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I go tomorrow to see when I will my Bariatric surgery. As of today my highest weight is 272lb and I am 5'5. I am 48 yrs and I hope can handle all of the changes that are coming surgery. Sent from my H1611 using BariatricPal mobile app

Don't be nervous, you'll tie yourself up in"nots", no regrets, no doubts, no sorrowful thoughts, victory is just over the horizon for YOU. You can do this, make yourself a "can do" person and very soon you will be. Your healthier future awaits you, move forward and claim it. All of your Bariatric Pals are cheering you on!😛

When I came close to backing out, I was told by my PCP that the wife of one of the bariatric surgeons in my area had had the sleeve surgery and that she thought it was the best decision she has ever made. When she told me that, I knew that if that surgeon felt confident enough for his wife to have the surgery, I had nothing to worry about. Good luck!

The reason why bariatric Vitamins are not popular here is frankly, because we do not need them. Be cautious of whatever your NUT is trying to sell you, IF she is selling to you, I wasn't clear on that. All we need are basic multivites, Calcium, and some are told to take B12. I get mine from costco - 250 vitamins for about 10 or 12 dollars. That is the most economical way to buy them. We do not malabsorb so unless you are already deficient in something there is just no reason to spend that kind of money.

Ive been trying to get myself together for my surgery on 2/28, buying broth and protein powder out of this world. I spent about a week doing all kinds of research on different vitamins and supplements, and which would be cost effecient. I finally talked to my NUT and asked her about a few name brands, she tells me as if I take Bariatric Fusion (sold in their office), I wont need to take additional vitamins and supplements. The multivitamin cost $24.99 for 120 chewable tabs. My confusion is, why arent more people using bariatric multivitamins for all the supplemental needs?

Definitely go with a bariatric specific formula. I'm using Optisource as it is a truly complete multivitamin. It has all the iron, calcium, vitamin c & d, folate, b12, etc. All in chewable tablets.

Hi-I went to a seminar back in January, which was free. I went to my first Bariatric Center consult about a month ago. It cost $100 plus my $20 co-pay. It included a video, nurse consult, nutritionist and psycholgist consult. I see the surgeon this coming Friday, and at that time they will collect $250, which will be put into an account to go towards any more pre or post off office visits. If I don't use all of it, the rest will go towards any hospital or Drs fees that arent' covered by my insurance. The hospital co-pay will be $200. I'm sure that there will be more fees somewhere, but for me, my health will be well worth it. I have United Heathcare Insurance. The best advice I can give you is research, research, research! One more thing-Have faith!!! Hang in there, and good lick!

