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I had mine in Tijuana Mexico on the 15th at Renew. Just found this group - looking forward to contributing sb

If you feel like this is an issue for you, it's best to talk with a therapist who specializes in bariatric issues. See if your surgery center can recommend someone. Good luck!

Oh, that’s appalling. Can’t believe you haven’t had a post surgery appointment with your surgeon yet. Get on the phone & starts demanding some information, guidance & support & an appointment. I saw my surgeon two weeks after surgery (to the day), dietician early in week 4, GP in week 5 & the surgeon & dietician in week 6. I was given information pamphlets from my surgeon & dietician and the surgeon gave me a great hard cover reference book about all bariatric surgeries, the pre & post surgical stages & recipes.

we get rebates from our health insurance if we do something like approved three activities a year. One choice was having a handful of telehealth appts with a dietitian (note this was not the dietitian I usually see annually at my bariatric clinic - this was just a regular dietitian who works for the insurance company). She suggested I cut 1000 calories a day from my diet to lose the weight I wanted to. I maintain my current weight on about 1700 calories a day. So cut 1000 calories from that? Is she f***ing kidding? So I cut 200-ish calories, knowing it'll take months to lose some microscopic amount of weight. But that's how it goes when you're at or close to a normal BMI. You're pretty much equilibrium as far as calories in/calories out, so there's not much to cut - and that weight loss is going to be S-L-O-W! (note that 700 kcal/day is fine during the first months post-op -- but not when you're as far out as I am..)

I do an annual follow up with our surgeon, originally in his local office primarily staffed by his RN (the practice moved out of the area before either my wife or I had surgery, but they maintained the office and support group to support their local patients) and then via telecon after the RN retired and they closed the office. I think that it is much more important for the DS and RNY patients as they tend to be subject to more long term issues than sleevers, but I still like to keep up with it, looking at it mostly as keeping him on retainer so that I'm still in the files with current labs. That way, if our PCP has any questions in our care that may be relevant (...is this an issue from the surgery?...) she can call the surgeon and have a chat with him about it. Nominally, most everything relating to labs, etc. can be done by your PCP, your surgeon may have some additional labs that they prefer to do in addition to what your PCP may normally do for an annual, and they may have ranges that they prefer beyond the basic "normal" range that is flagged on the lab report. For instance, our surgeon prefers that the vit D levels be kept in the upper end or the typical normal range, so his experience with bariatric patients trumps the PCP's more limited experience.

There’s nothing wrong with straws despite what most bariatric surgeons will tell you. The info is very outdated and incorrect. For further proof, I’ve been using a straw since roughly 6wks post surgery with zero issues. I’m currently 90lbs down at 5 months out.

Every surgeon requires a different pre-op diet. Mine wasn’t even a liquid diet, just protein based. I had to buy a ‘Bariatric box’ that included things like chicken nuggets, bread, pancakes, soups and desserts. I had to eat 6 meals a day and every meal was different. It was absolutely awesome. I was never hungry (even though the meals were only 80-100 kcal per meal) and most things tasted really good. But like I said, every surgeon has his own pre-op diet. My surgery was in Belgium.

I had minimal post op pain, no nausea, was able to consume liquids and all the ensuing food stages with no problem. I don’t get very hungry, really, and I stick to the my bariatric program very faithfully. Not saying this to toot my horn, but just to let you know that just because it seems easy doesn’t mean there’s a problem! My biggest piece of advice is to not weigh for 3 weeks post-op, then only once a week. You’re doing great, Viking!

Height 5'6.5" HW 325 (2/11/2020) SW 311 (3/9/2020 RNY) CW 148 ( I have lost 177 pounds thus far) GW 136 (bariatric surgeon's ideal weight goal is 136....but my goal was 150...and I'm still losing without trying). Sorry for all of the pics. Just wanted to share. Pics are from Today, 9/24/2021, yesterday, 2 weeks ago (9/10 the bathroom selfie. Lol. Took my soon to be 18 y.o. to their 1st concert and its my 18 month surgeryversary pic) and then collage is of me night b4 surgery (3/8/2020, at 12 months 3/9/2021, and 8/9/2021). Plastic Surgery for abdominal skin removal scheduled for October 2021, pending earlier date if there's a cancelation!

Sunny, I love your book recommendations. I am a bibliophile and yet I never read but one or two books on dieting or bariatric surgery. I've already purchased two of your recommendations and I was very happy that I did. Thank you.

I recommend reading The Success Habits of Weight Loss Patients by Colleen N, Cook as well as getting several bariatric cookbooks. There are many of the cookbooks available on Amazon and other bookstore sites. If you have ever considered that you might be a sugar/food addict, also read Food Junkies by Vera Tarman.

