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I had my WLS/Rou-y on May 15, 2018, and I now have excess skin near my stomach, thighs, hips, and arms. I'm supposed to be losing more weight toward my surgery to get rid of the excess skin on my stomach because I keep getting rashes, infections, and fungus in the area to the point I have open sores so Medicaid is deeming it medically necessary and deciding to cover it. I'm having a hard time because I hit a weight plateau during the pandemic and gained 13 pounds (I was supposed to lose at least 30) and I'm nowhere near my goal. I don't know what to do with myself and I'm highly disappointed. I do need someone to vent to right now.

I've heard about it but I'll let you know if I go ahead with getting it or not. They told me I still have to lose more weight just to get any kind of surgery to remove or tighten up my excess skin. They told me I need to be at least 180 for them to do anything for me so I've been working on it.

I had my WLS on May 15, 2018, and I am struggling with my emotions and sadness. My great uncle died and my grandmother is going to need open-heart surgery again. She is not in the greatest health and she's always my main support. I don't know what I'd do if she died. I don't want the same thing that happened to my great uncle to happen to her. Because he died of heart complications recently and it's made me scared of my grandmother getting open-heart surgery for the 3rd time. I need someone I can contact and meet up with who lives in Northern California preferably in Sacramento that has had Gastric Bypass and has kept the weight off for a long time/is successful. I feel like I have nobody to lean on. I recently gained 13 pounds due to all the stress of all this. I REALLY want to get back on track but I've been so distraught I don't know what to do with myself!

Today marked my one month sleeve-versary! I’ve lost from 1-3 inches throughout my body. The scale has been stuck for a while for me. My nutritionist told me I’m not getting in enough protein so it’ll be hard to support fat loss. I like focusing on fat loss instead of weight loss. My greatest struggle is getting enough fiber to support healthy bowels. I get bloated sometimes. Still navigating through learning my hunger and full cues. My scars are almost invisible! I’m so impressed with the overall surgery. I’m looking forward to more consistent results. Hope you all are doing well!

I was on Depo about 20 years before I had surgery, and I gained weight like crazy on that! I finally got off it a few months later since I was scared my weight would keep going up. It may be different after you have surgery, though. I was post-menopausal when I had my bypass, so of course no need for birth control. Hopefully someone will be able to answer this for you...

I agree with catwoman7 and Arimi, Brooks and Saucony make excellent walking shoes but everyone's needs are a little different. If you can find a running/ walking shoe store that offers free fittings, I'd recommend it. I had a shoe fitting years ago and they were able to identify my gait, pronation, and high arch. Wherever you go, I'd make sure they offer a good return policy. Also, your feet may shrink as you lose weight and your once great shoes may not offer the right support anymore. Good luck!

My butt has always been big, even at my smallest weight. I've lost 162 so far and it is still big, but at the bottom where it meets my legs it is loose and saggy. Sometimes when sit on the toilet it feels like I'm sitting on wadded up toilet paper or something, but it's the skin bunching up! I am also having tailbone pain when I sit too long.. I still hope to lose at least another 40 pounds, so I imagine it will only get worse. [emoji2368] Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

I chose the Loop DS because my BMI was so high (69.9), and my surgeon said it was the most powerful operation. I was paying out of packet, so I knew this was my only shot and I wanted to give myself the best chance to lose as much weight as possible. I'm very happy I chose this surgery! Sent from my Nokia 7.2 using BariatricPal mobile app

Weight loss is weight loss, of course, but there are things that LGBTQ+ people may have to deal with that don't really have parallels in the straight community. As an example: The bear movement among gay men was started in direct response to body-shaming of fat gay men by lean gay men. It was truly awful—gay bars, which were the only safe spaces, started putting what were called "cow catchers" out front—poles set narrowly together, so that only people with lean body types could pass through without turning their bodies or hitching. If you couldn't pass through without turning or hitching, you couldn't go in. So the fat hairy gay men created their own safe spaces (440 Castro in SF and Rockbar in NYC are examples) and their own community. But flash forward thirty years or so and now the bear community has its own judgmental labels and body shaming. Oh, he's not fat enough to be a bear. Oh, he's not hairy enough to be a bear, he's just a chub. Oh, he thinks he's a cub but he's just a skinny old otter. Someone who is gay and identifies as a bear (hi!) who then loses the weight may lose his community, which makes compliance just that much harder. Or he could lose his relationship, because maybe his partner is only into big bears. I'm fortunate in that I don't think I'll have that problem, but it's an example of a situation that only gay men face. There could be situations particular to lesbian women, to trans people (who face issues getting quality medical care even when not obese), for anyone in the LGBTQ+ community. Does it warrant its own forum? I don't know. Maybe, because if you're a member of the LGBTQ+ community and you're searching for answers to your problems, finding a "safe space", or at least a collection of LGBTQ+ WLS issues all in one place, could be a really good thing. I just don't know how much traffic it would see.

