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Victoza isn't the first drug of choice if one merely wants to lower their A1C. Metformin will do the same thing and is much, much safer... and used daily by millions. Your endo will determine what is right for you. The most common dose is 500mg 1tab/twice daily.

My bariatric surgeon told me that after my surgery that I no longer need to take Metformin. (I am not diabetic, btw; and my A1C never rose above 5.8 ... thanks to the Metformin I took pre-surgery.)

Metformin also affects hunger. Many people lose weight from it as a bonus. It's not the reason why doctors prescribe it, though.

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The reason I mentioned A1-C is because it may indicate a co-morbidity that their insurance would cover treatment for.

GLP-1 agonists such as Saxenda and Victoza are approved for weight loss, in higher doses, with the side benefit of reducing A1-C levels.

Personally, if my BMI was in the low thirties, I would seriously consider medical weight loss alternatives vs. surgery.

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Hi, I'm in the UK so think the rules may be different here but my BMI is 32 and I've just had a band fitted. I wasnt able to get this on the NHS (our miracle healthcare system) because of my low BMI so I took out a bank loan to pay for the op myself. Here if your BMI is over 30 you are eligible but there has to be genuine reasons for you wanting to go down this route. For me, I was similar to yourself and have tried every diet in the book to no avail. My weight yo-yo'd for around 15 years and once I turned 30 I just got heavier and heavier despite my attempts to lose weight. I know my problem is my relationship with food so for me the band will eventually allow me to eat what I want but I will only be able to physically eat so much of it before I am sick. I need this kind of control. I had to sign a consent form as this wasn't a medical referral but a medical choice. I have recently been diagnosed with arthritis and believe if I don't take my weight under control that my condition will get worse. I'm also leaving myself open to diabetes and this is something I don't want in my future. My doctors accepted these as valid reasons and I was able to get the band. I'm sorry I really don't know too much about US healthcare so I'm unsure if any of this is helpful! Best of luck x

Sent from my HTC U11 using BariatricPal mobile app

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Here is my perspective from a 42 year old that was diagnosed with PCOS at about 23 when the weight just started piling on at 21-22. PCOS is awful, I doctored with everyone I could, endo etc. My endo told me one time to consider not gaining a victory and that I would probably never have a healthy weight. My highest ever was 280, I lost to 198 on my own over several years using low carb diets. It was such a hard battle, but my body would not relent and for a good 15 years I gained and lost the same 30 lbs over and over again. PCOS is a precursor for lots of future issues with Diabetes, heart disease etc. I am an exercise guru, I love running, biking, I compete in triathlons. I would eat healthy, exercise and nothing would happen. I took metformin, I did Protein Shakes, med weight loss program with diet pills, weight watchers, topamax. No results. The year before my wedding, I worked with my primary dr to try to lose weight for my wedding. I did a shake diet that was about 1000 calories a day, high Protein, low carb - and also took Victoza off label for obesity so 3.0 ml which was 2 shots since the pen only went to 1.8 max dose. In 8 months, of this diet, meds, and exercise, I lost about 24 lbs. My dr and I had agreed that the victoza was a short term thing because of the side effects possible, so I quit taking it a few weeks before my wedding and immediately started gaining the weight back. I always knew, from the battle I had, that surgery was my only option. Unfortunately, prior to getting married, my insurance I had exempted it, but after I got married, I switched to my husbands insurance so I could start trying to get qualified. In the 6 months from the Victoza to my surgery on March 18th, I gained 46 lbs. I struggled with which surgery to have, scared of the bypass, but I knew in my heart, that just restricting my eating wasn’t the solution. I had done this for years and it didn’t work. I needed the malabsorption part as well so I did have the RNY.

I feel very strongly that PCOS should be a comorbidity for surgery. I didn’t have any comorbidity’s because I had such an active lifestyle, but I knew it was only a matter of time. I still have fears that this won’t work either, but I know deep down, I had to do it. I think you have to advocate for your own health and find a surgeon/program that believes in you. I surely hope that I can have success and get to a healthy weight. Do what you feel is right, but find a team that supports you. I have heard that some insurance does allow PCOS to be a comorbidity, so something to research and look into.

Good luck to you.

