GinaCampbell

I did the chop today. I went from shoulder length to short choppy pixie. I quite like the new look. I have always had long hair and would usually pin it up anyway. I just hate the bald spots showing through! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Six months post op following gastric sleeve and thought things were looking up. Finally got in for my 3 month checkup 3 months late due to complications) and asked if my PPI could be increased because of all the burning pain in my stomach and throat. The nutritionist said he would ask. Received a call from the MDT to say that a surgeon on the team thinks that I may have an ulcer and wants to personally do a gastroscopy urgently. The soonest he can do it is the 16th of December. Problem is that the burning has gotten quite a bit worse in the past few days. Using the prescribed lansoprazole and Gaviscon, not eating trigger foods etc. but I recently started taking the bariatric supplement Forceval (prescribed) everyday. This is new because I had previously been too ill to take them. I am going to lay off them to see if that will help. I hate to stop my supplements because I am nearly bald as it is but this burning, gnawing business is no joke! I will go back to Clear liquids (fourth time lucky lol), then full. Any other ideas to get me through until the 16th? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

The hunger is probably acid. I was starving after my bypass, but once I went on the Prevacid..surprise...hunger gone. Sounds like yours is very severe. Very possible. I am prescribed lansoprazole and gaviscon. I am also having a gastroscopy on Friday. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Keep in mind that the majority of people who have WLS do well and have no complications. I can only tell my story. Not to scare people but to encourage them to be realistic about what might happen post op. I can't comment on the NHS treatment that you might receive. Hopefully it will be better than mine and my friends'. Just be vigilant, don't rush through the process. Don't just assume that you will just be normal after six weeks, plan ahead for any unexpected down time. Even if things don't go to plan, after six months, things will at least be a new normal. If this is what you really want, then just prepare mentally and emotionally. There was so much information that I didn't know despite researching for years. Best of luck to you, keep in touch. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Anyone had this done? I am due in for one on Friday and I am a bit worried. I am six months post op and concerned about having this procedure following the vsg. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

IMHO, it's better to know what your dealing with instead of guessing. I do understand the apprehensiveness. Good luck! Maybe everything will subside and you can cancel?! I really want to. I would rather ride it out especially since the treatment options being discussed seem quite limited. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I really don't have a great feeling about this. I have been super careful about never gagging or pushing my sleeve to that point. But the burning I am experiencing is quite concerning too, so what's a girl to do? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

That's not an option here for me. I can do it with some light sedation or nothing but throat spray. Either way, I will be awake throughout. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Lost so much that I have had mine cut short. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I understand. I feel that way. It wears you out. I don't have a good, supportive bariatric team so I just have to do it alone. I have an endoscopy scheduled next Friday. I have become so phobic about hospitals, procedures etc that they have to really push me to attend and receive any sort of treatment. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Oh no! So very sorry to hear your troubles. I too lost way too much weight too fast through illness post op. You must feel exhausted with all those health problems. Do you have family support? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Why?? You can read my journey through my posts. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

There are many posts about regrets. Use your search facilities to read them. You can read my details in my posts. However, this is your personal journey. You organised this surgery for a reason. Only you can know why. And deep down in your heart, you already know why you are "freaking out". Talk to your surgical team NOW to ask questions. Don't make drastic, life changing decisions based on information on an internet forum. If you really are unsure about surgery, any surgery, postpone until you are sure. This is one surgery that you cannot reverse. It is definitely not an easy option. That being said, most people have it done, recover and are satisfied. I am one of the small but significant people that made the wrong choice. I had post op complications, some that are permanent. I contracted C Diff which I am still battling. I have permanent (dermatologist confirmed) hairloss that is obvious and embarrassing. I have a massive amount of loose skin that I can't have removed due to the C Diff and other issues. I recently was diagnosed with anaemia and Vitamin D deficiencies. I am back in the hospital next week for an endoscopy to investigate a suspected ulcer. I am not one of those who just came out of surgery, healed and eat relatively normally. I often have to go back to Clear liquids. I am seven months post op now and my calorie level has dropped again to under 500 a day. Such low calorie intake means that my weight loss has finally stopped as my body thinks that I am starving. So don't think low calorie always means rapid weight loss. I am having to see multiple consultants for multiple problems. I am currently attempting to treat the hair loss by using minoxidil, had punch scalp biopsies to diagnose exactly what deficiencies are causing the hair loss. I am losing so much hair now that my hairdresser is just cutting it shorter and shorter until I decide either to buy a wig or just not care anymore about the bald Patches. My sleeve is very unhappy and makes loud, audible noise at every meal. My family simply no longer comment but I daren't even drink in front of anyone in public. Hopefully the upcoming endoscopy will indicate why this happens. I have to see my GP now regularly because of the anaemia and the B12 injections are not working. We are trying to lift my Vitamin D levels. The C diff is an ongoing issue that has resisted treatment so far. The next step to try is a faecal transplant. The severe GERD, burning pain is being treated with lansoprazole and gaviscon. But hey ho, I hit goal weight at less than 3 months out and am creeping down to the weight I was at 21! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

