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I has gastric sleeve surgery March 30, 2015 and have not told many people. Medical professionals know, my parents know, my aunt, 1 cousin, and 2 close friends. Most others do not know unless they have speculated. I lived across country when I had surgery and only came home to Boston once a year for Christmas. So this has kept my "secret" safe. I am not ashamed of having surgery. However, I did not want to tell the world then run the risk of failing afterward. I didn't want others to watch everything that I eat with "no-no" eyes shaming me for having a drink, a cookie, or something they assumed I should not have. I did not want to be judged for doing well, or poorly, or for regaining any weight afterward. My poor cousin had gastric bypass surgery in 2013, lost over 100 lbs, and toned his body and looked marvelous. As his marriage started to crumble and fail, he slowly gained weight then quickly gained some more. He is now much larger than he was before. It hurts to see how hard he worked to have his progress erased. His surgery and weight gain are no secret and has been the subject of chitter amongst family. And that is exactly what I do not want for myself. As awful as it is, I must admit that my weight has become a complete OBSESSION for me. I truly do not want to be the cause of my own death. I do not want to be a size 2. I just want to be healthy. And I get there and stay there is my journey, and battle. Sent from my SM-G920P using the BariatricPal App

No I do not. I no longer weigh myself, count calories, or see a "nutritionist". I no longer equate my worth with my weight or consider weight gain a health risk. I decided life is too short to stay on a diet and they never worked well for me anyway. I've embraced mindful eating, food allowance, body positivity, and focus on spreading this message of body love out to others. I stay active and enjoy fitness but I do not care to eat by any other persons rules but my own. My weight is secondary to my overall happiness. Being fat isn't a crime and there was nothing wrong with me to begin with other than poor self care and a lack of self love. As for my weight, I'm not sure what it is but my size hasn't changed in over a year now.

It seems like you're all set for your revision. I just wanted to share why I eventually opted for RNY over the sleeve. I initially really, really wanted the sleeve. I suffered from mild to moderate GERD with a hiatal hernia. My doctor strongly advised against the sleeve because of this. He said patients with GERD fare much better with the bypass in the long run, and that those who get sleeved usually have to have the revision done within five years. This occurs even after their GERD issues seemingly disappear. You didn't mention if you have a hiatal hernia, but I did. He also said that while the hernia could be repaired if I got sleeved, it would also likely reoccur within five years. The reason why bypass works so much better compared to the sleeve is because your small intestines anchors the new stomach pouch, preventing it from slipping back up through the diaphragm and causing acid reflux. When my approval went through, it was for the sleeve. Ultimately, I didn't want to risk having a revision in a few years. I wanted this to be one and done. I asked about just repairing the hernia separately later on if I got sleeved and was told hiatal hernia surgery itself is a much more major surgery with greater complications and risks than any weight loss surgery. My surgeon also pointed out that even those who get sleeved still have to take vitamins for the rest of their lives, so there really isn't much difference. I also want to lose as much weight as possible to allow for natural and reasonable weight gain that comes with aging. Bypass weight loss gives you more wiggle room to work with. So I changed my mind and had my paperwork resubmitted for RNY. I didn't have to meet any additional or separate requirements; it was only the matter of updating the insurance code. I'm now 4 days post-op and I don't regret my decision at all.

Just to add a different perspective- at 2.5 years out I started to binge eat again and feel very depressed about my body and feel that I would still be trapped in the diet binge restrict cycle forever. I started to see weight gain and I panicked. My hunger came back full force and my quantity came way up. I decided to forgo dieting and embrace intuitive eating instead. It has been a miracle for me. My weight is stable and I no longer diet or restrict what I eat. I eat when I am hungry and stop when I'm full. I accepted that I may gain some weight and I did but it quickly leveled out. I'm not sure how much I eat in a day because I don't track anymore but I'm guessing it is around 2000-3000 per day. I will personally never diet again and have learned to love my body unconditionally. If you are struggling and want to stop being afraid of food I highly recommend exploring intuitive eating as an option for weight maintenance. I do not diet or count calories and I'm fine with what my body wants to weigh as long as I am eating for the right reasons and staying mindful.

