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No regrets. Coming up on 6 weeks post op. No gerd from my vsg after the revision to bypass. Weight loss satisfactory. Equivalent to the sleeve. I just broke a one week stall, and dropped another 1.8 lbs. What is interesting is I had heard horror stories about "never trust a fart" lol and bowel problems. I almost decided against it but surgeon said I had to fix my gerd... But maybe cause I no longer have severe gerd, everything is literally normal. I feel no difference than before any of my WLS except I get full after a few bites. Having said that, I am early on and hope this positive trend of health continues. I can handle stalls and working to get the weight off but am always scared of leaks and other serious complications down the road. Sent from my SM-N986U using BariatricPal mobile app

I've looked through some other past posts, mostly 3-5+ years ago, and Googled to my fingers were numb, so I'm going to post this here and see if anyone has thoughts/suggestions. I'm just about 6-weeks post op, great weight loss, and was cruising right along until last Tuesday 9/7/21. I ended up in the ER for what I thought was a blood clot in my right leg. After a sonar, they assured me I had no clot, but I did have moderate cellulitis. The doctor put me on generic Bactrim 800 2x/day, and Cefalexin 500 x4/day, for 7 days. I have had cellulitis once before pre-op, in the opposite leg, and was on a much smaller treatment of antibiotics (just the Bactrim), and within 3 days (out of the 7 day treatment) it was practically gone! So, when this past Friday rolls around and my right leg isn't better at all I start to freak out b/c it's been 4 days of double the amount of antibiotics I've had for the same issue in the past, and when I put my sock on it still cause me to "yelp" in pain, not to mention the entire shin/left calf in hot and swollen. I call my PCP and he graciously humors me and puts me on the Oral Liquid version of Bactrim, for 10 days b/c I think the tablets aren't being absorbed. So, I've now had 6 doses of the Bactrim Liquid antibiotic, and I'm on my last day of Cefalexin, but really only feel like the leg is maybe, 10-15% better than it was a week ago? I will say that I do not have a fever, so I don't think I'm septic or anything, but it's getting in the way of my exercise and weight loss during the peak period of time when I should be working towards losing as much as possible. Should it still be this bad? Has anyone else had this issue? Any suggestions or things I should talk to my PCP or bariatric surgeon about? Do you think it will just take longer and I should hold my horses and take a chill pill? 😅 Thanks for your time and thoughts everyone. -Josh

I experienced weight gain pre op and it was because I was mourning the future loss of food. I ate things I shouldn’t because I was worried I would never be able to have them again. I did manage to lose the extra weight really quick on the pre op diet but I probably could have lost more had I not had all the food funerals. One thing that may be helpful in avoiding that is that if there is a food you have an intolerance for post op most likely you will also develop a taste aversion for it so it’s not like you will be craving it and never be able to eat it again. I didn't realize that so I wanted to eat everything I loved one last time before surgery and I packed on the pounds.

I am having such a difficult time loosing weight pre-op is not even funny. Has anyone experienced this phenomenon it can be due to anxiety, bad patterns of eating etc. can you share you experience and how did you overcome it?

I agree with FutureSkyDiver - fat is lost unevenly, and you really can't do much to control it. Exercise is great for you regardless of age. I exercise a lot more that I'm now in my 60s than I have at any other time of my adult life. It not only boosts your weight loss (although as they say, diet is at least 80% of weight loss), but it's great for your overall health.

I have Psoriasis, and I think it exacerbated with the rapid weight loss. I’m just one giant itch with spots all over 🤪 I have been upping my light therapy and that seems to be clearing it - I don’t have Vitamin D issues (due to the light therapy) my dietician was like that’s one of the highest we have seen🤣 My Ferritin was low pre-surgery, it’s higher than it was due to consistently taking my vitamins.

Also the famous three week stall (not always right at three weeks), glycogen storage (needs lots of Water for the body to store it)… if the scale fluctuations bother you there are a few options… one, just weigh once a week. Do it after your morning bathroom routine so it’s consistent with your daily pattern.. two: if you want to weigh each day take today’s weight and subtract it from your weight seven days prior. This will give you a rolling average of your weekly loss, it’s handy for spotting true stalls / slow downs etc.

My surgery was ~8 mos ago. I've started having very itchy skin all over my body... legs, arms, chest, abdomen, etc. Everywhere except my face. And there are some areas that have red 'bumps'. They look like a teen breakout but they're not actually pimples, and I haven't had breakouts for > 20 years. If I'm not paying attention, I scratch so much that I end up with huge hematomas/ scratch marks in large areas. The areas with the 'bumps' are most itchy but I'm essentially scratching everywhere depending on the day. I thought it was dry skin but moisturizing hasn't helped. And I've never had this type of problem before during any season. I've lost just over 55lbs or almost 30% of my overall starting weight, and just over 80% of my excess body weight. Not sure if this is even related to the surgery/ weight loss, but my partner remembers we were told something about skin issues if there is some sort of malnutrition after surgery, but we don't recall the details. My latest lab work was essentially ok except for still very low ferritin and vitamin D, which are both HIGHER than pre-surgery because I'm taking the supplements so those don't seem related to my issue. I think Vitamin A was normal as was everything else. Has anyone else been told of any specific deficiencies that may lead to these skin problems, like itchiness and bumps? What specific nutritional deficiencies have you been told may cause this? Thanks!

