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Ladies, don't forget that since it does mess up our hormones we tend towards super fertility...so take EXTRA precautions for at least the 1st year after surgery...tons of women get pregnant in the 1st year after bariatric surgery

Hi, I did not end up having my surgery in the Quad City area, but I have dealt with both bariatric centers-Trinity and Genesis. I work at Trinity so I was going to have my surgery there, and I had an AWFUL experience with them. The bariatric center is incredibly disorganized. The only advantage with Trinity is that they only have you put a down payment of $7000 down, and you can pay the remainder on a payment plan in 6 months. You do have to pay the surgeon upfront, which is $4500. All said, after talking with the Genesis bariatric center, I would definantly choose them. I think their preop teaching and postop follow up is much more thourough. I simply did not go to them because I was self pay and I had financial constraints. However, I was MUCH more impressed with their program. Please PM me for any further information you would like!

I live in florence and Coos Bay is just a hop away from here. There is a clinic in Eugene that does the Lap Band, but there is no way I am going there, I have never hear a thing from them, but I have hear things about this clinic in Coos Bay that they are great, and I have seen results. they have a great website Bay Bariatrics - Steve Tersigni, MD - Coos Bay, Oregon Ofcourse I have not made even my first appointment yet, but I did called and they are sending me an information packet. They have a special for December for 10,000. Unfortunally I can't have mine until January, I want the Hollidays to be over, and I am self pay so even if I probably will have it all by then, I am not wanting to deal with the tax part of it until then. But if the price goes up quite a bit more after Christmas, I might decide to pay it and just go for it. I will be making my appointment probably next week to talk to him about all this and meet him. Denise, was wondering how fast does the process from getting ready to the actually surgery goes? I am nervous, I knew I wanted to do this a few months ago, but it has been in the last two months that I finally decided for sure and told my husband,, I been saving since and I will have it I know in one month. I have two little kids with autism, I need to have energy, and this is not on ly for them, but for me :cool: well,, anywho, I said enough lol, for now :faint:

Night time hunger attacks all of us, but at the same time dont starve yourself. If you must eat a midnight snack try to find something like what I did. I found a nutrition bar that is actually also scientifically proven to curve appetite, its called the control bar, you can check it out here. Bariatric Advantage - Control Bar - Chocolate Delight (1 bar)

I currently live in Maryland and have insurance with my school in Virginia that will run out on February 28th. I will be graduating in February and moving to Texas shortly after which qualifies me for the special enrollment period according to the BCBS Texas representative I chatted with. Thing is, she also informed me that BCBS Texas does not cover bariatric surgery at all for the entire state of Texas but many people here on the forums have successfully had their their surgeries covered by BCBS Texas. I've just turned 26 so the whole insurance thing is all new to me and I'm only looking at BCBS Texas because from what I've read here on the forums, their pre-operation requirements are not as tedious/time-consuming as other insurance companies. With all the conflicting information I'm not sure what to think now and would love any information from you guys in the forums that could help clear things up.

I was told only chewables for the first 3 months. Thank goodness. I had the Bariatric Advantage ones and they were so gross. I stay away from the gummies...they have sugar and some have up to 50 calories. No thanks!

If there are any more surgeons in reasonable distance to your Canadian location, make the calls. The only other thing I can think of is to contact your surgeon and see if he/she can intervene with a Canadian surgeon near you; they may be personally acquainted. For now, take a look at the "surgeons" tab near the top of your screen. Perhaps you can find someone near you whom you haven't already contacted. I wish I could refer you to someone, but I don't know of anyone. It would help others in Bariatric Pal to help you if you post your location -- city and province. Also post in the forum for general weight loss surgery discussion/Canadian support group (I expect there is one). You do need to see someone because of the pain you're having. I'm guessing that your last adjustment took place in the Middle East? When the Fluid added turns out to make it difficult to eat, it's important to go back right away -- within a few days at the most, not six months later. If drinking the Water we're given at the time of an upward adjustment is difficult, it's important to say so on the spot.

Could you let us know? I HATE the bariatric vitamins!!! 2 miles Beth's later, they still hurt, make me nauseous and I sweat and then smell like them. It is disgusting!

I would ask your surgeon. You could also compare the vitamin content in a Bariatric vitamin to the content of your prenatal. Usually you can find the label with specifics online. I know some surgeons say use good Bariatric vitamins for a year at least then after that switch to centrum or something like that.

