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I'm new to this site but, not to these forms. I just got my date for a gastric bypass... Now I'm trying to get everything in order. I could use lota of help with your good and bad stories.

Im Oct 13th for the sleeve and i have a half sister who had bypass at least 10-11yrs ago. She says no regrets the only thing she says is that your stomach is small but your mind still can't process the new small stomach. She did say that most people stick to vitamins and are compliant for about 3 years and if you don't get monitored or get regular bloodwork that is when complications happen not because of the procedure but because of neglect. So key thing is not falling into old habits.

Im also new on here, im having gastric bypass on the 30th of nov, on my liquid diet now!

Hi...congrats to both of you No comorbidities either, BMI does not qualify either, but with everything I have tried weight is going up not down. Researching SILS VSG perfomed in MX. Hoping for November date Sent from my SM-N900P using the BariatricPal App

Good luck I'm almost a month out from Gastric bypass, my advise is pay attention to your stomach it will tell you when enough is enough. Don't lay flat food or drinks want to come out. I've only got sick once cause it tasted to good to stop. Nothing taste that good. Glad to answer any questions you have.

I have a question for the ladies... I have a problem with ovarian cysts so knowing Im getting ready to have surgery, my doctor took me off the pill and gave me the depo shot because the pill can cause blood clots. But today he told me I might have a problem because the depo shot bypasses is the liver and stomach... so what am I supposed to do?

No matter what type of surgery you have, you will always need to take a test. If you are pregnant, you won't be having any elective surgery. No doctor would take that liability. My program director told me a few years ago they have a really large young woman who had bypass surgery. The Anestesiologist overlooked the fact that no test had been done pre op, but because she has never had a regular period no one thought anything of it. As soon as she go home from the hospital she delivered a stillborn baby.

I spent the day Saturday with my sister, attending a baby shower and having dinner at my house. The conversation was almost exclusively about weight. I still haven't told a soul about the LAP-BAND®® except my husband, and I almost cracked under the guilt pressure I was feeling that day. I can say that I haven't lied at all about how I'm losing weight, but I am not telling about this one amazing tool that I had installed. I did tell my sister how much my weight had gotten up to (241) and she was amazed that I'd ever been that heavy. I have always heard that I carry my weight well, and I suppose that's true. I actually thought that my sister looked pretty heavy this weekend and she told me that she weighed 173 and had just lost 5 pounds on Medifast. I thought that at this point I look thinner than her but she's only a few inches shorter than me so this may be that my own perception of how I look at this point is not realistic. I never seem to think that I look as bad as I do until I'm confronted with a picture of myself. Anyway, we talked about what my goal weight was going to be and she told me she thought I was quite thin on my wedding day 13 years ago. I remember that I had starved myself down to 145 for that day and I agree, I was very comfortable with how I looked that day. Of course I came back from the honeymoon at 153 and never looked back! Anyway, I think that the 140s is a more realistic and reasonable goal than my original 130, so I am changing it to 141.4 to make it an even 100 pounds that I want to lose. I love even numbers, I'm an accountant and something about them makes me happy. When I told her that I wanted to lose that much weight in 2 years time, she said that was great, especially since I hadn't had gastric bypass or anything like that! Yikes. No reply from me, I just moved on to something else. I feel so guilty for being less than honest, but I don't think that my sister would even qualify for the surgery if she wanted it at less than 180 pounds, so I don't think it would be a help to her even if she knew. Maybe that's just my selfish justification for keeping my secret. What does everyone else think?

