Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

Gone from 23stone to 15stone and finally realising how well I've done, taken so long for me to realise [emoji3]

Hey all. I've been overweight/obese since my Dad passed away when I was 18. Finally this past year I decided enough was enough, I could hardly walk, I would lie awake at night fearing a sudden death, and on and on. On February 1st I weighed in @ 537lbs. My surgeon wanted me to lose 40-50lbs before he would approve surgery. That day changed my life, I committed to eating healthy and exercising. By March 2nd I had lost 40lbs and was approved for surgery....but first a 4!! week 600-800 calorie pre op. It was a struggle but I stuck too it and on my surgery date April 2nd I weighed in at 471lbs. The day of surgery my hemoglobin reading was 11.8, my surgeon said it was …

I weighed 232lbs 6 months ago now down to 160lbs. Feel like a whole new person highest weight: 274lbs surgery weight: 232lbs current weight: 160 lbs goal weight: 150lbs . Sent from my SM-S120VL using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi there I am Kellie and started my journey last July when I hit 300 pounds and decided enough is enough. However, also hitting 50 and menopause didn’t allow for that rapid weight loss we have all experienced at different times so I knew I needed a tool. I had always been against surgery as I had had 2 non elective abdominal surgeries and they were not a walk in the park! So saw my surgeon last July and started the monthly routine and had all the pre tests done and then got approved with BCBS and scheduled surgery for Friday April 13th ( my surgeons nurse was freaking out about the 13th thing but I told her I wasn’t superstitious so go ahead. Weighed 280 when I started m…

The title is real. I am with Kaiser in NorCal and have been my entire adult life. I began the journey to get a gastric bypass in 2007 and I am still in the system. Admittedly the first time I went through it, I got to the point where I would go to surgery and I opted out because I had misgivings... mainly I thought I could continue to do it myself! The last 2 times I have been through the system, they have failed to get me the surgery. When I say get through the system, I mean HOURS and HOURS of classes for orientation, nutritional classes, psychiatric meetings, meetings with surgeons, etc. Then I met my goal weight (which was down 30 lbs or more each time) and …

I had my surgery in April 2014 and I lost 120 pounds, I reached my goal, but after eating too much sugar( pastries, candies and chocolates) for the last two months, I had to go for an ultrasound and the doctor told me my spleen was enlarged.i don't have pain, but my abdomen is swollen a little bit, and I have difficulty breathing, the doctor told me there is no medicine for that, and that I have to watch my diet. Is the sugar a problem for the spleen? How can I reduce the size of my spleen? An acupuncturist told me about some red root tea. This is the only issue I had after my sleeve, I did really good and this is the first problem I experienced after 18 months of surge…

6 month follow up exercise eval & appointment today. I'm at 95% excess weight lost!!! Almost a 150 pounds down!! I never would've dreamed I could be at this point. Never! My Before & After pics say it all!! I just need to tell y'all to stick with the program and do what you need to do. Even for the days that you get discouraged. The result is worth it with better health!! So thankful and happy!! [emoji16] VSG 10/11/17 HW = 360 SW = 292 GW = 220 3/7/18 CW = 211.6 (6'5") [emoji256]

SD: 1/21/12 Dr. Sosa Hialeah, FL SW: 367 LBS CW : 185 LBS Complications : 1 time food got stuck and stayed for 1 week , had to remove Gall Ballader 3 yrs aftwr surgery ... Pregnancy 1 MC and 5 months now .... Sent from my LG-TP450 using BariatricPal mobile app

They call me "Biggie" and know me as "yosoyelmaspesao". My weight loss journey started on January 12, 2017. I had to wait 6 months to get my surgery. And in that time I had doubt, fear, worry, that I wouldn't go through with the surgery. But finally, my surgery date came. I was scheduled for July 3, 2017. My surgery came and went because my surgery was canceled. Then more doubt and fear came. And once again I was scheduled for surgery for August 17, 2017 and then rescheduled again for August 21, 2017. But, my surgery was finally done. I was sleeved. At first everything was great. Then slowly the complications started to creep up. First I couldn't hold anything down, then …

I’m feeling good started out at 398 the day of surgery. Today I was 237.8 I have had to have my gallbladder out because of weight loss. I have had to same issues as everyone else with constipation which as caused a few other problems especially since December/ January. But miralax and stool softeners with stimulants have helped. I’ve noticed more energy from working in the yard to playing with the kids and other things. I started kayak fishing, my golf swing has struggled due to no belly being there to be a swing guide. It’s been something for the best.