Hi, well I was sleeved in Tijuana, Mexico in late August, 2015 by Dr. Maytorena. I was picked up from my San Diego Hotel and was able to meet everyone being sleeved that day. There was 3 of us and I think it was great as we each had something to offer the other in way on info, support, etc. 2 of us traveled on our own and the third person had a relative that had the surgery less than 10 months prior and was down 200 pounds! All of our surgery's went fine. We went to a recovery house that was nice and we each had our own room with personal A/C control by remote. I just wanted to write this quick note as I think it is helpful to others. I don't plan to update as I'm not a computer person. I'm six weeks out and down about 32 pounds. my BMI was 40 at time of surgery and I'm very happy with results. I have taken it easy and followed the diet that most sleeve doctors recommend. I have also attended two bariatric group meetings that I found hosted by hosptials in my town. My surgery took place at a surgery center. I was the first to have my surgery that day and liked that as I'm in the medical field. All in all just wanted to put this info out there for anyone looking at Dr. Maytorena. I didn't want to put anything online till I spoke with the other 2 people and things are going will for them. Wishing everyone a great success with what ever than plan in life. Dr. Maytorena's August 2015 patient.

My surgical team have me on Bariatric Advantage chewable multi's and calcium citrate chews (500mg). I bought them monthly at the hospital for $75. Now I have them auto shipped from Bariatric Advantage website, which was recommended by my surgical team. It now costs me $67 (cheaper due to auto ship). $250 is too much.

There was an interesting article in the New York Times about a young woman who had a Lap-Band weight loss surgery after years of suffering the emotional journey of an overweight kid. The story was very honest about what to expect with this type of surgery, and it also tracked the journey of the young woman. The story is of interest to many as more and more teens and adults are turning toward the option of weight loss surgery. The latest number of weight loss surgeries performed in the United States is 220,000 per year. That is a seven-fold increase over the past 10 years according to the New York Times article. Weight loss surgeries do save lives and also improve quality of lives for sure, but they aren’t for everyone. The surgeons do the surgery and are skilled at centers of excellence, but unless the patients come back, join support groups and stay in contact with dieticians, falling off track is way too easy and, unfortunately, many of them do, including the young woman in the NYT story. I run several food addiction groups in Houston, and was featured as the psychotherapist for TLC’s show “Big Medicine.” On the show, I worked closely with Drs. Robert and Garth Davis. We tried to give the viewer an honest look at what happened with the weight loss surgery and the journey after. My work now is primarily with revisions. Revisions are the surgery done when the first weight loss surgery failed. My office is full, as are my support groups. What happened to the patients that so eagerly came into our offices feeling empowered and ready to give up their morbid obesity forever? They are replaced with patients who hang their head feeling like they failed. Even though they feel defeated, the ones I see are the fortunate ones who were able to step out of their shame cycle, call their insurance company and ask for a second chance. They need a second chance because neither they nor we (the health team) had a full picture of what was underneath their weight. They couldn’t see it prior to surgery, and since they are their own historians telling us their story, we are blinded also. I believe in weight loss surgery, but I believe more in the knowledge we impart to the patient prior to and after the surgery. Performing an alteration, such as a weight loss surgery, is a huge decision, but in the case of a minor I think the whole bariatric medicine team must be on board. There has to be a built-in safety net to handle the transformation of the child as well as their family. Everyone who loves the patient must change when someone they love has weight loss surgery. The counselor, dietician, and surgeon must know all of the family members. We must know who is sabotaging and enabling that patient on an emotional level. Enablers are the people still giving the patient food as a source of love. Our bariatric treatment teams must also understand if simply making better food and lifestyle choices worked, it would have worked 20 diets ago. It did not. Obesity has an addictive component, and addictions are kept in place by denial. Most patients will tell you they are not addicted to food exactly the same as an alcoholic will tell you they aren’t addicted to alcohol. The question is: “Do you use food to comfort yourself?” If the patient says “YES,” then treat them for a food addiction. Do this because they are telling you they have a relationship with food that is emotionally based and most likely they are choosing food with high fat or high carbohydrates (not one of my patients has ever had an addiction/emotional relationship to steamed or raw vegetables). Whenever a patient feels like a failure after going through the process of weight loss surgery and everything it entails, it is heart wrenching not only to them, but to me and anyone working in this field. If insurance companies won’t cover patient care for years to come after the surgery, then we in the field are going to have to put these measures in place and make them affordable to the patients. We cannot tell a patient they need to continue in groups and follow-ups if they can no longer afford the cost. Whoever said, “Weight loss surgery is a quick fix” truly never had weight loss surgery or worked with my patients. There is nothing quick about it. Obesity is a disease and once you have it, losing the weight is the easy part, managing that loss is a life long journey.

I have tried them all and in my opinion Unjury is the best. It is made for bariatric patients. The consisteny is much smoother and thinner than any of those you mentioned and Unjury doesn't smell or taste very bad. I am very, very picky and this is the only kind I can drink. It's so thin, I can drink in a hurry and not have that thick, yucky aftertaste.

