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Hi Everyone!! okay soooo. I wana get the LapBand. I have United Health Care. I have a few questions. I hope yall can help me. 1. If my BMI is over 40 will I automaticly get approved? 2. Has anyone used Dr. Steven Fass out of Austin TX and does he make you jump through all kinds of hoops? 3. Since my BMI is 41, I have hypo-thyroid and hyper-tension, depression and back pain do u think I will automaticly get approved with out needing to prove 5 years of weight history and do the 6 month pre-op diet? I was born over weight. It runs in the family. I have never ever been thin. I am almost 285 lbs today. I have never been able to keep up on my health due to a rocky life style and bad choices in life. At 28, I am ready and able to finally take care of myself and become healthy. I have come a long way, and ready to make more changes.Now I am able to with a good job and health benefits. I hope ya'll can help me by sending my your opinions and experiences. :smile2: Thanks so much! Always, Amber Xoxo

I believe there are Protein powders you can mix with fruit juices ? Also it does not have the MOST protein in it ,,, i am not sure if there is any dairy in the mix itself. you might try Carnation instant Breakfast mix. Anything "Whey" will have dairy in them . So careful with that. Check out "Celiac Forums" for Celiacs disease . They have to stay away from dairy . Just did a quick search and found these .. Protein from Rice, powder, Dairy Free, Vegetarian / Vegan, Hypo Allergenic, Plain - 1 lb. 5 oz. Go Dairy Free | beverages - smoothies & Mixes If you find a mix you can mix it with Lactose free milk could you not ? Can you drink that ? If you have a whole foods near you they should have tons of info or stuff. HTH mindy PS I just googled " Dairy Free Protein Mix" and came up w/ quite a bit Mindy

i also have hypo thyroid. I am on syntrhoid - its great. I also have type 2 diabetes but my doctor took me off my metformin as soon as I had the surgery.

My Doctor is Dr Mark Pleatman in Bloomfield hills Mi. I'm scheduled May 28, 3013..I'm doing all fluid day before only. I'm 5'6 and weight is 204..with co morbities...and hypo thyroid..I'm ready for a new journey and being healthy!

I too have underactive thyroid. My TSH is wacky right now and we are trying to regulate it. My cholesteral is also high but my FD said that there is a relationship between the two. :thumbup: I have been hypo for 20 yrs and on meds all that time. I like to think that I am pretty in tune with my conditions and body but I have never read, heard or knew the link between chol and thyroid. Anyone else know this?

Hi Hefftynetty, Welcome! Sorry I can't answer the first question, that would be one for the surgeon. But as far as Synthroid goes, that's not a problem. The only issue would be if you had uncontrolled hypo- or hyperthyroid function, but if you're well controlled on meds that's no worry. Good luck and keep asking questions!!

Before anyone says to me "this isn't a diabetes site" I totally understand. Not trying to get diabetic support!! But, my main health concern is my diabetes (type 2). Just wanted some input from fellow-diabetic weight loss surgery champions. I am still in the decision making process, haven't even had my first consult with a nutritionist yet. My BF of 20 years is a double amputee (type 1) so I've seen the end result. My BGs are good, but I'm aware that the older I get the more difficult that will be to control. I'm about willing to do most anything to bring that under more permanent control. My A1C started at 13.11. I'm now controlling it at 6.4. Haven't been over 7 for 3 years. I've was diagnosed about 3.5 years ago. I've been able to drop 60 pounds in that same period but have plateaued, with 60 - 80 pounds to go. Actually moved back up the scale this past cold winter. Nephropathy started for me about 3 months ago. My pharmacist daughter said I won't get that because I'm so controlled. Well, my disease proved her wrong. I think if I can get my weight to a healthier level for me I might be able to escape some of the horrors of the diabetic disease. A diabetic coworker had weight loss surgery 10 years ago, dropped most of her excess weight. She rebounded and has regained plus. It's very sad. I spoke with her briefly this week and she said that they don't tell you that you can't ever eat carbs again. She said every time she eats carbs she gains weight. I do not know what surgery process she did. I'm concerned about her story as I have a strong tendency to go hypo if I don't eat at least 100 carbs a day. I know my body pretty well now as it concerns my diet. Kind of a science experiment some days!! Has it been easier for you to control your BGs after your weight loss surgery? Have you been able to get off some of these horrific meds (I'm on Metformin and Victoza)? Does the stricter carb diet make you go Hypoglycemic more often? How many carbs are allowed in your diets (I eat about 130 to 150 per day)? You all have so many success stories here. I'm an information gatherer and here seems the best place to ask these questions. I appreciate the time you take to help me out!