I'm considering having my tubes tied followed by weight loss surgery, performed laparoscopically, back to back, on the same day. I was planning on having RNY until the physicians assistant told me my surgeon may not agree to tubal ligation followed by RNY. I may have to switch to tubal ligation followed by a gastric sleeve. A couple of weeks ago I was scheduled for the Nexplanon birth control implant. I realized at my age, (early 40s) I'm ready for something permanent. I'd tried to get my tubes tied in my mid and late 20s but was turned down by two OB/GYNs. In over a month I have a consult with a great OB/GYN and later with my surgeon. I'm sure I'll get some clarity after those visits but I'd like a perspective from someone who's had this specific surgery or another combo like WLS+ gallbladder removal. How long were you out of work or when did you start to feel like yourself again? Did you have any side effects related to the tubal part of the surgery? Anything you wished you'd known before surgery?

Jayali, I can think of three reasons why you are feeling so depressed and tired: post partum depression, carrying for an infant while holding down a job, and lack of vitamins and minerals. You need to get with the program. Take your supplements religiously and eat according to your food plan. I recommend that seek treatment for your addictions: medication and food. This may mean joining a 12-step program such as Overeaters Anonymous, AA, or NA. Avoid all sugar, artificial sweeteners, and flour. These are the things that trigger most of us. Otherwise, you will defeat your surgery and regain all that you've lost. If you've been prescribed a CPAP machine, find a mask that suits you, and use the CPAP every night. Getting enough sleep can make all the difference in the world. There are non-addictive sleeping pills that are very effective, such as Lunesta. I recommend reading Weight Loss Surgery Does Not Cure Food Addiction by Connie Stapleton and How Weight Loss Surgery Really Works, by Matthew Weiner. Please return to your obstetrician and bariatric surgeon and get help.

I took proton pump meds for 20 years before surgery. When I told my voice doc I wanted to get off them, he asked whether I'd ever considered weight loss surgery. Up until then I hadn't, so that was the start of my journey. It's good to get off the proton pump meds because they can cause bone density problems. Since my surgery a little over a month ago, the surgeon has me on omeprazole 40 mg. I think he wants me to take them for six months. The idea is to protect the vulnerable spots while they are healing.

60 pounds in 6 months is not a slow loss. That is a decent amount of weight to lose in such a short time, especially depending on what your overall goal is and starting weight.

I had a therapist for 15 years who was great, but knew nothing about weight loss. He would always suggest I saw someone else about that, and it really frustrated me, because I was really attached to him (he's mostly retired, but I still call him sometimes). I tried to see someone else, but she was really into OA, and that's just not my jam. I'm not a religious or spiritual person and I don't believe in a "higher power". I saw a therapist for binge eating for a while but insurance decided binge eating isn't covered. I tried Better Help, but the person didn't have any weight loss related experience either. I think it's really hard. I'm sorry you had such a crap experience with that one therapist who thought it was fun to make a fat joke and didn't think regain is a thing. I asked the therapist from the surgery center and she said she could find someone to see me if I needed it after surgery. Did you try your surgery center? I hope you find someone. I don't personally like homework from therapy; I just like the supportive place to work out how I feel about things and test what I'm thinking.

I have not. My Dr. said my pre-surgery weight loss (30lbs) was good so he said I can do protein drinks with one small meal for three days prior to surgery. I plan on doing full liquid though just to help with my mind set. What about you? Im currently cleaning my house, figuring out meals for my family and trying to figure out what to take to the hospital with me.

For people who needed to lose a minimum of 100lbs AND were on depo provera pre & post op……: : Were you able to reach your weightloss goal of losing 100lbs+? ( Some ppl gain weight from depo.)

