♥dreamable

Hi everyone,

My surgery is 11/11 and I'm not sure if I'm just freaking myself out, but I'm sort of intentionally reading up on all the bad post-op side effects that can happen. Though maybe this is a better place to look than Reddit

For those of you who are post op, what was your worst symptom and when did it occur? For example, did you vomit a lot, how soon after surgery did it happen, and does iftstill happen to you?

Don't freak out My biggest regret post-op was WHY THE FUDGE DIDN'T I HAVE THIS SURGERY YEARS AGO!?!?!?! I am just over a year out and my only side-effect is heartburn. It's managed if I take my prilosec (but I'm terrible about taking pills and forget a lot. Other than that I have a really hard time not drinking while eating (and because I cannot do it, my brain STILL obsesses over it everytime I eat -which in turns makes the craving worse).

I don't miss carbs, I don't miss pop.

I LOVE feeling better. I cannot believe all of the things I do with my kids and on dates now! I have so much energy and I actually look forward to working out! (Seriously if you knew me pre-op that would be one of the last things I ever thought anyone would hear come out of my mouth).

I don't even remember a lot of discomfort after my surgery. I do remember finding recipes for shakes because I was getting bored of having the same two and was starting to crave eating solid food. Changing up what I was eating really helped that. The recovery wasn't bad- just take your time and follow what your Dr says for post-op.

So I know it's not that simple buuuuut it's not necessary for you to broadcast your past medical and surgical history to every man you meet so... If you meet a guy and you like him great. You go out with him a couple times and you still like him great. He starts coming over to watch movies and things are getting closer hopefully by then you guys have had some getting to know you conversations and if you feel like things are potentially going somewhere then you could tell him. But I wouldn't feel pressured because they are getting a little too physical. Back them up!!! You set the pace for how fast things should go. If I didn't feel comfortable talking to them about something like weight loss surgery then it's probably not time to go "there" yet. That's just me though.

If you guys have gone out to eat, and he NOTICES how little you eat and says things like " but you hardly touched your food" or "why did you eat so little"? You could say I'll explain later... and if whenever you feel the time is right you could explain I've had surgery to help me lose weight. If he wants to know more... "Your stomach has 100% capacity whereas mines only has 20% capacity. I eat less resulting in weight loss." if this leads to a bigger discussion then you can get into all the details if you're comfortable. Otherwise just enjoy getting to know each other if they fall off because they aren't getting into your pants soon enough then keep it pushing.

Thank you so much for your great answer. So far he hasn't made any comments about how much (or little lol) I am eating when go out to dinner. Our conversation and dates seem to be focusing on the positive things, like us discussing how we eat (we both eat similar - no carbs/lots of protein) and going to the gym and what we do and our dates tend to end up being loooong walks- which has been amazing.

I am still amazed how much doing this has changed my life for the better. I wish I had done my surgery years ago

I agree with Munky! But I do get what you're saying. I'm not at that point yet, I think I'll probably say something ahead of time just because I would be freaking out about what they would think haha It's hard to tell what someone's reaction is going to be, but I wouldn't want to be with someone that couldn't accept some loose skin anyway!

I am pretty sure he isn't going to have a problem with it. It's just more a question of the timing- I'm just not sure when or how to bring it up- dating is sooo complicated

Maybe I phrased my question wrong. I am not afraid to tell him about my surgery, but I also don't feel it's appropriate to just throw it out into thin air on one of the first few dates we go on. I will tell him at some point. My question was more how do you know or what/when is the right time to tell someone once you start dating? Do you just throw it out in the open one day? Do you wait for an opportunity to mention it that just feels right? Do you wait until the moment where you know things are going further than the kissing and making out and drop a "oh by the way...." lol

Maybe I phrased my question wrong. I am not afraid to tell him about my surgery, but I also don't feel it's appropriate to just throw it out into thin air on one of the first few dates we go on. I will tell him at some point. My question was more how do you know or what/when is the right time to tell someone once you start dating? Do you just throw it out in the open one day? Do you wait for an opportunity to mention it that just feels right? Do you wait until the moment where you know things are going further than the kissing and making out and drop a "oh by the way...." lol

If you can't tell him you've had surgery, ,than I would think twice on having sex ..