So here I go starting all over again. Lap Band installed 2005 - Starting weight 430 Port removed 6 weeks post install Lap Band eroded 2010 and removed - end weight 232 7 Years later I regained 88 lbs - been very steady at 320 for about 4 years, just can't do it anymore. Surgery Date 5/1/2017 - for the gastric sleeve. Nervous, excited, scared about going through everything I went through with the band. My journey with the band was a complete and utter failure and success all in one. I had my band installed in 2005. I knew something was wrong almost immediately, but the surgeon didn't believe me, he thought I was just making it up, the pain and the fevers. I went to see my general practitioner (a band patient herself,) she took one look at me and knew I was not faking it, she put her hand on my belly, stormed out of the exam room, came back 15 minutes later and told me to drive right to the hospital, that the surgeon was on his way there to meet me. I was taken into surgery the next morning and my port was removed. The tubing that connected the port to the band was looped in my stomach muscle, and so every time I moved, turned or twitched it rubbed against the muscle wall - it caused a huge infection. I spent a week in the hospital on antibiotics and then went home with an open wound and a drain for the next 9 months. I never had a port put back, I never had a fill, my band was wide open and it worked, and I lost weight at the right pace - 200 lbs in 5 years. Toward the end of the five years, I had some discomfort, a little pain but it was manageable. I was getting ready for an international business trip, my wife was driving me to the airport on a Saturday, I was really not feeling too hot, thought I just had a bug, my wife knew better and we ended up in the emergency room. I was taken in with a fever, I was dehydrated, and I explained I was a band patient, they did an ultrasound, and said they could not find the band. They then did an x-ray, and said the band is not where it is supposed to be. I was released, with pain meds, and told to follow up with the surgeon the next morning. I went to see the surgeon, they did a fluroscopy that afternoon, that evening I was in surgery to have the band removed. The pain was not from the band, but it was from the leftover tubing floating in my abdomen, it had punctured my stomach, and I know had peritonitis. When the surgeon found the tube he traced it back to my stomach and found that the lap band was completely inside my stomach. He removed it, and left me with a 2" open wound so that I could heal from the peritonitis - it was about 1 year for the wound to close fully. The physical scars were nothing - the mental scars remained. So I went seven year and I found the weight gain - i fought it hard - but it has been a life long battle. So now I have a new surgeon, a new procedure and a new plan forward - hope to GOD its nothing like the last plan.

I am almost 5 years out from surgery. I lost around 155 pounds and kept it off for about 3.5 years. But in the past 1.5 years, I have suffered from depression and started drinking alcohol excessively ( I typically would have ate food excessively in the past). In the past I could have several drinks and be fine; however post surgery the side effects were much more severe (depression, a feeling of real dependency, blacking out suddenly with no recollection of where the cutoff point would be i.e. 2 drinks now was just as strong as drinking 5) The alcohol goes so quickly into your system that it is a real danger if not properly monitored. Although my eating habits didn't change, without daily exercise and with the added calories of excessive alcohol consumption, I regained around 60 pounds. In addition to the weight gain I have struggled with the affects of alcohol dependency, which I never had experienced before. As VSG patients we were all cautioned on drinking and how it affects us differently after surgery. I didn't really take heed to those warnings until it had become a problem for me. I am working on it daily now and also am struggling to lose the weight all over again, which feels pretty much like as difficult as it had been prior to surgery. I think this is not talked about enough and I'm sure I am not the only VSG patient who has experienced this. As a community being open with one another, and as individual seeking out help earlier, I probably wouldn't be struggling with these 60 pounds now. Anyone who's been through it should reach out sooner than later. Not only have I suffered from this issue, I have had to deal with the fact that I messed up my own progress and success and now have to deal with the ramifications of starting all over again so to speak. This I can say for certain, staying in a support group and dealing with your issues is imperative to continued success in this journey. I'm not sure if I'll loose all of the 60 I've regained again, but I am willing to fight the battle to do this all over again and to warn others of how dangerous alcohol consumption is for us post surgery!

