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most of us aren't. I think a lot of people's perceptions are based on "My 600 lb Life", but the people on that show are not "average" WLS patients. Most bariatric surgeons wouldn't operate on anyone that large, so they go to specialists in high-risk bariatric surgery, like Dr. Now. I worked with the pre-op classes at my clinic for about three years (before COVID, that is). I would say the majority of patients are about your size. 40-ish BMI. And then there are usually a handful who appear to be in the 300-400 range. And once in a while someone who looks to be over 400 (although of course I'm just guessing...). But I would say the majority (of women, at least) are somewhere in the 200s. I've never seen anyone anywhere near the size of the people on "My 600 lb Life". But I think that's what people think when they think "bariatric patients". I know I did... Yet I was the biggest person in my co-hort when I went through. I was very surprised. you won't die. Mortality rate is about 0.3% - which means 99.7% of people sail through just fine. My surgeon has been at it for over 20 years and hasn't lost a patient yet! Also, most of us have little to no pain with these surgeries. And they'll always send you home with pain meds, so if you are one of the unfortunate ones who DOES have pain, you'll be able to manage it.

Just had my Bariatric sleeve Done March 2

@DoodlesMom I think I waited 1 and a half to 2 months for my initial consult with the surgeon. However, he is the only surgeon who does bariatric surgeries where I am going, so I assumed he had a lot of other patients and appointments, so I was okay with the wait.

I'm 14 days post-op and I feel this so hard! Every program is different, but mine does not allow cream of wheat during the full liquid stage (which is 4 weeks for me) the options are protein shakes, broths/liquid only soups, and greek yogurt. Things that have given me the feeling of a little variety include: adding PB2 protein powder and sugar-free caramel syrup to greek yogurt. It tastes like peanut butter toffee yogurt and is a favorite. Bariatric soup mixes, especially the cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, and cream of tomato. mixing Pero (fake coffee) in with a packet of protein hot chocolate.

Many companies offer free samples. You can definitely get them from Bariatric Advantage and Pro Care Health. Celebrate Vitamins has a $10 sample pack with a $10 coupon towards a purchase. I decided on Pro Care calcium chews (less variety than Bariatric Advantage but prefer the taste. I wasn’t a fan of the berry vitamin. Called back and requested a sample of the citrus which I ordered for when I can take my iron vitamin. Unjury has a small multi but I preferred Pro Care’s taste. Those were the brands recommended by my Bariatric dietician. Not all Bariatric vitamins have the same nutritional value. Good luck!

I finished all BCBS insurance preauthorization for the bariatric program on 2/25/2021. When I called the next day to schedule my initial consult, the soonest available was May 20th, 2021. It feels like an agonizingly long wait. I'm wondering how long everyone had to wait for their initial consult?

I'm not a doctor or pharmacist, but generally, the sleeve doesn't promote any particular issues with medications. The malabsorbing procedures like the RNY or DS can have issues with extended release meds depending upon the XL mechanism used, and the RNY can have issues with some meds known to promote stomach upset. Check with your bariatric surgeon or a pharmacist to make sure. el

Hi all - I'm currently working my way through the insurance waiting period to get the Gastric Sleeve. How often does everyone follow up with their bariatric facility on this process? I want to ensure things keep moving along as I have been working this process for nearly a year across two different facilities. I followed up with them last week and they stated they were waiting for one last piece of paperwork to be processed and would likely be submitting the next day and that they would let me know once they had submitted. My current plan is to follow up once a week, but, I also don't want to become that annoying patient everyone hates to see an email from. I had been previously approved by my insurance with the original facility I was working with, however, decided to change to a new facility due to some ongoing communication issues that left me feeling uncomfortable about the original place. I'm sure the fact that I had been previously approved is making me a bit more anxious about getting this done again, so, I'm trying to keep that in mind as well. It's such a long process and is definitely hard to stay focused on the bigger picture at times.