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Brief history: I have been single for 4 years. I am 1 year out from my surgery. I am still a bit away from my goal- but have lost a significant amount of weight at this point. I just started dating.

While my confidence is really high when I am in clothes (the right undergarments make everything look so nice and make me look so much smaller when I wear them haha) I am really scared about when/if things progress and clothes are being removed. The last date I was on his hands were touching over my clothes and I'm pretty sure he could feel that I had something on that went halfway up my back.

Anyway- he doesn't know about my surgery yet- and it's not something I feel I need to discuss on the first or second date (just my personal preference).

One of my really good male friends a few years ago made a comment once about how to slept with a women and he didn't know she had surgery until they were naked and he said it really turned him off and bothered him that she didn't tell him ahead. Is he just a jerk or should I expect a similar reaction if I don't say something first?

Help!?!?!?! lol

I have 4 kids and 3 of them are overweight. I am 8 months (I think?) out from my surgery so let me share my experience. I have noticed a few things

(1) It has helped to educate my kids on food, because I have had to educate myself

(2) I don't eat any carbs- so we almost never have Pasta or anything and I don't have those things in the house- so they don't eat them

(3) Because I am so aware of how little I eat now (or how much I used to eat) I am AMAZED at how big portions are. I have gotten rid of all of our dinner plates, and we only eat meals on saucer size plates. this has helped!

Now one negative- because a lot of times I only have a Protein shake or beef jerkey- it also can be easy to just grab the kids fast food or make them something easy. Don't fall into that trap

Good luck

Ahhhh!!!! I knew I was so close I couldn't wait to weigh myself until tomorrow (my weekly weigh-in days are Mondays) and I did it! I am exactly 100lbs less than the day i had surgery in October of last year!!!!! Woohooo me

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thanks everyone for your concerns and prayers I feel 10 times better thank god

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So glad to see this update YAY!!!!!!!

40 minutes on the elliptical is a long time!!!!! The first time I got on my elliptical I only made it 3 minutes and I had to stop. I thiught I was going to die lol. I kept at it though, and everyday the first week i made myself do 5 minutes. The next week I added 5 more minutes.. so I did 10 minutes each day.. eventually made it up to 40 minutes but it took me 8 weeks to get there. You can do it

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@@♥dreamable From a pre-surgery perspective - I didn't say "Hey - by the way - I am fatter than you might think and I look really bad naked" so I wouldn't mention the sagging skin post-surgery. I think if I was serious with someone - I would tell them about my surgery though (without mentioning the skin) when the time feels right. It's doubtful they will care about the sagging skin - and if they do - they are superficial DBs and you need to kick them to the curb anyway.

That is a GREAT way to think about it. Thank you for that perspective!

I am also concerned about loose skin but don't know what it will look like yet as my surgery's not till June 7th. I suppose I'm just worried about telling the wrong person.

I've been pretty up front with everyone about why I'm having WLS. I just know that with my other medical problem I also had to have an operation and have scars from that too. I suppose I'll just have to wait and see. It's just so hard to know if someone will be supportive or not. I have a lot of information to get out before I even think about someone else seeing me naked lol and if I really like them I don't want to scare them away.

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I remember before my surgery thinking how I didn't care what I looked like, I was going to love my body because I would be so much thinner. HAHA 7 months post-op and that's not the case. I used to love my breasts. Even though they hung down, they looked awesome in a bra and they were just great. Well not they are literally just flat sacks of skin (and i'm only 1/2 way through my weight loss!) So literally the one part of my body that made me feel sexy and that I loved, I am embarrassed by bcecause they don't even look that great in a good bra anymore.