I am almost 5 years out from surgery. I lost around 155 pounds and kept it off for about 3.5 years. But in the past 1.5 years, I have suffered from depression and started drinking alcohol excessively ( I typically would have ate food excessively in the past). In the past I could have several drinks and be fine; however post surgery the side effects were much more severe (depression, a feeling of real dependency, blacking out suddenly with no recollection of where the cutoff point would be i.e. 2 drinks now was just as strong as drinking 5) The alcohol goes so quickly into your system that it is a real danger if not properly monitored. Although my eating habits didn't change, without daily exercise and with the added calories of excessive alcohol consumption, I regained around 60 pounds. In addition to the weight gain I have struggled with the affects of alcohol dependency, which I never had experienced before. As VSG patients we were all cautioned on drinking and how it affects us differently after surgery. I didn't really take heed to those warnings until it had become a problem for me. I am working on it daily now and also am struggling to lose the weight all over again, which feels pretty much like as difficult as it had been prior to surgery. I think this is not talked about enough and I'm sure I am not the only VSG patient who has experienced this. As a community being open with one another, and as individual seeking out help earlier, I probably wouldn't be struggling with these 60 pounds now. Anyone who's been through it should reach out sooner than later. Not only have I suffered from this issue, I have had to deal with the fact that I messed up my own progress and success and now have to deal with the ramifications of starting all over again so to speak. This I can say for certain, staying in a support group and dealing with your issues is imperative to continued success in this journey. I'm not sure if I'll loose all of the 60 I've regained again, but I am willing to fight the battle to do this all over again and to warn others of how dangerous alcohol consumption is for us post surgery!

I am almost 5 years out from surgery. I lost around 155 pounds and kept it off for about 3.5 years. But in the past 1.5 years, I have suffered from depression and started drinking alcohol excessively ( I typically would have ate food excessively in the past). In the past I could have several drinks and be fine; however post surgery the side effects were much more severe (depression, a feeling of real dependency, blacking out suddenly with no recollection of where the cutoff point would be i.e. 2 drinks now was just as strong as drinking 5) The alcohol goes so quickly into your system that it is a real danger if not properly monitored. Although my eating habits didn't change, without daily exercise and with the added calories of excessive alcohol consumption, I regained around 60 pounds. In addition to the weight gain I have struggled with the affects of alcohol dependency, which I never had experienced before. As VSG patients we were all cautioned on drinking and how it affects us differently after surgery. I didn't really take heed to those warnings until it had become a problem for me. I am working on it daily now and also am struggling to lose the weight all over again, which feels pretty much like as difficult as it had been prior to surgery. I think this is not talked about enough and I'm sure I am not the only VSG patient who has experienced this. As a community being open with one another, and as individual seeking out help earlier, I probably wouldn't be struggling with these 60 pounds now. Anyone who's been through it should reach out sooner than later. Not only have I suffered from this issue, I have had to deal with the fact that I messed up my own progress and success and now have to deal with the ramifications of starting all over again so to speak. This I can say for certain, staying in a support group and dealing with your issues is imperative to continued success in this journey. I'm not sure if I'll loose all of the 60 I've regained again, but I am willing to fight the battle to do this all over again and to warn others of how dangerous alcohol consumption is for us post surgery!