So I am 52 years old and wanted to see if other are experiencing the same issues I am. In all I am doing great but I had COVID just prior to surgery and was cleared 2 weeks prior. I weighed 305 Lbs when I started this journey and 28 days later I have lost 59 Lbs I believe as of today (03/08/21). My Doctor says that I am in the upper 1% of weight loss for his practice which makes my wife proud. After surgery I found that the rumored stuff was true. I lost my hunger sensation. I had no urge to eat AT ALL. I was weak and only wanted to sleep. I needed Meds for pain but it was not overboard. In about a week I was fully up and a little slow. My loving wife who does not have weight issue shouldered my recovery almost like to was new puppy. She is a task master and gives no quarter. 28 days later I am fully mobile and wanting to get on with life but my Doctor and the Bariatric Center he works in is very diligent on a day by day strategy of how to succeed. My wife reads this binder they gave us as a field guide to survival. You will notice that a lot of Military references in this and that is due to being a 26 Year Army (USA) Retired Officer. I got out when my thyroid started acting up and my weight got out of control. I am proud of my career but could not face Soldiers when I was not fit to fight. It kills me that I am not that man anymore. As I said my wife is a Task Master and I need that. I am at this point only allowed to have 2 Ounces of food a meal (x3) and 8 ounces of protein shake a day. I constantly drink water or non-suger or non-carbonated drinks like Propel. All seems well but I have noticed that life seems a little "Blah". I work from home and work in the yard for short periods but generally life seems bland. I do tire quickly and that is slowly improving. I know this is due to low Calories, the surgery recovery and minimal diet but ..... I also have the added issue of COVID Recovery. I have little taste and little smell left. I can smell and taste some things but generally I do not smell food like everyone else. I think this has helped a little with the need for food. I have begun to go on walks with my wife and about a full block is all I can handle. This kills me since in my 30's I was a Olympic level athlete and was the one leading the pace but now.... I hope to get back to something like that again but it's hard to see since I have so far to go. On the Bright side my wife and family have said they seem to have cut the Grumpy out of me. I do seem to be very ungrumpy lately. It may be the weight loss and actual progress or it may have been the fact that I was prediabetic and hunger made me HANGRY. At first I did not see the gains I am making but I have slowly begun to see them. My cloths are almost falling off and many people have said I look very different but others have said I look sick since the first place I lost weight was in my face. I am also a little pail due to being in side for month. The biggest event was when I put a coat on that I had to squeeze into prior to surgery and it actually fit with room to spare. I think I have lost about 6 inches off my belly. In another post after this I will describe my pre-surgery issues and how I felt and my mental state. It was not good. I will keep this Thread going for a while in the hopes that other will see it and let me know what to expect and if I am not alone on this issue. I am prideful and push myself to get better and hate to feel week. May be I will post my presurgery pics some day but for now that make me cringe.

For me, I just stumbled upon your post the same day I made my profile. I have been a long-time member of another bariatric site that the membership really decreased. With some increased downtime while working with my endocrinologist I really wanted to find a supportive and active community that understands the struggles of WLS and the positives of it. I was hoping to find support or perhaps some other tips for my hypoglycemia as well. Your post and story touched my heart and I hope you will be able to find your answers to get back to living your best life with your little ones! You are in my prayers!

You are probably doing fine, unless you have known kidney issues, in which case your nephrologist would give you overriding instructions.. Typically, bariatric programs have recommendations on the order of 60-80 g for women and 80-100 g for men, sometimes somewhat higher or lower depending.... The 40-55 type numbers I think originate from WHO and represent something of an RDA type of level - sufficient to prevent deficiency disease but not necessarily what is needed for optimum health under varied circumstances. It's great if you are having to figure out how much of what type of food to send to some remote area after a disaster; not so great on figuring what you need for your lifestyle. The other end of the spectrum would be the recommendations for 150,200,300 g that you may see in the men's health or body builder magazines that are intended to sell protein supplements. Generally what you need is proportional to your muscle or lean body mass (similar, but not quite the same), so ignore any calculators that deal strictly with overall body weight - the excess fat that you are carrying now doesn't need protein to maintain it. The best indicator that I have found is from a Dr. Michael Colgan who is a sports nutritionist that does (or did, may be retired by now) a lot of work trying to figure out just what the body needs for different circumstances, as opposed to basic RDAs. The basic formula he came up with takes the premise that the body is replacing all of the muscle mass every six months, and that works back to the amount of protein that is needed daily. So, for my 150 or so lb of muscle mass, it needs about 105 g daily. A short woman with half that muscle mass would need half that, or about 50g. So his figures are in the same ballpark as most of the rest that were derived from other means, so it passes my "smell test" - it's plausible. Being a guy of similar size, I would expect you to be similar. Further, this method tells me that if I wanted to add muscle mass, then I would have to add around 40g per day to add around 10 lb over six months - a reasonable goal with suitable work and training and without funny drugs (but it does take the work - it doesn't just get there by eating more!) Overall, it seems like you are on the right track for your size and previously stated fitness inclinations.

