Born in Missouri

My life has changed drastically since my surgery almost a year ago. I still suffer from body disphoria in that I still see myself as a fat person. I still look for clothing in the plus size sections. I keep thinking that I'll need a few extra "fat uniforms." Wearing a mere XL is still unfamiliar territory. I still seek out the loose, baggy look with arm holes too big and my garment sliding off my shoulder. I continue to wear long dresses. I have not worn jeans or any style of pants for years. I don't see myself wearing pants again until I reach my goal weight, even then I see myself wearing a long tunic style top to cover my butt and legs. I'm not sure if I view this as modesty or as a continuation of fat-shaming myself. I continue to be proud of myself but this is a little hill that I still have to climb. I'm being patient with myself. I know it takes longer for some people to come to terms with their "new body." The other day someone said to me (rude when I recall it now), "I didn't know that you had a neck."

I have Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Four-five generations of females in my family have had it. Have you ever been tested for antibodies? (Hashimoto's is the most common cause of hypothyroidism is the US.) https://www.thyroid.org/hashimotos-thyroiditis/

💩 happens.

It's been a couple of days since your last post. Are you still having painful constipation? What changes, if any, have helped?

Hypertension is a valid co-morbidity. Sleep apnea is another. Here is UnitedHealthCare's bariatric surgery policies to give you an example: https://www.obesitycoverage.com/united-healthcares-criteria-for-weight-loss-surgery-coverage/

Your problem is nothing to trigger skedaddling as far as I'm concerned. Good on you for creating this topic! Do you take any meds that might be contributing to your constipation? Here, for example, are some meds that trigger constipation: https://www.goodrx.com/blog/the-big-8-constipation-causing-medications/ https://www.medicinenet.com/constipation/article.htm#what_is_constipation Dietwise, you sound like you're doing the right things. Do you have any food allergies by chance?

Which surgery did you have? How much weight did you initially lose before you starting regaining? How do you handle stress? Do you hate exercising? Do you have a bariatric buddy to spend face-to-face time with?

113lbs in 10 months.

@AlteredReality. What a beautiful user pic. You should be a poster patient to inspire those on the fence about the benefits of gastric bypass. I'm still behind you in terms of weight lost, but I am losing. I am so proud of myself.

The Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery estimates that 18 million adults in the U.S. qualify for weight-loss surgery, but only about 1 percent actually do it. The length of recovery and cost concerns are the main reasons more people don't have such procedures. Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty is a non-surgical weight loss procedure that is commonly referred to as ESG and also known as the incisionless gastric sleeve or the accordion procedure. Instead of incisions, stapling and removing parts of the stomach, a tiny camera and tools go down a patient's throat with a needle and thread. Specialized tools mark out guidelines in the stomach, sutures are placed in triangular patterns and the area is cinched together. Stomach size is reduced by 70 to 80 percent. ESG works by reducing the space inside your stomach and by slowing down the rate at which food empties from your stomach. Unlike the band, sleeve, and bypass, however, which are surgical procedures, the ESG procedure is non-surgical. Access to the stomach is gained not through incisions in the abdomen but endoscopically, i.e. through the mouth. Like the surgical procedures, the ESG is performed under general anesthesia, and it takes about 1 hour to complete. A device called the 'Overstitch' is inserted into the stomach and reduces the stomach capacity from the inside by stitching the stomach together with a series of approximately 6 stitches. https://www.healthierweight.co.uk/non-surgical-gastric-sleeve/esg-or-gastric-sleeve/ https://www.mooremetabolics.com/weight-loss/endoscopic-sleeve-gastroplasty/ http://bmiclinic.com.au/endoscopic-sleeve-gastroplasty/

Well, d'oh. I now see that you live in Australia. Do I feel like an idiot! I still suggest you ask a pharmacist, just not one HERE (in the US)!😀

Try asking a PharmD. Pharmacists, like my daughter, study for 5 years in addition to a year of residency. My sons, medical doctors, know very little about meds compared to her. If you have a specific medication to ask about, pharmacists are often able to look up information about absorption. Don't forget to mention your surgery since your surgery may be significant in terms of what parts of your digestive system are affected. Many "Schools of Pharmacy" also run Medication Helplines that you can call for information such as this. Where do you live? I might be able to provide you with a helpline number to call.

I'd have more faith in BP's pouch reset program if it didn't seem so conflated with buying products from their store. It makes me wonder whether it's the person or the products sold that matter more.

See? For all those out there who think they'll have to wait forever for a decision, Harborgurl got an even faster turnaround than 3 days. The weekend messed me up. Paperwork in on Friday, approval granted on Monday. Primary contacted on Tuesday. I, of course, was the last to know!!

