I'm surprised at some of the questions I see here and on other WLS boards from new VSG patients, like ...

* I just had VSG surgery. What am I supposed to eat now?

* My surgeon says not to drink alcohol until X months out. Can I drink now anyway?

* When can I start eating ice cream?

* I'm four days out and just had chicken McNuggets. Have I damaged my sleeve?

* If you plan to drink heavily, first take a Percocet to calm your stomach.

I totally get that, even pre-op, this surgery can sometimes be overwhelming. But some patients' questions suggest that even though they've just undergone major surgery they haven't read their post-op instructions, understood their instructions, don't believe what could happen to them if they don't follow instructions, or maybe they just never received any instructions at all.

Weird!

This is why Bariatric Pal is so good for us all. We WILL find help and answers here. We all have good and bad days. But the hope for us all is that everyone goes into the surgery being informed, knowing what to ask, knowing what to expect, knowing what to do. Knowing that for any negative post there will be 100 helpful ones. We had a surgery team that was amazing, probably 10 people total, all part of the same Bariatric Team, coordinated by one person. It was absolutely amazing. The NUT sees you pre-surgery, and post surgery surgery about your nutrition and eating habits. All this is part of the surgery, no extra charges. I would recommend finding the largest city in your area and looking for people who had bariatric surgery there, and find out their experience with that bariatric team prior to committing to any surgeon. Good luck everyone. Linda

Kyrick - I have a great NUT who is on call anytime I need her - so if you have any questions your more than welcome to ask and if you don't get the answer on here that you need I will call her and ask for you! The thing is NUTS are soooo different from one person to another. It really is amazing how different our diet requirements/limitations are considering we all had same surgery! I understand if start weight or medical conditions warrant a variance of dietary needs, but you would think the basics would be the same? Yet some people move to the next level weeks before others..I have found that even after talking and meeting with my NUT several times that really she hasn't told me anything that wasn't common sense - things like eating Protein first, veggies next and then starch if you have room - or stay away from cupcakes! lol I also think that no matter what they tell you - YOU know your body better than anyone does, so if you feel you are ready for the next food stage (within reasonable amount of healing time) then try it. One of 2 things will happen - either your pouch will thank you or it will make you regret ever looking at that meal! lol

• Very well put Hawk!

It seems as though the requirements for bariatric surgery approval has tightened up the past two years. There was no psychiatric evaluation required. That requirement was added on because the occurance of addiction (alcoholism) and depression was observed to be more frequent among people who have had weight loss surgery. People after weight loss surgery are more susectible due to such a large change in tolerance. The psych evaluation is mostly used to see what patients have preexisting or past addiction or mental problems.

I get so discouraged when I see those that had bariatric surgery gain their weight back. I didn't think the stomach could stretch so much after surgery. I am glad that all the requirements were added on (even though getting it all done is quite a pain) because it weeds out those that weren't that serious to begin with or may suffer consequences during or after surgery.

I had to attend a bariatric seminar and pass a bariatric surgery knowledge test before I could make my first appointment at the bariatric clinic.

I just assume they're asking a question they don't know the answer to and want to see if anyone is willing to answer, it really doesn't bother me. In my job I deal with people of all levels of intelligence and so what seems crystal clear to some is going to be confusing and a gray area to others.

Since quite a large number of people who have weight loss surgery lose weight and gain it all back I think it's an opportunity for us to support each other and provide as much good information as we can with as little judgment as possible.

As to why they'd commit to such a big surgery without a lot of research and reflection? Myriad reasons, I would imagine. Again, I think we're all assuming everyone has above average intelligence and self awareness and a lot of people simply do not. They may be feeling so desperate to lose weight they don't consider consequences or how much work really goes into it. Maybe they know someone who breezed through WLS and think they can too. As many reasons and you have people who do it.

Well said. These forums are for support and for the most part folks are good at offering support I have only seen a few that attack others here. Shame on them. This process is individualized and none of us truly know what the other may be going thru mentally with this whole thing. I was raised that if you have nothing nice to say you don't say anything. Unfortunately some on here were not and are happy to aggravate folks recovering from surgery

Well said. These forums are for support and for the most part folks are good at offering support I have only seen a few that attack others here. Shame on them. This process is individualized and none of us truly know what the other may be going thru mentally with this whole thing. I was raised that if you have nothing nice to say you don't say anything. Unfortunately some on here were not and are happy to aggravate folks recovering from surgery

I'm kind of thinking that calling someone a name and telling them to shut their mouth is not what your parents had in mind.

I feel compelled to respond to this because I see this situation a little differently.

I had my sleeve 3 years ago and my insurance did require a psychological evaluation. I was tod the purpose was to assess if I could comply with post op instructions,not screening for addictive behavior. Addiction transference is real and it happens to people who were not addicted to alcohol,gambling etc. Pre weight loss.

I lost over 160, and am still maintaining under goal but I say the reason people regain is because over time, it's really really hard. It's hard to fathom this when you are in that amazing first 6-18 months, but at 3 years out I need to eat really small. I have to work out (plagued by injuries). I have to face a social world were as the "trim" chick, food is often pushed at me. I do sometimes stress eat but my main issue with food is that I have to eat pretty low calorie, low carbohydrate to maintain and yet I get hungry. No psychological evaluation helps with that.

Anyway, just a different perspective. I do feel that the outstanding education and support provided by my surgeon and staff has been critical to my success. I advise anyone to shop for a surgeon with great follow up if at all possible. Several of the staff, one of the surgeons and anothersurgeons wife were sleeved so they are believers!

It seems as though the requirements for bariatric surgery approval has tightened up the past two years. There was no psychiatric evaluation required. That requirement was added on because the occurance of addiction (alcoholism) and depression was observed to be more frequent among people who have had weight loss surgery. People after weight loss surgery are more susectible due to such a large change in tolerance. The psych evaluation is mostly used to see what patients have preexisting or past addiction or mental problems.

I get so discouraged when I see those that had bariatric surgery gain their weight back. I didn't think the stomach could stretch so much after surgery. I am glad that all the requirements were added on (even though getting it all done is quite a pain) because it weeds out those that weren't that serious to begin with or may suffer consequences during or after surgery.

I had to attend a bariatric seminar and pass a bariatric surgery knowledge test before I could make my first appointment at the bariatric clinic.

It seems as though the requirements for bariatric surgery approval has tightened up the past two years. There was no psychiatric evaluation required. That requirement was added on because the occurance of addiction (alcoholism) and depression was observed to be more frequent among people who have had weight loss surgery. People after weight loss surgery are more susectible due to such a large change in tolerance. The psych evaluation is mostly used to see what patients have preexisting or past addiction or mental problems.

I get so discouraged when I see those that had bariatric surgery gain their weight back. I didn't think the stomach could stretch so much after surgery. I am glad that all the requirements were added on (even though getting it all done is quite a pain) because it weeds out those that weren't that serious to begin with or may suffer consequences during or after surgery.

I had to attend a bariatric seminar and pass a bariatric surgery knowledge test before I could make my first appointment at the bariatric clinic.

Cowgirl

Really well put. For all of us .....the "honeymoon" ends at some point and it is on us to continue to make good choices. This is a harder issue if we are non compliant.

I read that about 1/3 of WLS patients regain their weight. Could this be so? Does anyone have any facts about this? Or which surgery most likely to have regains?

Anyway. The point of having all those pre surgery tests and classes could be to weed out a few that do not seem to be ready

8 years ago I had 1 pre class and one meeting with the nut. The drs wife. Not enough info Glad it has changed