CristinHope

Let me start by saying this: There is no "right" or "wrong" choice to deciding whether or not to disclose WLS. That being said, I have been very open about having WLS, both with close family and friends and total strangers. “Isn’t that private or too personal?” Yes, it’s a very personal decision that should be made only after careful consideration. It is not the right choice for everyone. But was my weight problem private? Absolutely not! Though I could conceal the actual number on the scale, I’ve worn my weight problem every single day of my life, out in the open for all to see. My family and friends have seen me battle obesity since childhood. I joke that I learned basic mathematics by counting calories and Weight Watcher points. I have struggled and fought with my weight in front of anyone I’ve ever met, both those close to me and strangers I'd pass on the street. That’s the thing about being overweight....no matter how you dress it, there’s nothing private about it. “Aren’t you worried about what people will think?” Yes, and that’s exactly why I decided to be open and honest. There is such a stigma about weight loss surgery, whether we want to acknowledge it or not. It’s something that causes people to judge you, possibly even ridicule or scold you, and offer completely unsolicited opinions. You’re made to feel as though you should be ashamed or embarrassed for even considering it. I struggled for over two years with whether or not I should have weight loss surgery. I was afraid if I voiced it, it meant admitting I was a failure, because that’s what society tells us. Society says surgery is “the easy way out” and “you should just diet”. I will never understand why we discourage people who are trying to improve? Like anyone considering surgery hasn’t tried every diet known to man? Ask me about the Cabbage Soup Diet! It was the worst! Let me tell you, there is nothing “easy” about having 85% of your stomach removed! Surgery doesn’t magically change what foods I choose to eat. I still have to make a conscious decision every single time I’m hungry. I still have to choose foods that will help me versus harm me. Surgery didn't prevent me from eating garbage. Weight loss surgery is just a tool. It’s all about how you use it. Deciding to have weight loss surgery was one of the SCARIEST things I have ever done in my life and I am PROUD to tell everyone. If I can help just one person, it is all worth it! I have had multiple people come to me who were considering surgery but had no one to talk to or ask questions to. It's one thing to hear about surgery from a doctor or a website. It's completely different when you know someone who has gone through it. That's what makes it worth it for me, being able to help someone else. I will not feel ashamed for making this decision and I will continue to be as transparent as possible. I refuse to feed the stigma. If someone thinks I took an "easy" route, I take time to educate them. I honestly think most negative thoughts about WLS come from either a lack of knowledge or are the result of someone's own insecurities about their weight. The only way to change it is to talk about it! Most people have NO CLUE what WLS actually involves. And most aren't jerks, they're just genuinely clueless. All of that being said, I do not judge anyone who chooses to not disclose or lie about their surgery. Everyone makes their own decisions for their own reasons. This is simply why I made the decision I made.

So I am 4 months post-op and I still have to be proactive about this. I NEVER had this issue pre-surgery but I have accepted it as my new norm, which is fine now that I know how to manage it. I take Miralax every other day to keep me regulated. I don't have any issues with it upsetting my stomach or causing pain or diarrhea and it's safe to use as often as needed, unlike stimulant laxatives. I also take stool softeners regularly. You'll have to work to find the balance for how often you need to take something to get the right balance and not end up with the OTHER issue! Unfortunately, once you're really bad off, there's not much you can do other than what others have suggested with glycerin suppositories and/or enemas. LOTS of folks end up with impaction and/or obstruction. Make an effort to stay on top of it proactively to avoid the horrible consequences. Surgery was still totally worth it!

Hi Fellow November Sleevers! I hope you are all doing well on your journey and are starting to enjoy some of the super fun non-scale victories there are with losing weight!! I had my favorite #nsv yet this weekend when I finally felt confident enough to jump on the back of my boyfriend's motorcycle! I have always been far too self-conscious to do so, thinking I'd look like Miss Piggy on the back of that bike! But I am starting to feel great about myself and decided to push past my fear and just go for it!! It was THE MOST FUN! I hope you all are discovering new things and enjoying life in new ways too!!!

THIS!! YES!! I started at 330 in June 2018. I was 283 when I had VSG on 11/6/18 and I'm 235 now, exactly 4 months post-op. I'm 5lbs away from being down 100lbs since June 2018. So start NOW, lose as much as possible beforehand. Everyone loses at a different rate afterwards.

