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Sorry to hear about your cancer. Hope you're in remission! 112#? I don't think I was even that weight in high school and I had a great figure back then! Lol. Sent from my SM-G781U using BariatricPal mobile app

I have a whole coterie of doctors at this point, as I'm sure many of us do, to fix the various systems. One of them makes me take my shoes and socks off at every appointment so he can poke my feet to see if I can feel the poke. It drives me insane. He insists I must be at least pre-diabetic because I'm so fat, and assumes that I've just gone off and "put a bandaid on my poor diet" for a while to pass his blood glucose screenings. He also insists I tell my primary care physician that I need to be on statins (presumably also because I'm fat). When I point out my cholesterol is just fine, he comes up with some "new fact" or other; the latest was there is something wrong with the SHAPE of my fat cells or some such b0ll0cks. Well... as part of my pre-op testing, the surgeon pulled my lipids and blood glucose. Lipids were in the bottom half of the normal range (142 total, HDL 53, LDL 67, triglycerides 94, so right exactly where they needed to be), and my A1c is 5.2. I printed a copy of the results from MyChart and mailed them to the offending MD with a polite but passive-aggressive note. Childish? Perhaps. But cathartic. I cannot wait until they can't use my weight as an excuse for being trash people.

Sounds like a stricture. I know you’re thinking “oh I’m loosing weight!” Sorry to inform you that you are also loosing muscle, including heart muscle. Call your clinic. I’ve been told these things are easy to clear up with an endoscopy procedure. If the clinic doesn’t answer go to the emergency room. Sending my best-Meg

I lost so much weight in my butt that I now drive the car like a little old lady peering over the top of the wheel. It’s set at the lowest setting!

zero regrets. I'd do it again in a heart beat, and I should have done it years ago. I sat on the decision for ten years, for the same reasons you are, but I'm so glad I finally decided to go through with it. It's very common for pre-ops and early post-ops to be terrified about hair loss, but most people who are a ways out will tell you that in the grand scheme of things, the hair loss phase was more-or-less just a temporary annoyance. Losing the excess weight FAR outweighs the temporary hair loss. Besides, for many of us, the hair loss isn't enough for others to notice (although WE notice it!). I really didn't lose all that much hair - so I know no one else noticed it. major complications aren't that common. Some of us have no complications at all - and for those who have them, most are minor. You're much more likely to develop complications from being obese than you are from weight loss surgery.

Hello All, Please look at the flyers attached. Frederica is looking for people who are dealing with excess skin from weight loss, specifically women. She intends to gather feedback and information on the experiences women deal with. The goal is the develop well suited undergarments intended to address the needs and wants of women who live with excess skin .If you are interested, feel free to reach out. I am 8 months post op from a gastric sleeve. So far, I am 77lbs down. I have noticed loose skin around my thighs and arms. The skin around my chest is also starting to look saggy. Even though the flyer says 100+ weight loss, any female experiencing noticeable loose skin can reach out. Thank you!

Stop and think about this for a second. Before you had surgery, before you started losing weight pre-op... how much were you eating? 2500 calories a day? 3000? 3500? Now you're eating 500-600 and wondering if you can do 800-1000. If you were at 2500 calories before and you're doing 800 now, that's still a cut of 1700 calories, or an AVERAGE (notice the capital letters!) of half a pound a day. Now, it doesn't work that way, because our bodies are not machines with standard inputs and outputs. A lot of things can change that calculus, like sodium content and bloating (hello hormones!) and your brain and even the weather. Vigorous exercise at 6-7 weeks out seems a bit much... but are you getting out and moving? Walking? Running if your body permits it at this point? Climbing hills? One other sense of perspective. Back when you were your pre-op self, if someone had said, "Ready21, I have a diet that will make you drop 30 pounds in 8 weeks," would you not have absolutely jumped on it? As long as you're losing, you're good... and even if you stall, as long as you're not gaining overmuch!