I spent the day Saturday with my sister, attending a baby shower and having dinner at my house. The conversation was almost exclusively about weight. I still haven't told a soul about the LAP-BAND®® except my husband, and I almost cracked under the guilt pressure I was feeling that day. I can say that I haven't lied at all about how I'm losing weight, but I am not telling about this one amazing tool that I had installed. I did tell my sister how much my weight had gotten up to (241) and she was amazed that I'd ever been that heavy. I have always heard that I carry my weight well, and I suppose that's true. I actually thought that my sister looked pretty heavy this weekend and she told me that she weighed 173 and had just lost 5 pounds on Medifast. I thought that at this point I look thinner than her but she's only a few inches shorter than me so this may be that my own perception of how I look at this point is not realistic. I never seem to think that I look as bad as I do until I'm confronted with a picture of myself. Anyway, we talked about what my goal weight was going to be and she told me she thought I was quite thin on my wedding day 13 years ago. I remember that I had starved myself down to 145 for that day and I agree, I was very comfortable with how I looked that day. Of course I came back from the honeymoon at 153 and never looked back! Anyway, I think that the 140s is a more realistic and reasonable goal than my original 130, so I am changing it to 141.4 to make it an even 100 pounds that I want to lose. I love even numbers, I'm an accountant and something about them makes me happy. When I told her that I wanted to lose that much weight in 2 years time, she said that was great, especially since I hadn't had gastric bypass or anything like that! Yikes. No reply from me, I just moved on to something else. I feel so guilty for being less than honest, but I don't think that my sister would even qualify for the surgery if she wanted it at less than 180 pounds, so I don't think it would be a help to her even if she knew. Maybe that's just my selfish justification for keeping my secret. What does everyone else think?

Hey guys!!!! Hope everyone is doing good and things are going well with everyone's journey! I just got back from Costa Rica three days ago I had a blast!! I'm so happy I went before my surgery and was able to enjoy everything. Just knowing that I'm going to be having surgery soon helped me enjoy my vacation more. I didn't get depressed looking in the mirror and over thinking how I looked In a bathing suit. I just thought about my new goal "sexy at thirty" and the reality that my next vacation hopefully I will be much thinner. I will be thirty in June 2015 and that's my new focus. I have a busy October ahead. I go to do my psych evaluation again this Thursday and then oct 7th I meet with the Surgeon and hopefully get a date and they get new notes for the sleeve to resubmit to UHC and then oct 13 I go to the hematologist to get clearance. I'm so excited!! So looking for a November surgery. SN: I got my denial letter for the Lap Band in the mail when I got back from vacation and the surgery date was Sept 30th, so I do believe things happen for a reason. Imagine being in a resort on a all liquid diet lol. I couldn't do it.

Hey everyone, There's an article on MSN today about 2017 Winners: Half their size....It's basically before and after photos with a quick summary of how these people literally lost half their size in weight. and Idk why but while I was reading through it, I started getting really pissed off. They pretty much listed every popular 'diet' they mention this one did weight watchers and walked or that one did Jenny Craig and 30 min cardio oh she tried Atkins. NEWSFLASH!!! That's not typically the norm. These diets don't help people stay in shape and once in a very blue moon do these diet help people lose 100+ lbs. I've done weight watchers before and yes I've lost weight on it, I actually lost a lot of weight....but guess what...here I am now, overweight again!! Idk why I was so pissed by the article, maybe it's because anyone that reads it would assume that that's the "winner's" way to lose the weight? Why wasn't there a person that did the bypass or sleeve or band a part of the 2017 winners? I'm on day 7 of my liquid pre-op diet and it's not easy! It's required more self control than any other diet I've every done and once I'm done with these 14 days, guess what, I have another 14 days...yipeee....then I go back 35 years and eat baby food for a few weeks....oh such fun, does it sound easy to anyone yet? NOOOOOO! And maybe one day, in a time far far away from today, I'll be able to chew some solid food...or even have a piece of meat and dare I say, even a nut? MSN....you suck! Rant over, thanks for letting me lose it for a sec there.

I had my bypass 7yrs ago and it was the best decision I ever made.I had some complications and still is Happy about my decision.

hello people! i am so excited today...i just found out that medicare has approved me for lapband revision surgery! now i am waiting for a pre-op appt.,meeting agian wiht the NUT and psych evaluation. i pray i can have the surgery in May as hoped for.finally a second chancce to lose at least 120 pounds.i have been desperat as i lost 200 from my gastric bypass and had gained back 100. i can use all the prayers adn advice i can get so plz feel free to reach me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!on cloud nine,abbagirl

