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I had surgery in November of 2020 and I'm 32 lbs away from my goal weight of 175lbs. I can relate to what you are talking about. I am way smaller than what I was and I have pictures to compare myself to but it isn't how I "feel". I still feel really big and sometimes feel very bloated and puffy. I think I really have a distorted view of my size. My boyfriend tried to help me with my perspective when we were on a hike this past weekend. He very discretely and quietly showed me women who were larger or smaller than me. Friends in WLS please don't think we are judging these people. He was only trying to give me a visual perspective of my journey so far. He also reminded me of times we went hiking in the past and how I would sweat profusely and be out of breathe and so very tired when we finished a hike. It really helped me realize that the main reason I did this was to get healthy and my size or number on the scale doesn't matter. It only mattered that I was able to continue to do what I love (hike) more easily and with greater energy so that I could better enjoy this hobby with him.

Same here. My family doctor had been suggesting the surgery to me for over 10 years now because he saw how hard I was working trying to lose weight with nothing happening (he had me in the gym, trying different diet programs throughout the years, keeping food logs, seeing an endocrinologist, etc) . And even at his suggestion, giving me statistics, etc. I was still scared of the surgery. So I would do my own research here and there through the years but still chicken out when it came time to do anything more serious with it. It was until this year that I got more serious in the research because my A1C was reaching Type 2 status. I had always teetered on the edge but I was scared to finally go over. I didn't want or need another problem (already have high BP, PCOS, Insulin Resistance) so I bit the bullet and reached out. I was even more on board with doing it once I got to speak with the surgeon and had all my questions answered by him. I felt so much better about it all. However, sadly during the pre-op testing I discovered I was now in fact a Type 2 diabetic. Something I did not want to happen and was trying to avoid. But this makes me want the surgery even more now. This is a very personal thing and you have to do it in your own time. I wish you luck in whatever you decide. It's not an easy choice either way.

I did the research years ago and just kept putting it off, coming up with excuse after excuse after excuse as to why not to have surgery. For me, the permanence was something that scared me and put me off doing the surgery for a long time. It was my health declining and fearing that I wouldn't be around to watch my nieces grow up that finally made me make the move. I'm 14.5 months post op with the Loop Duodenal Switch surgery and I only wish that I had done this for myself sooner.

I take Pepcid because Prevacid caused MORE acid. I have no idea why...

yes - I do that every morning, too. For the most part, it keeps me from backing up - but on the occasion when I DO get backed up (maybe once a month or so), I'll do the milk of magnesia. And if THAT doesn't work, it's magnesium citrate time...

I’ve experienced this as well. I’m 17 days post op and my anxiety is high about a number of things related to this surgery. Mainly, a feeling that I’ll never again be “normal”. It’s hard to describe but I feel like I made a horrible mistake by doing this. Even though I understand the big picture benefit, I can’t shake this feeling. I’m chalking it up to being very early on in the process. At least I hope so.

I ate a lot after surgery. The restriction was there and I could only do a little at a time, but I was non-stop HUNGRY, so I ate non-stop. At around week 3-4 weeks...when I was encouraged to eat 1200 calories a day, I started feeling more content and like I was on a sustainable diet. I still ate 6 times every day....and often still do. You will be able to eat more of mushy "slider" foods than foods with more substance. Eating is not the devil. Eating a sane number of calories during loss phase is not a bad thing. Feeling well enough and having the energy to do the exercise that boosts your metabolism...is a good thing. You don't need to be a starving zombie to lose weight. You definately need to keep track and make good food choices, but the extremely low calorie diets are both unwise and can set you up for rebound regain. Eat sensibly. Good choices. Stay within calorie limits. Boost your metabolism with 15 minutes of cardio every day. (doesn't have to be anything fancy, some very heavy folks reach cardio just by taking a walk) Stay active, stay nourished. You will lose weight.

I went clothes shopping today at a store (with the pandemic haven't done much of that). Not sure if it is the pandemic or my weight loss, but my experience today was SO different then in the past. I had a number of sales people approach me right off the bat. Friendly, offering to help. In the past, I would wander the same store on my own without anyone offering to help. I've seen others post about being treated differently after losing weight and while i'm not positive that's what this was, it's certainly something I'll watch for. The NSV --- I took one of the sales people up on their offer to help and mentioned after losing weight I'm not really sure what size I am. She knew immediately what options to pull and I am in a size 28 jeans! That's a size 8, as in single digits!!! I am also wearing a Small in a number of tops. Holy $(@*. 🤯

First of all, congratulations on your pregnancy. Secondly, congratulations on your weightloss! :) Bravo to you and I am so happy you are now able to concieve. Of course there are complications associated with pregnancy following weightloss surgery. And there are complications associated with obesity. They can be serious and your concerns for your child's nutrition is valid. However, with proper monitoring and a specialized nutritionist, there is NO reason you cannot have a happy, healthy pregnancy. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. Be patient and listen to your doctors. Be upfront about your medical history and current diet. ASK QUESTIONS. Be an advocate for your pregnancy and your baby's health. Don't let anyone shame you for your wonderful news. Of course it's "ideal" to wait a year to get pregnant because your numbers stabilize and so does your health. But 4 months post-op is not the end of the world, even if people tell you it is. (Hugs) My dear friend fell pregnant with her first (at 35 years old!) Just 7 months following her surgery and has a healthy, beautiful baby girl now. I wish you the best of luck. Smile! You're having a baby!

I’ve never admitted these things to anyone, let alone on a public forum. You are not alone though. I’ve struggled almost all my life with chronic illness (immunodeficiency) starting in childhood, developing many medical conditions and symptoms over the years, disability, metabolic disorders, always fighting my weight, my self image, being on the autism spectrum, adhd, ocd and so on. But through it all, through a rough childhood. My own health challenges, my mother having spine surgeries and needing my help and support. I never had a life. I just have, I guess ... survived. I fought to lose weight alone - I guess it’s going on twelve years ago now if I had to guess. But never could hang on to it. I found myself losing ground. It was either fight for Bariatric surgery as a tool to finally help me or totally give up. But will it fix the rest of me? Those deep rooted insecurities? My separation from the rest of the world due to chronic illness? I honestly cannot say that weight loss will fix these things. Especially not my chronic illness or disability. It’s like my doctor expecting miraculous changes when I just wanted to ease the burden on my body and at least be a healthy weight to better navigate. it’s easy enough for people to say get out of your comfort zone. Been there done that, it’s gotten me nowhere but disaster and my chronic illness deeper into a decline. Of course this is just from my perspective. I’m not in a situation where I meet people. I can’t put myself out there. It’s not that simple. Nor is it Even for healthy people to do so. I’ve never discussed it and I won’t even flat out say my own situation in detail either since this is a public forum because people can be condescending in their response to something like this. I remember someone once telling me that she thought I liked being stuck. As if I haven’t spent my whole life fighting every step of the way. sometimes you need to just step back from yourself and take an objective look at the why of it all, what your hopes and expectations are, and where to go from there. Decide that you are worth it and take the leap forward and maybe you will find where you want to be.