Clementine Sky

I'm sorry you've been afflicted with chronic hives!
It's conceivable they are due to a hypersensitivity to the staples, though it is more likely merely a case of correlation rather than causation.
https://www.elynsgroup.com/article/titanium-staples-allergy-in-a-middle-aged-female-patient
Have any of the tests specifically been for metals?
If you're taking any Vitamins or prescription medications have you been tested to see if you have any sensitives to any of the ingredients in them? Even if they had not previously been problematic it's possible to develop issues over time. Pain medications in particular can cause hives.
Insects and parasites can as well, and they can be difficult to detect.
You can also develop food allergies with time. Following the surgery, you probably would have changed your diet quite dramatically.

9 pounds until goal!!!

Edited to add - I know my ticker says 19 pounds to goal, but I think 140 will be too small for me. so I am choosing 150 as my goal But man, what a difference! Loving my new life. I think 50 looks pretty good on me!

9.5 month checkin...size 28 to size 10. Down 152 lbs. Loving life!

I'm sorry your husband isn't being supportive. It's a decision you have to make about your body, for the betterment of your life, but naturally you want your life partner to be at your side encouraging you rather than discouraging. My husband was initially opposed to the surgery, incredulous that I even wanted it. I looked on PubMed, which is a database of medical research, and found studies about bariatric surgery - its safety and efficacy, how those who had it were substantially more likely to keep their weight off, and ones specific to women with my own health issues (PCOS and hypothyroidism) having it. This was significant to having him change his mind because it wasn't just my words, my emotions, but facts before him.
I think you should pursue the surgery if you truly believe will better your life. I definitely count the surgery as being the best medical decision I ever made. It's transformed my life. I would continue to try to get your husband on board. The surgery is challenging physically and emotionally for the first month or two out. I had no complications and didn't have to follow a strict pre-op diet, so I had easier than many, but there were still struggles. I think while in that vulnerable state having to deal with any marital issues would have been really hard.
Some things that helped in my situation were -
- The money for the surgery did not come from our joint funds. I was self-pay to Mexico patient since my insurance wouldn't cover it, and so it was a lot more affordable and easier to take on the expenses without his contributions. I was the one who assured him of this.
- Planning. In our household, my husband and I divide up the chores / tasks pretty evenly. We both are young professionals who come home wanting to get the chores out of the way as fast as possible, and relax. By choice I do more things like laundry, vacuuming, grocery shopping, and he does the yard work and takes care of the cars getting washed. I didn't want him to have to do all of my tasks while I was recovering. I cleaned the house top to bottom prior to surgery, and arranged for house cleaners to come in once a week for the month following the surgery. I used a grocery delivery service, and made the point of getting things that he likes even though I couldn't eat them. There was little inconvenience for him.
- I understood that I was the one having surgery, and taking on the changes it required like the post-op diet. I never made him feel like he couldn't have whatever he wanted to eat for dinner, or keep foods that would be tempting to me out of the house. He was good about being considerate, but I think him knowing that he wasn't encumbered by my surgery helped him to not feel resentful of it.
Best wishes to you. I hope your husband gets on board, and you have the surgery and fantastic results from it. I have never for a second regretted my surgery. I'm three years out, have maintained my goal within a small fluctuation zone for two years, and feel more vibrant and healthy now than I did as a teen.