Congrats! Only 17 days! I think it really doesn't "get real" until you are in pre-op getting poked and prodded. Yes you can experience hair loss, you can attempt to reduce this by making sure your protein levels stay high through out the process, you can take Biotine supplements as well, but the sad fact is, this doesn't guarantee you won't lose hair. It's not even really "hair loss" because you aren't really losing hair... like we typically think of when we hear "hair loss" it's not generally not permanent. the loss happens because surgery causes your follicles to enter a rest phase, which is normal, but the shock causes more of them to go into rest than normal. So when they finally reactivate, they push out the hair they were holding onto, in order to grow a new strand. Since a larger than normal percentage of follicles are doing this at the same time, the appearance of "hair loss" happens. The hair generally grows back normally.

only about 30% of RNYers dump, and for those who do, it can be prevented by limiting or avoiding sugar (which we all should be doing ANYWAY). A minority of dumpers dump on fat, so they can prevent it by limiting their fat intake (for most dumpers, though, it's sugar - or rather, too much of it at one setting - that sets it off). I've never dumped - and many of us haven't. I wouldn't call it a horror story, to be honest. It's mostly preventable, and again, a majority of us don't dump. blood sugar issues: Not sure what exactly you're referring to. Some people develop reactive hypoglycemia (RH), but like dumping, that can be controlled. I have it. I just have to eat something every 3-4 hours - and if I eat a carb, I have to eat a protein with it. Haven't had an episode it probably three years. So it's not a horror story - it's kind of a minor issue that can be controlled. In my mind, dumping in RNY patients (30% of them) vs acid reflux in sleeve patients (also 30% of them) is kind of a wash. Although at least dumping can be controlled. RH is a lot less common, but again, it's largely controllable. I've been really happy with my RNY - I'd do it again in a heartbeat! P.S. there seems to be a Wisconsin theme going on here...

Glad you have a meter to monitor what's going on. I was diagnosed with reactive hypoglycemia. (complication from surgery) I worked with my bariatric, sports medicine and diabetes dietitians to get better control over my blood sugars. Here is an article: If you are diagnosed, Work with your team to find what foods and meal frequency work for your body specifically. June 2015 Issue CPE Monthly: Nutrition Tips for Reactive Hypoglycemia After Bariatric Surgery Reactive hypoglycemia (also called postprandial hypoglycemia, hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia, or noninsulinoma pancreatogenous hypoglycemia) is characterized by recurrent episodes of symptomatic hypoglycemia occurring two to four hours after a high-carbohydrate meal (or oral glucose load). Patients who have undergone bariatric surgery, especially those in whom the pylorus is bypassed (gastric bypass, biliopancreatic diversion/duodenal switch), may experience reactive hypoglycemia. The dietitian is key to helping these patients manage symptoms. Symptoms Patients may experience any of these symptoms one to three hours after a meal high in carbohydrates: hunger, feeling shaky, dizziness, sleepiness, sweating, anxiety, feeling weak, confusion, heart palpitations, fatigue, aggression, tremors, fainting, or loss of consciousness. Dietary Modifications Work with your patients to help them identify and eliminate from their diets simple sugars, concentrated sweets, high-fat foods, alcohol, caffeine, and lactose (possibly). They also should avoid skipping meals or consuming meals comprised only of carbohydrates. Focus on how you can help patients modify their diets, including the following: plan mini meals spaced equally throughout the day (three to four hours); make low-volume choices; consume high-protein levels at each eating occasion, pairing protein choices with complex carbohydrates, fruits, and vegetables; choose healthful fats; and separate food and fluid intake by 30 to 60 minutes. Soluble fiber from guar gum, glucomannan, and pectin and alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, (eg, acarbose) or somatostatin analogs (eg, octreotide) can help delay gastric emptying, increase small intestine transit time, and slow glucose absorption. Patient-Specific Tips Acknowledge that everyone may have different triggers for low blood sugar or reactive hypoglycemia. Advise patients to keep detailed food journals that you can review to identify patterns (eg, timing and amount eaten as snacks, meals, and drinks; blood sugar levels; feelings). Encourage patients not to use foods or drinks with added sugar to boost low blood sugar levels, as this can cause blood sugar crashes and spikes.