I had thought about the band, then "heard" you need a BMI under 40 for the band so considered bypass...but my surgeon (who I found via the seminar) ONLY does the band and his biggest patient had a MBI if 86!!! It varies doctor to doctor, but larger people DO qualify for the band. (my BMI was 53, now around 51-52). I know erosion has decreased because surgeons have started putting the bulky part of the band NOT under where the stomach is stitched to itself to secure the band. You very liekly can keep the band for a lifetime, as I understand it erosion is no longer common (but remains a risk) So, I can tell you why i opted for the band vs the bypass. It's such a personal decision. 1. Everyone i know with the bypass has horrible gas (maybe it's coincidence but that's what I've noticed). By bad I mean very smelly. 2. Because the bypass removes a portion of intestine, it leads to dumping syndrome with certain foods (sugars I think)...sudden diarrhea and vomiting. I can;t risk this with my job, where I cannot always get to a bathroom. I'm a labor & delivery nurse and cannot always step away from the patient's bedside (literally life or death situations) 3. Because of the missing intestines, it also leads to malabsorption. Not everything you put in your mouth is used by the body as fuel. It leads to weight loss, sure, but IMO it's not the healthiest choice for ME. I feel that I need to retrain my BRAIN to only eat what my body will use, and the band is a tool that will allow that. Every bite I take I have to account for. I can;t depend on it going thru my body unused. Sure I can have treats on occasion, but my daily habits need to be changed. 4. I plan to use the band for life, but it is reversible...and adjustable. I have people at work who REALLY discouraged the band, saying they both had/have it (one switched to bypass) and both only lost about 30 pounds. I guess all I have to say to that is...you gotta work it, and use it correctly. Their lack of "success" does not mean I will follow suit. In the end I went with what my heart told me was right for me. I hope that helps a bit?

How things can change in a week! A week ago on Friday I learned that my chosen doctor was not a participating provider with my insurance company, even though my first phone calls told me he was. I felt that I was back at square one, and all the poking and prodding that I went through for the pre testing would be wasted. I called the surgeon's office, and they told me they would "look into it" and get back to me. I never heard from them. I decided to call the case management department of my insurance company. The nurse they put me in touch with was wonderful. She listened to me and researched who exactly was covered and participating. She gave me phone numbers and contact names. I was put in touch with Orange Regional Hospital in MIddletown, NY. They have been nothing short of amazing and wonderful. The care coordinators have worked closely with me to get all of the information transferred, and to set up the remainder of the appointments. I actually have a tentative surgery date set for July 18! I can't believe it! Right now I am going back and forth trying to decide between the sleeve or the bypass. I thought I was ok with my decision to do the sleeve, but the new surgeon made some good points, and I have started doing more research. My support group feels that the sleeve is the best, but I'm not sure anymore. I'm hearing people are hungry all the time after surgery. I'm thinking that this may be more psychological....my body is so used to eating (and in my case eating too much!), is it just craving what it can't have? I know the sleeve removes the part of the stomach that produces ghrelin, does that really make a huge difference? One of my most favorite things to do is to go out to dinner, especially at the end of the week. I guess this can still happen, the shrimp cocktail will become the meal, not the appetizer. I can't stand the way I look, and I don't believe I'm making a hasty decision. I have researched and soul searched. This is the right thing to do. I worry I'm not emotionally strong enough to stick to all the life changes I need to make. I want to be healthy. I want to look better. I want to have energy. I want to be able to shop at Victoria's Secret, instead of being told "we don't carry larger sizes here". I want to find outfits I love, not just things that "will do". I want to develop a positive body image and a healthy relationship with food. It sounds easy enough. I guess it's like smoking though. I used that as a crutch for years. The cigarettes were there for me during stressful times. I will have to learn a new way of thinking, and new ways of socializing and relaxing.

