin D. You mix it with Water or whatever. It completely mixes in with whatever you put it with. It is pure calcium citrate. No other ingredients and it's not too expensive either. I just ordered myself some. to put it in with my smoothies and Soups. I agree with some above. It's probably other ingredients in it if that is why you are breaking out. My nutritionist said since this is pure calcium it will reap the rewards as the citrate does! Hope you get it all figured out!

Happy Veterans Day to all our Veterans who have had or are thinking of having bariatric surgery. My goal after having my RNY is to me able to fit into my DCUs and Class A's by Memorial Day. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Everyone's journey is so different, starting with your bariatric team's requirements, but some things stay the same......the Dreaded Week Three Stall, for one. My surgeon said he had never heard of it.....so guess what? It hit me right in the middle of week three. You have already found many nuggets of advice and fair warning here, so visit us often and let us know how you are doing. It won't be long before you can help someone following in your footsteps.

I have the Taylor 7506, which settles on weight quickly and reproducibly if I step on it multiple times. The displayed weight seems to match that on the scale in my bariatric surgeon's office, so it also looks to be quite accurate. It's also quite reasonably priced and looks nice. http://www.amazon.com/Taylor-Glass-Chrome-Digital-Scale/dp/B0000E2PEI

SleevePlicationTalk Newsletter Hey Sleevers!The lull of summer is ending, and autumn is just around the corner. How did you do in meeting your goals this summer? We hope you met your weight loss and health goals, but if not, don’t worry. It’s the perfect time to get back into your weight loss routine if you got sidetracked during a summer vacation. Pick yourself up, return to your bariatric surgery diet and, of course, let us help! Here is what you’ll find in this month’s newsletter. Sleever Poll: How Did You Find Out About SleevePlicationTalk.com? Your Sleeve Plication lunch – Packing Your food for a Busy Day Keep the Forums Positive! Take a look at the newsletter and then join us at SleevePlicationTalk.com! We’re always looking for more participation, and we welcome your feedback, so drop us a line whenever you want! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder SleevePlicationTalk.com Sleever Poll: How Did You Find Out About SleevePlicationTalk.com? A. Search engine (e.g., Google, Yahoo!, Bing, etc…please tell us which one) B. Friend or family member C. Your surgeon D. Your primary care physician (PCP) E. An offline support group F. Your nutritionist or dietitian G. Someone else from your doctor’s or surgeon’s office (e.g., a nurse or receptionist) H. App store (e.g., iTunes, Google Apps Marketplace) I. Another way. Mark your answer and discuss it in the forums! Your Sleeve Plication Lunch – Packing Your Food for a Busy Day By mid-September, many of us are back into regular routines. If you have children who take their lunches to school, you make sure their lunches are appetizing and healthy. Your own lunch deserves just as much care. These tips can help you create easy sleeve-friendly sack lunches to take to work. Have these helpful items on hand: An insulated lunch bag A small spoon, fork and knife A set of small containers with tight-fitting lids Plastic baggies An insulated beverage container (unless you stick to Water bottles) Once a week: Figure out how many days you will need to take a lunch to work in the coming week. Plan your lunch menus, make a shopping list and get the groceries you need The night before: What can you do so that packing your lunch is easier in the morning? Measure your chicken breast Pack a serving of leftovers from dinner in a small container with a tight-fitting lid Wash and cut some fruit and vegetables Pack your utensils and a bottle of water Count your crackers Portable protein: Just as it does when you’re at home, Protein comes first when you’re on the go. These are some ideas for brown baggers. Tuna or chicken in cans or pouches Hard-boiled eggs (If you have a fridge at work): cottage cheese Fat-free canned refried Beans or low-sodium pinto, black or garbanzo beans Low-fat string cheese or light Laughing Cow cheese Lean ham or turkey breast Leftover grilled chicken or fish Peanut Butter If you’re still in the pureed foods stage, try lentil Soup, Protein shakes, hummus and Greek yogurt. Nutritious combinations: Combine your protein with vegetables, fruits and whole grains for their Fiber and other nutrients Dip and raw vegetables, such as carrot and celery sticks, grape tomatoes and cauliflower florets salad with chicken or tuna and shredded low-fat cheese Peanut butter on whole grain crackers or with apple slices Ham and low-fat cheese rolled up in a small whole-grain tortilla Greek yogurt with high-fiber Cereal or melon One-half small whole-wheat bagel with fat-free cream cheese and canned salmon If you’re post-op and not at the solid foods stage yet, try fat-free cottage cheese with pureed canned peaches, fat-free refried beans with low-fat shredded cheddar cheese and instant oatmeal with skim milk and Protein powder. Have extras on hand. You might get stuck working late or unable to make your planned lunch-time trip to a grocery store. Stash protein-containing Snacks at work for those occasions. Protein Bars and powder, canned tuna and chicken, roasted soybeans and almonds provide protein and do not need refrigeration, so you can keep them at work or in the car. Lunch after weight loss surgery can be a disaster if you opt for fast food or whatever’s in the vending machine, plan, but you can easily pack a healthy lunch that fits into your diet. Plan ahead, have the containers and utensils you need and focus on lean protein and other nutritious choices so that your lunch supports weight loss. Keep the Forums Positive! You come to SleevePlicationTalk.com for information and support. Unlike many other online forums, SleevePlicationTalk.com maintains a positive atmosphere and has zero tolerance for rudeness. We welcome anyone who is interested in weight loss surgery, regardless of their personal beliefs about it. When you see a post that is inappropriate or offensive, please report it using the “report post” link located at the bottom of the post. We realize and appreciate that nearly all members try hard to be welcoming, helpful and polite. These are a few tips to help you avoid avoid accidentally saying something that can be hurtful to another member. Say, “my surgeon told me…,” not, “the only right way is…” Say, “I think I would choose …,” not, “You made the wrong choice.” Say, “Have you considered…?,” not, “You’re not ready for your weight loss journey.” Say, “I have found that …,” not, “The right way is …” Each of these statements let you give your own opinion and advice without accusing other members of doing something wrong. Thank you for keeping the boards positive! That’s what we have for this month’s newsletter. Thank you for reading it and for your contributions to the board! You can always check out the old newsletters in the archive section. Take care of yourself and each other! Sincerely, Alex ==============================================================If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, you may unsubscribe by going to your Control Panel and clicking on the Newsletters tab, or clicking on the following link: {unsubscribe}

