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If you are exercising and lifting as you say, your calories are probably too low. My nutritionist had me up my calories from 900 to 1300. I usually hit it at +/- 100 calories of that daily. I go to the gym 4-5 times a week where I run and lift those days spending about 90 minutes there, on my non gym days I walk for 2-3 miles. The nutritionist told me I need the extra calories if working out, if not the body holds on to what it can for survival. You may want to speak to a nutritionist that works with bariatric patients.

This is one of the things I'm really scared about. I worry that I'm going to have some serious problem but that doctors are going to think the problem is due to my band and ignore me. Then they find out after my death that I was having a heart attack/gall bladder attack/tumor/hang nail well you get the idea. I'm afraid that non-bariatric doctors are going to give me substandard care because I was so weak and such a loser that I had to resort to an implanted device to control myself. I know there are doctors out there who ARE like that. I know, I shouldn't worry so much, but it's pretty hard to not think about it. And I know that I'm not weak or a loser but I also know there are plenty of people who perceive lap band surgery that way - which is why I'm not telling anyone I'm having it done. DonnaB 03-07-06 Surgery date Dr. Roberto Rumbaut, Monterrey, Mexico 282/150 5' 9"

I ahve UHC Choice plus and they paid for mine 2 months ago. When you get ur card go to the my uhc website and look under ur benefits.There was a phone number for Bariatric resource services 1-800-936-7246 and they told me of my employers covered it. I was dead in the water until I called them as I had already gone to a seminar and couldnt get anything from insurance so after 3 weeks I called them and it was easy from then on. I had to have a 6 month diet history and a psych eval. If I can help in any way pm me.Carla:biggrin0:

I use the bariatric advantage, i crush them up and mix it with 1/4c of Greek yogurt, this way my yogurt taste tropical, i get protein and i can manage them better! Becuz they are DISGUSTING! It takes me 30 min to eat it but it works!

Sara, first off every thing is going to be ok. Yes it is true that it is best to wait at least a year, preferably 2 after being sleeved to conceive, but you can't change that now. This is going to be a bit trickier than a traditional pregnancy, but you will be just fine, and so will your baby. As was pointed out earlier you will need to keep your Obstatrition, Bariatric, and PCP in a close loop. I highly advise including your NUT in that loop. Everybody needs to be on the same page. I highly recommend seeing a naturalist too, someone that has a lot of experience in cramming tons of nutrients into minimal foods & supplements. I'm sure you are going to be taking some awfull tasting stuff (like blackstrap molasses), but you gotta do what you gotta do now. I promise you are not the first one this has happened to & you won't be the last. I'd also recommend journaling this experience so that once it is over you'll have it documented when the next person comes along & they're scared about what's to come.

I asked what self pay fills would cost, should I lose bariatric coverage. My doctor charges $250, but those aren't under fluoro. Reading all above, now I'm annoyed. Already being in the green, I don't suspect I'll need as many fills ongoing, as I've had this year. But even still, based on what I'm reading here, $250/fill without fluoro sounds a bit steep.

Up to ten per year were included in the cost of my band. (For life). The first fill is done by the surgeon and the others are at the bariatric center with a nurse practitioner.

I also hated the liquid, luckily my doctors office sells the Bariatric Advantage line below wholesale (muti-vitamins, iron, calciim and sublingual B, etc), they are all chewable they taste great. If anybody wants the website info to order online just let me know! karen

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Congratulations to all of you. Denise, yes most people do lose some of their hair after surgery. It is due to the stress to your body of surgery and also lack of Protein and the results of anesthesiology. This happens from most surgeries not just bariatric ones. Just be sure to keep your protein intake up as much as possilbe to prevent losing any extra. Best wishes with your surgery. Don't let the hair loss get to you. It will grow back.

