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I'm not actually at the very beginning, but now that I have a surgery date and I've completed all the pre-op classes, it feels real. I'm 53, currently weigh 334 (on my home scale--and that's what I'm going by!) My highest weight was 359 about a year and a half ago. Also a year and a half ago I swore I would never get WLS. It seemed contrary to all my convictions about being body positive, the ability to change eating habits, rejecting societal pressures for people (women, especially but no exclusively) to physical harm their bodies in order to diminish their presence, a lifetime of trying to be good enough just as I was...all that and more. So I went to the Bariatric Nutrition center with the intent of finding support for addressing food addiction through a mindful eating practice. No one pressured me about surgery, which was great, and I started a series of uninspiring appointments with a variety of nutritionists. I did lose 20 lbs and then I gained 15 lbs and the self-loathing and frustration amped up. At the same time, I was diagnosed with a degenerative condition in both of my heels. I had all sorts of treatments and therapies, but the reality was that it can’t be fixed, only managed. It really interferes with my daily life and makes it difficult for me to do everything from walk the dog to travel. The doc said that the most effective way of managing it was to lose a lot of weight. I still didn’t want surgery. I thought I would just double down on the dieting. I have no other co-morbidities: heart is fine, blood pressure is fine, no diabetes, only borderline cholesterol. I had waited my whole life for some diagnosis that would be the magic switch in my brain to get me to stop overeating. One day I was talking to someone at work who happens to be a doctor and when he asked me how my heels were doing, I told him what the other doc had said. Very simply, he said: “you should get wls.” At any other moment, with any other person, I would have been offended, or defensive, or upset, but for some reason, I knew he was right. I then found out the next obstacle: my insurance would not cover it and I am not willing to incur the kind of debt necessary to cover the cost on my own. In truth, I was relieved. I now had an excuse to not do it! And then, another person encouraged me to write a letter to the hospital, and used her influence to get it into the correct hands. Within weeks, I got the word that my appeal was accepted. I felt like someone had called my bluff!!! So I started doing the pre-op classes in January. I was still very reluctant, and not at all a good sport. Everything I heard made the whole process sound miserable, but I figured I could change my mind up to the moment I was on the operating table. Over the months I talked to some friends who had the surgery and talked to close family and friends. It was their gentle support that helped me come to some sense of peace. I am very, very blessed to have that. My plan was to finish all the pre-op stuff in the spring, have the surgery early in the summer while I’m on a break from work, and be ready to start the school year by the time I was starting to eat solid foods again. That’s pretty much how it is working out, though my surgery will be in early August because I decided to have RNY instead of sleeve. I made this decision because I do have some acid reflux and didn’t want to have that be an issue, and also I figured I’d get the most bang for my buck. I need the most effective tool I can get in order to lose and maintain the weight. Now I am getting into the home stretch. I’m trying not to eat everything in sight, as if I’ll never eat again, and I’m trying to stay focused on the positive outcomes and not the challenges to getting there. Surgery still freaks me out. The post surgery eating and digestion issues definitely freak me out. But I’m going to keep going, in spite of everything, and keep reminding myself that I am worth the effort.

@OP What are you eating? Keep a food diary. Eating the foods to avoid will cause you to get stuck. The band does not lose the weight for us. It is a tool to help YOU lose the weight. It is not going to do it for you. YOU have to make healthier food choices and exercise. Maybe you should attend some group support meetings, they have nutritionists there and bariatric docs. These meeting are free so check them out. Losing weight is not an easy thing, it is full of stress, frustration and hard work. Good luck to you.

If you can't keep anything down then you need to go to the ER. You can become dehydrated quickly. Once there, they can at least hook you up to an IV and do an upper GI to see what is going on. You need to identify the problem. Your surgeon should be concerned with your symptoms. I am assuming you were unfilled due to these problems. Something is obviously blocking you. General surgeons do not do bariatric surgery unless they have been trained and do it in addition to general surgery. But to just find a general surgeon who does is not likely. Plus you wouldn't want an inexperienced surgeon to be addressing your problem. You need to work with your new insurance and fight them to get this covered. This is not just a band problem, it could be an emergency situation that needs to be addressed. Good luck. P.S. Make sure you get the results of any tests they do in the ER if you go. Plus get all of your tests results from before, during and after your surgery. Call your doctor's office and ask for them. It is your right.

I'd go to the ER. They could at least do a scan to determine if you have a blockage of some sort. I'd also call around to other bariatric clinics/surgeons to see if they accept your insurance since ultimately, if this is a band problem, only they'll know how to deal with it. A general surgeon is likely just going to suggest removing the band completely and that may not be necessary. Problems for 6 months and now this? What is in your current doctor's head that he hasn't addressed this issue!?