your doctor is a jerk and should know better than that! If he's been dealing with this for any length of time, he should know that very few people lose 20 lbs - or even 16 lbs - in two weeks (unless he's Dr. Now and works mostly with high-risk bariatric patients that most surgeons won't touch). I got that crap once from a resident (not my regular surgeon - but some resident that the surgeon had during follow-up appts for awhile). He was sure to let me know that I was a slow loser and behind the rest of my cohorts. Well screw him - I went on to lose 100% of my excess weight - over 200 lbs (and most likely blew the rest of my "cohorts" out of the water). I'd love to see his face NOW.... there are so many factors that influence your rate of weight loss, most of which you have little to no control over (like...your age, for example). The two things you DO have control over is your activity level and how closely you stick to your surgeon's plan. If you're very committed to those and doing what you were instructed to do, then you'll lose weight - whether fast or slow. As long as the overall trend is downward, you're good.

I used to eat chocolate every single day. Now to satisfy my craving, I have Bariatric Pals Hot Cocoa. I also used to eat ice cream every day, and now I eat a Yasso Greek Yogurt bar. You will find different, healthier versions of what you are currently used of. That is how it worked for me. Good Luck

sounds good to me - you're losing it faster than I did. I think people's perceptions are shaped by shows like "My 600 lb Life", but you need to keep in mind those people start out MUCH heavier than the average WLS patient. Although I've never seen research on this - this just comes from hanging out on bariatric boards for the last six years, I would say most of us lose in the 15-25 lb range the first month after surgery. Of course you'll always find people who lose more or less than that, but that seems to be where the majority of us fall. If you've lost 6 kg in two weeks, you'll be in that range as well. So nothing to worry about. You are doing fine!

I hear you most definitely... I remember the same thing yet I know nothing would have deterred me from surgery. Yes info like this would have and did make me fearful a bit, but nothing would have nor did stop me. In saying that I don’t think anyone truly knows the prevalence. I’ve been struggling for 4 years and this is the first bariatric surgery group I have sought community and possible answers. I understand a balanced perspective yet most things on here are of newbies who are posting all great advantages.... there isn't a lot of balance either, like you said all people well into their journey have dropped out... who knows why... no one... it took for years to look for any possible answers in a bariatric forum... so it’s not like I got right on here and this is where I started looking.... but it does make me a little frustrated and sad that because I am asking tough questions because my life medically is radically different since surgery... it’s not met with anything but challenges, redirection, and basically we are all good, don’t rock the boat and ask somewhere else because what I’m apparently saying could not possibly be related, yet has anyone done the thorough research? I sure didn’t before! I was so grateful and focussed on one thing, saving my life... and assuming like they said just a small minority have complications.... so there’s no way that could happen to me... but guess what... I am on that small (?) minority... and now it does matter that I’m looking for answers to save my life.... just like before bariatric surgery when I was seeking a solution to save my life then... if you don’t have people on here years out post surgery... how does anyone know why they aren’t on here (the assumption they are well can’t be assumed as is they could be ill)... so if these questions rattle to people maybe that’s ok? Maybe they, like me were only told one side... maybe having people like me and the others who posted who have experienced first hand very difficult complications or knew of others with complications ... maybe that’s worth listening to as well as the benefits, maybe that is the balance? I was hoping to find community, some support and hopefully maybe some direction or something, connection, and not feel so alone in all this.... and even though I have tough things going on... even though I said I wasn’t saying don’t have surgery, my questions were enough to cause intense reactions.... maybe those fears already existed? Maybe hearing someone tell their story hits too close... but this IS my story... this is my life... if everyone is only looking to hear about all the triumphs and a few struggles and not the minority because it won’t happen to them... that’s what I thought too! anyway... I looked, I asked, the answers aren’t here, I’m moving on.... I do wish everyone in the community all the best, much success, a long and healthy life they have dreamed of, desire and deserve. sincerely, charlotte

