New Me, New Mind

Congratulations!!! 113lbs is amazing and I bet u feel it too!!![emoji122][emoji847] Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

hey hey! Sorry I missed you! I don't get on the computer often to check this site and for some reason I do not get notifications on my app of people responding to me. I am officially 175.8 lbs today and it is day 168 since surgery:) I see you still have not had surgery yet. I just wanted to encourage you. The fears of loose skin, complications, failing to reach goal, and wondering if bariatric is best for you are all very common emotions and concerns preop. There are truly no words though to explain how amazing this journey of self love is! I am not only losing physical weight at an incredible pace but I swear I am being healed from emotional baggage that has weighed me down for years at that same incredible rate as well. There's no way to fathom exactly what I am talking about until you experience it, but I hope you give yourself this opportunity because you deserve it! No more back pain, no more hip pain, no more sweating profusely, no more FUPA stickin out like an awning over my vag, no more getting creative about how the hell I'm gonna reach my hand to my butthole to wipe... LOLOL...seriously, I could go on but I may be a little too transparent for some folks lol. I have been the happiest that I have ever been in my life since surgery though so please update us when you have it and I hope to see the update at that time! I am cheering for you and am excited for you to experience this journey!

Oh and i had gastric sleeve btw..im on mobile so i cant tell which group u posted this in. Regardless of which surgery option u go with, I say it's worth every "negative" ur afraid of right now. Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

I am 5'6 and weighed 252lbs at my highest(1 week before surgery) and 242lbs on day of surgery (7.27.20). You won't regret surgery. Since i have always carried my weight well and had thick thighs and a booty, I wondered if surgery was really the way to go for me too. I knew i was unhappy and overwhelmed by my weight gain but I was afraid of lose skin too. I have lost 60lbs in total and 50lbs since surgery a little over 3 months ago. I am 192 today and feel amazing. I am a bit concerned about lose skin on my arms but I'll take it with how confident I feel now. I feel more confident today at 192 then i did at 145 before i had kids! Lol. It makes no sense but I've had a complete mind shift with this surgery lol. Best of luck to u! Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

So, I wish I could help, but instead I'm just gonna take in the advice from others on this one. My comment from 9/4/20 looks as though I had it all together, and I thought I did. lol. Now, oct 22nd, I can't stand my isopure flavorless powder or the body armor lyte drinks anymore. I quit them a few weeks ago and haven't replaced em. I'm not eating according to that schedule in my previous comment anymore either. I'm def not eating enough. I only eat one small meal (like one small homemade chicken taco) every evening now and am also having trouble getting my water in. I caught Covid for the second time on 9/24/20 (1st time was 6.21.20) and everything went to **** this time. I started snacking off my kids' plates while we were all quarantined and let myself get way off track. Now the only goal I'm hitting is my vitamin goal and even that is debatable. SMH. I use vitamin patches and am consistent with using them, but I won't know if I'm one of the lucky ones they work for or not til later. I had just started doing squats, lunges, light weights and walking at the park right before covid too and then quit because I felt so crappy. I at least started my activity routine again this week and am telling myself I need to formulate a plan to get back on track....I gotta do better. Looking forward to seeing what ppl have to recommend.

I did that too shortly after surgery!! I don't remember how far out I was or what it even was that I ate, but I was doing my "chew and spit" thing and by habit I swallowed it. I was scared for just a second and then I was like " well...I seem to be okay. It isn't hurting or anything...let's just not do that again". Lol.

I did that and it helped me through the liquid and pureed stage. I did it very infrequently though because I wanted to embrace early post op and not get used to the flavorful unhealthy foods again.Those liquid and pureed stages were rough for me, as I still cooked meals for my family, so I get it. I say as long as you're careful about it not slipping into the back of your throat and u don't do it very often, do what u need to do to get through. The stages feel like forever when you're in em but time passes and ull be just fine! Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

Oops I'm sorry u guys! I didn't realize this was the guy's room. I won't post in here again. Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

