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Hello all. I'm 34 and just starting my journey. I've looked into the surgery for about 7 years but never had the insurance or the money to cover it. My husband finally got a new job with killer UHC benefits that cover the surgery and I couldn't be more excited. I go to my consultation on August 11th but the nurse said she knows she can get me in earlier thru cancellations. I have to go through the clinics three month program and see all kind of specialists. The bariatric nurse said she loves working with UHC because they are the easiest to get approved through. She said at earliest I should get my surgery by end of year but at latest February. Seems like an eternity away, but what's a few more months after waiting years already. So I guess my question is? How do you mentally prepare yourself for what is about to come? And has anyone worked with UHC choice plus Ohio and how was the approval process? I think my BMI is 44 so I fit the criteria. Also will I have to quit smoking? That is part off journey to quit but will I have to do that before surgery? Thanks????????

Wow! Congrats!! And a scary and awesome problem to have all at the same time! Hey so describe your food routine like how many times a day do you eat? How big are your servings? Do you eat meat/veg/fruit/grain together in 1 meal? Do you eat compound meals that are comforty/casserole/stewy stuff or do you concentrate on eating protein (lean grilled) + everything is separate? If it were me, I'd maybe look at getting a functional RD or trainer who understands bariatrics. I'd want to make darn sure that the weight I put back on was muscle which means strength building. I've no idea how to do that! But we have some fitness gurus who do!!! @Healthy_life and @BigViffer among others who might be able to shed some light. Sounds like you're a lucky one who gets to have more calories than you're taking in right now!!! Wooohoooo!

I think it's interesting you put it this way because a few years ago I had a similar epiphany about dieting. If my dieting, losing weight but then gaining it all back and then some, was instead a "bad boy" boyfriend that I kept leaving and going back to, all my friend would be lecturing me and begging me to cut out this destructive behavior. But whenever you go on a diet, people get all excited for you and give you all kind of "atta boys". That is how ingrained it is in our society that fat people have brought their problems on themselves through their own bad behavior and all they have to do to not be fat is have a little bit of self-discipline. The idea that there is a biological component to our condition is rejected outright and us bringing it up is seen as "making excuses" and "not taking responsibility" for our actions. That's also why bariatric surgery is seen as "cheating" instead of a tool to break the destructive cycle of failed dieting.

First, I'd start tracking calories for at least a couple weeks. Most who don't track calories are shocked at how much they're actually consuming when they do start tracking them. Keep in mind the band isn't supposed to make you feel full. It supposed to make you feel satisfied, or no longer physically hungry, on less food for longer time periods. Don't expect that same full feeling we had before surgery- that is not what you're supposed to strive for. Have you been to a nutritionist? If not, that would be another smart step to take. A nutritionist who deals with bariatric patients can help you set up realistic food guidelines for optimal weight loss. It's possible you don't have adequate Fluid in your band yet, but if you want to lose weight I'd still stick to a cup or less of food per meal and count calories in the meantime.

Reposting this sound advice......The struggle you're in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow... In the end we only regret the chances we didn't take, relationships we were too afraid to have, and the decisions we waited too long to make... The cost of not following your heart, is spending the rest of your life wishing you had... Get free daily bariatric success email @ MyBariatricLife.org

For what it's worth I use Bariatric Fusion chew-able vitamins. They were designed for patients that have undergone weight loss surgery. You can buy them on-line.

Medical professionals : why do you do the work you do? Why did choose to work with Bariatric patients? OMGOSH, the responses have been amazing. From family and personal experiences you learn so much. I met nurse, who attended an Ivy League school, who has been practicing for two years and loves work with people. On two occasions, she grew her hair and donated the hair to organizations that make wigs for children. So, I challenge you in the midst of your discomfort, to focus on people around you - so they see understand that Bariatric patients are individuals who want to live, love, dance in the rain, and focusing on this experience to share with others. Man, could we focus on the bad things but I am focusing on the great things awaiting me on the other side! Thank you Lord!

The bariatric nurse in my doc's practice suggested only weighing in once a month at the doctor's office. This worked for me, especially since the scales I could get for home couldn't weigh me. It was difficult but it was a good hting because rather than seeing 1/2 pound at a time I got to see bigger nmbers which were very motivating and I used my clothes and how I felt the rest of the time. I must say for a while at 3 months or so out I did weigh once a week at the doctor's office, but that got old so I went to once a month. As you get down there - you may want to weigh a little more often if it helps "keep you honest" It really is a personal decision.