Do you have GERD? GERD is the biggest risk for sleeve - sometimes it gets worse after sleeve, and sometimes people who never had GERD develop it. There are more complications with RNY, but it's still pretty safe. If you take a lot of meds for your anxiety and depression, your doctor and surgeon may recommend sleeve to ensure you can absorb these medications properly; this is what my surgeon said and my psychopharmacologist agreed, although I got a second opinion with a different surgeon, and she didn't think an RNY would be a problem with the meds, but she still recommended sleeve because it's an easier surgery and she feels the weight loss is just as good. I has wanted RNY in the beginning, but with both surgeons pushing for sleeve, and the risks of higher complications with RNY, I chose to go with sleeve. I hope I don't end up with GERD (I had it for a while but it resolved with better eating).

I don't have diabetes but I still have to get up a lot to pee. I have heard it gets better as you weigh less because your body isn't putting so much weight on your bladder. I don't know if this will be true for you. There are other things that cause you to have to pee: artificial sweeteners, caffeine, coffee, tea, etc are all bladder irritants and can cause you to have to get up a lot to pee. Also being anxious.

Hi there, I just started my bariatric journey and am awaiting my one-on-one appointment with my surgeon. My basic healthy history is High Blood Pressure, NAFLD, PCOS, Sleep Apnea, Anxiety/Depression. I had my gallbladder removed 5 years ago, just had my colonoscopy and was just diagnosed with Type II Diabetes (A1C was 7.8). The 2 options for surgery are either gastric sleeve or RNY. According to all the charts, etc., looks like RNY may be best but of course it's more invasive. My surgeon only does RNYs laparoscopically, not open. Not sure what the final outcome will be but...would like anyone's 2 cents about which surgery they chose if they have a similar medical profile. I just changed my diet - and rather drastically - because of the diabetes. As low carb as possible, lots of water, veggies, etc. I'm hoping to bring my weight down as much as I can before surgery and then of course, there's the liquid diet yet to come.... My largest concerns are my liver - I've been taking Organic Milk Thistle for quite a while, not sure it helped much according to recent bloodwork - guessing my diet is what's going to help? I've also had a liver biopsy when I had the gallbladder removal. Second concern is getting that A1C down. Diabetes came as a surprise as my A1C had been in the 5 range for the longest time. Of course, I gained weight over COVID...and have been stressed, you name it. Going through perimenopause, etc. Any advice, I'm all ears! Thanks!

I wouldn’t ask for input from only people who had regrets and/or canceled, because… well that’s all you’re going to hear about and you’ll definitely not go through with it (which is fine, it’s your choice of course). I’d ask “can everyone here who is at least a year post op give me a “would do it again” or “would not do it again” please” This forum is a great place. It really is. There are tons of helpful people, funny people, honest people. The downside to a forum like this is it’s much more common for someone who is having a problem to post a question looking for help or advice or just to vent. It vastly skews the perception of the number and severity of problems. The reality is for most people surgery works and works well at achieving sustained weight loss. Very few people statistically have what I would call a major complication. When compared to the statistics of complications (or co-morbidities) of being obese, it’s not even a fair contest. You are not alone in having worries and doubts though, not by a long shot. I had them too, many of us did. But I didn’t cancel and I most definitely do NOT regret having surgery. It was probably the best true free will choice I’ve ever made in my life… no, it definitely was. Being a guy who doesn’t care about his hair, I can’t share my advice about hair loss. It’s a thing that can happen. It didn’t happen to me, but again I wouldn’t have cared if I lost all my hair, I’d have done this again without a second thought. In fact, I would go so far as to say that… based on how GREAT I feel today, even if I had a major complication that required hospitalization post op, I would still go through with it knowing what I know now. I wish I did this years ago, but I didn’t. I feel like I lost some of the best years with myself, my kids, just in general… The following is a cheeze-ball comment but it’s true…. This new me… this is the me that was hiding inside a fat suit almost all of my life… sad, pretty lonely, afraid to come out and just enjoy life like I am now. I wish I met him when I was younger. I wish I was strong enough to do this on my own at a much younger age, but in the end I don’t care how this new me got here… I’m here and I’m not going back inside that fat suit ever again. I am 46 and feel like I’m about to turn 27. I wish you the best, no matter what you decide. But don’t only look for the negatives, because that’s what you’ll find. There’s a lot of us “hell yah I’d do this again!!” people out there, we’re just quiet about it in general compared to the people who do really need help getting through a tough spot.

