green*eyed*girl

How is the original poster doing?? Did you find out the reason behind your pain? I really hope you are doing better. It sounds like Petersen's hernia but I'm no doctor but a friend of mine had same symptoms few years after RNY and the diagnosis was Petersen's hernia.

Hahaha enjoy the honeymoon, wait a year and you will praise the Lord for 3.6 pounds in a month! You are doing excellent, can you believe you lost 36 pounds in a month??? Have you ever lost that much before you had surgery? you see...?

I understand a bit where your parents are coming from. I am very close with my parents too, and they play a huge part in my weight loss. They cheer me on, and they accept my decisions (even the bad ones) about my diet. They really want me to lose weight because they know how important it is for my health. Simple as that. They love me and they want me to live a long, happy life. I think your parents are the same. They see this surgery as your savior (which is by the way) and they want you to do the best and be the best. Probably they are impatient, and they want you to get 'there' as fast as possible. I am sure they are proud of your success and they will come around. Be patient, it doesn't matter how old we are, we are still their children and always will be. You will be fine, you aare doing excellent, kepp up what you are doing! CowgirlJane, big big inspiration you are, love to read your comments. Just one thing though: my fat self in the past is still me. I am the same. Just a few size smaller. I did this for health reasons, not for vanity - of course I like the 'side effect' But I honestly say this: I loved myself when I was bigger too. I took care of myself, I did my best to look good, and I enjoyed life the same way I do now (minus the knee pain hurrayyy). That fat person is not my past. It's me, right now, it's still me, I am the same, my fat never defined me, my personality, my kindness and my good heart that it is, how it was and how it always will be.

That's it, every surgeon is different and expects you to follow their instruction. I am one of those who you are talking about. I had no pre-op diet and on day 5 after surgery I was on soft food. Mind that for 3 days I had nothing by mouth, not even water, day 4 water, day 5 soft, and day 10 I was allowed to progress to well chewed solids! It was a bliss, finally I felt restriction, and I did very well. My surgeon progresses all of his patients as fast as he can. He is brilliant and I did everything he asked for. It is confusing to see us having such different giudlines, it makes you question who is right or wrong, but I guess we all just follow our doctor's order. So do not be too quick to judge, your wrong can be somebody's right!

Ok, I have to share my recent experience. I live in the UK, but grew up in a different country, and I go back there regularly as my parents and sister still lives there. Last time I visited was 6-7 months ago, so naturally I have lost significant amount of weight since then. I just visited them again last week My sis and mom barely recognized me, but I just thought they are being silly and anyways they got so used to me being the round face fatty for so long. They just kept saying how much I have changed. This was weird coz -as I said earlier- in my mind I did not change much and I still think I am large. They have exemined everything on me, my hands, fingers (Oh my how small your hands are...), my shoulders (Oh god, you look so narrow...), my butt (your behind is half the size it used to be), I mean commented on everything and I found it hilarious But when I started to walk around in our small town and run into childhood/teenager/young adolescent friends and they just walked by, I knew that I must have changed completely. NOBODY recognized me. None of my friends!!!! I do not say they are close friends but like class mates or ppl I know for years. It was a total shock. The feeling when somebody looks at you and no, nothing, walks by...wow, I could not believe it!!!! So how on earth am I gonna recognize myself when even my own mother is having a hard time??? I never thought it is gonna be tuff like this. Not this part at least

In fact, I really truly believe I am looking fat. And everybody says I'm not, but I just feel fat. Changes happened way too fast. That's why I have a turkey neck now, but that is a whole different story. But when I see photos of myself I am shocked. I can't believe how much I have changed. My mom is my biggest cheerleader bless her, telling me how beautiful I am every day. We are so blessed my ladies, and yes, we are gorgeous. I mean just look at us..

So we all talked about how great it is being skinnier and healthier, or at least being on the way to a healthier life. We all know the benefits and at the end of the day we just want to be healthy. I am very happy I decided to get the RNY. I am losing steadily and I enjoy the journey, I cherish every pound I lose, and I would do it all over again in a New York Minute! However, and I know it will sound strange, sometimes I miss my fat... and a few things that came with it. 1. Food. I miss food. Yes, I know it was what broke me, and I am better off now, but I still miss eating large quantities. I miss big bowls of pastas and pizzas and rice, and I miss how I used to spend my time with my food. How sad is that... 2. I miss the qushion. Yes, I hate my hip bone when I am trying to sleep on my side. I hate my knees pressing together when I am trying to sleep on my side. (You probably know by now, I am a side sleeper ) I hate how I wear belts in my low rise jeans and they hurt my hip bone, and its sore for days...I hate how I can not sit on a hard surface for more than an hour or I feel like my back will break... 3. I miss being invisible. Yes, now hear me out. We all think we stand out because of our size, and yes we do, but nobody wants to look at as when we are fat. People would just look through us, like we are not even there. It's kind of comforting. Now that I lost over 70 pounds turns out there was this fine lady under all the fat, and I am getting male attention BIG TIME. It bothers me. I feel like saying "what the hell are you looking at???" But I know they are all up in my goodies, so no point to ask Sometimes I feel like I wanna hide... 4. I miss my tight body. Yes, it was a fat body, but I was not soft and saggy, I was firm and I used to have beautiful skin. Now I am wrinkly and it is about to get even worst as I still have 50lbs to lose Do you miss anything about your fatness? Or am I alone and truly crazy???