I hate to break it to you, but the shakes don't go away completely after week 2. At least for me, anyway. I'll probably still be having 2 shakes a day until I've progressed to soft foods (the start of week 5), and I expect to have one a day after then for at least the last two weeks. The good news is, my wife got me this for Christmas, and there are some recipes for shakes and protein drinks in there. The coffee one is good, and all you're really adding is decaf coffee and cinnamon. https://www.amazon.com/Fresh-Start-Bariatric-Cookbook-Weight-Loss/dp/1623157730/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1515000880&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=bariatric+surgery+cookbook&psc=1

I know somebody that had by-pass. He lost almost 200 pounds in a little over a year. 3 Years after that he had gained it all back thanks to Budweiser. The surgery may work for you but need to look at cutting back a little more on the alcohol. It's empty calories. All carbs and sugar. I binge every few weeks or so but not on a regular basis. Another thing to keep in mind is that alcohol causes the loss of inhibitions and if you get a good buzz on you may decide to hit the buffet. I'd definitely discuss it with a bariatric surgeon and nutritionist.

I am from Florida and I used Dr. Valenzuela and had a fantastic experience. Her and all the Drs involved were great. Christy from Mexico Bariatric Center was my coordinator and she was very helpful and always available if I had any concerns. I am 4 weeks post op and have been feeling great since day 2 w/ no complications. If you are considering Mexico, I would definitely look into Dr. V. Best of luck to you:-)

If you employer is providing your health insurance preexisting conditions are usually not a problem. More of an issue is if your company insurance covers bariatrics. If they don't you will have to pay for fills on your own.

Hi everyone !!! I'm getting my things ready and making sure I have everything I need .... and I haven't been able to find a list of the Vitamins I will need ... Any suggestions ? I have already started taking Biotin and have bought bariatric vitamins but I'm not sure if I will need to take anything else? Thanks

Are you the one he gladly comes home to at night????? If so, I would not worry so much about it. Besides, it looks like you need to see yourself through his eyes instead of yours. Anxiety can eat away at you and affect your quality of life. There is a lot of happiness out there waiting for someone to grab it up. So, if you can focus on happier days gone by or the amazing next year coming up you will feel better. I am telling you, this process will evolve you into a whole 'nother person you may not recognize. For example, I went out yesterday and got a sassy new hairdo (like Rita Moreno's at the Sag Awards) and...I bought new make-up, too which I have not worn for years. I would not have done it pre-op. If one can feel this good after only 38 pounds, just imagine how much we are all changing as we enjoy our non-surgical victories. Your bariatric team may have a psychologist you can talk to. They can offer insight into what makes you tick and how to break poor eating habits. Wishing you good luck and good health.

Hello! My doctor has a weekly support group that is conducted at a few different locations in Northern Illinois. I got confirmation today that it is open for any bariatric patients, not just his patients. So - if any of you are interested in joining any of the meeting - come on down! Tonight will be the first meeting I will be attending. The address of the locations are at the bottom of the schedule. NORTHSHORE UNIVERSITY HEALTHSYSTEM Bariatric Surgery Support Group 7–9 pm – Patient facilitated and/or discussion guided by specialist October 2008 Oct 6 Vernon Hills Colleen Diamond, Physical Therapy Student Oct 16 Glenview Colleen Diamond Oct 22 Glenview Robin Ross, Ph.D. Lap Band Group Oct 27 Highland Park Colleen Diamond November 2008 Nov 3 Vernon Hills Group Run Nov 19 Highland Park Woody Denham, M.D. Lap Band Group Nov 20 Glenview Dr. Karol Gutowski, Plastic Surgeon Nov 24 Highland Park Dr. Karol Gutowski, Plastic Surgeon December 2008 Dec 1 Vernon Hills Group Run Dec 18 Glenview Dec 22 Highland Park LOCATIONS Vernon Hills 225 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Vernon Hills (Near Kohl’s and Sam’s) Glenview 2100 Pfingsten Road, Glenview, Conference Room A on 2nd floor Highland Park 777 Park Avenue West, Highland Park, Meeting Room 1B Evanston 2650 Ridge Avenue, Evanston, Meeting Room G954 Contact Information Dr. Woody Denham – Bariatric Program Director (847) 570-4120 (office)

They have a fabulous bariatric program. I hv Aetna and they cover it all. All my surgery cost was my copay of $125. Dr Hallowell is awesome and so is his whole staff. I asked him bout plicaton n he said he does it with every band because the band company recommends it for better results.

