MichiganChic

@@tebowfan no, it's not a revision. It's an additional procedure, and come complete with all the associated charges. I'm not sure if that's right or not, but since I didn't have any to start with, I figured it's a new procedure and cost. If I had paid for lipo with the thigh lift, then I would consider it a revision.

I was up to 171.6 this morning! Back from vacation and back on track today!

I'm in! Thanks for doing this CW: 166 GW: 159

I mostly agreed with this, too. I don't think the first 100 pounds is just the surgery, though. I do think you could, and people have, sabotaged that wonderful gift of great restriction we get early on. I strongly agree that people don't want to hear those things. It drives me nuts when people say they are "not on a diet" and won't be ever again. Um, yes we are. And it's forever if we want to maintain our loss. More power to the people who can change their behavior so much that it's just natural for them, but I think the vast majority have to work to maintain. Having said that, I agree, the surgery set me up for success. It has been and continues to be much easier with the sleeve than without it. In fact, it has been the ONLY way I've been able to lose more than 20 pounds in the last 15 years. I work every day at maintaining my loss, largely by following the rules of bariatric surgery, as the article suggests is the key to success.

I'd say pick a number that you like for now, and be prepared to be flexible with it. You have a lot of work ahead of you, and the weight you reach after morbid obesity may not look the same on you as someone who was never obese, or even on you, if you weren't always heavy. As you get closer to goal, you'll have a much better idea about what is actually possible, and what is the right number for you. I would have not chosen 165 as my goal, but it turns out my body really likes it here, I can maintain it with reasonable effort, and I'm a size 8, and people who never knew me as obese think I'm tiny. So, in some respects, my body chose this weight.

I just turned 53 this week, and I had the sleeve when I was 50. Gotta say I feel much younger now than I did then, or even in my late 30s and throughout my 40s. Really, it's the fountain of youth

My advice is don't go, lol. Not that it's good advice, I know you have to or you wouldn't be. I was in the same situation, and I had 2 weeks off, worked from home for about a week and a half, then went back full days. I think half days is good. You don't say what type of work you do, but my advice is to keep your feet up at your desk (if it's a desk job) and get up and walk a little every hour or so. We are at greatest risk for blood clots the first 90 days post op, so that will help. Just try to take it easy physically, and rest when you are home. Interestingly, my surgery was last August and my lower abdomen still feels tight, and my muscles are still a little sore many days. Good luck! Let us know how it went.

I'm two and a half years post op, lost more than 140 pounds in 14 months, and have kept it off since. I watch what eat every day, all day. I can eat a lot more than I could in the beginning, and more than I wish I could. I don't think I did anything to stretch my sleeve, but I do think it's bigger than lots of people's. I know that I could easily gain every pound back, and it would not be hard to do. I can eat a lot of calories without realizing it by grazing and making high caloric choices. I could easily drink 3-4 thousand calories a day. It would be easy. When I first had the surgery, I thought I was cured. I was elated at how little I could eat, how little I felt like eating, and at the lack of hunger. Now I know that was temporary. Hunger gradually returned, and so did the desire to eat. It's nothing like pre-op even now, but it's enough that if I don't watch it, I gain. I always say I'm one cookie away from 300 pounds - in other words - I can never let my guard down.

I think I got what I expected, or maybe a little better. I lost more than 140 pounds,or 95% of my excess weight, (and 100% if I call this weight good ) in about 14 months. I've kept it off over a year. It's hard work but so much easier than before surgery. I could have never lost 10 pounds a month on any diet because I just couldn't get to and sustain the needed caloric deficit to do that. Sometimes I think if I would have had the bypass I'd have lost more, but I'm still happy with my decision to have the sleeve. Not sure that last 5-10 pounds lost would add any value to my life. Looking back, I remember feeling like it was not coming off fast enough. I worried that every pound I lost would be my last. I understand the fear that somehow, something isn't right. I know you see posts "I lost 100 pounds in 6 months!" but that's not the norm. Most people lose 8-10 pounds a month. This is a time for learning new habits. Contrary to what they say, it takes way longer than a few months to learn new eating habits, and it's way easier to slip back into old ones. At 2.5 years out, I'm still learning.

If your stats are correct, it might have been due to the amount of weight you had to lose. Lucky you on both counts!

