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Here’s a quick summary of what to expect for your short- and long-term post-gastric sleeve diet: Immediately following surgery: Strictly regimented by your dietitian or nutritionist Liquids only for the first few days, starting with only about an ounce Introduce powdered Protein for a week or two Slowly transition to thicker foods through week 6 or so (completely pureed – NO solid foods) Solid foods usually begin between 6 and 8 weeks out, after which your “normal” long-term diet will begin Long-term bariatric diet after gastric sleeve surgery: Consists of three 4 ounce meals per day Learn and avoid foods that will cause problems, including difficulty swallowing, poop problems and/or vomiting Must “eat healthy” – only natural foods cooked with healthy ingredients Daily protein must come first – you’ll need a lot of it Avoid simple carbs and eat “good carbs” in small portions to keep your blood sugar steady Drink a lot of Water (about ½ gallon), but don’t drink during or after meals Don't snack unless it's a scheduled part of your diet Staying on track can be difficult, so it’s best to find and religiously use a good food journal to plan and track your diet. FitDay and MyFoodDiary are two good options. Good luck! Jeff Source: Bariatric Diet, Bariatric Eating, the Top 5 Long-Term Success Factors and 12 Tips to Keep You on Track

According to the research, the magic number is 50. When a surgeon has done more than 50 LapBands (not just more than 50 bariatric surgeries and not just more than 50 laporoscopic surgeries, but more than 50 LapBands), the patients have fewer complications.

I haven't been on a pre-op diet which I think is really weird. The only instructions I've been given is clear liquids the day before surgery and nothing after midnight. My appointment went really well! The bariatric nurse went through everything in detail, she was really funny and reassuring. I definitely agree, it's a whirlwind! How's your liquid diet going? I've never been on one but that'll be my reality next week!

That is pretty close! I just had my last appointment with the bariatric nurse today and she went through all the specifics of the surgery. Have you had to do a lot of prep?

One of the individuals in our bariatric surgery group meetings went from a lapland to bypass and lost about that much weight. His band started to eat through his stomach so he had to have it removed. He was pleased with the RNY surgery results.

I just found out today that my insurance, United Healthcare choice plus, doesn't require a supervised diet or psychological evaluation. They only require a bmi over 40 and a bariatric center of excellence. I feel so fortunate. Now I just have to get approved.

I bought mine from my surgeon and online at Bariatric Choice. Now that I think about it, my favorite is actually WonderSlim Dark Chocolate that I got from Bariatric Choice. I like it as is or with the addition of PB2.

Hello there I have the same problem. I asked the bariatric dr. about this and she says it's because of weight loss. She said when we are over weight the weight holds us up better and then when we lose weight we tend to slouch forward. She said it's very common and she said to try to pay attention to our posture and sit and stand straight. It's easier said then done though. I hope it gets better for the both of us.

I have been having the same problem along with nausea. I had an ultrasound, which showed a fatty liver due to obesity, had an X-ray of my abdomen, they were looking for blockage in my bowels, which was negative and then I had a hidascan. All were normal and my lap band is fine. I returned to my bariatric surgeon and he tried to order a CT scan but my insurance denied it. Now I am not better and there are no answers. I am very frustrated. I know how you feel. Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

My Dr and RD have always suggested that most proteins come from food, and most of mine do with the exception of breakfast as I cannot eat eggs which is a great source of protein. Prior to my surgery I was a frappachino-holoic and found that I LOVED the believe cappuccino (bariatric eating site). They are a bit pricey as well as the s&h, but they helped me get over my frapp addiction and it was a taste I got use to. Best of luck to you.

yes, there is a no-no list and I didn't find out about that until the day of surgery... how did I miss that in my research?? Here is a link. Its not a page Im familiar with, but its basically what my doc told me too: http://www.drchampion.com/latest-news/medications-after-bariatric-surgery/

I got mine on Amazon & at my Bariatric dr.