A testimonial from the website of the hospital I will be banded..... insipires me whenever I feel like I need a pick-me-up... just wanted to share. I have found that there are certain "stones" that you must claim as your own and use with almost religious zeal to keep the tool of bariatric surgery sharp and effective. I think every person who has this surgery builds their own cairn out of the stones that they discover work best to encourage them. So here are a few of mine. Stone #1—Quiet Reflection This one takes different forms for different people—prayer and meditation, transcendental sauntering, yoga, sitting quietly, being. Take your pick, but this is an important discipline as it keeps the bariatric patient in touch with the one thing that our weight and former dependence on food distanced us from—our feelings. You must think about how you feel, stay aware of how you feel and set your compass each and every day to make all of the choices that keep you feeling good, feeling lean, and feeling in control. Stone #2—Meaningful Movement Do something. For me the compliance to this particular "stone" is profoundly personal and it took me almost four years to figure out that I would exercise far more consistently if I would work out early in the morning versus in the evening when I almost always had a conflict or flagging motivation. Committing to a time that no person or event could challenge and making it virtually impenetrable from interlopers made this one of the most significant assurances for me. If I start with this stone on the cairn—even if it is just a 45 minute energetic walk—everything else seems to fall in place. Put simply, if I even reluctantly walk over and pick up this stone (no matter how heavy) and carry it to my weight loss cairn each morning, I know that I will virtually run and, with little effort, pick up the rest of the stones that day and stack them on the monument of the day's success. Make this stone anything you like—for me it is walking, rowing, dancing, or maybe a touch of light weightlifting that I should actually do more often. Stone #3—Liturgical Vitamin Ceremonies My vitamin consumption has become an almost holy symbol of my intent to honor the body this surgery gave me. I bought a tea box (a wooden box with 12 square compartments) that sits next to my favorite chair. Every morning and night I open it up to behold the vitamin selection that assures my good health. There they all are—the multi vitamin, the Co-Q10, the calcium, the Colace (still needed from time to time). I take vitamins several times a day, and each time I take one, I whisper "I am good to me." Stone #4—The Security of Staples Always, always, always have the staples you need to stay the course for good health. This takes discipline and a list (laminated and always with you). For me, the staples are hard boiled eggs, fat free cottage cheese, Montreal steak spice, Lite Havarti cheese, apples, blueberries, fat-free yogurt, and Crystal Light. These must be in my reach at almost all times or I will most assuredly make the same bad choices that caused my weight gain. Make your own list and carry a small cooler in your car everyday if you must—and I have—so that you have no excuse. Never, never go home without knowing that you have the staples you need there. I do better without too much choice. An important related "stone" to this one was a hard one for me to acknowledge and eventually convince the rest of my family to join me in honoring. I cannot have any food in my house that is not desirable for a weight-loss patient to consume. Once that first year of no appetite passes and hunger makes its inevitable return, the same temptations you once knew will be back. Even though you will feel rotten if you succumb, it is just too tempting. I find the de-temptation of the home environment and replacing it with staples (symbols of on-going health) is critical for me. Any family member frustrated by this strategy can find plenty of excuses to sneak out of the house for a non-healthy treat. Stone #5—Surround Yourself with Stone Masons This has to do with the ongoing support we all need in life to achieve any of the goals we set before us, particularly the goal of good health after weight-loss surgery. For some, this may mean participating in support groups. I have had a mixed reaction to formal groups for bariatric patients. Prior to surgery, I found the groups to be absolutely inspiring with so many stories of success transformation. They were a remarkable source of hope during a time of despair. However, not long after my surgery, I found that most support groups were negative. The participants focused on what wasn't working, what they couldn't eat, or what they didn't like. Since I had been totally prepared for the changes that my surgery was intended to bring, I did not find what I wanted in a group. Look intentionally for a support group that absolutely encourages the excitement (and yes, reality) of a body that has been readjusted completely to bring about a transformation. Yes, our cups may now be literally half full, but our lives and futures are virtually overflowing. Surround yourself with people who see it that way and, do as I did, select your own personal support team. The people on that team are your stone masons who will help you set the stones you choose in place and secure them for life. Stone #6—Celebrate and Play At least once a quarter, take a day to do nothing but celebrate. Keep a list of the things that you always said that you would do when you lost the weight—take a hike, ride a horse, go to a concert, climb a mountain, go sit on the beach and watch a sunset, shop, etc. Write down everything you can imagine and, like a bucket list, do them one by one. Plan these important days, give them to yourself and review the stones in your weight-loss structure. If you can, take the day off on your surgery anniversary and honor your good health. Stone #7—Share the Joy Take some of the new energy of life that is most certainly one of the extraordinary benefits of weight-loss surgery and give it away to somebody who needs it. Do this in whatever way the world calls you to give something back. People carry "weight" in very many ways and I think we end up with an obligation once ours is gone, to help others carry their own or lose it as the case may be. Stone #8—Lighten Up and Face the Facts The reality of my numbers is as follows. The last time I weighed prior to surgery, I was a precious but substantial 327 pounds. I would lose a total of 167 pounds, 18 of which have found their way back. Of course, this predictable weight gain is a fact that strikes sheer terror in the heart of any person who has struggled with weight loss and knows how easy and devious the return of pounds can be. However, using the stone stacking method described here, I have discovered how to maintain my weight within about a two-pound fluctuation over the past year. Put simply, the balance of stones and habits for me that I have in place right now will accommodate maintenance. What I also know is that if I want to be as lean as I have been (which I very much would), I will have to exercise a bit more and trim some additional calories out of my diet to create that outcome. These are facts, not magic and not a failure of the surgery. Just a reminder that I will have to continue to use my stones in different ways everyday for the rest of my life to sharpen the tool of my surgery and create the monument to good health that I want my cairn to be .

