MichiganChic

Sadly, I could eat all the sweets I want without any physical issue. In fact, I can eat anything I want with no problem. Sometimes I think I should have had bypass for that reason. I think there is a greater chance of dumping with RNY and sugar consumption. I do not eat sweets, though, because I don't want to be fat again. I will indulge in a little something now and then, but I really have to choose carefully and make it few/far between, because sweets are the "gateway" food for me! All things in moderation.

Wow, your arms look great, congratulations! I just had mine done in the US, and I'm really happy, too. I chose to have my scar placed on my inner arm, near the back - that was a tough decision. I see yours is more in the back, and I really considered that. Did you choose that, or is that what he recommended. I don't know if one is better than another, but I'm sure thrilled with what I'm calling my "freakishly thin" arms! They've never looked this good!

Hey Kimba! Great for you that you also have a great family support. My kids are mostly grown and I'm OK with being "selfish" at this point in my life. If I had been a little more self loving through the years, I might not have gotten up to over 300 pounds! Just to clarify - I had my surgery almost 2 years ago, and have already completed round one of plastics. I've lost 145 pounds....and it's still all about me! You're doing great with you loss, too!!

I take what's recommended, which isn't a lot. Daily Multi (I use the hair/skin/nails) Iron 45 mg elemental iron daily Vitamin D 10,000 iu 2x weekly (Monday and Thursday) They recommended B12 and Calcium 1500 mg daily, but I don't need either. My calcium levels were dangerously high with supplementation. I had low Vit D levels before surgery, and I was anemic on and off, so I'm not sure the need for those are surgery related. I'd love to get off the iron since it causes constipation, which I have to treat with more pills, but my doc doesn't want me to. Eventually, I am going to try to. I think the Vit D is for life. I don't think I really need the Multi either, but I don't think it's hurting anything, so I'll just keep taking it.

I get that if I eat too much close to bed time. I lay down and I can feel it - quite annoying! It does deter me from overeating!

That's a good way to look at it! When I had my sleeve in December 2012, I made it my business to make 2013 all about ME. It worked really well for me, lol! So then, I also made 2014 all about me, and I still like it. My family is used to it Good luck on that pre op diet, it's important, and I know you'll do it! I was on liquids for two weeks because my BMI was so high, and they said it would shrink my liver. I found it difficult, but I did it without cheating, and it gave me the strength I needed to know that I could handle what was to come. I really didn't know if I had it in me before that, and I found that success begets success. The better I did, the more I learned I DO have what it takes. Now, at almost 2 years out, I need to draw on that experience because it gets much harder the longer you are out from surgery.

I just had a LBL about 3 weeks and I have HORRIBLE swelling. I have visible swelling in my back, abdomen, and thighs. I also had really bad swelling in my legs, ankles, and feet. I also had brachioplasty, so my arms and hands were also horribly swollen. I have to say it's been pretty miserable. The swelling in my lower legs and feet went down a little in the past few days, but by the end of the day, they are swollen. I had a tendency to swell before surgery, and so I'm not surprised. I am a little surprised at how much weight I've gained, and how frumpy I look! I keep thinking I'm the only person on the planet to have plastics and have my waist circumference increase 3 inches. My skin is ridiculously taught - who ever thought I'd say it like that, lol! My doc also said it's normal, but that if it persists, she might prescribe a diuretic short term. She does not require any sort of compression garment, but you can wear one. I've noticed the swelling is way worse around my abdomen without it, but then my feet swell worse with it. I think I'm going to invest in some good support hose and see if that makes a difference. I'm still asking myself why the heck I did this to myself.....yet, I need another surgery for my legs and breasts, and I know I'm going to proceed, even though I'm beyond miserable. How crazy is that!?

Well....people can just be dumb. I've been guilty of it myself. I don't know these people, but they might even think they are being encouraging. I also think people give more away about their thoughts than they mean to sometimes. Either way, it says WAY more about them than you! You are doing a great job, you are making permanent changes, and you are gaining confidence that will change your life! How they react to that is up to them. Honestly, if you were my daughter, I'd tell you to just take those statements with a grain of salt, unless you suspect there was some malicious intent. It really just sounds like a thoughtless statement more than a criticism. You are in charge of how YOU feel, and you should feel great because you have accomplished a lot! Great job!

I think that's a good question....and there isn't a concrete answer to it. Also, my body is a liar and unreliable. If I listen to my body, I will weigh 300 pounds, because my body likes to be fat. So, I have to use a combination of science and realism. I look at BMI, weight, clothing size, how I look, and how feel, as far as ability to move and go through my day. I've been stuck at this weight for months, and I probably could go lower, but I'd have to eat 900 calories and exercise like a mad woman. That's not something I am willing to do right now, so I'm in maintenance. I wear a sm/med and size 10. Like you, I don't mind if I'm not skinny, I just want to be comfortable. It does bother me that my BMI says I'm overweight, though. As for maintenance, you will figure that out. Just gradually add a few calories in, and see how your weight responds. It just sort of evolved naturally for me. I eat a lot less than I would have thought to maintain this weight, though!

