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Oh wow! Your hair looks great!!! Congratulations!
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I ended up chopping off half my hair and I feel much better.
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Looking for some opinions on this...
SleeveToBypass2023 posted a topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
Thinking about after I eventually hit my final weight loss weight and am stable. I was going back and forth about a panniculectomy once I'm able (mostly because my insurance will cover it) and while I know it won't tighten any muscles, I'm hoping it will be flatter and my clothes will fit better (I'll be having my surgery on May 3rd at age 43 and looking to hopefully have my surgery about a year and a half later). I've already had 2 kids, I'm a grandma of 1, and I'm not going to be wearing any bikinis or crop tops lol So I don't care so much about tummy tucks but I do want my excess skin removed and my stomach flatter. I hope it'll happen with the panniculectomy. HOWEVER, I've been seeing posts about people not having belly buttons and not being evenly shaped, and that had me concerned. So then I started thinking about having the panniculectomy (paid for by insurance) and then paying the difference for a tummy tuck and lipo as needed (or maybe just lipo to even everything out???). I'm confused about the best way to go that also won't cost a fortune. I know a panniculectomy is more expensive than a tummy tuck, so I'm thinking if I just maybe add lipo to it or even the tummy tuck and lipo, the cost shouldn't be too high, right? UGH. I know it's a ways out, but I need time to save (I'm the sole breadwinner in my family, so I'll need every bit of time to figure out what I'm doing and save for it). Thanks in advance for any help and input!!! -
Gall Bladder problems After VSG?
Arabesque replied to Crisscat's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
Gall bladder removal is not uncommon for anybody. Gall stones can form for a couple of reasons: high cholesterol, rapid & excessive weight loss, menopause, or high bilirubin levels. So it makes sense why many bariatric patients have their’s removed at some point. Some people can have gall stones for years that only rumble a bit so they don’t know they have them. They’re discovered because of the pre surgical tests so some people have their gall removed during their weight loss surgery. My stone was discovered during a scan to see why my liver function was off about 7 months after surgery. I’d have no symptoms but last June I really knew about it - very painful!!! So my gall was removed about two years after my sleeve surgery. Mine could have formed because of the weight loss, menopause or because I have high bilirubin levels. It was an easy surgery. My surgeon used the same incisions from my sleeve surgery & I was home the next day. I did have more muscular discomfort & gas pain though. My diet is generally lowish fat so I don’t have issues with that. But I have noticed every couple of weeks that I have a bout of diarrhoea (manifests more quickly than ordinary tummy upset attacks). My sister-in-law is the same. We think it’s a build up of digestive acids because the gall isn’t there to regulate it anymore. -
First plateau at 9 months post op
Arabesque replied to Rey Rodriguez's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
You can depend upon the saying the closer to goal the slower the weight loss. My last two kgs were a b*tch to lose. So close yet so far. Don’t give up or think it’s over. You’ll likely get there in your body’s own time. -
Well, first off, good for you for coming here and asking for help. That’s the biggest step, acknowledging that you fell off track and need to make changes. Maybe switch your diet to two protein shakes each day and a healthy dinner. It would be a great kick start to your weight loss. Also, start tracking and listing everything that you eat on an app. It really makes you accountable. You can do this!
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Stalls are extremely common & a natural & expected part of the weight loss process. The first usually occurs around the third week (hence the name the three week stall) but it can occur before or after that mark. They can last 1-3 weeks. They have nothing to do with you possibly failing. Think of them as your body trying to play catch up & get used to all the changes. It’s the equivalent of your body closing the front door & pulling the covers over it’s head much like we feel like doing when life gets stressful for us. Oh & yes, I did say first stall. You may experience a couple as you’re losing. Don’t be too perturbed if you’re not meeting all your fluid & protein goals every single day expesically in the beginning. As long as you’re making a concentrated effort & are close you’re okay. It does get easier when you’re eating solid foods & able to eat a little more. If I have a day when I’m lower, I try to be a bit higher than I need the next day & I’m almost three years out. And the constipation may continue until you’re close to or in maintenance & eating a much broader diet & eating more. At the moment your consuming very little food so you don’t have a lot to excrete. Not going every day is to be expected. Add a fibre supplement like Benefibre that doesn’t swell in your tummy. Add some vegetables & whole or multi grains to your diet as soon as you’re able. And keep on top of the constipation to avoid compaction & discomfort (pain) when you finally go. I took a stool softener if I had three days without movement.