Hi gang! I'm not sure if you guys remember, but I have BC/BS PPO Michigan, individual coverage. They just removed all bariatric procedures from their coverage this past January 2009. They said it is just not covered. My doctor CALLED them this past Friday, and I'm not sure who he talked to, but my status moved from "denied" to "pending".... my agent who is my liaison with BC/BS told me they don't cover, no exceptions... however, it looks like they might actually consider this? I'm not going to hold my breath.... I'm probably going to have to pay somewhere about $6-8K for the procedure (I'm getting hiatal hernia surgery along with it) out of pocket, which I was prepared for... but can I actually HOPE that my insurance company is going to do what's right, and cover this for me?? I am not getting my hopes up... but it sure would be nice not to have to pay that much $$ for my surgery! I'm taking prayers where I can get them! Karen

for medical travelers who wish to stay in the U.S. for VSG surgery Dallas seems to be the best option if you need to fly to your surgeon. Cost of VSG in Dallas is half what it cost in the Northern part of the U.S. probably due to the competition Texas Bariatric surgeons face from their lower cost colleagues just across the border. Dr. NIcholson is the best option I was able to find in Dallas for an out of town vsg payment. His price is 12,200 for a vsg. I chose DR. Corvala at Hospital Angeles in TJ as I think that offers the best quality to price ratio but for those not comfortable with TJ or catching a lot of grief about going to Mexico like i am, Dallas and Dr.NIcholson are a viable high quality low cost alternative to TJ.

I'm so sorry you had to hear that from a friend who you supported in the same situation. Luckily so far, the few friends I have shared that I had surgery with, have been very supportive. I have a lot of friends I went to college with, that have no clue, as I did not tell them, and they live all over the country. I don't plan on the big reveal, until I have met goal, and had the plastics my insurance will cover. Then I'll let the world know. Honestly the harshest and most hurtful comments have come from my 2 younger sisters. I now hear things like... "What are you going to do with all the wrinkles that will appear on your face, when you lose?" (although I don't see any more wrinkles now than I did 145 lbs ago) and "what are you going to do with that big deflated skin flap where your double chin was." (that one was true, it's there. I do exercises to try to help strengthen muscles in the area, it's about all I can do) They both know my insurance won't pay for that kind of cosmetic surgery, and I can't afford face surgery on my own. Why they would even say those things to me, is mean in my opinion. At first they were supportive and the more I lose, the more biting the remarks get. One sister is average sized, and always has been, and the other fluctuates, and is big right now. She cuts me off everytime I want to talk about my progress. I guess it's just a reminder to her that she's ate her way back to almost bigger than me at this point. I can't help that, but I was hoping for more support. We just have to keep doing what we are doing, and know envy and jealousy are things you will come across. My thought would be if you confront her, is remind her how supportive you were of her and her surgery. Yet again, this supports my argument, they just don't give enough help with food addiction issues in these bariatric programs.

i went straight to facebook bariatric pal. my response doesnt show up on my personal facebook.

Do the bariatric soups have enough protein and veggies in them for the first two weeks? Sent from my SM-S550TL using BariatricPal mobile app

Thanks Babb's my point of reference for such will hit at holidays, since I'm still pre-surg but I'll take it to heart. And To Rayolite you're a shining star to those coming into Bariatric land. Keep on keeping on *Rosey Posey Sent from my S55 using the BariatricPal App

According to the bariatric surgery preparation book. Symptoms of Blood Clots * Approximately 3% of patients undergoing major surgical procedures will experience blood clots. * Symptoms of Deep Vein Thrombosis (blood clot): Dull ache or pain in leg. Tightness or swelling in leg. Pulmonary Embolism * 50% of all patients with a blood clot will develop a pulmonary embolism. * Possible symptoms of pulmonary embolism: Sudden shortness of breath or chest pain with breathing. A pain in the legs after surgery may be something to check into.

Oh yeah.those containers of frosting from Betty Crockers is the real deal.Dip a graham cracker into that smooth chocolate frosting...Makes a Bariatric doctor have nightmares..lol.its all relative.phsychologically speaking.If you or someone you know.Abuses Betty Crockers smooth frosting.There has to be other problems in ones life causing this penchant for smooth chocolate frosting.Usually it's a lack of closeness and love.so I went out and found someone to be close to and love.Now there is no more smooth chocolate frosting in my house.problem solved

