drac2you

Yes, it does help so much! I'm feeling very defeated right now. I can not find one single Protein Drink I can tolerate without gagging. I bought a "pure protein" bar today and it was nice and soft, and I seem to be able to tolerate a bar, but it was sickening sweet. I could only tolerate half. I'm having a hard time getting in 60 grams of Protein, as I feel nauseated a lot. I go to my PA to see her on Tuesday to see if I can resolve some issues.
Thanks for your encouragement!

I'm just four week post-op and I've already has a small, 2 oz of round steak and it went down just fine. I had asked my surgeon and she said it was okay as long as I tolerated it and chewed it well but she did tell me that some people can't tolerate it after sleeve surgery.

DebbyC64
thats wonderful!! I will admit my exercise column needs a lot of work. My skin situation is odd - not sure what I expected but I’m kind of looking like my 84 yo mother, lol.
But I don’t care! I feel amazing and have energy like I did in my 30’s.
I clearly was in denial about my appearance because people that I haven’t seen in a while are letting me know I looked like a different person.
I wish you the very best on your Quest. Maybe we can stay in touch and root each other on?

Any loss a victory slow or fast. It’s theright direction and if you feel good and happy with journey that’s all that counts

Amandamellor18
I was 220 on Dec 13, 2018 when I had my surgery. I just turned 55 yesterday. I’ve lost 20 lbs. I’m hoping for a 70-80 Ib loss. Congrats on your weight loss.

I had surgery on Dec 13, 2018. I just turned 55 on Saturday. I figure slow and steady wins the race.😝

Burping usually means you're swallowing air when you take your liquids and many people don't feel restriction until they get to more solid foods. You're still deep in the learning experience at a month. Its like you do have a tool that no one gives a perfect instruction booklet for.

Wow, I hope you get the answer you are seeking. I also hope this is not me. I too feel at times like it makes no sense that I am not breaking the stall. I am now trying to slam Water and be more mindful of what I am eating, but I don't think I am eating too much either. I think I am always below 1000 calories a day. Good luck!

So I met with my Psychiatrist yesterday and I left my appointment feeling very frustrated. All he talked about was how I was suddenly cured by having this surgery? Like it's the end all be all and for some reason that really go under my skin? As I needed to talk more about the changes and what to expect going forth and not "Oh, you should be so excited - your are now cured?? I had to remind him that this was not going to fix a couple of my other issues like my torn shoulder rotator cuff or my incisional hernia and that I have 2 more surgeries going forth and yet I just spent a lot of money and now have the stress of figuring out how I am going to cover these future surgeries and bills. I also have limitations due to these other two illnesses and won't be able to lift over 15 lbs until my hernia is repaired and healed. So this will limit me from doing strength training. I wanted to tell me what psychological changes I might be facing and have a game plan on how to handle these? Isn't that what they are supposed to instead of assuming everything is fixed and it's all going to be bright sun shiny day??

Thank you everyone for your input. This has been so helpful!

Thank you! It is very exhausting. I hope to get to a point I can just wat 3x a day and get enough Protein to sustain me. Trying to take pills, eating and drinking is a terrible chore and right now I just feel overwhelmed.

Hi Scamp your skin removal looks excellent you must be extremely satisfied. Can you tell me how many lbs of skin was removed?

You are very welcome.
When I first came here many years ago. It was he only site I found where I could see and get help for my worries. And the people on this site were a great support.
Back then people posting here gave me such great help - That I still come back to 'pay-it-forward' by offering any help I can to others. One person - She gave me one sentence that held fast through all my surgeries....... I trained my family to say this to me at every 'wobble' I had through fear of the surgeries, fear of pain etc etc
She said ''Keep your eyes on the prize''
And I will never forget those words and I will always be grateful to her for being there for me :-)
Keep us updated on your progress. I am not here every day these days - But every now and then I pop back to see what's happening - lol
Good Luck.

I have had an Abdominoplasty with no tightening due to previous hernia repairs :-)
I had my hernia repaired normally - Without mesh - Then it came back in 2007 - So the second time it was repaired with mesh.
Then a few years after the hernia was fixed I had my Inverted T tummy tuck...... The surgeon said he tried to see what he could do - But had he repaired the muscle I would have been left with a lump down the middle. So he did not repair that - I am very happy! - There was virtually no pain after the op - Just tightness for a few days...
And that happened in 2010 and I am as happy today as I was after the op!
I attach a pic taken not long after the op...

And one of more recently... (2017 I think this one was)

I have noticed that a lot of belly buttons after surgery look like cats bums... lol
Here are two pre-surgery pics...


I really hope that this helps. Take these pictures with you to show the Dr if you need to - My mesh is quite large - 15cm x 20cm it said on a piece of paperwork I have - Unless they cut it smaller of course but I can feel it in me and it feels large!
Feel free to send me a PM and ask all the questions you need to. I am happy to help.
Suffice to say that it can be done - There is nothing to worry about - And I am so very happy with my results - This surgery was done in 2010 - My belly is as flat today as it was back then I think - Heck I'll go take a picture - Be right back...
OK - I am back........ (Few minutes later)
Here you go - Taken just now - The op was in April 2010 if I remember correctly..... This is today... Please excuse the marks from Jeans/Belt etc - LOL - Daughter said you won't be able to see my scar because of the Jeans having left marks.. Sorry about that......