I totally agree, i think what you’re saying goes both ways... no one can say how prevalent it is or it isn’t... all we can do is state our experience like everyone else. I was just merely addressing the comment that if it’s common they’d here about it, not necessarily. I’m finding evidence all over the internet in scrientific studies in medical journals like JAMA that correspond to a more broader issue with these surgeries (including less than 10 years post op) and there is a lot of complications still present even with ‘modern’ advancements. im not saying it equates common, but it’s equating enough stir in medical communities like neurological journals that warrant studies that have been done. If it’s very uncommon and rare... these journals would not have enough data to publish in the medical journals I’m reading. I think it’s fair to say that if there’s enough complications to warrant different medical specialities (for ex. The neurology paper) to see enough repeated visits by post bariatric surgery patients to warrant investigations and studies than maybe it’s ok to breach the scary topic and ask more questions, seek more clarity and transparency for everyone’s sake. Medicine is a business. Even in a free healthcare state like Canada. And business is business. Like cobalt in hips and then that poisoning those eith these hip replacements, so the companies then coat the cobalt, yet it hasn’t solved all the issues even knowing there’s still issues. im not ok with not knowing everything I can previous to any surgery and because I fall within whatever numbers are declared as a minority percentage, not getting full disclosures, just because my life doesn’t matter as long as the majority is somewhat ok.... still not saying bariatric surgery is bad at all... I’m saying full disclosure is paramount, and it should not have to be sought after by the patient post surgery, it should be a streamlined process of knowledge snd medical care continuity. I find it interesting how people are really riled up at just the questions I put out there. Why does it cause so much intense feelings. Why are quite a few respondents so quickly defending a surgery when I’m not attacking individual choice but just stating my experience and seeking my own health solutions. are people scared? I’m not judging at all... I’m being curious yet people seem very defensive and fearful of my struggles.... instead of being curious, most people who have responded are defending something I’m not accusing but I am definately curious as I said about a possible relationship between my complex medical issues that did not exist prior to bariatric surgery and are now mounting. just a mom, a post bariatric surgery patient, seeking with curiosity any possible connections here, as I’ve sought in other areas, reasons that could explain this... it’s interesting that this forum seems to be the only one very upset with my curiosity about others who possibly might have had or are having similar complex medical issues. im just a mom seeking solutions to a complex medical mess to I can live my life well and live a long healthy life with my kids. I am not attacking bariatric surgery as it seems others having feelings that I am... I’m simply seeking others who may be able to shed some light on my own individual personal experience with complex health issues post surgery, that’s all.... just seeking answers so I can get better in every place I can think of, there’s no one else to help me do it... so here I am... but seems as though everyone doesn’t even want me to ask such questions... it creates too much fear... I get that... I’m afraid too... I’m in the middle of this.... alone and trying to put a complex puzzle together. I’m not attacking or saying it’s wrong yet people are responding as if that’s what I’m saying or insinuating. I’m here because all of my issues are post bariatric surgery snd I’m just asking a simple question; are there others on this forum experiencing complications like me, do they think or have they found out that it’s from their surgery or it’s complications or that is caused by something else, and how was it resolved, how did they become healthy again... maybe no one knows, maybe the question then becomes to others; why is my curiosity so threatening to even ask these questions here? Why is my curiosity not met with curiosity but with obvious fear in the act of defending a medical practice that I haven’t accused as the cause... just being curious if it might be.

I haven't been here in five years, but I thought I should share what I've learned on this journey... 1. My sleeve was a very minor surgery. Less than 30 minutes passed between being knocked out and the recovery room. Quite frankly, I think this option should be more widely available for marginally obese people. Unlike the other bariatric surgeries - which change your plumbing, this is simply the removal of the stretchy part of the stomach. 2. Think long and hard about who you tell. I told a handful of family members and I think that was a mistake. I suggest you either tell everyone, or just the absolute minimum (spouse or care giver). Within the first year I was sure everyone knew and I felt I was being dishonest. 3. The honeymoon is real. For 18 months it's virtually impossible to gain weight, but after that, you most certainly can. My smaller stomach can hold 8-10 ounces of food and get refilled after about an hour. If you fill it with sugar or fat and keep refilling it, you can certainly get back all your weight. I initially lost about 90 pounds and that was too much. People kept asking me if I had cancer. I've since put 25 pounds back on and while I wish it was 15, it's fine. My weight is what it was when I was an athlete in college. I have used my reduced weight and energy to excercise and I think that has helped. I generally do 100,000 steps a week. Again, eating/drinking the wrong stuff and not exercising would surely lead to more weight gain. 4. I no longer count calories, but I do have a few tricks to keep things in check. I have designed a menu with a lot of 200-500 calorie meals and I have 3-4 of these every day. I burn enough EXTRA calories a day exercising to offset the calories I drink (I only drink 100 calorie cocktails - nothing sugary). 5. There's a lot of good and bad information on alcohol on this site. I waited 6 weeks (the European guideline) and the eased in with weak cocktails and wine. I don't think it hits me harder, but since I'm likely to have less food in my stomach, the effect is to be hit harder. I can see no reason to wait 6 months or a year other than minimizing caloric intake. The Sleeve is a timeout from your bad lifestyle, but it's not a permanent timeout. At some point you'll create a new lifestyle that will include birthday cakes, pizza, French fries and booze. You need to manage around all of these risky consumables. You should think about it ll as you enter your journey, never stop reevaluating, and constantly adjust. I hope this helps someone...

