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Hey there!! I just scheduled my surgery today with Dr. Steven Clark with Southwest Bariatrics. I will be having my surgery on the 31st!!! Woo! Hoo!! I am so excited!! I have been on my pre-op diet since this past Wednesday (16th) and so far, I have lost 12 lbs (I accredit that to cutting out sodas). If you need a snack, grab some peanuts! It will all be worth it in the end!! If you have a sweet tooth, I found something really great at the grocery store yesterday! Breyers ice cream has some Carb Smart chocolate bars!! They are delicious!!!! 9 grams of carbs!!! They taste like chocolate soft serve on a stick!! Yummy!!

Hi Direct Hit. I am going to a seminar tomorrow given by Southwest Bariatrics. I am so excited to get started. I hope your surgery goes well.

Hello all, I'm starting my count down to my May 30th surgery date to be banded. This sight has been VERY helpful. The biggest thing I've noticed is how differently each Doctor approaches the pre-op and post-op processes. The Doctor I have chosen (Dr. Mario Longoria, Southwest Bariatrics, Austin, TX), has put me on the following pre-op: 30 grams of Carbs At least 70 grams of Protien Fat in Moderation Post-op: 1st Week - Clear liquids 2nd Week - Liquids 3rd Week - Soft Foods 4th Week - Additional foods Dietician suggested No carbonated drinks, tough meat, shrimp (due to cartlidge like texture), fruits and vegies with skin. In perusing the Board, I have seen postings of many eating just about anything and at anytime - pre-op and 1 week post-op. I guess the main lesson here is to listen to your doctor and listen to your own body. (since each of us are so wonderfully different). 12 more days to gooooo!!!

I've heard of Cosmed, but I tought they only do plastic surgery. I have never heard of that doctor. I had mine with Dr. Valencia. I was very happy. Dr. Valencia has a good price and he has really great credentials. He is a professor of bariatric surgery at UCLA. Good luck to you!

I know that Fresno does theirs once a month. So I would think Richmond is the same. I'm not sure though. Best bet would be to call Richmond's bariatric dept and find out for sure. Best wishes!

:rolleyes2: banded on feb 5th. bariatrics wellness center. springboro/middletown hospital. all the posts are great. so much luv and support! cant wait till my first fill, nervous and excited!

Hi all! I'm from Ohio too and like another person on here, will be going thru the Dayton Bariatric Center. Hopefully I will be scheduled sometime in March or April. Right now I'm doing all the footwork that's required and by the end of the upcoming week I should have all my appointments done and a tentative surgery date. I'm really anxious to get this done. I have a few friends at work that have had it done w/great results so far. Also another friend at work that is going thru this step by step w/me and that helps also. This is a great website as so many others are mostly RNY patients and while we're going for the same results, I was wanting to hear more from people that have been banded. I know this will add years to my life as well as quality to my life....I just can't wait!

It depends on your insurance and Bariatrics centers guidelines. My policy did not require the supervised diet for BMI’s over 40. I started my process on June 23 and surgery is tomorrow, so a little over two months. There are plus’ and minus’ for an accelerated process though. My process included; an interest seminar, consultation with surgeon, psych evaluation, abdominal ultrasound, clearance by my primary care physician, EGD, EKG, blood work, dietician consult, pre-op surgery class, and final pre-op visit with surgeon. Good luck!