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Remember not every loses all the weight they expected to lose. The average weight loss after 5 years is about 65% of the total weight they had to lose to put them in a healthy weight range. And a hell of a lot of people have gained weight during the emotional turmoil of the last two years so don’t be too hard on yourself. Get out your old eating plans & information & go back to the basics. But trying to change a lot of things all at once is often doomed to fail as it can feel all to much to do. Make a single change & then in a couple of weeks make another & so on. Maybe to begin you could reassess & reduce as needed your portion sizes, ensure you’re getting in your 60g of protein a day, increase your vegetable consumption, ensure you get 2L of water in a day, swap out high calorie or less nutritious meals for better alternatives, or drop a snack, etc.. You can choose whichever one you think you can manage as you progress. Can you contact your dietician again? Did you have a therapist while you were losing? They could help you refocus your goals, offer advice & suggestions & look into your eating habits, etc. Have a look at Dr Matthew Weiner’s you tube channel & his book A Pound of Cure. He has some good tips on resetting your body’s set point (BMR) & making changes to your eating. (He does encourage a more plant based diet but you can make allowances around that to your own eating preferences.) All the best.
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First plateau at 9 months post op
Rey Rodriguez posted a topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I’ve never really had a major plateau after my vsg other than a few days or so with no weight loss. I’m at 9 and half months post op and have noticed I haven’t lost any weight these past 3 weeks. I’m only a few pounds away from my goal and I’m wondering will I still lose weight or is this it? -
VSG surgery in hopes to cure PCOS and have children!
SleeveToBypass2023 replied to Cat0430's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
Hey hon! I also have PCOS. I had my son naturally but then had 10 losses before I was diagnosed with PCOS (even though I have all the classic signs and symptoms, not a lot of doctors knew about it). This was back in 2005. I went on birth control for a few months, then had to take Metformin and Clomid to get pregnant with my daughter. I had her in 2006 (my kids are 8 1/2 years apart because of the PCOS) and after I had her, I was never able to get pregnant again. My hormones are all over the place and I CANNOT lose weight and keep it off no matter what I do (I always have initial success but it never lasts). I was told that bariatric surgery is huge in helping PCOS patients get pregnant because weight loss is the #1 thing that helps. It *can* help with hormones, but not always. The weight loss is really the biggest factor for PCOS patients. But that can also make birth control pills (which regulate periods, add estrogen to low estrogen hormones) more effective, as well as fertility meds (Metformin and Clomid, Femara, etc) more effective. Also makes your body healthier for pregnancy (almost no diabetes or high blood pressure issues). So the surgery is definitely huge for helping PCOS patients have a baby. Good luck!!! -
Being constipated can make a difference on the scale if you're weighing yourself multiple times a week. The human body can have up to five pounds of excrement inside it at one time. I'm on day 16, and about half a week ago, I didn't lose anything for 2-3 days. Not to be unpleasant, but I had some major bathroom time on the third day and was three pounds lighter the next morning. Idk if you're eating any significant amount of salt (broth can have a lot if you've been having that) but if you are, that can easily cause a couple pounds of water retention too. Idk how many calories you're eating per day, but there's no way you're not going to be burning if it's the typical amount for this point in time. Try not to be despondent. If this issue does persist going forward, you might want to go in and get checked for fatty liver disease or a thyroid problem. Both can hinder weight loss.
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Me again! I am 23 days post-op. I lost 15 pounds the the first two weeks. I began my purée diet last week and since then I’ve stopped losing weight. I am dealing with horrible constipation and struggling to keep up with 64 oz of water. I’m worried that I haven’t lost any weight, in fact I gained 2 pounds. I’m starting to think this isn’t gonna work for me and I won’t lose any more weight. Has this happened to anyone?
