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@@venomousflowers, I am so sorry that you're having a hideous day. Your having three new topics going at once and your change in screen name in the past couple of hours send out a signal. Please, please sit down, take slow, deep breaths -- as many as it takes and as often as helps calm you a little -- and sip a glass of Water. These simple, accessible actions will settle you enough so that you can think more clearly. Eating won't comfort you. It will put you in a stupor, leaving nothing unchanged when you come out of it. More than that, you'll be down on yourself for turning to food. If reading and other quiet activities don't distract or comfort you, will you go out for a walk? Burning some physical energy usually makes a good difference. While you walk, notice your surroundings -- the birds, trees, everything that catches your eye and connects you to your surroundings. The feeling that we belong in our environments means a lot. It really does seem that your meds need to be reevaluated and that therapy is the way to go. Both are important components of a support network even though they're not what we usually think of as "network." In addition you can look at shrinkyourself.com/public/welcome. (The BP linkmaker isn't working for me.) It's about dealing with emotional eating and is the product of a psychologist. There is also the book, The Beck Diet Solution, by cognitive behaviorist Judith Beck, which is a guide to coping with the same. It's meant to be read from page one rather than hopping about. People who do the exercises at both sources get the greatest benefit. Another thing is to attend bariatric support groups at hospitals in your area. They are a chance to feel less isolated and perhaps even find others who are having similar experiences. There's also the possibility that a real friendship or two can evolve. Your screen name is up to you. I'll say, though, that, if it keeps changing, BP members who want to 'talk' with you won't recognize you.

@@venomousflowers, I can totally relate to a lot of what you are feeling. Although I am only a month out from surgery, I too feel I am losing more slowly than I should, which frustrates the he** out of me, I am just trying to follow the plan as best I can, and forgive myself for not being perfect. I also live alone, without relatives, family or my closest friends nearby. I moved from Colorado to Washington DC, and I understand how lonely and isolating that can be. However it does get better, I don't know how long you have been in Fla, but it took me about a year or year and a half to feel at home, so to speak. Even so, I still struggle with it. Sometimes it all I can do to get out of my PJs. I noticed you listed some hobbies, I went to Meetup.com and found groups interested in the same hobbies I have. I go to a knitting group, a Bridge group and a book club. It took some trial and error, but I have met several good people in these groups, and it gets me out so I don't feel so isolated. I also use FaceTime or Skype to stay in touch with my support network, my close friends and family that are all over the country. It makes me feel more connected with them than a phone call. Reading through the replies, I think finding a therapist that specializes in bariatric folks is a great idea, and I plan to talk to my surgeon about it as well. I am also familiar with the Beck Diet Solution book mentioned, though I hadn't thought about it in years. It is a book you read as you go through your journey, not read first then start. It does help, because it isn't just about what you eat and how much excercise you get, but more about your thinking and behaviors that center around food. In fact, I think I will pull it off my bookshelf today, and commit to it this time. (Yep, the first time I started to read it was yet another time I didn't really commit...sigh, bygones!) Hang in there, everyone here is cheering for you, and if you are ever coming to DC ping me!

Hey ladies, I discovered a really wonderful and unexpected side effect of surgery. I used to get horrific PMS cramps. The entire week before my period was me using machines, pain killers, hot baths, heating pads-anything and everything to stop the pain. I saw dozens of doctors and they all didn't know what to do. Sometimes it would be so bad I would be feverish and couldn't even go to work. Post surgery this stopped. I now get very minor pain that a painkiller can stop. If I had known that bariatric surgery could stop this I would have done the surgery years ago. I'm just wondering if anyone else experienced this?

I'm not sure this was from my bariatric team, I will email the actual surgeon today though and see what he says.

YEP! Kind of like Bariatric Pal!

