stacey131

3 years later and my cholesterol is exactly the same! Weight loss is great, all other lab work phenomenal but my cholesterol will likely require meds at some point :-(

You're doing great- congrats!

I am interested in meeting someone in my area who "gets it!"

As a former BBW...being with someone fat just reminded me that I was fat. It was like forcing me to look in the mirror (which I hated ). Now at 130lbs overweight men are more attractive to me. Not obese as I could never ever respect someone who constantly made bad choices. I know it all seems counter intuitive

SSRI antidepressants shut me off like a light switch. It is very common and why I can't take them! Doesn't leave much of an option

Nothing works :-(. I take collagen as there is some minuscule data that shows it helps. But don't get your hopes up and waste money

I am so sorry that this is happening. There could be so many causes. Excess skin does harbor fungal infections. I had trouble with my belly button of all things ... It absolutely stunk no matter what I did. Until i treated it as a fungal infection ! Ask your doc for diflucan to see if that helps. Otherwise ... Try an OTC anti fungal on any skin folds. Any spray or lotion for athletes foot or a yeast infection will do. This next one will sound strange but try eating parsley. I used to make veggie smoothies with a load of parsley. It really helps with the breath and maybe body odor. I know it is frustrating !!

No, post-op. My doc said not to take any Vitamins until after the first week post-op.

I take trader joes chewables since surgery. Cheap and good :-)

I had my first ever atrial fibrillation event about 8 month prior to my sleeve surgery. My cardiologist requires that I take an adult aspirin (325mg) every day for my clot/stroke risk. I chose to take 4 baby aspirin each day (4x81mg), two with Breakfast and two with dinner. My sleeve surgeon and my cardiologist duked it out about whether I would continue the aspirin after my sleeve. My cardiologist won! I still take daily aspirin without any noticeable ill effects.

Shouldn't you be taking warfarin vs aspiring??

Post surgery I needed an acid reducer daily to even exist. Horrible heartburn without it. Also good tip on not eating or drinking and laying down...that really sucks.

Enteric coated is better. To eliminate damage potential to your little stomach.

Thank you everyone for your replies. I am not sure that I fully understand my emotions either. It could just be that I am a normal 40 year old, single woman who is frustrated with being single. To add more context...I have done a lot of what people suggested. Joined activities, began to feel more comfortable with me. I have great friends and a super close family...so my loneliness comes from a lack of intimacy. Not in the sense of physical, but real emotional intimacy. I've had it and I just miss it. I kind of want to push away family and friends because the conversation and context is not fulfilling. When I was heavier, these relationships fulfilled me completely...for a good 20 years! But now, I just want more. I want to gel with someone and it has been really hard. So many points above were dead on- Now that I look better, I want more. I always felt I had to settle because I was fat...so I just avoided relationships because I didnt want to settle. Men definitely find me desirable now...but it is a slippery slope. Lots of men out there with malevolent intentions...or at least see me as not "the one" but as someone they would like to sleep with. I avoid that at all costs and can tell the difference between someone real and not. But I can see how someone who spent a lot of time being ignored sexually wouold just explode when they enter the world of being "wanted." Anyway, there are so many schools of thought. Some people say stop looking, some people say if you're not out there no one will find you. It's a lot to endure and navigate. But I will say that physical attraction is critical to any relationship...I wish it were true that I could meet my soul mate heavier--- but I just don't think it is true. If I connected with someone first and then gained weight- yes. But most men (even good ones) won't start a relationship with a morbidly obese woman. And the same for women in many cases.

20 months post op. I was a diet coke junkie pre op...2-3 per day. Now maybe 1 can every 6 weeks. I get an urge and it goes down OK. I burp a ton and my tummy burns a little. Not the best feeling, but I sadly enjoy it as a treat. Have replaced soda with lots of coffee, iced tea and Water. It gets easier when you step away from it. Plus you realize how bad it is for you.

I am 20 months out and got some of the same feedback even though I was a healthy weight. Make Protein the priority...not every other day...but everyday and exercise. Build muscle! A toned shape is never boney.

So here I am 20 months out down from 226 to 130 lbs. Size 26 to a size 6 and I am so incredibly miserable. Mostly because I am alone. I thought after losing the weight that relationships would be easier. With the physical "barrier" out of the way, I can't blame that any longer. I have been dating actively for a solid 10 months and nothing sticks. Have met great people and some not so great. But my insecurities and flaws just seem to be amplified now.

Having such a tough time...and not getting any younger!

Thank you everyone!

I did the best that I could. Didn't stick to Protein and veggies. Ate the occassional carb...and I still lost...just slowly! I did not exercise the first 6 months, but then I REALLY got into it! You see in the pic, I hiked to the top of a mountain!

So, really want to encourage anyone struggling that you can still get there Just accept that it will take longer.

BUT I will say, I have been trying to lose 15lbs for 6 months. I may never get to goal without vigilence.

Just showing off and hopefully providing some inspiration!

SW: 226

Day of VSG: 202

CW: 136

It has been a LONG 18 months filled with self discovery, pain and triumph! I did not follow program 100% and lost at my own pace. It took me over 12 months to get close to goal (still 15lbs away!). Really wanted to provide some encouragement to anyone struggling at first or questioning this choice. Still THE BEST thing I've ever done!

Thank you! I do feel great and hope that I can be some form of an inspiration to others. If I can do it, really...anyone can!

Off to the gym now...lately, it is where I live. I actually have a shot of wearing a bathing suit this summer!

Losing slowly has helped me avoid the whole skin scenario...I think! I am 39 y/o

SW: 226

Date of Surgery: 202

CW: 142

Height: 5'2"

Feeling like I do: PRICELESS!

I still feel so fat, but I can't deny the scale! At 5'2" my docs goal is 138- so 10lbs away. But I think 40 lbs is more realistic to actually be thin. All my weight is in my butt and hips. There's a whole lot more than 20bs of jelly in those hips!

Yup- it went away and came back now. The NP said it was normal and nothing to worry about. Eat slow to avoid swallowing air.

3.5!and alwaysnphysically hungry. Nthe ghtelin reduction lastedvx3 weeks and true, stomach hunger came back in full force.

I had terrible problems at first...as in poop getting stuck 1/2 in 1/2 out and extricating pain, MOM was such a help and gave me explosive...but so well relieving diarrhea . Maintenance is 2 colace, 6 psyllium Fiber gal caps and a touch of miralax.b. psyllium is really for cholesterol.

I confess that I use a straw frequently

I walk to work and home every day, but don't really get the right exercise

I eat chocolate, cookes and cake in small, small quantities a few times per week

I drink caffeinated coffee when I need it

I make my Water and Protein reps about 90 percent of the timed

I made myself sick eating macaroni and cheese and Mexican food

I am challenged everyday to make smart choices

Crap doses go in way easier than I though ..just not as much

This was the best thing I ever did. Down 55 lbs and loving it

6 months out you should be able to take descent sips. I am 3 months Ana can finish a snapped in 5. My trick is to plan my begs by size. Whether you work or not, decide you will do 5 12 ounce beverages. You'll finish 1 by x time, the second by y time etc... It's an old WW trick. If you fail to plan, plan to fail. Drinking was hard for mes, but the schedule helped. If I was going to the mall, I knew that I had to drink 2 12 oz drinks and I threw them in my bag...

Everyone is so beautiful and such an inspiration!