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It wasn't offensive in any way!!! I don't understand how the moderator would delete even if reported! That's complete BS.

I started my bc pills about 4 weeks post op and then my cycle started a week later. I can only recall having one painful period and that was during high school around the time my period was induced, this cycle has been quite painful and also heavy compared to my cycles before RNY. I am so glad that I'm not the only person who noticed a change, I was becoming worried. My cycles used to be 2 to 3 days and today is day 7, it has slowed up but still out of the norm for me.

So what is everybody's daily food routine looking like right now? Here's mine: Protein shake (premier protein - 30g protein) for Breakfast and a small cup of coffee cheese stick or slice of cheese for snack/sometimes this is my lunch bc im too full to eat lunch..if I do have lunch it's a slice of organic turkey lunchmeat. Protein Shake blended with ice and banana in the afternoon Pick at whatever dinner that I've made for my family in the evening...and that's it! And of course Water, water, water during the day It's hard to get protein and calories in!!! Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

Good suggestion. I remember a thread in which vets complained about newbies being "so overly sensitive". Some vets seem to be quite sensitive and easily offended, too, as I have noticed during the last weeks. Sensitive? Nope. Gun shy? Tired of getting called names or accused of being bullies? Yes. Fed up with people coddling others in ways that could be seriously detrimental to their health and their weight loss? Absolutely. Of course, I am only speaking for me. And I'll add it's not only the Vets who are sick of the people crying "bully" or only wanting to be coddled - I'm pre-op and it's pissing me off. I'm not sensitive - I'm annoyed! It's more than just a weight loss/success concern that we have when someone goes so far off plan - it's a health concern - you can cause significant and life threatening complications! Would you coddle an alcoholic who had a drink 5 days post-op a liver transplant because they were "thirsty"???!!!! I am pre-op and have already cut back on my time on this forum. If the vets don't feel comfortable speaking up - why the hell would I even bother to stick around at all.

I live in bc but live right on the edge of border & flew out of Calgary, I have a friend who had the sleeve in Edmonton it took Aprox 7 months from start to finish for her. I have no regrets check out the page on Facebook a lighter me huge support group my pcp is very supportive and we are looking into skin removal surgery

I take the generic version of Protonix called Pantoprozole and it isn't that expensive I think. I think all drs opinion on length of time taken is different. For sleeve patients, one of the drs at my practice requires it for lifetime. My surgeon required it for the first 3 months for bypass; however, I had a stricture and had to have and EGD with balloon dilation and the GI Dr put me on Pantoprozole 2x per day. I weaned down eventually to 1x per day and asked my surgeon at my 1 year post-op if I could go off it. She said the GI must have put me on 2x per day bcs there was an ulcer so I would have to take it for life ????. Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

I'm glad you're doing well! I'm still doing great! I was able to have a cup of coffee for Breakfast and did great. I'm slowly getting closer to my calorie goal each day. I'm finding it difficult to get the Snacks between meals, but I'm trying to at least have a few apple slices or banana and still not up 64 oz of water- these are my most difficult issues but I'm getting there. I am just so full so quickly. I haven't weighted myself since Thursday bc I'm at our vacation house and no scale here. My dinner is still fish with vegetables and different starches. The burps are the worse but not constant. Lol Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

One thing I am thankful for, is that my team allowed me to keep my bc before my surgery. I use the implant and they would not put another one in for at least two years. My gyno is amazing; she talked to a hematologist and my surgeon and convinced them that my Nexplanon implant was fine. The last thing I want to worry about is getting pregnant in this stage of my life. I want kids and half the reason why I'm going through this is so I can be healthy enough for children (my doctor discouraged it because of my volatile diabetes). When I came home I got what I call my "mini-period". I spot for a few days and that is it. Another reason I love this bc. On another note, your coverage sounds very similar to mine, except for the dental. Though my dental is pretty pathetic and I haven't even tried to use it yet.