Hello all. I just wanted to give a little encouragement to the newbies out there. Today I am 4 years post op. I am still in love with my band. I have been filled and unfilled, I have pbed. I have gotten stuck and yet I still love my band. It has taken some time but I have learned to live with it as many of my fellow veterans have as well. I have learned what I can eat and what I can't eat with my band. I do drink a little sprite or orange soda every once in a while. I can't stand coke any more which used to be my favorite soda. I can honestly say I haven't had it in over 4 years. What I do drink on the regular is orange juice because I can't eat oranges any more. I can eat apples but I choose to drink apple juice. I still have my coffee every morning and tea every week as well. In regards to foods, well I eat just about anything except pasta that you use for lasagna. I do eat spaghetti every blue moon and I will eat a little mac and cheese only if it's really cheesy. Other than that, I eat bread, rice, etc. I actually had a couple slices of thin crust pizza for supper yesterday. Speaking of supper. I have learned that I can't eat past 8 p.m. If I do, I will fall asleep but in the middle of the night I will start coughing and coughing and then I'll fall back to sleep. Later I will cough some more and eventually water will start coming out of my nose. That will go on until I finally throw up the last whatever that was in my stomach before I went to bed. So that means I have to get in all my food and drink by 7 p.m. 7:30 at the latest. When I do eat before 7, I have no problems. I sleep like a baby. What can I say, my band doesn't want me eating late I can dig that. That was a problem before I was banded that aided in me gaining weight in the first place eating late at night and snacking watching tv. Well I can honestly say those days are definitely over. I do eat chips but only when I crave them. I eat popcorn as well but only when I have a taste for it and that isn't often. My last fill was August 2012 which put me at 7.1 ccs in my 10 cc band. So I will leave you with this final note, don't give up. Don't get discouraged. The weight isn't going to fall off over night, every week, everyday, etc. Stop stressing. Follow your bariatric team's instructions/guidelines because all our bodies and problems within our bodies are different. We all have different medical issues so what works for me may not work for you and vice versa. Sometimes it will but in other cases it won't. If you aren't sure about what's happening in your body, don't be afraid to call your doctor and find out. After all, it is YOUR BODY. Take care everyone and happy holidays. I'm 95 lbs down and loving it.

I take the Bariatric Advantage Multivitamins 2x a day without issue. I am 2+ weeks post-op (sleeved 10/7). I start by sucking on them until they disintegrate and I take one in the morning and one at night. I have only tried Celebrate and they had a more chalky taste. People's reactions to the Vitamins just vary. Some people liked the stuff before and after surgery they can't stand it. Just make sure the vitamins that you choose have the necessary, vital vitamins. I currently supplement the Bariatric Advantage ones with Biotin, B1 and B12 (all meltaways tabs) 3 times a week, except the Biotin I take daily). You will just have to try different ones until you get one that satisfies what you need, without sickness. I can start back on the 500g Calcium x2 daily in about 2 weeks. Hopefully I still like them!

i just got my orders of protein in the mail today. i ordered the sample packets from bariatric eating that betsy mentioned and i also ordered some sample packets from unjury that someone else on this site had mentioned. so far, i've tried the chicken soup one from unjury. it was really good. :frown: you mix it with 8oz warm water and it tastes like chicken broth. it even has the little green things in it. kinda salty but i added a little pepper and it was fine. it mixes well, too. it has 21g of protein in it. i am about to try the inspire dutch chocolate from bariatric eating and i'll let you know how that tastes.

I'm a straight-and-narrow bandster. Doing things my way placed me in the position of requiring bariatric surgery. I have no reason to believe it would serve me any better now that the band is in place. I eat the way my doctor recommends. I exercise each and every day---at least once. Whether I want to or not. Motivation and enthusiasm don't even play in. Like any other job I have to do, if I have an off day, I just put one foot in front of the other until I get done what needs to be done. The rewards are FAR greater than most jobs I do--which tends to feed enthusiasm. But really, I generally don't feel in the least bit deprived. I feel incredibly fortunate to have this opportunity to become healthier and happier in my own skin.

Hi all, I had my surgery on Dec 30, 2013. I am in my 7th week this past Monday, and I've lost 37 lbs. I feel that I'm behind. I feel great though! I used to experience pains throughout my entire body, and now, not so much! It's a miracle. It's amazing what a difference that dropping a few pounds can make. I thank God for the opportunity to have this procedure done because my insurance didn't cover this procedure for a long time. Then, I kept praying and my husband's company was purchased by another company that provided insurance that covered bariatrics. Ohh, the power of prayer! I have a very supportive husband and family. In fact, my hubby has dropped 30 lbs himself because he has changed his lifestyle as well. My hubby is a large guy also, and he has started the process of seeing my surgeon for the procedure. He may be able to lose the weight on his own with the way that he's been losing thus far. I needed the procedure because I surely would return to my way old habits if that restriction was not in place. I'm looking forward to chatting with some of you because I would love to hear about your journeys. I get discouraged sometimes because right now, I feel that maybe I should be losing more weight, or that I may not be doing enough.

