mlbdl

Don't put it off. I did for a couple of years and then had to have a piece of my colon removed because the polyp the found couldn't be removed during the colonoscopy. Luckily I now have 3 years to wait until the next one since the one I did in December prior to my surgery was clean.

I started off at 315 pounds in October of 2017. I list 35 pounds in almost two years on my own before surgery. In August 2019, I had gastric sleeve surgery and have lost another 90 pounds so that I am down a total of 125 pounds. I only have the two headshots but can’t get over the difference. (I used to avoid getting my picture taken). I lost a second chin and discovered my clavicle. I have gone from a 3X to a L in clothes.
My only regret is that I didn’t have the surgery sooner. The second picture is from my 6th month follow up and I was at 205 at the time. I am averaging about 5 pounds a month weight loss.

Make sure you split your calcium Citrate and take your D with one of them

Revised sleeve to bypass last week due to GERD. Sleeve w/hiatal hernia repair 6/2016. 2nd hernia repair 10/17. 3rd hernia repair w/bypass, although originally the surgeon said he wasn’t going to fix it this time. I guess it was so big that he had to. I revised because I was aspirating acid into my lungs.
I wish I had pushed for the bypass for the original surgery. I had asked for it because I already had GERD. I was told that I probably had a hernia, he’d fix it, and I’d be fine. Yeah...
This recovery is harder from a pain perspective. The incisions are larger. It hurts to cough, sneeze, laugh, sit up, etc. I don’t remember this happening the last time. The surgeon said that he “did more damage” this time cutting me open. ? I do feel better every day but it it is different from last time.
I also find that my appetite is the same as before the surgery. Last time I didn’t even want to look at food. However, I get nauseous when I eat so I am dropping weight, which I’m please with. I don’t mind losing about 10-15#, but I’m going to have to be careful not to get underweight (now that’s a first for me!).
Good luck with whatever you decide.

@mlbdl
I decided at this time to not revision to Gastric Bypass. My gerd started with bad eating and stress. I first needed to work on my eating and stress level.
My acid reflux is under control with a PPI. I still have little spikes of acid but I'm down to a Level 1 on a scale 1 to 10. I have been eating extremely slow and chewy my food completely. I cut out coffee and gerd triggered foods. It has helped 100%
I am giving myself until June 2020 that would put me at 3 years post op to see if the gerd has improved.
For me, diet changes and less stress have helped me. Another surgery, especially the bypass is major. I need to first exhausted all other options before undergoing the Gastric Bypass.

Let's stay in touch. I am praying for your surgery and help.

I’m supposed to be having my sleeve revised to a bypass in November due to GERD. I have a hiatial hernia for the 3rd time and the surgeon as well as the 2nd opinion surgeon says not to repair the hernia, just revise to bypass. Evidently my cough is acid aspirating into my lungs, and most of my allergy symptoms are from the acid. This is on top of the regular nasty acid symptoms.

I had originally asked for the bypass because I already had GERD and I knew that VSG could make GERD worse or cause it if you don’t have it. The surgeon said that if I had another 100# to lose he’d recommend the bypass but he said I probably have a hernia. He’d fix it, therefore fixing the GERD. So, 3 hernias later, I’m revising to a bypass, and I’m terrified. I’ve been very pleased with my sleeve except for the GERD getting worse. So... 3.5 years later I’m finally getting what I originally asked for, but now I have to go through a 3rd surgery (VSG/hernia; hernia again; now bypass) to do it. I should have just pushed for the bypass at the beginning and I’d be done with it.

I may need to revise for GERD. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Before going into the OR, nervous but composed
&
Well ecstatic to be aliv?e,.. Post op on my room

I may need to revise for GERD. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Regain glasses suck.
The moment regain becomes a problem we put on those regain glasses and NOTHING looks good.


