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Hi Mark, welcome. I noticed that you’re willing to treat other side effects of your weight with medications & tools - CPAP machine, meds for the high blood pressure, and knee surgery for the worn out knees… But you hesitate with GERD and constipation, both of which can be corrected with medications alone (over the counter options as well as prescription). Having the surgery could even correct your high blood pressure and sleep apnea, which would remove those issues from the list. Not to mention, weight loss in the long term is desirable for knee replacement. This leads me to ask, what are you actually scared of? Weight loss surgery is an extremely effective procedure for long term results, and the RNY gastric bypass is highly effective in treating or preventing GERD. I’m so glad you’re here, because there is a lot to learn and reconcile with when it comes to weight in our society. At the end of the day, getting to a healthy weight and keeping it off is what everyone here is working toward. You will never be alone in this if you choose to move ahead. Best of luck to you!

I would suggest something about the infamous three-week stall. It seems like there's a post almost every day from someone who's about three weeks out, frantic because they haven't lost any weight in several days. I really wish more clinics would tell patients about this early stall, because it happens to the majority of us, and most people don't know about it ahead of time so they freak out when it happens. also, something about how the rate of weight loss is dependent on many factors, some of which you have little to no control over, like genetics, how muscular you are, starting BMI, age, gender. And also not to expect to lose 30+ lbs the first month, because that's not common with people unless they're the size of the people on "My 600 lb Life". Just let them know that if they stick to their clinic's plan, the weight WILL come off. Their ultimate success is dependent on how compliant they are, not their rate of weight loss.

Just found these two articles about iron malabsorption you may find interesting. Basically it’s more common with bypass than sleeve & with post menopausal woman. Also said one possibility as to the cause is your reduced diet after surgery while you are losing. To absorb iron you need a range of nutrients which you may not be getting. You are eating much smaller portions & many struggle with beef which is considered an easy source of iron. Worth a conversation with your surgeon & the experience of their previous patients & whether it will be a permanent issue for you https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/r/risks-of-bariatric-surgery-anemia.html https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/iron-deficiency-after-gastric-bypass-surgery

Wow, very noticeable difference!! Nicely done and I hope you find that visual progress encouraging! 😁 A few thoughts- 1) you've just passed a month since major surgery and your body is working hard to recovery, repair and get you back out there to your active life 🤗 I'm just a couple weeks from my bypass and working on talking to myself/honoring my body, sometimes with humor 😅 but acknowledging "my body is amazing, and strong, look how well I'm recovering", stuff like that. 2) your food plan looks good to me 3) while you can't actually build brand new muscle without being in a calorie surplus, I wouldn't be surprised if getting back to working out after a lull could cause some micro tissue tears and some water retention 4) need new scale batteries? Lastly, I don't know if you'd have access to one somewhere, but a BodPod uses air displacement (something like that) to accurately measure fat vs non-fat. It was so enlightening to me to see that pre -surgery, I legitimately could burn 3000 cals on an active day, even at 5'4 😅 because of my build. Anyhow, I just needed to know that, so when the scale wasn't moving I could say "science!!" If I'm eating 500 cals and burning even just 2000, I will eventually see it on the scale or tape measure. The body is just going to process weight loss and healing in its own sweet time. All that to say, it must really be disheartening to not see the numbers change after all your hard work and I hope you find some answers. Maybe for now frame your loss since Christmas or New Year's, because you've lost so much! Good luck to you!

Hi and welcome. I know it is scary to read the negative, but there are so many positives! I have knee issues, a torn meniscus to be exact. I have lost almost 100 pounds since I started this journey and now rarely have pain in my knee, to the point that I do not need the surgery. My numbers on my blood work are great, I have energy and over all just feel better. Are there times its a pain to eat a certain way, yes. Could I need a revision for an issue later, yes. Do I have to take fiber religiously, yes... But then I remember all the positives I mentioned above and its not an issue anymore. If you think there's no other choice, and this is needed, do it. It's been life changing in all the best ways possible. I would do it again in a heart beat.

This is very helpful, thank you so much!

Congrats, I’m so excited for you! I’ve been on the forums here with you for a bit and remember your surgery getting postponed 😭 but now it’s finally happening! Yay! I had my surgery on 3/13, so one week out. If I could give you one piece of advice, it would be: have a heating pad nearby!! It helps with pain and gas and is my “bff” these days lol Good luck!! Let us know how it went. We are rooting for you.

Congratulations, I’m excited for you. I had the sleeve 3 weeks ago and I am feeling fine. Starting my new lifestyle

Hi fed- up. So sorry to hear about your situation. To answer your questions- I had one and then the 2nd infusion about a week later. No not painful at all- just an IV poke. The first infusion took an hour and a half- just to watch for side effects. The second infusion was about 20 minutes. No major Side effects. Kinda tired the day after. The infusion felt a little cold going in. Perhaps a little achy in the bones the night after the infusion- but all mild and transient. However there are major adverse effects risks like low phosphorus in the blood that could lead to increase in fractures and other yucky stuff. By the way - The name of the medication was Injectafer. Hope this helps you out. Sincerely, tink

My advice is to eat slowly, and listen to your body. Soft foods feels way different than liquids going down. You will probably be full after 3 teaspoons of food. So take it slow, and stop as soon as you feel restriction. I remember those days of taking just one more bite, and regretting it. There were even a few times, where I had food in my mouth when restriction hit suddenly, and I would discreetly spit it out into a napkin b/c I knew if I swallowed it, I would be in tremendous pain. Good luck, and let us know how it goes!