The Emotional First + Aid Kit: A Practical Guide to Life After Bariatric Surgery, Second Edition [Paperback] Cynthia L. Alexander (Author) Try this book. It is very positive and has good ideas. Sent from my iPad using VST

I finally met with my surgeon last week to begin the process of getting my sleeve. It was a very emotional meeting because I had originally thought that my insurance would cover the surgery. Well I found out I was wrong. It turns out that it is an exclusion in my plan. Not the insurance's fault, my employer who decided it wasn't important to include Bariatric Surgery. Everyone at the office was so kind and put up with my crying on their shoulders, and I unfortunately need more than one shoulder, haha. I don't personally have the money to pay for the surgery out of pocket, and really didn't want to get my dad involved. I have a lot of unresolved issues with him and the last thing I wanted to do was have to ask him for money. A little history, I used to have a Lap Band (2005-2010) which had to be removed due to complications. My dad paid for the original surgery as well as the emergency removal. He had told me at the time that if I needed another surgery, the only one he would pay for would be the Duodenal Switch. I do NOT want a DS. I left the doctor's office completely defeated. I called my brother to check on my mom (who's been having some health problems) and immediately got some more bad news in regards to her health. I couldn't keep it together and broke down on the phone with him. I had not told anyone about wanting the surgery yet, but I ended up telling him. He was incredibly supportive and immediately got off the phone and drove over to my dad's house to talk to him. He called me back not 15 minutes later and told me to atop worrying, and that everything would be covered. My dad agreed to the Sleeve thanks to my incredibly wonderful brother. To say the least, I had a VERY emotional day. Long story long (haha), I am now in the process of taking care of pre op appointments. Since my insurance won't pay, my surgeon's office thought it would be best to have my Primary Care Physician order the sleep study so that the insurance would definitely pay for it. I have an appointment with him to discuss the sleep study on Wednesday. I have also scheduled my appointments for my psychological test and meeting with the dietician on May 15th. My surgeon wants me to lose 30-40 lbs prep (yikes!). It sounds scary, but I know I can do it! Hopefully after my meeting with the dietician, I can get a date scheduled. I am hoping to have it done sometime this summer when it's slow at my workplace, plus it gives me the time to lose the weight. I still haven't told my mom what's going on. Though I know she will be supportive, I am having trouble finding the right time to bring it up with everything going on with her health (she has breast cancer). I have some time, I just hope the right time presents itself. I can't wait to get going on this new life journey!

