Alex Brecher

Thanks for letting me know! We are going to fix this. Please let me know if you discover any other new issues.

I think this issue has been fixed. Please let me know ...... Thanks for your feedback! We are working on adding this back to the app.

Which notifications? Email?

My content should be working again.

Thanks for reporting this issue! We moved over to new servers and we are working on this problem now. We also noticed that Tickers aren't functioning. Please let me know if you have have or find any other issues.

I work for a bariatric surgery program - and I'm also a patient. (26 months post-op VSG) I just had my annual lab work taken, and haven't been supplementing my diet with anything other than sublingual B12. We've established a baseline, and today I have started using the 'Multivitamin Patch' from PatchMD. We will be rechecking labs in 60 and 90 days to monitor the efficacy of this product. Will keep you updated! Yay!!! Finally!!!! I'm so excited to get your update. Thank you!

Just wanted to share a great review on our line of BariatricPal Protein Soups available in the BariatricPal Store by our good friend The Bariatric Foodie.

You can use any flavor. We have some great example liquid meal plans for pre and post surgery posted here. You can mix and match and you don't necessarily have to use our products

I suggest you get single packets for traveling. We offer variety packs so you can try out many flavors and see which you prefer.

I understand and if this situation cannot be resolved I will be looking for a new doctor and personal reference is my favorite way to start. Im kind of a mess emotionally right now, even before this whole fiasco with the payment started. surgery is my least favorite thing next to dying and I'm totally freaked out and I still have 3 1/2 weeks to go. I might be a little biased but I'd highly suggest you check out http://TeamMX.BariatricPal.com .

YES! If you pay with cash you have ZERO recourse if anything doesn't go well. I highly suggest that you don't go that route.

All we have heard so far is anecdotal evidence. I haven't heard from anyone directly that had bad labs after going on the Vitamin Patches. I'm a sceptic by nature and would love to hear from some members after they have their labs done while on the patches. Transdermal delivery of vitamins and medications has vastly improved over the last few years. It's quite possible that this delivery method works for some and not others. I'm a sceptic by nature and would love to get to the bottom of this.

Yes, that's a pretty accurate assessment.

How are the PatchMD Vitamin patches working out for you? I liked them! I haven't had any labs done but I've felt fine with the patches. I do take supplemental liquid Iron drops as I feel better at a higher iron level than most post-bariatric patients. I wish you had taken your labs before and after the patches. I am looking at possibly running a clinical trial to prove/disprove their efficacy.

Just sent you a PM.

How is everyone's labs after using the PatchMD Vitamin Patches?

How is everyone's labs after using the PatchMD Vitamin patches?

I'm looking for feedback from our members currently using PatchMD Vitamin patches. Please let me know if you've gotten your labs back and how they look.

How are the PatchMD Vitamin patches working out for you?

How are your labs?

I am wondering the same! My labs are great so it's difficult for me to test on my own.