http://www.cornellweightlosssurgery.org/pdf/dietary_guidelines_sleeve_gastrectomy.pdf Above is the Cornell VSG dietary guidelines http://www.iabsobesitysurgery.com/Media/Forms/SleeveDietGuide.pdf From the Institute for Advanced Bariatric Surgery And the link posted in the reply above is fabulous. I used a mixture of the Cornell, my surgeon's guideline and Dr. Aceve's guidelines. I stuck to 600-800 calories a day. No more than 30 grams of carbs, 60+ grams of Protein, did not count fat grams, and 64ounces of Water. For Vitamins, every surgeon/nut is different. My nut hates children's vitamins for bariatric patients, but it seems to be a trend for some surgeons to recommend them just so their patients are taking something since they taste good. Walking for the first 6 weeks post-op, then introduce cardio, and lifting light weights at 6 weeks and moving forward. For the post op diet, my surgeon's program is: 2 weeks of Clear liquids 2 weeks of full liquids 2 weeks of mushies/purees then onto soft solids as tolerated and incorporate more dense protein as your body allows. No Nuts, raw fruit and/or veggies for 3 months post op. My meal goal was 4 meals a day consisting of 15grams of protein per meal. That gave me the 60 grams of protein requirement.

VerticalSleeveTalk News This is it! We’re launching our VerticalSleeveTalk News, a regular newsletter to keep you up to date on our community. We’ll tell you all about our exciting new features, programs and anything else you need and want to know about VerticalSleeveTalk.com. Our goal is to make sure you know everything This is the first edition of VerticalSleeveTalk News, and we have a lot to talk about. In this edition, you’ll find information on: The Alex Brecher Founder VerticalSleeveTalk.com Apps Have Launched! Now take VerticalSleeveTalk.com with you wherever you go. The fully functional Celebrate the release of our Mobile apps, we’re giving away a brand-new iPod Touch. It’s a drawing, but we want to reward our active posters, referrers, bloggers, members with completed profiles and new members. The more you participate in VerticalSleeveTalk.com, the better chance you have of winning. Here’s how it works. Eligibility and Chances of Winning Forum members must make at least one post in any forum on VerticalSleeveTalk during the contest period of 30 days from your receipt of this newsletter. Members must have a completed patient profile. You can increase your chances of winning by making more forum and blog posts, uploading more photos and referring members. At the end of the contest period, one of the forum administrators will find all of the eligible forum members – remember, you have to make at least one post and have a completed Gastric Sleeve profile. We’ll make a big spreadsheet with the Username of each member who is eligible, and assign points based on your activities. The more points you have, the better your chances of getting the iPod! Point Structure 1 point: each forum post and each uploaded photo 2 points: each forum post from our mobile apps and each blog post 5 points: join a group 10 Points: complete My Surgery, My Surgeon or My Gastric Sleeve Story; upload before and/or after photos 20 points for each successful forum referral; and 40 points for a fully completed patient profile Get Involved Again If you’re an old-timer who hasn’t been around much, this contest is a great opportunity to bring you back to the boards. You have tons of experience and advice to share with newer gastric sleeve patients. If you’ve fallen off the wagon, don’t be shy. It’s never too late to get back on, and we’re here to give you the support and confidence you need for success in your lifestyle goals. Some Reminders and New Features Create or update your own Gastric Sleeve Patient profile. Your information encourages other members and helps you connect with members that have your same interests and struggles. It also gets you 40 points for our iPod Touch giveaway. We've recently updated our surgeon database; now, every bariatric surgeon in the world is included. Check it out and find a local surgeon who can help you. You can locate and read reviews on gastric sleeve surgeons to help you choose an expert for your care. Our social and support groups are up and running. We know that you all have special interests and identities, and our social and support groups provide more specialized platforms than our general community. Just of the few types of groups we have are Regional groups of people from your city or state. Surgery Buddy groups with people who got the Gastric Sleeve at the same time as you. Medical Condition groups with people with a particular condition, such as PCOS Eating Support groups with people who struggle with eating issues, such as emotional eating Check them out and join one or start your own. Be a Good Friend Be sure to mention VerticalSleeveTalk.com as a source of support and information for any your friends, family members or associates who are considering gastric sleeve surgery or have had it. Also, don’t forget that VerticalSleeveTalk.com is a member of the WLSBoards.com network. Recommend our other four communities to anyone you know who needs them, and please stop on by and introduce yourself if you have had a weight loss surgery revision. LapBandTalk.com for LAP-BAND Adjustable Gastric Band RNYTalk.com for Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass SleevePlicationTalk.com for Gastric Sleeve Plication RealizeBandSupport.com for Realize Adjustable Gastric Band We Need Your Help When you come here, you can depend on support, encouragement, sympathetic ears and expert advice from surgeons. But we need you to let community be able to continue grow stronger! Over the years, I’ve found that many bariatric surgeons and their staff don’t even know we’re here. Help us out by asking your surgeon to hang a couple of fliers in the clinic. They can go the waiting room bulletin board, at the reception desk and in patient consultation rooms. I’ve even gotten the fliers ready for you in color and black-and-white options. Print them out and bring them to your next appointment, or email them to the office. So please, support us and ask your surgeon to post these fliers in their office and hand them out to their patients. It helps you out because our community will benefit from more patients and surgeons with valuable advice. Remind your surgeon and clinic staff that it helps them out because it gives them more exposure to patients. Stay in Touch Feedback forum - we're always open to members ideas and feedback. Please use our feedback forum to let us know how we’re doing and send us your ideas on what you’d like to see at VerticalSleeveTalk.com. We always want to know what you’re thinking and how we can improve! We're now on Facebook and on Twitter. Like us and follow us to keep track of what's going on in our communities and show your support! Don’t forget to support and celebrate! Our upcoming surgeries list tells you which members are about to get their bariatric surgery, so stop by and wish them luck! Come by the surgery anniversary list to congratulate members when they hit their annual anniversaries of their surgeries. Your name will be automatically entered onto the right list as soon as you update your patient profile. Coming Soon… We're releasing customizable health trackers and tickers within the next 90 days. We'll include more info in future newsletters, so stay tuned for information on those and the other latest happenings around VerticalSleeveTalk.com. Thanks for reading, and talk to you soon! 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: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/index.php?app=core&module=usercp&tab=newsletter