Oh @@Wendyfm I know what you mean, I do not miss the pounds from my bones and joints, I move faster and easier now, life is good again! But all these changes are hard sometimes, things happened so fast, one day I am fat, 5-6 months later brand new body, wow, lot to digest. And the neck, oh Lord, that is a problem, big time. I am not planning to have any plastic surgery. I am saggy here and there but nothing major, I can deal with a bit of lose skin. But my neck is horrid. I was hiding behind scarfs all winter long but summer is coming and I am horrified. My neck is the only area that I might will consider to get some extra help... not neck lift (is there such thing even???) but some toning I guess... :/

Ohhh I know, it makes me wanna say that 'it has to do with glucose and your body catching up and adjusting to your weight loss', but I will not say it.

Sooo proud of you Miss!!! You are right, we need to be accountable. I will not start my diet till beginning of April as I am going on holiday and I know I won't be able to prepeare my shakes and keep up with calorie counting while I am on my holiday. But I will be absolutely doing it, no excuse, not losing anything is just doing my head in! 2lbs is great, good start, keep it up, I know I will have the cravings too but I will do this! Keep us updated please! Is that group on FB secret already???

That would be awesome, please let me know when you got the chance to change it so I can join the group. Cheers!

I do not remember how much I lost the first month, I was not so concerned about the numbers as I knew I am losing, anyways, I lost 50 lbs in the first 3 months. As far as sizes goes I think it depends on your body shape. I am bottom heavy, hourglass but more of a pear shape, so it is harder for me to lose from my lovely behind and do not get me started about my stocky legs!!!!!! I started as a size 20 (UK), lost about 90 pounds and I am in size 14 (UK) - I think that is size 12US - jeans, and I am stalling big time, but my top half was dropping faster, I am in size 12 and been there for ages...weird... Also, when you start out, lets say you are in size 20 jeans you have to lose quite lot to go down to 18, but as far as I know when you are like size 12 in jeans you have to lose much less to go down to size 10, like those sizes are closer to eachother, I hope I make sense...

Is this a secret group? It seems like it is not, sorry but I can not join if it's an open group and all my friends and family will see it that I am a member (I kept my surgery private and I wish to keep it like that). Sorry :/

I am in!!!! That would be great! I do not want any competition, that would put unwanted pressure on all of us, but we have to be accountable...? And exchange ideas! And yes, I spend much more time on FB then here, so a group would be great, please make it a secret group, thanks! <3

I agree, we need to do something, I mean I am stalling for like 2 months already and nothing seems to work - then again I have not tried yet going back to basics. I am really considering doing that. Just do the shakes in the morning and start to log my calories again coz let's face it, it did work, and now I need all the help I can get. Any suggestion how could we motivate eachother?

Oh guys, our 1 year anniversary is coming up soon, this year went by soooo fast. Such a ride whoooh! I am in a long stall too, and I also do not always make the right choices. In fact I just had a small piece of KitKat! (no dumping here!!!) 1 year anniversary makes me nervous and makes me feel bad coz I am not at goal and I thought I will be I know I have to watch what I eat and I have to work out to drop the last 30 pounds. Well, lets do this together, we can do this, one last push ladies and that's all! Hmmm I feel a bit embarrased for not being at goal yet...

Ladies, let me put it like this: the only thing that will stop your falling hair is the floor. You can take as much Biotin as you possibly can, you can eat all the protein you want, you will still lose hair. Some lose little, for a few months, some lose a lot and struggles for years. Get mentally ready coz it's not easy, seeing your hair in the bathtub!!! Mine started to fall out on month 3, stopped around month 6-7, now it's normal, but I had to opt for a short style and also I stopped washing my hair often. You will see most hairloss during hairwash. I started to wash my hair once a week and used dry shampoo in between. It helped, hairloss slowed down. The struggle is real...