A few years ago I distinctly remember reading a post from a woman that went something like this.
I hate my hair. I don't like my face and don't know how to use makeup. I hate what I'm eating every day and I'm sick of it. Oh and I gained 5 pounds.
One of my most often repeated quotes...."we are rarely upset for the reason we think". Of course I assume you can guess what she was really upset about. I wrote her and told her to get a cute haircut, go to a department store and get someone to show her how to do makeup (free) or check out thousands of makeup videos on You Tube. I also told her she could change what she eats every day. Of course none of that made her feel better because she didn't FEEL like doing any of that because she was wearing her regain glasses loud and proud.
It seems that for most people everything looks pretty awful through those regain glasses. I want to help you take them off. You say "Yeah right…like I haven’t tried… and mostly..... I don't FEEL like it. I don't feel like doing anything." I have often pointed out that when you were at this weight on the way down you were ecstatic! Do you see how your perspective totally messes with your head? Why do we obsess about the lowest weight we ever reached instead of constantly realizing what our highest weight was and being grateful we aren't there? And if you choose to obsess about your lowest weight, doesn't it make sense to move towards doing something about it instead of continuing to walk down regain road?
Unfortunately we have this big adjustment to make after weight loss surgery because the first year we are wearing the "honeymoon glasses" and EVERYTHING looks GREAT! Remember how wonderful everything was when you lost your first 30-40 pounds? Yet you were heavier than you are now. You could hardly mess up at all the first year. It was all good!
One day you wake up and you can't find your honeymoon glasses. You start to take for granted the little things like being able to tie your shoes, paint your toe nails, fit in an airplane seat..... and the next thing you know it isn't enough anymore. Some of us hang in there for a while or even a long while and eventually something shifts and you start to think about how much you miss those honeymoon glasses.... you start looking for that feeling in other things like our old friend Mr. Food. He’s tappin' you on the shoulder every day..."Pssst....remember me? Remember how much fun we had? Oh come on... a little sum-um sum-um won't hurt you". All the while your old friend has some regain glasses stuck in his back pocket just waiting to slide them on your face.
One of the most extreme cases of the perspective meter being out of whack was a woman I met who had lost 485 pounds. Not a typo! She lost 485 pounds but she had gained 40 back. She was all out of sorts and literally more miserable than when she weighed her heaviest.
I asked her to imagine that 485 pounds sitting on the floor. Right next to it 40 lbs. I guess we could say it looks something like this. (For those with perfectly analytical brains please forgive me…I guesstimated it)

I told her not to give that 40 pounds the time of day and dust it off. We give that regain so much power and of course we can pile plenty of shame on top of that for good measure. Shame is toxic, shame keeps us down. Shame keeps those damn regain glasses cemented to our face.
Here's the thing....if you don't take off the glasses and begin to turn things around....chances are that you'll look up in another year with more regain. Get off the insanity train today. Of course you remember... “Insanity=doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome”
Everyone is different but here are a few suggestions. You can’t build Rome in a day but you can always do the next best thing. (Thank you Post-Op and a Doc for “the next best thing”)
Look at your before picture in the morning and FEEL what you felt like. Sit it that for a while. I do that every morning without fail. Remember the things you wanted so badly. BE GRATEFUL you aren't there. If I could put you back in that body for a week you would be SO grateful to be you right now.
Quit thinking about the perceived mountain you have to move and pick up the shovel and start with one scoop at a time. Instead of Nike's "just do it", change it to "just start". (Thank you Chuck for that one) It’s too overwhelming to plan into the next century. I can hear the questions now….how long will this take? It DOES NOT matter. Just move toward your goal instead of away from it..... just for today. Today is all that counts.
Get the crap food out of your house. I know many people who find creative ways to do this with a family that feels they have to have the crap food. Put it in a place it can locked up but you'd do your family a favor by getting it out of their reach as well. Sugar and junk food is as addictive as any drug and they will guarantee that you will still be wearing those regain glasses. See my “M&M” story in this post.
Find a way to move your body that you can enjoy. I LOVE to dance. I hate to run….I wanted to love it but I don’t. I wanted that runner's high and I just could not get it. I love yoga and if you think you can’t do it, watch this! I describe yoga as slow dancing with yourself. Abby Lentz from Heartfelt Yoga is a dear friend. Look her up, she has DVD’s.