Aw i understand. I went through all the emotions but possibly had diff concerns. It was an emotional rollercoaster preop. I thought I had insurance coverage for bariatric but was afraid the surgeon wouldn't agree that I needed it so I was scared and felt hopeless with my "new life" sitting in the hands of a stranger while he determined whether I could get this desperately needed new beginning. He quickly agreed and I was on top of the world until I called insurance 10mins later to see what kind of diet plan they required and was informed that bariatric was excluded from my plan. It crushed me because I didn't think my husband would agree to take out a loan to pay for it, as he's the sole provider for a family of 5 while I'm in college still. I pled my case, bawling my eyes out to my husband explaining how badly I wanted this, how I didn't want my children to have to shave my body hair and bathe me like I had to do for my mother because of her weight when I was a child, and I explained how ashamed I was for following in her footsteps and secretly judging her so critically when I was her caregiver. I felt the only way I could escape that shame and lose this excess weight would be to get a second chance through weightloss surgery because I had allowed it to go too far. Well he was very understanding and agreed we could take out the loan. I did all my preop classes, appts, and diet while still being on an emotional rollercoaster.. receiving good news about the process one day and a set back the next day... worrying the entire time whether I was choosing the correct surgery and obsessing over it literally all day everyday bc I didnt want to fail at my "one shot to get this right", having anxiety at every doc appt, not knowing how to finally make myself quit smoking after 16 years and being terrified they wouldnt give me the surgery if they found out I hadn't stopped, being afraid theyd fail me for the psych eval bc of all this anxiety, suffering through the liquid diet, and finally made it to the weekend of surgery! So excited again and just ready to get it over with until I got a call the day before surgery that I had tested positive for covid and the surgery would need to be rescheduled. I was asymptomatic and positive but everyone else in my house tested negative. I was so frustrated. I threw a fit inside myself and ate everything in sight while on quarantine, gaining all the weight back that i had lost preop. What i didnt know when i was being a brat is that they ended up scheduling me for just a month later, which still felt like an eternity to wait but i now i see wasnt very long at all...this reply is getting long bc im very long winded lol so ill quickly add the rest. I had surgery, way less pain than I expected, the hospital staff was amazing during covid, one night stay, went home and felt 100% better (except fatigue) after 2 weeks. Now 2 months out from sleeve ive lost 45lbs (35 post op) but also have no body aches and am feeling like myself again. I say all this to say, my frustrations and concerns may differ from urs but I understand the preop process is very difficult for everyone in different ways and we all just want to rush to our new beginning so we can do it right this time. Once u have surgery, it'll seem all the worrying and dreading wasnt even necessary because ur just so focused and grateful for the surgery that whatever may come is totally worth it and everything turned out fine in the end! Its such a blessing to watch ur body change, grow stronger and feel better.. to see urself become unhidden behind all that was once there..one exciting day at a time. Anyways, give urself permission to be hopeful, positive and expectant bc everything about ur life is about to change for the better! Again, sorry I can't help but blab! [emoji4][emoji1787] Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

Do u mean dreading ur surgery date because it is too far away and ur tired of jumping through hoops or because u are nervous about the coming day? Any of us who have had surgery have went through similar emotions is why I ask for clarification of how ur feeling. U really can receive comfort through this site, knowing we all have at least one similarity...wls. Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

Thank you!!

Aw congrats on switching to vape! I have like 6 different vapes, but have never switched completely over or taken the nicotine down. I should try 0 nicotine and vape now that my mind is focused more on quitting.

Hey.. I'm new to this site still and I am wondering how all of you get that cute little weight loss graph lol.