I'm 42 with Celiac. Had Lap Band in 2005. Had acid reflux and couldn't eat with the band. Had Fluid removed 2 years ago. Just wanting to know if anyone has celiac, solution to not loosing chunks of hair, how soon you can go back to a desk job, drive to work etc. I"m in the approval process right now. Hope to know a date soon.

I forgot to mention that I have to eat more often because I have reactive hypoglycemia as a result of my surgery. When I eat popcorn it's a normal serving according the package and I always have it with Protein. I only eat it twice a day for like lunch and maybe a late night snack and again always with protein. The Protein Bars I have more of then I probably should but I have a hard time getting meat protein down a lot of times so I compensate with the bars. I need to go back I think to having more shakes like I used to. Well thanks James for your input. The exercise I do get is going up and down the stairs at least a dozen times a day so i'm not totally immobile. I suffer from osteoarthritis, RSD, fibromyalgia and stenosis of the spine so exercise recently has been more difficult to go to the gym but I have confidence I'll get back there.

I have hypo, and PCOS and had Lapband surgery July 06 in Mexico with dr. Kuri. Everything was fine. My levels were ok though. I don't think it will be a problem and maybe some of the symptoms with improve with weight loss. The Synthroid I am on is so tiny, it goes down pretty good. Good Luck!

I was on Lactated Ringers IV fluids (contains some glucose) so no worries with going hypo. Then they monitored my blood sugar and gave me a small dose if insulin when it was too high. Post-op you may find that you have to decrease your dosages of diabetes meds. Check with you doctor and see what s/he says. I stopped taking one of my meds about a week pre-op with the intent of going back on it after surgery, but not only did I not ever get back on it, I was completely off ALL DM meds about three weeks post-op.

