Bobcats

I hope it’s okay that I post this question here, even though I’m a woman. I was sleeved last year and my husband almost seven weeks ago. Since his surgery he’s had no complications except some leg pain, and his sexual desire is nonexistent now. Prior to surgery -even at his HW of 380- he had no problems. He’s down to about 330 now and told me he hasn’t even been interested in masturbating. Everything I’ve read says his desire should be increasing and I’m really concerned. Have any of you experienced this issue? Did it resolve itself eventually? I’ve been avoiding addressing it in serious conversation because I don’t want to stress him out. **edit** Sorry, I just saw the sticky that this room is for men only. Mods, feel free to remove my post (but I hope you don’t)

I’m 9 months out from my sleeve gastrectomy and 80 lbs down (20 from my goal.) I’ve had midcycle bleeding for the last seven days, which is quite abnormal for me. Pregnancy is not a factor and my cycles have always been regular. I’m waiting to get in to see my doctor, but I was wondering if any of you have experience with this kind of problem? I know midcycle bleeds can be associated with hormonal imbalances, which can come as a result of rapid weight loss.

Thank you both for your replies! I’ll give him a little more time to recover and then get the T checked if nothing changes.

I’m 36 and almost 8 months out at 80 lbs down. I’ve been reading about loose skin from WLS and saw one source that said it takes about 2 years for your skin to go back to “normal.” While I’m grateful for my tool and the weight loss, my wrinkled brown bag stomach looks sad and I’m not crazy about the turkey neck, either. Can anyone 2+ years out confirm if the skin ever tightens up?

Do you all experience a stall during pms and/or your period? I had my first period exactly a month after my surgery but still lost weight. It’s now been 8 weeks since my surgery and, starting with my PMS, for a week and a half I neither gained nor lost weight until after my period was over. Before WLS this was a problem and I remember having the same issue when I did Weight Watchers with weekly weigh-ins. I tracked using MFP during this time and there wasn’t a huge change of food intake, although I ate a few crackers every day to deal with hormone-related nausea. I didn’t see an increase in calories. I worked out except for the four days of my period. I’m losing again so maybe it isn’t a huge deal, but it really messed with my head this month -I seriously started thinking “Maybe I have a condition that won’t let me lose any more weight?” Should I just expect this to happen every month? Will this change as I lose more weight? Am I doing something wrong?

Thank you all so much for your input! Like I said, I seriously thought that only two months after surgery, my body was done losing weight. Thank goodness this week I’m back to losing again! It’s already bad enough that I’m hormonal and emotional during that time of the month. I don’t need to freak out every month with a stall! Grrrrrr

My husband works for AT&T as a retail sales consultant. He would like to get sleeved and contacted his healthcare provider, United Healthcare, twice. They told him his plan does not offer coverage for WLS. He knows a few managers at AT&T who've had the the sleeve and they were covered. At the time he signed up for insurance last year, he went went the cheapest/highest deductible option. At this point, we are hoping the issue is that he just chose the wrong health coverage for WLS, and are wondering if he can choose a better plan in November. However, we are also considering that maybe this coverage is only available for managers and others higher-ups at At&t. I know UHC offers WLS through Optim Health because I have it through my state job and am getting sleeved in two weeks. We are in Florida, if that makes a difference. Could someone shed some light on why he isn't currently covered for WLS?

Hi all, I just wanted to follow up with this topic as my husband is back in his enrollment period with AT&T in Florida. He called everyone under the sun TWICE (AT&T benefits, United Healthcare, Optim) and no, there is no healthcare coverage that offers WLS for sales reps. As I said before, his manager got the coverage, so if you are a higher-up in FL you should have coverage for WLS. Luckily, we learned that for $30 more per month than he was paying at AT&T he can be added to my insurance which will cover WLS. It stinks, but it’s a small price to pay over the course of one year for this surgery!

I'm 7 weeks out from surgery and will have my second period since the surgery next week. I've noticed I'm very nauseous to the point that I only can eat broth and crackers. Can anyone relate to this? Are my PMS hormones going crazy now that I'm losing weight? For the record, I've ways had a regular cycle and PMS. I've just never had nausea this bad before. I really hope things even out in the future so I don't feel sick.

