STLoser

My team limited carbs early on, to make sure I could fit in all my protein. However, carbs were always allowed. I think it was around 60g a day early on. I'm 2 years, almost 4 months post op and I eat carbs now, but I stick to the complex/healthy carbs except the occasional treat like ice cream. Once I hit 2 years they encouraged me to increase my carbs. I get about 100 g of protein a day (I had the SADI-S), and about 150ish of carbs. It is pretty balanced! Sent from my Pixel 5a using BariatricPal mobile app

I definitely prefer being cold to hot ANY day! Now that I'm back to baseline I get hot easily like I always have. I was hoping I'd stay a cold person but it was not to be! Sent from my Pixel 5a using BariatricPal mobile app

I was always a very hot natured person no matter what I weighed, and I had heard people who day they felt cold all the time after wls. I never thought it would happen to me, but it did! For about the first year and a half I was freezing all the all the time! I would have to wear several layers of clothing. I was even sleeping in pj's with a sweatshirt on and socks AND several blankets. It was crazy because I have never been a cold person! I'm over 2 years post op now and I seem to be back to normal for the most part but I do seem to get colder than I used to. I'm not super freezing all the time now though. Sent from my Pixel 5a using BariatricPal mobile app

I had considered wls for about 20 years, but when in was a new RN in the late 90s, it had a pretty high mortality rate. I didn't have any comorbidities then, at 207 pounds, so it just wasn't for me. Fast forward 20 something years later and I was 393 pounds with a bmi of 69.9 (I'm 5'3") and had also recently developed high BP. I had also been diagnosed with severe asthma that was hard to get under control, not to mention how uncomfortable I was and unable to do so many things because of my weight, although I did a surprising amount for someone as big as I was. Anyway, in January 2020 my liver enzymes were the highest they had been after being high for several years and I got an appt. With a liver specialist. Before that I had my gallbladder removed and mentioned that to the surgeon who said he'd biopsy my liver. At my follow up appt., he said my liver looked really bad and that he didn't think I'd make it to 60 years old if I didn't lose weight. I was 48 at the time. He recommended wls. And for the first time, I had a doctor speak to me with compassion, without blaming ME for my weight and he told me how much safee wls is these days and that it would reset my metabolism. It was because of him that I decided that day that I would do it and I ended up having my SADI-S in July of 2020. 200 pounds later I am feeling amazing and like I can do anything. My asthma is so much better that I don't need to see my pulmonologist anymore, I don't have high BP, no longer pre-diabetic, and my liver enzymes are normal. I could go on for days about all the benefits. It was by far the best thing I ever did! Sent from my Pixel 5a using BariatricPal mobile app

I also had a buffalo hump and it was so uncomfortable. I couldn't even bed my head back or lie on my back because of it. It feels so much better now that it's gone! Sent from my Pixel 5a using BariatricPal mobile app

I weighed 393 at my highest. I always wanted to get under 200. I was there as a teenager and young adult, when I weighed around 160. I had hoped to get down to 160 or 170, but knew I'd be happy to get to 199. I got down to 187 in July, and I'm in maintenance now, 2 years and almost 3 months post op. I have gained a few pounds and I'm at 193 right now. I'm very happy at this weight, even though it's not a "normal" weight for my height. I wear a size 12 or 14, and I'm very happy with that! I've decided to make my threshold 195 before I get concerned. I want to stay under 200. Sent from my Pixel 5a using BariatricPal mobile app

Aw man! That's a bummer! Why do they have to ruin a good thing!? Sent from my Pixel 5a using BariatricPal mobile app