I can stand in the shower longer and totally thought my non slip mat (it looks like river rocks kinda) was crappy because it always punched my feet and hurt. I just randomly realized today that it doesn’t hurt nor pinch anymore! So it was my weight making that happen not the mat!

I had to give this for part of my insurance’s pre approval but my history was for 3 years. As others have mentioned, any MD that has your weight history will work. I just used my GP since I had consistent visits.

Hey Friends, I saw a few posts about sleeve to RYGB but not as much discussion as I thought there’d be. I’m having revision this month due to some weight regain (partly my fault and partly due to having a baby). In addition to the the regain I also have a twist in my stomach which is cutting off blood supply to that section of stomach (due to previous sleeve surgery) this has to be rectified. My surgeon says while weightloss is slower he believes I will loose more than my original sleeve surgery. Anyone that has been through this with good or bad results I would love to hear your story. I’m worried that I won’t have the weightloss I’m looking for within a reasonable timeframe. Looking for support, thank you!

Same. It probably took about 60-65 lbs for me to really feel it, but I agree it was kinda overnight that all of a sudden my clothes didn't fit and people were like - Hey... are you losing weight.

Congratulations on your success. If you always hated shopping because things didn't look good or you didn't know what to buy or look for to try on and now you don't know your size, consider going to Nordstrom. The salespeople there are really good at helping you find things that work for you and their bra sales people will measure you and figure out the best size and type of bra for you. I do not work for Nordstrom, I just found last time I lost a lot of weight I got overwhelmed easily by all the options and Nordstrom was really helpful. Plus, my mom hates shopping and she would only go there for the longest time because of how helpful they are. It's expensive, yes, but you get what you pay for. If that's out of your budget, try Chico's. Their staff is also very helpful, but you have to like their style of clothing!

I love your positive attitude and that you don't compare yourself to others. You have your own personal goals and that's how it should be! I started at 350. In 11 days I'll be 1 year post op and only at -135. Not bad, but it should be a lot more. I don't follow what I should be doing because I can only tolerate a few select foods. But many are not that good, so I eat smaller amounts. My dietician is NOT happy. He's VERY rude. (Thought he was going to have a major melt down when I said pizza. Like I eat it all at one sitting!) But my doctor said I can do it this way, so I'm listening to him. I think my goal wgt is another 35 lbs, but I'm having the skin removal surgery too, so it may be less. Not sure how much weight that'll be when removed. That consult appt is in 10 days. Also in process of the first knee replacement surgery in November. No cartilage left. Can only do one at a time. Should be all fixed up by spring of next year. Can't wait! Best of luck and stay your positive self! Sent from my SM-G781U using BariatricPal mobile app

Two and a half years out, I have no regrets at all. The process has its ups and downs, but at no time have I ever wished I didn't do it. I'm normal-sized for the first time since I was about eight years old. Things that used to be a struggle, I can do without thought now. I got stuck in a middle seat on a five-hour flight and I was REALLY dreading it. But when the time came, it was really no big deal. Sure, I'd rather have a window or aisle, but it wasn't the catastrophe it would have been when I was at my top weight. Because I had been heavy since childhood, I still find surprises every day as I learn to navigate the world in my new body. I even enjoy being able to walk into a room and not stand out because of my size. Maintenance is a learning curve for sure - sometimes I get too relaxed and gain five pounds and then I'll overcorrect and lose eight, LOL. But it's all good and I'm figuring it out.

Since this thread is active I figured I would update- I started at 339 and I hit 179 this morning. It literally took 75 lbs for anyone to notice. I am also 5’10 though. I spent months thinking that I kept losing weight and it didn’t seem like it, only to one day feel like suddenly everybody noticed and my body started changing overnight. It takes us larger ladies more time to get there but it happens!