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Was scheduled for the 27th April! Just had a call this morning from the hospital's surgical unit, apparently there are no beds in the hospital they're all occupied with covid patients, the next available date is May 16th and even THAT'S not guaranteed! I'm not stressing about ANOTHER the 3 weeks to wait, it's just my work situation we had to find someone to cover for me, now I've got 3 weeks or even longer to sit around and do nothing (loss of income) ☹️ and the liquid diet & preparations- all for nothing 😩😩
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VSG surgery in hopes to cure PCOS and have children!
Cat0430 posted a topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
Hello all, I am new to this forum but I think it is great to have something like this where we can communicate and get advice from one another! I had my VSG surgery on April 4th, 2022. So that means as of today I am 16 days post op. So far things are going alright. I am a little worried about my 2 incisions on my left side since the liquid bandage has come off and they are still open. They crust over, but any movement or showering makes them open back up. I think they are slowly healing(one of the incisions is the one where they pulled my stomach through), went to the doctor today and he said they were fine. But of course when I returned home the scabs had come off and it was back open! Any thoughts on this? Other than that it’s been fine. Going through a lot of emotions realizing I can’t eat like I used to and just realizing how much I relied on food was hard for me. But with the support of my husband and family I am doing better. My main reason for getting the sleeve is because I was diagnosed with PCOS. Me and my husband have been trying to conceive for about 2.5/ 3yrs now. I finally went to the doctor and was told I had PCOS about 2years ago. I went through the ringer with them putting me on birth control, hormones etc. until I found a blog that said none of that helped PCOS but those things were just a band aid solution. I tried losing weight and managed to lose 40lbs, which all came back within 2 months. And I started noticing how no matter what I did or what I ate the weight just kept coming. I went through a bout of depression about not being able to have kids, and that is when I decided to look into weight loss surgery. I heard that it can reverse PCOS symptoms and works almost 95% of the time. When I attended the seminar the doctors also said it worked a lot for people with PCOS. So I am excited to see where this journey takes me. I am doing this to be healthy but a big chunk of me really hopes I can get pregnant a year from now as well. I am only 23 (turning 24 on April 30th!) so I have a lot of life left to live and love to give lol and it’d be great if I could start a family. Any success stories?? Or anybody out there like me with PCOS?? Thanks for reading I know it’s long lol. [I am 5’7 and weighed 410lbs going into this. After the 2 week liquid diet I was down to 397lbs. After surgery I was 399lbs. As of today I am 373lbs. So that’s 37lbs from the beginning and 26lbs post surgery.] -
Considering surgery but don't know where to start
colebaby216 posted a topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
I'm 39 & a mom of 4 amazing boys (21, 17, 13, & 7) & I've been obese or morbidly ones since I was pregnant with my first son 21 years ago. I've tried Keto, Adkins, WW, etc etc & although I lose weight it never stays gone. As soon as I LOOK at a piece of bread, I gain a pound. I've long since cut out sugars & sodas. I like bread but I don't have to have it. I live in Northeast Louisiana & don't know where to begin. My doctor & I have tried medications, but she's anti- weight loss surgery, so talking to her get me no where. I've researched the different types of surgeries, but I don't know which would be best for me (probably because I'm not a doctor or nurse). I just know I'm tired of being 220+ pounds & I want to get down to 140-150 & there's no amount of dieting, exercise, or medication that gets me past 195. I know my insurance won't pay for it so I'll have to finance, which is fine, I just don't know where to start & I'm beginning to get depressed about the whole ideal. My boyfriend is amazing & tells me I don't need surgery but also understands my mental health & how this affects me. Can anyone help me? -
I guess everyone has their opinion on this but I think everyone can agree that being hydrated is good for the body and good for weight loss. I drink around 90-100 ounces of water a day and I credit my water intake for the weight loss I have seen. If I drink a lot of water I rarely if ever get hungry between meals. Remember that water also: 1. helps keep the skin hydrated which will help the skin contract so you do not have a lot of loose skin after the weight loss. I lost over 100 pounds and my skin is nearly back to where it was 30 years ago on my stomach. 2. Reduces water retention which helps keep weight off. 3. Dehydration slows down metabolism....scientific fact....so if you are trying to lose weight, that is something you do not want to happen. 4. If you are diabetic, plenty of water helps flush out waste and keep your numbers under control. 5. More hydration keeps the joints lubricated reducing inflammation and making it easier to walk and move which will improve weight loss. My advice to anyone that has WLS is to continue to force fluids until it becomes second nature to you. I do not think 64 ounces is enough, but that is my personal opinion on my experience. Most people are up 16-18 hours per day, so based on 64 hours, all you have to do is drink 4 ounces an hour....4 ounces....to get 64 ounces in a day. Challenge yourself and go to 6 ounces and you get up to 76 ounces of water. Anyone can force down 4-6 ounces of water in an hour...that is a one ounce shot every 10 minutes to get to 6 ounces. Force yourself to get this done and you will be glad you did.