If you can keep your nerve and get to the hospital on the day then you will thank yourself three months down the line. If you bottle it then in 12 months you will be back on the bariatric treadmill wishing that you will have enough courage this time around. We were are scared, its the unknown. Like @ ms.sss says I too would have this done again in a heartbeat. It has changed my life. Its worth it. The pre op diet is so tough it feels like you have to earn the surgery. I hated that diet so badly, I almost ran to the operating theatre

I have the band and I'm getting ready to have a revision to the sleeve due to issues with the band. My insurance won't cover anything bariatric related so I'm looking at going to Mexico. Anyone recommend a good surgeon or have good advice for me? Thanks.

I like Nutrametrix Isotonix 'cause I can mix up one 8-ounce concoction in the AM and I don't have to think about it for the rest of the day. Surgeon says its fine to consume all of the calcium at once this way. I just restocked for 3 months -- $125, so it isn't cheap. A week ago, I got Bariatric Advantage vitamin and calcium capsules and tablets and tried that for a day -- damn thing got stuck and I was uncomfortable for over half an hour. Plus multi-dosing. Not for me.

Start my pre- op diet today... 2 shakes ... Regular dinner... Wish me luck . Two weeks until surgery ! Excited but nervous.... By the way what does everything think about purchasing a bariatric pillow. Worth it? Best thing ever? Regular pillow will work ?

Please help me! I can't get any answers from the bariatric support as to how to help me with this awful constipation. I am 10 weeks 4 days post op. I had my gall bladder out 5 weeks post op due to awful chest pain. I thought maybe that was causing some of the problems with constipation. NOPE! I take 2 stool softeners a day. I drink 60 ozs of water everyday. I am exercising, (well not like some of you) but walking 2 miles 3 times a week. I cannot get any relief from constipation unless I take milk of magnesia! This is not normal. I do not want to be addicted to laxatives. I just don't know what to do! I do not even pass gas now. I was very gaseous before this surgery. I did not have constipation problems either. It is like my intestines are asleep and I can't wake them up. I'm concerned. I need help. Sometimes I wish I could go back to January 8th and rethink this whole surgery thing!!!

Haha...I love it! If you really wanted people to get the message, you could set it up so you have to give your little bariatric pet sips and bites. And then give them Oregon Trail type messages like: "Oops, you gave your pet too many sips, too fast! He's taking nausea medicine and praying he doesn't throw up." "Your pet didn't take enough sips today. He has a headache and feels weak."

Slider foods are things that are yummy but have no food value or any real protein quality. For some after bariatric surgery you only have a tiny pouch for a stomach and we get full very quickly on high protein foods and stay fuller because they take longer to digest. Slider foods go to mush and we can eat masses of them or they just slide right through our pouches. So ice-cream is a good example, biscuits, crisps(chips) cake, chocolate and popcorn are my slider foods. I love them but try hard not to have them Sent from my Lenovo TB-J606F using BariatricPal mobile app

Pre-op it was Optifast, and I could only get them either from my surgeon or from the Bariatric Clinic Office at HRH (I got mine from my surgeon). POST-op I used Isopure Dutch Chocolate (powder) exclusively...i found this was the least sweet of all the powders I tried. I blended it up with water, ice, a tsp of decaf instant coffee crystals and 2 tsps of Benefibre. In the mornings I may add a capful of Miralax if I was backed up (which happened often!). I also had some Isopure Unflavoured to add to food. I got these online from https://www.bodybuilding.com/en-CA/index , found this to be cheapest, even with the conversion and shipping costs. The giant tub (with the handle) is the best value. But maybe try a sample first before you commit to such a large amount (my husband drinks it too, so it was worth it for us). My surgeon was XXXX. Had 7 follow ups with him (1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 1 year). Again very uneventful. In and out really (I did not have any complications nor issues with weight loss). He's great. It was kind of a downer to have to go so far for so short an appt (I'm in north T.O., he's at Sheppard West), and his office was always very busy, so I often had to wait past my scheduled appt time to see him. Not really a big deal, but worth noting. There is no plan to see him again, but I was told to give them a call if I ever find the need to (I haven't). Edited to add: I put my surgeons name, but just removed it. Figure maybe I should DM you this info instead, lol...I sent it to your mailbox. Edit to add, part deux: I should mention that there are also (separate) follow ups with the clinic at HRH (1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years). My next scheduled appt will be next year at my 3 yr anniversary...i actually have no idea how long these will go for. I see the Nurse and the Dietician at these follow ups. I get my labs done, then they adjust vitamin regimen if needed, as well advise me on my reported eating. Personally, I don't get anything out of these follow-ups in terms of dietary advice that I don't already know. But getting my labs done is good. Also it sucks to have to drive all the way there and pay $25 for parking.

