JLOR

I didn't look at journals but rather liked online at webmd. Also looked at articles from doctors like David Kim and nick Nicholson.

Of the 80+ in my Facebook group almost all lost hair starting at month 4. For me my hair thinned all over but no actual bald Patches. As for my weight BMI. I was a 33 BMI pre surgery at 195 pounds, but lost 20 on pre op diet and then am now down to 137ish. I started at a size 14 pants and now wear a size 2. I'm 5'5". As for normal activity I was back walking all over by about 4 days out, but no hard core running until week 4. I live in Dallas where there are a lot of doctors and options and I feel like dr Kim was a good doctor that provided lots of guidance on what to do and when. Also look for a doctor with support groups and visits for one year out to check Vitamins and progress. Goodluck!

So you asked about downside. I am about 9 months out and the only downside is sometimes I will go out to eat and I really want to enjoy a big dinner but that is just not possible. But I look at that as a positive. But nevertheless when u r craving something special and then you can only take a few bites its sometimes disappointing. Lol some things you should consider if u are serious. A lit of people end up with gallbladder problems and end up having them removed. I would ask your doctor if he would consider doing that whole he is doing the sleeve. Also most everyone I know had hair loss at 4 months. It can get pretty thin but it dies eventually grow back in. I'm lucky I had thick hair. Also re first 24 hours after surgery was HELL! I was so sick from anesthesia. But u can't drink or eat so u just have to tough it out and know it will go away as soon as u r Cleared for liquids. Finally and this one is good and bad....buying new clothes is very expensive! Lol. Seriously though I really didn't think about the fact that literally everything in my closet would be discarded. I'm talking bras. Undies. Hose even shoes. Really suggest you get used to shopping at goodwill, platos closet, clothes mentor, eBay, etc. I've lost weight a million times thru the years but never to the extent that I literally had nothing in the right size. So keep it in mind.

All- I started this thread last year before surgery and haven't checked back very often. Let me update everyone. I am 5'5" was 195 pounds but lost 20 on the pre op diet. Today I am 137 pounds and very healthy and feel great! My only complication throughout the whole process was hair loss at month 4 but no matter what u do u wont avoid that. And yes I took my Vitamins and ate a ton of Protein. It's just a side effect you'll have to deal with until it grows back. And it does grow back! Now comments to some of the replies here- 1. It seriously pisses me off when people call thus a vanity surgery. I was overweight for 20 years. Pre diabetic, tired all the time, and could barely look at myself in the mirror. Just because I'm not 500 pounds you call it vanity? Well news flash being overweight no matter how much is unhealthy. 2. Do your research. No one knows better than u what risks you are willing to take based on your circumstances. Understand the options, give alternatives a try, and ask around. For me this was the best option but it may not b for everyone. You still have to do the work and you still have to eat watch what you eat. 3. Take before and after pictures. I have no before pictures because I couldn't stand to look at myself. Now I live the camera! Never thought id say that!!! 4. You will go they plateaus but lose clothes sized during those times. Just stick with it and it will continue to come off. 5. Follow your doctors advice. I see people concerned with why they stopped losing and yet they are eating all the time and the wrong things. You still have to be diligent about eating the right things. 6. You will likely need cosmetic surgery to fix loose skin, baggy arms, etc. Plan for it but don't be in a rush. Let you skin shrink on its own for 18 months before you do anything. It will minimize what you need done. 7. Get a support group! I wax lucky enough to find a great group on Facebook and they are all so encouraging! It really helps. Goodluck!

I barely squeaked by but I did it!! Now 10 more pounds by Christmas!

You are all going amazing! Great work!

Ok update. I had surgery at 175 on 8/28. And as of last week was 155#. (sorry been out of town this week and no idea on weight) but I've bougt clothes this weekend in a size 7/8 and that hasn't happened in 20 years!! So when the scale stops moving dont worry you are still losing inches!

I was thinking about tis today and it occurred to me that there is a very easy reply for this that your friend will get and will be pretty light hearted. there was this Guy stranded in the ocean one person in boat came up and said come on get in the boat, the man says no I'm fine God will help me, then the Guy in the boat takes off and says fine, another one comes and says the same thing to him and he says the same thing back to the second person then he says okay fine. hours later he drowns and goes to heaven and asks God why didn't u come save me. God says I did dummy I sent two boats. This surgery is your life boat. glad to hear surgery went well. Welcome to the losers bench!

