Anna Nim

Your doctor is an ass, if you can, consider to switch to another one-of course, it is surgical expertise that you need. Don't let him mess with your head! Water sounds great to me! It is super kind to your joints-which need some babying. Like @@ssflbelle said. Ever try to swim a lap? Swimming is hard work! When you are ready or WANT to you can try other things. Frankly, I feel I agree with the concept that weight loss is 80% what you eat and 20% exercise. To me, that means high Protein and low carbs.

@@Shrinkingmom 5 years ago I had a surgery date and cancelled two weeks ahead of time-Insurance Paid For! (small co-pay & diet plan). I may have changed my mind back again, but I was losing my insurance. Now, 5 years later my knee is jacked and my I totally get the dieting UP to 400 Lbs thing. I have lost-regained-lost for years up to my current lifetime high point on 285. You are totally correct in that looking at losing 125 is far more discouraging than needing to lose 5. I am only a little bit taller than you..so I see your struggle. Now I am self-pay (or insurance which is as high as self-pay). Reality is I know the risks of the path I am on and the likely outcome. I don't know what is going to happen with surgery, but I think the statistics are on my side. I am REALLY hoping that my hunger will be far less. I am convinced that I have a twice as large stomach as others, hence why there is a monster in my belly But, YES, you do have to do into this with the right mind set. Showing up for surgery isn't the end of the path!

Wow, I wonder what the percentage of dumping is after recovery is.

UPDATE: After researching a lot on the internet, my Dad has agreed to loan me 50% (repay at $250 a month) and give me the other 50% towards LGS surgery. The caveat is that I have to spend at least three months in a post-WLS diet. Basically eating good, low carb, organic high Protein, no sodas, booze, Cookies or crap and take the supplements from Life Extension that are reported to help with appetite and general nutrition, that he has already sent to me. The carrot is that if after three months, if I decide not to have WLS surgery, I can use the 5K gift towards a Physical Trainer, Gym Membership, supplements, etc and if I lose 100 lbs all on my own, he will gift me an additional 5K towards a tummy tuck (which as low as I carried my son all those years ago, I will need). Basically a 5k carrot to not have surgery. His hope is that I may decide not to have the surgery, that I will find the key to keep off the weight. He is making it as supportive as possible to either do or not do surgery. He has come to the realization, like I have, that at age 46 (as of yesterday) and 285 with a bum knee and overweight since forever that the "all you have to" 's are not working now. Of course he is concerned about such a very serious surgery. While it is really good news, I was hoping that I could have surgery in the summer. As a teacher, it is the best time. I would have to have the surgery no earlier than Thanksgiving (which is about 6 months from now). I could have off two, maybe three days of leave, plus the week/weekends of Thanksgiving-giving me at total of 11-12 days off work. Then, I would be back for three weeks to trudge thru before the Holiday Break of 16 days. On the plus size, at least getting into a healthy, lower carb mindset for the next 6 months (as if we haven't all done this in the past), will at least get some of the weight off pre-surgery and make me feel like I tried "one more time" before going under the knife. My Dad didn't say "until surgery' but "3 months", but clearly with Thanksgiving being my planned date, I might as well keep up the good work. Maybe I will lose 50 pounds! I do admit I really wanted to have surgery this summer. I just took a double walk around the school with some AU kiddos and realized how incredibly out of shape I am.

UPDATE: After researching a lot on the internet, my Dad has agreed to loan me 50% (repay at $250 a month) and give me the other 50% towards LGS surgery. The caveat is that I have to spend at least three months in a post-WLS diet. Basically eating good, low carb, organic high Protein, no sodas, booze, Cookies or crap and take the supplements from Life Extension that are reported to help with appetite and general nutrition, that he has already sent to me. The carrot is that if after three months, if I decide not to have WLS surgery, I can use the 5K gift towards a Physical Trainer, Gym Membership, supplements, etc and if I lose 100 lbs all on my own, he will gift me an additional 5K towards a tummy tuck (which as low as I carried my son all those years ago, I will need). Basically a 5k carrot to not have surgery. His hope is that I may decide not to have the surgery, that I will find the key to keep off the weight. He is making it as supportive as possible to either do or not do surgery. He has come to the realization, like I have, that at age 46 (as of yesterday) and 285 with a bum knee and overweight since forever that the "all you have to" 's are not working now. Of course he is concerned about such a very serious surgery. While it is really good news, I was hoping that I could have surgery in the summer. As a teacher, it is the best time. I would have to have the surgery no earlier than Thanksgiving (which is about 6 months from now). I could have off two, maybe three days of leave, plus the week/weekends of Thanksgiving-giving me at total of 11-12 days off work. Then, I would be back for three weeks to trudge thru before the Holiday Break of 16 days. On the plus size, at least getting into a healthy, lower carb mindset for the next 6 months (as if we haven't all done this in the past), will at least get some of the weight off pre-surgery and make me feel like I tried "one more time" before going under the knife. My Dad didn't say "until surgery' but "3 months", but clearly with Thanksgiving being my planned date, I might as well keep up the good work. Maybe I will lose 50 pounds! I do admit I really wanted to have surgery this summer. I just took a double walk around the school with some AU kiddos and realized how incredibly out of shape I am.

@@Kindle I really like your response. It is what I have been kinda hoping to hear. A get out of jail free card indeed. I know that some people have regained massive amounts of weight after loosing it, but not ness with the sleeve. I think the damn smaller stomach coupled with the choice (cause by Golly, you did something real serious) to eat less carbs & crap might be the ticket to success!