I've finally decided to write down how I feel, and it was NOT a fun time.. I'm 8 days post op down 13 ish lbs, and overall doing pretty good, but my mind is being torn into places I have never imagined. I've spent basically 1/3 of my life being obese, since I was maybe 13-14, and I TRULY HONESTLY don't know how I got here. I know some people say that to cover up a habit or an obsession but I swear to all that is holy I do not remember how this STARTED. I remember being "normal" at 13 and then I remember being "big boned" at 15 and I remember being 225-250lbs at 16. I hit puberty VERY early, between 9 and 10, and shortly after I developed huge boobs. Sorry to be blunt but I was 10 with a B cup and they've never stopped growing. Aside from the busty chest I wasn't big anywhere else. My family didn't have money to eat out, it would almost only be on special occasion. My mom would work nights as a cook (a damn good one) and my dad would work until 5 or 6 as a well driller, so when my mom left at 3 she would either have supper started or to the point where it just had to be put in the oven. And when I say she was a good cook I mean the kind that could make you cry. She ALWAYS had balanced meals, fruit, veggie, meat. A few typical meals would be spaghetti, green Beans, and watermelon. Or roast, potatoes, carrots. Or steaks(we are huge grillers), baked potatoes and asparagus. We weren't picky kids, aside from not liking onions or spicy food or little preferences like that. My mom is tiny, she's 52 and a size 7. She wears bikinis and looks smoking hot. No cellulite no stretch marks, she's gorgeous. My dad is the picture of health, aside from genetic thyroid problems and some hearing loss. He's maybe 180lbs and ripped. My sister was borderline anorexic through high school maybe tipping the scale at 150 when she was pregnant. And my brother got chubby about the same time that I did, but has since lost all extra weight (due to drug issues) and is "normal". We didn't have much money for Snacks in our house either, fruit was always accessible and vegetables were usually grown fresh so we had plenty. Every once in a while there were potato chips or pop tarts or Cereal but these things were eaten for Breakfast and only breakfast. It's just what you did. When wed get home from school we'd have a snack, an apple, a fruit snack, a bowl of chips, something. But never to the amount of excess because it just wasn't allowed. We regularly had pop available to us but my mom would only buy 2 liters so we had enough for maybe a glass a day for 3 days and then it was gone for a few weeks. School lunches I ate what was given and never took seconds (couldn't afford it), which were the basic meat veggie fruit bun milk lunches. Anyway, my story could go on forever but the point of me telling you this is because I just don't UNDERSTAND how I got this way, when MILLIONS of children had my exact upbringing and are of "normal" size. I had the sleeve surgery to help with weight loss. I had lost weight on my own before, but never enough to make a difference, to make me healthier, to get pregnant. So I got the sleeve as a TOOL to help me relearn to eat. I am 100% positive that once I get to a manageable weight I could get rid of the sleeve (impossible I know) and be a-ok for the rest of my life and stay on track with a healthy lifestyle. I have developed a hypo thyroid due to genetics, as well as PCOS, and high blood pressure, no doubt due to my weight. So for me, losing weight isn't as easy as those without the thyroid issue. No I am not blaming my thyroid but it is a big part of the problem!!! Since having the surgery I lay awake for 40-48 hours at a time and search (this forum) for foods like French fries, starburst, ice cream, and I try to reason and investigate why I got to where I am. I am completely closed off with the world. My husband has only known me as obese, my family is just as confused as I am as to why I got this big, and my friends love me no matter what but of course they're all stick thin so I don't bother venting to them. I am made sick at night thinking about WHY I had to resort to the sleeve. As happy as I am, WHY was this my only option? WHY couldn't I lose weight like others? WHY did I have such extreme options when it came to getting healthier. I need a friend. I need someone who can help me come to grips with WHY this decision HAD to be made (and I do believe that it HAD to be made). This is my last resort. I support the sleeve and I believe in it but how do I go on living my life with half a stomach and continue to have confidence in myself when I couldn't even lose weight by myself? I had to cut myself to pieces because I COULDN'T DO IT. Sorry for the long rant, hopefully someone will read this ridiculously long post and feel the same way I do. And maybe offer some support. SW: 324 DOSW: 322 CW: 311 surgery date-7/10/13 Sent from my iPhone using VST

Hi, I'm also Type 1 diabetic on an Insulin pump, have been diabetic for over 25 years and I had RNY Gastric by pass 12 January 2015. I'm doing well, I have lost so far 33 pounds! I had the same worries as you about having hypos after the operation. I used small Apple juice cartons (without the straws) and also the chewable dextrose sweets that you melt in the mouth, they both didn't cause any problems, BUT I had to sip the apple J very slowly so it took time for my blood sugar levels to rise! My HBA1c is so much better now (2 months later) must be because I don't many carbs. My Basal changed dramatically straight after the operation, I take half the amount of Insulin then I did before. I will always be an Insulin dependant diabetic, don't kid yourself that it will magically disappear ! It only disappears for Type 2's. Am here for you if you have any questions, am happy to help ????

So, again with the bedtime hypoglycemia, although not as bad. It's 2:00am and first I was up with the shaky/wobbly feeling, which I dealt with with a small glass of skim milk. Now I have all kinds of aches and pains and bad gas. Almost feels like flu, but it's not. So instead of reactive hypoglycemia, maybe this is just nocturnal hypoglycemia? I don't have diabetes, so this is all really confusing. I can't wait till I can see a doc again...

I've actually been a diagnosed reactive hypoglycemic since age 14. I have kept it at bay for 15 years through my diet... even when I was obese. The secret to RHG is to never eat sugary foods alone. You must pair it with a complex carb and/or Protein. If I was to eat a candy bar alone my blood sugar would be in the 50s within a two hour window. However, if I ate a balanced meal followed by a candy bar then I would typically be okay. When you have an RHG spell orange juice is the best thing to ingest to quickly right your blood sugar levels. You can also purchase glucose tablets for these incidents (I keep a pack in my car). This is a quick fix though and must be immediatly followed by protein and/or complex carbs to stop the cycle. To be properly diagnosed for RHG you would need to see your doctor and chart your blood sugar levels and symptoms. Further testing would include scheduling a 6 hour Glucose Tolerance Test and possibly a follow-up 72 hour Glucose Tolerance Test. RHG is not something to be taken lightly. True suffers can pass out from too low of blood sugar- it's terrible, trust me. While I have lived with this issue most of my life and gotten pretty used to it, I have noticed an upswing in "incidents" since surgery. I had attributed this to having to learn how to balance my eating differently than I need pre-surgery. It never occurred to me that surgery may have exacerbated the issue. Thanks for the heads up! Amanda

