Bypass2Freedom

@MrsFitz ahh amazing! Congratulations That does not sound fun at all oh my god...definitely take it easy! My dad has had to have those in the past and I know it comes with a fair amount of suffering so my heart goes out to you! That is going to be amazingggg! Thank you! I should have my test soon which I am absolutely bricking!! 🤯Hair is all complete, and I have had a little bit from the sides shaved off oop hehe. I shall do!

So if any of you have read my story on here, you will know I have PCOS. I am 28 now, and I was diagnosed when I was 21. I haven't really had a regular cycle, and in the past 2 years I have probably only had 3 times where I have bled REALLY light. I wouldn't even call it a period 🤣 So now I have lost weight, in the past 2 and a bit months I have had 2 periods - proper ones! I am both elated but also now reminded of the annoyance of them 😂 Grateful to my body for functioning, but boy oh boy, the hormones?!?! I have been an absolute wreck this week - angry, depressed, sad, crying, detached, more angry. 🤦‍♀️ On an interesting note though, I was really struggling with my restriction - I really need to be eating more - and I noticed that whilst on my period I could eat more which was good! Anyway, just a bit of an observation from me 😂

You look incredible!

Hmmm I shall have to look into this!

Oh god that sounds like a rollercoaster! I think the only time I remember my periods being extremely heavy and frequent was when I was a teenager when they started, and then they were just so sporadic! I have to say I am not looking forward to going back to heavy if that is what is in the cards for me 🤣

Big boo for sure! I have the Jaydess coil which has been so good, but bloody painful having it done! (when will women's pain relief be taken seriously?). It is so interesting how the body just starts healing itself effectively! I am glad to know I am not alone in this!

Happy Friday everyone! 😁 Hope we are all doing well! It is bloody hot in the UK today so I am doing my best not to melt in my office 😩 My bariatric nurse has flat out told me I need to be eating more, and I am really struggling to get on top of this. She tells me to aim for 20 mouthfuls per meal 😥 I will keep pushing myself by eating more frequently, but I would love to introduce more fruit into my diet. Are there any fruits which I should stay away from to avoid dumping with the bypass? I know berries are like the gold standard, but I am a bit nervous about other fruits! So far I have only had some raspberries and kiwis 🤣

Oh god I haven't actually posted any pics on here yet apart from my profile picture! Maybe I shall see if I can do a before and after comparison & some holiday shots in Sept! Fake it till you make it has always worked for me haha

This is beyond inspirational! You look bloody amazing (before, and after might I add!), but you can see that confidece & happiness in your face, and in your posture. Congratulations ❤️ I am going on holiday to Greece in September, and I am hoping to feel a lot more confident!

It really will get better, I promise! You got this!

Congratulations on your weight loss so far! I bet you are feeling amazing! I definitely empathise with the low energy - especially early on! I feel that mine is only just starting to get better 😂 I am going on holiday in September, but I am trying to put off buying clothes until the last possible moment! How is your eating now? I am free to eat "whatever" I want now, but find that I am struggling to manage anywhere between 6-11 mouthfuls. The bariatric nurse says I need to be having at least 20 mouthfuls per meal! Eeek. All that being said, definitely loving feeling healthier, more confident, and more happy!

Hey! So I had my surgery back in May - how are you feeling about your upcoming surgery? My first week was interesting for sure. I did feel overwhelmed at first trying to work out what I could and could not "eat" (I use that term loosely as it was the liquid stage 🤣), and I was over-thinking everything. I was trying to take all my vitamins, drink all the water I needed to, and also drink the "food" I could have. Plus just adjusting to how my body FELT whilst I was just doing all of these things. I'd never had surgery before, so it really did feel a bit surreal, but honestly it was not as bad as I thought it would be. My pain was very minimal, and I did quickly settle into a routine of things. Constipation post-op was a bit of an issue, so I'd advise maybe picking up some stuff to help alleviate this before you have surgery, just so you are prepared if it is an issue! But other than this, I haven't actually had any issues. My advice would be to not do what I did, and don't try to do it all at once. Focus on one little thing at a time. If you need rest, then rest, and drink when you can so that you are keeping your body hydrated. I was genuinely surprised at how quickly everything felt normal. Just take this time to slow down, and be mindful of how your body feels, and new sensations you may come across in terms of how eating/drinking feels etc. You'll be absolutely fine though! And this site is amazing for advice, and just to talk, so always reach out & good luck! I look forward to following your journey!

