Middus

That sounds strange. my BMI was 53 and I weighed 356 and My surgeon felt RNY was better for maximum weightloss, but i insisted on having a sleeve. I don't think his decision is based on general guidelines, but rather on personal preference {which may be based on his own experience(s)}. a second opinion would be nice

Most people on this Forum are Liars.. they refuse to use their real names.. [emoji14][emoji14] You see how "not telling isn't the same thing as lying" Sent from my SM-N900P using BariatricPal mobile app

Missed this post earlier. How come you are on liquids for 3 months? That seems a bit extreme.. Sent from my SM-N900P using BariatricPal mobile app

Maintenance is harder than the initial 'losing'. A lot of research is happening in this field. Quite a few studies are focused on why the brain tries to reset metabolism in such a way that it wants to return you to your former weight. Meaning that the body will keep using less and less energy and prefer storing it instead. This can really mess with a person. While I get your point, sometimes it's not because people starved themselves during the losing stage. Everything is a balance. The whole point of nutritional counselling is for us to have sustainable diets, which will help us maintain our goal weights. So a 600-800 cal/day dash to one's goal weight is a bit unrealistic to maintain 9-10 years post op.. However, there are still people whose bodies will try to make them gain weight even on 1200-1400 cals/day Sent from my SM-N900P using BariatricPal mobile app

It's a pretty normal reaction. I remember in college, I joined a Christian fellowship and there was a time we had a 3-weeks fast. It did a number on the brain during the first week. That's how the brain works. It floods you with pleasant memories from tasty meals, in a bid to get you to eat. The brain has set your metabolism and 'weight'. Reducing food triggers the brain to try and restore equilibrium. It's much more than saying "food addiction". It's hard-wiring by the brain that must be bypassed or overcome. That is why many people regain on diets. The brain is sometimes one's biggest adversary.. Hang in there Sent from my SM-N900P using BariatricPal mobile app

Yup. Same here. We have exercise challenges that my group always wins ( I usually amass btw 120-140k steps a week). Then a Weight loss part was introduced mid January. I humbly declined, especially because it included the winners giving food tips and tricks. It just wouldn't feel honest.

He's in for big a surprise in a few...

All I have said, I said because they were personal experiences. Experience(s) varies. Coming from a culture that celebrates when someone comes out alive from a major surgery requires wisdom in handling 'information release'. At work, the culture is also different. Having observed an older colleague (female) getting gossiped about, because she chose to make a healthy choice was unappealing. While I don't really care about the things they say about me, knowing that such things are being said sometimes colours communication, and work relationships.. The choice to reveal is ultimately yours. Most commenting here maintain their opinions, because their choices work for them. Mine has worked for me and has given me peace of mind. If you search this site long enough, you will find those who were burdened till they revealed all, and others who told many people but now regret telling people. You'll just have to test the waters yourself..

That's another thing again. Not everyone understands..

Exactly! Not everyone that asks cares about you. Hell, I even make jokes about it. I haven't played a minute of soccer since surgery. Went to watch my teammates last week and some people didn't even notice.. . The ones that noticed asked "what was going on with me" (they thought I was ill, as I was no longer playing.. )I just told them it was 'the pressure from racism'.. Everyone laughed and that was all..

Fact is that it was another concerned friend that led me down the WLS path. I told a close group of friends cos I Knew I would need to keep myself honest in the future. Some herbal product dude (an acquaintance) has already tried luring me to do Instagram ads for him. I turned him down with an explanation, he said he didn't care.. Well I do. I don't need to remember who I told or who I didn't tell. All I need to do is just sense those who need gossip niblets and those who are seeking help for either themselves or for a loved one. Some people have already accused me of behaving like I'm the first person to lose weight because I eat smaller portions. Mind you, I never told them I was dieting, neither did they ask me. They just figured it was a diet, and the back talk started. Are those the kind of people I will tell I had surgery? We interact with different people. I am not secretive, but I choose to control information i release about myself..