I'm in Alabama and I have uhc. I got the booklet and it say bariatric surgery is not covered. On exclusion list. Is this point blank or do I just need a doctors referral?

Thanks. My plan hasn't started yet but they told me it was covered. The rep didn't sound too sure I may just need to cancel my plan. It's hard finding someone to cover bariatric in Alabama

I understand the financial restraints but, it seems as though you need a fill and maybe a check up. All offices don't charge $125. I just found an office here on Dallas, TX that does fills for $50. I suggest you call around to bariatric offices in your city. Maybe you can find a price that you can handle. Good Luck!

@@chrisredjeep do you have your date yet ? Exciting times isn't it mixed with a bit of nerves no doubt. How are you feeling about everything? @@rosieuk : What company did you go with? How are you feeling after the op? Are you taking any Protein drinks yet and if so what brand? So many questions, so little time lol. I am with the Bariatric Group and they have sent loads of info and kept in touch by phone. It's made me feel less nervous and more confident in them and what they can provide post op. Please keep in touch, it would be fantastic if we could support each other especially with stuff you can buy in the UK. Kate (from a very hot south of France!!)

YES… Stress can stall weight loss. I have dealt with this challenge prior to getting sleeved. I was able to loose 65 lbs with low carb high Protein diet and hit a terrible stall when I was very stressed. The stressors affected my life for over 6 months and I did not loose another pound. I gained about 10 lbs over that 6 months and "justified" this as my body balancing out despite the diet. I went off the diet and gradually gained another 10 lbs. Then my PCP changed my thyroid medication and I gained all the weight plus another 10 lbs (getting to 265 lbs) Thats when I decided it was time for bariatric surgery. Now when I get stressed and see the scales stall…. I try to be calm, take a deep breath and tell myself that I am in control of the choices I make so, think, pray and choose what will be best for me.

Hmmmmmmm, I've always said Never take financial advice from broke people Never trust a skinny chef Now I can add........ Never trust an obese bariatric surgeon.

So, I've been fat for most of my life. I've been fat ever since I was roughly 10 years old, but what I considered fat then is nothing compared to the state I am at now. After I got sex reassignment surgery, my metabolism went straight to hell and my energy levels fell. I didn't make any lifestyle changes afterwards, but the fact that I didn't was a part of the problem that resulted in the state where I am now. And gaining so much weight, I likely contracted sleep apnea due to my weight gain and also contracted plantar fasciitis, which makes it harder to be out and about without my arches screaming at me. I've tried so many diet and exercise programmes, from Bikram Yoga to Weight Watchers, from marathon training to calorie counting, from parkour to South Beach. In fact, I would have continued trying if not for someone in a chat room. They told me that I should get a lap band... to which I said "why? I can exercise, I have the discipline to diet, why the hell would I need a lap band?" We had a long discussion about bariatric surgery and I decided to do my research. I first considered the programme at Denver Health. After all, I didn't know about the programme just north of me in Fort Collins (and to be quite honest, that's kinda okay given the support network I've built up there) and I thought Denver Health was the natural place to go. That and UCHealth has had... issues with serving employees of the State of Colorado. So, I went to their support groups/medical weight loss classes (which were combined), attended sessions with their psychologist and saw their nutritionist only to get rejected because I had clinical depression. I feel the problem was that since the psychologist was not my regular psychologist and did not know me nor my support network well, that made her more skittish than she should have been. I then contacted the programme at Northern Colorado Surgical Associates (which is a part of the Poudre Valley Health System and their combined programme is called the "Bariatric Centre of the Rockies") and started attending their medical weight loss classes, their patient education seminar, got my regular therapist and prescriber to write my letter, and as of Tuesday, had surgery with them. Unfortunately, I don't feel that I can attend their support groups often (as their support groups are in Fort Collins and the transit back down to Longmont after 8pm is dismal at best), but the good news is that I have found other practices in the area which have support groups that I might be able to attend. I have a therapist that I really mesh with and I have a support network from both my church and my political party (Green Party of Colorado, FTW!) And I look forward to the future. I look forward to wearing all those cute goth/steampunk clothes I see in my Facebook news feed, I look forward to finishing up my transition by having facial feminization surgery/breast augmentation (which can only happen once I get to my goal weight, if my concern is having the best results), and most pressing, I look forward to the day I can waltz into the Denver Health support groups, look into the eyes of the nutritionists, psychologists, and that bariatric coordinator and tell them where they can stick it.