http://video.pbs.org/viralplayer/2365170173


You won’t do anything for very long if you perceive it as suffering. When you eat healthier food envision how you are nourishing your body. Remember it will make you feel better and look better instead of putting on more weight which equates to depression, physical pain, more misery and a shorter life span. Again the most important part of this is to stop the bleeding that has begun with regain. Nothing in life is easy so here comes your choices…...choose your hard.

Almost 11 months out...

I had NO IDEA I was that fat before the op...the before pic just popped up on my faceboook memories from last year at a family gathering.

Everything in my life has changed for the better...I am back to original me and loving it!

How does the massive weight loss patient choose the right plastic surgeon? After all, we present a much more challenging case than women seeking plastic surgery whom had never been morbidly obese. Add to that, there are no rigorous requirements and certification for a sub-specialty in bariatric plastic surgery. What is a patient to do?


Choosing a plastic surgeon after weight loss is an important personal decision. Someone told me that you do not buy a procedure, you buy a plastic surgeon (Read: Understanding Post-Bariatric Plastic Surgery). I completely get that now, having gone through a total body contouring and facelift, but it wasn’t always that way.
When I was beginning my plastic surgery after massive weight loss, I did not understand just how much obesity had deformed my body. It was later made clear to me that I was a much more challenging case than women seeking plastic surgery whom had never been morbidly obese. Add to that, I was more prone to complications during surgery and recovery owing to my former health conditions (diabetes, hypertension, etc).
Dr. Joseph F. Capella underscores the inherent challenge, “Many surgeons have come through their training not having been exposed to post-bariatric body contouring. Because of that these surgeries are not considered traditional procedures, in the sense that they’ve been honed over decades like many of the other plastic surgery procedures. And so what plastic surgeons may do is use these more traditional procedures and apply them to the post-bariatric patient, which often will lead to sub-optimal results.”
How does the massive weight loss patient choose the right plastic surgeon? After all, while there is rigorous training, and requirements for a plastic surgeon to become certified by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, just as there are for a bariatric surgeon to become certified by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, there are no rigorous requirements and certification for a sub-specialty in bariatric plastic surgery. What is a patient to do?
Dr. Capella recommends “For each of the procedures you’re considering, ask the plastic surgeon: How often do you do them and how many have you done? The doctor should make other patients readily available to you who have had these plastic surgeries done. And, of course, the doctor should have a wide array of images to show you of hopefully body types that are similar to yours.”
My additional advice:
Travel out of state if you must to find a plastic surgeon who specializes in the massive weight loss patient’s special needs.
With all due respect to patients who travel outside the country for their surgery, selecting a plastic surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery is an essential step to ensure the best training and credentials.
I have corresponded with too many bariatric patients who’ve had complications after plastic surgery and had their surgeons ignore them. Don’t let this happen to you. Be sure that your surgeon will be responsive 24/7 during the many weeks and months of recovery, come what may.
Of course, all of us gathered here on BariatricPal understand the value of connecting on the Plastic Surgery Forum with patients who candidly share their surgical experiences and discuss their plastic surgeons. Be sure to tap into this very valuable resource.
Last but not least, personal compatibility is an essential element in the patient-physician relationship. You must feel comfortable talking to your plastic surgeon about all of your concerns. And you must have that sense of trust that s/he has your highest good as top priority no matter what may come.
The bottom line: Plastic surgery should be a life-changing experience for the better. For further reading, I highly suggest my article “18 Insider Tips for Plastic Surgery.”
Living larger than ever,
My Bariatric Life