VDB

Thanks Diva -- great advice. I will check on Tramadol with my MD.

Thanks JM, you are always helpful. This really helps. I am going to focus on injury avoidance (being in even better shape).....and no NSAIDS....

Close to two years out. Just had another big blood test and all is normal again. Diabetes almost done, edema almost gone, mobility and balance are back, high blood pressure 100% gone, huge overall health benefits! I have not lost as much as desired, but since I have not been this light since 15 years old (66 now), I am not complaining. My question is around pain relievers. Working a small farm, sometimes I can get a bit hurt. I need an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen, but my bariatric PA says never again due to the danger of ulcers. She would like me to be on a proton inhibitor long term to protect against ulcers, but my regular MD does not think so due to long term side effects. She also says that ulcers are very dangerous for gastric bypass patients, and that I will get them if I use ibuprofen. Tylenol is all that I can use, and don't use it because it does zero for me. Zero! Anyone dealing with this? Any good advice?

Good luck! I had gastric bypass, but overall the surgery itself went very well, and in a couple of weeks was up and about. Congratulations on getting to this point. I know from experience that is a huge step. I wish I had done it many years ago, but fear kept me from jumping in. This site is great support. I don't post as much now almost two years out but during the first six months in particular it was very helpful. For me, great results although did not lose as much in the quick weight loss period as I had hoped, what I did lose (not complaining!) took away 90% of my health issues -- diabetes, edema, mobility loss, joint pain, high blood pressure, bad blood fats -- some, like blood fats, high blood pressure are 100% gone. I am slowly losing with good portion and content control, it is now up to me and not the surgery alone, but it is so much easier now thanks to the surgical intervention And, timing with getting married is great. We are 36+ years married, but both of us wish I had done this much earlier. Also, good on you for dealing with the emotional side, many don't do that and ultimately gain it back. You will never ever regret this huge step....way to go!

Hi, even with mondo amounts of Protein my bushy head of great hair fell out in large amounts from 4 to 7 months. I just gave myself a buzz cut. It grew back, although a little thinner but still quite the silver mane. I have some sags but overall not bad. My wife of decades does not care, why should I? No more surgery for me! I do have more neck wattle turkey neck than I want, but just grew my beard longer...

Hi there, I have my 18 mos check up with Bariatric this week. One thing as others such as James M. (he is a great resource) have said -- this is a pretty normal curve. I lost 100# in the same time but it was normal. My maintenance phase started while still overweight, but the loss I did have basically improved my health and life span projections by a huge amount (90% reduction on Type 2 Diabetes; 95% reduction in edema; greatly improved mobiity; stable neuropathy (surgery did not fix it, but kept it from getting any worse); now almost perfect blood fats. I agree with others about Protein. In retrospect, I ate too many carbs during the 6-12 month time. However, the other thing you mention is depression and adjustment. I had this in spades. After 50 years fat, I just could not adjust to this new body, it seemed very abnormal. I was depressed alot and although such good improved health, it took me until just recently for this new bod to seem ok... I am now starting to have a self image that is not hugely fat. For example, I would always avoid booths at restaurants. For the first time, the other day, when the wait staff asked Booth or Table, I said Booth! Also, I don't really mind the loose skin. I did grow a longer beard to cover the saggy neck a bit (sorry ladies that option is rarely available to you), but if it bothers you you can fix that eventually.

Way to go Texas! Wahoo! Next week I have the final follow up appt (18 mos) and my life has been changed forever, have not regained a pound, and have been transformed physically.