I didn't find it hard to adjust to the Band's rules at all. My Bariatric Center prefers me to stop drinking 30 minutes before a meal and then for 45 minutes after. Other than dinner, I never drank with my meal anyway. I don't have any issues with nuts or beans--I really haven't tried oranges or grapefruit or fresh pineapple. My Bariatric Center gave me a list of the things that are "generally not tolerated well" and I must admit--I take the easy way out and don't try them. Honestly, I can say that my life has changed very little with the Band--the very largest part that has changed is my portions, that's all! I still eat whatever we're having for supper, but a smaller amount (i.e. a piece of chicken and green beans--instead of 4 country style barbequed ribs, 1/2 box of Kraft macaroni and cheese and green Beans.) You see what I'm saying?!! Yes, it's scary--but each person IS different in what we can handle--and I know myself that whatever I give up forever is totally so worth my new life and quality that I have now! :mad:

Vamaid, as you see your question is a common one. I've even heard doctors' staffs express exasperation over this particular hurdle imposed by insurance carriers. But I don't think it's at all unreasonable and actually think more carriers should use it. If your BMI is 51, you should have been talking to your doctor already about how to get a grip on your weight. Not to sound harsh, but obviously you are aware there is a problem and that you need medical assistance. You wouldn't be here otherwise. Going to your PCP to get help is a crucial start. That's what the insurance carriers want to see--that you are trying sincerely to get control over your weight and that bariatric surgery is not your FIRST step. Every medical authority agrees surgery should be the LAST resort in the treatment of obesity, so there needs to be some evidence of previous attempts. 6 months is not a long time. Call your PCP tomorrow and make an appointment for a physical and a serious look at your weight issues. Make sure the diagnosis of morbid obesity is in your file (the diagnosis code is 278.01). Get a diet from your doctor (they probably have a printout all ready for their patients who ask for one) and talk about an exercise plan. Then visit once a month to report your weight and talk about whatever other issues may have arisen. It's really important that your doctor's notes show your serious interest in taking control of the problem--not necessarily that the diet is working, but that YOU are working. That will let your doctor say without hesitation that you are a good candidate for surgery and will be a success. Make a list of all the diets you've tried in the past, and if you can remember note the results. (My diet history went as far back as Weight Watchers at age 8 and diet camp at age 10.) These notes all support your medical claim of being qualified for bariatric surgery, and your current doctor's records will be the cap on this file. During this time you might also want to research surgeons, visit their seminars, get whatever pre-op tests you might need out of the way, and so on. The time will pass before you know it, and you really don't have to worry about dieting yourself out of qualifying for the surgery. But you will never qualify if you don't start this process with your PCP. So call!

Congratulations for making the jump! I too, have opted for the sleeve in Mexico. I'm going with Dr. alejandro lopez (Specialized Bariatrics) at Hospital MI Doctor on January 20. I honestly think that there are so many good surgeons out there that as long as you have made your best effort to research everything you can about them, the surgeon you ultimately choose will be the best for your situation. :-) I also decided not to deal with my insurance company in the States. By the time I jumped through all of the ridiculous hoops, denials, appeals, denials, appeals, etc., I would still be paying around $8k out of pocket, even if it was "covered" by my insurance. No thanks. I did my due dilligence and feel completely comfortable about going to Mexico, and hope to be able to be an advocate for it when all is said and done. Good luck to you! :-)