I had my open enrollment meeting at work today. They are no longer covering bariatric surgery under our health insurance plan effective January 1. I was going to wait until next year for my sleeve, I am so thankful I didn't!!! I am loving my new tummy!!

First of all, I did not say I supported Saddam Hussein. I said he kept the country stable while he was in power, and that is a fact. And, while I have never personally "supported" Saddam Hussein, the United States government, in the person of Ronald Reagan, certainly did. The following is from the George Washington University's web site. U.S. DOCUMENTS SHOW EMBRACE OF SADDAM HUSSEIN IN EARLY 1980s DESPITE CHEMICAL WEAPONS, EXTERNAL AGGRESSION, HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES Fear of Iraq Collapse in Iran-Iraq War Motivated Reagan Administration Support; U.S. Goals Were Access to Oil, Projection of Power, and Protection of Allies; Rumsfeld Failed to Raise Chemical Weapons Issue in Personal Meeting with Saddam Washington, D.C., 25 February 2003 - The National Security Archive at George Washington University today published on the Web a series of declassified U.S. documents detailing the U.S. embrace of Saddam Hussein in the early 1980's, including the renewal of diplomatic relations that had been suspended since 1967. The documents show that during this period of renewed U.S. support for Saddam, he had invaded his neighbor (Iran), had long-range nuclear aspirations that would "probably" include "an eventual nuclear weapon capability," harbored known terrorists in Baghdad, abused the human rights of his citizens, and possessed and used chemical weapons on Iranians and his own people. The U.S. response was to renew ties, to provide intelligence and aid to ensure Iraq would not be defeated by Iran, and to send a high-level presidential envoy named Donald Rumsfeld to shake hands with Saddam (20 December 1983). The declassified documents posted today include the briefing materials and diplomatic reporting on two Rumsfeld trips to Baghdad, reports on Iraqi chemical weapons use concurrent with the Reagan administration's decision to support Iraq, and decision directives signed by President Reagan that reveal the specific U.S. priorities for the region: preserving access to oil, expanding U.S. ability to project military power in the region, and protecting local allies from internal and external threats. The documents include: A U.S. cable recording the December 20, 1983 conversation between Donald Rumsfeld and Saddam Hussein. Although Rumsfeld said during a September 21, 2002 CNN interview, "In that visit, I cautioned him about the use of chemical weapons, as a matter of fact, and discussed a host of other things," the document indicates there was no mention of chemical weapons. Rumsfeld did raise the issue in his subsequent meeting with Iraqi official Tariq Aziz. National Security Decision Directive (NSDD) 114 of November 26, 1983, "U.S. Policy toward the Iran-Iraq War," delineating U.S. priorities: the ability to project military force in the Persian Gulf and to protect oil supplies, without reference to chemical weapons or human rights concerns. National Security Decision Directive (NSDD) 139 of April 5, 1984, "Measures to Improve U.S. Posture and Readiness to Respond to Developments in the Iran-Iraq War," focusing again on increased access for U.S. military forces in the Persian Gulf and enhanced intelligence-gathering capabilities. The directive calls for "unambiguous" condemnation of chemical weapons use, without naming Iraq, but places "equal stress" on protecting Iraq from Iran's "ruthless and inhumane tactics." The directive orders preparation of "a plan of action designed to avert an Iraqi collapse." U.S. and Iraqi consultations about Iran's 1984 draft resolution seeking United Nations Security Council condemnation of Iraq's chemical weapons use. Iraq conveyed several requests to the U.S. about the resolution, including its preference for a lower-level response and one that did not name any country in connection with chemical warfare; the final result complied with Iraq's requests. The 1984 public U.S. condemnation of chemical weapons use in the Iran-Iraq war, which said, referring to the Ayatollah Khomeini's refusal to agree to end hostilities until Saddam Hussein was ejected from power, "The United States finds the present Iranian regime's intransigent refusal to deviate from its avowed objective of eliminating the legitimate government of neighboring Iraq to be inconsistent with the accepted norms of behavior among nations and the moral and religious basis which it claims." Edited to add....