My post-op experience was a challenge also. The surgery itself (on 11/10) and the 2 days in the hospital went fine. It was after I was home about 5 days that things started going south. I called my surgeon's office to schedule my first post-op appt. His nurse did not like how I was sounding on the phone so she had him call me later that day. He told me to go into the office the next morning (11/18) to see his PA (he was going to be in his other office so I wasn't able to see him) and have her check me out. After the PA checked me out, what she found was my O2 sat was 85 and HR 115, she conferred with my surgeon by phone and then told my husband to drive me to the hospital for a CT to check for blood clots. No clots were found, thank goodness. However, my hospital journey began as they admitted me in order to run more tests. Over the course of a few days, I had multiple CT scans, x-rays, blood work, etc. Ended up with a couple of drains for a hematoma in my stomach and for where bile was collecting under my diaphragm. These two things plus an infection caused my body to create "reactive fluid" in the chest area between my ribs and left lung which is what was causing me to be so short of breath. After draining off over 1400cc of Fluid, my breathing improved considerably finally. My hospital stay lasted 13 days with an additional 5 days in inpatient rehab to try and regain some of my strength and balance back. I lost a lot of weight and muscle strength during those 18 days. I could not walk without assistance I was so weak. Once I was discharged from rehab on 12/6, I continued with outpatient rehab through December. Today I'm doing so much better physically, have lost about 40 lbs. since pre-surgery days, and am working out regularly to lose more. All that said, despite the complications I experienced after the surgery, I would have the surgery again. It took me a long time to make the decision to have the surgery, and I'm glad I did. I may not be losing the weight as quickly as my surgeon is expecting me to, but I am doing all the homework to make it happen, i.e. Protein protein protein, tracking food intake, ramped up my exercise routine, and staying away from the junk food. It will come off in due time. When you consider how small our stomachs are now, it makes it easier (at least for me) to make better choices about what to eat since I can eat so little before I'm full. I encourage anyone considering having VSG to do it. I don't believe you'll regret your decision to do whatever it takes to improve your health. I'm no longer on my diabetes or blood pressure medications I will be very interested to see what happens with my fatty liver situation as I get farther down the weight loss road. So I had my surgery on January 20th. I am a nurse and have researched this for years before finally decided on the surgery. I went to all the pre-op classes, did everything I was supposed to do when I was supposed to and i thought I knew exactly what I was getting myself into. Holy crap was I wrong. No amount of prep could have prepared me for what was in store. Post op, felt great. a bit nauseous but ok. Went for a nice long walk, had my foley, i was Nothing by mouth and a dilauded pca with zofran around the clock. I feel asleep for a bit woke at 2 am and was super sick to my stomach. The discontinued my iv in the morning and asked me to start drinking. WHAT!!!!! I tried, please understand I tried...so hard....They gave me Roxicodone liqiud, which just made things worse. My Blood pressure went through the rood because of the pain and nausea so they gave me meds for that which sucked because my head was killing me. They ended up restarting my IV and i was a blubbering idiot, in tears wondering what the hell i did to myself. The nurse practitioner came in and gave me toradol. with the hour i was able to stand again, ate some jello and cleaned up which allowed me to get out of the hospital that day. It is now 5 days later. I am doing so much better. Still have some staples in place and steri strips. Water is going down easier, Jello as well. Still not a big fan of broth. I know with all my heart and soul that this was the right thing for me to do but I had my moment of weakness. I felt guilty and stupid about it but the NP told me that no one, no matter how much you know, can anticipate how your body will react to the surgery. Be patient. Forgive yourself for the doubts you have because you will have doubts and remember....it will get better.