Well, let me tell you, as someone who uses the brand name Canadian version of your medication, Cipralex, that's exactly why. If you can get the generic of escitalopram, generally cheaper (especially if your insurance doesn't cover all of it), it tends to have the same potency. The apnea induces anxiety and panic attacks associated with obstructed breathing. These mimic a few symptoms of a heart attack, but rest assured, if your EKG is showing normal (make sure you get the long version of one if they didn't do that) your heart is fine.. for now. In the short term, apnea won't cause any problems with the heart, but over time the oxygen deprivation (even seconds of it is a shock to the body, hence the reaction) will cause significant heart damage, especially of the left side. So, your apnea goals.. the average person has 5 or less apneas per hour. In order to be on a CPAP I would hope you had a sleep study done. In my case, I had 55 apneas per hour. That's bad. My Fitbit watch also revealed this in "interrupted sleep" patterns. I will point out I'm not a doctor and cannot substitute for doctors advice, but as someone who suffers the same as you, I will give my advice as follows: Short term: - Use your CPAP - If you're a back sleeper, as I was before my weight gain, try sleeping on your side.. I personally find the right side easier on both apneas and anxiety attacks. - Elevation Long term: - Get your weight down, obesity causes this, you're doing great.. keep going - If normalizing your weight doesn't help obstruction, surgery on your airway to remove the obstruction should resolve - Given it's clinical significance toward preventing heart attacks in the long term, make sure your family doctors, physicians, and specialists related to this are aggressive in treating it as the underlying causes are treated A good idea to stay on the escitalopram until your apnea resolves. Its nothing to be terribly worried about as it's being treated.. just keep up the weight loss.

Well here I am wow my 1 year anniversary today I had sleeve surgery this day last year And what a ride it's been! This was the best decision I have ever made ! I had done every diet known to man kind and failed time and time again my rheumatoid was out of control my prescriptions where growing by the month and diabetes and heart disease where just around the corner and I was deeply unhappy within myself desperate to be healthy but unwilling to make the necessary changes and sacrifices to get there it was all just too hard. steroids played a large role in my weight gain and lack of exercise due to the pain in my feet and hands it was a downward spiral at my heaviest I was 115kgs so 230 pounds Some would say not that big but to me it was huge. I followed a blogger in nz who had the surgery and an idea was born she looked amazing so off I went to her surgeon next step to come up with $20,000 as I was self pay I saw the surgeon in December and in March I had the surgery. Looking back at times I felt defeated like this weight won't come off it's so slow couldn't imagine myself smaller and it took a long time for my mind to catch up with my body I still felt big up until recently. Basically this journey has been the best decision of my life I am so happy within myself I feel alive,confident,beautiful,healthy these are things I've not felt in a very long time I am now 71kgs and I'm happy at this weight I know maintaining this will be a life long commitment and sometimes I eat bad things I'm human but it's not often and I always think of where I've come from and where I'm going and I can't go back I've come to far and it's true nothing tastes as good as skinny feels I will keep these comparison photos and look at them when I need to be reminded of where I've been in this journey For anyone considering surgery don't put it off you won't look back a new you is possible you just have to want it !! the surgery itself and recovery was fine sure at times I hated it but looking back for me it was easy. Good luck to everyone on this journey it sure is an amazing one this app has been so helpful and I'm truly thankful for it.

I've been on Coumadin since January for DVT it hasn't caused any hunger or weight gain. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

At my peak of 361 I could actually wear loose fitting 48 jeans. That was with a 60 inch waist (my fat went mostly all to the gut). Waist is down to like 48 now so those pants are actually likely too big now. I won't be buying anything new until my post-op plateau which will likely be late this year or beyond. I wouldn't have any expectations beyond maybe what you were wearing before your weight gain, assuming it was some time in the recent past. In my case I expect to get back to my weight only 5 years ago of 180.. but because of my dietary changes and the fact that I will keep it this way for the foreseeable future I might go below 180 as well, which I'm ok with. Whatever pants size it is, it is. It's the lifestyle I think people should be more tuned into than the size of clothes. Still, have my old jeans and armani dress pants which were 32x30s, rarely ever wore them anyways being more of a casual dresser. Will see if they get the heave-ho or not.

Posted 43 minutes ago · Report post I had surgery on 3/21 left hospital on 3/22; have been able to be up and around worked all the gas out have taken no pain medicine, tolerating my liquids cautiously, got on scales this afternoon and it shows I have actually gained 1.5 lbs; so BUMMED but my stomach is still pretty swollen..... Is this normal? Quote Edit

I had my final visit before my insurance packet is submitted. I did all the blood work (29 vials!!). I was an emotional wreck at the appt. though. You see this year has SUCKED! When I started the weight loss surgery journey life fell apart. My wife broke her foot and needed 5 surgeries, my dad went blind, then he fell and became permanently paralyzed, then he passed. It has been awful. But I'm running short on my insurance window and I need this surgery. I quit smoking, started, quit. I lost weight, gained. My TSH went up to 9 and I felt so sick. It's been a hot mess of a year. So please cross your fingers and toes that they understand and know that I truly am ready to do this. I feel like i applied at the worst possible point in my life.