I have lost over 200 pounds. WLS was excluded from our insurance when I had it done, so I paid out of pocket, which I had to dip into my 401k to do. As is the case with most people who have lost a lot of weight , I have tons of loose skin. I'm cool with most of it, except my pannus, because it's uncomfortable, out of proportion to my body causing my clothes not to fit right, and I have rashes and always have to use powder. Panniculectomy is normally covered under the insurance we have so I saw a surgeon and was pretty excited at the thought of possibly having this large amount of lower stomach removed. I was prepared to hear that I didn't qualify or whatever.I was prepared to may maybe have to repeal a rejection. I was NOT prepared to hear that it was EXCLUDED from our plan. Now of course, I should have checked myself, but I didn't even think to since often times this surgery is medically necessary. I stupidly assumed it wouldn't be excluded. Stupid me. I am so angry and bummed about this. I feel like I've done all this work just to be left with this bowling ball hanging from my body, and since I wiped out half my 401 it's not like I can pay out of pocket again. I'm not asking for a total body makeover or even for my body to look good (it does not lol). I'm 51 years old and my most attractive days are far behind me. I was never in this for looks. I just wanted to have my life back and feel good and be active and have a chance to live longer. I just want this discomfort removed and I don't think that's too much to ask. I have a skin condition called hydradenitis supparativa that really can't be fixed except by removing the affected area and under my stomach is where it's the worst. I'm tired of living with this awful skin condition. I've had it for like 30 years now, but it became much worse as my pannus grew. I'm scared to death I'll gain all my weight back and I know people who do skin removal have a better chance of not gaining it back. I'm just so frustrated and angry and probably rambling about this but I had to vent. I'm feeling sorry for my self too and thinking how unfair things are which I know, as my mother always told me, life is not fair. But that doesn't mean I should have to be ok with that! Anyway. Thanks for letting me vent. My husband, always the optimist, did make me feel somewhat better but I knew people here would also understand. Sent from my Pixel 5a using BariatricPal mobile app

I was pretty much alone even though my husband works from home. I was fine without help once I got home from the hospital. I actually was fine in the hospital too, I just had a lot of nausea and stayed several days, but I never needed help getting around or anything, even right after the surgery. I was able to drive to my follow up appt. A week later with no problem, and it's almost an hour drive. I think you should be just fine without anyone around as long as you follow your post op instructions. You may not have support there, but you can come to this site for tons of it. The people here are nothing but awesome and helpful! Good luck to you! Sent from my Pixel 5a using BariatricPal mobile app

Thank you so much! [emoji4] Sent from my Pixel 5a using BariatricPal mobile app

Thank you for all the information. I'm definitely gonna have to try it out now! Sent from my Pixel 5a using BariatricPal mobile app

Thank you for coming back here and sharing your experience. You are doing awesome at getting the weight back off. I just got into maintenance and I'm scared of gaining my weight back. Your post gave me hope that if I do I can lose it again. Congratulations on losing 51 pounds!! Sent from my Pixel 5a using BariatricPal mobile app

Ohhhh I didn't no Eloqui had this. I have always wanted to try their clothes!! Sent from my Pixel 5a using BariatricPal mobile app

I should clarify that I have had other infections in this area that my Dr. Has treated. Sent from my Pixel 5a using BariatricPal mobile app

Thank you everyone. I don't know what I'd do without this board and everyone's support! I really appreciate all of your comments and suggestions. I haven't seen a specialist for this in years because nothing ever really seemed to help it, so I just kind of learned to live with it. Maybe it's time to go back so I at least have that record. I have had other infections that my pcp has treated so there is a record of that. As far as insurance, right now there is not option other than my husband's. I'm holding out hope they'll change it. In 2020 when I had my wls it was excluded, but my husband just had his wls done in May and they cover it now. So I won't give up. I know in time I could pay out of pocket if I have to, but since I'm not getting any younger I'd like to do it asap. But now that it's later in the day I've had time to think and put things in perspective and I do believe everything happens for a reason. It's just not meant to happen at this moment, and I'll be OK. Regardless, my life is infinitely better than it was 2 years ago, and even the hydradenitis is better than back then. Sent from my Pixel 5a using BariatricPal mobile app

I had my yearly pulmonologist appt. the other day. I've been seeing him for about 10 years, since I got diagnosed with asthma. I had suspected I had it for a long time before that, but when I got up to almost 400 pounds it got a lot worse. That year I was sick 10 months out of the year. It was awful. Well, at this appointment the other day he said my lung function is better than normal for a woman my age (51). Like, WAY better than normal, and he doesn't need to see me anymore unless I have a problem. He also took me off my controlling inhaler with the long acting brochodilator in it and put me on a regular one that is just a steroid. I had originally had to go on the one with the brochodilator because we couldn't get my asthma under control with just a steroid. Actually, I love this doctor and he's the best doctor I've ever had so I will miss him, but I'm so happy. I NEVER knew the impact my weight was having on my ashtma until I lost the weight. I just can't believe how much better I feel. I can't believe after struggling to get it under control for a long time, now it's like I don't even have asthma. It's amazing! Sent from my Pixel 5a using BariatricPal mobile app