Sometimes I believe that one can feel more engaged to advice given by a member who has NOT had such a determined, straight to the finish success journey. Knowing that there are members who stumbled but who were able to overcome and get back on track can be extremely normalizing, and reassuring. Of course we all want to and need to hear about the success stories, but isn't it also important to see the members who got through to their goals after suffering set backs, battle scars, and still are living a healthier, life? Today's "newbies" have sooo much to offer. There are new procedures, new methods, new nutritional studies and guidelines. Like most medical procedures and techniques, WLS has changed--for the better in the last few years. In fact is has flipped almost 100% on some topics. We all can benefit from listening to the newbies. -----really listening---not just reading along---but consider what they have to offer and learning from them. I'm 5yrs + out and I can still look forward to learning from the well intending members who are actually here to pay it forward and not just trying to exercise "one upmanship" with humor (?) that is off the mark, base and hurtful. At 5yrs out, I don't find myself "supported or advised" by that mentation. Tough love is still supposed to be "love". There is supposed to be a compassion behind "tough love"----not just mock the poster and "let them fail". If there is no "love" behind "tough love", the advice is moot---the point is lost because being the target of the "jest" becomes "personal". I feel blessed to have come this far on my WLS journey. Do I wish my personal journey on anyone? No--no one ever! Do I think I have come through a personal tragedy at the beginning of my WLS journey and maybe --just maybe be able to help one person from having to experience the same? --or God willing, help them to get through it? I hope so. I've been a member on BP since 2011. Has the sight changed? oh, yeah. It has "circled". More than once. History truly does repeat itself. Veterans stay. Veterans go. Veterans come back. Some---a few never leave. Newbies ask the same questions? sure. They're newbies--are they supposed to ask "old" questions? Those are the same questions the Vets asked when they were newbies. Many Newbies don't stay. Many will leave and come back. Many will become tomorrow's Vets. There's nothing new or revolutionary about any of it... The circle goes round and round. Best thing I've read here yet...I'm a very very new newbie, just had surgery on 6/21, but I started reading here before I even had a surgery date. You've consistently been the person whose posts I most look forward to, Valentina. No coddling or bs from you, but you're always clear, concise and kind, even when answering questions that must make you want to scream. Everyone likes different deliveries of support and information, yours is just right for me. Thanks for taking the time to interact with those of us who are new to this whole thing, and especially for HEARING us. Thank you. I appreciate your words AND your support. Yes, even at 5yrs out, I NEED support and am far from too proud to say otherwise. Hoping your journey will be a joyful one. Whether it is or whether is "bumpy", I'm here and willing to listen. Sometimes that's all I can do. Hopefully, at times, that alone will help. Keep posting. Keep asking. Keep supporting.

Sometimes I believe that one can feel more engaged to advice given by a member who has NOT had such a determined, straight to the finish success journey. Knowing that there are members who stumbled but who were able to overcome and get back on track can be extremely normalizing, and reassuring. Of course we all want to and need to hear about the success stories, but isn't it also important to see the members who got through to their goals after suffering set backs, battle scars, and still are living a healthier, life? Today's "newbies" have sooo much to offer. There are new procedures, new methods, new nutritional studies and guidelines. Like most medical procedures and techniques, WLS has changed--for the better in the last few years. In fact is has flipped almost 100% on some topics. We all can benefit from listening to the newbies. -----really listening---not just reading along---but consider what they have to offer and learning from them. I'm 5yrs + out and I can still look forward to learning from the well intending members who are actually here to pay it forward and not just trying to exercise "one upmanship" with humor (?) that is off the mark, base and hurtful. At 5yrs out, I don't find myself "supported or advised" by that mentation. Tough love is still supposed to be "love". There is supposed to be a compassion behind "tough love"----not just mock the poster and "let them fail". If there is no "love" behind "tough love", the advice is moot---the point is lost because being the target of the "jest" becomes "personal". I feel blessed to have come this far on my WLS journey. Do I wish my personal journey on anyone? No--no one ever! Do I think I have come through a personal tragedy at the beginning of my WLS journey and maybe --just maybe be able to help one person from having to experience the same? --or God willing, help them to get through it? I hope so. I've been a member on BP since 2011. Has the sight changed? oh, yeah. It has "circled". More than once. History truly does repeat itself. Veterans stay. Veterans go. Veterans come back. Some---a few never leave. Newbies ask the same questions? sure. They're newbies--are they supposed to ask "old" questions? Those are the same questions the Vets asked when they were newbies. Many Newbies don't stay. Many will leave and come back. Many will become tomorrow's Vets. There's nothing new or revolutionary about any of it... The circle goes round and round. Best thing I've read here yet...I'm a very very new newbie, just had surgery on 6/21, but I started reading here before I even had a surgery date. You've consistently been the person whose posts I most look forward to, Valentina. No coddling or bs from you, but you're always clear, concise and kind, even when answering questions that must make you want to scream. Everyone likes different deliveries of support and information, yours is just right for me. Thanks for taking the time to interact with those of us who are new to this whole thing, and especially for HEARING us.

