Search the Community

I’d look into surgery in a neighbouring country. There are a few Europeans on the forum who may be able to make some recommendations. There are always negative stories & a friend of a friend stories. You can find them about anything. I recently read a story about the prevalence of fungal infections in people who to go to the large nail salons so … People who have good experiences don’t always shout it from the roof tops. We do here though. 🙂 Sure, there can be hiccups & things may not go perfectly to begin but generally everything settles & works out in the end or can be remedied rather easily. Some issues arise because of complications from pre existing conditions too. Talk to people who actually had the surgery (like on here) if you can. You also get negativity from people who think the surgery is an easy way out. It is so NOT easy. They think if you just diet harder & be more committed to exercising you’ll lose weight. If it was as easy as just dieting & exercising you’d be thin now. We all would have been. The negative comments from family &/or friends are why some of us don’t tell people we’ve had the surgery. The potential for developing a drinking addiction arises in response to people not being able to satisfy their food addiction anymore so they turn to alcohol (or sex apparently). I’ve seen stats of 16% after bypass in the first year of which 6% had existing issues with alcohol. Stating a 60% statistic would only benefit the woman in the article’s business by scaring people. If you deal with the issues behind your food addiction your chance for any addiction transfer is negated. It is important to do the ‘head work’ to understand, manage & deal with the issues behind your eating habits, behaviours, cravings, etc. Many people seek the support of a therapist after surgery which benefits their weight loss success & maintenance. The hair loss lasts about three months. Your natural hair loss cycle accelerates in response to the shock of the surgery & your change & reduced diet. So the hair you shed is hair you would be losing anyway - just not as quickly. Your new hair is still growing but just at its usual rate. How many wrinkles you have is much like how much loose skin you will have. It will depend on your age, gender, skin elasticity, genetics, how long you carried your weight, etc. Yes, you likely will look more drawn & have a few additional wrinkles at first but a lot of this reduces in maintenance as your body resettles & you’re eating more & a more nutritious & balanced diet. My uncle told my mother I looked like death when I was near my lowest weight. Now, he tells me I look fabulous. I had a lot of fine lines that developed under my chin while I was losing but they almost totally disappeared in my second year. Sure my marionette lines are deeper & that’s from the skin that stretched from having a fat face. I have the face that is mine now. I have a jawline, a longer neck, cheek bones, & my eyes aren’t as hooded. A few wrinkles are nothing. I’d rather have a few wrinkles or loose skin than be obese & be compromising my health. Besides a little Botox or filler can always help with the wrinkles 😉. Ultimately it is your decision. Keep asking questions so you’re as well informed as you can be. All the best whatever path you choose.

Hi all! I just hit my one year post-op at the end of May. I’ve made it to my goal weight and then some which feels great. However, over the past few weeks I have begun feeling extremely bloated in the afternoons and evenings. The bloating is causing some pain above my belly button and gas (sorry tmi). Has anyone else experienced this? I have a meeting with my dietitian tomorrow and am planning on asking about it too. I haven’t changed my diet in any way for several months now and am feeling full/satisfied after eating so I know it’s not hunger pangs. Thoughts? Thanks everyone and keep up the amazing work!

I did tell another friend today, and she was a bit negative. She mentioned that someone she worked with had gone under the knife at the local private clinic that's still operating, and that she had complications and had to have surgery two more times. She didn't know if this person had a gastric bypass or sleeve, but it was a few years ago. She also mentioned another friend of hers who had weight loss surgery in Poland, everything went well but my friend said that this person had never looked worse in her life and that the surgery had aged her terribly. She mentioned wrinkles and hair loss, and that her friend still had very thin hair although it's been two years since her surgery. I have a neighbor who had a gastric sleeve in Eastern Europe a year ago. She does have more wrinkles than before, but her hair is just as thick as ever, so I guess it varies. This neighbor of mine had more wrinkles than average before surgery, since she was both a smoker (recently quit) and an avid sun worshipper. I have almost no wrinkles although I'm middle aged. None on my forehead or in my face in general, except for little bags under the eyes and crinkly lines in the corners of my eyes. I've used prescription retinoids since I was in my twenties, and I'm sure that helped. How likely am I to become super wrinkly if I lose 40 - 80 pounds? I understand that on the average people lose 70% of their excess weight with the gastric sleeve, so for me that would be around 56 pounds. I weighed 46 pounds less than I do now nine years ago, and I looked a lot better at that weight with no noticeable extra lines. Is it likely to be that much worse if the weight loss is through surgery? What is your experience, those of you who have already had the surgery?

I suspect you’ll still get saggy skin. I don’t know that the pace of weight loss affects that. One way or another, your skin is losing its padding. I was able to get a panniculectomy (the skin below the bellybutton) in 2007 due to skin breakdown. Unfortunately, I don’t think the insurance companies have gotten in-step with post-weight loss needs like saggy skin.

I have to agree with @catwoman7. You should not obsess over every daily weight. This is a long process, and if you stress every day, you will do more harm than good. You are doing great.