I have a really stupid question because I'm confused. My PA this a.m. says that the band "won't help your hunger." I thought that was the purpose? She said it's only purpose was to control portion size. This was NOT the impression I was given while going through the process. Here is what I thought....The band will help control your portions by making you feel fuller longer (i.e. that helps my hunger, right?). I'm confused....and also wondering why did I do this....I'm waiting for better results and not giving up yet because I can tell a difference. I'm glad in one instance that I did this because I've failed with WW, Bariatrics, etc. to only gain it back. I've lost some weight and even if this band stops me from gaining I would consider it a slight success

You def have the right to appeal, but next year when Obamacare supposedly goes thru fully, I believe insurance companies are no longer allowed to have lifetime maximum clauses, or deny people due to pre existing conditions. So if the appeal falls thru there is always hope for next year. Hope everything works out for you!! I may go thru something similar when they try to get my sleeve approved. Instead of one WLS per lifetime, my insurance has $4000 lifetime maximum on bariatric procedures. I had my band removed on 5/22, I'm hoping bc of emergency it is not put towards that $4000. Good Luck!

Ok so I am confused. In my nutrition class it was a mix of lapband, gastric, and sleeve patients so sometimes it was hard to tell what was meant for who. Ok so in the class the lady said that we could have all the liquid we wanted during this "full liquid" post op diet. (I am 4 days out) But when I was in the hospital they kept only bringing me 2oz. of soup at a time. So I am only eating a 1/4 cup of soup at a time. Now that I am feeling better this is not really doing much in the way of making me feel satisfied. I know it is going straight through. So can I eat more? I remember her saying the soup at hands were perfect. But I am thinking the hospital just clumped all of the bariatric patients together with the same diet. I really don't want to make a mistake but it is saturday and obviously the office is closed. Any advice?

Please see the magazine article by Dr. Adeyeri! " Your Mind is the #1 Tool for Bariatric Weight Loss Success", which is on the right side of the screen. It is so well written. It might help you some. Good luck, take one day at a time.

I took a few pictures of some of my pre-op goodies. I went to the Obesity Help Conference and was given so many different kinds of free samples, especially when I shared that I'm pre-op. There's a variety of products ranging from protein shakes, vitamins, bariatric foods (vegetable pizza crust not pictured and purchased after tasting), post-op food from unjury and etc. I know our tastes may change, but I'm getting these protein drinks down. I have spices, extracts, decaf teas and I will add ice to make smoothies...lol !!! Long story short, a few more cases of water, gas-x , miralax , a good mouthwash for dry mouth and a neutral toothpaste... I'm ready. I didn't take pictures of everything, I didn't feel like pulling out all of the boxes of broth, Bariatric Advantage Vitamins full size, water bottles, Better than Bullion jars, other pill organizers and etc. Who else is ready or what does your maintenance look like?

Hey everyone, i just recently got insurance that covers bariatric surgery through the state. Im having a hard time deciding which plan i should choose to run with during the bariatric process. They put me with coordinated care to start with, i have since switched to molina which starts april 1 2021. I scheduled my first dr visit with my new pcp for this coming Monday to hopefully get the ball rolling to get accepted into the program. Ive got so many questions, but i guess ill start with does anyone have advice on which plan is better for the bariatric surgery process? Coordinated care, or molina?? Thanks for reading my book [emoji51][emoji854] Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

I am ordering them on my own. After doing research, I have chosen to use Bariatric Complete by ProCare Health that I found on Amazon and it's $14/month. $250 is insane when there are other options.

I knew nobody in real life who had WLS. I knew our insurance would cover it. I googled and started looking at surgeon websites. One of the first I found was a center of excellence. I checked and he was covered in my insurance plan. I went to an orientation seminar and the team impressed me a lot, although the surgeon wasn't there that night. I booked an appointment for a few days later, met him, asked a ton of questions, and decided it felt right. Six months later I was banded. I'm happy with my experience and haven't had any complications. I will say that I haven't seen my surgeon since my six week post op. My NP does all my fills under fluoroscopy. She's wonderful and actually sent me away without a ninth fill two weeks ago with gentle advice to change up my diet and exercise instead. I think I've been fortunate, but I'd probably do it the same way if I had it to do over again. Matter of fact, I had a minor unrelated (not bariatric) surgery last January, and chose that doctor in a similar fashion.

I stocked up too. I wanted to be prepared, especially since I knew I shouldn't be lifting big cases of vitamin water or protein shakes and things of that nature post op. Overall, I was glad I was prepared. BUT... The only caution I will give to others pre-op who are reading this thread... be careful not to stock up too much! There were several things I had and liked pre-op that did NOT sit well with me post-op. For example: Chocolate Premier Protein Shakes and Premier Protein Water. I liked and drank them pre-op. I hated them post-op. I forced myself to finish the chocolate shakes, but I gave the protein water away. And that stuff is expensive! I also didn't like the bariatric soup mixes I bought and some of the goat cheese crackers Still have them, but they aren't getting used up. The protein oatmeals are way too much for me to eat, so I don't eat those. Luckily my daughter likes some of them. I bought WAY too much jello and Popsicles. Still have the jello, but the popsicles were taking up valuable freezer space so I threw them out. Oh... and I have an abundance of tuna/chicken packets which I will use, but I was using them much more in pre-op diet mode and I am sick of them now.

