trekker954

I'm 62 years young and all my adult life I've been on every diet imaginable and have spent thousands and thousands of dollars either dieting through life or eating my way through life. I lost and gained the same 50 pounds for the past 30 years and I finally needed to lose a good 80 once and for all.  
I've taken Phentermine on and off for years.  Late in 2015 when I met with my PCP who said my heart rate and pulse were erratic  and he would not prescribe Phentermine.   In August 2015, I attended a Bariatric seminar in Cleveland Clinic but when they started talking about complications, hair loss (I have gorgeous thick hair); and the flatulence (my job requires me to be in many meeting when all are focused on me and what I am speaking on) - I ran from the seminar and didn't think I'd look back.
But here I was again, at my heaviest 245ish, lying in bed at night, feeling crappy and wondering if and when I was going to die from my weight.  I really didn't have any co-morbidities but I really felt like crap.
I decided to more forward in January, gained about 10 pounds for insurance approved success - but then I had three trips to China to deal with prior to surgery so I had to postpone.  I had to reapply for insurance approval in June and was scheduled for August surgery.
I credit Bariatric Pal for preparing me to have a healthy outcome.   And I will say, I've not had any flatulence issues, and so far (I know its early 11 weeks) but no hair loss at all. 
Update at two years out:     I retired November 2017.   Probably a year out, I started slowing introducing crappy food.    No weight gain, nice....  ate some more.  Well, cheating heavily and probably 5 cruises later, I put on 25 pounds.    I've gotten hold of that and on my way down again, by cutting carbs and sugar.    I did have a facelift Halloween 2017, which turned out great, except for the surgical site infection on my neck leaving me with a huge visible antibiotic resistant infection which took 6 months on heavy duty antibiotics to get rid of.     All is well now.   
I'm back logging my food, reading support forums such as these.