missmachine

I'm also getting mine on 8/13/13.

Would I need to see a specific type of therapist or would a nutritionist be ok?

I am really going to look into that. I need a way to tackle this in my brain and not just my stomach.

Wow, lots of people in the Tampa Bay Area... We should definitely arrange a meetup of some sorts.

There is no doubt in my mind that I have a food addiction. Food does have a power over me still - although it IS better than before my sleeve. I do not see a therapist but I am certainly open to the idea. Now that I have some insurance I can finally take care of myself.

I asked about the DS & doc said that the surgery is not commonly performed in the US and insurance companies are not covering it yet. Also, it's for more severe obesity than what I am.

I can only hope that after 2 surgeries, it will be enough to kick my ass into gear. I realize that surgery is a tool, but if I had willpower In the 1st place I wouldn't need surgery. Plus what he said about the vsg long term makes me want a better (stronger) surgery.

And I want the malabsorption because I believe it will cause me to lose more weight...??

I have a ton of restriction still. I can eat only about 1/3 what I used to eat pre-op. I do find that I tend to graze though, or I'll get hungry again in a short while after eating (like an hour or two).

My Dr has actually said that he has performed a lot of sleeve surgeries, and that the bypass holds up better long-term. He stated that after 5 years, sleeve patients are starting to regain their weight and he thinks that like the band, it will ultimately fail in comparison to the bypass as a viable solution to obesity. This really scared me and made me want the bypass as well. I never want to go back to how I was.

My first surgery was in Mexico when I didn't have insurance. I had the sleeve done there. I am getting the bypass done here in the US. As far as revision goes if I already have the sleeve done it doesn't make sense to do the band or anything else but the bypass. I need the malabsorption as well as the restriction.

I am now 7 months out and down 65 lbs total, only 1/2 way to goal. I have not lost any weight since October. I know it doesn't help that I have not been exercising and I do feel like I can still eat a lot. I know this is only a tool but I just feel like the surgery has done what it's going to do for me and the rest is up to me alone - which is extremely scary and discouraging when I still have so much to lose. I feel like I stretched out my sleeve. I have been battling depression for a long time and been really stressed, started going a bit overboard on my anti-anxiety meds which made me not care about anything, but that is over now. I am really wishing I would have had the RnY or DS. My mom had the RnY at the same time as me and has lost all her weight plus more. I know I'm just whining and this is my own problem. I just thought I would be much thinner by now, because even though I can eat more than I'd like, I still barely eat in comparison to how I was pre-op. And the next thing is, I have noticed my stomach has felt sore(?) lately. It's hard to describe. It almost feels as if its bruised, like I got hit right in the stomach. This is strange to me to have this suddenly and when I'm so far out. Anyone know what this is? Any help/advice is appreciated.

Thank you

I posted here before but this is an update... Pics are 1 year apart. SW 250, CW 179...probably about 5-10 lbs more in this pic though. 5'3". VSG 6/11/12 (-71 lbs in 7 months)

Updates anyone? I'm about to have my 6 month surgery anniversary and I am down about 67 lbs. my loss has slowed greatly. I've only lost 3 lbs in the past 6 weeks. Been feeling discouraged because I still have so far to go, and I feel it's all up to me now. I don't think I am strong enough. If I was, I wouldn't have needed wls to begin with. Sometimes I wish I would have went with the DS or RnY. Anyway, how is everyone else doing??

Thank you, you too!

June 11th, 60lbs down today. (Update)

...If you are/were anything like me? I spent 7-8 years hiding from the world. I stopped seeing old friends because I was ashamed of what I had done to myself. Eventually they would give up on me because I was so flaky. I stayed in my home for the most part, even worked from home, and made excuses not to go out and do thIngs or be social, but the real reason was always my weight. I was 250 lbs, 5ft 3 in, and size 24. I guess I just feel like I wasted such a big part of my life, my twenties. I wasted this huge chunk of time where I could have been cute and pretty and happy, and instead chose to be reclusive and dependent on food as my comfort and entertainment. I was even diagnosed with agoraphobia. I am by no means done losing weight, but I am 192 and a size 16, and it's a big difference. I am STARTING to feel and look like my old self again. I have been growing the confidence to go and do things again. However, I am just at a loss as what to do. I'm 31, I have a boyfriend and a son. When I was younger in high school/college I was involved in a lot of things. I used to sing and dance and play clarinet and do colorguard, and etc. I stopped everything, including college itself, when I got over 200 lbs and my self esteem plummeted into a dark abyss. Then, like I said, I let 8 years go by. Time really flies by when your life is uneventful. I did force myself to go through cosmetology school last year, because I always thought it would be fun to do hair for a living. It was a blast being the old fat girl in a sea of beautiful thin 19 year olds. I just don't know what kinds of fun or social things adults can get involved in that don't include the bar/club scene. I want to experience life as a thin person. I want to stop living in the past and sulking over the happy memories that are drifting further and further away. I wish I could go back in time and get a do-over. Since I can't, I want to create new happy memories. I do have my kid, yes, and I am involved in his life, but everyone still needs to do things for themselves. So what are some things that you are doing/ want to do now or when you lose the weight? Simple pleasures, bigger things, changes, dreams, or etc? Does/Has anyone else felt the same way or am I just weird? All I have thought about over all this time being fat was that I WISH I was skinny...I WISH I was normal, sexy, etc. i'd DREAM about getting wl surgery and plastic surgery to fix everything that is so terribly wrong and disgusting about me. I hate being invisible. Ironically the fatter you are, the more invisible you are made to feel. I don't know. I'm just rambling I guess. Thoughts?

Thanks everyone. I'm really feeling embarrassed now for posting all of that, though. It's incredibly revealing and soul bearing. I appreciate the words of encouragement, though.

Sooo... I bought this cute dress for $15, although I'm not really brave enough to wear it in public yet... I think I should lose another 10 lbs before I wear it. However, I took a pic because you can really see my progress. -53 lbs. Before/ Now/

Wow I haven't logged in in a couple weeks! Thanks everyone, you guys are so sweet. I am now down 57 lbs and today is my 4 month "surgiversary" - 4.5 months since pre op diet. Weight loss is slow but I know I probably eat more than most people (1000 - 1200 a day average). I still haven't worn the dress yet but maybe soon.

Awesome! Congrats!

So, mine has been pretty bad lately. I am 3.5 months out and down 50 lbs. It started at around 2 months but has been getting worse. I have shoulder length layered hair and it (was) pretty thick. I have even been eating a bit more than I should (about 1200 cals a day) for the past month. My hair comes out in clumps every day when I take a shower, and is constantly shedding if I brush or run my fingers through it. I've been taking biotin since day 1. I'm just afraid it's not going to stop and I'm going to end up bald soon. We will never be able to eat the same way so I don't see how it will ever stop. Any advice? What can I do?

Omg! I just swallowed a piece of gum! I'm scared, what should I do?