Hi! I just signed up with Bariatric Pal, so I'm unsure how this works! I am not tech savvy! My surgery will probably be scheduled for October or November. I have fulfilled my six month insurance requirements and have gotten approved! That is, if I don't back out of having it! I've worked so hard getting here, but now I'm unsure and dealing with some other personal issues that may affect my decision! I go back and forth with it every day! I'm 65 years old and have been obese for about 20 years now, so I still remember what it is like to be thin and miss myself! But now, it is more for health reasons that I must do this surgery or lose weight on my own! I was 259 when I first signed up for program. Now I am 229 after 6 months on diet.I did great the first three months, but it gets harder because I do not like vegetables and I do not like to cook, so I am not eating as well as I should. This high protein, low carb diet is supposed to be for life, so I'm worried about sticking to it! I'm more scared about complications after surgery than I am the surgery, although I don't like the idea of that either! Im questionsing why I'm getting this done, since I did lose some without it. Will it really make it easier because I won't be hungry? Or, will I just get sick if I eat wrong or too much!! Good luck to all y'all!

Hair loss is common about 3-4 months after ANY major surgery, not just bariatric. There’s usually nothing you can do to stop it. My hair loss lasted maybe 2 or 3 months, but the rate of loss is back to normal now.

After many years not being in control of my weight, and putting care of myself last, I've made the decision to have VSG. I'm scheduled Nov 17 at Blossom bariatrics and am so excited..and nervous at the same time! Looking forward to getting answers and support on this community! Sent from my Pixel 3a using BariatricPal mobile app

Thank you so much for the many constructive and helpful responses. To clarify my worries, here it is distilling them to two points of greatest concern: Ability to incorporate good fats into a post-gastric-sleeve diet The foundation of my current diet (that I would be happy to keep for the rest of my life) consists of lots of vegetables, moderate amounts of high-quality protein, and the inclusion of a good amount of healthy fats (avocado, EVOO, butter, animal fats from pastured, organically raised animals). This is supposed to help the body adapt to regularly burning fat (whether from the diet or from our own fat stores), and to much more easily reach satiety and control hunger, in addition to the various documented nutritional benefits of these fats. I read over and over again about directives to keep post-bariatric diets very low fat for the rest of the life of the patient. Also various posts from patients about not being able to tolerate fats and struggling with digestive issues. How much of a problem is this universally (realizing and respecting that everyone's body, digestive system, and hormonal balance are different)? Ability to do fasting and support periodic zero-protein day(s) I have started to incorporate time-restricted eating (16/8) with great success and starting on my first 36-hour fast over the weekend. I have not only had great results on the scale, but starting to see amazing physiologic benefits outside of simply lowering my body weight. I definitely would want to have the ability to have a longer (3 day?) fast once in a while to trigger autophagy and reap some of the other benefits related to insulin and metabolic issues. I realize that for a period following surgery I would have to be adhering to the physician-prescribed diet aimed to maximize healing and avoid complications. But what is the situation six months or a year down the line? Can I incorporate fasting then, or am I eternally tethered to a 70g-minimum-per-day protein intake that I cannot violate without risking my health? Your help and insight are appreciated!

I'm only 5 weeks out from surgery, and I am already wishing I had done this sooner. Obviously will have to reassess this in the future as time progresses. I think many of us on this board are very experienced at losing weight - sometimes massive amounts. The issue is we are also pros at gaining it back, usually with extra lbs tacked on top of what we originally lost. The long term success rates for people losing large amounts of weight and keeping it off without surgery are low - I can't recall the percentage but I think less than 5%. Biologically, there are a lot of factors that make it extremely difficult (but not impossible) to be have long term success the "normal" way of losing. Surgery isn't guaranteed to keep it off, but it is a tool that helps make it more likely - both in terms of the way it changes your eating but also the changes it can cause biologically that we have no control over. This isn't to say you should get the surgery, but more to suggest perhaps discussing these issues with the bariatric PA and doing you own research to arm you with all the data around what might get you were you want to be permanently. It's a very personal decision and you have to be ready to do it or else it won't be successful.

I have high chloesterol so my cardiologist put me on crestor .5mg, and also take fenofibrate after the bariatric surgery. I wonder why Sent from my octopus using BariatricPal mobile app

We all start at the same point. It doesn't matter what you weigh. That last pound is too much for ourselves. We give ourselves a chance to change our eating habits by having bariatric surgery. What would you like advice about ?

