Search the Community

I just got an activity tracking band. This can connect to an app called My Fitness Pal, which can be adapted to fit any diet goals. Is there a diet, maybe by %s that will work for a veteran type gastric bypass. I've always tried to get 80 grams of Protein in but have never seen any guidelines that include carbs, calories and or Fiber etc. I've attached an example from My Fitness Pal. Can anyone advise? Thanks, Terry food Diary MyFitnessPal.com.html

No I had the regular gastric bypass.

Hi my name is Tina and i have been trying for 3 years to get the gastric bypass they told me 6 months then my doctor sold out and now i have to start over. But all they had to do is refax it to medicaid and it could be done by now so if this is going to superior. Please let me get it call the doctor. The name is Dr Rigsby the number is 972875-6600 it was Dr White my name is tina I have done everything on the list i was at 235 now i am 215 thats doing what they tell me to do i need this done it really hurts my back and i really cant do anything i have done more then what was on the list and on some i have to get it twist.

Here in Bismarck, ND, it is just part of the program. The classes start one month after surgery and are then once a month. You pay $249 in total and can attend any and all classes after that for life. They say it is a must and I guess you have to pay the money, but I don't see how they can make you attend. However, I had some good advice from my chiropractor. She told me "if they tell you to do something, do it." Her mother had gastric bypass and lost over 100 lbs initially. However she didn't do any of the classes or support group things and has now gained back 50 lbs... I don't want to be in that spot, so I'm going to take all the help I can get. I figure you go and glean what you can use. Not everything they say will fit every person in every way. I already have some pretty strong notions about what I will and won't do to lose this weight. One of them has to do with artificial sweetners that are reportedly so bad for you. Why would I want to contaminate my new and improved body with that junk. So I won't be using them. A teaspoon of sugar won't kill me. But......... I'm betting that they will have lots of useful information about much more than food and I plan to take advantage. My way of doing things hasn't worked very well for the past 55 years, so I had better listen to some new ideas. I plan to be successful........ Thanks for listening.

Hello Zoelifechick, I hope you get this message before your surgery. Isn't it amazing how God puts people in your life to reasure you just when you need it. You met 2 people who have been doing well with the sleeve. I am so excited for you! I finally got my date. I am getting sleeved at Fair Oaks on 2 November. My original date was the 20th of October at Potomac. But, because I have friends who live close to Fair Oaks, I chose that hospital. I know you are nervous...so am I. I don't think we would be normal if we were not nervous. But ,just keep saying to yourself that this is for a better life, and health. I will be praying for you all day on Tuesday. If you need to talk, just call me anytime. God Bless, Turtlegirl49

