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I am still sticking to my plan - haven't weighed myself at all, in one week it'll be a month post op and I can! 🤞 good results 🤞 too much pressure alot of people are having on themselves, I still have the battery out of the scales. Im going to see if I need b12 shots from doc as I was told I might need a shot once a month, if thats the case I am going to throw out my scales COMPLETELY and get weighted at my GP once a month! I feel like that will take the pressure off?

I can’t speak for any surgeons outside the country but the one I used is Dr Kerr in Round Rock. I was very happy and I know he has exp w Bariatric weight loss patients.

Hello and welcome. The thread you have found is quite old, more than 10 years old, it is unlikely that any of those who posted in the thread are still around. Is lap band still popular in Italy? It's popularity has substantially reduced in some countries due to various medical issues some people have experienced with bands. Peope are having the bands removed and are having gastric bypasses or sleeves. Not everyone has issues, but it is something you may want to consider and you may want to ask the doctor how many of his patients have had the band removed in recent years and/or patients success rate in achieving weight loss long term. I don't know your current BMI, but have you considered a surgical option instead of a band?

Hi everyone, I’m in need of a lower body lift with bbl, breast lift with implants, back lift, and eventually a lower face lift. I’m so overwhelmed trying to find a surgeon or narrow my choices. I have had a consultation with Dra. Cardenas in TJ but I was a little surprised by the pricing. I was quoted 13,500 for lower, 13,000 for upper, and 12,500 for lower face lift. I live in CA, I’m not opposed to travel but I would like a few more quotes before I make my choice. Can anyone recommend a surgeon that specializes in after weight loss lower body lifts? Any feedback regarding Dra Cardenas?

We all can eat more as we progress. After surgery, I could only eat about 1/4 - 1/3 cup of food. At 12 months, I was eating a good cup depending upon what I was eating. Now at 26 months, I can eat about 3 or 4oz of meat & about a cup of vegetables. Do you weigh & track your food intake & calories? As @lizonaplane said, the type of food you are eating will influence how much you can eat - fluids do pass through much more quickly than a dense food like steak or chicken for example. I found asking myself if I really needed that next bite or did I just want it very helpful. I also tried to stop eating before I felt full. Because that full message takes time to register, by the time you feel full, you’ve likely eaten too much. Are you eating slowly? I take 30 - 60 minutes to eat a meal. To have stretched your tummy, you would have had to be eating large portions at every meal for some time. How much weight have you lost since your DS? As @Creekimp13 suggested, therapy may be helpful to support you examine your relationship with food & why you’re struggling to reach & maintain at a healthy weight.

Fluctuations are quite normal & not a signal you’re doing something wrong. They can be from constipation, fluid retention, slight change in diet or activity level,… The other night I was peeing every 30 minutes for hours & in the morning I was 2lbs lighter. It happens. Even though I weighed myself every day when I was losing, the downward trend on my weight loss graph over each week, then each month was more important.

It has been a long time since I posted on this forum. I was sleeved in October 2018 and immediately began suffering from reflux/GERD (which I did not have prior to sleeve). Fast-forward 2 1/2 years later, loads of PPI's, EGD's, barium swallows, scans, scopes and referrals, I was finally advised by a surgeon that my best option is to have revision of the sleeve to the bypass. I have a mid grade hiatal hernia and severe GERD. It's gratifying to finally get some answers and while I am looking forward to some relief, I am a bit anxious about the surgery. I relocated from Houston to Dallas, TX in May. I consulted with a new bariatric surgeon on May 26th. Once the ball got rolling, everything went pretty quickly. After thoroughly reviewing my previous surgery and medical records along with additional testing, she determined that in addition to the hernia and GERD, my original pouch from the VSG wasn't as small as it should have been! That explains why I had such slow and minimal weight loss. I lost about 40lbs total, and have regained 20lbs back since COVID. Has anyone had revision from VSG to RNY with hiatal hernia repair due to GERD? If so, has your GERD improved and how has the weight loss been?