My doctor doesn't have us start vitamins & most supplements until two weeks out, maybe that's why he does want me to get protein in now. I don't know. He had me start B12 & iron now because my levels were really low for both, but his general rule is to not do supplements until 2 weeks out unless they're liquid. I did buy a liquid multivitamin at Walgreens to take until I can start my bariatric chewables. I've also had some Airborne to help boost my immune system for healing.

........................ :wub: Thanks, everyone!!!! When my wife first brought up bariatric surgery I raved in opposition. I had an airtight case for opposing it using the "like having a gun to your head" analogy. Then I did some internet research and the clincher: I went to a support group meeting held by the surgeon. When it was over I flabbergasted my wife by announcing that I not only supported her but was considering it for myself. I nobly told her that if the ship was sinking, I would go down with her. As it turned out, the ship was the Titanic, (the old fat life), we got into the lifeboat.

Look into Bariwise fruit drinks. They come in little bottles with just powder and you add the water and shake. A great travel aid. The powder does not weight all that much. I order mine online from Bariatric Choice and they have Chocolate, Coffee, Orange pineapple, Kiwi strawberry, and Wild Berry flavors. 15 protien and70 calories. I have had all but the chocolate and none were chalky! http://bariatricchoice.com

I just jumped on here today and found the Mexico and Self pay forum. So, I saw your post and wanted to chime in some recommendations to help you break your stall. I also think your body may be just "resting" after the extreme loss you've had your first 3 months. However, I'm going to give you some tips that I have learned and am trying to instill in my wls journey for the long term journey, and when you reach your goal and want to maintain that weight. 1. Log your food, every morsel/drink you are putting in your body on an app like my fitness pal. You are only a few months out but this is going to help you in the journey. 2. Be sure you are getting enough Water in. 3. Eat your lean Protein first, then the others. 4. Find a good support group, not just online but a hospital group or outside face to face group who will help you be accountable and encourage you. 5. Add Fiber to your diet instead of using laxatives. Now, if your doctor wants you on consistent laxatives this is something to discuss with him/her. I'm not a doctor, but I do think that eating higher fiber foods, adding fiber, etc. could get you back on track. 6. Don't just get stuck on the number on the scale. Are your clothes continuing to get bigger? Are you feeling good? Your body may be playing "catch up". If you are doing everything according to the doctor's instructions (bariatric rules) then you will continue to lose. Finally, you have done AWESOME!! Remember even at goal, this is a lifelong journey, so if you haven't gotten into a local support group or learning the behavioral aspects of overeating/overweight, I encourage you to look into this. It will definitely be worth it.

I have not been sleeved yet but on Monday, I wont be able to say that anymore! To answer your question, I finally narrowed my surgeon to Dr. Illan / Baja Bariatrics because he is also chief of ER trauma in another hospital. I felt safe knowing that if something happened during surgery he would be able to handle it. Also his patients have an amazing support group on FB, and I was able to see pictures, read about experiences etc. I feel safe going to Tijuana because the Coordinator Omar is with you much of the time not leaving you to your own to explore an unfamiliar place when you want get out of the hotel. He actually takes you out and makes you walk after surgery, taking you to eat Soup, go shopping etc.. I will have more info next week but I will be having surgery Monday 3/24 and will be happy to report back afterwards.

I'm wishing you all the best Hun, if I listened to the family and friends I thought would support me then I wouldn't be this far, my day is May 28th and I'm doing it no matter what. You do what's right for you Hun, I know someone who's family was totally against the surgery so he didn't say another word, now 2 years after they're so happy and proud of him, he is healthy athletic and happy now. His advise to me was not to talk about it, just do it I won't regret it. It hurt me when my daughter got angry at me when I told her, she even said this surgery was me giving up on trying anything else and taking a risk, they don't understand. This is why I love being on bariatric pal, so many similar stories and we're all here for the same reasons and so much support. I wish you the best in your decision you make for you and no regrets no matter which way you choose

I have checked out the surgeons list on the bottom of the page and also googled bariatric surgeons for my area but I guess there aren't any around. Guess I will live with the miserable side affects.