Hi Jared, I copied and pasted this from another thread, I probably should have put here under support. I am going through this myself right now and have an idea of how you might be feeling right now. I am basically starting ALL over. Baby steps for me. I hope you can get back on track as well as hope I can get back on track I will start my morning with 2 glasses of H2o and at least 10 minutes on my Gazelle I just had to have and it now collects dust... Keep me informed of how you are doing. Schel So here it is for you to read, what we said... I need some advise... Havn't been here in a long while... Banded in November 2005, and 5 fills total in my history of my band. Have an appointment next week to go for a fill, however am thinking of canceling for the 5th time now in 5 months.... Scared of my surgeon, scared to be scolded, scared to be told theres nothing else they can do for me... lost at first, and have gained all my weight back including 7 lbs...So I am above my presurgery weight. My last fill was June of 2006 and have not been back since. I do have restriction and even PB at times. Scared to have a larger fill and not be able to eat only the bad stuff which goes down to well. What should I do? My mom thinks I should go in for the fill and said she would go with me for support. I really need some words of wisdom. Please be honest with me and tell me what you think. Thank you. Schel And Cindilou29 said… Schel, you're not going to like my answer but I think you need some tough love here. You've got to get your head back in the game. If you eat junk, it doesn't matter what they do for you, you're going to gain it back. This is an opportunity for you to re-commit yourself to this band. Get the fill, tell them how you feel and talk to a nutritionist to get back on track. Really, you need to figure out why you don't want to use this tool that you have. There's a reason and only you know what it is. Do you really want to lose weight? There's something holding you back from achieving that weight loss. You can PB and not be too tight. If you don't follow the rules (ie you eat too fast or take bites that are too large, etc) you're going to PB even if you have just a teeny bit of restriction. Keep your appointment. If a fill is not right for you, then he won't do it but you owe it to yourself to give this another try. Tell him what you're feeling. Tell him your fears. Trust me, it won't be the first time he's heard it. And don't be afraid of a little scolding. I'm sorry to say this but maybe you need it. Let your Mom go with you so you can lean on her for support. This won't be an easy thing but you have to do it. Did you go through all of this to give up now? You're stronger than that. You can do this, Schel. I know you can and more importantly, somewhere in there you know you can too. You never would have done the surgery if you didn't think you had it in you to succeed. Please don't cancel the appointment again. You owe it to yourself to try to get back on track. Cut out the junk. If that's too hard, then just cut back. Every baby step is getting you closer to your goal. You just have to DO it. Remember, a journey of 1000 miles begins with one single step. You can take one step, can't you? That's not overwhelming, right? Tomorrow, try to eat following the rules. If that's too much, eat one meal following the rules. Then the next day try for 2 meals. YOU CAN DO THIS. Keep us updated. You're in my thoughts and prayers. And I said… Thanks! I will keep my appointment. I think I just made my 1st right choice. Yesterday when at the store, my son was begging for cupcakes. So I gave in and this morning when I got up, what did I do? I grabbed them was going to open it up and pushed it away and came to the computer instead. Feels good that I did this, but the evil voice in my brain is still saying go eat it! Wish I could put a band around the evil voice in my head! I will not put one bite of the cup cake in my mouth and will have a healthy Breakfast with my son this morning before going to work. Thanks, I know this is just a baby step, and everyone here will be hearing from me a lot more as I need to get away from the food, I shall type type type! Thanks. Schel

I was told it was because you do not get enough fruit and veg in your diet post band and for the first couple of months you lose some of your hair. Not sure who told me that but my friend had the bypass and she only experienced a small amount of hair loss Lauren x

If you are 9 of 10 on the pain scale, call your surgeon ASAP. You should not be in that much pain. Or got to the ER. Take your pain meds every 4-6 hours. Stay on top of it. Heating pads help, walking helps tons. Although not as invasive as a gastric bypass or sleeve, band surgery IS abdominal surgery. They move your liver around, go behind your stomach, make holes in fat to thread the band through. Sounds pretty invasive to me.

It does help. Its a valid point. But you're also terrifying me. God forbid I end up getting a bypass and I have to deal with malabsorption the rest of my life for nothing. Don't you think if I can lose weight rapidly say for a few months when restricting my diet that this is a good indicator that I'll probably continue to do so when I've undergone surgery? This topic seems to be a many headed hydra. You answer one question and introduce more. I appreciate your input. I'll have to take these things and unpack them and see what other people think about them.

I also want to clarify something. The "gamble" everyone talks about isn't about weight loss (not really). The gamble is whether you experience complications from the surgery. From your history, I'll agree that you are in an excellent position to lose 60-70% of your excess weight with moderate effort. With hard work, you'll likely get to a normal BMI. Your doctor is full of "you know what", saying that because you are starting heavy, that you won't lose as much. I do suspect what she MEANT was, that if you had started at a lower weight, that you would be more likely to get to 165lbs, but because you started heavier, that your end point will be...say... 235lbs .. so "more loss" really just means "a lower scale #" to her. (Hope that makes sense). From what I've seen on the boards, because you are male, you will lose very quickly (likely 15-20lbs per month for the first 4-6 months) women lose slower.. usually closer to 10lbs a month. Everyone slows down after the first 6 months, but how slow depends on you. In a year, I expect you'll have lost 150lbs with moderate work. (All these #s are assuming you get the sleeve). But the weight loss with the sleeve can continue for an additional 6 months or so... so you don't have to be too close to goal in a year (like you would after a bypass). The concept of "calories in vs. calories out" is pretty much hogwash during the losing phase. The scale in no way reflects what you are or aren't eating. This is a huge part of the challenge of post op weight loss. Many times we aren't losing weight, because we aren't eating enough. True story! So take the concepts of BMR, exercising for weight loss, etc.. and tuck them away, because it isn't so cut and dried right after surgery. They may apply during maintenance.