LapBandTalk.com is a wealth of weight loss and healthy lifestyle tips, a source of information specific to your situation, and a place where you can locate and connect to the best bariatric surgeons in your are. Despite this abundance of resources, most of our members come here for another reason: the positivity. Our members are supportive, encouraging and empathetic. But among the general population, it’s a different story due to misinformation and hasty judgments. Why Weight Loss Surgery Misinformation is Rampant In the age of digital media, information can be immediately available to millions of people as soon as someone posts it online using a laptop, smartphone or other mobile device. Unfortunately, nothing is automatically censored, so misinformation is just as easy to spread as facts. In the blink of an eye, people can post random thoughts via Twitter, Facebook or other social media platforms without even realizing that their followers may take their intended musings as hard data. How People Choose What to Believe Many people are unable to distinguish between weight loss surgery fact and fiction because they simply do not know enough to make a sound judgment. Some people are cynical by nature, and have a tendency to instinctively believe the worst when they are presented with opposing facts. These people, for example, may automatically believe that weight loss surgery is harmful and ineffective instead of low-risk and healthy for the right patients. Common Myths If you want to combat widespread weight loss surgery information, you should know some of the common myths and how to respond with the truth. These are some common false beliefs surrounding bariatric surgery and their realities. Myth: It’s a quick and easy fix. Reality: It’s not quick, and it’s not easy. Surgery does not make you lose a single pound. You lose the excess weight over the course of years through diet and exercise modifications. Myth: It’s dangerous and invasive. Reality: Complications are rare for lap-band procedures, and they are usually minor, such as needing an adjustment in band location. Roux-n-Y can cause nutrient deficiencies, but you work with a dietitian and have frequent check-ups to lower your risk. The procedures take less than two hours, and full recovery takes a few days to a couple of weeks. Myth: You don’t have to change your diet, or, you can only eat a limited variety of foods. Reality: The truth lies somewhere in between. You are encourage to eat a nutritious diet and avoid high-fat, high-sugar foods as well as liquid calories. What Can You Do? With instantaneous transmission of information, rumors spread like wildfires in the social stratosphere. Worse, rumors can easily because widely accepted as facts. How can you help to combat this harmful gossip? These are a few possibilities. Fight fiction with fact: Social networking platforms, such as blogs, Facebook, Twitter are just as good for spreading truth as they are at spreading lies. Every time you come across an inaccurate or demeaning statement about weight loss surgery, stand up for you and your friends who have had weight loss surgery. Be a good example: Most people tend to base their judgments on what or whom they know. If they know one person (you) with weight loss surgery, they’ll base their judgments on you. Hopefully, they will realize the benefits of bariatric surgery when they see you eating well every day, exercising regularly, being more productive at work and being a happier, healthier person overall. Emphasize that not all bariatric surgery options are the same. Roux-n-Y is irreversible and more drastic than Lap Band procedures, which take less than an hour. Can Celebrities Help? Celebrities can be spokespeople for the cause. If you know of any celebrities who are bariatric surgery pateints, consider contacting them and asking them to be more verbal about the cause. Nobody can get the message across like a celebrity. These are a few examples of famous people with bariatric surgery. Carnie Wilson, television host and singer: Roux-n-Y, 1999; laparoscopic band over bypass, 2012 Star Jones Reynolds, television host: gastric bypass, 2003 Brian Dennehy, actor: Lap-Band, 2008 As a bariatric surgery patient or someone who is considering the procedure, what are your thoughts? How can we change the negative perceptions surrounding aftercare? Does the terminology need to be changed? Can some sort of publicity campaign online or in the offline media be helpful? As an individual, can you be a role model to demonstrate that you have worked hard for every pound that you have lost, and that you are continuing each day to make healthy choices in your diet and exercise? Let us know what you think!

A new blog has recently been launched for Australian LAP-BAND patients and/or prospective patients. It’s unique as the articles are written exclusively by experienced bariatric healthcare professionals. You can share any article you'd like using social media. The intent of this blog is to give Australian’s accurate and helpful information on gastric banding and weight loss surgery in general. I think the Australian LAP-BAND talk community should be aware of this new blog: http://blog.gastricbandingprocedure.com.au/

I for myself am telling no one. Every single person I know who underwent surgery had so much negativity. I have told one friend and of course my husband. My kids know nothing of bariatrics so they don't know. And my family is not around that much. It's just a personal decision. You know how much you can handle and what other things might really bother you. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App