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So its 10/01/19 . What did you decide ?

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    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

    • NovelTee

      I'm not at all hungry on this liquid pre-op diet, but I miss the sensation of chewing. It's been about two weeks––surgery is in two days––and I can't imagine how I'll feel a couple of weeks post-op. Tonight, I randomly stumbled upon a mukbang channel on YouTube, and it was strangely soothing... is it just me, or is this a thing? 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        I actually watched cooking shows during my pre-op, like Great British Baking Show. It was a little bizarre, but didn't make me hungry. I think it was also soothing in a way.

    • Clueless_girl

      How do you figure out what your ideal weight should be? I've had a figure in my head for years, but after 3 mths of recovery I'm already almost there. So maybe my goal should be lower?
      · 3 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

        I would use that as a starting point, and then just see how you feel as you lose. How you look and feel is more important than a number.

      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

      3. NickelChip

        I think it's important to remember that the weight charts and BMI ranges were developed a very long time ago and only intended to be applied to people who have never been overweight or obese. Those numbers aren't for us. When you are larger, especially for a long time, your body develops extra bone to support the weight. Your organs get a little bigger to handle the extra mass. Your entire infrastructure increases so you can support and function with the extra weight. That doesn't all go away just because you burn off the excess fat. If you still had a pair of jeans from your skinniest point in life and then lost weight to get to the exact number on the scale you were when those jeans fit you, chances are they would be a little baggy now because you would actually be thinner than you were, even though the scale and the BMI chart disagree. When in doubt, listen to the jeans, not the scale!

    • Aunty Mamo

      Tomorrow marks two weeks since surgery day and while I'm feeling remarkably well and going about just about every normal activity, I did wind up with a surface abscess on on of my incision sights and was put on an antibiotic that made me so impacted that it took me more than two hours to eliminate yesterday and scared the hell out of me. Now there's Miralax in all my beverages that aren't Smooth Move tea. I cannot experience that again. I shouldn't have to take Ativan to go to the lady's. I really looking forward to my body getting with the program again. 
      I'm in day three of the "puree" stage of eating and despite the strange textures, all of the savory flavors seem decadent. 
      I timed this surgery so that I'd be recovering during my spring break. That was a good plan. Today is a state holiday and the final day of break. I feel really strong to return to school tomorrow. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I'm getting a into a routine for my meals. Every day, I start out with 8-16 ounces of water, and then a proffee, which I have come to look forward to even the night before. My proffees are simply a black coffee with a protein powder added. There are three products that I cycle through: Premier Vanilla, Orgain Vanilla, and Dymatize Vanilla.
      For second breakfast on workdays, I will have a low-fat yogurt with two tablespoons of PBFit and two teaspoons of no sugar added dried cherries. I will have ingested 35-45 grams of protein at this point between the two breakfasts, with 250-285 calories, and about 20 carbs.
      For second breakfast on non-workdays, I will prepare two servings of plain, instant oatmeal with a tablespoon of an olive oil-based spread. This means I will have had 34 grams of protein, 365 calories, and 38 carbs. Non-workdays are when I am being very active with training sessions, so I allow myself more carbohydrate fuel.
      Snacks on any day are always mixed nuts, even when I am travelling. I will have 0.2 cups of a blend that I make myself. It consists of dry roasted peanuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts. This is 5 grams of protein, 163 calories, and 7 carbs.
      Breakfast and snacks have been the easiest to nail down. Lunch and dinner have more variables, and I prepare enough for leftovers. I concentrate on protein first, and then add vegetables. Typically tempeh, tofu, or Field Roast products with roasted or sautéed vegetables. Today, I will be eating leftovers from last night. Two ounces of tempeh with four ounces of roasted vegetables that consist of red and yellow sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, small purple potatoes, zucchini, and carrots. I will add a tablespoon of olive oil-based spread, break up 3 walnuts to sprinkle of top, and garnish with two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. This particular meal will be 19 grams of protein, 377 calories, and 28 grams of carbs. Bear in mind that I do eat more carbs when I am not working, and I focus on ingesting healthy carbs instead of breads/crackers/chips/crisps.
      It's a helluva journey and I'm thankful to be on it!
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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