Well, I agree, and thats why I wish medicine had demographics for us to look at. I think clearly its the case that a person with a higher BMI would be MORE likely to lose more weight than a person with a lower BMI. Mostly because of Basal Metabolic Rate. A person who weighs more has a higher metabolic rate than a person with a lower weight (all other things equal). Thats why I was dubious when she said "People with high bmi's don't lose as much weight as people with low bmi's" that contradicts what I know about BMR. Given that I lose a lot of weight anytime I diet, which has been too numerous times to count, I think its safe to assume I'll also lose weight rapidly with any surgery. Thats what I think too! I think that if I can get through say 80 lbs or so by next summer (surgery wouldn't be til fall). Not only would I have a significant gain in energy but also the introduction of summer and wanting to be more active and simply having more opportunities to be active socially it will only continue to spurn on quality weight loss. I've given it some thought and I've settled on two factors. A. If there is some genetic ailment or physical condition that limits my weight loss like one of the responders was discussing then it seems logical to have the Sleeve. If I don't lose weight I don't lose weight but I don't have a lifetime of malabsorption problems and thousands more in medical costs for potential problems. B. If I lose in the upper percentages like many of you have (go you!) than I'll just be that more happy that I chose sleeve than bypass. Thanks for everyones input. I'm leaning more towards the Sleeve again.

Hi anyone, anywhere, up for being a buddy, fairly low BMI, but diabetic, have mixed feelings heading up to the op this week , but due to diabetes , asthma, and joint pain am determined to go forwards as for me 50 is definitely NOT the new 30 ( yet ! ) looking for buddies to navigate the hazards of 'cheating' , slider foods, emotional v physical hunger , basically getting your head around the journey after NEXT weekend (eek!) Thank you ! Oh yes, new to forums, how do I upload a photo to my profile ?

I don't think it has anything to do with your health issues because the surgeons around here do it with all their wls patients. I think it's more common for gastric bypass patients than sleeve patients but I was happy to do it to make sure I didn't have any existing gastric issues. It turned out that I have a mild case of gastritis and gastroparesis. I don't suffer any of the symptoms associated with these issues right now but had I not had the endo, I would not have known about them and be able to start taking precautions before they become worse.

Hi everyone i was offered gastric bypass last year but was not ready now im ready but friends keep trying to talk me out of it is it true you can never eat carbs or sweet things ever again?

Hi everyone , I just had my 18 month post-op labs done and my B1 shot up from 157 to 203 in 6 months. Is hat normal? I read it can be caused by bariatric surgery. But normally people are deficient in both the sleeve and the bypass. Not sure if I need to worry or wait to hear from my surgeon. Any thoughts? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi I had a band in 2009 - it was extremely successful. The band eroded when I was pregnant so I had to have it out last year. I was sleeved in February 2014 and I haven't had any restriction since day 1 ( I know all about slider foods/what I should be eating). I saw my surgeon yesterday. I was thinking of getting a bypass but he is talking about putting on another band. I'm having a barium swallow tomorrow. My questions are: has this happened to anyone else? Did you have another band or a bypass and what were the results. I would really appreciate some feedback - this situation is killing me:(