Prior to getting VSG last month, I was diagnosed as infertile 4/2016. I saw a reproductive endocrinologist who ran several tests, noting that I was still ovulating but have a diminished number of eggs due to premature ovarian failure (cause unknown.) I also have only one fallopian tube due to an ectopic pregnancy. I had regular periods, although my cycles had shortened in length as I got older (period is currently late but is first cycle after surgery.) Doctor figured I should have been pregnant so there must be something wrong with my one tube, even though it isn't blocked. I may have some endometriosis but nothing has been observed in my uterus. The surgeon who removed my tube noted I had adhesions behind my uterus. I plan to wait the recommended time before trying to get pregnant and will use preventative measures until then. However, my question is, has anyone had issues with what I experienced above and found improvement after VSG? I know weight loss helps, but I got down to 230 lbs when we were trying which shouldn't make pregnancy impossible. Since the cause of my premature ovarian failure is unknown, I was wondering if weight loss will somehow help me produce more eggs. I know of course, I have a lot of problems that weight loss may not be able to help, but am just interested in hearing your experiences.

I'm 20 days post op. Prior to surgery, I took One a Day gummies every day. My surgeon only recommends bariatric vitamins so I spent $60 on multivitamins, calcium, and biotin. I ordered Celebrate brand and cannot keep the multivitamin down. It doesn't matter if I take them AM, PM, stomach empty or full, they make me vomit. I read that for those who are made sick by these vitamins, Bariatric Advantage is the same. Out of desperation, I bought Flintstone vitamins and had the same reaction (TBH Flintstones taste exactly the same as Celebrate) but thankfully didn't get as sick, probably because Flintstones are much smaller. I took the samples I had of Celebrate from my surgeon before opening what I ordered, so hopefully, I can send them back for a refund. I'm scared to take the Calcium and biotin now. Has anyone had a bad reaction to those? Can you recommend a good bari vitamin that's not Celebrate or BA brand? I'm not sure why these types of vitamins make me sick; I read elsewhere that it may have to do with the iodine in them. I have an appointment with my surgeon tomorrow but I would really like y'alls opinion in case his advice is to just keep taking them.

My surgeon is having me complete a one week pre-op liquid diet that requires 70-80 grams of protein and under 40 grams carbs, and one clear liquid day before surgery. I was given a food list that is composed of soups, protein shakes, jello and pudding -to name a few things. I'm on day 2 and noticed I have an insane amount of energy and feel a little "stoned". I'm not really complaining about the energy, but am I going to crash soon? Could this be a result of ketosis? I have never eaten like this and have no idea what to expect.

Today is my first day back to work and I am having bad diarrhea and bloating. I'm on liquids until next week, and today I've had one premiere protein, sugar free jello, sugar free pudding, and less than one cup of blended lentil soup. All of these foods are on my dr's list and I had no problem with them on my pre-op diet or when I ate them sparingly in the first few days after surgery. Other than feeling uncomfortable from the bloating, I'm not having weird pain or other symptoms. Could this be a result of the sugar substitutes in my foods? If so, it's weird I didn't have this problem when I was home (however, I was on pain killers, which tend to cause constipation for me.) I don't know what I can do if the sugar substitutes are a problem because their isn't much left that I can eat on the list I was given!

We will have to take a look again in October/November. At this point, we're wondering more if it is even possible as a non-manager, but your information gives me hope.

I've just begun the process and don't have my consultation until the end of April. I just met the BMI with no comorbidities at 40.7 (they need 40) so when I asked the scheduler, she said that I don't really have any wiggle room with losing weight before my consultation. It should be easy enough to maintain my weight until then, but my question is, once I begin the 6 month process prior to surgery, can losing weight hurt me at all? I know I have to meet with a dietician and such and I was under the impression I will have to diet then, as well. Are any of you aware of any cases of someone losing weight and having their insurance deny coverage in the 6 month period? I have UHC and the bariatric coverage is through Optum Health, if that helps.

Hi Thejeweledsleeve and thanks for your detailed description of the process through UHC. I have just begun the process through them, although UHC in my state of Florida seems to run their bariatric program through Optum Health Complex. I just met the requirements for BMI without a comorbidity at 40.7 (they want 40). I actually went through the 6 month consultation with my primary care physician in 2015-16, so hopefully I won't have to do this again. I initially lost 35 lbs and got down to a BMI of 38.4, but my weight went up 12 lbs from Sept 2016-March 2017. My question is, since I am on the line between qualifying and not qualifying, once I start the program, can I be denied the possibility of surgery for losing weight? How does this work?