Hey hey! Ull be glad to know we have similar starting stats! I am 31 years old, had a BMI of 40.67 and was a size 18-20. I was 252lbs at my highest (10 days prior to vertical gastric sleeve surgery) and I was 242lbs on 7.27.20 (day of surgery). I am 5ft 6. I am 2 months post op now. Already i am down to 206lbs. I have lost 45lbs in total and 35 in two months since surgery.my bmi is 33.25 at the moment. I no longer have hip and back pain, my face is back to looking like "myself" again, I wake up happy every single day now and don't feel like I need to to hide away inside the house because of shame. I wear a size 16 at the moment. I have always had a big butt. Washing and wiping my own butt before surgery had started getting difficult which was one of my main wake up calls. I no longer have any issues with this at all only two months out! I could go on and on. There are sooooo many pros to having wls of any kind! My husband was skeptical that wls was necessary and wanted me to diet and work out with him for another year before we considered "something so drastic"..he now agrees this is exactly what I needed and is glad we didn't wait another year of me feeling the way I did about myself. As far as recovery, it was very easy for me. Sharp pain from incision sutures for abt a week, maybe 1.5 weeks. Within 2 weeks I had no pain. Can eat very little (have to remind myself to eat bc im not hungry and it seems kind of tedious to eat now bc its only like 4-5 bites of something) and i have no desire to eat sweets or junk anymore. That is huge for me bc I would easily and regularly consume cookies, brownies, candy bars, chips and crackers by the box/package by myself in just a few days. I craved snacks all day everyday. The only "con" i am experiencing is that i loved water before surgery and chugged it all day everyday. Now it's another thing i have to remind myself to do and it feels so tedious because i can only sip water now, not chug. Oh oops i forgot.. vitamins and meds are another "con" for me because I was not any meds prior to sleeve surgery and didnt take vitamins. Now i take like 3 meds and vitamins daily. My stomach is so small it feels as tho I've eaten after just taking my meds. I used to be able to throw back 3 Tylenols and swallow at once but now i take each pill one at a time because i feel like im gonna choke on the smallest pill size. I think this is just a fear tho..like a mental thing..and not actually a legit concern or something that is experienced by others lol. Anyways, i hope i covered enough for u. If u have any other questions, feel free to ask. Im an open book and wish i had found this app when i was preop. I did find TONS of videos on YouTube that convinced me sleeve surgery was just as good of an option as bypass for me tho! The videos I watched showed sleevers years out remaining successful and losing over 100lbs. The videos showed me ppl experiencing restriction and maintaining their goal weight years out which proved to me that bypass wasn't necessary for me to reach my 100lb weight loss goal and maintain it. This was encouraging for me because i was self pay and sleeve is cheaper. I would not let money be a determining factor tho. I was kind of forced into sleeve anyways because I am a smoker..still trying to quit at this point. OHHH BTW My mother had bypass 13 years ago and has remained at her goal wait this far out. This made me believe bypass had a higher success rate because she gets dumping, forcing her to not eat certain things or too much. Many surgeons disagree abt whether sleeve patients get dumping. I can eat whatever i want post op without getting sick but obviously can only eat a small portion. Many surgeons and patients argue about whether this restriction is lifted a few years out but there are ppl on here who will tell you they still have restriction with sleeve years out so it's hard to know what each of our bodies will experience. Do your research, watch youtube vids, listen to what people have to say, but most importantly choose a good bariatric team and trust your surgeon! Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

I am also still smoking 2 months post op. Ive smoked for 16 years and don't seem to have the will power to quit. I keep telling myself now that I've got the food under control I am going to quit tho bc theres no point in getting this surgery to have better health if I'm killing myself internally.. then the sleeve surgery becomes simply cosmetic and thats not why i got it..im giving myself grace and working one goal at a time tho this time bc ive always tried to improve too many things at once and speak very critically to myself which causes me to fail at them all. I dont know if it was because i was self pay but my doc didnt test. I did lie and tell them i quit a month before surgery because i was so afraid theyd cancel it. Dont beat urself up. Whats done is done.i genuinely hope it works out for u! i can totally relate. Keep us updated!! Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

My husband and I waited til week 3 or 4 when my incisions no longer hurt and my stomach didn't feel tightly sewn up inside. We obviously still went easy with it and doggy style worked out great. As silly as this sounds, beforehand, I was afraid that contracting my stomach muscles during orgasm would hurt or damage something but that wasn't the case at all. Hope you and your hubby have figured out what works for you!

Glad to hear ur finally on ur way post op and finished the "jumping hoops and hoping surgery day will come" phase! I'm doing great! I havent had hip and back pain anymore with 42lbs off my body (32lbs since surgery). I'm 8 weeks post op and happier than ever. Good luck with your journey! Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

I quit before my consult and actually did not let my bariatric team know. Little did I know, i was self pay so they didnt drug test me anyways lol. But im afraid to smoke now bc i might not listen to my restriction, eat too much and hurt myself. Im not even 2 months out yet tho so who knows what the future holds. I miss it sometimes but have learned to recognize and handle my anxiety very well since quitting about 1.5 years ago. If i ever smoke again, it'll be for recreational use ocassionally and not an every day medication thing like I was doin before.i enjoy being sober minded now:) lucky ur in cali! Live it up! Haha Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

Prayers for all the surgeries tomorrow. Uve made it!!!![emoji16] Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

Aww thank u! Im pretty ecstatic about it and just pray it continues this well for me. Oooo ur getting close?!?!?! I know it feels like time drags by when ur waiting but it flies by once ur back home! Prayers for u!! Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

I have found several sleeve posts on here from 2014 and before of patients that had Dr. Boyce perform their sleeve surgery, but they don't seem to stick around on here long. I'm curious to know how Dr. Boyce's sleeves are doing at all stages of post-op. I know his bypassers do amazing so I would like to hear results on his sleeved patients.

Dr. Boyce performed my mother's bypass in 2015 and my sleeve on 7.27.20. My sister just had her consult with him too so she can get sleeved! He is great! Wish others posted on here who had him as their surgeon. I want to meet some sleevers of his to see his specific results lol.

Got it figured out!! Thank you!!

This is all I have in settings under profile Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

Im not even showing an option to put in any of my info lol..i didnt know this was a thing Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app