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You might want to contact your team for professional advice. rule out medical issues etc.... All I can offer is my personal experience. What works for me may not work for others. I went back to bariatric real food stage. The calories that once worked to put my body for weight loss stopped working. I used myfitnesspal to dial in my diet, I started at 1200 calories. then dialed my calories back by 100. ( dial calories up or down to find your own weight loss calorie range) I did the same for my carbohydrate range.

pain is all across the board. Some people have a lot, some people have none at all. I've been hanging out on bariatric internet boards for over five years, and it seems like a majority of us have little to no pain, however. They'll send you home with something for the pain. I never opened mine because I had no pain. But if you're one of the unfortunate ones who do, the meds will help - just take the meds to keep on top of it.

I’ve recently discovered that when I eat/drink my protein, food from bariatric store or in cases where I just add water or pre-made protein drinks Ect, that I get hungrier faster than when I just cook up my own small meal, or even just have a small piece of chicken or protein Ive made or pick up from restaurant. I will be not hungry eating regular food at home that include the lean meats ect for like 4-6 hours. If I eat just a protein drink, snack, bar, bariatric meal however, seems like I’m ready to eat again no later than 3 hrs or even sooner..... anyone else ever notice a difference and know why? I’m so busy I often don’t have the extra time or energy to pre-make food or cook dinner so I just use pre-made bariatric protein food usually.

Yes been in hospital every weekend for UTI infection keeps coming back had u one test on Friday and showed clear. I’ve been eating to much at certain points do u think it could be dumping syndrome? But last faint on Friday there had been a two hour gap. I had the opp in turkey so I’m not in touch with the Bariatric team here but have been in and out and had every test. There was a problem after my surgery three days in and I couldn’t keep even a single drop of water down. The done an endoscopy and found I had oedema in my stomach. They drained it but said if it didn’t settle I would need the mini bye pass. Thank god it settled but can’t help feel it’s something to do with that. I do suffer a bit with low blood pressure so could be that. I do fed up I can’t face going to hospital again. thank you for your reply April

They will not leave you in your clothes before you have surgery. You'll have the IV prior to surgery and once you are out of recovery/awake and able to move would be the soonest you can change. Having worked in the medical field I know it is NOT that big of a deal to disconnect an IV for a patient to change, but you run the risk of ruining your clothes. If you're a bleeder, or if you have a drain tube, you can bleed through bandages and leak around tubes. If you have an emergency, they will cut your clothes. Honestly, you are better off to wear a nice loose hospital gown that does not get trapped under you and maybe pull against your stomach when you are in bed, and just take a robe you can belt around you and cover up your back (or ask for a 2nd gown to wear backward) when you walk if you're that concerned about how you look. Having been through major surgery before, though not bariatric surgery, I can tell you I could have given two shits what anyone in the hospital thought about how I looked when I was in the hall or anywhere else though. I plan to wear in a front-zip sports bra with a loose knee-length cotton dress over leggings and hard-soled slippers to also wear back home and take a clean pair of underwear and socks. I'll take my usual 'trip bag of bathroom necessities' along with biotin dry mouth spray and chapstick (for the dehydration/intubation), an eye mask and plug-in headphones (block lights and sounds), plus an extra-long phone charger, my phone, and wallet. I'll leave a pillow in the car for the ride home. Boom, one cinch sack packed, and I'm done. They'll give you anything else you need.

It's all about willpower. I got through it (and the food my roommates had) by looking up bariatric recipes for similar items that I could have once I had my surgery. Looking at all the good food I'd be able to have once I was done helped me through it. It's tough, but you've got this. I went to bed early and woke up late, started "eating" as late as possible, and was able to make it to bed not hungry. In eight days, you'll be on your way to a new you. Just hang in there, and you can do it. ❤️

I seriously doubt they have done the research and have a good grasp on both the risks AND the benefits of the procedure. If they have the gall to express their opinion about it, patiently and calmly say "I hear what your saying, but I did a lot of research about the procedure. Do you mind telling me what you know about bariatrics? I want to make sure we're on the same page if we are going to have a serious conversation about it." Bottom line -make sure they know this is your health, and your decision. Their approval is not required. If they needed or wanted a hip replacement or back surgery (both have higher risks of something going wrong and both irreversible procedures) you'd respect that and keep your nose out of their health care decisions.

I think you can go to Mexico for self pay bariatrics below the 35 BMI. I haven't heard of any in the states though. Just be aware that there is a reason that they have a minimum BMI. There is concern that you lose so much you could get close to underweight.