Hi All, I am back! I am having my Lapband removed. The port has been an issue. I’m having the band removed and vertical sleeve revision on the same day, February 2, 2023. I have been dealing with Fibromyalgia since 2014 and take three different medications for it. The meds just for my fibromyalgia number 12 throughout the day. If I don’t take these fibromyalgia meds I cannot get up out of bed and function. And I work full time. I asked my Bariatric doctor can I still take my meds right after surgery and he said I could with liquid. 😱 Those 12 fibromyalgia pills, doesn’t include all the other meds I am on and the pain pills he will prescribe. Some of the pills cannot be crushed and some cannot even be taken with food. I feel like I am going to have an issue with all the meds and fluids, and God help me me if I have any strictures. I take a total of 15 pills a day, so I would like to hear from people who had a vertical sleeve and lots of pills/meds they had to take everyday during the first four weeks of their surgery. Thanks! TQ

Okay so I seen a page on Facebook for Bariatrics it works wraps and I don't know if the person I'm talking to has even went through the surgery so what I'm wondering is if there's anyone on here that's used it and what they're doing was only drinking a little amount of water that makes it successful I'm 4 weeks post op and I wanna start at I have six left from a while ago can anybody let me know what they're doing

My surgeon told me it was not common for me to have diarrhea. He told me there are two important things you need to know about when you go home : stay hydrated, and also that you will be very constipated. So naturally when the opposite happened I called. No one answered. I also think it was unprofessional for him to say " If you cry wolf no one will call you back, I mean someone will eventually but you won't get good care." It also hurts that you would call it mundane. This is my only body. My only life. Taking care of it is important to me. It's scary when things are happening that you don't understand and you get yelled at for asking questions. I understand that I should have been more informed about aftercare. They told me I would be in little to no pain and be fine when I got home. I just figured I would have to go to the hospital if anything urgent happened. I just don't feel like anyone takes mental health into consideration. Like it's a joke. I'm on medication and go to to a therapist. I do think though that a bariatric team of nurses, PA's, my personal liaison, nutritionalists, exercise coaches, etc. should have shown more care after the fact.

Thanks for your response. This will be my 4th abdominal surgery and second bariatric procedure. I think it is safe to say that there is some period of recovery no?

Congrats and welcome! Protein protein protein! Your new "best friend"! Get in as much as you can, and then some more! Same with liquid, popsicles, whatever you can, you need it. As far as the move goes, be careful! You don't want to end up back in the hospital, and lifting, especially heavy things can put you back there. You have had major surgery, so you will be tired. Give yourself time to heal, and if you're like me and had hiatal surgery at the same time as your sleeve, you shouldn't be doing anything that may harm you. I was told (and it may be just me) not to lift anything over 10 pounds for at least a year, to allow everything to heal properly. If you need a bariatric pal, let me know. Good luck to you!

While you may have overreacted, I'm sure many people would have done the same if they had been given the same info you had about constipation and keeping hydrated. Diarrhea strips your body of hydration. I can understand that being scary. And you are justified in your reaction to the doctors comments. What he said was harsh and uncalled for. Some doctors just have lousy bedside manners and I've learned after having a child, that many of them really don't like being bothered during their off time. I'm sorry you had a negative experience. If it's still bothering you, I would recommend giving feedback to the office manager at the bariatric practice. It may not going anywhere, but it might. Follow up care is important, so don't let that experience discourage you from continuing with it. Best of luck!

Thank you everyone! I have decided to go with a different surgeon. Not to mention I was basically removed from the surgeon I saws service. They require a $2,500 fee for an after care program, but want $7,000 for the same exact program for a revision paitient. They didn't like when I asked why/had questions about the policy. It just felt like they didn't want to deal with anyone who had any concerns about their program. Thankfully I already started seeking other surgeons and am now dealing with my PCP to get a new referral, but now they're slacking too :-/ I'm literally in their waiting room as I type having a sit in to get my referral. It's been over a week of unreturned calls and messages, I even ended up with an appointment to talk to my PCP directly. I made very clear the hospital I want to go to only does a phone referral service and even gave them the number to call the referral in. They ended up faxing a referral to somebody but certainly wasn't the bariatric program I'm planning on going to. So to insure they call it in and I can get an appointment with the surgeon next week I'm sitting here waiting. I also have decided that I don't mind between RNY and VSG. Well... Yes I would prefer the sleeve but I'm just as at peace with the RNY. I'm essentially going to leave it up to my surgeon to determine what's best for me and whatever the condition of my stomach is once he knows what it looks like.