terry1118

Ditto Flintstones. :-)

I felt mine was slow compared to others, so I understand why you're asking but I'm not going to give you the answer you are looking for. Comparisons are a trap that lead to frustration, discontentment, and fear of failure. Just keep following your plan and you will succeed. Stop watching the numbers on the scale and Celebrate the NSV's (non scale victories) along the way. The fit of your clothes, stopping a medication, pains going away, painting your own toes, seatbelts fitting better - all these and more! These are the reasons we're doing this. The scale number is just a gauge. How we FEEL and what we can DO are the real reward! I will say that, though sometimes it felt like it was going slow, by 7 months I had lost 100 pounds. Then came a two month stall, but I felt good and was prepared to be happy at that weight. Then another 20 pounds came off between 9 and 12 months. I'm hovering between 115 and 118 now (a good weight for me - I'm only 5' tall).

Yes. It's caused by physical stress to your body from surgery and rapid weight loss. It ranges from barely noticeable to severe. Changing your hairstyle can help disguise it until it begins to fill back in. It is only temporary. :-)

I had no drain. I was nervous also before my surgery (completely normal - who wouldn't be?). I was amazed at the low level of pain post-op. It hurt (more achy than sharply) but it was completely bearable. I used pain meds for about 4 days before stopping daytime use. I used them at night only for a few more days. In one week I was off them completely. My gallbladder removal in December was way more painful by comparison and the pain lasted a longer period of time. The gas pains were more painful in the first 5-7 days. Walking eases those a lot but it rained most of my first week so I could only walk around the house. :-)

If it happens very frequently then something may be wrong. I have food get stuck now and again, but it's infrequent and I always know the cause (dry food, eating too fast, eating too much, not chewing well, etc). From what some people have said here in the past, it seems that it's not uncommon to have to repeat the dialation more than once if you have a stricture. Question: do you trust your doctor? If so, listen to him and do as he says. If not, find another doctor. Never substitute the opinions of strangers for your medical professional's advice! We all have our own opinions and personal experiences but your own doctor knows YOU and your medical history. This experience is merely a bump in your road to better health. I hope you feel better soon! Best of luck to you!

I work in a bank. I took two weeks but could've gone back in one. My surgeon considers this light duty. A more physical job w/lifting would need 4-6 weeks.

hair loss is common following weight loss surgery. There are many things that can cause hair loss but in our case it's triggered by the physical stress of surgery followed by rapid weight loss. The hair loss begins at about 3-4 months following the stress that triggered it and continues for 3-6 months before tapering off and stopping. Then new hair begins to grow. Some people lose a lot, some not so much. Some people swear by Biotin but biotin has not been proven to have any effect whatsoever on preventing hair loss. It can help the new hair be in the best of health when it does grow in again. Some people say getting all your Protein helps but once the cause has occurred nothing can undo it. Using gentle hair products that won't damage your hair can help what you have look good. Changing your hairstyle or even going shorter can help disguise the hair loss. I started losing mine at 4 months and it stopped at about 9-10 months. I'm 13 1/2 months out now and my hairdresser has noticed a lot of new hair growth. I'm going to continue keeping it short until the new hair catches up so it's thick again. Don't be dismayed! IT IS ONLY TEMPORARY. If someone told me I would lose 120 pounds by shaving my head (and it was true) I would've happily shaved it bald! :-) For more facts and the science behind it Google Weight Loss Surgery + Hair Loss

I chose RNY for the best results and long term success rate. I had been overweight since the birth of my twins 28 years ago. I had a bmi of 47. I had back, knee, and foot pain; I had trouble standing all day at work; I had high cholesterol and took meds for it; I was prediabetic; my blood pressure was getting higher; and worst of all I was miserable and looking at a short, bleak future if I didn't make changes soon. My husband has always been physically fit and active. I was ashamed of myself and felt like a constant embarrassment to him (though we have been happily married for 32 yrs). I felt like he deserved someone better than me. I had my surgery on 5/30/13. I had no complications and an easy, quick recovery. By seven months I had lost 100 pounds. Today my total weight loss is 120lbs. My high cholesterol is gone and so are the meds. All my pains are gone. I have energy to do anything I want to. I am in the best health I have ever been in my adult life. I am in a size 6 and love shopping for clothes. The only criteria I used to have for clothes shopping was that they fit. Now everything fits and I only buy what I love! I can ride on the back of my husbands Harley in comfort and not worry what the cars behind us are seeing. I am living my life instead of watching it go by. It's easily the best decision I ever made. I only wish I had made it sooner!

Twins are definitely a LOT of work! Mine turned 28 last week. They are less work now (but much more expensive!). Lol

We are always worth it!

Actually, I chose RNY because statistics prove that it has the highest LONG-TERM success rate. After being very successful at LOSING but not so very successful at keeping it off, that is what I was looking for. It's understood that it will only work if I make PERMANENT lifestyle changes. If I'm not willing to do that I WILL fail! I am bound and determined NOT to fail! :-)

I agree about simple carbs being like crack... they have always been my weakness. I know this about myself so I choose to forever go without them. Others may be able to have a little taste and no more but not me! I'm like an alcoholic who can't have just a 'little' alcohol. I have to abstain COMPLETELY! I am VERY okay with that - being thin (and healthy) is SO much more satisfying!!!!! :-)

Working w/a trainer is awesome! One question: Are you taking measurements? That would be one sure way to see if you are gaining muscle rather than just gaining 'weight'. If your measurements are not going up then there is nothing to worry about. Measurements are better than scale weight to track your success when working out. You could also try the 'five day pouch test'. It takes you through all the stages of post-op eating in just five days, from liquid stage to solid food stage. It can help people get back on track among other things. :-)

Best of luck to you! Hang in there, it is SO worth it! :-)

I am 54 but was 53 at the time of my RNY surgery on 5/30/13. I weighed 233 (at 5' tall I looked like a weeble and had been obese for 27 years) when I had my first appt w/my surgeon. I am 13 months out and have lost 120 lbs. I'm in a size 6 slacks and a small top. I used to be a very tight 2X. I have lost a little over 50% of my TOTAL body weight. I'm very happy about it, to say the least!