2.5 months before surgery vs 2.5 months after surgery

Before I tell you why my life was ruined, I first need to tell you about who I was before surgery. Unlike most stories you hear, I had not struggled with my weight my entire life. Sure, I was a few pounds overweight most of the time, but I didn't really gain my weight until I turned 18. At the age of 15 I met my fiancé, however we didn't start dating until my late 17’s. When we started dating, eventually becoming more serious, we ate out every single meal. If we were eating together, you could bet it would be out. To make matters worse, it was almost always Pasta and breadsticks at Olive Garden. Adding insult to injury, I took a night shift desk job with a security compan…

I am a 68 y.o. male started at 290 lbs. Insulin dependent type ii Diabetic, sleep apnea, heart stint, hypertensive, Now approx 3.5 months post op weighing 204 lbs. (90 lb. wt loss) Off all meds, recent A1C was 5.8, was feeling great until 3 weeks ago, became very fatigued, diagnosed with bacterial colitis, prescribed Flagyl and Cipro, diarrhea ceased but continue very fatigued although sleeping 8 hrs each night with Tramadol, last labs showed slight anemia, high calcium, low B2. Stopped 3/day multivitamins and started once a day over the counter multi to reduce Calcium. Walking daily but have not started and actual exercise regime, can hardly get the energy to attempt e…

This is my personal record of my progress at twelve weeks. A bit dull so don’t read it! But I kinda need to get it down. And I have to admit, it has been a dream run. 14 December, Lap band removal and RNY in one. Fobi Pouch (‘no stretch’) type RNY, with intestine sewn over the incision line for my long thin pouch, making it very thick and non-stretchy, also with a small non-adjustable silastic ring sewn in to maintain the girth size/shape. Open surgery, but even that was pretty easy. I did take 4 weeks off, then built up my hours over the next 3. I have a stressful job with 1000 staff, so I wanted to come back carefully, knowing I would not collapse. And …

Riding home on a narcosis high! I had a great weekend scuba diving, achieving both my PADI advanced and enriched air diver certification. Best part for me was diving in the ocean again and needing LESS weight because I weigh 50 lbs less than I used to! I call it losing my whale blubber [emoji23] . Much more weight to go but this was a major success story for me! Also I have to sell and replace my wetsuits and BCD (for smaller sizes) and get new ones before my next planned dives (May), worth it not to have to lug around more lead to counteract all my fat buoyancy. I’m sure this story won’t mean much to most but hopefully encouraging to other VSG Divers out there!

I'm happy to tell my story regarding my gastric sleeve surgery and being over 60. I have been heavy all of my 40+ years of marriage. I lost a significant amount once but gained it back. Since then I hadon't ballooned to my highest weight of 314 lbs. I had all the classic comorbidity symptoms of high blood pressure, sleep apnea, lower back pains, shortness of breath and prediabeetes. I looked into bariatric surgery three years before finally having it. I'm 63 and as I began doing my research, I noticed there wasn't a lot of information on people in my age range. So here I am...7 weeks post op and I have to say, the struggle has been real! But I'm embracing this new…

Hi all. I was on this site down 7 years ago before/after I had my VSG & here I am again for my revision to RNY. i have been very unsuccessful with my VSG: I really felt no restriction with Foods, my GERD increased x1000 and no dose of PPI’s helped. I never sought help because my surgeon went out of practice and I never saw anyone else because I was embarrassed. I am currently at 263, the weight I was at when I had my sleeve. After I had my sleeve I got down to 220 but I was so scared of eating anything really and was working out twice a day just to lose that 40 lbs. I am approved for my revision to RNY for beginning of May & I am nervous. Not nervous for…

Total of 76 pounds down!!! https://s.bariatricpal.com/uploads/monthly_2018_03/Feels so good to not have so much pain. I am no longer pre-diabetic, released from cardiac care, no more pain meds for my back. It’s not always the easiest ride but I don’t regret being sleeved one bit. Totally new relationship with food that I feel I had to sort of grieve the loss but it is getting easier to deal with.