I am one week after lapband removal after 19 years. I had to have an iron infusion as my iron was extremely low. Apparently iron deficiency and in many cases nutritional deficiency is a consequence of bariatric surgery (good to be aware of) as no one tells you this. I had very little weight loss on lapband surgery. I am so glad to be rid of it. Very sick of the intermittent choking and vomiting. Very annoying. I wish everyone all the very best on their decisions - I think I would rethink lapband surgery (unless it has changed dramatically in the last 19 years). Good luck.

Hi there! I am so sorry for the late reply.......life has been challenging this past month. Did you have your surgery in August? I hope you did and that all is well. Please let me know. I am doing well....still no reflux! My weight loss is much slower than I would like. I weighed 225 on July 15th when I started the pre-op liquid diet and lost 6 lbs. On surgery day, July 22nd, I weighed 218. So I have lost 18lbs in 7 weeks and a total of 25lbs. My surgeon reminded me that my goal is to lose a total of 50-60lbs so I've actually lost about 50% of my goal. That perspective turned around my thinking and I am more optimistic. I am currently in a 9 day stall. Hopefully I will enter the 100's soon. I am going to increase my water intake, exercise and protein this week and pray the scale moves downward.

I have BS of CA PPO and also got the gastric sleeve. If you have a bmi of 40+, then you qualify. If you have a bmi of 35 with at least one comorbidity, then you will qualify too. They require a psychological evaluation, nutritional support, proof that you have attempted to lose weight in the past, particularly within the past 3 - 6 months (primary doctor can provide that information - pretty much just showing weight loss and weight gain again). I also had to do multiple tests, but that was due to my surgeon's requirements, not insurance. My surgeon's office told me that Blue Shield of CA is one of the easier insurances to work with. They don't make you have to jump through as many hoops as other insurances. Once my paperwork was submitted along with all my requirement documentation, I got approved in less than a week. Here is a link to a pdf on Blue Shield of California's website. It shows the requirements for weight loss surgery, to help give a more thorough idea. https://www.blueshieldca.com/bsca/bsc/public/common/PortalComponents/provider/StreamDocumentServlet?fileName=PRV_PA_Bariatric_Surgery.pdf

Don’t worry about the hair! It grows back ! ❤️

Congratulations on getting started on this path. Many people on here say it is weird, but somehow easier to lose weight once they have made up their mind to do surgery. I guess there is something to that. Less stress and cortisol or just more drive from being hopeful but it seems to help many people. Just one or two small changes and you should be able to drop 20 pounds eventually. How long do you have to wait? Do you have the 6 months monitored weight loss??

See if your bariatric group has a therapist they recommend who works on food addiction issues with folks who have had weight loss surgery. Get someone on the job who is better aligned and more knowledgable about your needs.

It really depends how much you like what your current therapist is doing outside of the weight topic. If you feel like you want her to be in your life, then just don't talk to her about weight loss and use bariatric support groups for that. If she's turning into one of these preachy, teetering-on-the-edge-of-anti-science types, maybe now's a good time to thank her for what she's done for you and find someone who aligns better with your goals. It is YOUR life and not open to anyone's—not even your therapist's—judgment.

My therapist didn’t agree with the surgery either. He thought it was the easy way out. I just told him we would have to agree to disagree cause I was doing it and I don’t really talk much about my weight loss with him. He did call to check on me after my surgery and he asks how I’m doing but when I was looking to talk to someone about boredom eating I went elsewhere.