It’s not uncommon for your tummy to be sensitive & fussy about some foods you consume in the first couple of months. If you eat too quickly or eat too much it may also react. The sensitivity does pass & what upsets you may be different to what upsets another. If something upsets you, leave it for a week or so then try again. We are usually told to avoid pasta, rice & breads especially in the weight loss stage. They swell in your tummy & fill you more quickly so you are unable to eat anything else & can’t get your protein in. They can also sit heavily in your tummy causing discomfort. Also it’s important that we consume nutrient dense foods not foods like bread, pasta, rice & other processed carbs which have empty calories & are poor sources of essential vitamins & minerals we need. If you want a pasta type meal, try fresh zucchini noodles with meat based sauces. Later you may like to try high protein vegetable pastas which some are able to include in their maintenance diets. Personally, I still don’t eat pasta, breads or rice in my third year - they still sit heavily in my tummy & fill me quickly. Are you reaching your protein goal every day? If all you could eat was two tablespoons of pasta in a little tomato sauce you would have ingested little or no protein at all. Every meal should be focussed on protein & be the largest component of whatever you’re eating. So if you are eating 2oz of food, almost all of that 2oz should be a protein rich food. Remember, eat your protein first then whatever vegetables you can manage.

I would be careful about moving your intake up too quickly, simply because it is very difficult to cut back once you get used to a higher intake. I have seen many who have done well in the 6-800 calorie range during their loss phase, so this doesn't seem to be too low metabolically. That said, I settled fairly quickly in the 1100 range, but I am a guy, with a guy's metabolism that remained fairly intact. (as ms.sss noted, this isn't a one size fits all game.) Prior to WLS, my weight was stable in the 26-2700 calorie range, so I had a fair margin to work with. Do you know what your metabolic stability point was before surgery (real world for you, here, not some online calculator that's appropriate for someone else)? Your weight loss rate will trend lower over time, simply because there is less of you to move around 24/7 so, on average, you burn fewer calories per day, so you won't, on average, lose as much per week or month after six months as you did after two, and fewer still after nine or twelve months. It is not unusual for some to go into "early maintenance" because they increased their intake at the same time as their caloric burn decreased. When I finished at goal, I was stable at around 21-2200 calories per day, or about a 1000 calorie deficit that I had to make up from my 1100 per day that I was consuming during the loss phase; most don't have much margin, particularly most smaller (shorter) women. Another reason to be careful about increasing intake too quickly (or at all) On doctors advice on these programs. Some doctors advise their patients that they will typically lose around 60% of their excess weight (an overall average for the industry,) while others will push their patients to lose 100% of their excess. Guess which programs advise increasing calorie levels over time and which advise overall low(ish) stable levels while losing?

Get friend or another family to take you to surgery., Your top Priority is you and your health, my boyfriend was so so about it but I did it anyway got the sleeve but now issue 5 years late on with no education class get upgrade new md and Education class now other different Surgery., my case is something different because my not major obese I got down on my own being gym rat and crazy lose weight diets , my healthy is my things I don’t quit or give up class of 2021

Hey everyone. I haven't been on this page in what seems like forever. I have really been struggling you guys. I stopped losing weight after month 6 and it's really discouraged me. It could be because I started back working so I made excuses for why I couldn't go walk my 2 miles or go to Pilates class or eat healthier choices since I have a sedentary job. I was wondering if anyone else was struggling and what you did to get back on track. My highest weight was 465lbs and on surgery day I was 457. I got down to 357 and then shot right up to 378lbs. I wasn't really eating if at all when I got to 357 due to my depression. But then I was put on a new med that actually causes its users to gain weight and I was taken off of it. Thank God. I don't eat much and get full fast but I guess like the nutritionist said it still matters what I put in my body. I hope all my fellow Oct 2020 people are doing great as we approach our 1 year anniversary. FYI I was sleeved on Oct.5,2020

Regrets? Only one: Like many, I wish i did it like sooner. Like when I first got into the 40 BMI range to qualify for WLS (in my case that would have been maybe 5-6 years before I actually got it done). There are absolutely ZERO issues/side effects/annoyances that in any way outweigh the benefits of WLS (for me at least) Water? Your experience may be different, but I was suddenly able to chug water around the 2-3 week mark. Found this out by accident when I was super thirsty from a walk and forgot to sip. I am almost 3 years post op now, and i think I can eat almost anything (and probably have), just in much, much, much smaller amounts. I average probably 1800-1900 cals a day these days. I have been maintaining my weight for 2 years now (with regular exercise) and life is good. Whatever you decide, I hope that you are content are are in terms with the decision. You may never be completely free of your ALL reservations, but so long as you can manage them, you'll do great. Good Luck! ❤️