@@amytug welcome back! I remember you. Good for you for getting back on track. Life has a way of derailing us, for sure. I've never actually reached goal, but it is because I'm too stubborn to just adjust the goal. I really wanted to hit a normal BMI, but that might not even be a good goal for me. I'm in a size 8, and look and feel great (if I do say so myself ). So, I just never change that number, and I think if I went back eating 900 calories I could get there, but not sure it's that realistic. I am working hard enough to maintain this - losing another 10 or 15 pounds just isn't worth it to me! I'm 52 and look better than most people my age. I also had a lot of plastics in the last year, starting at about 18 months post op. Right behind the gastric sleeve, those procedure were one of the best things I've ever done!

I had roughly 12 pounds removed between 5 procedures in 2 separate surgeries. I expected to be 12 pounds lighter, but I weighed the same for months and just recently lost a couple of pounds. I might have some swelling still, but not much. So, I feel like in reality I gained 10 pounds because she cut that off in fat and skin, but my weight is the same. However, I'm down a size and I don't look any heavier so I just don't know how to explain it.

I know the OP meant to be funny, but these threads often end up being a battle of who's rules are right. It's not so much each little detailed rule, it's the glib attitude toward "bariatric rebellion" that concerns me. It's "let me see how far I can push the envelope" and get away with it. Then to announce it, have others chime in, it ends up sounding like the no alcohol rule is silly and encourages behavior that does not lead to success. The hard, cold truth is that weight loss is hard, and maintenance is harder. One bad decision won't break any of us. One drink won't make us fat or drunks. However, a general attitude of "let me see what I can get away with" seems like a bad idea to me. For me, I know that I can't maintain perfection forever. None of us can. We are humans, and most of us are in this boat because we couldn't refrain from eating and drinking too much. So, knowing that, I do strive for perfection every day. If I set that as my goal, I figure I won't be too far off the mark at the end of the day. If I strive for less, I'd probably be further off. I know if I had allowed myself too much latitude in the beginning, I would be worse off today. I had to learn new behavior, and I had to learn that I AM capable of following a plan that leads to success, and I learned what it takes to do that. The early days are what set me up for success by establishing new habits. It's the easiest time to do that, so my advice is to take advantage of the gift you have.

@@BethinPA I had some really slow healing wounds from the drains, and they did leave circular scars there - and I only had them ten days from my abdominoplasty. They did heal though, and they are fading. Hopefully you will start to dry up!! It's encouraging that the output is decreasing. You know it's headed in the right direction. As for the lipo, it probably will be painful, and I really hate pain. I'm going to have it July 2 and then take the following week off. I'm also prepared to swell even more. Ugh. I just still feel like I'm not done....like a half built house or something. I've gone this far to get things put back in place, and I'm not seeking perfection, just a little more uniformity. Believe me, I would never be doing this to get a perfect body - I just want to be able to wear clothes comfortably. I don't know if you've been able to enjoy your results much, but I have to say that even with all the complications, I'm very aware and thrilled with mine so far. I notice it every time I get up, walk, and move. It also reminds me how hard I worked to get here, and I think of the plastics as one more thing I've done to help me maintain my weight loss.

@@AvaFern I didn't work out at all until about the last month. I was sporadic about it before plastics, so I didn't mind much I'm sure I probably could have after about 2 months because by then it was just very superficial, but still a decent size area. I still can't believe how long that took to heal! It is still thinner skin, and a little rough, like there is still a very superficial scab. I got very tired of keeping dressings on it. I certainly couldn't swim, and I wouldn't have gone to the beach. Hopefully yours will heal much, much faster!

I started with hair that was thin, and I lost lots of it for about 8 months. I had a lot of weight to lose and had to eat 800 calories a day for over a year to do it, so I know that contributed. I got all my Protein and Vitamins every single day, and did everything right. It was visibly thin all over. After about 18 months it started growing back, and at 2.5 years, it continues to improve. You can't see my scalp anymore except for at the part. I think I had a worse case scenario, and even my hair grew back!

@ welcome! Good for you that you are catching this before it goes any further. We all live with the fear of regain. It is a real and looming threat, so don't feel too bad. Obesity is a disease that's never really cured. We can manage our weight, but we have bodies with a propensity to gain weight, so we can never let our guard down. Not sure if you are asking, but my suggestion is to do what you know worked before. Follow the bariatric rules. Weigh/measure food track and limit calories don't drink before/after meals Protein first no grazing increase activity Some people have had success with the 5:2 diet. If you search on here, you'll find lots of information about it. One other thing that I do is weigh daily. It really keeps me focused. I can gain super fast, so if I waited for tight clothes I'd already be out of control. And cut yourself some slack. It's over. You've come to grips with what you need to do, and you know how to do it. Congratulations for that!