I'm sorry your husband isn't being supportive. It's a decision you have to make about your body, for the betterment of your life, but naturally you want your life partner to be at your side encouraging you rather than discouraging. My husband was initially opposed to the surgery, incredulous that I even wanted it. I looked on PubMed, which is a database of medical research, and found studies about bariatric surgery - its safety and efficacy, how those who had it were substantially more likely to keep their weight off, and ones specific to women with my own health issues (PCOS and hypothyroidism) having it. This was significant to having him change his mind because it wasn't just my words, my emotions, but facts before him.
I think you should pursue the surgery if you truly believe will better your life. I definitely count the surgery as being the best medical decision I ever made. It's transformed my life. I would continue to try to get your husband on board. The surgery is challenging physically and emotionally for the first month or two out. I had no complications and didn't have to follow a strict pre-op diet, so I had easier than many, but there were still struggles. I think while in that vulnerable state having to deal with any marital issues would have been really hard.
Some things that helped in my situation were -
- The money for the surgery did not come from our joint funds. I was self-pay to Mexico patient since my insurance wouldn't cover it, and so it was a lot more affordable and easier to take on the expenses without his contributions. I was the one who assured him of this.
- Planning. In our household, my husband and I divide up the chores / tasks pretty evenly. We both are young professionals who come home wanting to get the chores out of the way as fast as possible, and relax. By choice I do more things like laundry, vacuuming, grocery shopping, and he does the yard work and takes care of the cars getting washed. I didn't want him to have to do all of my tasks while I was recovering. I cleaned the house top to bottom prior to surgery, and arranged for house cleaners to come in once a week for the month following the surgery. I used a grocery delivery service, and made the point of getting things that he likes even though I couldn't eat them. There was little inconvenience for him.
- I understood that I was the one having surgery, and taking on the changes it required like the post-op diet. I never made him feel like he couldn't have whatever he wanted to eat for dinner, or keep foods that would be tempting to me out of the house. He was good about being considerate, but I think him knowing that he wasn't encumbered by my surgery helped him to not feel resentful of it.
Best wishes to you. I hope your husband gets on board, and you have the surgery and fantastic results from it. I have never for a second regretted my surgery. I'm three years out, have maintained my goal within a small fluctuation zone for two years, and feel more vibrant and healthy now than I did as a teen.

I'm sorry your husband isn't being supportive. It's a decision you have to make about your body, for the betterment of your life, but naturally you want your life partner to be at your side encouraging you rather than discouraging. My husband was initially opposed to the surgery, incredulous that I even wanted it. I looked on PubMed, which is a database of medical research, and found studies about bariatric surgery - its safety and efficacy, how those who had it were substantially more likely to keep their weight off, and ones specific to women with my own health issues (PCOS and hypothyroidism) having it. This was significant to having him change his mind because it wasn't just my words, my emotions, but facts before him.
I think you should pursue the surgery if you truly believe will better your life. I definitely count the surgery as being the best medical decision I ever made. It's transformed my life. I would continue to try to get your husband on board. The surgery is challenging physically and emotionally for the first month or two out. I had no complications and didn't have to follow a strict pre-op diet, so I had easier than many, but there were still struggles. I think while in that vulnerable state having to deal with any marital issues would have been really hard.
Some things that helped in my situation were -
- The money for the surgery did not come from our joint funds. I was self-pay to Mexico patient since my insurance wouldn't cover it, and so it was a lot more affordable and easier to take on the expenses without his contributions. I was the one who assured him of this.
- Planning. In our household, my husband and I divide up the chores / tasks pretty evenly. We both are young professionals who come home wanting to get the chores out of the way as fast as possible, and relax. By choice I do more things like laundry, vacuuming, grocery shopping, and he does the yard work and takes care of the cars getting washed. I didn't want him to have to do all of my tasks while I was recovering. I cleaned the house top to bottom prior to surgery, and arranged for house cleaners to come in once a week for the month following the surgery. I used a grocery delivery service, and made the point of getting things that he likes even though I couldn't eat them. There was little inconvenience for him.
- I understood that I was the one having surgery, and taking on the changes it required like the post-op diet. I never made him feel like he couldn't have whatever he wanted to eat for dinner, or keep foods that would be tempting to me out of the house. He was good about being considerate, but I think him knowing that he wasn't encumbered by my surgery helped him to not feel resentful of it.
Best wishes to you. I hope your husband gets on board, and you have the surgery and fantastic results from it. I have never for a second regretted my surgery. I'm three years out, have maintained my goal within a small fluctuation zone for two years, and feel more vibrant and healthy now than I did as a teen.