I had gastric bypass on 5/7/2021. I began my weight loss journey in August 2020 when I attended my hospital’s bariatric seminar. My insurance required 6 months of diet before surgery approval. My fist dietitian appoint was mid-October 2020. Prior to this appointment I had very little motivation to lose weight. I was 280+ pounds (5’ 7.5”) and depressed. My ankles swelled every day, I had trouble moving, none of my clothes fit well and my wedding rings didn’t fit at all. I had gone off the rails. Between October and March 21’ I managed to lose 45 pounds. I attribute my success to my husband also taking charge of his health and being a great partner. My packet was submitted in March and approved 1 week later. My surgery was scheduled 7 weeks form the approval to my disappointment. It was a long 7 weeks! I didn’t gain or lose weight during my wait. I was officially 237 at my pre-op appointment. I managed to lose 10 pounds prior to surgery on the liver shrink diet. I was 227 the morning of surgery The surgery went fine. I had some nausea and dry heaving the first few hours. I was able to get water down but not much else. The drain really caused me trouble so it was removed 12 hours later. I ended up only staying 1 night in the hospital because I was determined to get released early. I walked all the time and really kept my RN on his toes. Thankfully the doctor agreed with me that I would recover better at home. The next evening I was discharged and could sleep in my own bed. I followed the diet exactly for nearly 8 weeks. I went on a cruise with my family and 95% ate to plan. I would have a taste of dessert but let me tell you I sure paid for it. Dumping is real and it affects me. I seem to dump if I eat too fast, too much, or an item too high in sugar (hello chai tea!). I learned many lessons that week I’m thankful for. The surgery did exactly what I needed it to do- deter me. I have had trouble with constipation. I am taking 3 colace per day and benefiber each morning. Seems to help but my body likes to hold onto waste. I might go back to miralax to help move things along. I’ve always had trouble in this area but now it’s more consistent. On Saturday I hit “onederland” and weighed 199. I never thought I would get here. I weigh myself each day and I am fluctuating between 198 and 199 this week. I have a heck of a lot more energy than I did a month ago. I am moving my body every day and using my elliptical at least 3 times a week. I have changed sizes! Last summer I wore a 20 and now I need a 12. It blows my mind. It’s hard to describe how I feel. I can see the change but I don’t believe it’s me. People I haven’t seen in a year take a look at me and their mouth drops and tell me they didn’t recognize me or make a comment like “omg you have lost so much weight!” In a way it feels good to be validated but at the same time I hate the attention. Honestly if I didn’t lose another pound I would be happy. I am under 200 and I feel/look great! I can move without pain and I have energy. Heck I mowed the yard today! I’ve had some negative comments too- mostly from my parents- “you’re starving yourself, don’t loose too much weight, and I think you’ve lost enough” It’s painful so I don’t speak with them much. I feel my weight loss has been slow but I remind myself how far I’ve come. 80+ pound weight loss is nothing to bat at! I’m doing a great job! I hope to be better and update this thread monthly! Thanks for reading.

10 pounds is actually really good so try not to get down on yourself. I've had near constant stalls along my journey while I've seen many people breeze their way to their goal with maybe 2 stalls. It gets frustrating and disheartening, so I fully understand how upsetting it is when you compare yourself to others. You're doing great and 10 pounds a month is nothing to be upset about. The first three months I lost in the double digits and then it was single digits for two months and then 10 pounds and then single digits through the rest of my journey. I recently got out of a 47 day stall (I lost 2 pounds on May 5th and then didn't lose anything until June 22nd where I lost two pounds, then lost another pound on July 6th and today July 13th I lost another 2 pounds) in which I was convinced the entire time that I'd hit maintenance and I was extremely sad that I hadn't met my goal weight, but my weight loss HAS still continued even if it moves at a crawl sometimes. Also, I don't exercise much at all due to my arthritis and two back injuries that make it next to impossible and yet, I'm only 1 pound from my goal weight! If I can get there, then I know you can to! So just try not to be so hard on yourself. You'll get there!

If you are gaining or unable to maintain a healthy weight...maybe it's time to address the reasons you overeat in a meaningful way. Therapy might not be a bad idea? Eventually, further surgeries will not be an option. Each new surgery increases your future medical risk. Wishing you the best.

Even with an appetite suppressant, you will still gain weight if you are "loving" food and grazing too much. I took phentermine and it didn't work because I ate when I wasn't hungry. So I didn't lose weight. You have to do the work to not eat too much and not eat unhealthy things.

What are your thoughts about using a prescription strength appetite suppressant after weight loss surgery? I had my surgery in May of this year and I absolutely do not want to gain any weight back now or after reaching my goal. But…I love food, love to eat and still graze with now smaller, healthier portions. Please let me know what do you think? Or can anyone relate?

Yes, this is exactly why I was prescribed it. I was at a healthy weight until I was prescribed meds for bipolar disorder at age 14 and gained 100 lbs in 2 years, and my weight just went up from there. I've been able to lose 50, 80, 100 lbs at various points but I always gain it back. I am having surgery, but I have to wait for my psychopharmacologist to speak to the surgery center's psychologist to confirm my bipolar disorder is stable, and they have not connected - this "trying to connect" started in MARCH!!! After that, I can schedule my surgery. I will probably have to go back on the metformin as I will still be on the bipolar meds.

Hi I'm in AZ too and am looking for more people local on social media (IG happilylacey) I'm in pre-op too, have finished all my pre-op hoops except two more appts and insurance clearance. I am going through the Dignity Health Weight Loss Center in Gilbert. So far so good, they had a roadmap for me to follow and have made it pretty easy so far.