Here is what I did on my last surgeons visit day 6 days before surgery. --I met with the before surgery nurse, She checked my meds, went over the steps I would have to take to get to the surgery. Talked about the self injected blood thinner I would have to take for a while and gave me some booklets on how to inject myself and the lists and maps of where I would have to go during the day and the day of surgery. --a "fellow" (Dr intern), went over the consent form contract for the surgery and had me sign it. Got my copy. Asked him if the center ever did sleeves... he said yes, that he had assisted on 5 himself and there were many other interns that were assisting at other times. He said that the bypass takes a ton of skill, and not just anyone can do it, they do a bunch of bypasses and have for years, he said the sleeve just needs someone who knows how to do it. I asked if I could have a copy of my surgery recording... and he said no, it was a liability for them. I asked him what Bougie size the Dr used and he said of all the questions anyone has ever asked, no one has ever asked that one. He said they use a 36 and staple it loose. He said they hand stitch the staple line or sometimes us a robot to stitch. There is no advantage they have found to one or the other. The surgery is 3 1/2 -4 hours long. I said that seemed long, and he said Teaching Universities are in no hurry. There is plenty of time taken for surgery, no need to rush. The hand stitching takes a long time. I asked him why I heard so little about the sleeve before my first meeting with a Dr. He said that California is way behind the east coast as far as sleeves go, not because the Drs skill or desire, but the insurance here is so screwed up that it has been excluded until recently by most insurance companies. He said he worked doing sleeves for three years on the east coast before coming here to California. --a research representative, asked me to agree to be part of an ongoing study of WLS as part of them keeping their "Center of Excellence" status. The want to do followups for 5+ years if possible. I signed that. --the during and after surgery head nurse, Anne. She went over much of the same stuff as the before surgery nurse, and we chatted about travel, and how 50 is the new 40. She wrote me a note to give to my work saying I need 6 WEEKS! off to recover. Ouch, I have sick pay/time saved up for 3 weeks, and one staff at work is going to try and give me some of hers... well see....She said the Dr (Ali) was at a meeting and couldn't see me that day, but he would see me on the day of the surgery. She decided what my med schedule would be before and after the surgery. She put a list into the pharmacy for the dissolvable meds I would need. She did a short physical to access my state for surgery, checked my heart, reflexes, flexibility and asked questions about arthritis and such. -- the Lab for blood work and a pregnancy test, and then I went next door and got my blood and urine done. They need a pregnancy test. I told the lab tech that if I was pregnant then she was witness to a miracle. (being menopausal) They took about 6 tubes for testing. --the surgeon I went back to the office to pick up my letter for work, and the after surgery nurse grabbed me and said the Dr was back and wanted to talk to me. I went in and had a nice 20 minute visit with him. He was really nice, and personable. I asked him about the bougie size and he asked me why I wanted to know, and i told him about wanting good restriction and not to leave much of the stomach that stretches out more. He said all the parts are stretchy. He said they use a 36. I asked them about the loose cut, and he said it has to be loose because they stitch the whole thing and the extra room is to do that. He also leaves a little bit extra by the pylorus end to avoid complications that sometime happen there. He said that even people that have a 60 bougie lose weight, that the main reason for people gaining weight is their own actions, not the size of the bougie. You have to make changes in how and what you eat for the surgery to be a success. He also warned that it is his opinion that more people will gain weight back from the sleeve than RNY. Even though the long term results are not in yet. I asked him if he thought the people who gain back weight do it more because they eat around the sleeve, or because the sleeve stretches out, and he said they are related, and the people who gain weight back are more likely to look for some outside reason for it than how they eat and exercise. Those who follow the plan and exercise into the future lose the weight and keep most of it off. He talked about leaks, and nausea. He said that nausea is the most common complication. It can last one day to months. In the case of months, some people need to be fed by IV. 20% of his patients have some amount of nausea. There are meds for nausea. He said he thought I would be a good candidate and believed I could find success with the sleeve. I asked him why I didn't see or hear anything about the sleeve in his lecture or literature, and he said that until recently the sleeve was not covered by insurance in California and so he didn't bring it up as a choice. --the anesthesiology offices. They checked my meds, asked again about allergies and such. About a 5 hour day. They will call me friday to let me know when I need to go in for surgery on tuesday. The day of surgery will be about 8 hours of check in, wait, surgery, recovery and to the room. They expect I will be in over night, there will be a leak test the next day. If all looks well, I can go home the next day. They want to see that I don't have a lot of nausea before I go home and will keep me an extra day if need be. There ya go. The rundown as well as I remember it. More later!