UK here! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I try to eat at least one banana a day, usually at Breakfast time. I am struggling to eat because of the burning. I am always hungry but now think this might be an acid issue. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I agree with you. I am trying everything to calm it down. It burns if I do eat, it burns if I don't eat. The lansoprazole doesn't feel helpful but initially, the Gaviscon gives me some relief. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Alot of people do! I only eat 200 calorie Breakfast and lunch (banana, egg then soup) and a 100 calorie evening meal most days. I try to push more and occasionally hit 700 cals if my granddaughter gives me a chocolate button or two when playing. But most days, 400 to 500 calories is my outcome. For the first three months it was 100 to 300, last three is 400 to 500, with 600 to 700 exception days. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App And you are sick all the time. People that want to live have more calories. Your body can't function on that little. Starvation is not health. @@OhHeyMarina Ahh I missed the yogurts. What????? "People that want to live have more calories"!!! Do you think I choose to eat like this? Do you think I choose to have C Diff? To lose my hair? To "be sick all the time"???? I have worked hard to get up to this calorie a day level, to take all my Vitamins and meds, to move around, to drink my Water requirements. I make my Soups from scratch using beef bones for the broth to get Protein in. I eat a banana for the potassium. We agree that starvation is not health which is exactly what I have been saying since day one! Malnutrition can be an unfortunate side effect of a vsg. That is not a choice. I am following my plan to the letter. As much protein as I can push, followed by my water, then meds and supplements, then veg and fruit. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

No. They feel that me having the endoscopy on the 16th is sufficient. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Alot of people do! I only eat 200 calorie Breakfast and lunch (banana, egg then soup) and a 100 calorie evening meal most days. I try to push more and occasionally hit 700 cals if my granddaughter gives me a chocolate button or two when playing. But most days, 400 to 500 calories is my outcome. For the first three months it was 100 to 300, last three is 400 to 500, with 600 to 700 exception days. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

It is what it is. It can't be changed without expensive, risky (for me) surgery. So no point worrying about it. Same with the baldness. But if anyone's motivation for WLS is to look fabulous naked, they might want to just truly consider the reality of what your body will go through. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Such good news! So glad you are out of the hospital. God bless Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thank you Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

This is not the victim olympics or a contest about who is allowed to hurt the most. This is a WLS forum. So yes, people will delve deep into all manner of weight loss issues despite there being other things happening in the world. There is no need to marginalize or insult people for perfectly legitimate concerns, nor fall back into the tired old "millenial" generalization (which is one of the most inaccurate, backwards, ridiculous labels when you examine the facts). BP is not a hugbox, but that isn't a moral imperative to be a jerk. Placating and justifying someone's bad decisions is not the same as having a little compassion for someone terrified of the after-effects of weight loss. I don't view it as "trite" or "shallow" to be hesitant about weight loss due to excess skin. As women, we face a unique struggle in terms of our appearance. We are judged for what we are AND what we are not. We can feel unattractive and have rude comments made about our chubby cheeks, and be conversely nervous that we will have rude comments made about looking saggy, sallow-cheeked, and old (one of the biggest comments on the appearance of extreme weight loss folks is "they look so old now"). Yes, we all have health reasons, but I have a hard time believing many women who get WLS don't also crave feeling beautiful. In our society, beauty means power. Beauty means value. Beauty means avoiding the discrimination, bias, cruelty and dismissal that comes with inhabiting a large body. Should appearance mean these things? No. But that is the reality of the world we live in. We have all suffered so much under society's expectations of what we should and shouldn't look like, is it really a surprise people question the results? So many of us have deep issues with body image and self-loathing. We are accustomed to viewing ourselves as undesireable. Surgery, hard work, pain, sweat, tears, only to fear that you will still hate the person staring back at you in the mirror? Terrified you will never find love? Worried that you'll go from a "big gal" that some men say they prefer, to a scarred and wrinkled mess that you fear is no one's preference? That is not shallow. That is not trite. It is legitimate fear. And it can be overcome, but it takes work, time, love, and support. You don't need to kiss anyone's ass, placate, or justify anyone's delusions. You can always scroll past those threads. But damn, a little compassion wouldn't be remiss. **Edit: Check the forums for how many threads contain "my spouse/partner says they won't find me attractive anymore if I lose weight." YES!!!!!! Sent from my SM-J700P using the BariatricPal App So true! I will never ever let anyone see me naked now. My body looks horrible. In clothes things look okay. My beautiful tattooed artwork now looks unrecognisable in the melting folds of crepey skin. My face is sallow and shrunken, my breasts, well I won't even try to describe that hot mess. As a fat girl though, I had no body shame. That was never an issue for me. Some fellas like a fat girl. But no one could find the folds of skin attractive in any way. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I have been so surprised at the excess skin in places that I didn't expect! When I sit down, I literally sit in a "skin puddle". I noticed last week that I can accordion fold the skin on my thighs! Arms, breasts, I expected but I also have a "shar pei" butt! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thank you and I am glad you are getting support from here. Sorry if other support isn't available right now. Keep us posted! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App Thank you and I am glad you are getting support from here. Sorry if other support isn't available right now. Keep us posted! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App