He won't dare harm you. His malpractice insurance would go through the roof! They'll probably give you extra special care so you don't come back to haunt them! If he is the ONLY tricare bariatric surgeon in town, can you go to another town and get the surgery? They are all correct; he is actually trying to steal from you.

Cripes. The total bills submitted to my insurance totaled $50K. Fortunately I had already met my deductible for the year and only had to meet the remainder if my out of pocket max of $2K so I only had to shell out $895 total. Was banded on 12/21/12 and have yet to pay anything for any of my follow ups or bloodwork. I had my surgery at St. Alexis in Hoffman Estates by Dr. Kane jr. From the Kane bariatric center.

I've been trying to get a lapband since 2008!! I started in nov 2008 and had 2 appts then in Jan my company decided to change insurance carriers and the new ones they added didn't pay for any bariatric surgeries. I was so frustrated!! Then just this year my company changed back to united healthcare. I started my appts in feburary this year.

I know this sounds crazy but I like buffets...I get to choose 1 bite of numerous different things. What I don't like about them is I don't get to bring home a to go box. I have tried my bariatric card (the only time it's ever been rejected) at Hometown Buffet and they politely said no. So I hafta pay $11 for about $1 worth of food. But hubby makes up for what I don't eat. He's a low carber so he enjoys getting all the meat and veggies he wants. Last month, we visited a Soup Plantation. They gave me the $4 kids price. Still didn't eat $4 worth of food but it was nice to not pay full price. At buffets, they frown upon u just taking a couple nibbles off ur hubbys plate! At Hometown, I usually get: Baked chicken, cornbread stuffing, broccoli, mashed pots, 1 butterfly shrimp, roast beef, and maybe a small salad. I take a bite or 2 of everything and it doesn't look like I've even touched my food. Enjoy ur Mothers Day. At 5 weeks, however, not sure how I'd feel about it. I was still on soft foods (of which the buffet has lots of, btw). I wouldn't try to tackle a salad or ribs! Good luck! Oh and I usually sneak a few Cookies in a napkin in my purse. Figure since I'm not getting $11 worth of food, I'm gunna take dessert at least! Embarrasses hubby...oh well...

I guess my questions to the bariatric surgeon would be - is it advisable to have this type of surgery 6 months out from vsg? How do I cope with recovering and meet all my nutritional needs for it? Can you test me for any deficiencies prior to knee surgery to make sure I can sustain another surgery so soon? You know how TKR recovery goes, physical therapy, etc. I found the bone healing pain to be excruciating from TKR.