I am not sure when my revision will be done (November or December). I saw my former doctor 1x after surgery. He really disappointed me! Today, I plan to attend all after care appointments. I plan to remain in counseling for the next year. I am ready for individual responsees after my weight-loss. Its a real time of mental growth. Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

The nurse practitioner at my clinic said the difference between those who keep the weight off and those who gain it back is usually those who make a lifestyle change vs those who just let the surgery do the work. Those who just limit calories because of restriction by still eating the same foods as they did pre surgery in smaller portions are usually not as successful as those who make actual changes to their nutrition that are both healthy and sustainable. Makes sense…Eventually we will be able to eat larger portions again and if we are eating the same food that got us in trouble before it will probably result in regain.

No matter how small your pouch/sleeve/stomach is, it stretches when there is food in it and contracts when there is no food in it. Also, liquids go right through it. Also, restriction is strongest in the first year. It's up to you to limit what you eat to ensure you do not regain weight. For example, it's possible to gain weight if you are "grazing" all day. Like, your smaller stomach will only accommodate a small amount of food in 30 minutes, but it will start to pass through, and if you are eating all day long, you will end up eating more calories over the course of the day than your body needs and you will gain weight. That's why it's best to have 3 small meals along with 2-3 small snacks. Also, drinking liquids with your meals may "push" the food through and allow you to eat more that you need, that's why they recommend you wait 30 minutes after eating to drink. I would recommend finding a bariatric nutritionist in your new state, or ask your old surgeon to recommend someone you can see to find an appropriate eating plan/number of calories per day.

I would be careful about doing anything that would be considered as fraud or inflation of your numbers, as that could really come back to bite you when it comes time for approvals. But, this is probably a conversation you need to have with your doctor/nurse coordinator. They should know the rules for approval with your insurance company, as they tend to vary. I was really worried about this for mine, as I was right on the 40 BMI line and, if I did the pre-surgery diet, I would have dropped under the line. But, since I had blood pressure and sleep apnea, the line was down to 35 and I was free to go ahead and get started losing weight. Assuming you have some other medical conditions, you might be OK. Even so, when I had my day-of-surgery weigh in, I was still worried that they would deny and I'd get stuck with a big bill. It turned out that my original weight was the only number they looked at and it was fine.

People at your weight don't lose a ton of weight per month - it's only people the size of those on my 600 lb life who are losing a ton of weight each month. Also, you lost a fair bit before surgery, and that can mean you lose a bit more slowly after surgery. Additionally, given your other medical issues limiting exercise, give yourself some grace AND patience! Weight loss is mostly from food intake, but it can be a bit slower without exercise. You've accomplished a lot already! Just follow your plan the best you can and take care of yourself physically and emotionally. You got this!

Well done on your weight loss so far. At the weight you are now you are unlikely to be losing more than 10lb a month. I think you are doing great, be kind to yourself. They do say that comparison is the thief of joy, and comparing your weight loss rate to others is doing you no favours at all. Chat to your doctor and/or dietician and agree on some realistic goals for weight loss based on for your current personal circumstances.

I'm on here in my head. Lol I started my journey at 281 and when I had surgery I weighed 258. In May I had to have surgery, a permanknee fusion on my left leg. Rod runs from my hip to my ankle. So needless to say exercise is still hard rt now. I have to use a cane to walk. So I'm down to 216 but thats only like 10lbs a month. I've lost down and alot of inches but I feel depressed. I see so many that was at my weight at surgery and are finally below 200.. This journey is more than a food tool. Its emotional. I try not to judge my weight loss by others weight loss but its so hard. Sent from my SM-N960U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

Congrats on your weight loss so far. It’s likely you’ve been experiencing a stall. They’re extremely common at the 3 week+/- mark & can last 1 - 3 weeks. It’s just your body taking a breath after all the changes. You may experience a couple of stalls as you’re losing. You’ll start to lose again. Stick to your plan & you’ll be fine. Good luck.

My doctors have always had me remove my shoes, belts, jackets & even my skirt at weigh-ins to get the most accurate reading without me stripping down to my underwear. If I had tried to increase my weight through trickery, I would have been caught. If you do & you’re discovered it could affect your approval process. Best advice is to be honest about all aspects of your weight loss journey.

Yes, you can take capsules after your sleeve surgery though you may have trouble swallowing them for a couple of day because of internal post surgical swelling. Generally we’re told we can’t take nsaids again after surgery. However, my surgeon allows me to take them because I rarely do - one less than once a month. Prolonged use of nsaids can cause inflammation of the stomach lining with side effects including nausea, diarrhoea, stomach ulcers & internal bleeding. Because we have a much smaller tummy the risk of side effects are increased which is why we’re told to avoid them. If your inflammation is aggravated by your weight, your weight loss may reduce your need for the anti inflammatories - fingers crossed. The other issue to consider is that some meds are absorbed in your tummy. Because we have a smaller tummy, the meds may not be fully absorbed. You will need to go through all your meds with your surgeon & prescribing doctors to see what meds you will still be able to take & to find alternatives for those you can’t. There are lots of people on this forum who take meds for similar reasons as you. They may be able to suggest some alternatives that are working for them you could discuss with your doctors.

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