It's all new

What a beautiful baby! Congrats on your many, many successes!

You are an inspiration Pip, as always! You look wonderful.

Awesome results! The befores and afters show a very different man!

I know this is the pre-op section, so I am kind of crashing the party... but I used NWWLS and was very happy. I had Dr. Michaelson who is very kind, helpful, and knowledgeable. I met with Dr. Chock once and didn't enjoy her style quite as much - but I have a friend who has enjoyed working with her and he has been extremely successful in his results. I wish you all the best!!

You look amazing! I too was so swollen afterward my tummy tuck that I actually had to go buy bigger sweatpants. I don't know what your trick was to managing the swelling, but I am jealous!

I got them at a medical supply store. I was around 260 when I needed them. They easily had them in stock and larger sizes than what I needed too. I bought some pricier ones, the brand started with a J (that's probably only a little helpful, but I am trying! Maybe Juno or something like that ), and they lasted super well and were wonderful.

Totally not TMI. Not having that issue anymore is such a relief!!

I initially lumped together my reply to your response but decided to excerpt the portion about the complication. I'm hoping I didn't accidentally post the photo twice. Sometimes I mess up with this. But here goes: I have signs of superior mesentaric artery (SMA) syndrome, although it is doing ok right now - meaning I am independently eating and drinking. I have been hospitalized for an inability to eat once already, in late February. I also couldn't take in fluids. I had to have a feeding tube placed - although I didn't tolerate it for long because it didn't bypass the problem. Fortunately things improved kind of spontaneously and I have been able to eat and drink. I did get some calories through my IV, so that may have helped. Or maye it was just luck. I still show a compression of the duodenum although not a full blockage thank goodness. At the time, they were totally unable to figure out the problem. Fortunately, my weight loss surgeon caught it recently. I have been told I can lose more weight, but it has to be in a very careful, slow way. Also, I will be monitored very closely. This is a serious complication that is not a WLS complication specifically - it is a rapid weight loss complication. Rapid weight loss of any type can cause the loss of the fat pad between the SMA and the duodenum, which keeps the duodenum from being squished between the SMA and the aorta. If you read the statistics, I think it is rare enough that it's possible no one else on this site will worry about it - something like 500 cases in medical literature since it was discovered 105 yrs ago. I hesitate to share, but then of course having mentioned the words complication I should probably explain. Also, I searched and this has never been mentioned on this site according to my search. It's possible someone else may experience it - from what I read it may happen more than they think (which still makes it incredibly rare). Anyway, that is the deal. I just have to be a lot more careful than most with my weight at this point. No more rapid weight loss unless I want very, very serious ramifications. If I push it I could send this into needing one of two treatment options - "refeeding" through a feeding tube surgically implanted through the abdomen straight to the jejunum (bypassing the stomach and therefore the blockage), or surgery to reroute where the duodenum exits my tiny tummy. Neither option is good.

Are there any vets who have experienced problems changing from weight loss to maintenance? Because mentally, I am struggling to adjust. During my losing phase, I was dedicated, or maybe I should say Dedicated - capital D. I went from 255 to 124 in 10 months. Had plastic surgery. Have a complication from losing weight too fast (it's incredibly rare, but does happen). Now, I see myself and see a size 10 - but I actually wear a 0 or maybe a 2. To me, it seems if I just lose 10-12 more lbs maybe that would be perfect. But each weight I reach that's been what I think - just another 10 lbs and it will be enough. I can't tell if it's really a problem, or just a natural adjustment after working so hard and giving so much of my time and energy to my weight loss. Has this happened to anyone else? I just haven't read many other people talking about it. I hesitate to bring it up, so please try to be sensitive. Thanks for any input.

You look great!!!

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Sorry double posted!!

Here it is - before was May 2012, after is March 2013. From 255lbs to 124lbs at 5'6".

I am a bit over 10 months out. I am 5'6", started at 255 currently at 124 lbs. IMO, I have lost 100%+ of my excess weight. My doctor's goal was for me to get to 155! I think I am more likely to need to gain a few lbs than anything.

Well, I would say it looked way worse after my weight loss. I swear it seemed like I lost weight everywhere except in that area. When I had my tummy tuck they did lipo and lifted that area and the problem was solved. Phew, phew and triple phew.

Good luck - I bet it will go smoothly and you will be feeling good!

I am so sorry you are experiencing this. I, too, have a mother who is terminally Ill (pancreatic and peritoneal cancers). We at first expected only a very short time with her, but I made the decision to get the surgery during that time. Probably similar to you, I needed to know that after I lost my mom who is SO important in my life, that I really felt good about my own future. So, she has survived longer than anyone expected, and a year later we have been through an amazing journey together. She feels more secure knowing that after she is gone I'm going to be able to continue my life with a more secure future. I specifically replaced eating with exercise. Not in an unhealthy way, but in that it makes me feel better and I find soothing. Right now I can't exercise, but it's ok - I've had time to adjust and say goodbye to food as my closest friend. I wish I had more ideas, but that has been my best source of support. I hope that you are able to cherish whatever time you have while continuing to put your own care at the top of the list, too. I know that this is a hard time and a huge shock to the system. We are not far behind you in this same journey. Sending hugs your way.