All of these tips and hints are really useful! Thank you everyone! I too did worry about surgery bag for hospital. But I’ve chosen a very large oversized night dress to wear for after surgery. Baggy pjs and baggy tshirt to travel home, I was planning on going bra-less for comfort. I too have all my shakes, Protein waters, Broth, ice lollies and jelly ready. also doing a deep clean of the house to keep me busy during pre op diet which is going ok so far. How much weight did everyone loose on average pre op? I lost about 7lbs in the first two days. But maintaining now, I hope it’s enough. good luck to everyone due in the next few days and I wish you all the best for the crew that have just comE out of surgery. we got this! 💪🏻

Hey everyone, I got the gastric sleeve three years ago and my road to recovery has been quite challenging. After three years, I am still having problems eating food or simply drinking water. I vomit constantly sometimes it's a bubbly liquid that comes up. I have lost more than 150lbs. I'm currently at the weight of 100lbs. I didn't want to get this small but it just happened because I am unable to eat food. I have tried the liquid diet. nothing will stay down. I have been severely dehydrated, I've suffered 15 days of constipation. I've had a hiatal hernia and two repairs. I have been t the emergency room 6 times in the last 3 years for severe cramping. I have had 3 upper GI scans and my esophagus has been stretched out before because it has shrunk. I have accumulated so much money in bills and no one seems to know what's going on. Does anybody know what's going on? I am so scared. I don't want to die.

I took a light weight cotton lounging dress to wear home. Nothing with a waist line that might interfere with the incisions. I also took tennis shoes with socks. My doctor did not want me wearing flip flops. He wanted me in good supportive shoes. Get up and walk as soon as you can after surgery. The walking helps a lot! Good luck!

UPDATE: Today was my 1 month check up with my surgeon (was really his PA). I'm actually at 7 weeks today but they had no other openings closer to my 1 month mark. Anyway, she said I was doing really. She told me that they enter my pre surgery weight and stuff into some program and it gives them guidelines to follow of where I should be with my weight. The following is the guidelines FOR ME and MY WEIGHT and MY PROGRAM. This may or may not be the same for you so take it, or not, for what it's worth. She said at....... 1 month out - my weight should fall between 286 & 293 3 months out - 263 & 277 6 months out - 232 & 255 9 months out - 217 & 245 At a year out they expect my weight to be between 201 and 234. Since my last weigh in was 275, I have already hit the mark for 3 months out even though I'm only at 7 weeks. So she said I was doing really well and ahead of the game. We also discussed my goal weight and she feels I'm being realistic with selecting 180 as my final goal. Although she reminded me I'd still be considered slightly overweight. But yeah, like she said, we can talk about that goal when the time comes. I asked her about being able to start using free weights and/or bands again and she told me no. That I have to wait until 3 months out. She said they only want me to concentrate on cardio for the first 3 months and that I should be getting in 150 min a week, minimum, of that. She said my heart rate should be elevated to the point that I am able to have a light conversation without being too out of breath while exercising. She said the weights and toning can come after 3 months. Bummer, cause I was really expecting to be able to start that again, but it is what it is. So yeah, that's about it. She said I was doing really well with food and whatnot. She did ask about my water intake and I was honest and told her I usually only get in one of my 36 ounce bottles now. Sometimes more. Not for any other reason than I'm not finding myself thirsty otherwise. She said that's fine and to maybe set reminders and to try and get at least 48 ounces in rather than the 64. She said 48 was totally acceptable. Anyway, that's my update!