We are all here in our own small way, to support each other . I truly value the input here as life changes (illnesses, deaths, divorces, and ok. Weight gains )keep happening and .... We have no choice but to deal with them head on! I send support to all my veteran friends who know how difficult the years get. ( i have a bit of indifference to those boasting about 3 month losses... yet I remember how good it felt to see the weight dropping) THIS is where I go to see the real, everyday struggles and achievements of my tribe. Fondly,

Sugar doesn't make me dump - it's the fat in steaks and fried eggs, etc. I learned that I can have sugar with no problems at all. However, with this new discovery means weight gain, which I did during the holidays. But that is OK as I was underweight and looked sick. Now I'm where I should be but I have to be VERY careful not to overdo it on the sweets.

Well as much as I hate to admit it and I know it's not what you are supposed to do, I had that mentality for the first few months of the 6 month diet. I didnt have an exact amount of weight to lose, but was terrified that insurance wouldn't approve if I didnt get my act together! Overall I gained 8 lbs from my first weigh in with the surgeon. Then I decided I needed to start mentally and physically preparing for my new life so although I would treat myself maybe once every 2 weeks or so and within limits, I started doing a high lean protein very low carb, no more wine diet. My insurance papers were submitted with the 8 lb weight gain and I was still approved for surgery on April 4. Have lost about 10 lbs since the healthier eating though. So to answer your question, I think the last meal mentality shouldn't be an everyday occurrence but for me if there was something I really wanted I had it but not night after night like I did in the beginning. Hope that helps; good luck!

I weighed 355 (Nov '16) Surgery weight 338 Current weight 283 (I didn't track very often before so I would disregard previous data points.) But you can clearly see sudden drops, weight gains and stalls. Rarely matching my consistent dedication to my plan. I know as I change my relationship with food and make good choices in each moment and day, the rest will take care of itself. Just not in a perfect line. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I used to take the same med and gained 80 pds. Which put me in the position for surgery but i take risperdal now and havent had any issues. Now im not a doctor im only speaking from personal experience but i havent had weight gain issues because of it. Id talk to ur doctor and weigh that as an option.

Yesterday I had my psych eval which was the last thing I needed before things got submitted to my insurance company. It took over 3 hours including a super lengthy questionnaire. I had decided that I was going to be 100% honest with the shrink going into this. I just weaned myself off of my ADHD meds and have been struggling with some weight gain and haven't been doing my best when it comes to eating. I expected a tongue lashing over that. What I wasn't expecting was for this woman to tell me that I have substance abuse problems and I have to be clean and sober for a year before surgery. Apparently very occasionally smoking weed (like, a few times a year) makes me an addict. I had told my surgeon, the nutritionist and my primary care physician that I occasionally partake and was never told that I couldn't smoke. If I had been, I would've quit, no problem. Then I admitted that my drinking was out of control as a freshman in college. I told her my mom has been concerned with her own drinking. I still drink, but like a normal 24 year old. I might have a glass of wine or beer with dinner if I'm with friends and usually about once a month I go out on the town for a night. I know my limits, I rarely get drunk. The nutritionist and surgeon both told me that you can't drink for a while before or after surgery. Sure, understandable, no problem. They also said you can occasionally drink after a period of time. I just know that I have to watch myself and limit my alcohol consumption. This woman says I can't drink ever again. I feel like I'm receiving conflicting information. She says I'm currently not a good candidate for surgery. I obviously can't submit her eval to insurance. What do I do??? Do I take 3 months and get on track with my eating and exercise and then do another eval? I feel like another year is very extreme. Maybe this is the kick in the ass I needed, but it's extremely upsetting and frustrating.

