Cervidae

I spent most of my life believing the opinions and cruel comments of people around me regarding my weight. Before puberty, I was in three sports and eating an extremely healthy diet because my mother has kidney disease and must eat healthy. I was tall, thin, and a vibrant, smart, and happy kid that everyone adored. Right around the time I got my first period, I began gaining weight and just... couldn't stop. Two years ago, I believed all of the mean and hateful and utterly incorrect things people have been saying to and about me my whole life. Learning the things these people firmly state saved my life and gave me the bravery and self-worth to even begin to think about wls and reclaiming my life instead of trying to end it with food because I felt so out of control and worthless. In some ways I'm jealous of people who are brave enough to stand up and say these things. Even now I'm wrestling with myself trying to decide if I am brave enough to share this on Facebook. I WANT to share it, I WANT people to understand that they are so, so wrong about obesity and that their opinions and understandings of it are actually ignorant and hurtful. I don't think I'm there yet. Maybe some day. Thanks for sharing, I needed to hear this today.

I think it's not exactly common to fall in love that soon, but it's entirely possible. Most people aren't lucky enough to find a person they connect with that strongly and that quickly, so if you have, congratulations! I've been with the sweetest, most caring person I've ever met for almost 4 years, and I didn't trust my feelings in the beginning, but I can tell you honestly that I loved him within two weeks of meeting him. Honestly, I feel a surge of intense connection the first time we spoke, and so did he. I'm going to marry this guy. I think a lot of people have experienced the pain that love and relationships with others can inflict and it makes them much more hesitant to truly open up to and connect with someone that quickly. It takes a young and relatively unscarred heart to be able to bare yourself to someone based on initial feelings of trust and attraction. I've sort of always operated this way, and while it has set me up for intense pain in the past, it's also given me a chance to experience the kind of wild, beautiful love that most people only dream of but are too jaded and scared to be open enough to experience. But that's just my experience and view on the subject.

My nut told me not to even try it yet, especially fruit juices, because they are super good for you but also contain a huge amount of sugar and are almost guaranteed to make you dump. My six month check up is in 4 days and I'm betting when I talk to her then she will say it's okay to try it, but keeping the amount of fruit greatly reduced is going to be something all surgery patients must do. Can you ask your nutritionist about it?

My surgeon did not require a pre-op diet, only to make sure I only had liquids for a day and a half before and then no food or drink at all for the twelve hours before surgery. And my bmi was 65 the day before surgery. It was actually higher when she gave me the surgery date, because I did my own pre-op diet and lost about 10 pounds from it.

That's so great, congratulations!

passing out isn't exactly normal, he must have had WAY more sugar than is healthy or normal, or has some kind of other health issue. Gastric bypass does cause dumping if you eat too much sugar, and "too much" could be a different amount for every person. My nut's rule is 5 grams or less per serving. When I eat something with five grams of sugar, I don't dump but I do feel sort of nauseous and gross. You're going to need to keep your sugar amounts as low as possible, regardless. Not only will it cause dumping but it's all around unhealthy for you, physically and mentally. As I'm sure you know.

The two biggest helpers for me when I feel like I'm struggling are support groups and progress pictures. Especially progress pictures. I always feel super determined after looking at them.

Hello. Seems like you are doing well and learning as much as you can, which is often what helps a person not only have success but keep it long term. I have a feeling you're going to do really well! Also, you and I are the same height and weight right now (well, technically I'm 281 as of this morning, but close enough), though I'm 5.5 months post op.

My rny was on August 17th. I've lost 106 pounds since surgery, and 163 pounds total. I've had a TON of stalls along the way, usually lasting at least 2 weeks, but when it picks back up I lose so rapidly that I seem to catch up. I have zero regrets, and while I'm a little anemic at the moment and still don't have the energy level I would like to have, I would do the exact same thing all over again if I had to. I'm almost out of the 280s and into the 270s. I haven't been this size since I was maybe... 13? Early in my 14th year? I'm seeing great things on the horizon!

you've got a great outlook and a really positive vibe. Good luck! We'll see you on the other side.

chapstick, wipies, and your toothbrush, and I bet you wouldn't need anything else.

This mindset that so many people have about wls being the "easy way out" or a "magic cure" is exactly the reason I haven't told most people that I had surgery. Only my mother and sister know, because I know that the entire rest of my family would be super judgmental and ignorant if they knew. My 160 pound loss would cease to be a major accomplishment and would somehow just be cheating to them. I refuse to put up with that ignorance. So to them, I'm just dieting hard and working my butt off (literally) which is pretty much exactly what I'm doing anyway. No harm, no foul.