Here's a story! I was ON THE TABLE, put to sleep... SURGERY DAY (this was just in September) and they woke me up 20 minutes later and said "sorry, we can't operate. You have a huge mass in your stomach and we don't know what it is." YEAH. So I'm more-than-half drugged... confused... asking everyone who will look at me "DO I HAVE CANCER??" and getting answers like "we don't know what it is, yet. The doctor will talk with you when you are awake." I clearly remember replying OH I AM AWAKE NOW. They referred me to OBGYN and I found out a few days later I have a huge cyst on top of my uterus. I am heading back into surgery this coming Thursday for a hysterectomy and, if there are no surprises or complications, I will also receive my gastric bypass surgery at the same time (the two surgeons coordinated and are working together). So there's a story for you! : )

I guess I should update my Journey a bit. I have been kind of moving slow since my consult. I don?t know if it is because I am afraid of being denied. Or it maybe I am hoping that by the time I finish the 6 month diet, they will approve the sleeve and I won?t have to deal with deal with the appeal process. I am 99.9% sure they will deny me on the first try. I just turned in my release of information to my PCP yesterday. They need to send 3 years of records to the surgeon and get my psych evaluation before they will submit to the insurance company. I haven?t scheduled the psych evaluation yet either. When I talked to the receptionist to turn in my release form to my PCP, I told them to just send the records to me. I figured I could make copies, and keep a set for myself. That way if I decide to seek a 2nd consult, I?ll already have them. The receptionist was somewhat concerned about releasing the records to me. She said they might have to charge me for them if they release them to me, but don?t charge anything if it is being sent to a Dr. That makes no sense to me at all. The records lady is supposed to call me and discuss my options. I am also waffling on if I should go to another surgeon. There are not many sleeve surgeons in my area that I know of. The one I consulted (Dr. Lamasters) who has only done a dozen. She has done hundreds of RNY bypasses though. I don?t know if there is anyone in Iowa who has much experience at sleeves since hardly any insurance companies will pay for it. Kind of a catch 22. I don?t know if I should contact Dr. Gary J. Anthone, I know he is a highly regarded DS (duodenal switch) surgeon, so you would think he would be good at doing sleeves as he has 1600 DS surgeries. It also says he has done 250 Open VSG?s, and 25 VSG (I assume these were done Lap). My only concern is he may be great at Open, but are his LAP skills up to snuff? I think I also have concerns that they may try and talk me into getting a DS. I don?t really think I want to deal with the severe malabsorption issues. Ironically, my insurance company would pay for the DS. I have also been looking at appeal strategies. I think I have a good case that the VSG is the only acceptable WLS for me, since I take NSAIDS twice a day for my ruptured disc in my back, and my father died of stomach cancer. Once concern I have is that according to the WLS policy for wellmark BCBS, they state the following. ?Surgery for morbid obesity, also known as bariatric surgery is based on intestinal malabsorption and gastric reduction. Surgery is considered successful if weight loss is maintained at greater than or equal to 50% of excess body weight for more than 10 years.? Are they going to wait for 10 years before they approve the sleeve? Well I guess I should get off my butt, and schedule a psych evaluation and get the ball rolling. I won?t ever get anything done procrastinating. I suppose I can wait to choose a surgeon once I know i've jumped through my insurance hoops. Wish me luck!

Two years ago I signed up on here, and started my journey for the lap band. 1 1/2 months in to my pre op I found out I was pregnant. I put everything on hold and was blessed with my baby girl. We had 3 boys before her. So now our family is complete, my tubes are tied. And I'm back on my journey. My heaviest weight was 325 right after my daughter was born. 1/28/13. One year since my daughter has been born I decided on New Years to call my surgeon and start again. This time I have changed my mind, I don't want the lap band now, but I'm going for the gastric bypass. The day I called my surgeon I weighed in at 313. Today I weigh 290. I'm doing well on my pre on diet, I've lost 23lbs in the last month. I joined the gym, and go regularly. Between 4 and 5 days a week for 1 1/2. I started the c25k program. After killing myself walk/jogging on the treadmill for an hour, and completing 3miles. I use the pool to swim laps. My challenges is the food. I'm doing it. But I'm a big foodie! I garden etc. ohh and I forgot to mention I'm a baker! Yeah I know! Do I make wedding cakes etc. so I'm ok with healthier food, but I'm training myself to not eat like I use to. I miss bring FULL. I'm using my fitness pal, and weilos! And looking forward to surgery in May!