I just had plastics at Beaumont RO. I thought they did a good job. I know someone else on here, PixieDust, who also had surgery there. She did fine, though I haven't heard from her in a while. My husband and mother also went there for other various surgeries, with good results. I would go there again, but man, am I glad that reconstructive surgery is behind me! Made the sleeve a walk in the park, and it was hard for me for the first 3-4 weeks. No matter what, I'm still really glad I did all of it, and you will be, too! As for the 6 month diet, I swear that's just an insurance stall tactic in some cases! I could see 3 months, just to make sure people will follow through. I didn't have a waiting period because my BMI was over 50 (yes, one time it was great to be super fat!) but it still took about 2 months to get things in place. My daughter is also getting the sleeve, and she has to do the 6 months. They told her to lose a pound a month if she could, but I think they also think it's a waste of time. She did give up carbonation, though, and it was really hard for her. I didn't love pop or carbonated beverages, so I haven't really missed it. I really don't miss much at all about that old life!

I also had to lose 40-50 pounds before it became evident, and before my clothing size started decreasing. But once it started, I jumped sizes. I would buy a few things when they were a little tight, and wear them until they were too baggy to wear. I'm in a 10 bottom and Med or small top now....and just can't seem to get to that elusive 8. However, even if I never do, 10 is good for me!

Sounds miserable. It's always hard to go back, especially when you don't feel good. Add a hostile work environment to that, and it makes it worse. How big is the company you work for? If there are more than 50 employees, they have have to give you FMLA, which protects your job while you out for your own illness for up to 12 weeks. But since you said it's a Dr.s office, probably not. Don't you think it's a little ironic that a healthcare practitioner's office treats it's employees like that? Maybe you should tell the Drs how this person is handling their business. They might not even realize it. Either way, good luck. You might find as you lose weight, you have the confidence and drive you need to seek employment in a better environment. I did!

I just had plastics - I lower body lift with autologous fat aumentation in the butt, and brachioplasty. Insurance covered the tummy tuck portion, and I paid the rest. Funny, because my abdomen was the least of my issues, but I was glad for any assistance.

Hey all you fellow Michiganders, thought I'd drop in an say hi! I'm from the south eastern border, about half way between Detroit and Toledo, but closer to the D. I like to tell people I'm from there I was sleeved December 2012, so it's been 21 months. I am struggling to get the last few pounds off. They may never come off, but I don't worry too much about it. I'm learning that it's a number. I look and feel normal, and that was all I ever wanted. My main goal is to not slide back into old habits - more challenging than I thought it would be a year ago. I think that's why so many people regain year 2-3, which is right where I am. Looks like you all are doing great! Congrats!

Don't be too mad at yourself. I have been in the same predicament when I didn't have the guts to stand my ground about something, and it makes me mad, too. You could just cogitate on it for another day. If you really don't want him there, then you could still tell him. Or, just chalk this up to a learning experience, go and try to have a good time. Some people just move slower than others, and he might just be cautious. My guess is that this has more to do with him than you. After all, we all know you are super hot and if he was in his right mind, he would choose his words better!

You're not bad, he's not bad, it's just the trials and tribulations of adjusting to your new life. You'll both figure it out, and you'll be able to go out to eat and control yourself without worry in the future. I love that I can go out to eat and not even order anything, just eat off his plate. He doesn't mind, either. You do have to be careful, though. We went on a weekend trip over the holiday, and stopped to get lunch. I didn't order an actual lunch (just picked from my daughter's plate), but did decide to splurge on a few bites of a brownie sundae, so I ordered it for the three of us. Here is what they brought! Good thing my husband can eat a lot and is naturally thin! I had a couple bites and was good, and he and my daughter ate most of the rest of it. But that thing was insanely huge. Sad thing is I would have probably been able to eat it all before surgery!

