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I completely agree with @ms.sss This is definitely a statement of support and opinion. My husband also didn't think I need the surgery (he loves the way I look when I'm heavy or thin) but still accepted that I was having the surgery and would be able to correct health issues, get off some of my meds, and feel better. He loves me no matter what, and that's something I love and cherish about him. It sounds like your husband is the same. That's a good thing.

We have practically the exact same starting stats!! (Same height, but i was just 1 lbs shy of you at 235 😉) To answer your questions (and note that this pertains to my experience and may or may not be yours), no, i have not experienced and “serious” long-term or permanent health issues. I’m 3 years, 8 mnths post. My energy came back and then some by 1 month; the hair that started falling out at 3 months already started growing back about 6 months; my last set of labs done in March this year say im the picture of health. And i have maintained below goal weight since reaching it at 7 months post-op over 3 years ago. I do have a couple of slightly annoying changes due to the surgery/weight loss though, but nothing i can’t deal with, nor anything that would make me regret having it done: 1) i am gassy/have mild acid reflux now, lol..but im on medication that keeps it at bay and i adjust my lifestyle to accommodate it: go to sleep on empty stomach, take lactose pills before consuming dairy, etc.. 2) i am a lot weaker than i used to be..in terms of strength like lifting heavy things or opening jar lids. I figure i just need to build back more muscle, but im lazy i guess. Plus there’s always someone around to carry or open things for me anyway Lololololzzz. There are those out there that do experience some serious issues, but I don’t believe its the norm. You won’t know how YOU will fare until you do. Good Luck! ❤️

Welcome to the world of constipation. This will be a pretty regular occurrence while you are losing. Shakes are often high fibre which can bind you but the water should help keep things moving. You also are consuming very little & your body is using all of the nutrients so yiu don’t have a lot of waste. You may need a stronger medication or process to get things moving like a suppository or enema. Some people do need additional help when the usual methods (laxatives, stool softeners, etc.) aren’t getting the job done. It does get better as you near goal & are eating more & a broader range of foods.

I have my surgery date for July 11! My doc called Thursday and said insurance approved.

I have lost 205 pounds since my surgery. I'm 2 years post op on July 23rd. I am still hoping to lose 15 or 20 more and I do have a lot of loose skin, especially on my stomach and legs. I don't have a ton on my arms because they've never been that big. I do have loose skin just about everywhere but it's the worst from the waist down, especially my lower stomach. I paid for my wls so I really don't have it in the budget to have loose skin removal unless I can get insurance to cover a panniculectomy, so for now I have to live with it and I am OK with that. I really thought it would bother me a lot. The biggest issue I have is that my legs are thinner than they ever been, especially in proportion to my body, and shorts and pants are often too big in the legs when they fit in the waist and that drives me nuts. I'd take all this loose skin in heartbeat over weighing almost 400 pounds again though! I'm gonna include a pic of me in clothes and me in a two piece swimsuit. I have never worn a two piece, but the way I see it I lost all that weight and I REFUSE to be ashamed of my body ever again, no matter how it looks. It may be that I'm old now, but I just don't care what anyone thinks anymore. I'm including the swimsuit pic so you can actually see some of my loose skin, and also you can see in clothes that it's really not visible, even though I don't care too much about hiding it anyway. I know not everyone feels this way, but I struggled with self esteem issues most of my life, and in the last 10 years ago I worked on that a lot and refuse to hate my body anymore. Sent from my Pixel 5a using BariatricPal mobile app

Everyone gets some loose skin but how much you end up with depends on many factors like age, gender, how much weight you lost, how long you were at your higher weights, genetics, etc. I don’t have a lot & haven’t gone down the surgery path because it doesn’t hinder me in any way & I can hide it easily under clothes. I can wear body con pants & dresses without any issue or need for ‘suck it in’ underwear. The loose skin I have doesn’t bother me much. In a way I earned my loose skin after losing my weight. And like the others, I’d rather have some loose bits than the fat. And since some of us are posting pxts … There’s a little overhang at my waist but my slouch makes it looks worse then it is. 😁

As @catwoman7 said some of those changes you mentioned are just temporary. Like hair loss usually persists for about 3 months & your hormones settle once you’ve lost most of your weight (oestrogen is stored in fat so as you lose all the excess oestrogen is released into blood stream). Large weight regain can occur because of complacency & people slipping back into old eating habits. It can occur because how they were eating wasn’t sustainable &/or was too restrictive. It didn’t allow them to live their life as they wanted & hindered them doing what they enjoyed. Or they didn’t do the head work to understand & learn to manage their old eating behaviours & what drove them to eat. All things the surgery doesn’t do anything about. But it does give you the time to explore these factors. Also remember the average weight loss at about the three year mark is 60% of the weight that had to be lost. This can include the bounce back ‘resettling’ weight gain, complacency & adjusting to a more flexible eating plan. Or it could just be the weight your body is happier at. Sure there is always a chance to develop an issue that has to be monitored but it’s rare. Comparatively, there are very few complications from weight loss surgery. Some of the issues may not have anything to do with the surgery. I have a protein malabsorption issue. Not from my 3 yr old sleeve but from my gall being removed last year. (Malabsorption issues are very rare with sleeve.) I have low BP. I had a genetic predisposition before surgery now it’s all the time because of my lower weight not the surgery. Gerd is probably the highest risk after sleeve - about 15-20% I believe. But it can be managed or treated by a revision to bypass. Some issues may be revealed because you likely are being monitored medically more closely now then before or your weight & associated comorbidities may have been masking what were pre existing conditions. You’ll likely read & hear about people with problems because they they post to seek help & support. They don’t often post about what the cause was or the remedy. In comparison, people tend not to post or talk about their successes. I know many people who’ve had the surgery. No one has experienced long term or developed new issues because of the surgery. A couple regained most of their weight because they went back to their old eating habits. Certainly the benefits far outweigh any temporary side effects or the very rare problem.

Thank you Catwoman7 🤗 valid true points! I start checkering out but you are so right about serious health issues if I remain morbidly obese 👍🏼

Oooh I forgot about this one. The last time I went to an amusement park was years ago at Carowinds (NC/SC). I was riding Drop Zone (tall, chairs go up, lock, and then drop you). The line is always long for this ride. We finally made it, I sat down with my friends and pulled the lock bar over my head and shoulders. The attendant comes around and locks the buckle between your legs to the lock bar. They couldn't get it to click. I had to walk off the ride and through the exit, alone, because I was too fat to ride. I never went back. I sometimes wonder if my love for roller coasters has waned since I haven't been on one in so long. I hope not. The thrill was exhilarating! Can't wait to try again.

I finally joined a gym planet fitness. Is there anyone that would like to do this with me? I have the slightest clue what to do. I been a member for 2 days and haven't gone yet. I live close to beaver pa new castle pa hermitage pa boardman ohio let me know. Thanks. Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app