In case this is helpful to anyone I have come back to post this. I lost weight, but hit a point for some reason that I got really weak and sick of my lapband. At one point I felt as though I was starving and yet couldn't eat anything bc I got stuck all the time. I didn't have a slip..or anything other than I really I just did not have a lifestyle where the band fit in. I wanted a balanced meal. I wanted to not have to deal with this thing day in and day out. I was so tired and no matter how much Vitamins or Protein I took in...I lost muscle, and struggle with nutrition deficiency. Eventually I hit a wall. I couldn't take it anymore..just got sick of the lifestyle. I tend to stress easily and any stress caused constriction that made everything get stuck. This is what my physician thought. I tend to agree. I was already on meds for that too!! ffs..it was too much. After a long fought battle to lose what I did I couldn't take it anymore and had my band completely unfilled. I gained all my weight back and realized I had to do it on my own one day at a time. My choices were death..get my crap together or be barfing all the time and miserable or even go in for a different surgery..I just couldn't handle it. I'd been through so much fought so hard to try to save myself from dying in the middle of the night due to obesity related causes..I hit rock bottom. I had spend my whole life fighting this it felt.. So. What I learned: The band showed me (if just for a minute!!!) that I wanted to live. what it kinda tasted like to be normal in my size!!... to have a new life!!! I wanted what I felt the lucky ones had!! even to be 20 pounds overweight would have been fine. I wanted to not have to see another plus sized store or large online catalog for the rest of my friggen life. The world is not setup for the obese. That there is a whole exciting world out there but it only goes up to XL (if you're lucky). So I started to walk forward. On my own. with diet and exercise. 8 yrs later I look back see how much I have gone through - multiple family members deaths, divorce, losing a home, job changes, therapy, various surgeries, and growth. I have now lost over 100Lbs and although my life is far from ideal, is so radically different it scares me at times..I wouldn't trade it for the world. I am working on losing 27 pounds and doing more run/walk events. It is fun to work on this. It is fun to learn and research and met others who are into fitness. To learn about food addiction, depression or other soul killing things in our lives.. I get to do so much more now. People who meet me have no idea who I used to be or how large I was. I am so much different now. I like myself and know my journey will never end and that thought gives me a big hug feeling. I finally get it. So no I don't regret getting the band. It gave me what I needed.. even though it was indirect. My hope is to someday get it out and get a tummy tuck but I don't obsess over that and it isn't really the end of the world if it doesn't happen. I hope this helps someone else bc it is not a black and white journey for everyone. Peace.

Good suggestion. I remember a thread in which vets complained about newbies being "so overly sensitive". Some vets seem to be quite sensitive and easily offended, too, as I have noticed during the last weeks. Sensitive? Nope. Gun shy? Tired of getting called names or accused of being bullies? Yes. Fed up with people coddling others in ways that could be seriously detrimental to their health and their weight loss? Absolutely. Of course, I am only speaking for me.

My insurance plan states two, but I just hope bc it's an appeal that they are able to the 6months of dieting. If it were a whole new preauth for surgery I would understand if they didn't, but it's just an appeal. Hoping it counts! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I have been going to my gastric bypass support meetings and they told me you might want to sleep in a recliner. Did anyone not sleep in one? And do good getting out of bed? Should I buy a ton of pillows bc I don't own a recliner... Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I got sippy cups for the house bc I'm clumsy and spill to much in my mouth Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi. I have Highmark BC/BS of PA. I had my initial consult on June 29th. I need to see a dietician for 6 consecutive monthly visits, 1 psych eval, start an exercise program and medical clearance from my primary physician. Other tests need to be done also prior to surgery, like a gastroscopy, bloodwork, chest xray and cardiogram. It's a process, but if you want something bad enough like myself you will adhere to the pre surgery requirements. It also gives you time to really learn healthy eating habits and prepare yourself for life changing surgery. Good luck with your journey and best wishes always.... Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using the BariatricPal App

Sassysleeved, I sent you a message re: your BMI. You said bc of what your bmi is, you don't have to do the 6 months visits. My BMI is 35 & the 1st plave I called (barix clinic) they said bc Im on the lower end of the bmi (35) I wouldnt have to do the 6 month appts with the dietician & etc so Im curious what your BMI is. Thanks

I'm still in liquids and purée stage and I'm terrified to move to food bc I'm scared I'll overeat and go back to my old habits. I don't trust myself.