Here is a good site with some great bariatric recipes including smoothies/shakes https://www.bariatricfoodie.com/category/bariatric-recipes/protein-shakes/

My, my! It's getting so real for me now! A week from tomorrow will be the beginning of my liquid diet! Although I seem to be getting some early practice in due to this stupid tooth! AGH. I'm in the middle of a root canal -- I started to tell the dentist just to pull it, but I didn't want a gaping hole in my mouth weeks before the big surgery. So I have to put up with the pain until my dentist finishes. I have to see him 3 more times in 2 weeks until he can cap it. Last week, I cleaned out my kitchen cabinets and the freezer; next weekend I plan to remove all food from the refrig except for what I can have during the liquid phase. I also have to get my place in order before my sis gets here. I had wanted the surgery in January, but I believe in the divine order of things. Things got held up until my primary doctor returned from vacay because the Bari center didn't accept her clearance statement, so she had to redo it. By the time the Bari center was able to catch up with me (late January), I decided to wait until March until my sis could get here and I wasn't trying to have surgery during the retrograde. As it turns out, the surgery will be 2 days before my birthday, as divinely ordered (at least in my mind anyway); it will be a renewal, a reset, a reorder to my life. Nevermind my babbling... I plan to use this thread as my public journey all the way.

I am still debating on the water bottle vs hydration pack. They say the hydration pack is inconvenient to refill along the way since you have to remove items from your pack to get to it. It seems most people take a smart water disposable water bottle and refill it, because the disposable water bottles are so light and easy to replace if you want a new clean one. A few take their own water bottle from home. Last time I did that, the water bottle weighted too much ditched it for disposable water bottles. My current pack that I THINK I am going to take has an external hydration pack pocket, so that makes it easier to access to refill. It seems like most people carry no more than 1L at a time, although I might want more for those long stretches without water source. I might carry a 1.5L hydration pack... or I might carry 1-2 smart water bottles and clip them to the front straps of my pack for easy access. Another option is one big smart water bottle with a hydration hose. Amazon has some for water bottles. I do NOT want to have to reach into my backpack pocket to get to the water bottle. They are usually easy to get out... but often need assistance or to remove the pack to put them away. Too much hassle. And the more I think about it, I think I might be able to physically drink the most water if I do have the hydration pack with hose. Funny, such a little decision takes a lot of thought! My bariatric multi is one big vitamin with everything in it including the Iron. It also has calcium, but I am supposed to also take 2 calcium nitrate chews daily at times that I do not take the multi. I just got my lab work back. Everything is pretty normal nutrition wise, and I am already not consistent with taking my vitamins. I take my bariatric at least 50% of the time. My nutritionist is great and had a lot of great tips that would be extremely helpful for most bariatric patients turned athletes/outdoor enthusiasts... but she obviously isn't familiar with a thru hike. Her suggestion was to bring ALL of my supplements from home with me, I had to explain.... I will be carrying EVERYTHING on my back, all day, every day, for 7 weeks (The hike and travel afterwards). I considered shipping from home to a mid-point location, but I decided against that for logistical reasons. Via Francegina is on my bucket list, assuming I like the Camino as much as I think I will! There is also a system of trails at the top of the Alps where you hike lodging to lodging... once I am in good physical shape and my heart muscle is stronger, that is on my bucket list too! I also want to do the Appalachian Trail, but can only hike up to 7 weeks at a time, so that would take me several summers to complete. And I am intimidated by having to carry my tent/food in my pack. I think it will be much harder to support my healthy diet when I need to carry so much crap food that doesn't go bad and will be enough calories to support a wilderness thru hike.