I'm sorry your husband isn't being supportive. It's a decision you have to make about your body, for the betterment of your life, but naturally you want your life partner to be at your side encouraging you rather than discouraging. My husband was initially opposed to the surgery, incredulous that I even wanted it. I looked on PubMed, which is a database of medical research, and found studies about bariatric surgery - its safety and efficacy, how those who had it were substantially more likely to keep their weight off, and ones specific to women with my own health issues (PCOS and hypothyroidism) having it. This was significant to having him change his mind because it wasn't just my words, my emotions, but facts before him.
I think you should pursue the surgery if you truly believe will better your life. I definitely count the surgery as being the best medical decision I ever made. It's transformed my life. I would continue to try to get your husband on board. The surgery is challenging physically and emotionally for the first month or two out. I had no complications and didn't have to follow a strict pre-op diet, so I had easier than many, but there were still struggles. I think while in that vulnerable state having to deal with any marital issues would have been really hard.
Some things that helped in my situation were -
- The money for the surgery did not come from our joint funds. I was self-pay to Mexico patient since my insurance wouldn't cover it, and so it was a lot more affordable and easier to take on the expenses without his contributions. I was the one who assured him of this.
- Planning. In our household, my husband and I divide up the chores / tasks pretty evenly. We both are young professionals who come home wanting to get the chores out of the way as fast as possible, and relax. By choice I do more things like laundry, vacuuming, grocery shopping, and he does the yard work and takes care of the cars getting washed. I didn't want him to have to do all of my tasks while I was recovering. I cleaned the house top to bottom prior to surgery, and arranged for house cleaners to come in once a week for the month following the surgery. I used a grocery delivery service, and made the point of getting things that he likes even though I couldn't eat them. There was little inconvenience for him.
- I understood that I was the one having surgery, and taking on the changes it required like the post-op diet. I never made him feel like he couldn't have whatever he wanted to eat for dinner, or keep foods that would be tempting to me out of the house. He was good about being considerate, but I think him knowing that he wasn't encumbered by my surgery helped him to not feel resentful of it.
Best wishes to you. I hope your husband gets on board, and you have the surgery and fantastic results from it. I have never for a second regretted my surgery. I'm three years out, have maintained my goal within a small fluctuation zone for two years, and feel more vibrant and healthy now than I did as a teen.

My husband was supportive but had he not been, I still would have done it.

I'm 4 years out also. In complete transparency, I fell off the wagon bad about 16 months out. I went through major life changes (moved, changed job, lost a parent, went back to grad school, graduated and went back AGAIN for a PhD, hubs changed jobs, etc.). Yes, major changes.
When I fell off, it was very gradual and I hardly noticed it until I had regained almost 40 lbs and got some seriously sobering health news last fall. It kicked my butt into gear and I went strict Keto and have lost all of my regain and continue to lose even more.
While I never even reached goal the first time around (I think that I had so much change during my honeymoon phase that I lost focus) I know that at this point I WILL get there and I plan to have my plastics done next year after I graduate for the FINAL time!!!
For me, I don't count macros too closely, I just focus on Protein, Water intake, moving every day, good sleep hygiene, supplements and I TRY to manage my stress so cortisol doesn't go sky high (I get serious belly gain when my cortisol goes up, and I have it clinically monitored every few months).
Yes I fell away, yes I regained, but YES I have figured it out and am making it happen. Even if I'm 4 years post op, I'm proof that it's never too late for anyone!!!

I'm 7 years out. I'm 116 pounds. My body picked my goal weight for me and really likes it here, so maintaining is easier than it could be. But I do have rules I live by.

I weigh at least weekly. I do not worry about tiny fluctuations but nip anything out of my maintenance window immediately. Complacency leads to larger regain. I don't avoid food groups, but I do put Protein first. I will usually choose a protein snack. I indulge when I want, because I believe forbidden foods lead to binges. I don't want the yo-yo. It works for me. I never graze. I either portion food out and eat it, or I don't, but no mindless or emotional eating.