I did bypass as well. I had to have a hernia repair and my doc suggested to go with bypass.

I am in the first stages of being approved for bypass surgery. How do you handle the people that are totally against you doing this. I feel this is the best thing for me and my doctor does too but the negative Nancy's are making me question myself

I went to my first seminar in May 2012, I was done with the process and approved by my doc and insurance by July but had to put off surgery due to work. I had my surgery September 25, I starred at 364lbs and I am down to 300. I lost 40lbs before surgery and have lost 24 after. Mine was not a revision, I havent had any other weight loss surgery besides the bypass. I am sure you will do great, just stick to the diet and try not to get upset if something makes you sick.....I got upset the first time because I was doing everything right, my doc was awesome though telling me how our body is adjusting and that it might not like something right away but to try again later.

I would never presume to try and change someone's mind. Help them find information, yes. Try to convince them that "my" way is the "right" way - not a chance. Sorry, I really have to disagree here. For some, bypass is the best option. Take one of my family members. He was nearly 500 lbs overweight, and had multiple life-threatining comorbidities. He was in a position of, "Lose weight. Now. Or you will die." He needed to lose significant weight quickly, regardless of his intial ability to comply with a diet. For him, the band would absolutely not have been the right choice, IMO. I think for each situation there is a best option. I think the options may change order as the situation changes. Because this was right for us at that point in our lives does not mean it's right for everyone.

I really think the choice is a personal decision based on the individuals situation. In my case I would never choose the bypass! Vitamin deficiencies and dumping syndrome, count me out! I do however think that the gastric sleeve is a good way to go too. Unfortunetely, it is still considered experimental by most insurances. I think that you will see a gradual decline in gastric bypass and an increase in the amount of gastric sleeves. However, even with that said, I would choose the band since it is reversable in case of future complications.

Wow...what insightful ladies you all are... I have been banded since it seems the beginning of time... not really... I have had no problems until now being pregnant... I never made it to my goal weight ( I stopped short by 20 or so pounds...but my focus changed... I was trying to get pregnant and now I am... I hope that my issue (reflux) is due to pregnancy and nothing more... but I am glad to hear all of the other stories. To be informed is the best that we can do... especially for those of us who have already committed to this journey. I hope that all goes well for everyone in the future and after the twins are born I will probably try to loose the baby weight without a fill... will it be possible...who knows...but my never being tight seems to be the answer to my not having problems (referring to myself only) it seems I needed help to push away... that's why I did not have the bypass... I knew I loved food and just needed a push in the right direction... Just my 2 cents