This is a repost in California forums, Sorry: Hi, my name is Ray and I am in the process of getting banded. I have had my first meeting with my Surgeon (Machado), did the blood work, xrays, and met with a nutritionist today. I have to get an evaluation and have no idea where to find one, they provide one at the Machado's office but doesnt go through insurance. If anyone knows where I can go in Sacramento, please let me know. I have BC/BS. Thank you, RG

I've thought about bariatric surgery for years. I only did it this year because my blood pressure was going sky high. I had a lot of stress and I thought that was it. The Meds for BP made me so sick. well, I was sleeved July 19th. Two weeks before that, of course I was on the pre op diet, which I called a starvation diet. Two protein drinks and one meal of a piece of meat with some veggies. During those two weeks, I kept taking my BP every day, and it went way down. It went into the yellow on the graph and no longer always up high in the red zone. Amazing. And now it has been two weeks since surgery, and nearly every BP reading (I do twice a day) is in the normal range. What?? I haven the even lost that much weight yet. It is AMAZING and it is a huge relief for me. i have six months of BP charts all RED with really high BP. Then boom, the pre op diet dropped it into the yellow "moderately high" range. And post surgery all but one lone reading has been NORMAL. We want to live long and healthy. So glad I took this step.

Sorry to hear about that lousy experience with an uninformed doc, Odahospud! You might look up and call a bariatric surgical Center for Excellence in your area and ask if they have a suggestion for primary care doctors who work well with them in their experience. They will know who refers to them too. A least you'd screen out those who don't agree with WLS on principal, like I'm guessing your last doc was. Good luck with it, and don't stop trying to find one!

Get a new PCP, one that has experience with WLS patients. You are going to need a strong doctor who will do the follow up blood tests, etc. I am blessed with an excellent PCP who knew nothing about WLS but learned all about it so he could support me. Now he tests me every 3 months and checks my vitamins etc., even though my bariatric surgeon is available. I hope you can find the same.

If anyone has hesitated on trying the BP Protein bars ... DONT WAIT any longer ! I just recently bought the variety 7 pack ... and they are better than Quest to me .. Quest was hard and flavorless ... BP bars are soft and chewy and they have great flavor ... a taste you don't mind tasting again ! I was so happy with my purchase ... I just thought I'd share ... in case anyone was wondering and thinking about buying them ... WORTH IT !!

@@mrs kaje Thank you! Yes all Bariatric Pal has their own bars and other items .... Just click the little purple box at the top of the page that says "STORE" ...

I usually don'y eat more than a cup per meal, but my doctor say that I should actually be at 2/3 to 3/4 cup per meal, not a full cup. That just seems like so little food, even for a Bariatric patient.

Giiirl, this is about rebirth and renewal! It's ok for it to be about grieving too.....about letting go of something that once mattered a whole lot. Allow the grief to happen.....get those tears out...years of backed up gunk...let it flow and imagine it like washing you clean...baptizing you anew. I have a good feeling about the next steps! And you have a wonderful man to be your cheering section!!

Have you tried putting the bariatric chewables in yogurt ( crush them) or blend them with a protein drink?

I was sleeved 10/27. My doc had me start my Vitamins about 2 1/2 weeks post op. I am taking the Bariatric Advantage capsules. I am able to swallow them (they are a little big). I have never been able to swallow pills no matter what size they were. It did take me a few days to figure out what time of day was best for me to take them. I was doing after Breakfast and dinner but found I was waking up in the middle of the night tasting them. yuck!! So now I take them after breakfast and lunch, I find if I take them when there is something in my tummy then all is good. I know there will be people who will have advice for you. I have seen many who have helped so much on here. I just wanted to let you know what worked for me. Hang in there as they days go by it will be easier for your to get your Protein an Water in.

I just left Barnes and Noble sure that I would find some great books regarding "Life After Bariatric Surgery"...no. Nothing. I'm looking for some resources on ideas for eating, especially in the 2-6 weeks period. During the time I need to eat "mushies" I am traveling and I really need to know what to pack for food. I won't be hitting any restaurants at all. Plus, I want a good variety because the temptation at the resort where I am going (business trip) will be tough to handle! Is there a web-site with this information? Maybe something that could even be printed out?

That is absolutely my fear! I go tomorrow for Pre-op, so I will be sure to ask. The hospital here has a Bariatric Center, so I would guess as a whole, they could at least help me in the case of an emergency...

I used Dr Valenzuela through Mexico bariatric. My surgery was a month ago :-) went extremely smoothly. No complications. And the care was far better than I received up here in Canada :-) goodluck:-)

For those of us that have had our gastric sleeve, what forum do you recommend for general guidelines on eating, daily challenges, what to expect and what not to expect. I like the Mexico forum but in my opinion it's focused for pre-op surgeon and hospital discussions. So tell me, what other forums do you visit or recommend in the Bariatric Pal universe? Thanks in advance.