The burning on your left is where the largest incision is and where they pulled stomach through. It will b the most tender but it goes away very quickly.

Good for u! That has got to feel great!

I will try to get some stuff together this weekend Thanks

I have some suits and dress clothes on size 12. Let me know if u are interested. Thanks.

I am almost 5 weeks post op. have 60 pounds excess and I'm down 38 already. So I think it's possible to lose more! Hope that helps.

I just open the capsule now and swallow. No issues. I get to go back to hormone hopefully soon!!

I was 195 and lost 20 pounds pre surgery. Day of was 175. It has been 4.5 weeks and I'm now 158. Since we weigh less it comes off slower but I don't regret it one bit!!!! No issues and doing really well. Had a stall in week 3 but I'm back to losing now.

I had to switch from hormones to Effexor spe officially because I can't take hormones for 2 weeks prior to surgery Sibiu should b fine but they did tell me not to take it the day of surgery because your stomach needs to b empty. If u are worried take it the night before.

I should also have said yes I was on anti nausea and a patch for nausea and neither worked. I had to get off the pain meds because they were upsetting my stomach.

I stopped all pain meds and magic I started feeling better. And the pain wasnt bad enough to need something so strong anyway.

My doctors nurse told us a horror story specifically involving a tortilla chip. It was one of only 5 cases where the person had severe issues. Basically it caused a major leak.

Suggestions from when I did this last year. 1. Do not try to do c25k every day. It should be at least every other day. 2. Stretch before and after you work out. 3. butta is right start slow. Keep your arms as relaxed as possible and you strides short and flat. Be careful not to run on your toes. (I always had problems with this). 4. It's always good tvstretch on in between days as well but don't try to over do it with tons more exercising. 5. And remember if you get to a week that you struggle with just repeat it until you are ready to advance. 6. Finally try breathing through your nose. I hels control the breathing. Take nice long deep breaths. Hope his helps!

I guess I feel a little different about the wait. If dr Kim operates on me and runs into a problem I EXPECT him to take the time to do this right even of that means taking longer than originally planned and pushing other patients to later. With that being said I was told to come in at 430am and was the first tk be operated on at 630am. And I was operated on a little later than that. So that didn't make a lot of sense and I can only assume that the operating room was full with someone else's patient.

I'm 5'5" and currently weigh 195 pounds. That puts me at a BMI of about 32. I haven't seriously discussed surgery with anyone but my husband, but serious I am! When I joke about it with people I know they all say "you don't have that much to lose" or "just try this new diet". But to me, I am finally facing a very painful fact...I can't do it alone! To know me is to know that I don't NEED anyone/anything. I want people and things in my life, but I can do it on my own if I have to. If I set my mind to something I do it! So why can't I do this? I am telling you this not to feel sorry for me, but to understand what finally brought me to this decision of having surgery. I was 119 pounds when I graduated from high school....on the homecoming court, played sports, top of my class, blah blah blah. Now 20 years later I'm still very successful in my career, have a wonderful family, put myself thru college, but I'm fat. I'm not "a little overweight", pleasantly plump, or any of the other euphemisms. I'm fat! That alone has been a hard fact to face, but face it I am. I started putting on weight the day I graduated from high school, and while I have tried for YEARS to get back to my ideal weight, it has NEVER happened. I would have limited success when I was young, but ultimately I would gain it all back. And every year add just a few more pounds. Now...well 195 pounds says it all. I lose 20 put on 25, lose 35, put on 40. Nothing has ever stayed off for more than 6 months in the whole darn 20 years. And I WANT ME BACK. Does that make me crazy? Is it really so extreme to have surgery to lose 60-70 pounds? I don't think so, but I would love to hear from those who have been in a similar situation and are several months/years after surgery. Did it last? Did you get to your ideal weight? Would you do it again? I told my younger sister (who has always been overweight even as a child) I was thinking about this, and she said "I've always been fat so I don't miss being skinny, but I can see how you might". I can't make her understand it's not about wanting to be skinny...it's about wanting to look in the mirror again at myself and not want to cry and think "that's not me".

One more thing I forgot, you will find people here who have had problems. You do need to educate yourself about the risks- blood clots, leaks, etc. Looks for the thread that starts what you need to know...