Brik8te

Hi! I can relate - I have (had?) PCOS and insulin resistance - am 6 months post op (last week) and have lost 25kgs (55lbs). I hit my surgeon's goal weight right on the 6 month anniversary, which was a nice surprise. I've found weightloss to be incredibly slow and have stalled more times than I can count within that 6 months, but the scale always eventually moved. I do believe this is due to the PCOS and IR, and I also believe without surgery I would still be plugging away at the gym and eating well but not seeing the scale move - so frustrating. I'm happy to accept the slow loser card

I'm 16.8kgs down as of today still losing very slowly, but that's just me! I can honestly say I have no regrets. Thankfully the recovery for me has been great and I have enjoyed the process. Yes the first couple of weeks were uncomfortable and little anxiety-ridden, but I was gentle with myself and I listened to my body. I know I'm probably going to have some loose skin on my tummy, thighs and upper arms, but I can't say at this stage I'm too concerned - plus I'll continue lifting and building muscle to help this. Anything that has been 'hard' throughout this process so far, is less 'hard' than continuing to live in the body I was pre-surgery. I've ready a lot of comments from people still feeling 'big' but to be honest for me I never saw myself as big as I was - it was only when I looked in the mirror or stood on the scale it hit me (so I avoided both). Where are you at with your decision at this stage?

Hey Hanne, Sorry for delay! Been a busy few days. Yes, I've had alcohol a few times now - mostly I'll get a glass of wine and sip on it, which I've done 3-4 times. I had a wedding in December where I had 2 glasses throughout the whole day/night. I read a lot about alcohol hitting you a lot quicker after surgery, which is why I've been very careful and sipped only. Can't say it felt any different to me than normal but I do find it can give me heartburn now. I love wine and I'm sure they'll be times where I miss being able to join in like a I did before, but I can't say it's been an issue for me yet! Your perspective changes when you are forced to think much more carefully about everything you put in your body and the things you think will be hard just . . . aren't.

I was on the fence about the decision for a good 12 months prior to surgery, during that time I threw myself into diet and exercise (more than my usual) to ensure I'd honestly exhausted my options (as medication prior to this had also failed). While my physical results were good, the scale, blood tests and hormone levels did not improve and I even developed liver damage (reversible) due to my hormone levels. Just felt like a huge snowballing effect! Thankfully I didn't have any sleep apnea or similar issues, but I know they're very common. So I completely understand your concerns re dining out and water intake - I have an active social life and work in sales, so a lot of my work involves dining out with colleagues and clients (am actually about to jet off for a work trip to Vegas next week). For the first couple of months I stuck to soups when dining out, but can now handle the soft fish or chicken and steamed vegetable options. I order an entree serve and it's fine, because it takes me a while to eat it I'm done around the same time as those around me eating full size servings. It's really not as bad as what I expected and you get used to it really quickly. The water intake is fine too, I average 2+ litres a day, but I do have to keep a track on my intake to ensure I'm hitting that. I have also become a huge fan of protein water (I order from Bodiez Protein Water) which I have 2-3 times a day, at 30g of protein per serve. I find it easier and lighter to drink compared to standard protein powders (and the Bodiez one isn't too sweet). I really understand your concerns on this point, but this is one of this things I was most pleasantly surprised with - thought obviously we all recover differently

Hi Hanne, Yes, I chose the sleeve. It felt right, to be honest I didn't consider the other options. Are you considering others? I completely agree re this option sounding drastic - I've been very open about my surgery to friends and co-workers and I've been met with a few puzzled looks and responses. It is tiring to have to explain the reasons why, so sometimes I do but if I simply can't be bothered I let them judge, haha. At the end of the day it's my body and my journey and I only have myself to be accountable to. And thankfully this has turned out to work for me so far. I don't have a goal weight - because I've been disappointed so many times before I was reluctant to work towards one. I'm taking every kilo lost as a blessing! My non-scale goals are the blood results improving (and disappearing) for the insulin resistance and the PCOS reducing (or disappearing!) on the next internal ultra sound I'll have. That for me is the ultimate goal. To be honest I've not even considered how I will maintain in the future if the conditions don't improve. That sounds incredibly naive but I'm committed and will continue to be committed - it's not in me to give up. So if I go off track a little at times I have faith that I have the knowledge to recognize and catch it, and do something about it. I've been agile year upon year to this point and tried everything available to me, so if I need to do that for my whole life . . hey it sucks, but I got this. WE got this! I'm so glad you posted as well! I hope your concerns are eased somewhat?

Hi Hanne, I can relate to so much of what you've written! I'm 11 weeks post op, started at 94.3kgs with PCOS and insulin resistance. I'm 33, turning 34 this year. Everything you wrote about how you felt about your body is what I felt, and our concerns where almost identical! I'm certainly not as proficient in lifting as you are, but I've been working with a PT for the last 8 months and love our lifting sessions. I also run, do pilates, yoga, and hike. Pre-op I made sure I worked out as much as possible (5 sessions a week) to help my body be in the best shape possible for surgery. My biggest fears were complications from surgery keeping me out of the gym for too long post op, and not being able to drink enough water during a workout (and just in general!). To my relief, surgery went well and my recovery was (close enough) to a breeze! I was cleared to start working out again 3 weeks post op and have stayed committed to building my strength back up, am just now back to where I was pre-op in terms of my stats. The only difference right now is that I've dropped my workouts back to no more than 45 mins a session (otherwise I'm just to beat, but this will change, I'm sure) and I sip on the water instead of gulping. For the first 2 weeks post op I really had to focus on taking small sips, but that has now become my new 'normal' (and the restricted feeling has eased somewhat as well). Like you, my PCOS (and insulin resistance) stopped me from losing weight regardless of my good diet and exercise. I literally didn't lose a gram in the 8 months pre-op and it was so frustrating to feel trapped in a body which did not convey how seriously I was focusing on doing all the 'right' things. I lived like this for 10+ years before making the decision to have surgery. I'm losing very slowly compared to most people, am sitting at 15.7kgs down right now and I have hit so many 'stalls' in the last 11 weeks I've lost count. But I don't dwell, I just pack my gym bag and head off for a session! I look forward to hearing how you go

Thanks! Sorry to hear you've had some troubles but good to hear you seem to be on an easier track now. Makes a big difference having a great support team, so keep up with your specialist appointments and I'm sure you continue to do great. Massive weightloss for you already! well done! I'm only just sitting at 13kgs down now at 8 weeks post op.

Hi there! I had my surgery 17/11 and have the same issue! Can be quite uncomfortable but doesn't last long. A little embarrassing when sitting in the office as the gurgling can be quite loud and there's not a lot I can do to control it. As far as I've managed to research, it's fairly common and settles down somewhat as we heal further.

I'm in Perth and had my VSG performed on 17th October - by Prof Hamdorff at Hollywood Hospital. Recovery has been amazing and no complications. I was back at work after 2 weeks and cleared to start exercising again at 3 weeks (seeing a PT twice a week and working out on my own for another 2-3 days a week). I've just come out of a 2+ week stall with no weightloss, but hovering at about 11kgs down so far. Yesterday marked 6 weeks out and it's flown! How are you doing now?

I also had my sleeve performed on October 17th and was cleared by the surgeon (at my 2 week check-up earlier this week) to start back at the gym, I'm so thrilled! I've just been hitting the treadmill for the last couple of days but have organised to start working out with my PT again next week, I can't wait to get back under some weights. I expected to have to wait for 6 weeks before being cleared to exercise again!