@@BethinPA Glad it is getting a little better for you. It sounds like your drainage is cut in half? Why can't you shower? I did every day. With drains, with wound vacs, you name it. I don't think I could handle that either. I realize I probably sound nuts for having another procedure, but the swelling I have will be there either way. I know that liposuction is going to cause more swelling, but I just really am uncomfortable with uneven legs. The swelling I have is in my left foot and it's around my right knee that's bigger. I'm scheduling for July, and if it's not some better by then, I may end up cancelling. I'm an optimist at heart, so I don't think what I have is permanent. I wish you didn't have to deal with depression on top of it all. I do know how that could easily happen! You are in the home stretch, and once it's healed, you will continue to shrink and those dresses are going to look even better! Hang in a little longer! I bet it will be instant recovery when those drains are out - those things can get you down!

@@BethinPA just checking to see how you are, and if things are healing? I sure hope so! I saw my plastic surgeon today, and while we can't be sure yet, she said she really doesn't think my swelling (which is lymphedema) is permanent. She said because it's only distal and goes down at night are good signs. She also said it could take 1-2 years to resolve!! Ugh, this is a really long process. So, I am going to proceed with some liposuction in July. I really hate that my right leg is bigger than my left, and that's the only way to fix it. I also hate the saddlebags, so I want to get rid of them. I can't believe I'm doing this, but I am really, really uncomfortable in pants because of it.

I didn't tell coworkers (actually, they report to me). I did tell my boss, though I didn't have to, because I knew I might need to be off for a while, and I wanted to just have it out in the open. I knew that there would be follow up appointments that would require me to miss work, and it's easier to explain with the truth. That was a little difficult because a) it's personal, b.) I didn't want to be judged and c) it's personal I just told everyone else I was having surgery, didn't specify what, and no one asked. Not one person! Probably, because I wasn't offering a way in for the nosy question. Ultimately, I did have problems, and needed additional time off, and had have a boat load of follow up appointments. I even ended up needing a wound vac and I went to work with it, and no one ever asked why, lol! I also did a few things to de-emphasize the change. Everyone knows I'm on a diet, so losing weight or getting smaller is explainable. I wore a padded bra the size I intended to be.I wore shapewear to look a little less jiggly, and I always had my arms covered. Afterwards, I had a lot of swelling, and I never lost a pound, and I wore all the same clothes as before surgery, so I don't think it was obvious. Now, about 9 months later, the swelling is decreasing and I've lost a few pounds, and I've gone down a size. It was not the shocking and drastic, obvious change I expected, at least in clothes.

Congratulations! I also had brachioplasty, and have to agree, it's worth it! Can't wait to see your other pics.

I have had swelling on and off in various locations since surgery. Depends a lot on what I've been eating. If I eat too much sodium, or just too much in general, my lower abdomen and back will swell. It's getting better over time. I also have swelling in my left leg since I had all the trouble with that seroma. I saw my plastic surgeon today and she said swelling can take up to a year or two to totally resolve. I also had a spot on my back side from my lower body lift that separated. It was about 2-3 inches in length, and it was about an inch separated. My doc never sutured it, and it healed from the inside out. I had to keep wound gel on it and dress it twice daily. It was never infected, either. It took about 4 months to totally heal. But, it did heal. The scar there is wide and red, but it's on my backside and hidden by underwear, so I don't really care all that much. I'm so sorry you are going through this. I do absolutely know how miserable and long the healing process can take! It will get better, just hang in there!

@@CanyonBaby my doc does have a psychologist present for many of the support groups. People do ask him questions. You are right, it would be great if everyone had that.

There might be some dysmporphia, or maybe you just DO carry your weight well. No can believe I weigh as much as I do. When I tell them my BMI is still overweight, they can't believe it. I don't know why that is, but I think it's partially the way my weight is distributed. Honestly, I thought I was having issues with dysmporphia, but now I don't think so.

The physical answer to your question of where you went wrong is that you are consuming too many calories. That's great news that your stomach is small. It's not too late for youe. You can do this if you make some changes. You didn't really say a lot about what's going on, but I'd examine my eating habits. *Measure and weigh your food *Stop grazing *Count your calories and keep them around 1000-1200 *Protein first, then vegetables *No bread, rice, Pasta *Don't eat and drink together It's hard work, for sure. The longer it goes on, the harder it becomes, but it is absolutely something you can do! It is worth it. You are worth it.