I've had my morning coffee with 1/2 & 1/2 every morning and every afternoon, I have a cup of Earl Grey tea. I have done so since the day I got home from the hospital. My surgeon and I had that conversation at the very start of my pre-op routine. That is one reason why I keep trying to persuade folks to be 100% honest and upfront with their surgeons. When the entire team is on reading from the same play book, the chance of success is much higher. Coffee was something I knew I would not be willing to give up, so together we worked out a program that compensated for it. For every cup of coffee/tea, I add equal amount of Water to my daily intake. Ask and discuss your concerns with your bariatric team. Go Team!!

Welcome to Bariatric Pal. Many people encounter stalls along the way. Someone on this site coined a phase to describe this condition. It was "Embrace the Stall". So if you are not losing the weight at the moment then focus on other wins. Such as a drop in clothing size or throwing a medical condition such as diabetes into remission. Sometimes these are referred to as NSV which means non-scale victories. They can be simple things like fitting into an airline seat without using a seat belt extender.

Went to my support group tonight that is run by one of the nurses from the bariatric office and asked her about the exercises. She explained that the only one they really want me to stay away from is going from a laying down (flat on back) to a full sitting up position. That move is uncomfortable for me anyway so I guess really nothing to worry about :-)

I am 7 1/2 weeks post-op and last week started working out at the gym with a trainer. I was under the impression that 6 weeks post-op you can resume abdominal excercises. Monday I had an appt with the nurse praciticioner at the bariatric office who said that I can no longer do crunches forever and have to be careful with other ab moves as well. Anyone else told this as well? I am aware that the port if stitched into my abdominal wall and that I have to be careful but how can I accomplish a good work-out of my abs then? Any suggestions?

Hi all - this is repost from the financing forum. I was hoping to get your input on this as well if anyone is from Chicago area/Indiana...please chime in. ---------------------------- Of course I'm set with Dr. K in Colorado - but, I called all day Thurs & Fri - was unsuccesful in getting someone to accept me for local fills. fillcentersusa is not local for me. So... today, I begin considering going local and paying more. So, I'm posting messages to asking for prices locally (Chicagoland/Indiana). I do have 4 prices here so far. Actually found a couple good prices - just need to know if they will accept my current financing option which is all set and ready. RightWeigh Bariatric in Kentucky charges $12,500 - they also have a location in Indiana - I will call in the morning to see what they charge (hoping its so close to this). Lifeway Bariatrics in Downers Grove & Merriville, IN charge $15,500. Synchronyhealth: $16,000 Midwestbariatrics: $16,211 If any of the lower ones accept my financing and can band me sooner, I'm going to make the switch ASAP to free up that 10/30 date at Dr. K's office.

TNSleever, I too did not qualify for covered surgery and spent months researching what procedure to have and doctors in MX. One thing I did that helped a lot was attended an informational seminar here in the states with a local bariatric center - they are free. I learned a lot about VSG that put my mind at ease with the procedure, and knew at least what the US surgeon's group would do (also my PCP wanted me to attend). Like ms skinniness said, the staples heal over just like an external surgery wound would. So no worries there.

