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It is so hard to give advice when every surgeon has a different plan! 1200 calories a day so soon out from surgery seems high. I think they want you getting your protein to mitigate side effects (hair falling out, no energy, not looking "good"). My surgeon's office had me on pureeds til I was 9 weeks out, and emphasized just doing shakes if meals were too much. Last week, I had my 2 month appointment and was told I should be getting 80g of protein through protein shakes alone, (and the protein HAS to be Bariatric Advantage or Unjury - yuck, no Isopure which I can actually tolerate), and 120g of total protein daily. Well, I frickin hate the protein shakes, and I was doing really good getting in 80g from real food, (and the office was quite pleased with the weight I've lost so far). My nutritionist said 500 to 700 calories a day was good, not to focus on macros, just to focus on getting my protein. Because those shakes are so high in calories and carbs, if I drink protein shakes, my calories are closer to 900 per day and my carbs are close to 100g (which seems very high). So I'm just going back to what I was doing. Sent from my SM-N976V using BariatricPal mobile app

I had my surgery at HopsitalBC in Tijuana, Mx. by Dr. Illan. I did about 200 hours of research before my surgery and based on that research, finances, and other personal considerations, decided to go the medical tourism route and have been very happy with that decision. These hospitals ONLY do bariatric surgeries and are geared towards medical tourists. They run a VERY well oiled machine from intake to discharge. The process was so smooth, I was completely confident going alone. The surgeon I chose is highly accredited, has done thousands of WLS procedures, has relationships and mentorships with some of the most well known US bariatric surgeons for continuing ed, is board certified, etc. He is just as qualified, if not more so, than many of the bariatric surgeons in my area. Regarding complications, I met with my PCP beforehand and she was 100% supportive. I knew that if I had any issues post-op she would be my advocate. Additionally, US hospitals CANNOT legally refuse to treat you if you present to an ER, regardless of what caused the complications. Now, would a US bariatric surgeon agree to take you on for follow up once you've been stabilized? Maybe not. But that's why you should establish post-op care BEFORE you have surgery. Additionally the complication rate with bariatric surgeries is VERY low in general; these are long established surgeries with very good post-op outcomes. My PCP is also doing all of my labs, meds, etc. For travel, my surgeon recommends blood thinners for 7 days post-op. I also wore compression socks and a compression shirt for my flight home. I started walking as soon as I could post-op, which also helps. Blood clots are a risk with this surgery, whether stateside or abroad, and the travel aspect can increase that. So take your blood thinners and walk as much as you can. Money wasn't a huge factor, though it was a factor. I have very good insurance but after all the pre-op appointments, tests, scans, and everything else, we estimated our out of pocket would be in the $7,500 range. Out of pocket including spending money, an extra night in the hotel, and flights, I paid about $5,500 for surgery in Mx. It was also SIGNIFICANTLY faster. With the 6 month diet program and required insurance approvals, it would be about 9 months from first appt to surgery vs. less than 3 months from intake to surgery in Mx. The reality is, there are amazing surgeons in the US and just as many in Mexico and other places. Conversely, there are terrible surgeons here and everywhere else. There are pros and cons to each, and every person has different needs. Ultimately it boils down to doing your research, finding a surgeon you trust, and a program that fits your needs. For me personally, medical tourism was the right choice and I'm extremely happy with my decision. Feel free to send me a message if you have any other questions!

Hi guys, I’m 9 days post op and doing great. I keep down most things. I’m struggling with eggs and getting fluids in. I’m wondering if I will ever be able to eat fries again? I’m a sandwich lover too so what about bread? Is there Bariatric friendly bread? also, I’ve gone from 117kg to 101kg in a month but how do I actually lose weight after the bypass? I’m still struggling to walk long distances without feeling dizzy and exhausted

I suggest you check out "My Level 10 Weight Loss" videos on YouTube by Erin Branscom. She had surgery in Mexico and has a FB group (private, $10 a month, but I think it's worth it!) where many people talk about this. However, this is not really "research". I think you would have to see if there are any clinical studies on patients who had their surgery in Mexico and compare them to patients who had their surgery in the US, but then I'm not sure if you'd find those studies. You could contact ASBMS (American Society for Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery), to see what data they have, but I suspect they are biased in favor of people doing it in the US. I wouldn't have done it Mexico. Sure it's cheaper, and most people come out fine, but what if you have a complication? Some doctors in the US won't treat you if you had your surgery elsewhere - at least based on some posts I've seen. And you may have to take a flight home. It's risky to fly right after any surgery due to the increased risk of blood clots, which are also increased if you are obese.