My journey begins over 45 years ago. As a child, I was groomed from the age of 5 by my maternal Grandfather and suffered at his hand for over 8 years. Child sexual abuse is something most never talk about. I never spoke about mine until November 5, 2011 - when the news of the Penn State/Jerry Sandusky scandal broke - I remember my heart breaking as I sat in my car listening to the news account and later reading the presentment. It too closely mirrored my own experience - child sexual abuse - and people knew - and did nothing. My pain was too much to bear. I sat at my desk that morning at work and penned a piece entitled "I am the face of child sexual abuse." What f…

Hi All, As I come upon my 1-year post-op, I am filled with an immense amount of joy and excitement. This year has been a rollercoaster ride that has broken me down and rebuilt me at the same time. Like a Pheonix, I rose from the ashes of the despair and discouragement that came with having to create and learn a new way of living. I did not understand just how deeply rooted my emotions were in eating and how junk food had made me feel alive when I felt like I was dying and eating my life away. I have met most goals but have not met all. I have had to change goals or adapt to new situations with my body. Goals I Didn't Meet: 1) I did not reach my initial goa…

Today is my 3 month surgiversary. I'm down 53lbs since surgery and 141lbs total since I started the 6 month pre-op program last May. 40lbs to go to hit my goal.

I can't believe it, almost a year ago I was 316 pounds. I was nervous, and eating every horrible and unhealthy meal I thought I would never be able to eat again because I knew I was about to change my life on December 14, 2016. I was sleeved on 12/14/16 and it was truly one of the best life decisions I ever made. It was not easy, from being in and out of the ER due to dehydration in my early stage.. barely being able to eat anything besides liquids/apple sauce for 2 months.. to now being able to eat honestly anything, just with portion control. I'm well known on social media, and people always ask me what do I eat, what should they eat, did I get additional surgery etc..…

I had a sleeve done in August 2010. Had typical post surgery issues, but lost and kept off 100+. Had hernia surgery 2x but reflux and gerd required revision. 3 weeks bypass post op. Now back to beginning but with less weight loss, excess terrible gas, insomnia, and depression. Need someone to talk through ledge sitting and weepiness.

I lost my original journal. So here I am starting anew.. Highest weight before surgery 287 Current weight 220. I could have lost more but I'm fighting my demons. My weakness is cookies and chips. During a meal I will favor protein and veggies. So it does keep me from gaining. Still watching my sugar intake. I find if I wait too long to eat, hunger makes my meal decisions. Last night I ate too fast and wound up eating too fast-then getting sick, and then filling up on chips. My bad habits are lurking right around the corner. Whatever I decide to eat, I set a timer on my smart watch for 30 min before I allow myself liquid. Like I said l, no gain. But not a single piund li…

Hello Everyone. My name is Erica but in the social media world I go by the name Bariatric Butterfly. I’m a WLS Sister who had the Duodenal Switch in 2009. At my highest I weighed 399 lbs. On the day of surgery I weighed 384 lbs. Surgery got me down to roughly 210 lbs or so, but I managed to get myself back up to 230 lbs before getting real with myself. As of today, I’m weighing in at 164 lbs and have been able to maintain for a while all without starving and drinking shakes all day every day. Throughout my journey I’ve been asked many times how I’ve managed to maintain a healthy lifestyle and continue to be successful so many years out. I would say perseverance…

Hey all! I was sleeved on Jan 23, 2018. Yesterday was my one month surgiversary! Hubby took measurements for me a couple days prior to surgery and redid them last night to see how things have progressed beyond the scale. Woo hoo! We've got a good start going! Not sure why we went metric, but here's the results: 2 cm off belly/waist 6 cm off hips - YASSS!!! Explains why pants are seriously baggy 4 cm off bust 3 cm off neck - who knew I was carrying so much fat around my neck? 2 cm off rt arm 1 cm off right calf 2 cm off right thigh So thrilled with this! I can't wait to see what the numbers look like on Mar 23…