GREAT NEWS! Today I got word from the surgical center that they ran my insurance and Aetna will pay for Bariatric surgery. :thumbup: I will have a 3-6 month "processing" (ie: jumping thru hoops) time. I also found out that the facility is on my insurance providers "in network" list, so I'm covered @ 85%. *sigh of relief* Now, my goal is 75-100lbs, BUT my Dr’s recommendation is at least 150lbs based on my height. (Im still in my feelings about being smaller than what weight *I* personally would feel comfortable at) Good thing is that factor is exactly why he said he’ll push the surgery for me should any roadblocks arise, even if to just get me to MY target before he continues working with me to get to his. I’m hoping that little detail works in my favor. If I’m forced to take the 6mnth route, I will be able to knock off some out of pocket expenses for sure, but that means that surgery won’t take place until around October. THAT, I'm a little disappointed about. I really was hoping to be lined up for surgery 90-120 days from now. For the first time EVER I can “see” my success. I’ve never been at that place before. So, if I just take it one day at a time, its easier for me to see it thru. I’m committed. I’m excited. I’m ready to get it in, and get this weight OFF. Portion Control is a B!t@h!!! Although I technically don’t start on the “Dr. observed diet” for a few more weeks, I figured I needed to be proactive so that my Big Girl stomach doesn’t go into shock. As of yesterday, I started being mindful of control my portions – which for me is going to be the hardest. That, and pulling out my “sweet tooth” :thumbup: Decreasing the fatty foods and increasing the Water will be a cake walk, in comparison. Now, until my stomach begins shrinking on its own (which will undoubtedly take a few weeks), I need to figure out how to eat enough of the right foods to leave my appetite happy without obliterating what it is that I’m trying to do. I’m looking at adopting some good recipes & such, as well as food journaling. But I’d like to hear from the good people that have been successful. Particularly in the area of portion control. What say you??

Removing a large portion of your stomach is extreme and comes with potential health hazzards of its own. Having to go the extreme of injury to healthy organ tissue and a diet of under 1000 calories just to mobilize fat loss that would happen in a normal sized person with moderate diet and exercise changes should be indication of how complex obesity is phisiologically. Even with surgery, long term results are not 100% for weight loss even at the 50% EWL mark, especially when you look at all bariatric surgery historically. Not everyone is willing or wants to do that or can do that due to their health, finances, personal beliefs, etc. You can change your sex with surgery too. You can also modify your looks with surgery, makeup, and hair dye enough to be seen as another race. Religion is a protected class and it is completely voluntary so saying "you can change being fat" does not really hold Water, especially when diets fail 95% of the time. My point is that saying "those fatties can stop eating" when you were unable to do so is buying into the exact line of thinking of the discriminators. Someone should not be forced into surgery in order to get a job or keep a job. Obesity, particularly morbid obesity, is a much more complex phisiological issue than just someone eating twinkies all day. You as a fat person should know better.

well, I just looked at my benefits online and it doesn't look like it will cover it. *&&*^%$:regular_smile: My main benefits page says it is excluded, even for medical reasons. HOWEVER, there was another resource for United Heatlh Resources that provides some sort of assistance (not sure to what extent) with bariatric treatments. Anyone had any experience with this? Going to call my GP tomorrow and see what she says I should do.

Hi.....welcome to the forum. Opinions and tact will vary. i am glad to hear that we have another new bariatric sister on her way to healthy. Congratulations. I had my surgery here in Chicago with Br Bipan Chand. Loyola University stole him away from the Cleveland Clinic, but you and I both have benefited from his expertise He was instrumental in developing the bariatric surgical program there, and then here. So, you should be fine. I wish you good luck and good health. You are in good hands.

@@diane1 -- Is that something your bariatric surgeon said he does or will do? Tubal ligation isn't an area of expertise for me, but I'd never have thought a general surgeon would perform the procedure. @@Anilyn -- Is tubal something you want? Vasectomy is a simpler procedure. I suppose you and your husband have at least begun discussion. Would he/does he claim the fictitious, fabled male entitlement or to be a partner in birth control? He'll benefit down the road from your RNY -- you'll be around longer. What is he offering for your benefit -- as a partner in life, that is, not as a begrudging martyr? Just tossing it out for your consideration; don't wanna know any intimate details.