Hi there! I just had a VSG done on 10/27. I have PCOS also. It’s too early for me to tell how the surgery has affected the syndrome but the nurse practitioner stressed the need to get on some sort of birth control post op because fertility does usually increase after bariatric surgery. I’m interested to see what others say. Hope all goes well with you.

I think what happened is that I burned the lower part of my esophagus via acid reflux, and it seems to be on its way to healing. (My bariatric team had me start taking two acid reducers)...it's the weirdest thing though, I never had acid reflux before the surgery, and I know there were at least a few times things were coming up my throat in my sleep. Over the last week I've been able to eat 2-3 small "meals" each day (my dinner was two rice crackers with thai chili tuna on them, for instance), which isn't where I should be, but it's a damn sight better than being able to only get water, protein shakes, and juice down.

Have a look at Dr Matthew Weiner’s Pound of Cure. He’s a bariatric surgeon & his book & You Tube videos are great: straight talking & helpful. https://m.youtube.com/user/DrMatthewWeiner

Hello there, my daughter is hard pressed on having the procedure in Tiajuana. I am looking into having it myself and was thinking of staying in the states. However, if my daughter is going to do it, I will not stand by and let her go at it alone. I am a true hard pressed researcher. I have read and read online, but would like to hear from many people what procedure they had there, any complications and what doctor they used and the name of the clinic. I think replies to this post will help many people find the right place to go in Mexico and avoid the dangerous places. Please post a response if you have had bariatric surgery in Mexico. These details will help keep Americans who are hard pressed on doing the procedure in Mexico safer. Lets all help each other and keep one another finding the safe clinics and doctors overseas if that is the hard pressed plan you have. thank you so much.

AnnieDebbie I would like to know how your surgery went as I was approved by MBC to have GB surgery with Dr Christian Rodriguez Lopez. I have yet to schedule as I am just doing a bit more research to be sure I am choosing the safest doctor. Any other feedback from anyone who has had surgery in Mexico. I am a true hard pressed researcher. I have read and read online, but would like to hear from many people what procedure they had there, any complications and what doctor they used and the name of the clinic. I think replies to this post will help many people find the right place to go in Mexico and avoid the dangerous places. Please post a response if you have had bariatric surgery in Mexico. These details will help keep Americans who are hard pressed on doing the procedure in Mexico safer. Lets all help each other and keep one another finding the safe clinics and doctors overseas if that is the hard pressed plan you have. thank you so much.

Good luck to you! COVID has been really hard on everyone. I gained 30lbs during COVID, and actually, that's what pushed me over the edge to finally decide on WLS. I was getting bad asthma and just feeling like crap. You have worked SOOOO hard, and you have been so successful! It's a slip, but you know you have the strength in you do the work! From what I've seen from other people on here, I would strongly consider working with a bariatric trained therapist to deal with your addiction to food.

It's really frustrating! It happens to a lot of people; it took me 7.5 months to have the surgery, but your delay sounds really unfortunate. As @ShoppGirl said, you will be there before you know it. Work on the depression the best you can with therapy and medication if needed (If you start medication for depression, make sure the doctor tries a medication that is less likely to cause weight gain). I found that once I was set to have surgery, I tried to live a more "bariatric" life, by eating more protein and fewer carbs and exercising more. It's so hard to do any of this when you're depressed, but at least try upping your protein. It will help you feel less hungry, or at least it did for me. If you can take a walk in the fresh air, it might make you feel better for a bit. (Of course, that depends on your weather... I live in Boston where we have crap weather a lot, so I often walk in the mall!) Stay strong!

I use pro-care health one a day with 45mg iron. It's ONE PILL A DAY. I wasn't going to be messing around with ten different pills on top of all the other pills I take. It's specially formulated for bariatric use, so it already has the B12 and everything else. I am supposed to take calcium too, but usually I get enough calcium from the protein drink, cheese, and yogurt. I haven't had labs done yet, so I can't say for sure if my levels are good, but my clinic recommended this brand and so do other bariatric nutritionists.

That is awfully pricey. I take the ProCare one a day capsule with 18mg iron, and their calcium chews. They are much more budget friendly, and there are other bariatric brands that are even cheaper. I would say shop around and see what you can find. Any vitamin that meets the ASMBS recommendations will do.

They aren't requiring that specific one that is just the one they run insurance through. I am currently looking at Bariatric choice for my multivitamin with iron. Then Citrical Maximum for my Calcium unless my insurance approves the other. Now to find a good b12!

Wow, that's high! Is your clinic requiring you to take it as a sleeve patient? I've been fine taking a regular sublingual B-12 supplement. Most of the bariatric multivitamins have a lot of extra B vitamins. I use a multi plus the additional sublingual B-12.