I still have a ton of restriction, so maybe that's made my journey easier. And my tastes changed a lot. I don't care for potatoes, or sweets. I can't have milk or eat ice cream due to lactose intolerance. But just being mindful is what keeps me successful. I think before I eat. I don't have to track anymore, it's just second nature. The scale is my tracker. And it hardly moves.

I think this is the ideal. I'm happy, can't complain.

Cheri

hi all
i am proudly telling you that i'm 5 .5 year PO
4.5 years GOAL with my sleeve!!
It's a wonderful feeling i continue to use
the information i learned as a NEWBIE
especially drinking Water - and protein
i still "usually" use small utensils, small plate
eat slowly, and chew a little at a time.
don't like to go to restaurants any more -
but when i do, i also don't deprive myself.
i ALWAYS ask waiter/waitress for a take
home container when she brings my
food out. immediately put 1/2 away before
i eat. i continue to follow my plan "most" of the
time. i'm not perfect - then again
one thing that keeps me at GOAL (2-3) lb
fluctuate - is remembering my past weight,
how unhappy i was,. never will go back
there again!! keep up the good work
you are doing great - i know you will be
a continued success
congrats and good luck
kathy

I don't consider myself a long term success case. Like OutsideMatchInside, I was sleeved a little more than two years ago. But since this forum considers people who are at least one year out 'veterans,' I'll respond.
I maintain a somewhat low body weight of 118 to 120 pounds by incorporating flexibility into my food choices and lifestyle. I "never say never" because that rigid line of thinking got me into trouble prior to WLS.
I don't deprive myself. I consume in the 2000 to 2300 calorie-per-day range in maintenance. I run 20+ miles per week, lift heavy weights 3 times weekly, and cross-train with other aerobic exercises such as the stationary bike, elliptical machine and stair mill at the gym.
I don't avoid entire food categories such as carbs and fat. Since my activity levels are high, I tolerate carbs well. When I lived a more sedentary lifestyle, my carb tolerance was piss-poor.
An astute doctor who specializes in obesity medicine said, "If you didn't like the way you lost your weight, you won't like the way you'll need to maintain your weight, so you'll regain."
Essentially, the good doctor is saying that the habits we adopted to lose weight will mostly be the ones we use to maintain our weight loss. If we did unlikable, unsustainable things to lose weight (e.g. cabbage Soup diet, 2 hours of daily exercise, constant deprivation, HCG shots, expensive foods, NutriSystem, very low calorie plans), we tend to abandon these ventures after a while and the weight often returns.
In essence, I currently enjoy the foods I eat to maintain my weight. I currently enjoy the 60 minutes of daily exercise I obtain to maintain my weight. Since I liked what I did to lose the weight this time around, I am now liking the daily tasks needed to maintain my weight loss.
I don't know what life will look like for me at 10 years out. However, I am both cautious and optimistic about the future. I live and learn from those who succumbed to pitfalls that led to regain.
Good luck to everyone.

I’m scheduled for surgery Oct. 31, I’m a BMI 32 and I’m really excited!

I was sleeved 01/27/16 and lost 140 lbs.

1 year post op

I'm curious about whether you have any experience with taking Metformin? I am not diabetic, but have PCOS and it has been helpful in this respect but problematic in others. I first started taking it in November 2016, after having reached my goal weight in August of that year. I had the VSG in August of 2015. At first I lost eight pounds on Metformin, in part because of the nausea it caused. Then my weight and appetite remained stable for most of 2017 until traveling abroad actually helped me to reach my "dream" goal in December. In January of this year my endocrinologist increased my dosage to 1500 MG a day, and I suddenly would have these tremendous surges in appetite and feel ravenous. I'd shake until I ate something with carbs. I've gained 10 pounds this year. When I told my endocrinologist in April about the weight gain, he wasn't surprised even though most lose weight on it. He said it can cause hypoglycemia and excessive hunger. I've made sure to stock up on healthier Snacks so I can grab one and not eat something else in desperation, but am still frustrated.
What snacks do you eat to keep your blood sugar levels in check?