The very first time I felt the full impact of my weight loss was when I began to have A LOT more energy for tasks and activities I had long dropped because of fatigue. Walking long distances became pleasurable again and I encouraged others (mostly my thin & lazy teen kids) to join me. I believe it was around 190lbs (down ~60lbs) Next was when my super attractive Surgical PA said he wasn't worried about me or my progress, I was at the proper weight for my frame and I looked *amazing*. I could tell he really meant it by the way he gushed over my results. That was around 160lbs (down 90lbs) Another time, I was waiting in my surgeon's office about to discuss revision (from VSG to RNY to solve a few complications) and a prospective patient kept staring. Hard. He eventually asked me if i was waiting with/for someone and I told him no just my surgeon. I thought he was trying to *pick me up* but in fact he was confused that I needed to see a surgeon & was a WLS patient because i didn't look like it. (I've heard these types of comments several times) Two final events sealed the deal for me: My Bariatric surgeon and I decided revision to RNY was the best course of action for me but he DID NOT want me to lose anymore weight. He was adamant that I was at the right size and was already small enough at 155lbs & 5'3". (The revision went well and I'm maintaining in the 150s as promised.) Finally, I had Plastic surgery. At the Preop workup, I was discussing my plan with the surgeon. I wanted a Mommy Makeover- breast augmentation, Tummy Tuck and Brazilian Butt Lift. I wanted lipo on my back to transfer fat to my buttocks. He informed me that there wasn't much fat to lipo and it was excess skin that needed to be removed (instead I would need skin removal - a back lift and *maybe* after we could lipo my inner thighs for fat grafting.) He manually lifted the skin to prove it. I was shocked because I thought for certain it was excess fat but apparently I have thicker skin in certain areas. ****************************************** I took the long way round just to say that there were many incremental (progress) points that help me view myself differently/adequately and not just one defining Aha! moment. For sure outside validation played it's role and luckily I became receptive to complements instead of misanthropic because of society's new level of interaction with me (nicer, more welcoming) However, I'm unsure if I would have ever believed anyone's comments if I didn't begin to feel & see the change on my own first. Being kind, loving and accepting myself at every single stage of weight loss, instead of just at goal, really helped me. Good Luck ❤

If you have an iPhone there’s an app if you go to the Apple store and type in bariatric different apps will pull up and one of them is a bariatric pantry basically and you can buy all of your bariatric needs from there. That’s where I’ve been getting all my protein powder including my plain protein. Walmart also sells a really good plant-based protein that is non-flavored

Curious on what information your husband’s family used to formulate their group “assumption” of WLS being dangerous and a waste of time/money; are members of his family in the medical profession? Print this and hand it out to his family at the event your attending tomorrow: https://asmbs.org/resources/studies-weigh-in-on-safety-and-effectiveness-of-newer-bariatric-and-metabolic-surgery-procedure

Yes, I’ve hiked both the Great Divide Trail and the West Coast Trail in Canada, the Te Araroa Trail in New Zealand, and the Via Francigena in France and Italy. Of course, I had a full-size stomach on those journeys. Do you plan on carrying water bottles, or will you be using a hydration pack? Water isn’t light, so I’m still trying to determine how much I’ll need to carry between refills before buying a pack specifically for this hike. I am fairly athletic and have a pack that I currently use on long cycling trips, but at 2 litres it might be too heavy (4.4lbs) for me to carry on foot. I use a bariatric-specific multi-vitamin that is complete including iron, so will only need to carry 35 of those in addition to 70 calcium citrate mini-tabs purchased specifically for this trip (800 mg of calcium citrate plus 800 IU of vitamin D3 per tab, brand is “Rainbow Light”). I see a WLS nutritionist who is also an expert in bariathlete nutrition, and as I move closer to the departure date, I’ll be asking her for Camino-specific advice. I would be happy to post her suggestions here, though keep in mind they will be specific to plant-based whole foods eaters.

I was told by my bariatric practitioner that UNTOASTED bread an get gummy, ball up in your pouch, and cause trouble. Toasting the bread makes it more crumbly thus making it easier to make it’s journey through the narrow passage. I was allowed 1/2 slice of toast when I transitioned to a general diet, about 7 weeks post-op.

I went to a bariatric surgeon who insisted that I go on a high protein, low carb, low fat diet. It sounds helpful, but realistically, I'm a pescetarian who relies on fish, beans, nuts, low-fat yogurt, and low-fat cottage cheese for my protein. When I told him I eat fish, he basically said that's good and gave me the impression that I'd have to rely on fish for my protein needs. I would get sick of fish if having to eat it two or three times a day. And he said no protein shakes or any food that's squishy or liquidy. That rules out protein shakes, yogurt, and cottage cheese. And beans are ruled out because they contain carbohydrates. Nuts are ruled out because they're high in fat. I was very discouraged after talking to him. How have you changed your eating habits? Which eating plan do you follow now?