I recently had a conversion surgery from the lapband to the sleeve. I was told that Crystal Light was okay to drink and was drinking a gallon a day. I hit a weight loss stall and got to thinking about something that I had heard before about the aspartame in Crystal Light is bad for you and can stall weight loss and well as cause health issues. I did some research...google searches and read doctor's reports and other patient's posts about it. I decided to stop the Crystal Light and switch to lemon water. It is true for me at least...every person is different... but I feel much better and the weight is dropping again. I was getting hunger pangs when drinking the Crystal Light throughout the days and I have noticed that with lemon water that is not happening. As I said everyone is different and biologies are different but getting off of the Crystal Light has been a positive for me.

My starting weight was 227. I did 7 days of lover shrinking diet and one day clear liquids and was down to 221.8. Today,(6days post op) I am 216.8. I havent lost any weight since yesterday. The last 2 days I'm taking in around 600 calories per day but 320 of that is protein shakes. Sent from my SM-N976V using BariatricPal mobile app

Thats true, its so specific. He mentioned he hates really fatty foods and exclusively eats protein and greens mainly. I was like you and I are going to get along fine haha. You never know tok. Once you're comfortable, it can be exciting to go on a date. Especially if you let your weight hold you back in the past. It's weird having a crush on someone again but it feels good. I'm also not hyper self conscious about my size. I feel good too. Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

My surgery is Thursday June 9th, my question is has anyone lost a 100 lbs or more? I know everybody is different and loses differently, but I’m curious about losing a 100 or more. Thank you

Honestly, I think unless people have known someone who went through bariatric surgery they won't get it from clues like that. Most folks just have no idea. You got me thinking, though, and I wonder if a few "trial dates" might not be a bad idea. My weight wasn't the only thing that kept me from dating for so long: I'm also a little picky. But I can't help thinking there might be more options these days. I just need to get some current photos!

Don't be afraid of the incoming changes, dude. I definitely should make the surgery and get my life back, and this is very hard to live with the uncomfortable weight with no opportunity to lose weight. I recommend you, after surgery, apply to any rapid weight loss plan. I bet you will see the difference shortly. I had the same situation 2 years ago, so after surgery, I lost 20kgs during the weight loss program provided by one of the Medical services in my area.

Probably. I stalled when I switched from clear liquids to full liquids. Someone here shared a video where a bariatric surgeon explains the cause of the early stall. It's nothing that you are doing wrong. Your initial weight loss would have mostly been water loss that eventually catches up. The stall is just the body processing the changes to your diet and your new stomach. Some recommend only weighing once per week or month so that you don't lose hope in the process. Also, if you are doing any exercise and had previously lost muscle tone - you will be gaining muscle that will also move the scale back a little. But, even though I stalled for the entire 2nd & 3rd week post surgery, I could tell my clothes were still getting looser by the day.

I have been on the fence for a while as well. In fact I flat out refused to do it for the longest time, wanting to lose the weight myself. The odds were stacked against me, however, as they are for most people. I started going to the gym with my fiance, and we were keeping a routine. I was well on my way. Then Covid struck. Who knows where I'd be at weight wise by now if I had been able to continue my gym experience. Now I'm just scared to go back because I don't know who has Covid and who adequately monitors themselves. So many people are like eh whatever, you don't know what you're getting into just going to the grocery store! However ... I'm sure it will be a heart attack that kills me before the surgery will. I have 2 bonus kids that need me in their life. I want to be there for them. I've not been able to ensure that on any level for years. It's time. I want to not hurt when I stand or walk. It's just time. Quite plainly. It also helps that I had my gallbladder removed. That was my first ever surgery and it helped me with my trust in the process when it comes to intricate dealings like surgeries. It also increased my confidence that I was required to find a Blue Ribbon facility by my insurance - further decreasing the likelihood of negative outcomes or side effects. Another thing that boosted my confidence is when I found out my surgeon has done over 2000 procedures and not one has had a leak following it. I know I'm in good hands. I have an aunt and both her daughters that had the surgery as well. My fiance is very supportive. A strong support system is probably THE most important thing you can have. That being said, to hell with anyone, family or otherwise, who is not supportive of you and your decisions to create a better you. Find a new group to surround yourself with. Surgery and the lifetime following it are NOT the easy ways out. It is a complete 180 lifestyle change for most and it's hard. But it's worth it and it will keep you here longer for your child. THAT is what matters. Best wishes for you in your future, whatever you decide.

A friend of mine had surgery done in mid-october. To date, she has lost 90 lbs, and she is at her goal weight. She told me that even when she was in a stall and loss of pounds was not showing on the scale, she was losing inches. It's a process. Congratulations and keep up the good work! I hope this helps.

I did my measurements and found I lost an inch in my waist, hips and chest each. I am doing what I suppose to but have not lost weight in the last 12 days. I am 24 days po. I have lost 14lb since day 3 po. The scales are driving me crazy. I want to numbers move so bad just for some encouragement. I hear from. So many that their weight lost started to pick up after a long stall.