My personal experience with Smart Shape wasn't the greatest. This was my first foray into private health care and I wasn't super impressed. Pre-op everything went ok; however, on the day of my surgery, the surgeon came in to see me just prior and said, "So we have you booked for a gastric sleeve..." I was for a mini gastric bypass, so this was a little unnerving that he had me down for the wrong surgery in his notes, but I guess it's good he checked! The surgery itself went alright which I guess is the main thing. However, post-op care was not spectacular. I found pain management to be an issue as they prescribed dilaudid IV push every 4 hours for the first 24 hours. Push drugs work for immediate relief, but they also wear off really fast, so it didn't hold me for 4 hours. They never offered pain relief on a regular basis, so I felt like I was badgering them for it. Nobody wears an ID tag, so I wasn't sure if they were actually RN's or LPN's and I found it strange that when I mentioned I was experiencing a some urinary retention/hesitation (ie. "a sleepy bladder") post op, the nurse didn't seem to know what I was talking about. This is a very common complication after a general anesthetic (up to 70% of patients). I didn't have a proper call bell and I had to let them know that my oxygen tank and IV bags were empty (these should be monitored). Months later, I began to experience significant reactive hypoglycemia and sought guidance from Smart Shape nurses and nutritionists. However, they really didn't know much about this and weren't very helpful. I requested a consult with my surgeon to discuss it and was told by the nurse that I needed to follow up with my own GP (who knows little about bariatric surgery). Eventually, I was referred to an endochrinologist who tells me that this is a well known and potentially serious complication of gastric bypass. I'm disappointed that this possibility was not part of the "informed consent" that I gave for the procedure. I'm a health care professional, so perhaps my standards are high, but I think we all should have high standards when considering our health and safety. And for many of us, it's a hell of a lot of money. So, if I had to do it all again, I'd go with a different organization. Best, Kerri

I cannot tolerate foods that are high in carbs and I have to eat frequent small meals to combat the reactive hypoglycemia. It helps keep me in check but it's not a good feeling if I eat something high in carbs. I get really shaky and tired. If I try to counter the reactive hypoglycemia by eating more carbs it makes things worse. I've learned to plan my meals ahead if possible.

I am so proud of all you for all the great posts. I agree and sadly most have other issues other than weight and are in denial. At least I am no longer in denial for the need for help. Here are a few quotes I like and want to share with you. God loves us just the way we are and we should too. " To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882) American Essayist & Poet "Just because I can't do it today, doesn't mean I won't be able to do it ever!" " Blessed are the flexible for they will not get bent out of shape!" From Buck the horse whispers foster mother "Just because I can't do it today, doesn't mean I won't be able to do it ever!" Arthur Boorman he lost a lot of weight " You know you've got to exercise your brain just like your muscles." Will Rogers "The mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work if it is not open.” Frank Zappa Be proactive not reactive. It's not how many times u have fallen- its how many times you pick yourself up that matters! Everyone has at least one issue/regret that needs help.If you need help admit it with no shame. Many are in denial. I was. Life is short so IF you disagree with someone Then it may be better to just agree to disagree. Me

I am hypo too... and it didn't hold me back at all. HOWEVER.... a friend of mine is going through the hoops of pre op and her PCP is giving her crap because they think she's hypo, even though she's had a blood test and an ultrasound on her thyroid, both of which were negative. Not sure how they have come to that, since everything is negative. My doc had no problems at all with it... she's the one that recommended it!

Hi Lisa, I started first seeing the surgeon in May and had surgery in September. I had to have 4 meetings with my PCP for weight management, 1 meeting with a psychiatrist, 4 meetings with nutritionist, loose 10% of my weight before surgery, a sleep study, stress test, EEG (in your case it would probably be an EKG), a throat scope and 1 bariatric meeting. I had bypass surgery and am very pleased with the results of that surgery. You ask about draw backs and the only one I have had is a developed reactive hypoglycemia which 1% to 2% get it and of course I had to be one of them. It's manageable with my what I eat. That's the only thing I can say was a draw back and if I had to choose again I would do it even knowing this could happen. Good luck with your decision and being a healthier you.

Wow, I just looked at my license and it's 100 pounds over where I am now. When we came back to AZ 6 years ago they just reactivated the license from 25(?) years ago, when the weight was a terrible, terrible lie. Oddly enough, it still has my height from 25(?) years ago. I've since shrunk by a couple inches. I don't want to be shorter on my license so I'll live with the weight. Tek