style="margin:0;padding:0;background-color:#d8dde8;color:#5a5a5a;font:normal 13px helvetica, arial, sans-serif;position:relative;"> Hey BariatricPal Members! I hope you’re having a wonderful summer and making good progress towards your weight loss and health goals! As our country and the world have been hit in recent weeks by devastating news of senseless deaths, it can be hard to stay focused on the “little things” in life – like health and weight loss. But you can do your best by staying strong and dedicating yourself with even more commitment to achieving your goals. Hopefully this newsletter can help a little; here’s what you’ll find. Got a Buddy? Your Key to Better Weight Loss Getting More from BariatricPal Let The BariatricPal Store Make Weight Loss Easier After you go through the newsletter, we hope you will login to the BariatricPal forums to catch up on all the discussions. Thanks for all of your support, and Happy Independence Day! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal Got a Buddy? Your Key to Better Weight Loss A weight loss surgery buddy can do wonders for your weight loss. You can motivate each other to stick to the diet, to exercise, and to stay strong in the face of the criticism and judgement that often comes with weight loss surgery. Face to Face Friendship Someone you see regularly can help hold you accountable with your WLS diet, and you can do the same for them. It doesn’t need to be a WLS patient if you can find someone else who’s losing weight and just wants the same things you do: weight loss and a healthier life. Some good possibilities are a work colleague or a friend who is ready to commit to weight loss and healthy living. Working Out Together A workout buddy can be just what you need if you’re not always eager to get out the door for your workout. It’s a lot harder to shut off your alarm clock and go back to sleep if you know you have a friend waiting for you at 5:00 a.m. It can be a buddy for gym workouts, walks in the neighborhood, or any other workout you want to do. Find an Online Buddy A virtual friend can be just as good for weight loss as an in-person friend. Where can you find a friend? Logon to BariatricPal, of course! Be sure to introduce yourself if you haven’t already, and let everyone know that you’re looking for a weight loss surgery buddy. You may want someone with a surgery date near yours, or maybe you’re looking for a WLS veteran. Just see who responds to your post! Insure Nutrition We are always thrilled to welcome a new newsletter sponsor into the BariatricPal family, and this month, Insure Nutrition is giving us the pleasure of doing just that. Our latest sponsor, Insure Nutrition, is an online company that specializes in getting health insurance coverage for nutritional supplements. Its Post-Bariatric Surgery Nutrition products includes Premier Protein shakes in chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavors and OptiSource High Protein drinks in caramel and strawberry flavors. Checking if you are eligible is easy. Insure Nutrition encourages you to use its online form to find out if you qualify. Our sponsors help make BariatricPal newsletters and other services possible. We encourage you show your thanks by considering them first for your bariatric needs. unjury and Opurity BariatricPal is proud and excited to announce two new sponsors for our newsletters. The new sponsors are Unjury, a supplier of wonderful tasting, highest quality protein supplements, and Opurity (from the makers of UNJURY), highest purity Vitamin supplements for bariatric surgery patients. Their support lets us keep BariatricPal newsletters coming to you each month. Unjury was founded by a master’s degree dietitian who has been helping patients since 1974. It is committed your health. You know the importance of getting enough protein after weight loss surgery, but you also know that meeting your protein goals can be challenging. Unjury makes your task not just easier but actually enjoyable. Product flavors include Chocolate Splendor, Chocolate Classic, Vanilla, Strawberry Sorbet, chicken Soup Flavor, and Unflavored. These ready-to-use protein powders come in single-serve and multi-serve containers, and contain high-quality whey protein to keep you full and nourished. Launched in 2007, Opurity is dedicated to using the purest ingredients in its supplements. Opurity Bariatric Multivitamins have two unique big advantages: First, each multivitamin requires only one tablet per day*. Second, Opurity is so dedicated to quality that it is unique in using no ingredients from China. Choose from chewable orange-berry multivitamins for gastric bypass and gastric sleeve patients or for lap-band patients.Opurity also sells chewable calcium, vitamin D and folic acid/vitamin B-12 chewables. All supplements come with a 100% satisfaction guaranteed. They return policy is: “Yes you can return it.” Support from Unjury and Opurity helps us continue to bring you the services you enjoy on BariatricPal, so please support these two brands! When looking for your bariatric surgery supplements, first visit Unjury.com and Opurity.com. Purchasing from these companies helps support BariatricPal. Thanks to Unjury and Opurity for your generous sponsorship, and thanks to BariatricPal members who support our partnership! *You still need calcium and sublingual B-12. Getting More from BariatricPal BariatricPal is here for you to help you through your WLS journey. From our supportive and informative forums to our online store with bariatric food, Snacks, and supplements, we’re doing what we can to help you reach your weight loss and health goals. Better Boarding: Please Promote a Courteous Environment! BariatricPal is unique because of our friendly and supportive environment. We believe that everyone has the right to post their questions, doubts, and opinions without fear of being