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1. How long after surgery did it take for you to notice that you were losing weight? Weight loss started pre-surgery and continued through surgery. Fat loss is constant with caloric deficit. Weight loss isn't so shouldn't be taken too seriously or monitored too carefully. 2. What was one of your favorite items to eat right after surgery (would love recipes)? I was on an Optifast only plan for ten days following surgery. I lasted a week and transitioned onto smooth blended soups. I enjoyed neither. 3. How long after surgery did it take you to feel amazing? 4 to 5 days. 4. When exercising, was it hard to get in to the habit of doing so? If it was hard, how did you keep yourself motivated? Easier than before - being lighter is a good feeling generally for walking and my walking speed has increased dramatically.
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7 day post op mental breakdown
Grider replied to lunar.crunch303's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I understand that hormones can change with weight loss surgeries. You have a lot on your plate but you need to stop -just stop with the battles. Let go and give them to God. One person alone with having major surgery amid making life time changes it is too much. Crying is good, but laughter is healing for the body and soul. first take care of you. Find a quiet place, and take time to just be still. Put in a funny movie - something lighthearted that makes you happy or music, a sermon. Call your Dr or support group or find a therapist so you can vent, but get help. we can’t fix the world, and sometimes the more we try, the worse it gets . Concentrate on you. The eviction thing, tell the attorney to handle it, it’s why you pay him. What’s in the past, try to let it stay there. Court things taking forever right now, there’s always a lot of back n forth. Calendar it 4 weeks from today. people can’t hurt you more than what you let them. You stay in control, of you . Learn to respond and not react to unwelcomed news. Wish you the best. just read your profile. Happy Birthday. For you and me both. 4/29/ 53 here. 🎊 -
Food Before and After Photos
Arabesque replied to GreenTealael's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
So sorry for your loss @Starwarsandcupcakes. -
I didn't have my thyroid removed but was diagnosed with hashimotos two years ago and rapidly put on weight. I am 7 weeks post op today and I have lost 40 pounds since surgery. I do think my weight loss seems slower compared to others but I just said to myself today that this is the best I have felt in two years and that makes this whole process completely worth it.
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Revision Supervised Weight Loss Question
Juniper123 posted a topic in Revision Weight Loss Surgery Forums (NEW!)