@Bufflehead is right. The sleeve is new for weight loss, but people have had part or all of their stomach removed for decades as part of the treatment for cancer. While we don't have long term studies based on VSG as a bariatric surgery there are tons of studies about the efficacy of removing the stomach for other purposes. I was also really worried about the fact that this was a forever kind of surgery, and it did concern me that in the future maybe something would go wrong, but the more I researched the more I felt better about it. I was 29 when I had the surgery, so I can also appreciate that you feel like you're a little earlier in life and you need your body to last for six more decades or so. You will be fine...but the nerves are just part of the process. A year from now you will very likely look back on this and think, whew, best decision ever!

I also have Kaiser and I am able to email my NUT and case worker within the bariatric department. I had a pain in my left side and still get the pain when I get really full. I had an endoscopy and everything was normal. I had my gallbladder removed and everything was normal. There was some scar tissue where they pulled the stomach out on the left incision site. It's not bad, I just have to not eat too much. Sometimes I do get diarrhea, but my diet is mostly protein with a little veggies. I do know that when I eat too much fat I do have difficulties with diarrhea. Go see you PCP and ask for a referral to the bariatric department for follow up. Go back to basics and see if things change. I have been eating basically protein and was doing the basics and it helped me drop about 4 lbs.

Probably... I have one at the surgeons office that I see every few months now, but she really doesn't help that much...or maybe I haven't felt the need for her. Between the sites here and the monthly bariatric meetings I attend, I get a LOT of nutritional info/insight... so you are not really alone on this!

I have a question and I'm hoping to get some help on this. I have BCBSNC and I was looking into doing a revision from the Lapband to Gastric Sleeve. My Lapband is leaking fluid...I think. I haven't confirmed it but I have gotten 3 fills in the last 6 months and it is always at 5cc after the fill. So, that was my conclusion. I would like to know if the requirements for the surgery are the same since it is a revision? The requirements for bariatric with BCBSNC is 12 months (Long time). BTW I have gained so much weights its crazy. The band was working fine and it just stopped. Any input is greatly appreciated.

I was not told how much to eat, and the doc and dietician at the bariatric center told me different things as well. I have had less than 700 calories today, and actually had two eggs (over easy with 0 cal spray). My hubby mentioned that two eggs was a lot. I know I probably shouldn't have had eggs on the full liquid diet, but I needed to eat something different. I am having no restriction. Thanks for the response on the healing not loosing. I actually haven't lost anything in the last couple days, and thought it might be due to eating the oatmeal, cot. cheese, and soup. One other question. I see a lot of people talking about jerkey. I would have thought that would be totally off the menu. what's up with that?

That's a pretty routine amount of work at one time. From what I've read, that's not at all too much. Have you been on Realself.com? You can post concerns there for plastic surgeons to comment on. You also can review hundreds of procedures. Pretty complete site. Similar to bariatric pal. It's totally normal to have fears and nerves before surgery. I think you can let go of the anxiety and allow yourself to be excited Some of those Brazilian butt lifts are crazy!!! Is that what you're getting? Doesn't sound like it. I would be curious to know how does someone get comfortable after a BBL and TT? I bet they don't combine those two cause you can't sit on your butt...rambling. I'll go ramble somewhere else.

I am not a psychiatrist either, but here's something else that could be contributing to you being in a dark place--the lack of being able to eat much due to your band. Many of us turn to food for comfort in stressful times as a coping mechanism, and after getting any bariatric surgery we can't eat to comfort themselves. We have to learn a new coping behavior. I'm not saying that is what is happening to you, but it could be. Good luck, hang in there and and try to insist your counselor talk to you as soon as possible.

I wanted to write a review about my hospital experience. I had my surgery October 24, 2013 by Dr. Charles Huddleston. Every appointment I had with him, before surgery, was informative, helpful, and considerate. He was extremely willing to talk about the different surgical procedures with both my mum and I. He was never rude and he never belittled my weight problems. On the day of surgery, I got to see him an some of the team. I was able to voice all my surgery concerns with the team, and had reassurance. After surgery, I was told he did visit me after I got settled in my room. (( I don't remember him visiting, due to the surgery meds. )) Later that day, he visited me again, when I was more awake. Again, he told me follow up care, he told me how surgery went, etc. He then told me he would see me tomorrow morning. Sure enough, the next day I got to see him. Later on the second day, I got to see him again I saw my Dr. Huddleston a total of four times, in two days. He's very concerned for making sure his patients feel safe and secure. He doesn't want you to feel out of the loop. In all honesty, I rate my entire experience with him as a whole 10/10. If you're wanting a bariatric surgery, I urge you to make a consultation appointment with him!!