I was sleeved 11/6. While I had more pain initially than I had expected, it was very well managed and I was walking within an hour of being out of surgery. After the first few days, it's been nothing but smooth sailing for me (knock on wood!!). I've had zero complications other than constant constipation (which was NOT an issue pre-surgery) but I take Miralax proactively now and it's managed. I've had no food intolerances or reflux or anything. Never got nauseous or threw up. It's all been great for me! Best of luck!

Since immediately after surgery (11/6), I am cold all the time. Constantly freezing! Pre-op, I was someone who ran extremely hot and I would sweat so much, I thought I had some kind of glandular disorder. Now, I BARELY glisten with exercise! While being cold all the time is a weird feeling, I'll take it any day over constantly sweating inappropriately!

You look great!!! Congrats on your progress!! I am going to that Mouse's house next week (for the first time EVER, I might add) and I cannot tell you how thrilled I am not to have that dread of "will I fit" hanging over my head! Or the "Am I gonna be in a middle seat on the flight?"And, I'm actually EXCITED about all the steps I'm going to get in too! Life is already so much more enjoyable.

I had my 12 week post-op appointment this morning with my surgeon.. I'm down 40lbs since surgery and 80lbs since May (when I started the insurance-required medically-supervised diet)!! I know I'm losing a bit slower than some but he was very happy with my progress and so am I! It's not a race and I just have to remember that! Hope everyone else is still doing great!

I drink Miralax every other day, presently. Since surgery Nov. 6th, I've had constant constipation problems, something I never had beforehand. I always get all my water in too so that's not the issue. I drank Smooth Move tea ONE time and had such a horrible experience from it, I've never touched it again. For me, Miralax does the trick with no cramping, bloating, or unpleasant side effects. I still don't regret this decision, at all! Totally worth it and the Miralax makes it completely manageable.

Don't let it get in your head! I've been losing slower than a lot of people too. I've had as long as 16 days go by before the scale budged. I'm eating right (as confirmed by my nutritionist), I track everything I eat and drink, and I'm exercising. We all lose weight at different paces. I encourage you to take pictures. What I've found is that because I see myself every single day, I don't notice any changes. But when I look at pictures, I can't deny the changes. You say you're wearing the same clothes but do they fit differently? Maybe looser in some areas than before? I KNOW what a mental curveball it can be to be doing the right thing and not seeing the results you want. BUT what I will tell you is that consistency works. Just keep doing what you're supposed to do, no matter what you're seeing on the scale. I recommend only weighing once a week. That is what my PCP told me when I expressed frustration during one of my long stalls. It has helped me tremendously. Now, having said all of that, I would just confirm that you're doing what you should be (meeting protein, calorie, water goals, etc.), if you haven't already done that. But it's entirely possible to be doing all of that and still get stuck. But it WILL start moving again if you keep it up.

Like many others have said, my surgeon doesn't offer the band anymore, for the same reasons already stated. I was sleeved 11/6/18 and, also echoing the others again, only wish I had done it sooner! I'm losing slower than some people, I'm down 30lbs since surgery, 58lbs since starting pre-op diet, and 76lbs from highest weight. I am okay with slow and consistent, every body loses differently. But I FEEL great, I've had zero complications. I have no regrets at all about getting sleeved.

As the others have already said, fluids become very easy for some people early on, it's nothing to worry about. I was the same way and I didn't really notice restriction until I hit my soft food phase. And even that is nothing compared to when my restrictions ended and I started eating "normal" food! Be thankful you're having such a smooth recovery and don't struggle with the fluids like some people do. Every body is different and heals differently. Some just have an easier time with it. Count yourself as lucky!

I understand! I was getting REALLY frustrated with it and I talked to my primary care physician and she told me to quit stressing. She told me to stop weighing every day and go to once a week, twice at most. She reminded me that sometimes we're losing inches when the scale is stuck. For me, I just finally decided I wasn't going to let this get the best of me. I didn't get fat overnight and to think I'd get healthy again overnight was just crazy. Consistently eating right and exercising is what's going to work, no matter how fast or slow. I've finally gotten okay with that!

Congrats!! I'm a slow loser, compared to a lot of people's post-op losses. BUT, like you, I started losing weigh earlier this year and had lost a lot before surgery. I'm slowly moving in the right direction and I've decided I'm okay with that! I was getting frustrated at first because I wasn't losing as fast as I thought I should. But I've come to accept that there are a lot of reasons why losing slowly isn't so bad!