STLoser

I did change surgeons because my original one was fired because they let a bunch of people go because of COVID.. At that point I was finished with all my testing except preop labs and ekg.. I ended up going to a surgeon at a completely different Healthcare system, and he accepted all the testing I had already done. Now I was self pay, so I don't know if insurance would give you any trouble if you switch. Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

I was also self pay, but they did do a nicotine test before surgery. I quit smoking 22 years ago though. Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

I have asthma too, and I was only diagnosed around 2014, which is when I first reached my highest weight. I can't believe the difference in my asthma since I've lost 148. It's like I don't even have it now. I haven't had to use my rescue inhaler in so long I can't remember. Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

Also, the liver biopsy showed I had NASH and hepatic fibrosis. This scared me to death. The number one cause of a cirrhosis now is fatty liver/obesity, not alcoholism. Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

I had just been out on Lisinopril a couple months before my surgery. I'm an RN also, so that really scared me. My BP was normal again a couple months after surgery. Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

I had been considering surgery for years.. At 5'3" and 393 pounds I was super morbidly obese and knew it. Overall, I was still pretty healthy though, and our insurance doesn't cover wls, so I didn't seriously consider it. Then, my liver enzymes started to elevate, and got higher each year I had them done. So I was scheduled to see a liver specialist in February 2020. In January 2020 I had my gallbladder removed and mentioned that I'd be seeing a liver specialist to the surgeon. He said while he was in there he'd biopsy my liver. When I went for follow up he said my liver looked really bad and he didn't see me living past 60 if I didn't lose weight. I'm 49 and was 48 then. He recommended surgery. He was very concerned and compassionate and just the way he said it really impacted me. So I made an appointment to see a bariatric surgeon that day. I had to pay out of pocket for the surgery, but it was worth every penny. My liver enzymes were close to normal last time I had them done. Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

[emoji38] That is so funny! Just today I was thinking I wish they could take some fat and loose skin off my fingers. My ring size has gone from a 10 to a 7.5, but I've always had this fat pad right below my knuckle, so it's hard to get a ring over that spot, because it's bigger than the spot where my rings sit, if that makes any sense. I need finger loose skin removal! [emoji23] Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

Wow. Your stomach looks like a 20 year old! Fantastic! Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

Well. I got my wls at 48, right before I turned 49 last year. I'll be 50 in August, and you can darn well bet I'll get plastic surgery if I feel I need it. I've lost almost 150 and would like to lose another 60, so I am definitely doing to have a very saggy stomach and my legs are bad already. I'm not as worried about how I look as how I feel and if that skin is in the way I will get surgery. As for age, I feel very young. People don't usually think I'm close to 50, although I think I look older now that I've lost so much weight, but I don't care. Age is just a number and I feel very young at heart. 38 is certainly not old. I got pregnant at 38 and had my son when I turned 39! You're just getting started! Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

I originally used MFP, but because of their data breaches, I switched to Baritastic, and it's great. I did like that MFP had more foods listed, but it's not that big a deal. I hate tracking my food, it's a chore, but I've done it consistently for 10 months with Baritastic. It's just part of my routine now. Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

I went through a lot of those same feelings. I was especially sad about not being able to drink sparkling water, and have water with my meals because I've always been a huge water drinker. Having to eat so much protein was hard at first, because I have a goal of being a vegetarian at some point in my life, but I did this so I would have a chance to live a healthy life, and I was willing to do anything. I still miss being able to eat all the veggies I used to, because I'm a huge veggie lover, but I can eat more than I did.at first now. I'm still in the weight loss phase, but I do have a treat once in a while, and for the most part I'm still enjoying the foods I loved before. I've tolerated pretty much everything I've eaten so that helps. I just make sure to get my protein first always and if I have room I enjoy the other stuff. I have definitely had to give up some things, but I have gained SO much more. Every aspect of my life is better now that I've lost almost 150. I don't spend time thinking of food much anymore, so I really don't miss eating like I used to. Sometimes it will hit me, like last night we went out for sushi at a place that has all you can eat sushi. Well, all I can eat is about 4 pieces now, so I just have to order off the menu instead of all you can eat. I miss being able to try all the different kinds, but I fill up so fast that I don't really care once I'm full. It is definitely a lot of change, but I'm so happy I did it. For me, the feeling of getting full is the best thing in the world. I never really felt satisfied when I ate before, no matter how much I ate. I know I'm getting long winded here, but I'm just trying to say that it has all been worth it. There is a mourning period, but it was brief for me, and I'm not sorry about any of the changes I've had to make. It's so worth it for the way I feel and the life I'm living now. Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

Ha ha ha you made me laugh about leg thing. Stuff like that is crazy isn't it? I had a a huge hump on my upper back right below my neck and I could not lay on my back at all before. If u tried, my head would not touch the floor. Don't even get me started on the boobs or butt! [emoji23] It is so amazing being able to lay on my back now. Also, sitting in chairs, besides fitting into them, is just more comfortable how that my but isn't pushing me forward as much. I love this thread. It's awesome reading about everyone's NSV's! Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

Excuse the errors in my post.. I have no idea how to edit on the mobile app. Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