ridiculed or put down. Recently, a few members have been violating our zero-tolerance policy for rudeness. This must stop, and you can help make sure it does. First, you can help by reporting any posts that violate our Forum Rules. You can report anonymously, so there is no fear of retribution. You can also help promote an encouraging environment by making sure you are a positive influence. Answer other posters with respect. If you are unable to respond respectfully to a poster, please just refrain from answering. Thanks to the vast majority of you who make sure to maintain a positive environment on the forums! Saving Money at The BariatricPal Store What’s better than getting great-tasting bariatric foods and Vitamins delivered to your door? How about knowing you’re getting the best price on them? The BariatricPal Store guarantees the lowest prices anywhere online with our price matching program. To save even more, we have a special offer for new customers, too! Save 15% on your first order just by using coupon code ILUVBP16 at checkout! Let The BariatricPal Store Make Weight Loss Easier Staying strong on the weight loss surgery diet is tough, but it’s a lot easier when you have the bariatric foods you need on hand. When your low-calorie, high-protein drinks and foods are at your fingertips, you’re more likely to get the filling protein you need without diving desperately for junk food. And when your vitamins are formulated for your needs and they’re easy to take, you’re more likely to stay nourished as you lose weight. The BariatricPal Store has the weight loss surgery essentials that can make your job easier. Here are a few of our most popular products this summer. Summer Refreshment: Protein Fruit Drinks On a hot summer’s day, a fruit smoothie can sound awfully tempting. Don’t do it – at least, not from a smoothie shop! You can wind up with close to 1,000 calories and over 100 grams of sugar. BariatricPal fruit smoothies are the smarter choice to satisfy that sweet tooth and refresh yourself. They have the fruit flavors you love, such as pineapple, mango, strawberry, and lemon raspberry iced tea, but without the sugar and calories of regular smoothies. Each low-carb serving has about 10 to 15 grams of protein and 80 to 100 calories. Hottest Items – Vitamin Patches Our vitamin patches are flying off the shelves, and for good reason. You don’t have to swallow pills when you have a convenient topical patch to get your vitamins and minerals. Just wear each patch for 8 hours a day to get the nutrients you need. Pick the individual patches you want, or take a look at our Patch Packs for Lap-Band, Gastric Sleeve, and Gastric Bypass patients. Don’t forget to browse through our Patch Packs Plus section to pick up extra nutrients for specific benefits. Snacks for a Day Trip Heading off to the beach? Planning a weekend getaway? Pack a few high-protein snacks so you know you’re set. Protein bars are a great go-to, since they’re convenient and come in all kinds of great-tasting flavors including chocolate, Peanut Butter, caramel, and lemon. Bars aren’t your only choices, though. You can try pretzels, chips, and even a box of cereal! These may not sound like good candidates for your WLS diet, but they are! 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My name is Amanda and I am 34 years old, located in Delaware! I began my journey in November 2013 when I made the decision to have surgery. I was 219 pounds at 5 feet 1 inch. I had heart trouble, high blood pressure, pain in my joints, a substantial inoperable back injury with nerve damage, border line diabetes, and a whole list of other ailments. In the beginning, I had very little support from my family. My surgeon required an info seminar followed by every physician's clearance known to man, nutrition classes, and life skills classes. I attended my 3 nutrition classes and when I entered my first life skills class, I wanted to back out!! A friend of mine, who also had surgery (bypass) was going through the classes as well. She encouraged me to continue this journey, that I needed to look at my quality of life, and that it was either now or never. I decided to push forward. I can still remember pulling into the hospital parking garage the day of surgery. I was a nervous wreck! Good thing I wasn't driving, otherwise, I may have just turned back around and returned home!! This was the first day of the rest of my life! I was pretty fortunate that I didn't have any complications, and faired well. After three months, I was completely off of all of my meds, other than my gastric meds for surgery! I had more energy, and just felt better in general. It was/is not an easy trip. However, I would not change it for the world! I am now 8 1/2 months post op, and down 83 pounds with approximately 10 more to go! I have little pain in my back, and finally feel as though I am free of the shackles that I was in due to being so overweight. I had to have another major surgery, a hysterectomy, in September, and since then I feel like I have hit my plateau. I also have started to slide into some old bad habits with refined sugars, and wraps. I need a little help from my bariatric friends to support me and to get through the last ten pounds. Thanks for welcoming me! Amanda

Hey sorry it took so long to get back to you. I've just finished my pre-op stuff last month(november). I started my whole process back in june. I was in no hurry at all. Back in august Dr. Neff asked when i would like to set a date for, I decided to go with Jan. 7th. I found out that respitory was the longest to get done. During my sleep study I found out i had severe sleep apnea so the pulm dr. wouldnt clear till i used my machine for 30 days and had to get a chest xray and a lung fuction test. I used Dr. Obergon for pulm. But depending on how fast you get your appointments you can get in probaly 4-5 months