When I had my first Bariatric doctor visit and decided to do this, I told myself I was not going to say anything about it to my friends. Not close friends but groups of people we hang out with at times. Well, I've been telling a lot of people and I kick myself every time. I just can't shut up about it. Most people look at me like I have 2 heads and go on about how it's extreme and scary and oh "you better be aware that it will change your life a lot". I want to snap back and say, don't you think I know that and don't you think I've done a lot of research on this before I going in to it? Most don't have any clue about it. My fat friends look and feel guilty when I start talking about it, like I'm going to try and talk them in to it. I guess, I'm just excited and I want to talk about it. Then I get disappointed when I get weird, uneducated, ignorant responses. That's why I love to get on this site. It brings me back to why I'm doing it and how great my life will be and that I'm not alone.

Hi! I am scheduled for my bariatric sleeve on December 10th. I will be traveling to Mexico because my insurance does not cover weight loss surgery. I’m nervous and excited too. I’m so sick of the up and downs and I’m looking forward to stability, being healthy and looking and feeling good. I provided the clinic with my information and based on the information they suggested the sleeve.

I have a call with the Bariatric Dietician on Tuesday to discuss my continued weight loss. My primary care doctor is concerned that I continue to loose weight (8 pounds in 5 weeks) this far out from surgery. I've lost 60 pounds since RNY last year and 97 pounds since my pre-op weight pre-sleeve. The dietician thinks I'm in calorie deficit because I'm very active - I walk 5 miles 4-5 days/week and do Zumba 3 days/week. But I refuse to give up my healthy exercise habits! At 64, I never expected to look athletic and have muscle definition vs. sagging skin. (I still have sagging skin, but the muscle has really helped minimize the flabbiness!) My husband and children are concerned - "Are you sure you don't have cancer?" "You need to gain some weight, you look too skinny" "Are you sure you are ok?"...… If it was just petty people commenting vs. my family, I'd blow it off. I keep assuring them that I'm the healthiest I've been since my 20's. I'm hoping that talking to the dietician will give me the tools I need to level out the weight loss without giving up my healthy lifestyle. I guess I'm just looking to see if there are others in this forum that have experienced the same thing. I refuse to call it a problem, I'd rather call it a challenge.

Can anyone recommend a bariatric surgeon in western Chicagoland Illinois. I only have 1 name to go on. Thank you!

You can always seek out a bariatric therapist and a nutritionist on your own and see them as needed. Of course you will have to pay but at least you know that is an option.

I take these: "Bariatric Choice Once Daily Bariatric Multivitamin Capsule with 45 mg of Iron." I get them from Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HZ3YQ5X/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

Are you tracking the foods that you are eating? You may be getting to many carbs in your diet. If you are having your period (for the whole month???) that could very well be the reason. I would get to a doctor and find out why you are having your period all month and get that under control first. Does you bariatric doctor know about you having your period? I would make sure that they are aware of it since you could be anemic losing that amount of blood. Please see your doctor and get that under control before your surgery...

Glad to hear she is doing a little better each day. She is lucky to have your supporting her. Head hunger is a VERY REAL thing and even though most of us lose the actual hunger immediately post surgery the head hunger remains. Usually one can tell the difference because real hunger you want to eat anything (even fruit and veggies sound delicious) while head hunger you crave something specific (usually things you shouldn’t have). If the head hunger remains and is a problematic many of us benefit from talking to a bariatric therapist. I eat when I am board and emotional eat and am trying to find a therapist to help with this. I am still losing weight and working the program but worry if I don’t get the head hunger under control I will gain it back at the first real stressful circumstance. I hope this helps.

Here are two food plans that you may find helpful: A Pound of Cure, by Matthew Weiner, MD (a bariatric surgeon) and Bright Lines Eating, by Susan Peirce Thompson, PhD. I've lost 50 lbs pre-surgery following A Pound of Cure. I intend to follow it for life, post surgery.

Boy do I know how you feel...went in for surgery Oct. 25th , 2021 to have the "Sadi" done...I, too, woke up to find it could not be done because of too much scar tissue..the Dr. did remove some of the scar tissue, guess that's good. I knew there was a chance that this may not be able to be a success because of the scar tissue, most of which is from a couple of abdomen surgeries from yrs gone by. I do however still have the sleeve and it hasn't stretched..but just couldn't succeed with it, very little weight loss.. Long story short, they sent me home that night, just as sore nonetheless. This was my last chance at Bariatric anything, already had the Lapland, that was horrible, sick so much...but anyhow thought I would get my 2 cents in....and don't know what I will do now...I just did the 2 week liquid diet....with great anticipation..feeling disappointed in Maine...Donna