I also took two weeks but could've gone back after one. For the first couple weeks I had a 10lb lifting restriction, followed by 20lbs from two to four weeks. I work in a bank which my doc considers a 'light duty' job. Jobs that are more strenuous they recommend 4-6 weeks, depending on your recovery and how much weight is involved in 'lifting'.

I like ground chicken over ground turkey. It seems more moist to me but that might be all in my head. :-)

Your surgeon should be able to quote the risk and success rates for his office. Overall rates are out there for anyone to see. Research your doctor before you choose him/her. You would carefully choose a contractor, even more care should be used when choosing a surgeon. A Center For Excellence will have lower overall risks than one that is not. I think the risks at mine were well under 1%. The national average was 3% at the time. Choose a center of Excellence for the best possible outcome, the best education, the best follow-up care, and the best initial and long-term success rate (education and support are key to long-term success). No matter how low the risk is with the team you choose, you could still be one who has complications. Be prepared for the possibility, but with an experienced team even complications only mean a 'glitch' in your journey, not a failure to be successful. Best of luck to you w/your decision and journey!:-)

I was told to avoid hair treatments for a year. It's not a hard and fast rule, more of a suggestion. Hair loss from 3-9 months out is common and can be anywhere from barely noticeable to severe. I think the thought is to try to minimize the hair loss by avoiding chemical treatments and to use gentle hair products. My hair was more dry and brittle after surgery and I experienced quite a bit of hair loss which finally tapered off in March. My hairdresser noticed last week that I have a lot of new hair growth so for now I'm keeping it short while the new hair catches up to this length. I plan to hilight it at my next cut in August. A common myth is that Biotin will prevent hair loss. Also that getting all your Protein will prevent it. Neither PREVENTS hair loss, but both can provide the nutrients your hair needs to maintain health of existing hair and new hair when it starts. Hair loss is caused by the physical stress to your system due to surgery and rapid weight loss, (it can also be caused by emotional stress and pregnancy). The hair loss begins 3-4 months following the stress trigger and can last for 4-6 months before stopping and new hair growth begins. You can Google WLS+hair loss for a more detailed explanation.

Save your lists! Hang them where you can see them and use them as a way to measure your success! All your NSV's (non scale victories) will be a better measure of success than the number on the scale. Check off each one as you reach it and CELEBRATE each one because it's YOUR hard work and sacrifice that made you successful. Look at your list when you hit a plateau to remind yourself of why you're doing this and how far you've come. The scale is just a number - the things you achieve are your LIFE! :-)

Hormones are stored in fat and as your body burns the fat these hormones are released into you're system causing hormone related issues like acne and being emotional. It happens mostly in the first few months when you experience rapid weight loss. It will last a few weeks and will ease up gradually before ending. I had acne for about 4-6 weeks starting about one month out but ending before three months out. Also, it is common for RNY patients to become lactose intolerant, either suddenly or gradually. It could be permanent or not. Do as your doctor says. It may be temporary. Good protein sources are eggs, seafood, Beans (refried, black, kidney, etc), Protein shakes (some can be made w/water and some with soy or almond milk). Try a protein that is not whey-based. I know there is one that is powdered egg whites, and others are available. If you have access to a nutritionist through your doctor you can ask them for suggestions. Or search this site - I've read of others who are vegetarian one/or lactose intolerant who would have some helpful suggestions for you. Good luck!

My only regret is that I should've done this sooner. I'm not sure when BCBS started paying for RNY but if I had done it as soon as it was available to me I could have enjoyed at least a few more healthy, happy years. I spent 28 years obese, unable to fully enjoy my life, eventually experiencing more and more weight related health issues. I would tell anyone who is unhappy and unhealthy due to obesity and who cannot lose and keep weight off the conventional way to consider WLS. But research, research, research! I hear so many people say 'I didn't know __________ ' (fill in the blank). You need to KNOW what you're getting into, and you need to be prepared to make a lifelong lifestyle change. There is no changing your mind - you need to commit to it. I was prepared and knew what to expect. And I was happy to give up forever the things that I had to to make this work. For me that is sugar and other simple carbs. :-) What's missing a little sugar (that has no nutritional value whatsoever) compared to weighing 115lbs and loving life again?

It seems like hernias are fairly common. Often you don't even know you have one. If they are performing surgery anyway they will repair them. Sometimes they find one unexpectedly when they go in. I had none at the time of my RNY but six months later when I had my gallbladder out they found and repaired a hernia.

I hope your leg pain eases up soon. I'm glad your surgery went well. I hope it's the last one for you. How long do you need the leg brace? I think your weight loss has been good considering all you've had to go through and with limited mobility. Your attitude is amazing for someone coping with so much! Hopefully you will continue to improve. I bet you'd get below 200 pretty quick if you had more mobility. Take care and keep us updated! :-)

I was told hormones. My surgery was 5/30/13 and even though last summer was very humid my skin was the driest it had ever been. I also had a bout of acne at the same time. A lot of people feel emotional off and on in the early months following surgery but I didn't have a problem with that. Perhaps being post-menopausal made a difference...