4 months since my sleeved... and yes have had a menstrual every other week with spotting in between... I'm going isane... dr. Have tried different birth control pill and not working he suggested the Depo shot just scared about weight gain...

Weight loss surgery is a life-changing event, and not something to be undergone lightly. Some weight loss surgery candidates know that weight loss surgery is for them, but many others are unsure whether it is time for them to get weight loss surgery. At best, it can help you lose weight and get your life back. At worst, it can cause complications or make you miss your old way of life. How do you know whether weight loss surgery is for you? Will it be the weight control solution you have been searching for for years? Or will it be a decision you regret? Nobody can answer that for you, but here are some considerations as you think about whether weight loss surgery is for you. The Qualifying Criteria You are not a candidate for bariatric surgery unless you meet certain criteria set by your surgeon or, if applicable, your healthcare coverage plan. The standard criteria are: Body Mass Index (BMI) over 40 or BMI 35 with an obesity-related comorbidity, such as type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, or sleep apnea. Confirmation that your obesity is not caused by an underlying condition that would make weight loss surgery ineffective. A psychological exam to show that you are capable of sticking to the post-op diet and lifestyle changes that are necessary. Previous documented attempts at losing weight with diet and exercise. Ineffectiveness of Previous Efforts Weight loss surgery is a last resort, not a first try at losing weight. It is for patients who have been obese for years and who have tried to lose weight using lifestyle changes, such as a modified diet plan and a formal exercise program. Many weight loss surgery patients try “every diet under the sun” before deciding that it is time for WLS. They may have had trouble losing any weight at all, or may have lost weight initially but been unable to keep it off. Readiness to Change Weight loss surgery is just the beginning. The way you eat after weight loss surgery determines how well you will be able to control your weight for the rest of your life. You need to be ready to change if you want to be successful with weight loss surgery. No longer will you be able to down a pizza or hit the drive-through on a whim. Are you ready to possibly: Give up coffee and regular and diet soda? Cut sugary treats and fried foods, especially with gastric bypass? Pass on the alcoholic offerings at home, parties, and restaurants? Count protein, slash carbs, and measure portions? Addressing Other Issues Weight gain does not always take place in a vacuum, and weight loss does not solve other problems you might have in your life. First, identify why you became overweight in the first place, and what is keeping you from losing the weight. Is weight loss surgery the answer, or do you need to first deal with an abusive relationship or lack of self-confidence, for example? Emotional eating is a common reason for weight gain. If you tend to eat your feelings away, you are best off figuring out other ways to handle your feelings before you get surgery. Can you use walking as a form of therapy? Maybe you can join an in-person or online support group to turn to when you feel sad, lonely, or angry. If your emotional eating is related to a specific problem, such as stress at work, your best bet may be to handle the problem before getting WLS. That could mean finding a healthy coping mechanism, or it could mean getting counseling to help you work through the source of stress. It could even mean finding a new job, as scary as that sounds. Consider Replacement Addictions Replacement addictions are common after weight loss surgery. They happen when you give up food – which can be an addiction – for a different addiction. Instead of turning to food for comfort, entertainment, or companionship, some weight loss surgery patients turn to “replacement addictions” or “cross addictions” They may take up smoking, or start to abuse alcohol. Replacement addictions can also be healthier than eating; some weight loss surgery patients become gym rats or take up gardening, sewing, or other hobbies. As you consider weight-loss surgery, think about the possibility of food addiction being replaced by replacement addictions. What role does food play in your life now? What do you see replacing that emotional or physical role after surgery? The decision to get weight loss surgery requires a lot of soul searching for most candidates. These points can help you work through some of the doubts you may have as you try to decide what is best for yourself.