I thought about bariatric surgery for over 10 years. The decision to go for it in the end wasn't precipitated by one event, more an accumulation of little embarrassments like the seatbelt on an airplane only just buckling, my hairdresser having to bring out a special chair for me in case I broke the new fancy ones with the spindly legs, reaching a BMI of 40. Even after those it took me months to decide who to go with - I definitely looked at Eastern Europe because it's so much cheaper there but my partner was so worried about me having surgery abroad that in the end I just paid up and did it here. I spent my entire adult life believing that I should be able to lose weight on my own (I could) and keep it off (no chance). I really wish I had just gone for it 10+ years ago when I first considered it. I think you're absolutely right to do ALL the thinking before going ahead and I wish you the very very best of luck wherever you have your surgery.

The fact that you're here wanting to draw a line under this regain and looking for support is a fab first step. What you have regained is only a fraction of what you lost. @catwoman7 advice is spot on - your restriction should still be there if you want to use it now. You've obviously lost weight very successfully before so you can do it again, and you're starting when it's still completely doable. Best of luck back on the program!!

No not really if you do the steps... and you qualify with your BMI and or medical conditions. if you can update your profile to include your stats. It helps when answering questions. You can click on your profile and then go to surgery and add your weight, height, surgery you are wanting and so on.

No one can tell you if this is the right choice for you. Only you can make that decision. I can tell you what made me decide thoigh and yes I still have doubts and am super scared. I've been obese and morbidly obese since I was in my late teens. I feel like most of my life had been focussed on losing weight. Getting on scales. The excitement of losing a bit and the depression and deep rooted sense of failure when it all comes back on. I'm tired of this cycle. I used to be active. I had a life. I have dreams and adventures I want to go on. But I'm trapped inside my own body. And the more I feel trapped the more I eat and the more I fail. This insanely destructive cycle needs to stop. I want to be free. I want to stop panicking every time I have chest pain - is this it ? Is this the heart attack I know is coming ??? Who wants to live like that ? I'm tired of the depression the lack of self confidence and self loathing. And THAT is why I'm doing it. Surgery won't fix my mind but it'll give me a fighting chance. I don't need the hot bod I just need to be free and able to live the life I know I deserve but can't do becaise I'm hiding in the fat girl shield Sent from my CPH2247 using BariatricPal mobile app

I had a trainer once describe losing weight as undressing. The first layer you put on is the last layer you take off. So most of us probably have had belly fat issues for a long while before we decide to have surgery, so that is likely the last place that'll start to give up it's excess.

Recliner is easier. I’m still using mine since I can’t lift it back to its Original home downstairs yet (15lb weight limit). I couldn’t get out of bed comfortably until this week. I’m 5 weeks post op.

I've seen statistics from the US that show that death from gastric sleeve is very rare. However, I live in a small country and there are only two places that do weight loss surgeries locally. One is a state run hospital, that has a very good track record and nobody has died from weight loss surgery there, but it's very hard to get surgery there. In order to qualify for surgery there, you first have to go to an inpatient program at a state run rehabilitation centre and the waiting list for that is measured in years, not months. There used to be two private clinics who did weight loss surgeries locally, but after two people died from gastric sleeve in 2018 and one case of serious complications, on of them closed. In all, six people had died after a gastric sleeves performed by their surgeon. They had limited aftercare and the same applies to the private clinic that is still working. Also, I wouldn't be able to go this summer if I chose the private clinic locally, since it costs more and they have a long waiting list too. We have socialised medicine, so if you have complications afterwards you are referred to the state hospital or public health clinics. In Poland, I would stay for at least two days after surgery at the hospital and up to five days, and they have an excellent track record. You can choose a trip that last for five days or seven days, and I would chose the longer one. It's similar in the other country I'm considering, which is Latvia. Does it still seem unreasonable to go overseas for the surgery in my circumstances?

Afriend of mine had surgery done in mid-october. To date, she has lost 90 lbs, and she is at her goal weight. She told me that even when she was in a stall and loss of pounds was not showing on the scale, she was losing inches. It's a process. Congratulations and keep up the good work!

Hello, I had surgery May 13 as well. I am 55. I had my surgery in MX and paid out of pocket since my insurance had a clause stating it did not cover the surgery. I did not have to do a pre op diet just low carbs. When I decided to do it I schedule 2 weeks before. I am losing slowly. The first two weeks I lost 14lbs. Now I am stalling. One day I gained two pounds. I am sure it's the water I am drinking. I record everything on the bariatric app. It's been good to look back and see my numbers and sticking to the plan. I am having difficulty with water. All this protein I take in its difficult to fit in fluids. I normally get at least 48 oz. I reach my protein goals and low carbs. I hoping I will start losing again. I did measurements and I have lost an inch from my chest, hips and waist.

Congrats on your progress, and thank you so much for sharing!!! Your weight loss is impressive! My surgery is wednesday, and I'm 67....you have given me much needed and much appreciated encouragement. Thank you!