Hey Good for you.. When I was 350 lbs, I played Soccer every week, went to the gym 3 times a week, did all sorts of stuff. People would tell me to 'exercise more', when I told them I was active, some would snicker.. I am not running around the streets claiming I am a fitness Guru. Hell I haven't even posted new pics of my self anywhere.. It's usually thin people or those that used to snicker about my weight that ask me about my weight loss, and I tell them, I cut down on my portions. They don't really ask for much more.. When A close friend's obese sister asked me, that she was tired of failing, I told her about bariatric surgery, and even made her call her insurance company to find out. Well she is covered and will be having her surgery in July (hopefully) Not telling people has nothing to do with being "fake". I don't give WL advice generally. Most people that notice just come to tell me "Good Job" and i say : "thank You" . There was this woman though, (at worst her BMI would have been like 27-28) that said she wanted to lose 10 lbs.. Was I supposed to tell her about Bariatric surgery?

LoL. I remember telling friends that the food wasn't spicy enough, when we went out. At buffets, I just walk around with the same plates. I told very close friends and my sister. Not telling any one else. I lost 44 lbs before surgery. When people asked what I did, I simply tell them what I did before surgery. However, when an overweight friend asks, I suggest bariatric surgery, and the tell them that's what I did. The other day, i heard some colleagues gossiping about another woman that had WLS surgery. They think it's like liposuction or something.. sescribing it in cosmetic terms. There is nothing cosmetic about all this hardwork

Zero regrets whatsoever.. Even when I couldn't eat some foods.. Even now, at almost 4 months post op, and not being able to tolerate strawberry flavoured food items (which was the only thing I could tolerate pre-op)

I understand. All the points that have been said. Bariatric surgery (and research) keeps evolving. One thing we have to realize is that these insurance guidelines keep being reworked or tossed out, because research doesn't really back them up. Many researchers also warn that policy statements should not be issued based on their findings. Even the pre weight loss requirement by some insurers isn't backed by research. Some programs just want evidence of some kind of commitment (and also to make surgery safer for those with super obesity, )

I disagree with the 'red flag' part though. 6 months can be rather annoying. It all depends on the individual. I feel it places too much emphasis on the surgery for some. My program just mandated weight loss. I feel mandating some kind of weight loss, and 2-3 nutritional visits over 2-3 months general requirement is better.

Furthermore, I think the surgeons might want to fix the primary reason for the malabsorption first before considering a revision.

So sorry you're going through all this. I can only input that an ERCP is both a diagnostic and curative procedure. ERCP should have revealed chronic pancreatitis. Did they happen to do an MRI for you? It might be another stone forming.. I really hope it is not chronic pancreatitis. Once again, sorry for your pain..

Thrift stores here are as dry as hell. Have had to hit stores for sales. Burlington and TJ maxx have been a blessing

Lucky you. I had a lot of clothes I bought hoping to diet enough to fit into them. They were all about a size or 2 too small. I sort of forgot about them (cos I simply never lost enough weight). That was 2015. Mid last year, I decided to have WLS and was told to lose weight before seeing my surgeon. Lost way more than I was required to lose but didn't care. I re-discovered the tight clothes (a few weeks post op) and they fit perfectly. I was so happy.. Till about a month after (8 weeks post op). I have since given them away cos they got too loose. Very pricey clothes!! .. It was bittersweet. Now its just confusing. I want to buy clothes I need for now, but I have already 'undergrown' some clothes I bought after surgery..

Waiting to get to my personal goal

Look for sugar free stuff instead. Fat free may still contain a lot of sugar. Sugar is the real enemy

Nah... the stomach is tough and much more acidic than lemonade.

Some feel restriction more than others. I have never been one of those " I can barely drink 3oz" people. 2nd week post op I was drinking 33oz bottles of Water in less than 30 seconds. When it was time for solids, I felt more discomfort than restriction. Eating slowly made it worse.. At 6 weeks post op, I could eat 2 boiled eggs easy. What I have learned to do is measure (take note of) what I eat. I can't rely on stretch receptors. They act up all the time. Some days I take 2 cubes of boiled chicken and i'm in distress, feeling as if I swallowed a whale.. On other days I eat 4oZ of goatmeat with no issues whatsoever. Restriction is not reliable. I know that's lousy to hear, because we fear a constant/lifelong battle with hunger......

I find myself doing shakes for breakfast too. Eating in the morning just makes me uncomfortable.. even the shake has to be chased down with a little coffee.. I sometimes graze but i take note of what I'm eating. 100 cals of saltines or 300 cals of nuts means something gets cut from somewhere... (usually lunch or dinner)