How do you know whether weight loss surgery is for you? Will it be the weight control solution you have been searching for for years? Or will it be a decision you regret? Nobody can answer that for you, but here are some considerations as you think about whether weight loss surgery is for you. The Qualifying Criteria You are not a candidate for bariatric surgery unless you meet certain criteria set by your surgeon or, if applicable, your healthcare coverage plan. The standard criteria are: Body Mass Index (BMI) over 40 or BMI 35 with an obesity-related comorbidity, such as type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, or sleep apnea. Confirmation that your obesity is not caused by an underlying condition that would make weight loss surgery ineffective. A psychological exam to show that you are capable of sticking to the post-op diet and lifestyle changes that are necessary. Previous documented attempts at losing weight with diet and exercise. Ineffectiveness of Previous Efforts Weight loss surgery is a last resort, not a first try at losing weight. It is for patients who have been obese for years and who have tried to lose weight using lifestyle changes, such as a modified diet plan and a formal exercise program. Many weight loss surgery patients try “every diet under the sun” before deciding that it is time for WLS. They may have had trouble losing any weight at all, or may have lost weight initially but been unable to keep it off. Readiness to Change Weight loss surgery is just the beginning. The way you eat after weight loss surgery determines how well you will be able to control your weight for the rest of your life. You need to be ready to change if you want to be successful with weight loss surgery. No longer will you be able to down a pizza or hit the drive-through on a whim. Are you ready to possibly: Give up coffee and regular and diet soda? Cut sugary treats and fried foods, especially with gastric bypass? Pass on the alcoholic offerings at home, parties, and restaurants? Count protein, slash carbs, and measure portions? Addressing Other Issues Weight gain does not always take place in a vacuum, and weight loss does not solve other problems you might have in your life. First, identify why you became overweight in the first place, and what is keeping you from losing the weight. Is weight loss surgery the answer, or do you need to first deal with an abusive relationship or lack of self-confidence, for example? Emotional eating is a common reason for weight gain. If you tend to eat your feelings away, you are best off figuring out other ways to handle your feelings before you get surgery. Can you use walking as a form of therapy? Maybe you can join an in-person or online support group to turn to when you feel sad, lonely, or angry. If your emotional eating is related to a specific problem, such as stress at work, your best bet may be to handle the problem before getting WLS. That could mean finding a healthy coping mechanism, or it could mean getting counseling to help you work through the source of stress. It could even mean finding a new job, as scary as that sounds. Consider Replacement Addictions Replacement addictions are common after weight loss surgery. They happen when you give up food – which can be an addiction – for a different addiction. Instead of turning to food for comfort, entertainment, or companionship, some weight loss surgery patients turn to “replacement addictions” or “cross addictions” They may take up smoking, or start to abuse alcohol. Replacement addictions can also be healthier than eating; some weight loss surgery patients become gym rats or take up gardening, sewing, or other hobbies. As you consider weight-loss surgery, think about the possibility of food addiction being replaced by replacement addictions. What role does food play in your life now? What do you see replacing that emotional or physical role after surgery? The decision to get weight loss surgery requires a lot of soul searching for most candidates. These points can help you work through some of the doubts you may have as you try to decide what is best for yourself.

I love short hair on me but with all the weight gain my face is too round for short hair right now so as soon as I feel my face is slim enough (my sx is in May) I am probably cutting it off again. The first time I did it I wasn't sure how it would look as was afraid since I had hair just past my shoulders all my life but I looked and felt amazing with short hair and knew regardless it would grow back if I didn't like it

Well, went for my wellness check up this past Wednesday and my family doctor brought up the dirty "S" word. Surgery. Not just surgery but weight loss surgery. I'm not even sure why, but the whole idea scares the crap out of me. I think if a surgeon said "knee replacement" or "midfoot fusion" or "hip replacement", I'd be nervous but not so scared if that makes sense. I've done nothing but obsess since Wednesday. Checked with my insurance and bariatric surgery is covered. I was kinda hoping it wouldn't because I wouldn't have to consider it which would decrease my anxiety and result in less emotional eating which will result in even more weight gain. Don't ya just love vicious cycles? I now have a bookmark folder just for bariatric surgery. That's serious for me. Hope I can get advice from all of you as I go through the decision-making process and then through the journey itself if I decide to make the journey. Thanks for listening.