catwoman7

if you have issues with acid reflux, go with bypass. Otherwise, it's a personal choice. Read everything you can and maybe your choice will become clearer.

That's the main reason i decided to do mine in Chicago (about a two-hour drive for me). He did both my surgeries on a friday and only required me to stay in the area until he could see me on Monday to make sure i was in good enough shape to go home. I drove back down for my follow-up appts So even though he was more expensive than some of the other nationally- known surgeons i was considering, once i factored in the travel costs for my husband and me, plus boarding pets for two weeks, etc., i really wasn't saving much

liquids go right through you. You'll notice the restriction once you start eating solid foods. Just stick to your program and don't try pushing the envelope..

I don't know about just a panni but if you get a lower body lift (where they do panni, butt lift, etc), most surgeons do include a mons lift.

I'd call my surgeon. You might be developing a stricture - although those cause nausea mostly after you eat or drink something. So I don't know - but I'd call just to be on the safe side.

P.S. just wanted to add that I lost 16 lbs the first month, and I started off at way over 300 lbs. People lose at all different rates depending on a bunch of different factors. Your relatively low BMI (low compared to most bariatric patients) is one of those factors. and I stalled weeks 2 &3 - no loss at all. It was just the infamous "three-week stall". My weight loss started up again during week 4.

it's a stall. Your 500-600 calories a day is fine - and do NOT worry about calories at this point. Only focus on protein and fluid intake. you are what we call a "lightweight" and you're not going to lose nearly as fast as someone who starts at over 300 lbs. Combine that with the stall and....you're probably right where you need to be. Just stick to your plan. The weight will start to drop again once the stall breaks, and you WILL lose your excess weight as long as you stick to your surgeon's plan.

I wonder if it might be the infamous hormone dump that a lot of people experience??

I didn't use her, but I just wanted to say that she has an excellent reputation among bariatric patients.

I agree. I put on 17 lbs after hitting bottom. I was not happy about it, but I knew it was most likely coming. Fortunately, I'm still within a normal BMI most days (I'm on the border line). I know I look better at this weight than I did in my 130s, but still, I miss those 130s!!

re: plastics, if you just have excess skin, you won't lose as much as you think. Skin doesn't weigh very much. I think I lost about three pounds. For people starting out with a lot more fat who need lipo, that might be a different story. (btw - I lost over 200 lbs, so I had quite a bit of excess skin)

btw - just for clarification, I didn't mean by "most people get revisions due to reflux" that most VSG patients end up revising to RNY. I just meant for those who DO revise, it's usually because they have severe reflux.

I"m not speaking from experience since I haven't had a revision, but I've been hanging out on various bariatric boards for the last five years or so. From what I've read, most people don't lose all that much weight after a revision - maybe 20 lbs or so. But I suppose it depends on your starting BMI and how well you stick to your eating plan. Most people get revisions due to reflux.

I was post-menopausal when I had surgery and I lost all my excess weight. I was kind of a slow loser, but I DID lose....

I have a mid-morning snack and a mid-afternoon snack in addition to the three meals.

I did gain weight - but that was typical bounceback most people get after hitting bottom (c. 12 lbs for me). I don't really need to lose it, though, as I'm still in a normal BMI range and feel pretty good at my current weight - and although it's a daily challenge to maintain, it IS do-able (I'm afraid it would be too much of a struggle to go back down into the 130s, even though I miss them!!) people lose re-gain all the time, though. You have to go back to basics - protein first, then non-starchy veggies, and then, if you have room, a small serving of fruit or healthy carbs. If you're a calorie counter, then figure out your average calorie intake now, and start cutting - to do it gradually, cut 100 calories a week and see what happens. If it doesn't work, cut another 100 the following week. Rinse and repeat. Once you're back in weight loss mode, you WILL lose weight - but it's likely to come off a lot slower than it did during that magical first year.

I switched over to mostly calorie-counting when I hit maintenance (I can maintain as long as I stay in the 1500-1700 calorie range - your range may be more or less than that - you have to experiment to find your "sweet spot"). I still mostly follow the post-op rules, though - I make sure I get enough protein, eat protein first, then veggies, etc. I do eat more carbs than I did while in weight loss mode, though - but the healthy kind. you'll just have to figure out what "works" for you (some people join Weight Watchers, some do modified keto, some people use intermittent fasting) while being sure you're meeting the protein requirements and remembering the order (protein first, then non-starchy veggies) also, I continue to log my food intake at 4+ years out. I think it's vital.

Calcium carbonate might be OK for sleeve people - I'm honestly not sure. But I know RNY people are supposed to take calcium citrate - I think because of low acid levels in our pouches. You guys may not have that issue.

Milk of Magnesia. A Godsend to many of us...

Normally people stay one night - sometimes two.

at 192 - and even at 203 - you would have been what we refer to as a "lightweight". With that starting BMI, you're going to lose much slower than someone who starts at over 300 lbs. I think you're doing great!

P.S. supposedly body contouring surgery on massive weight loss patients is a difficult subspecialty, so try to find someone who specializes in it - or barring that, at least someone who does a TRUCKLOAD of these things (like half their caseload). Also, make sure they're a board certified plastic surgeon.

I can't remember if it was here or on another forum, but when I started looking for plastic surgeons about two years ago, I was told to expect about $8K-10K per procedure (with the LBL counting as two procedures). Of course, depending on location, you could be paying more or less than that, but that seemed to be the average cost. I had three consults, and I'd say that rule of thumb was pretty much on the mark...

I agree with Mikeyy - I'd look for a good therapist.

we were told to take a chewable multivitamin early out. At some point I switched to regular multivitamin tablets - maybe at around six months out? (I can't remember when I switched). and yes, we are required to take calcium citrate and vitamin D. A deficiency of those can cause bone loss (well, you will have some bone loss regardless because your lighter body isn't going to need quite as heavy bones to hold it up - but I mean excessive bone loss). We were NOT required to take K2, but I take it because I have osteoporosis. Although the research isn't conclusive, there is some thought that K2 helps to get the calcium where it's needed (i.e., bones) instead of having it accumulate in your arteries. we are also required to take B12, but I've cut back because my levels got to over 2000 at one time. make sure Viactive calcium is calcium citrate. I thought it was calcium carbonate, which we don't absorb well. You need citrate. If Viactive calcium IS calcium citrate, then sorry! Edited to add that I just checked - Viactiv calcium is calcium carbonate. If you're an RNY patient, that isn't going to work for you. You need calcium citrate. You can get calcium citrate in chewable form, although you may have to order it online.