Hair loss is fairly normal after a weight loss procedure. Some say various products help and they may do for some people, but its probably coincidental to timing. https://www.dallasweightloss.com/understanding-hair-loss-after-bariatric-surgery/ https://emergesurgical.com.au/why-am-i-losing-my-hair-after-bariatric-surgery/

I am a 50-year-old man who struggled with my weight most of my life, starting with being an overweight kid. No diet or exercise program produced tangible, good results. At my annual physical in March I weighed in at 405 pounds. I take no meds, and up to this point, my most serious health issue has been sleep apnea that I was trying to handle with CPAP (mostly unsuccessfully). Given my alarmingly high weight, my doctor recommended that I look into the bariatric surgery option. I eagerly started the process, looking at it as a once-in-a-lifetime chance for getting back to normal body weight and gaining a quality of life I have not enjoyed for a long time. The bariatric program I joined requires that patients lose 10% of their weight before even being scheduled for surgery. Insurance also requires at least 3 months of engagement with a managed weight loss program. I was determined that despite my past struggles with diets, I will do whatever it takes to make the cut. I met with the program's nutritionist and had a very nice discussion with her. Then I went home, and threw out the materials she gave me (calorie counting book, etc), and ignored all her directions and advice. I dove into reading and research and started implementing a diet largely based on Matthew Weiner's A Pound of Cure vegetable-focused program. I had immediate success, losing 20 lbs in the first month (guaranteed, a lot of that may have been water weight held onto by insulin). I kept reading and experimenting, incorporating advice from Sten Ekberg (Master Your Health), Eric Berg, Dave Asprey (Bulletproof Diet), Jason Fung (fasting strategies), and many others. At this point, I am three months into my pre-op personally directed diet. I have lost a total of 70 pounds have a current weight loss rate of 1 lb / day feeling great COMPLETE resolution of my sleep apnea issues 120/80 blood pressure (was somewhat high at the beginning of the program) went from a size 4XL to wearing 2XL (depending on cut of clothing) 48 inch waist to 42 inch waist not counting calories no hunger or craving issues I am just starting to discover the research (a recent Nobel Prize-winning one) regarding Autophagy and its related health benefits brought about by intermittent fasting, and many other possibilities. Next week I am scheduled to meet with the bariatric program's PA, do my weigh-in, and (pending insurance approval) schedule the surgery. I am torn and in doubt. The last few months have been some of the most exhilarating experiences in my life. Gaining control of my body and my overall health in the way I have done in such a short period of time is amazing. The bariatric surgery option, which just a short while ago seemed like a Holy Grail lifesaver to me, seems full of pitfalls and restrictions on the methods I can do to manage my body weight and health. I was looking forward to trying out possibilities with time-restricted eating, and using longer fasts (triggering autophagy) to eliminate loose, hanging skin that might come about otherwise with significant weight loss. On the other hand, I still weigh 335 pounds and am nowhere near my goal of a healthy 200. What if my weight loss stalls out well short of that goal? The sensible answer might be to simply wait, see what happens, and re-engage with the program if it seems necessary to keep pushing past a stall point. However, for reasons I do not want to detail, I might not have this option after this year. Under these circumstances, if this was your only chance to move ahead with a Gastric Sleeve operation, would you do it? Any other thoughts? Your help is greatly appreciated.

Interesting... is your doctor prohibiting you from coffee because of your Gastric Sleeve in general, or do you have other health conditions to warrant this? I am pre-op, but my research indicates that many bariatric surgeons are OK with their patients drinking coffee once they are in the solid food phase. Check out Matthew Weiner on YouTube among others regarding this topic.

I had a alot of pain with both knees before and after my bariatric surgery Sent from my octopus using BariatricPal mobile app

I had peer review 2 days before surgery was due. It worked. The Tufts insurance doctor was a retired pediatrician and knew nothing about bariatric surgery. My surgeon is the head of bariatric surgery at Beth Isreal Deconess so he convinced him it was necessary. I think it may depend upon the “players” and situation involved. Keep your hopes up and fight for yourself. I talked to a bariatric therapist because it was pins and needles until 11 hours before surgery. I didn’t want to slide.

Thank you all for your good advice. Getting help for my mental health is so important for me. I plan on talking to my bariatric surgeon and center for a referral for a mental health professional to help me. Thank you again for sharing your stories and suggestions.

That sounds very upsetting and not very professional on the part of your therapist - she's not listening to or respecting you. And she's definitely not very informed about bariatric surgery. Sounds like it might be time to part ways. I know I had to go through a few therapists before I found one who was right. Hopefully you can get someone sorted out.