I did not have a RNY. I had the SADI-S, but I just got to maintenance in July. So far I'm up to about 1600 calories and was maintaining although last week I had a 2 pound gain. I'm not sure if it's from too many calories or water weight because I increased my exercise a lot. I guess we will see how it goes. I am 51 so I may need less since I'm close to menopause. Sent from my Pixel 5a using BariatricPal mobile app

I considered wls for many, many years, but never seriously. When I was a new RN in 1997, it was fairly new and I saw people die from it, so I was always scared of it. I also never had insurance that concerned it, so I knew I'd have to pay out of pocket, and I was overall healthy, so I figured I could do it on my own. I had my son in 2010, and that's when I really started to gain a lot of weight. I had done WW before I got pregnant and had lost 45. I was down to 263. After he was born, the weight started piling on. I was sick all the time and got diagnosed with asthma. I was in pain all the time. My liver enzymes increased slowly year by year, until 2020 when my doctor decided I needed to see a liver specialist. That same January, I had my gallbladder removed and that surgeon offered to biopsy my liver and it showed Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis, with hepatic fibrosis. As a nurse I had seen people die of liver failure and it is awful. This scared me to death. That surgeon recommended wls, and he was one of the only doctors who had ever acted compassionate and non-judgmental about my weight. He told me I had very little chance of losing it and keeping it off on my own. I took his advice and made an appt. That day with a bariatric surgeon. I saw him in March and he recommend gastric bypass. I started getting the required testing and had just had my EGD when the hospital decided to let a bunch of staff go due to COVID. That surgeon was one of them. I decided to go to a different hospital and surgeon and this one recommended Loop DS. I had not heard of it, but he said I was a perfect candidate with a BMI of 69.9 and since I was paying for it myself, as it was a newer procedure that insurance didn't usually cover. I researched it and decided to go with it. My high weight was 393 pounds. I am 5'3". I was 368.8 on the day of my surgery, July 23, 2020. As of today I am 226.4. I never thought I'd be even close to this weight again. I am hoping to lose at least 200 pounds total. I am getting close. I was close to borderline diabetic, had just been diagnosed with hypertension, and had liver disease. I could barely get around or keep up with my active 10 year old son. My hypertension is gone, my blood glucose is normal, and my liver enzymes are now normal, so I have reversed my fatty liver disease. I turn 50 on August 2nd and this will be the best birthday ever! I am so happy I had this surgery! I can't get my befores to post right now but I'll put them here once I do. Here is me today. Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

I was in Costco the other day. I don't know if this counts as a NSV but it was interesting to me. They had protein powder on sale and I was looking at it and it was a different version of my usual brand (Orgain) but way cheaper and I said "I wonder how this one tastes" to my husband. Another lady told me they had samples and we got to talking and I said I usually use this brand but a different version and then she was asking me questions about it and I was giving her advice on where I get the other version, how I use it, etc. I just think it's funny that someone would talk to me about nutrition without batting an eye, not knowing that I ever weighed almost 400 pounds. It feels good but at the same time weird, because I actually was just as into health and nutrition then, I just never could eat small enough portions. I could have given the same advice 2 years ago, but no one would have asked me or believed I could know anything. Now, I look the part. I'm glad people aren't able to look at me and assume all the bad things they probably did before I lost weight, but it's sad too. I'm the same person. Sent from my Pixel 5a using BariatricPal mobile app

For the first year and a half I weighed every morning. My weight slowed down after that and for the last 6 months I've weighed once a week. I just started maintenance a month ago. I weigh in my underwear and pj top after I pee first thing in the morning. I like having a little clothing on so I don't weigh completely differently when I do weigh at the doctor's office. That kind of thing can mess with my head sometimes. Sent from my Pixel 5a using BariatricPal mobile app

This is so well said! Sent from my Pixel 5a using BariatricPal mobile app

That's so wonderful!! I catch myself even now worrying about weight limits on things even though I have no reason to worry anymore! It's so much fun being able to do things like this with your kids! Sent from my Pixel 5a using BariatricPal mobile app

*say Sent from my Pixel 5a using BariatricPal mobile app

I wish my hunger never came back but it did! I have to day that it's is WAY more manageable than it ever was before surgery. I get small hunger pangs, NOTHING like the raging "hangriness" I used to have. I get hungry now but it's just like "oh, I need to eat" but I don't feel like I'll go crazy if I don't get food like I used to. It still amazes me that if I am busy I just forget to eat now. That NEVER happened to me before. Sent from my Pixel 5a using BariatricPal mobile app

And definitely, call your doctor! Sent from my Pixel 5a using BariatricPal mobile app