I really hope that is of some help....
*Edit again*
I want to say here - That after you have this surgery (Or any surgery like this) - No matter what the Dr says - You get some 3M paper tape and you put it on and keep it on - Replacing it as needed etc - Every day - All day - All night - For THREE MONTHS - No matter what - Support the scar whilst it heals - Then your scar will be a lot less visible than mine is. I tested this through my surgeries after this one - And the other scars are much finer and better through being supported as they healed, and if I ever did this one again I would definitely support the scar (Or any scar) as it heals so it heals to a fine line without stretching a little like mine has :-)
The tape looks like this - It's cheap and worth ten times the price for a good scar :-)
https://www.medisave.co.uk/3m-micropore-skin-tone-surgical-tape-1-25cm-x-9-14m-x-24.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2rCVuODv3AIVDuWaCh01bQx2EAkYASABEgIkW_D_BwE

Abdominoplasty without muscle reconstruction is an option. When you speak with your surgeon, just be very clear and definitive that you ONLY want the Abdominoplasty and no muscle reconstruction. It's your surgery, it's your money, if you don't want that done and there isn't a pressing medical reason to do so, it's not required.

I saw several surgeons and was given a very broad assortment of prices for the Tummy Tuck part. I finally found a surgeon who was willing to do a mini tuck at no cost and only bill the insurance for the panniculectomy. Works for me! She was wonderful! I'm two weeks out of surgery and still healing, but so far extremely happy with the results. Look around and find a surgeon that you are comfortable with. No regrets!

"If I start a GoFundMe, will anyone contribute?"...

I had extensive skin removal surgery following RNY. I did it in two rounds (upper / front, then lower / back), two years ago. Aside from RNY itself, it's the best decision I ever made.
It's nearly impossible to find useful information about cosmetic surgery online. The majority is either advertisement or scare-mongering, and most of it is not relevant to a bariatric patient. The only way to learn is to schedule consultations with local surgeons, get an assessment and quote, and - most importantly - look at their book. All of these consultations should be free of charge. If they're not, skip to the next option. They will all have photo albums of similar procedures they've done on past clients, and can talk you through the similarities and differences between yourself and those other people. They all have different techniques and different experience, and the good ones will want to make sure you have a realistic assessment of what you can expect in terms of final outcome. Don't assume that the first surgeon you meet is going to be the right one for you. Shop around.
In terms of finding good candidates, I would start by asking the team that did your bariatrics surgery. They likely know which surgeons in the area do a lot of post-weight loss surgeries and can make a recommendation.
Good luck!

My intention is for you to be realistic, but not dissuade you from doing plastics! I've had 3 very very serious plastic reconstructive surgeries and each time I severely underestimated my tolerance for the pain, exhaustion and inconvenience that was part of the process. I'm about to undergo my 4th and I hope last reconstruction. And I've had to ask myself about this over and over again. I was seriously into month 4 before I "turned the corner" and was at 6 months before I felt like myself.
Not intending to be negative but it was the most painful stuff I've ever experienced. I could just be unique in it though. I just wished someone had warned me about the freight train heading my way each time.

It is such a personal decision.
Myself, I waited years after wls, and was happy to see that pouch flap taken off.
As above, it hurt like hell, but after a month or so, I never looked back .
Ps i was in my sixties when I flattened my stomach and mom’s pubis.

The best relative pain guide would be how many inches of incisions do they need to do, as it is the skin that has the most nerves; the interior work like for muscle tightening would be less noticeable. So, a basic panniculectomy to cut off the excess skirt would not be greatly different than a full tummy tuck/abdominoplasty.
You do want to find a surgeon who specializes in reconstruction after massive weight loss, as there can be a lot of difference between a basic mommy makeover and a person who has lost 1-200 or more pounds. They usually specialize (at least for our typical need) by patient type rather than body part, though some of the bariatric surgeons who get into plastics as a sideline for their patients will often leave the more "artistic" aspects (like breast implants or facial work) to a specialist PS, though that can sometimes be combined into one procedure if they work in a team effort.
People do go to Mexico or other countries for PS as, with the bariatrics, the cost can be much less. The downside is that PS procedures have a much higher chance of mild to moderate complications - incisions that don't heal promptly, or open again, Fluid build up not caught by the drains, seromas, etc. Much of this can be handled by taking selfies and email instructions on treatment, but sometimes it takes an office visit, so dealing with someone local is a big plus.

Thank you for the feedback! The (negative) realities are definitely something I would weigh above and beyond any potential positives.

For clarity, I’m considering a panniculectomy. I just have this horrible sagging bunch of skin that is, honestly, disgusting. I really feel like I need to do something. Would the same pain/recovery/time to heal apply for this as would the full tummy tuck/muscle rebuilding, etc..? I’ve got a consult with one surgeon, but I know that won’t be enough information for me. Plus, he’s in the business of selling this (or any) cosmetic procedure to me, so I am wary of getting all the bells and whistles but none of the brutal truth, you know?

Thanks again!

I REPLACED anorexia with obesity and have likely put obesity in remission with this sleeve but it will always, ALWAYS be a daily struggle to maintain health.
Meanwhile, none of that gives me permission to make fun of anyone on either side of the fence, especially since l know the heartache of both places.
I say this with all kindness, making jokes about the vulnerabilities of others isn’t a privilege you’ve somehow earned. It’s a weakness, a lack of empathy.

Girl! (It's coming...it's coming...)
((hugs)) Gosh I do not miss the whole hormonal PMS crap!

I personally come here whenever I get nervous or stressed or, I suppose the right word is anxious about this journey. I read a few posts and it calms me.
It would be nice having more people, but I like the tight-knit community as well! It's a pleasure getting to know everyone and instantly makes me feel more grounded seeing familiar faces 🤗