This got way longer than I expected, so let me start with the TL;DR: If you have gotten counseling that has helped with your WLS success, can you please give me some tips for how to find a good therapist? And what I should be discussing with that therapist? I'm looking at you, @Creekimp13 and @catwoman7 (since you've both mentioned the importance of therapy in your long-term success), but I would love to hear from anyone who has gotten this kind of counseling... I've seen so many people say that therapy is really important for long-term success with WLS. I'm almost a year out and I've been struggling lately, and I've had a hard time finding a good therapist. I searched my insurance company's website for therapists who treat eating disorders. I reached out to a practice that had a few therapists who had eating disorders listed as one of their specialties, and they sent a very curt reply saying that they don't have anyone on staff who treats eating disorders. I called another practice and explained that I'm a WLS patient looking for counseling on food and eating issues, and they assured me they could help, but the therapist they assigned to me knew nothing about WLS. I had a few sessions with him and it was useless. I had to keep explaining basics about WLS (like food restrictions, dumping syndrome, not eating and drinking at the same time, loose skin -- which he thought would go away on its own if I exercise enough and when I explained that the only way to get rid of it is plastic surgery, he suggested I ask my bariatric surgeon to do it at my next follow-up). He didn't seem to understand my issues at all. In hindsight, I probably should have walked out of the first session. When I started telling him my WLS story and mentioned that my highest weight was 341 pounds, he interrupted me: "Sue?" I stopped and said, "Yes?" He replied, with a big smile on his face, "Sue, you were FAT!" and then busted out laughing, like it was cool to make fun of how fat I used to be just because I'm not that big anymore. When I told him I wanted to get counseling to address my food and eating issues to make sure I don't gain the weight back, he replied, "You won't gain the weight back. If I had a $100 bill right now, I would bet $100 that you won't gain the weight back," and then we never discussed regain again in the next 3 sessions. I think he was under the impression that regain was an irrational fear and he did his job by reassuring me that it's not going to happen. Then I found another practice that has a whole paragraph on its web site about the support they offer for bariatric patients both before and after surgery. I called to make an appointment and said that I had bariatric surgery last year and I was interested in the post-surgery counseling they described on their web site. The receptionist told me she needed my surgeon's office notes from my most recent visit, and was oddly insistent that the notes come directly from the surgeon's office and not from me downloading them from my electronic chart and sending them. I had to sign release paperwork for the surgeon's office, and when the counseling practice got it, they called me and said they were confused because my surgeon's notes said I already had the surgery so there was no need for me to get a pre-surgery evaluation. I guess they thought I was asking for a psych eval for surgery approval and couldn't understand why I would need counseling after I already had the surgery. I cited the paragraph on their web site and they sent me to a seemingly random therapist (probably the first one with an opening) who had no experience with WLS patients. She's better than the last guy, but the sessions have been pretty generic -- basically, she asks me how my week has been, I talk about things that happen (usually relating to WLS issues), and she asks me how I feel about it or how I handled it. Doesn't feel like I'm getting anywhere -- just feels like a WLS patient Q&A. I told her this and she suggested I think about what exactly I want to discuss and tell her next week. I'll give that a try, but to be honest, I don't really know -- she's the therapist, so I was counting on her to provide that kind of guidance!

I appreciate everyone’s advice! I Was just hoping to see a faster weight loss at this point in time. But I do agree that cutting out the yogurt and oatmeal may be a good start and trying to eat less carbs and more protein in my diet along with more liquids…I’m only getting about 60grams of protein daily so that may also be causing the slower weight loss….I’m just nervous because My surgeon told me that the first three months will be the quickest weight loss I will experience and if it’s only 25 lbs that doesn’t feel like a lot since I have another 40 lbs I’m hoping to lose here.

You go girl with all that activity!! I had my 2 week check up yesterday. All is well she said. I too was taken OFF the blood pressure med! She said all my levels/tests they took in surgery were all good! No liver problems. My weight was down 9 pounds since surgery ( 15 days). But I’m ok with being a ‘slow loser’, as long as it’s headed DOWN! I too need to hide the scale! My calories are around the same, 450-500, I have to get them up a little. She kept me off work for 2 more weeks, to make sure I was healed 8 still have ‘pulling/burning’ sensation when I move/reach/stretch wrong. She did say all THAT would be gone within the next week. I was very relieved to hear that. That’s what I was worried about going back to work with. Shakes are my main protein, thankfully I didn’t lose my taste for them. As far as food goes, I measure it out, and can get in 1/2 comfortably. I haven’t ate anything that made my new tummy angry yet, I’m sure I will soon with introducing new foods though. I want some CHICKEN, canned, grilled ( not fried) , something to CHEW! Lol

I just wanted to say thank you to all y'all. I found this site a while ago and have been lurking and reading and learning. The honest talk helped me with a lot of the anxiety I was having about surgery. The photos inspired me so much—so many of you changed your lives and kept them changed. The folks who are really into exercise reassured me that it isn't over (I love my CrossFit, and I can't wait until my weight isn't the limiting factor). And just the fact that so many people's lives improved finally got me over the "shame hump". I called for a referral, had my initial consultation last week, and am tentatively scheduled for VSG in late August. (My insurance has been frankly amazing. So few roadblocks that I kept checking to make sure they were talking about bariatric surgery.) To say I can't wait for this is an understatement. I just want y'all to know you're changing lives for me and for other lurkers who haven't clicked that "sign up" button yet. Thank you.

as long as you're following your program, you're good. Weight loss does ebb and flow the first few weeks.