Our @Matt Z is, unfortunately, very knowledgeable about this complication. "The Band had become totally encapsulated in scar tissue, it took my surgeon and her team more than 3 times longer to remove the band than what's normal. My 3-4 hour surgery, lasted over 6 hours. Who knows what would have happened if I didn't revise. The band is gone. My insides have been rearranged. And I'm working my way down to my goal. One day at a time. " --https://www.bariatricpal.com/profile/120901-matt-z/

Insurance companies tend to tell people submitting their documentation that it can take weeks for approval (they told me up to six weeks). My approval ended up taking only THREE business days. In fact, I was sitting in my primary's office and she just nonchalantly said, "Oh, did you know UnitedHealthCare approved your surgery?" I guess UHC decided to let my primary before me! So when UHC eventually called, I said, "Oh, that's old news. "

Thank you for the update. It sounds like the changes in your life (moving, bypass) are going well. Things will only get better. I enjoy hearing about people who have passions. Fishing is a good one. My father died when I was 12 years old so I don't have a long list of memories; however, going fishing with my father is one that stands out as special. We had a bare-bones pontoon boat and I remember my daddy reminding my brother and I to make sure that we didn't all stand on the same side of the boat. Sure enough, my brother, who was less serious about fishing than I was, was goofing off throwing orange peels in the water and pacing from one side of the boat to the other. That's when IT happened. The boat tilted and my daddy's tackle box slipped right into the lake. Not the future Eagle Scout's finest hour. Anyway, fishing with my father was a special memory. Sorry for the boring read.

Great! I love when people return to share their good news. Were your hydration issues a problem? I know it was touch-and-go for a while. I'm so glad that you decided to have your surgery. Have you been fishing since? (I notice you live in Florida so you're not encased in an ice cube like some of us in the Mid-West.)

I was thinking of you (my big* bariatric sister) Frust8 when I decided to post this: https://www.medpagetoday.com/primarycare/obesity/74961 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/article-abstract/2698683 *big as in older, not heavy

When broken down by surgery type, the most common reason for a revisional surgery among those who had banding was band-associated problems, such as migration stenosis or slippage. Among banding patients, nausea and weight-related indications were also common reasons for revision. As for VBG patients, the most common indication for revisional surgery was staple-related disruptions, accounting for 10% of these patients. Nausea due to stenosis and collar migration were also common indications for revision. The most common indications for revisional surgery for gastric bypass patients were reflux-associated and esophagus-associated complications. https://www.medpagetoday.com/endocrinology/obesity/77253 "The dominant reason for corrective revisional surgery was bile reflux (including esophagitis), which occurred only in patients with loop technique GBP," the researchers noted, adding how "this demonstrates the superiority of the Roux-en-Y technique with regard to the need for secondary interventions." Although the small percentage of gastric bypass patients included in the cohort was a limitation, it's still apparent that this surgery accounted for fewer revisionary surgeries. "Among more than 200 Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedures, only five (2.3%) required any reoperation," he said. "Revisional surgery carries a higher complication rate than the primary procedure, but if needed, it should not be denied..."

There was a time when I was lucky to get 250 calories per day, let alone even a fourth of the required protein or fluid. As bad as that sounds, the main concern for me is -- and continues to be-- ANXIETY. If I'm feeling unduly stressed that is worse for me than missing calories, protein, or fluids. When I'm feeling calm and happy with myself, the rest eventually falls into place. My appetite returns, I'm able to handle drinking more... For me, it all boils down to nurturing my mind and taking care of my emotional needs first. My physical needs are secondary... Understanding that it takes weeks to months to really get in trouble or become malnourished in a significant way also helps me to relax. I'm also not overly regimented when it comes to my supplements. If I miss a dose here or there, I don't beat up myself over it. Of course, it would great if I ate the right combination of everything my body needs at the right time, took my supplements faithfully... but the best lesson I've learned since my surgery, is to be kinder and more forgiving to myself. No more feeling like a failure for dropping the ball on occasion. I know that there are people on this forum who are very dedicated to every daily detail in their lives since their surgeries. I can't live like that. Perhaps if I pushed myself, I could compete with that mindset, but it just doesn't work for me. I don't even like thinking about weight loss anymore, which is why I find myself coming here less and less. My reason for posting my "lazy ways" manifesto is not to call attention to myself for being so "irresponsibly" lax about things, but to let others who may be stressing out their days with what they're eating, what they're not eating, etc. to try taking a page out of my book and slow down. Just let your days unfold without making too many demands on yourself. You'll ultimately be happier, and you'll lose the weight as well. I'm okay with anyone calling me out for filling up the heads of others with my lazy, undisciplined ways.

Perhaps I should have posted a separate thread to share my below 200lbs news. My intent was not to steal any of your thunder, Matt, particularly since you lost 170lbs while I've only lost 100lbs to get to my 199.4. I have another 50-70lbs to lose to reach my goal. Congrats, again, Mr. Handsome.

This is a timely post for me. I also use a CPAP, but I haven't been compliant since my bypass. Now I'm starting to wonder if I should contact my doctor about recalculating my pressure before I try using it again. I'm sorry you had to experience what you did, but your rant possibly helped out someone else from going through something similar. THANK YOU!!!

@Matt Z I can't believe it. I got on the scale this morning (after going to the bathroom, OF COURSE!) and I also weigh 199.4! Is that crazy or what?!

Love your pics, Matt. Are you a good dancer? I couldn't help but to think of Jim Carrey when I saw you in your green suit. "Smokin'"!!!!