Good luck with whatever you decide, well, this is the bypass forum so obviously I would recommend to get the bypass if you can, as with the sleeve you will most likely not be able to lose all your excess weight. Hopefully you will be medically cleared for bypass, I have a friend who is 198 kg and he was not cleared for bypass nor the sleeve as his heart is very weak and his lungs are also sick. He is getting the balloon, to try to lose at least 40kg so his surgeon can go ahead with the bypass. I know it is a lenghty process here in the UK, can take up over a year. I hope yours will happen in timely fashion. I live in the UK but had my surgery overseas and I self paid. I talked to my GP about the bypass before my surgery, but he was not supportive and gave me some silly pills to take and try to lose weight, that's when I decided to go overseas with my surgery. Wish you luck, and keep us updated!

If you think this surgery will stop you from eating crap food you might be wrong. Yes, you have a chance that you will develope dumping, but you might not. There is no way to know before surgery if you will dump from certain food or not. I can eat whatever I want. I can handle anything, I have an iron stomach as I like to say, and I do not dump. Maybe if I eat something very sugary and fairly a lot of it I feel the rapis heartbeat for a few minutes but that's all about it. So do not rely on the idea of dumping, coz it might will not happen for you. You will have to discipline yourself about the food you put into your mouth.

Well, I never had problem with constipation, so I must be doing something right. First off, I am not too good with water, I do drink but not as much as I should, so it can't be that. However I make sure I start my day with fruits, every single day, and I do not eat anything else till mid day. Also, very important: every day you have to eat something fatty. Now I know how you feel about that and you probably think I am crazy, but trust me, it will give the necessary lubrication for you to pass stool without any pain. Also, our system can not really absorb fat, so it will just help you with your bowel movement. Remember: fat is not our enemy, but steer clear from carbs. Obviosly I am not saying to bite into a block of lard. Be sensible with your choices - nuts, olive oil on your salad/veggies, full fat sour cream/milk, ect. Good luck!

Hahaha maybe this part of the forum is abandoned but the rest is buzzing especially with new-commers like yourself! Look around in the pre-op section and you will find loads of like-minded people whos are going through the same emotions like yourself! Meanwhile I wish you the best, and I hope you will be able to make up your mind. Well, you are on a bypass forum so obviously we will all encourage you but still, you have to make your decision. However I would like to add that if you had the bypass and after the first months of significant weight-loss you would probably be able to supplement your income with some kind of light duty work and be able to afford whatever you need. And I am sure you will find lots of helping hands here to get you through the first few months!

It is very important to listen to your doctor. They have the knowledge that we lack, even though we have our wishes and our hopes your surgeon is the one who knows what's best for you. I wanted the sleeve really bad, I was 100% sure that is the perfect surgery for me. He told me that I will lose 60 pounds and I will knock on his door again wanting the bypass. I was self-pay, so he said it is a good business for him if I want 2 surgeries but as a professional and as a doctor he must say that he recommends the bypass for me. I was just sitting there, smiling, and I thought F U, I will find an other surgeon!! So I went in for my endoscopy and turned out I have reflux. After that my surgeon said it would really be the best and beneficial for me to get the bypass. I had to accept his opinion and had to agree, so slowly I started to wrap my head around the bypass... I still have over 30 pounds to lose till I reach my goal, but wooooooow I do not regret my bypass for a minute, in fact I would go in for the same surgery every year if I had to! Smooth sail, no complication, losing weight with little to no effort and life is good again. Really good! Please listen to your doctor, they want the best for you.

I was doing night shifts for a few months after my surgery, and I was losing well, due to not eating much during working hours, and then got home in the morning, went to bed and slept till work again. Honestly, I was just dragging myself, and NS is totally not for me, the struggle is real! I think losing 2 pounds a week is awesome. Remember: slow and steady wins the race. Also, you do not want to shock your body with 5 pounds a week, no need for that. Yo surgeon is strange... But I think doing NS will mess with your weight loss on the long run. I hope I am wrong but working night duty is such a big shock on your body's rythym ... I wish you the best, just try to eat during your shift, and get minimum of 8 hours of sleep during the day!

Becky I wish you would check in with us and let us know how you are doing? xxx Have you in my thoughts!

Ok, I have an other one! When I was 80 pounds heavier I was also stronger. I had that massive strength that only a big body can have. Back then I never realized how strong I am, but now that I lost 80 pounds I feel the difference. Like it is super easy to tip me out of balance, or on a windy day I really have to fight the wind not to push me around. I could easily carry the groceries, not anymore. Lifting heavy things was a piece of cake, now I can not even move those things....