Aranks

I just turned 26. The first time I lost 100lbs I was 19, I had virtually no sagging skin, that was without the surgery. Wore a bikini at the jersey shore. This time around after gaining that hundred back and surgery I'm down 70lbs and I definitely am beginning to see my skin is not where it was. My tummy looks a little dimply, my arms are sagging, and I have some excess skin in my thighs currently. But I'm by no means ashamed of it. I thought I'd be embarrassed by it, but I'm not in the least. It's hit or miss, hopefully you won't have any issues. I think had my weight not fluctuated up and down so drastically I wouldn't have any sagging issues. As everybody has previously said, totally worth it regardless.

When I left the hospital I was given a pill splitter/grinder, but was told I could have anything about the size of an eraser when swallowing pills. Now I take my allergy pills and other medications just fine whole.

They tasted very chalky to me.. it's hard to explain accurately. My brother who is a gym buff LOVES the grape.. I hate it.. I thought the Alpine Punch was okay and the Blue Raspberry. Just keep in mine yes there are 40g of Protein but is for a 20oz serving of liquid. (yes it counts in your liquids but I didn't enjoy it, so I'd rather get my protein elsewhere and drink extra water.) I preferred Premier Protein getting 30g of protein in 11oz. It's a whole bundle of trial and error, do NOT, invest in a ton of anything, try things out. The vitamin shop sells Isopure individually so you can try the different flavors.

I cocooned with pillows! I'm one of those sleepers whose hips lie flat and torso is rotated. I just surrounded myself with pillows and placed one under my side/gut so there wasn't as much pressure and it still felt like I was sleeping how I normally would. After about a week I was able to sleep fine how ever which way I pleased, but still liked to be cozied up with all my pillows!

Think Prednisone is a good contributor to me leading to having to get the sleeve (been put on it 2-3x a year since I was about 8 years old sometimes for months on end). But it is my miracle pill (minus the constant eating, the night sweats, the insomnia, etc haha). Luckily haven't needed it yet since the sleeve, but my doctors have already told me I can go back on it. if needed, hopefully never. Just make sure you get back on track as soon as you can. You'll be alright!

In 4.5 months I went from 276lbs size 22/24 pants XL-2X tops, to 208lbs size 14/16 pants and a size L-XL top. I don't reckon that too bad!

I had Steri-strips, no staples or external stitches. My surgeon put band aids on top of my Steri strips initially, they game off a day later, and 4 days after surgery my surgeon removed my Steri-strips. If I had any discomfort with my incision site I just threw a band aid over it. I didn't have any band or anything I had to wear, though I do know some people wore a band but that was for comfort not for wound protection.

I take Centrum chewable (they have to be the orange ones so says the doc), but (2) chewable Flintstones vitamins are fine also. I take sublingual b-12 and chewable calcium citrate as well.

My surgeon told me to take Centrum Chewable (had to be the orange one) or two (2) chewable Flintstone's Vitamins. This was in addition to my sublingual b-12 and chewable Calcium citrate from the Vitamin shop, that was actually pretty rough. But chewable and liquids do exist! Eventually pills get easier.

I primarily just wore sweat pants or yoga pants with a regular t-shirt. I attempted jeans and I was just so bloated from surgery that it was uncomfortable. I came in and my boss was like "Why are you wearing jeans?! I don't care if you come in pajamas so long as you're here." But leggings work, I know a lot of women who had bariatric surgery that primarily wear leggings and sweater dresses, or something of the sort. As far as my scars they seem to be fine. I didn't have staples or stitches or a drain. Just some steri-strips with Band-Aids over them. Steri-strips were removed within the first few days and if my incision was bothering me I just put a Band-Aid to reduce rubbing (mainly the incision in my belly button). I had 7 incisions, being I also had my gallbladder out at the time. Really all was good with the world.

I was off a total of 3 days for my surgery. I work in the garbage industry, primarily at a desk, except to go upstairs for the bathroom and other miscellaneous things. I had surgery on a Friday (so I took that day off obviously) was discharged on Sunday. Monday I went shopping (catch some of those left over black Friday deals), Tuesday I met with my surgeon and I returned to work on Wednesday. I was really pretty tired. But overall it was fine, I just wore stretchy/sweat pants.

I had the empire plan, NYSHIP. My surgeon loved working with it, because pretty much as long as you met the weight requirements you didn't need any other approval. (No supervised visits for 6 months or that other stuff most people have to go through.) Just had to go through my surgeons requirements. My dad had his bypass done within 2 months of meeting with the surgeon for the first time and I had my sleeve after meeting him, taking a couple month hiatus, going back and scheduling for the following month. Good luck! Hope it's as easy a process as it was for me.

Good luck! I was sleeved at 11/28, at Mather Hospital, so just a hop skip and a jump. Hope everything goes well! I'm down 60lbs at this point and really can't complain about anything during the process.