Even though it is just around the house I've been walking and walking and feeling better. I think I slept much too long last night in just one position which didn't help much. I only stayed one night in the hospital and between those things on my legs pumping up and down and the blood pressure monitor and all the interns I got NO rest, so I made up for it last night. I'm happy to say I'm feeling better...have no gas, and not hungry. I have absolutely no regrets over having this surgery. It is something that because of this forum I was well prepared for. I have had 5-way-bypass surgery and the pain from that can't even compare to this. I was 6 mo. recovering from that excruciating pain. I know my age isn't helping much either, but I'm going to do everything I can to make this work. Thanks all for all the support. God Bless, Dody

Hey November Nymphs! Merry Christmas! How did everyone do staying on plan today. I must admit this was the first day that I actually strayed off course since being banded. And guess what? I feel like crap tonight. I guess I am not used to all the sugar I put into my body. I am not beating myself up about it; I just resolved to get back on track tomorrow and follow the plan to the "T". Can't wait for my fill on the 3rd, I am starting to get more hungry between meals so I know that I need a fill. So how about you? Did you do all right? Post your ups and downs, we are here for you. Cindy PS: Oh yeah! I met my New Years Goal a week early and hit below 300. Yeah...a Christmas NSV Gift for me.:faint:

I decided in October of last year to have WLS. My doctor recommended the surgeon I'm currently seeing. When I went to the info session he seemed like a personable guy, good credentials, thousands of bandings under his belt. I was excited and made all my appointments right away as I was told. I met with the nutritionalist twice, the pulmonologist, my PCP, cardiologist and psychologist and made further follow up appointments as I was told. Along the way little insignificant information wasn't told to me and that should have been my first clue especially when I got the, "Oh you didn't know?" answer more than once. The lack of information wasn't a big concern because it delayed other appointments but I was still weeks away from a surgical date. Well now the little insignificant information has turned into a major miscommunication. My insurance carrier requires I see a nutritionalist for 6 months. In the info packet from the surgeon I was told I needed to see my PCP for 6 months and follow a doctor prescribed weight loss program. Well that's not true. My insurance carrier requires I see a nutritionalist not my PCP. So now my surgical date will be delayed for another 4 months, (I saw my surgeon's nutritionalist twice in two months). The lesson to be learned here for anyone contemplating WLS please learn all that is required of you. Call your insurance carrier yourself and ask. Make sure you call your surgeon's office often to make sure all the information is correct and accurate. Don't trust the answer of one person. Make sure you ask for comfirmation from someone else in the office. Interview the office help before you decide on your surgeon. I have an appointment on Monday with a different surgeon. I'll interview his staff and may change doctors. Problem is he prefers gastric bypass. At this point I could be talked into it very easily.

I too am having trouble sticking to the diet plan. It is soooo hard! I have dealt with a lot of tough things but fighting that urge to eat food you love and and only eating veggies, lean protien and minimal carbs is the worst! Highland is great, I had a child there too, and two relatives who had bypass surgery, all good experiences. There will always be bad nurses just like really good ones too where ever you go, just speak up! Good luck!

Hi, My first formal appointment after the orientation was November 12th and I am scheduled for January 30thBe aware that some insurance companies make you be on a physician monitored 6 month weight loss journey before you can even start the process. Good luck

WOW well.........that does it for me! Geesh.....it's so sad. :tongue2:( Yes, she looks good but she's got some bad problems now!!! I feel lucky since I am in PERFECT health except the fact that I have an extra 140+ pounds on my frame! But I don't want to end up like her, so I guess the "slow" weight loss of the lap band is WAY WAY WAY better then the bypass surgery! :thumbup:)