Just want to add, that I was told there are very very few people on here who are post surgery by a lot of years. If all these complications there are now 4-5 responses to confirm their significant struggles. I think it’s important to note that I was told on this thread that its very rare for old timers like me to be on this site, there are an extreme few if any.... so I’m wondering why then there now several responses 4-5 of confirmation of known (by personal experience or through knowledge of someone else), severe complications? This to me says it’s not be as rare as at a glance assumed? Maybe there are more benefits to people and to the medical system to disclose these fewer side effects than state them outright? Maybe by discussion these sites can provide information not through the medical system but through experiences that provide a balance accumulation of data both of great benefits and possibly very difficult complications? It’s only personal experience, I’m not, nor do I think the others are saying this surgery is wrong, we want to share information, information never presented with not enough follow up (in my case) by a bariatric specialist who would know. 5 years follow up is not ok (Ontario) for so many reasons! it’s not meant to threaten or cause misinformation, as that would never be stated in the benefits discussion, it’s just experiences that people want to also share and connect through. yes getting my life back has been extraordinary! Yet maybe if more follow up, more discussion forums, more stat and data kept post 5 years here in Ontario, maybe just a lot more transparency would be not so threatening but empowering, no matter the choice or the outcomes any one personally makes. ? I think everyone should feel safe to speak of what they know or have studied, experienced, questions, and what they’ve heard in clinics and through loved ones, ... it’s up to each of us to look at everything, take what information we need to be empowered.

So glad you are doing so well! I know this post feels like a downer to most yet I think it’s a vital discussion so that all info is on the table to make a truly informed decision. I’m not saying all my conditions are caused by my bypass, but I’m saying all these seemingly unrelated type of complexities especially when following all regiment guidelines is a very vital discussion to have for those considering surgery and those who have had it. Information is power. I hope this thread balances information to provide a very clear picture of all incredible benefits and very scary possible or likely consequences even while following guidelines. It’s vital for informed consent knowing ahead of time. I know it would not have changed my decision (like you) to have the hope of my life back, yet if I had this info I would have been pushing much harder for bariatric specialists to be involved. Our governance g need to provide this coverage for a specialist (as they would any specialists for complicated surgery patients in Ontario!). This surgery radically changes everything for good and sometimes has complex complications only a bariatric dr. Would be privy to connecting some of the possible and connected health effects that lead all the way back to surgery snd weeding out causes that have zero to do with the surgery. I believe that access and info is vital for self empowerment and advocacy.

I had VSG on 8/27/20. My sister is a PACU nurse and warned me not to get the bypass or similar surgery because she has seen too many bariatric patients lose the weight but develop severe medical related to malabsorption that the bypass produces. She even told me that having the bypass shortens ones lifespan by 7-10 years! I have NO clue where she got this information but she scared me into having the sleeve rather than the bypass. So far I am doing great with the sleeve but again, I’m only 6 months out.