It's actually a Coca Cola product as they are trying to break out into the health market. It tastes pretty good too me also, got it at Target to try it. But now I'm told to avoid any dairy products. Womp womp.

I've been on prednisone more times in my lifetime that any physician considers healthy. It was actually a big concern of mine going into surgery that I wouldn't be able to take steroids should I need them. My doctor said, they don't want me to take them if there's any way I don't have to, but if it comes down to me having to take it, he would prescribe it. Luckily I haven't needed to take them, my lungs have been good and my skin has been pretty well under control with topical steroids.

Here I thought I wasn't losing "enough" weight. Despite people telling me I was melting away. My surgery was 11/28 so I'm 12.5 weeks post op. I've lost about 55 lbs. Looking back at pictures I realized hey, I really have lost weight! My post op body pic is blurry, but I took it and was like ew why would I take more body pics, until I compared it to an older ones last night.

Good afternoon! I'm Amanda, 25, (26 in March) from Long Island, NY. I was sleeved on Black Friday 11/28. So far so good! How's the process been treating you thus far?

I feel like it's mainly source of objectification that I gluttonously take part of. My Big Fat Fabulous Life I watch in almost disgust (I know it's horrible of me). I have PCOS and I have certainly struggled with my weight but I didn't gain over 100lbs in a year. How is there no sense of responsibility? Really a fried banana and mayo sandwich? PCOS isn't making you put that to your face. I didn't make the healthiest of decisions which led me to gaining weight that and ultimately surgery to help get back on track. But I also never said how wonderful my life was, because it wasn't. It's one thing to be comfortable in your skin, but how can you claim to be comfortable one minute and the next you're worried about fitting in a seat and struggling with social anxiety. Just boggles my mind. My 600lb Life, I find much more inspiring, seeing the progress that these people are making, or lack there of in certain instances. Big Women Big Love, I like this show! Minus Jessica, what a nasty rude girl. I feel like it's more relatable being that they're in their 20's and are dating. It's not about I'm so wonderful look at me I'm fat and it's not I need to be infinitely smaller. So I dig it.

I was also told no gummies. I was told two (2) Flintstone Vitamins or Centrum Multivitamin only the orange chewable. Also was told chewable calcium citrate (these are pretty much bariatric designed, Bariatric Advantage or the ones at the Vitamin Shop are chalky as all heck), not calcium carbonate which are what most chews are. Also I take my sublingual b12 and Biotin. I'm getting my blood work done in about another two (2) weeks before I see my surgeon again on the 9th, I'll be 9 weeks post op for blood work and 10 for my appointment with him.

I didn't start puree's until 3 weeks after surgery! I don't think I could have done it 4 days out. Just take your time with everything. Focus on your protein and water. At 4 days I could only get a single protein shake half a bottle of water and maybe 4oz of broth (still on clear liquids). Once you know you're getting a good amount of fluid and protein then start integrating things soups and other soft things and if you have a hankering for purees go onto that. It's all a bunch of trial and error. Don't let this get you down! About hmm.. I'm 7 weeks post op, so about 6.5 weeks ago I posted the same thing. It gets easier!

Quite common! I got mine taken out at the same time of my sleeve (I had previously lost 100lbs a few years ago and had some stones) so as a precautionary measure they took mine out. I was talking to one of my nurses the second night I was in the hospital and he said that about 25% of patients have to come back to get their gallbladder taken out.

With purées I actually didn't puree anything. I stuck primarily to my full liquid diet including greek yogurt, with the exception of cottage cheese and ricotta cheese. I only was on the pureed stage for 5 days, so it wasn't a huge deal for me. From prior experience (no kids but my gecko used to be handfed baby food). Fruity baby foods are quite tasty; bananas, apples, pears.

Vodka, it's pretty much like a single shot (not schwastey pants we're talking but feeling nice). I drink it in a rocks glass and keep adding crystal light to it. Wine, I'd say a couple of glasses but I don't get tipsy with wine. It's more like I go from feeling fine to being completely belligerent!

Wine, generally red wine has less sugar. I used to be a fan of very sweet white wines, and I can't stomach them anymore. A dry cabernet sits much better! Also vodka with crystal light. Those are my general things. If I'm out somewhere I get wine. If I'm in a home like setting, my friends house, or a mixer, I'll have vodka with crystal light. Be prepared to be very tipsy!

@@AhnaLucille I would call your insurance and make sure you have no deductibles you have to meet prior, there are so many different insurance companies and branches that she may not be that familiar with yours. Some require a percent that you have to pay out of pocket for surgeries, some just have set copays for hospitalization, doctor's, etc. there are so many variations. Somebody from your insurance company should be able to assist you with that and also you can request a breakdown of their coverage, so you have a copy. Somebody in the surgeon's office should be able to tell you what the surgeon's specific fee is (separate from insurance). I didn't have to meet any deductibles the $300 was for my surgeon, for his program. Normally was $500 but I got a discount because my dad had bypass by the same surgeon.