I thought I wanted gastric sleeve for WLS. My main reason was my concern about malabsorption at my age. I have multiple co-morbidities associated with my obesity. Now I am considering gastric bypass instead. Of course, I will make final decision with my surgeon. "Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Versus Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy to Treat Morbid Obesity-Related Comorbidities: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26661105 "a total of 18,455 patients, enrolled in 62 recent studies, were included in this meta-analysis. Patients receiving LRYGB had a significantly higher percentage of excess weight loss and better resolution of hypertension, dyslipidemia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and arthritis compared with those receiving LSG. LRYGB and LSG showed similar effects on type 2 diabetes mellitus and sleep apnea." Found a journal article "Biological effects of bariatric surgery on obesity-related comorbidities" https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3569476/ DIABETES AND IMPAIRED GLUCOSE TOLERANCE "A landmark paper by Pories and colleagues demonstrated that of 141 patients with diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), all but 2 became euglycemic within 10 days after RYGB. Longer follow-up demonstrated that over 8 years, 83% of patients with preoperative T2DM and 99% of those with IGT were able to maintain normal levels of plasma glucose, HgA1C and insulin." OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA "Most patients (62%) had residual disease. In fact, only 25% of patients in the 6 studies that reported individual patient data (representing 23% of all patients in the meta-analysis) were able to reach an AHI consistent with OSA resolution ( DYSLIPIDEMIA Hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia were significantly improved across all surgical procedures at 2 year follow-up. The percentage of patients whose conditions improved was typically 70% or higher, with maximum improvements in hyperlipidemia in the BPD-DS (91%) and RYGB groups (96.9%). HYPERTENSION "The percentages of patients in the total population whose hypertension resolved or improved were 61.7% and 78.5%, respectively." Only those who did not regain weight maintained lower blood pressure after two years. Sent from my SM-T580 using BariatricPal mobile app

spend a lot of time on this and/or other bariatric sites to learn as much as you can. I hung out on these sites for a few months beforehand and felt really prepared when I finally went in for surgery. as for what to take to the hospital, not much. You'll be in a hospital gown and those non-slip socks, and you'll be sleeping a lot of the time. Maybe just your phone and something to read. And wear baggy clothes - they'll be easier to get on and off and to go home in. pain is all across the board. Some of us have none at all, some have a lot. But I've been hanging out on these boards for over five years, and I would say most of us have little to no pain with this surgery.

So the last couple weeks have been crazy.... i had my consult appointment which was about 2 hours and it went quite well with only one hiccup. There was some discrepancy between what the insurance told the surgery center and what I was told by the insurance. I called the insurance 4 different times and got one person twice and I was assured the information I was given was correct. So here goes, the insurance told the doctors office that I needed 4 months of nutrition appointment and follow ups. The insurance told me only one month. So, my nurse who is the bariatric “Navigator” said after my second appointment which is on March 11, with the nutritionist she will submit the Pre-Authorization form the insurance sent me and if they sign off on it we are good to go. I had a cardiologist appointment last week also and was scheduled for a echo stress test which I had yesterday and passed easily. 😃👍🏼. Saw the Cardiologist right after and he gave me the green light for surgery. I have my Psychology appointment at 1:30 today. I will report back in when I have more information. Nina

@Doodle210 if you consider Mexico, you might want to add Dr. Illan to your research. Dr. Selim Jalil Illan has been assigned as a Master Surgeon and Surgeon of Excellence. This means that he achieved both Mexican and US standards of quality, safety and care for his patients. He is also a fellow in the American College of Surgeons (FACS), the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) Feel free to contact me for more information michelle@hospitalbc.com 619-202-4405. https://drjalil.com/ https://hospitalbc.com/