hi Changes4Life, I really appreciate your candid and kind result. Its awesome to have you post.... Im feeling much less alone in all this, Im so sorry you as well have been through so much and grateful your still ontrack and thankful for the life its afforded you, even though its been a very tough go at times! Im definitely happy I got my life back through the surgery, yet if the complications take my life that would be brutal now as a solo parent of two younger kids. I just read a neurology article that states most patients do best with nutritional supports given by injections and not orally. That a large percentage - up to 20% develop neurological disorders even when taking appropriate oral supplementation. This I didn't know about except that it would be prevented by oral supplementation... this article states this isn't so for 2 out of 10 patients. I also learned the neurological disorders are related to how much you loose and how fast, meaning the majority of issues come from loosing the weight in less than 1year. I was 450 pounds and at my lowest was down 293. I lost the weight extremely fast. Ive kept all but 25 off in almost 12 years. to add to my diagnosis list; They just discovered my colon in entirely air filled distended and dilated without air/fluid levels, thickening and no obstruction, meaning now bowel disease but its of unknown origin and significance so its being investigated. it can be related to neurological disorders and vagus nerve issues that eventually cause a paralyzed intestinal system. Im praying and hoping for the best outcome possible. Im just also putting all this out there in case any of the people on this site themselves with any similar struggles and if so may be able to help direct their drs to a 'possible' association with bariatric surgery post complications in order to receive help that's more targeted to correction in a more effective and efficient way than having years go by with a lot of I don't knows. I hope my post not only connects but also helps others in their after surgery care should odd seemingly unrelated symptoms arise and they don't know where to begin... I definitely had no idea any of this except depleted vitamins and minerals could be a play. im definitely not against surgery!!!!!!!!!!! just in my case I hope what drs have missed and if all these accumulated health struggles - not present pre-surgery so these possible and (rare?) complications of post bariatric surgery, as im now reading in literature, that this surgery does not end up shortening my life... if it does only because of a lack of awareness by patients/drs/and specialists, simply because it took to long to figure out the brain/body system complicated connections to the gut or in my case it wasn't fully disclosed or known at the time, I pray this information will help someone in the future who is also seeking answers to complicated health struggles. I've been actively seeking help since 2017, the symptoms have now become physically undeniable;e and hopefully I can be helped in time to continue onward with my beautiful life being present to be involved with my incredible children as they grow up. im thinking of you all and just pray that if someone finds themselves with mounting medical complexities this information will help you advocate for yourself and possible change in the medical systems to provide in my case, better post op care and immediate investigations with this many unexplainable medical complexities post surgery. im glad I had the surgery.... I just want much more time her to enjoy life. just aceesperate mom seeking help and community.

I'm 9 months out from VSG, saw the bariatric clinic follow up staff, and am so GRR now. I never had that "I'm never hungry" feeling once I recovered from the surgery but shrugged it off. I could drink 2 oz. fluids at once literally the day of surgery so I was like... OK, cool. Weight loss was slow despite being diet compliant and exercising, stopped at 25 pounds after 3 months, then gained 10 back after a foot injury (off again since getting back to my daily 5k jog). I've been having reflux for ages despite avoiding trigger foods/drinks and I get hiccups 20+ times a day regardless of how I'm eating, drinking, or not doing either. So they referred me back to the surgeon's office. Last week I had an upper GI study. The radiology report says I have mild decreased lower esophageal motility and mild outpouching at the fundus... um, I shouldn't HAVE a fundus after gastric sleeve. The weakened esophageal muscles explains the fluid that backs up when I drink sometimes, especially if not sitting straight up or standing, and the chest lock I feel when eating dryer foods or meats. I'm confused about the fundus. Is the radiologist mistaken and unfamiliar with VSG anatomy? Did the surgeon leave part of my fundus? The surgeon's office is awful at communicating so I'm in limbo. They didn't even call me before ordering the upper GI, they just had the radiology department call to schedule me without notice. All I can think about is where I go from here. Meds for the reflux and live with the hiccups? Revision surgery for the reflux and basically start over (the big GRR)? Anyone else have anything similar like a retained fundus, outpouching, or GERD with esophageal motility disorders like weakened muscles after VSG surgery?

I started the Bariatric Advantage Multivitamin Chewy - I feel nauseous right after taking one.... anyone else the same? Do you get use to it? Or is it better to switch vitamins?

Thank you so much Christina! That was very encouraging and gives me confirmation I’m stepping in the right direction. Same here, my PCP is great, but she herself has said she struggles with weight and tries every on/off label medication out there for weight loss. So a nutritionist definitely makes me feel more comfortable. My nutritionist will also be bariatric oriented. I’m so happy to hear your success! Thanks again for your support 😊

Hey everyone! Got a new job and found that we have bariatric surgery coverage. I asked my PCP to send a referral to the bariatric clinic in my area. That was done the week of Thanksgiving 2020. Got a call from the clinic and met the surgeon December 17th. Only have three month supervised diet and have to lose one pound a month! Working through all my pre op requirements. Had my psychiatrist evaluation Thursday. She asked when was my quit smoking start date because my window of time is closing! I am freaked out! Most people I know have had 6 to 12 months before surgery date. This creeped up so fast! Only test left is the endoscopy scheduled for April 20th. After that blood work as well as nicotine compliance test. So TODAY is my quit day! I can do this! Waited twenty years for this opportunity!