If you’re putting off your weight loss surgery (WLS) because you’re worried about hair loss, you’re not alone! And if you were surprised when you suddenly started to lose your hair a few months post-op, you’re not the first WLS patient to be caught off guard. Here are a few facts on hair loss after weight loss surgery. It’s actually a condition called “telogen effluvium,” which happens when more of your hair is in the resting stage than the growth stage, so you end up losing hair faster than it grows. Telogen effluvium – and hair loss - can be triggered by stressful events like WLS and the WLS diet. It’s more common after gastric bypass and gastric sleeve surgeries than after the lap-band. Hair loss is most severe around 3 to 6 months post-op. It’s hard to predict who will lose their hair and who won’t after WLS. Also, there’s no fail-proof protection against hair loss. But there are a lot of promising strategies that work for some WLS patients that may work for you. The best part about them is that they’re also good for weight loss. Protein: 65 or More Grams Daily Protein is the foundation of your post-op WLS diet. It’s a nutrient that lets your surgery wounds heal. It also helps you maintain lean muscle mass as you lose weight. And when you get enough of it, it can help reduce hair loss. Lap-band patients need at least 65 grams of protein each day. Sleeve and bypass patients need 80 to 100 or more grams per day. Go lean with sources like tofu, chicken breast, tuna, egg whites, and non-fat yogurt and cottage cheese. If you can’t hit your needs with food, go for low-sugar protein shakes, protein powders, and protein bars. Water: Not an Afterthought Fluids aren’t always top on your mind when you’re worrying about your weight loss diet, but maybe they should be. When you choose calorie-free ones, they can help reduce hunger and lose more weight. Plus, water prevents dehydration and symptoms like headaches and fatigue. It also promotes healing and lets your body function - and that’s good news for your hair. Aim for at least 64 ounces per day of calorie-free fluids, such as water, flavored waters, diet sports drinks, and broth/bouillon. Feel free to go for more, though! Biotin and Silica: Ask Your Surgeon Biotin and silica are essential nutrients. You can usually get enough of them from diet alone, but WLS changes that. Some people swear that biotin and silica supplements can reduce hair loss, but the science doesn’t yet support that. Talk to your doctor before taking these supplements. Biotin is usually safe even in high doses, but too much silica can be a problem. Essential Fatty Acids: Fats Are Good! Fats are high-calorie, and they make many foods off limits: think fried foods, creamy foods, and fatty meats. But some fats are good, and they’re the ones that you’re most likely to be deficient in after WLS. The possible results? Scaly skin and…hair loss. You don’t need huge amounts of fats to stay healthy. You could see a difference just by getting a little more omega-3 fat in your diet. Once you’re into the mushies/pureed foods stage, you can get omega-3’s from pureed boneless salmon and canned tuna. Later, you can add walnuts and flaxseeds. If you’re not eating these foods, you might want to ask your doctor about a fish oil supplement. The Extras Why does hair fall out? Stress! So let’s see…what stresses have you already put on your body? There’s the stress of surgery; the stress of starving your body at least, that’s what your body thinks when you drop down to 1,000 calories a day; the stress of changing your entire lifestyle and possibly your relationships. When you think about all the stress in life, it’s a wonder anyone has any hair left at all! So when possible, try to reduce stress however you can. Get enough sleep. Take time for yourself. Exercise daily. Laugh it off…whatever “it” is, it’s probably not worth losing your hair over! Taking good care of yourself after WLS can help prevent hair loss, but not always. Still, you can take heart in the fact that it probably won’t last for more than a few months. And at the other end of those few months, you’ll be down several pounds. Isn’t a little hair loss worth it if the payback is to be healthy?

Hey everyone, I want to design some cool weight loss surgery t-shirts, and I need your help! What do you think would go best on a t-shirt? For example: (on the front) My surgeon took away my stomach… (on the back) …But my hard work is taking away the extra pounds. Please post your ideas here. State what text you think would be good on the t-shirt. We can also add simple images if you like, such as the BariatricPal logo and/or pictures of the sleeve, bypass, or lap-band, for example. Don’t forget we can use the back of the shirt, too! Please post up a complete description of the shirt you are thinking of, so we can all visualize it. And here’s what you get out of it… The BariatricPal members with the top five ideas will each get $20 credit at The BariatricPal Store. You can use it to go towards your orders of Protein powders, shakes, and bars, breakfasts, Entrees, Meal Replacements, bariatric Vitamins, and nifty weight loss helpers like the BariWare portion8 Plate set. The contest is live now through Monday, December 28. You can enter as many times as you like, so keep those ideas flowing!

You need to follow a special diet before and after surgery, and you may need Vitamin supplements. Some patients limit their special products to the bare minimum, with maybe a few Protein shakes and powders for the pre-op and post-op liquid diets, and some Vitamins to prevent deficiencies. Others find it easier to follow their WLS diets when they buy a few more bariatric products. You might depend on specialty products such as low-carb, high-protein oatmeal, Pasta dinners, and Snacks, for example. Or you might choose only those vitamins labeled as specially formulated for bariatric surgery patients. Which bariatric products do you buy, and where do you buy them? Do you find them at your local grocery store? Maybe they’re at a supplement store. Online stores are definitely popular, too. How do you decide where to get your items?

Please see http://www.ywmconvention.com/ for all the info you need on the OAC's Your Weight Matters National Convention.