Having said that though, I am finding other parts of my body that I am taking a second look at and going- hey that/those are pretty sexy, I like those! (Like the way my legs/thighs look in a skirt now for example).

I have been single for 3 years and am so ready to start dating again. I am feeling AMAZING after surgery already- I am still me, but i am a completely different person in a lot of ways as well.

I find a lot of men who are into me on dating sites because I work out- but I feel like they associate work out as a nice way of saying, "someone who is thin and always has been thin". I feel like it's misleading when someone just thinks I am super hot curvy girl- and then to see my without clothes on- the scars from surgery don't bother me, it's that I have a LOT of saggy skin. i mean it feels cold and kind of neat to touch- but how do you prepare someone for seeing that? Do you tell them RIGHT before you jump into bed? Do you tell them on a 3rd or 4th date? Do you never say anything? Do you put it out on the table before the first date?

LOL I probably didn't help did I?

I have been going to Trues Results in Houston since March to get prepared for my sleeve. My insurance united health care does not cover the surgery but I did have a hernia so I was going to do the hernia repair and get sleeved through that. 2 weeks ago I go in for my pre surgery consult and was approved. I didn't give them a date because I had to check with my office to see if I could take off. So I called the next day and the rest of the week. I finally get a call back and a voicemail on Friday at 12:30 ( they close at 12 on Fridays) on the voicemail the nurse said there had been some changes and she said they no longer do the hernia repair and sleeve program. I called the very next week when they opened and the nurse said Friday they received a letter that they no longer do the hernia repair and sleeve. I had been calling since Tuesday and no one called me back, then they tell me this!! I was crushed I was so looking forward to this. Has anyone heard of this? Do you think other doctors still do this?

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I believe most, if not all, surgeons who do bariatric surgery also do hernia repairs. I don't even think I really had a choice with mine, they found the hernia and if I didn't allow them to fix it when I had my surgery, then they wouldn't do the surgery. Call around, I would imagine there are clinics somewhere else that do it. Maybe the old one could tell you where they recommend or are referring other patients to? I'm so sorry, I understand how disappointing setbacks can be

YAY! How exciting for you

I stalled at around 5 1/2 months and have been stalled for a good 2 months. I got my period back and it realy never has stopped and at the same time, I have completely stalled. It was SOOOOOO frustrating. FINALLY last week the scale went down to a new number for me postop! I tried EVERYTHING during my stall. i increased exercise, I decreased exercise, I upped my Protein, I upped my Water intake and NOTHING changed it. I don't know- I've stopped bleeding finally and now I am losing again- so i will take it

I'm 7 weeks post op Sleeve and I been sick for 5 days straight haven't been able to eat or drink anything, anything I try to intake I throw up. Has this happened to anybody? I feel so miserable and don't know what to do? I been to the hospital and they gave me fluids and some medicine and I still don't feel better. if I would of known it was like this before I gotten it I would of never gotten this surgery, went from being so excited to so depressed.

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Are you sick like you have the flu or something or is it just eating/drinking is making you sick? If it's the flu or something, it sucks, I know The best thing to do is have some sugar free popcicles. You eat them slowly- but they will keep you hydrated. If you are getting sick from eating/drinking your surgeon should be able to give you some meds to calm stomach spasms etc. I was on those right after surgery to help so that I was able to eat/drink without getting sick and throwing up. I hope you are feeling better soon

My NUT said that stalls are generally caused by not eating enough Protein. She said once the body uses up the Protein stores in the liver and kidneys, it will slow the metabolism down because it thinks its in starvation mode. You are training for a 5K. Could it be your are not eating enough to support your level of activity?

Note: I have not had my WLS yet. This is just what I learned from my NUT.

This is what my NUT and the surgeon have always pounded into our heads. If your losses stop, UP your protein intake to kickstart the losses again. It can't hurt to try?

I have been stuck on a stall since the beginning of January and have only managed to knock off 10lbs or so in that time. So frustrating, especially because I was stalled at 253-- and being under 250 was a HUGE milestone for me.