I'm an nurse. When I was a new nurse in the late 90s, wls was still fairly new, and I saw people with pretty bad complications and even death. I am also a pretty big worrier and tend to overthink everything. I considered wls for many years but it was never something I thought I would do. I was just too worried about complications. I've never had insurance covered it either and didn't want to pay out of pocket for it. It all changed when I got my gallbladder out in January 2020 and had liver biopsy at the same time. I was diagnosed with NASH and hepatic fibrosis and he recommended wls. He told me it was safer now than having your gallbladder removed, so I researched some more and made the decision to do it. I was still be very scared of complications, but I was also 48 at the time with a 9 year old son I wanted to see grow up. So I had my Loop DS in July 2020 and it was definitely the best decision ever. I knew realistically my chance of complications was low, and I had none. I'm almost 10 months out already and down to 244 from 393 and I am so glad I did it. Any surgery has risks. I had to decide if the benefits of the surgery outweighed the risks for me, and they most certainly did. I knew if I stayed at that weight I didn't have a chance of living much longer anyway so I was willing to take the chance and do it. I feel great! Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

Totally agree. I refuse to eat those baby carrots! Full size carrots taste so much better! Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

Last time I weighed this (244) was when I met my husband in 2004. I wore a size 20 then and a 2x, and my ring size was about an 8.5 I'm finding myself fitting into 18s and 1x now and it's so confusing and my ring size is 7.5. I know there is vanity sizing with clothes so maybe they're just making them bigger, but the ring size makes no sense! Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

Your surgery is on my one year surgery anniversary! I only have one child, a 10 year old son, and he has been amazing and not really phased at all by the whole process of me getting surgery and all the changes I've made. Considering it's been the year of COVID, virtual school, etc, I think he has dealt with it very well and he really is my biggest supporter. I talked to him a lot about it beforehand and prepared him for the changes. I think kids are actually pretty good at handlinh stuff like this as long as you prepare them. I know my son is happy to have a mom who can do so much more with him now! Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

Beautiful! Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

I tried the blueberry and apple cinnamon and liked them both, especially the blueberry. Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

I can't gulp as much as I used to.. Before I could drink a lot of water really fast, but I can gulp about a cup at a time which is way more than I expected, so that is a pleasant surprise. The biggest thing I miss is drinking and eating at the same time because I used to drink a ton with my meals, but I've adjusted to it. Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

I had the Mirena IUD for 5 years and it was great for the most part. I had no periods! I suffer from migraines though, and I felt like it was making them worse, so when it was time I had it taken out and my husband got a vasectomy. I'd still recommend Mirena though. It was great! Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

I don't know that many people, but I everyone I do know knows I had the surgery. I've been open about it because I'm an open book and also not a good liar, so if people asked how I lost weight I wouldn't be able to keep it to myself. I am also very outspoken and some (OK, most lol) would say argumentative, so I don't mind setting someone straight if they have something negative to say about me getting surgery. I have been lucky that the people in my life have been very positive and supportive. All that being said, this is my own personal choice to be open about it. We're all different and some people are way more private than me, and it is their right to keep this information to themselves. I wish we lived in a society where we could all be open if she chose to and not be judged, but we don't. I do hope that me being open will educate some people, but I also know you can't really change anyone's mind. People are going to think what they want about the surgery. I personally don't care what they think of me, but not everyone wants to deal with people's judgment and I completely understand that. It really is rude to ask people about their body anyway. My husband deals with this all the time because he is 6'10" and just about every time we're out someone asks how tall he is, if he plays basketball, his shoe size, how much he weighs, etc. Everyone can plainly see my husband is very tall, but it's still no one's business to ask him about it. Sometimes he answers them and sometimes he doesn't, but it's his choice to respond. He is not obligated to tell anyone this information. Anyway, I'm ranting here, but telling someone or not is everyone's personal choice, and it's is medical information which they absolutely have the right to keep to themselves if they choose to. Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

This is sort of weird, but today I had an appointment with the surgeon who started me on this whole path. Years ago I went to him for an umbilical hernia, but it was small and not painful, so nothing needed to be done. Last year in January, I went back to him to have my gallbladder removed and mentioned that I had been having elevated liver enzymes for a while and would be seeing a specialist. He biopsied my liver when he took out the gallbladder. At my follow up, he said my liver was really bad (NASH, hepatic fibrosis), and recommended wls. He told me he couldn't see me living past 60 if I stayed that way, at 393 pounds. So I took his advice and had my Loop DS in July. Last week I had severe stomach pain and nausea and dry heaves, and would have vomited if my stomach wasn't empty at the time and I almost fainted, but was able to lay down in time to stop that. I've fainted before so I knew what was coming and was able to avoid it. The pain in my stomach was severe and then I noticed the hernia was big and sticking out and I couldn't push it back in and realized it might be the source of the pain. Anyway, I saw the surgeon today and he said the hernia was originally fat, but since I've lost so much weight,(148 so far), it is now intestine and the pain was because intestine got caught in the hole, and later when I laid down the intestines fell back through the hole and the pain got better. Anyway, sorry this is long, but now I have to get this hernia repaired, but I got to show off my weight loss to that surgeon that recommended it, and he was so happy for me. It was a great feeling! He is the trauma surgeon in the ER where my best friend works, and he saw her after my appointment and told her he didn't even recognize me! It's just a wonderful feeling! Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

That should have said high weight was 393. Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

My bmi was 69.9 prior to surgery.. I lost 25 pounds before. About 13 of that was on the 2 week preop diet. I had surgery in July. I was 368 the day of surgery (he was 393), and as of today I'm 245 with a bmi of 43. Being short sucks lol. I am still losing weight. I probably will never get to a normal bmi, but I would like to get to about 165 pounds which puts me in the overweight, not obese category for my height. Even at my weight now, I feel incredible and like a whole new person. Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app