I was just sleeved on Oct 18, 2017. I am a white male, 46 years old, 5' 8", and a devout follower of Christ. My highest weight ever was 270. I lowered this slowly during the first half of 2017 to 255 when I signed up for the surgery. In August I started my life reset in preparation for surgery and followed the pre-op diet. I started running a lot and was doing 1-2 miles most days, and 6.55 miles on weekends. I ran a 5K the Saturday before surgery. The day of surgery I weighed 232. Now, four days out, my weight is 228. My goal weight is 170, I believe. (Not sure how to decide about that.) Since surgery I have had a lot of abdominal pain, but it has gotten a little better e…

Hi my name is Lost1. I started the Gastric Bypass journey only one month ago. Things have moved rather quickly for me. Some would say I am lucky. I would say it's making me more nervous. My insurance has put up no real fight. I didn't require a 6 month supervised weight loss /diet plan. Nor was I required to have a psychiatric assessment. However, my doctor Ihor Fedorak required a assessment by a local counseling office and a ultra-sound for possible gallbladder issues. In 4 short weeks, I have met with my NUT, a psychologist, a doctor who conducted my ultrasound, my own personal therapist for a referral letter and of course attended a 3 hour class. Thin…

So I had to restart my program with my weight loss center. I'm very upset about it but I might have to wait a year to have the surgery. I didn't pass my psychological. But I've got more fight in me than I've ever had in my life. I'm going to do this. I'm going to do it for everyone I love. But most of all I'm going to do it for myself because I don't want to die at a young age. I don't want to leave my husband all alone depressed because I died. I love my family and they're supporting me. I'm going to do this I'm a fighter and a survivor and a Victor I conquered my fears and I conquered my past I can do this thank you Sent from my SM-T350 using BariatricPal mobile app

Hello, I'm Tracy. I had the sleeve 5 days before my 46th birthday 2016. I'm glad I did this, only wish I would have done it years ago. I started out at 298 size 24/26, down to 173ish size 8/12, I'm 5'3" I have the best support system, my family and friend's are the best. They've always encouraged me through the whole process. I couldn't be happier with my life...NEVER going back. Thank you Lord, even though i had to pay out of pocket..I always say.. I'm blessed to be able to make the payments.

I was watching a video today that said talk to people about the mistakes they made along their recovery journey - 'you learn more from the mistakes than the success'....so I thought I'd ask, "What mistakes did you make, in your journey to health?" Thanks!

i was 232lbs 4 month ago my fat just melted its jus crazy. Feeling amazing if u cant deal seeing body fat please dont scroll down.. i have no care i love me..... HW:274lbs SW:232lbs CW:175lbs GW:150lbs Sent from my SM-S120VL using BariatricPal mobile app

Hey all! I was sleeved on Jan 23, 2018. Yesterday was my one month surgiversary! Hubby took measurements for me a couple days prior to surgery and redid them last night to see how things have progressed beyond the scale. Woo hoo! We've got a good start going! Not sure why we went metric, but here's the results: 2 cm off belly/waist 6 cm off hips - YASSS!!! Explains why pants are seriously baggy 4 cm off bust 3 cm off neck - who knew I was carrying so much fat around my neck? 2 cm off rt arm 1 cm off right calf 2 cm off right thigh So thrilled with this! I can't wait to see what the numbers look like on Mar 23…

It’s been a long journey it feels like. I’m still trying to conquer getting in 64 fluid ounces a day as well as 90-100 grams of protein. I’m hoping this journey will get easier

Breakfast of champions: protein drink with a shot of espresso and a shot of miralax. Wow, I eat some weird things since my surgery. And that will be the last time I do the espresso, but sadly, the miralax is a necessity these days.

What follows is a narrative of my personal experience with the vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) and my subsequent weight loss. It is specifically written for both preoperative and recent postoperative patients. This is my way of thanking Bariatric Pal for the wealth of valuable information I gleaned before undergoing the surgery. I need to underscore that my story is not intended to provide weight loss advice or suggest that the way I did it is the only or even best way to lose and maintain weight loss. I have broken and continue to break most of the postoperative rules I was given by my surgeon and, yet, I’ve been able to maintain a weight loss of 88 pounds over four …

My surgery was on 12/9 hw:245 sw:234 cw:188. Couldn’t be happier with my tool and can’t wait to see what the future brings. [emoji847]

Yay ! HW 242 SW 236- December 20, 2017 CW 199 GW 160

I’m only starting this journey and have a long way to go. I’m so happy to have found this forum. Please tell me I’m not the only one who’s experienced this? It’s been so hard to find good before pictures because always hiding behind someone or something. I never thought I did that on purpose but looking back at pictures I sure did.