Have you not received any guidance from your bariatric team about when you can eat raw veggies? Check with them -- every program is a little different. I wasn't allowed raw veggies for 6 months post op, but my program is very conservative. I still rarely choose salad -- I don't find it to be nutritionally worth my valuable stomach space, and eating protein-forward leaves little room for wads of raw lettuce. I max out at about 1/4 cup of salad (after I eat my protein, which always comes first).

I believe the increased risk of kidney stones from bariatric surgery is in reference to gastric bypass. However obesity by itself is a cause for increased risk of the stones. Not drinking enough Water is considered one of the main causes. If you are diagnosed with a stone, it is advisable to be checked out by a Urologist as the size of the stone is extremely important as to the treatment required. You don't want to put your kidney in jeopardy.

Good for you who in Mexico?. I'm researching Tijuana Bariatric Center with Dr Garcia. I was scheduled for this week. Then decided to wait and see if I can LOSE the 35# with weight watchers . At the end of April if I haven't lost 10 lb I'm seriously looking into the sleeve again sick of being fat. Good luck Sent from my SM-J727V using BariatricPal mobile app

I am new on the site but have been a member of LBT for 2 years. I have not lost any weight since the inital month of the post op diet since being banded. They would do a fill then have to take it out due to not being able to drink liquids. I was doing that for like 2 years. I am livid!!!! I hate that this stupid thing is in my body not doing what it is supposed to. I have switched insurance due to my husband getting a new job. My new insurance has an exclusion stating that they will not cover anything to do with bariatric whatever. So I have written an appeal to the insurance company and have gotten a response saying that they are going to need a certificate of coverage from my old insurance co. I called to get that. Now what.... I have this stupid thing in my body that doesn't do what it is supposed to do and now I can't even get it out!!!!! I am so frustrated!!!!! What is up with me? Why didn't the stupid thing work? I tried to go on to LBT and see if anyone else has had this problem and of course everyone wants to tell you that you need another fill.....HELLO! I have had fills and unfills for 2 years now.....So the reason that I am posting on here is that maybe I can get this stupid thing out and hopefully get the sleeve put in. I am still considered morbidly obese because of my height 5ft 2in. I just need some encouragement and nobody telling me to get another fill (I have nothing in there now).

My husband and I moved here last august. I had mine done through Texas bariatric. When did you get yours done? How's it going for you so far?

Yep blubber,and fat, it is a pain. You,look at your naked body and think "This cannot,be ME! I have lost,over 50 pounds since The End of July, started out good, extremely,optomistic and then a couple of weeks in, I started saying I think I might,her a strictute, because I could not m9ve into the next diet sequence. And,the bariatric staff,kept,telling me, Early Days, you are just swollen, you'll be,just fine! Look,how nicely your weight is going,down! Yeah,People,but I have not had joy in THIS process!! So on the 12th of October an repeat EGJ was done, and my,guess was correct, I do have a strictute of my stoma and,I have developed 5 additional ulcers, I had 1 already, Hector, asleep in the walled-off section of my stomach, two of the new ones are in my stomach -pouch, the,other 3 on the back wall of the jejunem, the area,of the small intestine now attached to,my stomach pouch. And PRECIOUS,POUCH is a cranky soul, she,only keeps down liquids, no purees, no soft solids. Since,i am doing,my best to get,there? vitamins, minerals, Zofran for nausea, Carafate and omeprazole to calm down myself ulcers and company, sufficent,fluids and protein shakes, my surgeon and. his partner think I can go on with this liquid limited diet, but it will be 8 weeks Wednesday since,my surgery. And last Friday, the 26th, Dr Noria, my surgeon's partner, went down again and opened me another mm? but,told,me to continue my diet as it is, and we will be trying,once again, November 9th?. read a study from Cleveland Clinic and some people need to be reopened 3 or more times. Trying to remain upbeat and positive in such a position, wonder if i will require a stent or something there? But Happy Holloween, maybe,my TREAT will be a little late this year!😟🎃-😝🍀

I always hear this expression but not sure what are they talking about?? can someone explain -what is this "honeymoon period"?? -When?? -is it for sleevers or other bariatric surgery?? -and how to take "advantage" of that period?? (I always hear people "regret" not to take advantage of it!!)

