Everything

Thank you Joan! I decided to go for it last week! I had a great job and an awesome company car (brand new Dodge Durango). However, I really couldn’t adequately do the job because of my pain (lots of lifting - I sold tile!). So I used some money I inherited on the down payment for the car (as well as on this surgery). My mom died suddenly and cancer last year. Makes you realize life is very short. I am excited about all of the new changes in my life. Welcome to the forum.

Yes, yall I STARTED at 30 BMI, paid $10,000 out of pocket, and barely got qualified. I may have only had a 30 BMI, but here is a pre-op pic for comparison. I’m only 5 feet tall so every pound felt and looked like 2. I have horrific back problems that control my life. Plan was to get the weight off, then get these HUGE boobs off to help my back. I’m going in for another Epidural this morning. I quit my job on Friday because of my back.... I’m going to be self employed now, at least for a while. I deal with a lot of pain - every day. The weight loss hasn’t hurt, but hasn’t helped my back pain either. However it HAS majorly helped my self esteem!

Can’t win for “losing”, right?!?

OK, admittedly… I LOLed about the “man girdle” . But how worth it! I just can’t get over your transformation! Amazing -amazing - amazing !!!!!

Yes- yes- YES!!!!!!!! You look amazing!!!!!!

I bought a car yesterday. Immediately afterwards I had my daughter take a picture of me by the car. Talk about someone not recognizing you... I Almost didn’t recognize myself in the picture! Whose legs are those? They look like sticks! OK so my face looks really weird on one side (hopefully just in this photo) but other than that I look like a different human being. We all say we don’t want to brag. I don’t think us talking about our weight loss successes constitutes as bragging at all! We have all busted our asses to go through the surgery and maintain a healthy eating plan. We earned those bragging rights!

OMG!!!! I haven’t read through all the rest of the recent posts so maybe there’s an update but please let us know what’s going on! I am so sorry

I am 5 feet tall and low BMI. I have chronic back pain and need a breast reduction. (but hey -That’s between you and I. Oh, And my doctor). When I was admitted into the hospital on Wednesday, the nurse started conversing with me. First she had me weigh on a scale and I was surprised to have lost 9 pounds on the pre-op diet. I made a remark about how much weight I had lost. That really opened up the gates. She asked me if I was sure I wanted to do the surgery (As I was standing there in a yellow backless hospital gown. AND $10,000 poorer than I was a month ago). Then she went on to say that if I could lose 10 pounds that easily maybe I should reconsider. Just wondering how you would have responded to this situation. It caught me off guard and I eventually starting disclosing all the health issues I had and reasons I was doing it. I should NOT feel Iike should need to do that (I didn’t need her validation) and I don’t know why I did. Did I just become a victim of “low BMI discrimination”? Sounds silly but maybe it’s a thing?!? Am I not entitled to have a surgical procedure that my doctor and I have decided would be the best thing to improve my overall health? I expected questions from friends and family (though they were actually all supportive) but not a professional. Has this ever happened to anyone? What would you have done? Any good comebacks?

Just realized I am finally in the 40 pound weight loss club by that .2 pounds

Hmmm... Can’t remember who said it earlier but I am mildly concerned about my weight loss. I have not been this thin in a decade and even then it was sort of a one off deal. I guess I’m just not used to seeing myself like this because now I’m under 120 pounds. Hopefully this will cut off at some point... originally said I wanted to weigh 100 pounds but frankly I would be cool right where I’m at. I guess I’m just adjusting to my new body?? 119.8 this morning.

If you ever cheat, just see this and know it could be worse. This actually looks disgusting to me!

And soon to be a late lunch- a lobster tail! I am craving all kinds of fish and seafood. I must have some vitamin shortage going on

Tunafish for breakfast? Sounds kind of gross. But I made a large container of tuna salad yesterday with apples, celery, and red onion. It’s been nice having that to reach for when I need a little snack. And no I did not eat as much as I’m sure you know. Maybe about half.

Some days I just feel like crap. Yesterday was one of those days. I am still getting used to my sleeve, my back was on fire yesterday, and I get cramps periodically. I have been so busy I have not had time to go to the doctor but that will be one of my next goals. I have a mass in my abdomen that they have determined is a granular from my C-sections. It hurts like hell sometimes! Some days all three of my problems are firing off at once and that was yesterday. And if I try to take pain meds for my back they make me sick to my stomach. Oh the joys! I feel so much better today though.

Please bear in mind I’m only 5 feet tall!

Same. I’m 42. I’m On the younger side but I’m definitely having the symptoms

Downside of Riverside surgical is that they are not set up for long-distance patients. I talked to surgeons all over the country when I was doing my research. Including Jacksonville. I originally went to Dr. Baptista. $16,000 no thank you. Anyway Riverside surgical is not advanced enough to have a local doctor run your tests and follow ups. This is been a problem for me. It is a six hour round-trip drive as you know so I’ve had difficulty getting down there.

You are coming from Jacksonville so Sebastian is much closer than Miami/South Florida.

SchillingFord requires a 32 BMI and performs at a bariatric center of excellence. I was 30 so he was out. Dr. Wiseman missed two consultations with me and then called me from his personal cell phone in his car which pissed me off so he was out. I finally ended up at Riverside surgical center. There are two doctors they are in their prices are very reasonable. I went with radecke. P.m. me if you have questions

I live here (Ponte vedra) but was sleeved OOT

I went back and looked at my records and did a little math. I am losing 1.12 pounds a week. Slow and steady wins the race. I was at 121 this morning. I am thrilled with these results!!!

AZ- I am so sorry to hear about your struggles. I’m glad you are getting rehydrated and back to normal now. That sounds very unpleasant! I had your same concern just recently. Number one on your list. I was able to eat a whole taco the other day and it really freaked me out. However that was apparently a one off because I’m back to barely eating again. It was so weird. You may or may not hit your goal but it sounds like you were already much much thinner if you were noticing bones! While I like my face being thinner I am definitely looking older. I have even considered a facelift or brow lift. I am only in my early 40s so that seems a little extreme. We’ll have to see how things progress if I lose more weight. I’m Sure you look fantastic!

I’m at a hotel for business travel. Everything is so big and so expensive on the menu so I went with the kids breakfast. The portion is still enormous! Here is my before and after. How did I do? I guess I shouldn’t be worried about my capacity. If this is what a normal person could eat I am nowhere near this.

You will get there. You are probably the most dedicated person on here! Even if you don’t you look amazing right now. I’m kind of at that point myself. I’m 20 pounds away from where I originally set my goal weight but I think I look awesome. If I didn’t lose another pound I would be happy with where I am right now. You look the same. If I was meeting you for the first time I would never have pegged you as someone that struggled with weight. You look fit and healthy.

You are so skinny!!