Hello all, I had my first negative comment yesterday from a member of my partner's family. I was talking about my surgery (as someone else in their family had also had WLS), and this individual spoke up and said to me: "ah, you don't have the will power to do it yourself then?". I was just a bit taken aback if I am honest. I had to correct her (not that I have to justify myself to anyone), in saying that I had exhausted all my options, and other conditions I have mean that WLS is the only way for me. I know we shouldn't take things that others say to heart, but I can just predict that this is going to be the mindset of most people who do not understand what it is like to be obese, and to struggle every day. How have some of you dealt with comments such as these?

Hey everyone, I was on here talking before about some comments that my partner's family member made, and how it kind of upset me. Yet again, now more comments are being made but this time from my own Grandma. I had a dessert with my sister whilst we were out and she proceeded to call us 'piggies'. I know this is just a phrase that a lot of people make, but for some reason it just got to me a bit. I struggle a lot with being perceived in public, always worrying that I am taking up too much space, or if someone is looking at me, thinking it is for a negative reason around my weight. It is a really destructive pattern of thinking, I am aware, and I am trying to change it. I just feel really heavy with it all at the moment. But I think I just needed to rant about it. I am just feeling quite low about a lot of things, and unfortunately, unless you have struggled with your weight, I think it is hard for people to understand the why. x

Ooo so exciting! I bet you are going to have the most amazing time! Congratulations on your NSW and the loss also ❤️ I fully understand the struggle in trying to stop wearing leggings and a top 🤣 Like...what do people wear? 🤔 Have an amazing time

That is a great saying I'd like to think that even now, post-surgery early days, I am feeling more confident to combat some of these comments!

Thank you all for your advice - it has been really eye-opening to see that dumping isn't actually all that common in bypass patients. I remember in a leaflet given to me by my surgical team, it listed dumping as a 'common' side effect, so I was fully expecting it! I am going to introduce things slowly, with protein as suggested. And as @The Greater Fool has said, I do think sometimes it could pose as a bit of an educational experience for me if it happens!

@NickelChip I genuinely think that this is one of the most useful and altogether grounding pieces of advice I have had on this site, thank you so much. You are right - it is so easy to think that everything we read on here is the 'norm' but most people tend to come on here to see if the issues they are having are the same as others out there, and you don't really see too many of the successes! ...perhaps there is room for a specific thread just around general successes, or things that are going well right now! I will definitely use that when I next get anxious, because you are right when you say that - not everyone is suffering! And this surgery is common enough that so many people go on to live happy and healthy lives. I think with my Autism I can get really caught up in the small things and I end up going around in circles! But your advice has genuinely brought me back down to Earth.

Oh okay this is really interesting - I never knew that! From how frequently it is spoken about, I genuinely thought it was extremely common! I definitely need to get out of my head about it, it really does make me anxious, especially when I am eating out in restaurants and I can't see the nutritional value of each meal! I will take your advice on and just bite the bullet! Thank you

I think that it is hard not to measure ourselves against other people - but our bodies will ultimately decide the rate in which we lose weight. You have had an amazing loss so far, try to celebrate that and remember you are on the right track x

I am definitely not a melon fan - could perhaps branch out to some watermelon though. Grapes & bananas...I can let them go 🤣 I shall try some strawberries & blueberries I think...I do have avocado on toast sometimes which is nice! Seems like I will be on the berry hype!

I don't think I could deal with the heat there 😨 Very true - I do think it is sometimes a process of trial and error! I am just nervous about dumping as I haven't experienced it yet! I am very strict on sugars, and I don't eat anything that has over 7g of sugar per 100g/ml. I will definitely try introducing some of these things slowly - preferably whilst I am safe at home 😂

Congratulations! You look stunning!

*Trigger warning for discussion of food* - just in case! I don't want to upset anyone who may be struggling with cravings etc 💜 Hello everyone! I have been on this site for a few months now, and my surgery date is getting closer and closer. I've just had the sale of my house finalised which means I can now officially pay for my surgery so it all feels a lot more real now! 😄 I am curious to know if anyone had a pre-surgery bucket list? I am talking things like, final meals they wanted to have or things they wanted to drink! Given that after surgery a lot of these things are going to be a no-go for a while. I just thought it would be a fun thing to talk about! I am thinking about Kokoro chicken katsu curry...😩

I love how positive you are - and it sounds like you are on the right track for you, and it is at the right time! Yes, you have a journey ahead of you, but it sounds like you are going to smash it and achieve everything you want with both of these surgeries!