I'm in the beginning process of my bariatric journey, had my information session a few weeks ago and my big appointment with the surgeon, nurse, nutritionist, etc. is coming up in 3 weeks. So excited! I've been thinking about this health and wellness renewal with bariatric surgery for several years now. I've also been on a journey with my mental health (anxiety & depression) for about 4 years and have made some wonderful progress. I have a good support system of doctors but lately my therapist is making me scratch my head. For those of you on your journey - or that have experience - tell me about your journey with your mental health along with the bariatric surgery process. What I mean by my therapist is making me scratch my head.....so, for the past several years, my therapist has helped me get to a place where I can work on myself and my relationship with my parents (suffered mental/emotional as well as some physical abuse from parents). I made so much progress in 2 years with this...true healing, feeling so much more confident and content with myself. This progress finally led me to go forward with realizing that I was ready to commit to wanting to help myself and begin my bariatric weight loss journey. So, when I brought this up to my therapist, her reaction was not exactly what I expected. (I've read about people's different reactions so I'm of course trying not to let this bother me and feel like I probably need to either move on or realize that's her opinion, not mine). Anyway, when I try to discuss my wants/needs regarding my request for help when it comes to emotional eating/overeating/breaking that psychological connection, she's not really wanting to go there with me. She gives me very little help and keeps saying, "maybe you just won't have this surgery"...and suggests calling local weight loss places that focus on holistic methods of weight loss, etc. that cost $$$. She keeps telling me I need to read all of these books on "miracle weight loss", "medicine is bad", etc. ...ok, so....I know if someone is offering you some "magic unrealistic" guarantee if you "buy their program" they will promise you guaranteed weight loss for life....Ok, that's not for me. I've been there, done that, time and time again. You know the story...the diets we've all tried, the books we've all read, the shakes, you name it. I'm pushing 50 years old...been around the block with weight loss, like all of us here and I'm just not buying it. But, I did try to hear her out. What I'm disappointed in is that I feel that this relationship with this therapist is not helpful. I think I probably need to find another avenue of therapy. I know my hospital offers some group therapy, which I plan on doing. I'm grateful for this website and forum for help and support. If anyone has any advice - therapy suggestions, books/podcasts, etc. to work on my mental health with the emotional eating connection - I would be so grateful. I am working hard already at trying to change these things for myself now so I can be successful. Thank you again for your help!!

Hair loss is a common side effect of WLS. As long as the OP is in contact with their doctors, etc., no need for a specialist.

I lost 30 pounds and four inches off my waist in 4 months (before even thinking about WLS) doing CrossFit, which is basically HIIT plus strength training. I can't speak for post-op progress since my surgery is this coming Tuesday, but honestly, I love the strength I feel from HIIT and strength training. And it will speed your body recomp. Make sure you're taking measurements and not just using the scale as a guide—muscle does weigh more than fat and so the weight loss might "stall" but the fat loss is still going.

For me, eliminating all processed sugars and white flour...had an immediate impact on my weight loss. I lost like crazy just doing these two things. I still ate a ton of carbs, but I ate good whole carbs with dietary fiber...beans, potatos, chickpeas, nuts, whole grains, whole fruits and veggies....and stayed away from white bread, processed foods, stuff with added sugar and no fiber like juices and jellies. I also eliminated processed products with fats, fried stuff, and fatty meats. Learned to put low fat plain yogurt and salt and pepper on my baked potatoes....replaced butter and animal fat in cooking with extra virgin olive oil. Everyone has a different diet they prefer...I tend to follow Mediterannian or Mayo Clinic diet. Getting your steps is brilliant and will get your metabolism going like crazy. I started at 5000 steps a day and gradually increased in little baby steps to 12,000 a day. I get 20,000 some days now because I really enjoy walking and being active...but most days are 10 to 12,000 now. Being active will help you so much. Best wishes! You got this!

It's that the stress of surgery, caloric restriction, and emotions accelerates the natural cycle by which your hair "dies", but the rate of replacement is normal... so basically it all falls out faster than normal but takes a few months to regrow.

Same. During weight loss phase and several months immediately after, I would just log the whole thing whether I ate it or not. I figured it was better to over-estimate than under. Now, I just try to guesstimate what i actually ate cuz I eat ALOT more these days, and if i logged the entire meals I serve myself I would be waaaaaay over.

Hello everyone. I am new to this forum. I had my Weight loss consultation on August 31, 2021. I am super excited and ready for this new journey. I’ve been overweight most of my adult life and now it’s time to regain control over my life. I’ve been given some guidelines to start implementing vitamins And at least three proteins shakes a day. I’ve been monitoring what I eat, making sure I get my steps in, and being mindful of my feelings and relationship the food. I was told I needed to lose 15 to 20 pounds prior to surgery. This is kind of stressful Being that I’ve been trying to lose 15 to 20 pounds for the past year and I’ve been unsuccessful. However, I’m going to continue to do my best, roll with the punches, And trust the process. Good advice is welcomed 🤗

It took about 60 lbs before those that didn't know about my weight loss surgery to comment on my weight. One person even said to me, "um, I notice you've lost a lot of weight. Has it been intentional?" Now, I'm almost 3 yrs post op and just had my 2nd round of plastic surgery. I had a breast lift without implants and I'm sure the gossip is about that! I just went back to work last Wed and somebody already said to me, "they don't look any bigger!" I said to them, "see where my boobs are now? When I take my bra off, they stay in the same place!"

Still doing OK, in fact, better than OK. No more vomiting, and as long as I follow mindful eating, no more pain. Having the HH repair, instead of revision, has been amazing! I lost the 7 pounds I gained (and a few more) due to covid and am right back where I was, weight-wise, following my original surgery (FIVE years ago). I cannot imagine having had revision surgery, with the loss of the pyloric valve and risk of dumping. I am good.