I <3 coffee. A lot. I gave it up about 4 days pre-op, and surprisingly didn't feel bad from it. I started drinking it again 6 weeks post op. I now drink it freely again. You just have to make sure it doesn't interfere with any Vitamins you may be taking. The dietician in my docs office says there are studies showing people who drink coffee in the morning are hungrier in the afternoon. It's probably true, but I don't care, because I just have another cup of coffee if I get hungry

Diet is a relative term, and it always seems to invoke some pretty strong feelings on BP. It's semantics, really. I do use the term "diet" like a noun, as in referring to the American diet, or my diet includes fruit, and also like a verb, as in "on a diet". I'm one who is on a diet for life. It's also an eating plan. A program. A new way of life. Call it what you want, but I pay attention to what I'm putting in my mouth. Not paying attention is what got me to super morbid obesity; I eat around 900 calories, low carb (some carbs from fruit) to lose weight, and around 1300 to maintain. I also will digress once in a while, and I allow myself a day to not think about it once in a while, but the main thing is always get right back on track. I can't ever lose site of my goal. There is no once size fits all, and it's important to figure out what works for us as individuals.

Hey, I was just passing through that area this past weekend - went "up north" to Cadillac for the holiday weekend. I'm on the Michigan/Ohio border, so I had my surgery in Toledo. Anyway, you will find that every day, you get a little better, a little stronger. I can just remember feeling so bad at a week out! Just keep hydrated, moving around best you can, and follow your program. Soon it will be just a faint memory, and you'll be feeling better than you have in a long time!

Hey there - love the west side of the state - so beautiful over there! I'm from the Monroe area. Our lake is not so beautiful Anyway, I forgot to mention that, about how miserable I felt at a week out! I also read how other people went back to work, blah blah blah. I could barely take a shower because it wore me out! I did have a mild post op infection, which probably slowed my healing, but I do know what you are talking about. I was totally not prepared for feeling that bad. I was also not prepared that the shakes would be so hard to get down - never had that problem in my whole life, lol! I did eventually switch to premier Protein Shakes (ready to drink, from costco) and they were a life saver. Still drink one every day for Breakfast. Sorry you are feeling so bad, but this is normal, and every day you will find you get a little better. I never had a day where I just was miraculously better - it took months to totally get my stamina back, but every day did improve. By about 4 weeks, I could go through the day pretty good. I think for me, the reason I felt so bad was because I was only taking in about 400-600 calories, and that's a big switch from 3-4 thousand!

Funny, I don't think I was fully prepared either. I'm a registered nurse, and I absolutely knew the facts. I knew what to expect during and after surgery, and in the months/years following surgery. However, knowing facts and living them are two very different things. One thing for sure, it does get better with time. I think the thing I found to be most shocking was what a chore it was to eat. It almost didn't seem worth the effort. I didn't want what I could have, and it didn't taste good anyway, and it just was not appealing. It was easier to not eat than to go through the effort to prepare the 2-3 bites I could eat. And drinking felt funny, and I could only handle a little bit at a time. And taking the vitamins! It was a full time job getting them right. I remember taking some in the middle of the night to keep from taking them on top of each other. Now, at 21 months out, I sort of miss those days. Eating and drinking is easy again, and I can eat anything (in reduced quantity) that I want. Now it take a lot of will power to stay the path - another thing I wasn't fully prepared for! My point is that no matter how much we prepare, I don't think you can ever really get it until you live it, and we each have a unique perspective. Congrats on your recent sleeve, and best wishes!

When you can go into any store and wear anything you want. When the sales clerk brings you a smaller size because she thinks what you picked (a medium) is a size too big! When it's fun to travel because you don't have to worry about fitting into small airline seats. When you don't even order off the menu, but eat from your family's plate When you can go incognito in the town you have lived in your entire life because people just don't recognize you.

You've asked an answerable question - no way to know how things will be for you till you get there. I think there are very few people who really "need" plastic surgery physically, in that you can live a nice long life without it. There is no way to know if your skin will rebound in a way that you are comfortable with. One thing for sure - I look way better with loose skin that I did with fat filled skin. Clothes hide a lot, and compression garments hide even more. At the end of the day, it's up to you what you can live with. If I had to choose between staying fat and having loose skin, I'd choose the loose skin every time, and I think most people would. Once you get to that point, then you can decide if you can live with the lose skin or not (if you even have it). It's a very individual decision, as you can tell from the responses in this thread.

You look wonderful! Congratulations!!

@@sunshine22 Thanks for the well wishes. I got those drains out yesterday, and I feel like a new woman! I can just about stand up straight now. My arms are still very tight and swollen, but not nearly as miserable as they were a week ago. I know I still have one more surgery ahead of me - legs and boobs, and on one hand I don't want to put myself through it, but on the other hand, I know that I will because I want to be done! One thing I've noticed, is that being miserable is lowering my guard around eating. I've been sticking a little more in my mouth, justifying it because I need more calories to heal (true, but I know I'll gain doing it) so I'm glad I'm feeling well enough to get myself back together! Good luck to you as you adjust to your wonderful new bod! Those scars are going to fade - and I hear there are many effective treatments to flatten and lighten them.