You've identified a critical issue and reached out, but I'm sorry to say that unfortunately this is not a venue that can provide the knowledgeable, meaningful, consequential long-term advice and support that you may well need. If you read bariatric boards and blogs, you'll quickly realize that the keys to overcoming disordered eating and successfully losing and maintaining over the long term are committing to changing behaviours and developing new emotional coping strategies. I'm not talking about knitting and calligraphy. If you have an eating disorder, you won't be able to do this without professional help. Seeing a therapist regularly over the long term, reaching out to whatever mental health support programs you may have available, reading self-help and addiction books, actively engaging with self-help workbooks each day, and joining a professional online addiction food recovery program are all options that will likely need to be used in combination. If you put the time and effort into getting help to address your inner demons and learn how to make different choices, then you will have a successful outcome. If you are not able to do this, then you likely will not. Surgery only takes an hour, but for some it takes a lifetime of mental health support to achieve and maintain weight loss. Sometimes it may take hundreds of hours of introspection, therapy, and mental health support to be able to change the behaviours that lead to obesity. Surgery will help you lose weight, but it doesn't keep you from gaining it all back. A person could have 20 weight loss surgeries and still end up being obese. For many obese people, myself included, the real reasons behind becoming obese have absolutely nothing to do with how much - or how little - they can eat. Please reach out to your team and let them know that you're struggling. They're there to support you, and they have access to both internal and local community resources that can help you work through this. And please don't stop talking about how you're doing here - it may not be much help, but connection is better than isolation. In the meantime, here are a few books that address the mental health aspects of disordered eating to get started with: Weight Loss Surgery Does NOT Treat Food Addiction by Connie Stapleton The Emotional First Aid Kit: A Practical Guide to Life After Bariatric Surgery by Cynthia L. Alexander Bariatric Mindset Success: Live Your Best Life and Keep The Weight Off After Weight Loss Surgery by Kristin Lloyd The Cognitive Behavioral Workbook for Weight Management: A Step-by-Step Program by Michele Laliberte Overcoming Binge Eating, Second Edition: The Proven Program to Learn Why You Binge and How You Can Stop by Christopher G. Fairburn The Binge Eating and Compulsive Overeating Workbook: An Integrated Approach to Overcoming Disordered Eating by Carolyn Coker Ross

Thank you! And those three months will fly by, and you'll be losing that weight before you know it! That would be AMAZING! This is the first time in 15 years I've been under 300, but it'd be 20 years since I was under 200! I've been a big girl for as long as I can remember. I'd be nice to feel comfortable with my weight for once! I got excited every time I lost twenty pounds lol, but getting under 300 just seemed so far away... This time last year I was 389 pounds. That was one of the things that made me look into weight loss surgery. I didn't want to reach 400 pounds. By the time I had my first doc appointment with the bariatric doc I was 385. Now I'm 298. That's a HUGE thing for me! I'm very much looking forward to my weight being smaller and smaller! Thank you! I wish you the best of luck as well! Everyone has been warning me that the weight will come off slower in the second or third month so I'm expecting that and perhaps I'll avoid my scale lol so I won't stress about it! I just was anxious to see if I was finally under 300 because I was soooo close at my doctor's appointment last week! I hope you're own journey is going well and I wish you the best of luck!