Mushy, chewed up corn chips won't rip out titanium staples, so stop telling people that alarmist crap. The people that might pop a staple are few and far between. We're not sewn up with bubble gum and fishing twine. I really hate to see people trying to scare new patients into compliance. It simply does not work this way. SEcond of all, OP, you know EVERYTHING YOU ARE DOING WRONG. You know what you're eating that is off plan and you know your thinking is off. If you want people to say it's okay, this is definitely not the place for it... Bariatric Pal is known for being... aggressively real. I"m sure your doc gave you a meal plan. Pull it out, stick it on the fridge. Plan ahead and follow it. Because right now, any weight loss you're experiencing is purely due to portion control. In a not very long amount of time, weight loss is more about how YOU help your sleeve and less about the sleeve doing it for you. This is your golden ticket. Don't waste it, because in three months you'll be gaining weight and not sure how to take it off. The pre op diet and every post here, all the links, all the youtube videos are set up to give you the education you need, but it's worthless if you don't plan to actually make changes. THE SLEEVE IS NOT MAGIC. It doesn't work no matter what you eat.

Really I think you need to see a qualified Bariatric nutritionist. Congratulations on losing the 102 lbs. that is fantastic! We can all tell you what we do, or don't do but we all have different stats. Like heights, exercise regimes, jobs, even where we live can make a difference etc. There are a lot of threads about plateaus and you can search for them and read it all but none of it will be as succinct as a nutritionist that you get on with and trust. I personally have not read about any sleeve patient that can get in 1500 cals per day in the first year or so, but that is not to say there are none around. There are also a lot of books, many of which you can download, which will help with post surgery dietary requirements. I am a bit concerned about the sugar question, do you mean carbs found in fruit and veges or do you mean sugar added? If you mean sugar added the answer is none full stop. I am sure you will get more answers but I hope this helps in the meantime.

No, you need to follow the plan your team gave you. Don't look to a message board of internet strangers to grant you permission to go against medical orders. If you feel like you are ready to progress to mushy foods, you need to call your surgeon, dietitian, bariatric nurse practitioner -- someone from your team -- and discuss it with them and see if they think you are ready.

In my opinion, people tend to post difficulties/problems more so than positive issues mainly because they are seeking advice or comfort. Not many people post just to say their Bariatric surgery is going great. Now to answer was it worth it? For me, YES. I did not find it that difficult of a surgery or diet to follow. Was it all fun? no. But the results are fun! Keep a positive attitude and enjoy the ride.

Hello Minnah: You legally do not need to tell anyone at work the details of your medical issues. You are protected under HIPPA and you do have the right to take FMLA. Of course your co-workers are going to know your gone, but they don't legally get to know why. Your HR department should be aware of that. (There are some requirements to qualify for FMLA, talk to your HR department or do a Google search). I did not tell my co-workers. I went on vacation for two weeks and had the surgery. I had my bariatric doctor complete my FMLA form, so I could take time off work to go to my monthly doctor appointments. I requested that my doctor not use her stationary or any identifying stamps that stated bariatric on it. It is my right to protect my medical information. My weight loss has been slow and gradual, which is why I chose this procedure. People are now commenting on how great I look. No one has asked what am I doing to lose the weight. I thank them for the comments and tell them the truth. I work my butt off. I am now jogging on my treadmill for 60 minutes on an incline at least five times a week. I count calories, get plenty of rest, cut back on my portions and stopped the snacking. I have had many surgeries and I have never felt compelled to discuss those procedures with my employer and co-workers. Personally, I believe keeping my personal matters and job matters separate. When I go to work, I don't talk about my personal life and when I go home I don't talk about my work life. Anyway, just my thoughts on the matter. Best of luck to you!