This morning I weighed in at 249!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited- I haven't weighed under 250 since high school (20 years ago!) HOLY CRAP GUYS!

I did it- I got under 250

Happy Valentines Day!

My surgery is this Tuesday 2/16 I'm so nervous.

It's normal to feel nervous What specifically is causing you anxiety about the surgery?

I'm only just over 3 months post-op but already with 80;bs of loss, can notice a lot of skin. So far the only skin really bothering me is the half skin/fat of my double chin that is still lurking. Otherwise at this point, I am actually excited for the excess skin- because it's not fat. This might sound silly- but right now, it's soft and squishy and is fun to touch. However having said that, depending on insurance coverage when I am ready and have lost most of my weight I might consider my arms (THEY ARE MASSIVE) and POSSIBLY my stomach (but that depends on how bad it is) and I would LOVE a boob job. The one part of my body I used to love (my big ample breasts) are now just saggy gross things that don't even look good in a bra. lol

I am single, in my 30's and am done having kids- so this also plays a factor in my decision to move ahead with plastics.

When I want something tasty, I eat Protein cake in a cup. It is delicious, totally not cheating, and gives you 25 grams or so of Protein. One scoop Protein Powder, a 1/4 teaspoon baking powder, a couple tablespoons each of sugar-free Syrup and milk, stir until it is all wet. Microwave in large cup for 45 seconds or so. Delicious tasty warm cake! I have one most days and it feels like a treat, but really is not.

Oh I am going to have to try this!

What an amazing feeling that must be to be down so many meds and to get a smaller size in pants =) I am only 1 size away from not having to shop in "plus sizes" and I cannot wait to walk into the store just go to the regular sizes. You should feel proud of yourself, you are making amazing happen in your life.

Well I stalled and I did embrace it and tried to relax and learn from it. But I've been stalled for 3 weeks. Today I am 7 weeks post op and have been stuck since week 4. Do I try to break it or just keep going and let my body work it out? I just get worried about the honeymoon stage and really want to meet my goal. I get in my Protein no problem and get in my fluids almost every day. I follow the rules my NUT and Dr's gave me. Starting the gym this week. Just don't know what else to do. I know stalls are normal but I'm beginning to think I'm failing.

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I understand how frustrating a stall is. How much Protein are you getting in each day? My surgeon and NUT both said that if you stall, up your protein intake to get it kick started again. I had this happen and last week REALLY focused on upping my protein- and bam- I went down 10lbs that week

Not saying it's the answer, but worth a try

You should get some unflavored Protein powder (like Unjury) and mix it in with EVERYTHING you eat. It is SO IMPORTANT to be getting in at least 60g of Protein each day. You HAVE to focus on getting in the protein.

40 minutes on the elliptical every day. I started at 5 minutes at a time, and each week added another 5 minutes. I am pretty happy with doing 40 minutes for now, as I have upped the intensity of the 40 minutes instead of adding longer to my time for now.

Wow....that is super.

You are going at it hard and must be feeling the benefits already. Well done !

So far, I'm either walking at work or treadmill on my gym visits.

I'll be working back to the elliptical in a couple weeks. That is an incredible cardio machine and in many ways is more comfortable on my Sasquatch-like frame that the treadmills.

I'm hoping the daily glucosamine & chondroitin doses kick in soon and help these knees.

That was actually my motivation for getting an elliptical- my knees! It doesn't bother them at all (and I have a partial ACL tear in one of them). I knew if I bought an elliptical I would be more keen on using it vs going to the gym. I'm a single mom with 4 kids and there is no way I could find the time to go to the gym- however the elliptical is there for me at 3am, 5am, 1pm or 10pm- whenever I can work it in.

I also have found that now instead of turning to food- I turn to exercise. If the kids or life are stressing me out- I go do 30 minutes on the elliptical LOL It feels great, clears my head and best of all, my kids get excited and cheer me on (so they are SEEING good habits now).