I had my surgery 4 years ago and I have been bullied by someone after 8 months after I had my surgery. Sent from my SM-J727U using BariatricPal mobile app

I have read through other posts regarding gerd and using TUMS for it. I had a severe case of gastritis prior to surgery and was on nexium short term and then told to use it as needed. It didnt come back until after hernia repair with sleeve. I have only had it 3 times now. My surgeon ordered prilosec now and I didnt start taking it until tonight. In the meantime while I sit awake, can I still use some tums? Thanks for any advice. Sent from my SM-T350 using BariatricPal mobile app

I have always had issues with sleep and take a couple of prescription medications. They helped maintain sleep through the night until now. Im only a couple of weeks postop. Now I take my medications and go to bed at 11pm and i am up by 4am. Could it be lack of activity or mental stimulation or just normally after surgery? Sent from my SM-T350 using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi all, I am an introverted person, so it is/easier for me to write than speaking in person. I have had a couple of hiccups in the road but am still getting through them k owing they are temporary. Initially i was scheduled for VSG on 11/27. When they went to do the surgery, my blood pressure dropped so severely they were able to do my hernia repair but couldnt started the sleeve. I was in ICU overnight. Due to all of the liver manipulation my right side hurt significantly for almost 4 wks. I was so sad when I was told i didnt get the surgery. You get so excited and am so ready before, only to be let down and still have the surgical sites and pain. My surgeon felt there w…

I was banded on Monday August 1st 2016, the surgery went great except for some shoulder pain the first two days post op. Today is August 4 and I feel so much better. I was able to walk 2 miles on the track and left all my energy there, being on post op liquid diet is not as difficult anymore as I thought before I started this journey.. I have a feeling I will be seeing a lot more of this ... I'm doing this for myself and my daughter :-) Tomorrow is a new day .... Let's do this !!! EliT

Hello my name is William and I had RNY Gastric Bypass on April 5, 2012. Starting weight: 382 lbs, Goal Weight: 230 lbs, Lowest Weight: 196 lbs and my Current Weight: 200 lbs. I went from a size 56 waist to a 34 waist. I also had a lot of medical issues like diabetes and high blood pressure, but since surgery all of them are gone and I’m on no medications. I’m the happiest I have ever been in my life and I’m positive that my weight loss surgery saved my life.

It all began last fall (2016) when I was enjoying the outdoors and walking a mile or two each day ?. In November my right knee started really bothering me ? so to be proactive, I decided to go to the doctor and find out what kind of knee support would be the best. ? My doctor x-rayed my knees and said that both knees were bone on bone....which means there was no cartilage left (sigh)... no cushion in the joint. She referred me to an orthopedic surgeon. He took one look at my x-rays and said he would put me in an unloader brace (I weighed in at #296 ?) but that really wasn't the issue ?Say what????? He announced that he was going to inject ? both knees with Cortizone ?…

Hi all. I haven't posted since the morning of my surgery. Unfortunately I was one of those where things didn't go oh-so-smoothly for me. This isn't meant to be a discouraging post but my tale and where I am at. I had my sleeve done on the morning of January 25th. Everything up to the point of surgery had gone swimmingly. When I awoke in recovery I was in a tremendous amount of pain and nausea. I do not do well with anesthesia so waking up was doubly difficult. While I do not suffer from sleep apnea my breathing was irregular and if I would start to drift off to sleep I would stop breathing. I ended up being in recovery for probably 6-8 hours. As to the surgery itself m…

Hello everyone! I finished my 6 month nut visits and my insurance coordinator submitted today. Hopefully I will hear something soon. By the way I have Highmark BCBS. Wish me luck on my approval. Thanks in advance!

So I turned 19 on July 17th and went in for roux-en-y bypass surgery on July 19th. I just hit 6 months yesterday and I’ve lost about 94 pounds. They told me at my 6 month that I’m not eating enough and I’m on the malnourished side of things. They said my vitamin levels are normal but I haven’t been taking them like I’m suppose to If anyone has recommendations on how they remember to take their vitamins or force themselves to eat I would appreciate any advise! I also just started my second semester of college so now I have to deal with that and trying to get back on track and healthy!