I had started this post and abandoned it out of, I don’t know, fear? Of putting it out there? Or maybe just knowing it is too long and wordy. And I thought should I try again? I came back to try again and to my surprise it was still there. So I will bore anyone whom decides to read it to tears. And add in some new information. My surgery was April 29th 2019, I also had my gallbladder removed due to chronic inflammation. I guess nothing was quite normal due to lifelong chronic illness. I had two other pelvic surgeries before and after my RNY. It’s likely my surgery and subsequent pneumonia shortly after ended up revealing a existing condition that was slowly but steadily getting worse. My chronic conditions muddies the waters when it comes to any possible issues with my RNY. I had an early one year follow up at Cleveland Clinic, at nine months. There are four follow up appointments but they got smashed closer together due to some issues along the way. It’s confusing sometimes and exhausting. I’m working hard at it, I am grateful for the tool this offered me that I would not have had otherwise to combat metabolic disorders and inability to exercise. Even though recovery was complicated and revealed a lot of issues and some things have gotten worse along the way. On my second follow up the doctor wanted a Upper GI fluoroscopy and endoscopy for stricture, it was severe stricture so I doubt one dilation was enough. And didn’t abate the symptoms. By the third follow up I was needing to deal with my gastroenterologist wanting to do a colonoscopy that was postponed from before my surgery. It had been scheduled but then my gastric bypass surgery ended up scheduled first. My bariatric surgeon said that my gastroenterologist could do the endoscopy since I was having the colonoscopy. I won’t repeat the story. But I was pissed since it was never discussed that he would do a dilation. Only check the status of the stricture and ulcers. If possible dilation were on the table it should have been discussed. I followed up with the gastroenterologist physician assistant. She glazed over all the problems with the procedure. Downplayed my symptoms like dark sticky stool (sorry tmi) which indicates blood. And other issues. And continued pain. I brought up sharp stabbing pain and spasms in my chest on the left side under my rib area, and some crushing pain, was suggested to see a cardiologist even though she didn’t think it was anything to worry about (still waiting to get an appointment) I do need to do this no matter what due to other issues anyway. she stopped the proton pump inhibitor medication since according to the dr. there were no ulcers and it contradicts my medication for muscle spasms (makes it not work) and I need that. Just carafate as needed. at this early one year appointment he called me a star patient (no one has ever said that about me before) and was surprised at how much weight I’d lost in nine months. He asked if I was still losing and how fast. I still need to lose a few lbs for my height he seemed to imply I should stop. (Was he concerned? I couldn’t tell, I can’t read people) But yet I never got to see my nutritionist even though I was supposed to. The appointment was muddled and confused even though I gave him my written notes with questions he didn’t answer some of them. And I was too exhausted from the long wait (my surgeon wasn’t available to see me personally) I brought up the endoscopy, the pain. That I cannot take proton pump inhibitors. Discussed concerns about the remnant stomach. My history of ulcers in that portion of stomach and small intestine. He referred me to see another gastroenterologist in the hospital and then have a different kind of test/ procedure called a double balloon enteroscopy. Has anyone here had a procedure like this? I’m a little upset that they expect me to see the new doctor first before they will schedule the enteroscopy leaving me in pain. And it’s very difficult to travel to the clinic . i wanted to discuss another issue and get referral for a neurologist in Cleveland clinic but he didn’t acknowledge that at all. i asked the nurse and asked him about referral for plastic surgery for skin removal and any possible coverage if there are skin issues involved. They implied that my insurance would cover it in Florida due to skin issues. well I did find out that A. I’d have to go through the process of seeing another gastroenterologist prior to having this double balloon enteroscopy. It’s hard traveling to Cleveland Clinic. And B. They lied about the plastic surgeon at Cleveland Clinic. They accept no insurance at all. My thighs are so bad that just trying to shave my legs and I have to catch 22 if I don’t it’s irritates my skin. But I shaved my legs and my thighs especially the one leg was downright bloody. The skin is just so horrendous. has anyone used BariatricPal MX Hospital and used their financing? I am getting close to goal (the doctor thinks I’m at goal probably) and want to start looking into the possibility of thigh skin removal, tummy tuck at the least ... I’m grateful to finally have lost weight but being bony as heck in some areas and all the loose skin and chub in some areas especially where my skin is bloody raw just doesn’t feel good at all. And I wonder if the tummy tuck would help my core strength whereas I cannot strengthen it through exercise? (Due to my chronic illness) on a side note. Someone important to my mother went to see my surgeon regarding gastric bypass surgery. My surgeon is such a great guy. So I referred her boyfriend to him he needs to lose weight for knee replacement surgery and his health. I just worry her boyfriend will not be serious about it. It upsets me when people have the opportunity and choice to get healthy and they make the choice not to do it. He has diabetes, high blood pressure and needs knee replacement surgery. He could be healthy if he made the choice to do it. I have never had the choice. Even surgery can’t fix me. It helped give me a tool to fight my weight but can’t cure lifelong chronic illness and disability. He tends to question and judge what I eat or don’t eat or what I do. But my situation is very different than the norm. I want to be supportive but I see him making terrible food choices and not being willing to change even small habits. Like eating a lot of bad carbs. I’ve been there myself in the past. So,I, not judgmental. A sugar carb addict will find lots of reasons to justify what they eat. But also needs to admit the addiction and break free of it. I just wonder, Do I try to help, or do I step aside and not get involved? I just went to my pcp for throat pain and need thyroid ultrasound and tests. And at some point need to address some issues. Like inability to drink without dysphasia of liquids. I know it’s neurological but have no diagnosis. My pcp thinks even with a diagnosis nothing can be done. But as it gets worse I can barely drink enough water ... ive rambled enough and I’m hoping my long message is not a mistake. If you have read this far. Thank you. Any opinion/advice on the skin removal surgery is appreciated (Mexico) as well as the double balloon enteroscopy.

30 days post op Now past the 4 week mark - I really notice a difference! Feeling mostly "back to normal" and will continue to wear the compression garments another 4 weeks to total 8. I am thrilled with the results! Assessed current wardrobe today and seem to be settling nicely into XS/S tops, size 8 dress and 6/8 slacks in petites. Most interim clothing will need to be donated. Other basics go back to seamstress. Appetite, bowels and water intake have returned to normal. Do not wish to loose anymore weight. Looking forward to moving into spring as the new stabilized me after an intense 16 months of bariatric research, planning, scheduling, gastric sleeve, nutritional and lifestyle adjustments and lastly, plastics. It's all good. So very thankful for the opportunity to have halted the obesity cycle.