I think it is the Joint Commission that hands out Center of Excellence ratings. It might be worth a call to Joint Commission to report the poor care. But before that, maybe you just want to give a little heads up to the office of your intentions unless they start giving you better aftercare. Center of Excellence isn't just about doing good surgeries, but doing good follow up, as well. Do a little homework and find out what the criteria are for Bariatric Centers of Excellence. Discuss this with the office MANAGER. If they want to keep their rating, they need to take care of issues - not just knock off patients who have problems. If the office manager is unwilling to listen, go up the chain of command.

Ok, so I said I would put more up about this last night, but with the kids, getting ready for bed....I just didn't have time. The article is called "The Easier Way to Diet" by Martha Beck She talks about a five-step plan to help master your "beastie brain" and "relax the weight off." She makes four key points about our brains and how there are several layers to our brains. Basically, the "wanting to be thin" (cyberbrain) part of the brain is always at war with the "feed me now" brain (beastie). This also relates to the nervous system that goes back and forth between "fight or flight" and "rest and relaxation." Obviously, when the cyberbrain is in control you naturally restrict your intake. Repeated dieting and constant negative thoughts theoretically rev up your fight or flight/beastie brain. She has come up with five steps to combat the issue and calls it SO FAR: S - Stop - feeling anxious, hating yourself, just ate a ton? Stop and shout "Nature break!" O - Open - once you are by yourself work to get back to that "rest and relaxation" part of your brain by Opening up. Relax your body by opening your lungs, your eyes and stretch your muscles. F - Forgive - She says this is the most important step. You must forgive yourself and your body. Make a list of things that you've done right, don't just focus on having eaten those 10 Cookies (yeah, I used to be able to do that! No MORE though!). She says that eventually, you will reach self-forgiveness and the "calm observer" part of the brain will become more active. A - Accept - Once you can forgive yourself, it's time to allow things to happen as they do. (sounds sort of like the AA mantra - "accept the things I cannot control") R - Renew - From that place of "stillness, openness, forgiveness and acceptance, you can Renew your commitment to any eating plan you like." Is it over simplified? Sure. But I like the idea of forgiving myself for being overweight, for choosing poorly that day, past days and past years. I want to accept myself now and enjoy my new body as it begins to change through this process. Good luck to all of us! I look forward to our weigh ins on Friday. We have SO FAR to go in our journey, but at the same time, we really have come SO FAR...Thanks for reading...

It's called Bariatric Timer and I got it from the Google store. It lets me time the 30 minutes I need to wait after eating and then the 15 before eating. I also use it to time my meals, but really could use the plain timer too. I just like the bariatric one for the meal thing better.

I use my fitness pal to track what I eat and usually drink, but I also have timer on my phone and a bariatric timer.