As a guy 18 months out, I echo Ignatius...Welcome to the beginning of a better life. That may sound maudlin, but it's true. Tuesday will be here before you know it, and then gone with the wind... I can't tell you what this has done for me. At 65, one heart attack, diabetes, I was facing lack of mobility and early death. My weight, which went to over 450 at it's highest, was lower for a year (430) but I knew it would go back and that 500 was waiting. I can't express how much my weight kept me from life enjoyment with my kids, all grown now. Now -- functionally, almost no diabetes symptoms, all blood readings perfect, I can get up off the floor without supports, I have always been able to run my small farm and do my professional life, but it was with enormous effort. Now, little effort. I can prune my orchard without stress. I can walk my dog without any heavy breathing. And on and on. Still have 30# to go, but due to the small pouch size, you really can't eat much, and I am pretty good about all the habits now --- Water, Protein, slow eating, etc. I lose a little bit each month. Those habits are ingrained at 18 months and I don't even have to think. Still working on meshing my actual size with my mental picture of myself as a fat guy. It is better, but I guess 50+ years of self image will not go away overnight. Still have challenges with sugar, but so much better. I never overeat as I do not want to stretch the stomach out. I avoid fizzy drinks for the same reason. I can go into any restaurant and eat, just make choices for small appetizers because I simply can't begin to finish an entree. At home, we now eat pretty normally only with much less carbs. My wife is skinny, so she already had great habits. My goal for this year is not to think about my size -- just go with the flow of health, focus on joy, and MOVE! You have done the right thing. Unbelievable things await.

Thanks for this, very thorough and inspirational. After 18 months, I have experienced dramatically better health and after my rapid weight loss period, keep steadily losing a bit each month primarily because my portions are small, I drink lots of Water, and keep my low fat Protein up. Way to go. I am not one of those who has become a totally normal weight but am thrilled with a BMI of 32, down from way over 50. The way it is going, I will eventually drop under 30 and lower.

OK SK101, you started this.... at 18 months out: Asswiping is much easier actually thinking about not just wearing dark underwear! HA! Always wore clothes too tight but now wear them looser for comfort, never worry about shrinking them in the dryer I fit in all chairs now, even those little booths at the diner, what a relief not to check out the seating before deciding to dine out... My huge 2010 SUV and giant 1999 Pickup truck both now seen really massive whereas before they seemed to shrink every year My fat legs used to keep the boys from getting crushed now always reaching down in public or private and adjusting (hey, I am an old man I can get away with it) I can see my penis when I pee, rather than rely on faith that it was still there. Ok that is enough TMI for now....

I was never a clothes horse but had a bunch of very nice clothes. I put an ad on our local Facebook community page and found a 4xl/5xl tall guy who due to his finances really needed clothes and could never afford surgery like I had... now I am comfortably in xl/2xlt, buy all my clothes other than socks, underwear and shoes on ebay or thift stores, and now have the best wardrobe ever....

At one and a half years out, still slowly losing on 1000-1300 cal day. I lost a huge amount in 7 months, then slowed. Honestly I am much more comfortable with slower loss, but very glad that I got the big chunk gone right away. At 1 1/2 years, finally getting comfortable in my new body, even though I have a bit to go.

I buy everything I wear for my shrinking body on EBAY or at thrift stores. For high quality stuff, EBAY is the best, and having gone through many sizes in my path to tiny-ness (I am 6'4", never tiny!) I buy ahead of need. What I love about EBAY is the sheer amount of uncommon sizes available... I am now a 2xlt and find great stuff. I now have grey dress slacks or navy, and wear a wool sportcoat with them. I have two sport coats, one grey houndstooth and one navy blazer. The blazer is Hart Shaffner and Marx... the two slacks and the two sportcoats total cost less than $125. This makes me dressy enough for my gigs... and I have the next size slacks and the next size sport coats on hangers waiting for the next phase.

Hi there, I had ipe as well. It was painful as you know, and furosimide etc only gave me temporary relief. I had to wear size 19 extra extra wide Shoes when normally I wear 17 or 18 wide. Main problem was mobility -- I could see the wheelchair or walker coming... now totally gone. I am 40# from goal but right now am on a lunch break from painting my very large house, using ladders etc. That says it all, and I feel good...

Ditto on what all the guys said. I am looking in the mirror at a guy who is relatively slim, healthy, no high bp, no diabetes, no massive swelling, mobility is back! I can now hike, garden, live. 15 months out. Go for it, it is essential.