I didn't dump either but it was a few months before eggs sat well in my stomach. In the beginning, they even hurt a bit, even if I soft scrambled them. Now I can eat them with no issues (5.5 months post op) and I'm really happy about it because eggs are very good for you. Just eat very slowly and carefully and really listen to your stomach and you should know pretty quickly if they are something you can eat yet or not.

You sound exactly like I did before surgery! It was about 7 months between when I went to the first seminar and when I had surgery, and it felt like an eternity... until I woke up from surgery. Suddenly the loooooooong wait actually felt like the blink of an eye. Now I'm 5.5 months post op and I can't even believe it's been almost 6 months already. Strange! Just hang in there, and always remember - this time is for YOU. Take this time to take amazing care of yourself, and become the best you can be, and learn as much as you can. Then all of a sudden the surgery will be over and you'll be through the door and moving on toward your new life and the new you.

awesome! Here are my current progress pics: http://imgur.com/a/X5Gdz Weight in before photos: 387 pounds, August 16, 2015 Weight in after photos: 282 pounds - February 1, 2016 RNY August 17, 2015.

I don't know as much about the band vs. the sleeve and bypass, but it is my understanding that with an unfilled band, it should be difficult to get things stuck, if your stomach is healthy. Is it possible you have a stricture or scar tissue preventing your stomach from taking in food? I would talk to my surgery center, if I were you. I hope you feel better soon!

I had my RNY in mid-August and I still occasionally get some gas/bloating. Usually it's a sign that I ate too fast, or I've eaten something that is just not sitting well in my new stomach. Try gas-x strips?

I first thought I wanted to get the sleeve too, but then I started seeing the statistical chance of having to have a bypass revision is pretty high. I, too, started at a pretty high weight - over 400 pounds when I first started at the bariatric center. Yes, the sleeve is a little less invasive, and has less absorption issues. But when I went to the seminar and listened to my surgeon talking about the pros and cons of both, and then also based on all the research I did on my own and the sleevers and rny-ers I talked to, I changed to the bypass. My main reasons are these: - I started at a high bmi (upper 60s) and most of the people who had the sleeve at that high weight ended up in maintenance before they had even lost all their weight, and also many of them ended up with a bypass anyway. - I wanted to avoid going under the knife for a second time, and since so many people get revisions, the bypass just seemed smarter. - I wanted the extra accountability. One of the big reasons I got surgery in the first place was to give my body the best tool I could for controlling what I eat and how much I eat. The bypass goes a step beyond the sleeve and also gives you malabsorbtion. - In the end, ultimately, I chose the bypass for all these reasons and because I want the most bang for my buck. If I had started at a much lower weight, perhaps my current weight, I might have chosen the sleeve. As things stand for me now, I'm very, very happy that I chose the bypass. I have PCOS and even now after losing 160 pounds from my highest weight, I still have to fight my body tooth and nail to continue to lose. I'm nowhere near maintenance (282 pounds as of this morning) and I'm glad that I chose the more intensive surgery. In the end it's your and your surgeon's decision. I would recommend the RNY for someone who began as heavy as me, but that's just me.

Hello @@jessicasantana28 I went to the first seminar for my bariatric program in January of last year, and had the RNY on August 17th of last year. Since beginning the program, I've lost 117 pounds (102 since the day of surgery). I've had no complications except for a little anemia that is being managed by my doctor. I have no regrets! I wish you only the best as you move forward. Feel free to friend me or message me if there's anything you think I may be able to help you with.

@@Jewelgirl04 I'm pretty sure it was just the Wal-Mart brand, Faded Glory, and it was in the men's section. So it was only like $10.

@@Jewelgirl04 it will probably be trial and error to find the right one. I found a decent pair at Wal-Mart of all places.

I always thought board shorts as bottoms and a cute bikini top were a great combo. It covers you, but you can still show a little skin and feel like you look good.

Therapy, MyFitnessPal, and my physical therapist who doubles as a fitness trainer have been my biggest tools outside of my surgery. I also have a partial YMCA membership through my physical therapist that gives me access to the pool and the exercise equipment, and that has been really useful. Mostly what works best for me is keeping myself accountable and staying positive when I feel discouraged by my PCOS and the accompanying stalls. It's easy to feel like a failure if you're not seeing an accurate report of your progress, both physically and mentally.

I lost VERY slowly in the beginning. Now I stall for weeks and suddenly lose like 10-15 pounds in the span of a few days. PCOS is a monster that can never be killed, only subdued. However, even losing slowly and having all these stalls, I'm still 101 pounds down in 5.5 months. It will all even out for you in the end, just stick to your plan, take good care of yourself, and be patient with your body. It's a little traumatized right now, but it will get better.

Woohoo! Congrats.