Oh great!!!! sleep is always a problem for me, my mind runs 100mph thinking of all I could be doing instead of sleeping trying my best for fluids usually getting 6-7 cups Water, won't risk missing a Vitamin bc I know a few people who didn't take them and lost. A LOT of hair. And yes I am using my fitness pal but it won't let me complete my log each day. Thank you for your reply Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thank you guys. I feel completely like myself other than this awful gas pain. I already logged close to 8,000 steps in a few hours bc walking is what feels best. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

One week post op, just joined today and after seeing this post I'm in shock and quite frankly disgust that someone would go through such a painful surgery, a surgery that was education was obviously provided for and eat bacon!!!! Tells me this person wanted a quick fix and wants the surgery to be the fix yet put zero work in!!!! I have diabetic induced gastroparesis. I'm 5'5 and had a BMI of 32 I didn't qualify on weight alone but bc the surgery would hopefully resolve my diabetes, and my gastroparesis would not become worse I was approved. Otherwise eventually I may have ended up on a g-tube or worse, death. So this surgery was not what I wanted but needed, but you can damn sure bet I'm going to do everything I have to to be successful!!!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Good Morning Veterans! I am in the process of researching the use of essential oils in my daily routine. Honestly this is because I am suffering severe menopausal symptoms. I must get 50 hot flashes per day where I feel my head is simply going to combust, then of course comes the soaking of my clothing, the racing heart in my ears, and yes all the bs emotions that come with it. That does not include the night sweats in which I am soaked from head to toe. I have the air in our house at 66 and a fan blowing on me while sleeping and another fan next to where I sit in the living room. When I am not flashing I am frozen to the core given I have lost all of my fat which I am greatful for. The other night I went to the movies with some friends and had to dress knowing that would probably have several flashes. I brought 2 blankets with me and a personal fan. LOL. My husband and friends thought I was insane but I knew what would happen. The emotional crap for someone like me who doesn't cry easily is insane. For example, I was watching an episode of Buffy the vampire slayer which I have seen about 20 times. All of a sudden I am balling like a big baby. WTF!!!! I am not usually a cryer so this actually then pissed me off. It's all kind of funny when you think about it but geez already I need some relief from these symptoms. Of course it does not help that I have a lot of arthritis issues going on that won't allow me to get really moving like I want to. I exercise everyday for almost an hour a day but it is low impact, more stretching and strengthening exercises. Next week I will be taking Water therapy classes as well. Anyway, I reached out to a friend of mine who swears by these young living essential oils. She is my age and has been through a lot. As we were talking she asked me what medications or Vitamins I was taking so I explained that I am on several vitamins for life given my RNY surgery. I plan to ask my Bariatric team about this as well but I am wondering if anyone on BP is using essentials oils in their life and also if anyone has used them to replace certain vitamins? If you are using them, have you seen benefit in your overall health? Have you seen changes in your blood work? My blood work has been spot on other than my thyroid so I don't want to do anything that might mess that up. After speaking with my friend, she made a few recommendations to deal with some of the pain, energy and menopausal symptoms. Thoughts?

Melanie 89 Im in Atlanta Ga, USA, My insurance is covering my bcs I have High blood pressure also and Sleep Apnea. But Like you Im so nervous and not sure whats going on my weight has gone up now that Im getting close to surgery and its not like im eating more I went to the doctor today and I was told that it was due to anxiety that triggers the gain weight... so Im keeping my fingers crossed

If you use your Red White & Blue Medicare card (not a health plan card like Kaiser, AARP, Humana, etc.) then you're on "Original" Medicare -- sometimes called Fee For Service Medicare. That gives you a wider choice of providers, but bigger copayments. This means that the decision on whether a service is covered is bound by a National Coverage Determination (NCD) and potentially a Local Coverage Determination (LCD) based on the contractor that pays claims for your area. I don't have access to the LCD in your area, but the NCD can be found at this link: https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/ncd-details.aspx?NCDId=57&ncdver=5&bc=AAAAgAAAAAAAAA%3d%3d& Basically it says that if your BMI is over 35 and you have at least one comorbidity related to obesity then you're covered for bariatric surgery. As you might imagine there are some restrictions on which procedure -- for example VSG is covered when done as a laparoscopic procedure but not as an open procedure. It's typically done laparoscopically anyway so that makes sense. (If you read through that NCD it's a little hard to follow -- it's sort of a history of what was covered when so don't worry about things like the certified bariatric surgery center requirement -- that was a requirement years ago but it isn't any longer.) Your surgeon's office will know more I'm sure. They deal with this all the time. I hope that helps.

I don't know why anyone would even want food a week out but I'm irritated as a newb to learn that vets are holding back on posts bc of these morons. I need my vets! [emoji24][emoji24][emoji24]