I have a friend doing this exact thing. Her OB is going to coordinate with the Bariatrics surgeon. It can be done pretty easily.

That is so awesome about your Hep C! I have a friend here in OKC who had Hep C, but none of the drugs worked to cure her. She ended up with a liver transplant last year, and this year started the latest treatment out, and 4 months later was cleared of all Hep C! Hang in there till Thursday, I bet your bariatric counselor will have a ton of news for you then

Hello Everyone, I'm new here but I have a few questions..... First of all I go this Thurs for Blood Work and then I go the following Thursday( March 31st) for my nutrition class ( 8-10), then at 10:30 I have my one on one with the Bariatric Counselor and then I meet with the surgeon , I already know my Co-pay But will the surgeon be giving me a surgery date ?? Sent from my HTC Desire 626s using the BariatricPal App

Today was my first appt with bariatric surgeon. Ready for my 6 months of prep for the sleeve! If all goes well, I'll have my surgery in May! My start weight is 189 lbs. Wish me luck! Sent from my SM-G900P using the BariatricPal App

Shorty At least in some states Medicaid will pay if the program has earned a designation of Bariatric Center of Excellence. These are typically hospital-based programs. Be aware that many programs require an upfront, non-refundable program fee to cover the costs of evaluation, which no insurance will pay. My program charged $500, which covered the mental health eval, and meetings with the dietician and the nurse. Good luck to you!

I was talking to my husband about the judgement passed on people who have bariatric surgery. He is on the fence about the whole "easy way out" thing. But he is being supportive of me. So he tells me that when he thinks about the easy way out, he compares it to jumping off a plane. The easy way out would be when someone pries your fingers of the plane and pushes you out. That's the easy way out but the problem is that after that the is no getting back on the plane. So you are screaming all the way down hoping the parachute will open. My response was, think about it this way you are on a plane that has lost its engines. They tell you they are going to try landing it but chances are it will still be a crash landing and many on the plane will die. Or you can put on one of the parachutes and jump? So what do you choose? The plane is obesity. We know it is a killer. Some live long, normal lives while being obese, but the majority will get sick in various ways and die prematurely. If you jump, which is having the surgery, the parachute might not open but the chances of that are minimal. The parachute might open late and you will get seriously hurt, but you survive and end up living a long life. You might not land well because you don't know how to parachute and break your legs. But you still land and live. So which one do you choose? Stay on the plane and hope you survive the crash? Or jump and take the risks of jumping with the more likelihood of survival? It is a personal decision that only you can make for yourself. I choose to jump off the DAMN plane!!!! Because I am already on the plane and the only decisions you can make are jump or crash. The option to never get on the plane to begin with is long gone.

Take the time to: think, pray, think, pray , think and then pray some more. Are you prepared to continue your life without one or the other? (WLS vs SO?). When you are totally confident that you are, then and only then are you truly ready to make the decision. Until that time, please talk to a therapist who is bariatric friendly----therapy for you alone---for your SO alone and then for the two of you together. WLS changes everyone who has it. Whether physically, mentally and/or emotionally---there WILL be a change. To think otherwise is unrealistic. I truly hope that all of your wishes come true. I hope that your SO can be supportive. My warning is just make sure that you are committed enough to "walk your journey" alone is he finds that he can not be. Take the time to just breathe and think, please.

Just putting it out there that my program has a psychiatrist on staff that all he does is bariatric patients. He takes very few insurances, and even though he took mine the visit still cost 200. But it could have cost 500-600 I believe. Keep your head up and try to remember that this is just a small barrier in this process. Have you talked to the doctor about recommending someone? Surely they know some surgery friendly psychs? HW 344, DOS 320, Surgery Date 2/20/13, CW 294.9 Sent from my iPad using RNYTalk

Some places will not give you FMLA for bariatric surgery... I know where I work doesn't and their a hospital. I just took my PTO.