I was banded in October or November 2010, and lost about 80 pounds. By 2012 I'd had all the fluid removed due to regurg, pain, etc., even with minimal fills. Even with the band unfilled, foods still got stuck and some things were completely off limits. I just dealt with it for a few years, ignoring the problem. Earlier this year, I finally decided to do something about it and saw a bariatric surgeon here in Minneapolis (my band was placed in Omaha). In June of this year, I had a barium swallow xray done, and I was diagnosed with esophageal dismotility, a complication of the band. So, the band needed to come out. (For anyone reading this curious about the insurance approval process, I have Blue Cross Blue Shield and it was pretty straightforward, I just had to show proof of getting fills done (got my records from my old surgeon's office) and proof of a complication (the barium swallow showing dismotility).) I had the band out in August, and will be sleeved on December 7, in just 2 days. My surgeon does the revision in two different procedures because she feels there are fewer complications this way. Though there are other surgeons in the same group who do the revision in the same procedure. Waiting in between is not exactly easy on the pocket book (though I would have hit my out of pocket max either way), and my sick time at work has really taken a hit, but I understand the reasoning. Looking back on it, I'm really glad I've had the time between getting the band out and getting sleeved. I've had time to unlearn all the unhealthy habits I developed while dealing with my failed band. (And yes, I realize the failure was likely partly my responsibility, too, for anyone looking to jump all over me for that one.) I had to sip with my meals to get food past the band, and I definitely wasn't getting enough protein because that was likely to stick, too. Basically, I've had time to practice the "way of the sleeve" to replace the "way of the failed band". Between the band and the sleeve, I also have been hungry. My stomach hasn't rumbled this hard in years! (Maybe because it couldn't physically do so?) Protein shakes have helped, and paying attention to whether or not I'm actually hungry (or have any right to be based on what I've already eaten) or if it's just mental "hunger" have kept me from gaining weight. I've actually lost about 20 pounds now, and not just from the liquid diet I'm on before surgery. While it's frustrating to have to do two procedures, I hope you find the time in between helpful. Good luck! Wishing you the best.

The Band-Wagon Support Group will meet on Saturday October 13th at 10am The Band-Wagon is a support group that is open to any lap-band patient. This includes patients banded by other doctors and pre-band patients doing research. If you are unable to attend, please check out our website at www.MalleySurgical.com. We have a forum for open discussions and hope to be able to have all your questions answered. Beginning in October 2007, “The Band-Wagon” will begin meeting at the New Hope Bariatrics Center. New Hope Bariatrics Center is located on the Northeast corner of I-435 Hwy and the Nall Ave Exit. New Hope has a large private conference room for group meetings to be held in. The complete address is: New Hope Bariatrics Center 10787 Nall Ave. Suite 100 Overland Park, KS 66211

I take a Bariatric One a Day Vitamin that I've been very pleased with. It comes in chewable and capsule. The price is affordable and the product can be found at www.procarenow.com

VST is okay but it doesn't come close to being a support group. I cannot over-emphasize how important it is to get face-to-face with other patients and actual experts in the bariatric field - they are very few and far between here at VST.

I must have gotten it pretty easy. Mine was with an independent therapist who does bariatric psych evaluations for multiples surgeons in my area. Mine was entirely a conversation about how long I've struggled with being overweight, how I feel about myself, understanding the pros and cons of surgery, the potential to feel depressed afterwards, etc. There were only a few specific questions he had but the rest of it was him helping me understand the different emotions I could be going through before/during/after the surgery. He also told me from the beginning that the point of his evaluation was not to deny me from anything but to help understand where i'm at in terms of my emotions and relationship to food so that if I had any big issues my doctor would know how to address them with me.