I'm curious about whether you have any experience with taking Metformin? I am not diabetic, but have PCOS and it has been helpful in this respect but problematic in others. I first started taking it in November 2016, after having reached my goal weight in August of that year. I had the VSG in August of 2015. At first I lost eight pounds on Metformin, in part because of the nausea it caused. Then my weight and appetite remained stable for most of 2017 until traveling abroad actually helped me to reach my "dream" goal in December. In January of this year my endocrinologist increased my dosage to 1500 MG a day, and I suddenly would have these tremendous surges in appetite and feel ravenous. I'd shake until I ate something with carbs. I've gained 10 pounds this year. When I told my endocrinologist in April about the weight gain, he wasn't surprised even though most lose weight on it. He said it can cause hypoglycemia and excessive hunger. I've made sure to stock up on healthier Snacks so I can grab one and not eat something else in desperation, but am still frustrated.
What snacks do you eat to keep your blood sugar levels in check?

Was able to fit into goal shirt today (pink) and the birthday was before surgery the rest are 6weeks post op and 30 pounds down

I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this, and I'm feeling terribly vulnerable...but I'm officially 4 weeks post op and down 25lbs. Until just now when I made this collaboration, I wasn't sure where the pounds came from. I can sortof see it in some areas...what do you guys think?

From a week ago. On the left my shirt was a 3X had to get a an XL.


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@Ms skinniness
hey girlfriend - been awhile
lookin' great!!
keep up the good work
your friend
kathy

I feel your frustration so much. I was sleeved Oct 2016 and I've technically met my surgeon and nutritionist goal and passed it. But im still struggling to lose the last 20. I'm hovering between 142 and 144 at 5'2 and it took like 6 months to lose from 160 something to now. I am rebooting myself. But im going back to basics in the dense Protein and veggies sort of way. If i follow the plan i should be ok. I've tried to go back to liquids but its harder than EVER. I keep straying. WHY is this so hard? I feel like i should have been to my goal weight already. My family doesn't think i need to lose more but i want to be able to get into the healthy bmi range for my height. Being told all your life to lose weight is NOT fun. I don't want to give any doctors any reason to doubt me on my health concerns. Sorry for the rant. I just feel you on the frustration[emoji28].

Maybe start by going back to the basics that you started with straight out of surgery. Go through the whole process again. I think one of the most important things for me is food prepping at the beginning of the week. To Ensure every time I go to grab something to eat it’s high Protein in Portion Control amounts and the only thing I’m drinking at the moment is Water and green tea. I’m struggling with 15 and I was sleeved in 2013. Good Luck

Hellooo! I'm coming up on 5 years...omigosh! I cannot believe I just wrote that. I have just struggled and struggled since the beginning. I hit my low weight about 1 year post op (after fighting 7 months for the final 4# to get there haha) and then it seems i've just gone back the other way. Every year it's another 14-20lbs back on. My surgeon gave up on me and basically said that I need to accept that this is how my body is, and that I can call him when I'm ready for a revision of my failed sleeve. :\ I'm not ready to accept that I can't lose weight on my own. Normal people do it every day without surgery, and plenty do it successfully WITH surgery, so there's nothing special about me. I just need to figure out what is wrong with my head.
I have had so many personal life nonsense things over the last 4 years that I'm sort of mad at myself for wasting the surgery. I wish I had either waited until NOW to do it, or been strong enough to love myself more than the drama THEN. However, now I need a plan. I know there used to be reboots, and bootcamps, etc, but I can't remember any of them. I work out at the gym 3-5x/week, lifting weights and I'm going to be adding (more intense) cardio in the next week. I'm doing (at least) weekly vlogs on youtube and trying to get back in the habit of blogging regularly. I'm also a fulltime college student, employee and homeschooling my sons through their senior year of school.
I'll take anything you got! haha
I'm so confused by this diet vs that diet, vs don't drink this, do drink that... I feel so paranoid and untrusting of the whole industry.
Thank you! <3

What I like the most is your pose in the second picture. You look fantastic, but more importantly, you look so proud and happy. That made me smile.