Alex Brecher

It's not uncommon for people who have experienced emotional trauma to have additional challenges or changes in their emotional and mental health after a significant physical change such as gastric surgery. It's possible that weight loss surgery may trigger the reemergence of memories or feelings that were previously repressed.
Also, the surgery may affect the way the body processes and stores nutrients which in turn can affect the way the brain functions and can lead to changes in mood and mental state.
It's important to note that every individual's experience is unique and it's hard to generalize. It's important to have a open communication with your healthcare team, and also to have a good support system in place before and after surgery.
It's also important to be aware that the post-surgery period can be an emotional rollercoaster, with a lot of changes happening both physically and emotionally. It's important to be mindful of that and not to be too hard on yourself, and seek help if needed.

Thanks for bringing to my attention. I had them update to B.P Store.

I understand that you are feeling frustrated and regretful about your decision to have surgery. It's normal to have ups and downs after any major procedure, and it can be especially difficult to adjust to the changes in your body and lifestyle that come with bariatric surgery. It's important to remember that everyone's journey is different, and what works for one person may not work for another. It's also worth keeping in mind that while surgery can be a helpful tool for some people, it's not a magic solution and it requires a lot of hard work and commitment to make lasting changes.
It's important to communicate your concerns and feelings with your healthcare team, as they can offer support and guidance as you navigate your recovery. It can also be helpful to seek out support from other people who have had bariatric surgery, as they may be able to offer insight and encouragement. Finally, try to be patient with yourself and remember that it takes time to adjust to the changes that come with surgery. It's okay to have difficult days, but try to focus on the progress you have made and the improvements in your health that you have experienced as a result of the surgery.

Thanks for the update. We appreciate your feedback and will take it into account.
Here's a photo from the side of our newest boxes. The BariatricPal logo isn't very noticeable.

Update: The latest return label is back to BP Store! Thank you! 😀👍🏻
Unfortunately, the newer boxes being used (Netrition) have a larger Bariatric Pal printing…sigh…at least there are a couple other brands listed next to it. So it’s harder to assume. I would love a plain shipping option.

I understand that you are feeling frustrated and regretful about your decision to have surgery. It's normal to have ups and downs after any major procedure, and it can be especially difficult to adjust to the changes in your body and lifestyle that come with bariatric surgery. It's important to remember that everyone's journey is different, and what works for one person may not work for another. It's also worth keeping in mind that while surgery can be a helpful tool for some people, it's not a magic solution and it requires a lot of hard work and commitment to make lasting changes.
It's important to communicate your concerns and feelings with your healthcare team, as they can offer support and guidance as you navigate your recovery. It can also be helpful to seek out support from other people who have had bariatric surgery, as they may be able to offer insight and encouragement. Finally, try to be patient with yourself and remember that it takes time to adjust to the changes that come with surgery. It's okay to have difficult days, but try to focus on the progress you have made and the improvements in your health that you have experienced as a result of the surgery.

I understand that you are feeling frustrated and regretful about your decision to have surgery. It's normal to have ups and downs after any major procedure, and it can be especially difficult to adjust to the changes in your body and lifestyle that come with bariatric surgery. It's important to remember that everyone's journey is different, and what works for one person may not work for another. It's also worth keeping in mind that while surgery can be a helpful tool for some people, it's not a magic solution and it requires a lot of hard work and commitment to make lasting changes.
It's important to communicate your concerns and feelings with your healthcare team, as they can offer support and guidance as you navigate your recovery. It can also be helpful to seek out support from other people who have had bariatric surgery, as they may be able to offer insight and encouragement. Finally, try to be patient with yourself and remember that it takes time to adjust to the changes that come with surgery. It's okay to have difficult days, but try to focus on the progress you have made and the improvements in your health that you have experienced as a result of the surgery.

I understand that you are feeling frustrated and regretful about your decision to have surgery. It's normal to have ups and downs after any major procedure, and it can be especially difficult to adjust to the changes in your body and lifestyle that come with bariatric surgery. It's important to remember that everyone's journey is different, and what works for one person may not work for another. It's also worth keeping in mind that while surgery can be a helpful tool for some people, it's not a magic solution and it requires a lot of hard work and commitment to make lasting changes.
It's important to communicate your concerns and feelings with your healthcare team, as they can offer support and guidance as you navigate your recovery. It can also be helpful to seek out support from other people who have had bariatric surgery, as they may be able to offer insight and encouragement. Finally, try to be patient with yourself and remember that it takes time to adjust to the changes that come with surgery. It's okay to have difficult days, but try to focus on the progress you have made and the improvements in your health that you have experienced as a result of the surgery.

It's not uncommon for weight loss to slow down or plateau after initial rapid weight loss. There could be a variety of reasons for this, including physiological changes in the body, changes in activity levels or physical activity, changes in diet, or even certain medications or medical conditions.
It's important to remember that weight loss after surgery is a journey, and it's not uncommon to have ups and downs along the way. It's important to focus on making healthy lifestyle changes that are sustainable over the long term, rather than trying to achieve rapid weight loss.
If you're concerned about your weight loss progress, it's a good idea to talk to your surgeon or another healthcare professional for guidance. They can help you identify any potential issues and work with you to develop a plan to help you reach your goals.

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.

Thanks for bringing to my attention. I had them update to B.P Store.

Thanks for bringing to my attention. I had them update to B.P Store.

Thanks for bringing to my attention. I had them update to B.P Store.

Thanks for bringing to my attention. I had them update to B.P Store.

Thanks for bringing to my attention. I had them update to B.P Store.

Thanks for bringing to my attention. I had them update to B.P Store.

Thanks for bringing to my attention. I had them update to B.P Store.

Thanks for bringing to my attention. I had them update to B.P Store.

If you order from the Bariatric Pal store:
I sent this message to customer service about 5 weeks ago, and they said they would look into it. The same thing happened AGAIN today. 😡
If you agree, please consider sending them a note, too.

*****
Dear BP Store,

Until this week, all of the products that I have purchased from your store has come with a return label that indicates “BP Store.”

However, my latest package contained the words “Bariatric Pal” on the label.

It might seem small, but for those of your customers who are not public with our surgery choice, this can be revealing, embarrassing, and could even lead to our health information inadvertently shared.

Would you please consider changing the return label to the old “BP Store” label? Most of the products I get from your store can be purchased from other places, and I may need to consider this to protect my health information.

Thanks for your consideration!

I like Isopure unflavored. The main ingredient is Whey Protein Isolate. It's good stuff.

The clear Premier Protein is a great option since it's made from 100% whey protein isolate. It's a bit too sweet for my taste buds and I personally prefer Protein20 (grape is my favorite flavor.)

I'm not telling you to buy BariatricPal products. Although I wouldn't complain if you do 😁! My point is to use products that are 100% Whey Protein Isolate, regardless of the brand.

Wow thank you!! I am still looking at all of the link provided. This is a great start. Thank again!!

Sent from my SM-N970U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

According to previous ASMBS guidelines from the ASMBS website, "Q: Do I need to avoid caffeine after bariatric surgery? A: Caffeine fluids have been shown to be as good as any others for keeping you hydrated. Still, it is a good idea to avoid caffeine for at least the first thirty days after surgery while your stomach is extra sensitive. After that point, you can ask your surgeon or dietitian about resuming caffeine. Remember that caffeine often comes paired with sugary, high-calorie drinks, so be sure you’re making wise beverage choices."
The BariatricPal Store carries a large selection of bariatric friendly coffee options at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/coffee .

Thank you for the post.
If the FBI does not get these people, then I hope KARMA will will.