Hey @@Christinamo7 Sounds like you could be a good friend you've come a long way in your weight loss journey! I have two cousins with autism -- one very high functioning and one not as high functioning - we've got some things in common! @@Inner Surfer Girl - For the most part I do what I'm told. The things I tend to question are things like where I know several surgeons disagree with mine and so I might look into why and make my own decision. I kind of got into that position because I'm on medicaid so I had absolutely no choice in who my surgeon would be or even the hospital I was working with.. had I had I would have chosen someone who meshed a bit better with me. So I'm just doing the best I can. Anything at all that I modified (which wasn't much) I did have cleared by my primary care physician who is pretty knowledgable about bariatric surgery. And I'm in counseling every week. I'm not necessarily looking for an enabler - just for someone who won't judge me or scold me for choosing to do what other surgeons reccommend compared to my own in certain instances because had I had my choice at all I would have chosen one of the surgeons who I meshed with better. Hopefully that makes more sense.

I hope you find someone and that you are able to keep an open mind, too. I just think going into this expecting to go against your surgeon's orders and wanting someone who will enable you in that doesn't sound like a very wise strategy in my opinion. Best of luck in your journey. Keep posting your questions, concerns, and issues. There is a wealth of experience, knowledge, and encouragement to be found on this site. I would highly recommend you see if you can find a counselor or therapist to work with who is familiar with bariatric patients if at all possible.

Has anyone used a flex card for surgery? What company did you go through? I am in the process of choosing between "A Lighter Me" and Bariatric Medical Center for surgery in August...any advice on either one? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I actually just bought a bariatric cook book. I'm not a good cook, so the recipes are a must! It was my surgeon that told me to move on. I guess I just expected to go through "stages". Sent from my SM-G930T using BariatricPal mobile app

For the first four weeks I took a double dose of Wellesse liquid multi-vitamin and of Wellesse liquid calcium. After four weeks I switched to Trader Joe's chewable high potency multi-vitamin (double dose). I stayed with this program until six months out, then switched my calcium to Citracal Petites (or generic equivalent), At a year out I changed my multi-vitamin to a single dose rather than a double dose. I also continued with separate supplements of folic acid, B12, iron, and D3, just like I had before surgery. All of these options are cheaper, lower calorie, and lower carb than the specialty bariatric products such as Bariatric Advantage. And my labs have always been great.

I can't be sure, but I would imagine that it refers to the fact that you will still have head hunger, you will still want to turn to food for the same reasons you used to turn to food (emotional eating, etc.), you will still feel compelled to make unhealthy choices, you may still order or make more food than you need, your attitudes about food are not being altered by surgery on your stomach. The surgery is just one step in a long road of change. You'll see many people on the boards talk about bariatric surgery being a tool. They're correct. That's all it is. It will not solve your weight problems alone. You still have lots of work to do. Changing your brain is imperative.

I have the bariatric advantage ultra with iron. They are too big to swallow and yes you have to take 3. I empty all 3 of them and mix them into one of my protein drinks. There is a little bit of a twang but it's not too bad. You could probably split them up as long as you wait the 3 hours before/after calcium. I still have to try and get the calcium pills in but I've been putting that off. I'm struggling with all of the pills I have to take and I admit sometimes I take a day off! I take other meds for an existing condition, so taking those plus the Prevacid and potassium to heal, plus stool softeners and vitamins.....ugh. AND, they want me to quarter all of my pills and wait 15 minutes between each piece. So basically I take something every 15 minutes from morning until I go to bed. I miss popping 2-3 pills at a time with a gulp of water. This is actually the hardest thing for me, as I don't really have any other issues so far. I would crush everything but then each meal would be hideous. Wish there was a daily IV I could hook up to!

I think that is the pill that I'm on, but I only have to take two per day. They are kind of big, but fortunately I don't have issues taking pills. I think if you contact bariatric advantage they will send you a sample. I take two of those and two calcium chews every day.