Brief background, got lapband about 11 years ago (starting BMI was 43). I did well and kept off 55 pounds (BMI 33)... until I started aspirating at night. I had a barium swallow which showed a distended esophagus and a endoscopy which showed reflux. Doc said band needs to come out. I had band unfilled, and as I expected, I've gained weight. I've gained about 30 lbs in the last 5 months (current BMI 38). I want to revise to a gastric bypass. I am well aware that I need surgical help to keep at a healthy weight. Prior to banding, and since being unfilled, I'm constantly hungry and never feel full. I finally felt "normal" with the lapband. When I'm not constantly hungry, I can maintain a healthy weight. But, even with the extra 30 lbs, my BMI is still not over 40, which as I understand it, would make insurance coverage easy. (I have Maryland CareFirst BCBS) My doctor has me doing all the things needed for insurance approval for the revision, including being on a supervised diet. But I'm gaining weight. This does not surprise me -- there was a reason I needed surgical weight loss in the first place -- but I'm getting mixed messages from my doctor and from my diet supervisor (who works for his office). Diet supervisor tells me that I'm less likely to get insurance approval due to my weight gain since being unfilled and being on the supervised diet. Doctor has made vague statements saying that the reflux found on the endoscopy may be enough to make it go through insurance successfully. Diet supervisor wants me to lose a significant amount of weight in the coming month, to try to offset my gains, by going on the pre-surgical diet early. Very honestly, I'm hesitant. If I do end up having to get up to a 40 BMI to have the surgery (12 more pounds...), I don't want to yoyo any more than I have to. And if the reflux finding will get me approved, I don't want to starve myself without the benefit of surgical help. Anybody been in any kind of similar situation? I can use any advice or commiseration available. -
Hey There! Any December 2021 Surgery Friends?
huskymama replied to armartin98's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
Super excited - had my surgery 12/22/2021 I am hanging around 180 BUT I have been working out so i see the loss just gaining muscle AND I actually went running for the first time in 15 years yesterday!!! I was in track in Jr High and High School and kept up through the years until about 15 years ago I had my ACL replaced in 2011 and had cracked my femor so that started my no running gaining weight journey. It felt amazing. At first I felt my lungs after about 5 minutes and I thought hmm maybe I should stop but then I remembered that feeling from running track and racing it turned from this hurts to oh hell yes I loved that feeling because I knew I was running strong and hard in the day. I ran a mile - many leas than the old me could have - but I was proud of that one mile. And I dont feel bad today - my left hip is a bit sore but its full of arthritis so Im not surprised by that. I will rest today and run tomorrow Im building it back up slowly. I can say Ive lost enough I dont have the fat hitting so it was comfortable to run physically other than im super out of shape. I do have a lot of stomach skin - the Apron - it still carries weight as do my hips and thighs. Im where I want to be with the rest of my body - my husband said he can see my ribs and spine pretty dominant I just cant seem to move the hip, lower tummy and thigh fat. Thats where the last 40-50 pounds are that I need to loose. Im hoping squats and running with get it moving. Thanks for listening let me know if anyone here is starting to run! Sw 227 4/16/2022 180 TWL 47 pounds -
My Weight-loss Progress
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Today is the day!!
Crisscat replied to Slim Brotha H's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Good luck I hope all has gone well with you and that you are now recovering and on your way to weight loss -
Eating terrible closer to surgery
fourmonthspreop replied to mrsjo's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Yeah, I honestly struggled the most in the beginning of the journey (a bit before my initial consultation) and then extreme struggle right at the end (just weeks before my pre op diet) because of that constant fear that eating was over and done with forever. Yeah...not the case at all but damn does it harbor the food funeral. I honestly wish bariatric centers would offer more emphasis and support in that. I think a lot of people go into it believing surgery means no more enjoying food at all in any capacity...not the case. I had a lot of trouble with overeating a month before my surgery. I was working out like MAD so I didnt gain weight but I wanted to eat everything delicious because I believed that was my last chance. It's literally maybe a month to two months until you can eat relatively normal foods again and it goes by fast. I had my surgery in February and I'm already eating everything again accept bread, raw vegetables and refined sugars. I feel plenty satisfied and enjoy what I eat. One can probably argue all day how to see food post op and how that can benefit your weight loss and weight maintenance but im talking more so about realistic, day to day stuff. For some the all or nothing approach works but for most, it's okay to admit to yourself that you still "enjoy" food while also not letting it take over your life or your weight. I can't stress enough how temporary the extreme dieting is. It's not meant to last. No you can't overeat post op, but you likely won't want to anyway and you can still enjoy a variety foods just like before. When I needed to get back on the horse pre op, it helped to remind myself that it's not a goodbye forever from food, it's a goodbye forever to overeating. Its merely a "see you in a month or two" to solid foods and complex carbs. Lol Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app