They are scary right? I think to look at the percentages and the risk-esp for a move from a band to a sleeve. The Band is a very dramatic procedure, so of course complications are as well. I would think you already did your time with complications and math is in your favor ...and yes, this IS the Hunger Games!

@@James Marusek Curious why the bypass over the sleeve?

@@Inner Surfer Girl Wow! I can totally get the battle to feel full!! Always in my head.. @@KristenLe My Dad is in VA. To his credit, he has been all over the internet, Doctor sites, youtube. I gave him a link to this site. He is worried, and so am I. But, like I said, I've been up and down and I am kinda done with the "All you have to do's"..

If/when I get surgery and lose enough weight, a trip to Colombia to visit my brother for the summer is in order. It is the Land of Plastics!!

I I don't know. I just know it is 80% gone. I went to a doctor when I had knee pain that wouldn't go away. He said the arthritis is caused by ALC surgery (a common outcome). I had a MRI to see what the damage was & I was shocked! 80% gone! Doctor said the primary cause of the arthritis was my surgery and not my weight! (haha!). But, he does say that losing weight will help it immensely. I am going to PT twice a week, being a bit lazy on the home exercises. I plan on having "revision" surgery on my knee. Being a teacher, I think it is best to have it in the summer, but not this one. I debate if I should do it now or lose some weight/PT first. I do want the second surgery to take & need the best chance I can get. Course, if my knee felt good, I would be exercising more.. Round and Round we go.. As for failure, I had surgery 12 years ago and it never, ever felt right. I know the major reason for failure is in the surgery itself.. Sometimes over the past 12 years, especially after some hard work, it would swell, etc, but went away. I think every swelling was a micro-tear and then at some point it just gave too much away. Despite my weight, I was pretty active-but I could never squat or come close to it. Maybe some was not enough PT after surgery. I have NOT had a fall or anything! While the doctor doesn't exactly say this, having poor muscle strength and sheer pounds means that my muscles are not doing the job and it is falling heavily on the ACL to do the job. Maybe for you, do some PT. It is the Butt, hamstrings then quad (in that order) they say I need. Shoring up those muscles will protect what ACL I have left, the rest of the damn knee and I know, make the re-surgery more likely to last. I just don't think I have it in me for the summer. I Surgery sucks. I really, really, don't want to have it.

I hear you all, but it seems if you are not willing do to the work, make different choices, then it won't work, but honestly...if that worked, wouldn't be all be already a healthy weight?

I am in the same boat! If we can follow the lifestyle advice after surgery, why not do it now and avoid it? That is the 100K question. If "all" we have to do is follow the advice, we would "all" be normal weight. Carbs are addicting. Carbs beget carbs beget carbs. HFCS and MSG suck. IF we could *simply* avoid those foods we would be fine. Diet, as in what you eat, is 80% of it...yet, knowing this, here I am. 5 years ago this month, I was scheduled for insurance paid for gastric sleeve. I had lost a bit on the pre-diet and at a stressful outside job I had-(30 lbs?) I backed out of the surgery for various reasons. I gained it back, then I lost & gained; then had an devastating break-up that about killed me. I lost 40 pounds in four months from not eating, crying all night, pacing in circles and finally going hiking to stomp myself into bone spurs. I was so despondent that I didn't even realize why my pants were falling off! The only good thing that came out of that breakup was the weight loss (I don't advise that route But, within 2 years I gained it all back and MORE! Life has lifed me.. So now at 46 years old, the discovery of my failed ACL knee surgery from years ago & arthritis in my knees (plus trying to date) what am I to do? Will this keep me more healthy or am I just borrowing time? It is your body, you wake up in it and go to sleep with it. It has to be your choice and yours alone.

Trying to get a 'family loan' for WLS as my insurance is as bad as my credit. As a result, my dad is reading reading about the Sleeve. He has noticed that many people only lose about 60-75% of their excess weight, and later gain even some of that back, still battle food, supplements and exercise-but add on GERD & other lifetime issues. It appears that the weight loss the first year is from the shock of the surgery and when your body bounces back, so do all the old issues-so why have surgery? The usual question of, "If you have to do all that, then why have the surgery and the "All you have to do is..." followed by, since you can't do xyz now, what makes you think you can later." I have of course gained and lost forever. Carbs are the death of me. Old Timer thoughts? Thoughts in general?

Trying to get 'a family loan' to pay for WLS as my insurance coverage is as bad as my credit! As a result; my dad is educating himself and has noted how many people on average only lose 60-75% on the excess weight, still report hunger, issues with slider foods, the need for exercise and the re-gaining of some of even that weight. His thought is that the majority of the loss from the Sleeve is the shock/recovery of the surgery (hence why most of the weight loss is in the first year) and then after that it is business as usual-but now with a missing stomach. He says if you have to take supplements, exercise, diet restrictions why have the surgery, just "do" that and if I can't do that now, how can I then. Slider foods and excessive carbs are a risk, but do they do down after the Sleeve? Like most of you, I have lost and gained weight MANY times before. I hear the "all you have to" do it eat right, but clearly I can not..what will change with surgery? I know WLS is a tool, and I would expect not to ever regain it all, but what about years out there. Not a year or two..but years. Thoughts? Mainly from the Old Timers and Thank you.

I have a history of not taking any BS from doctors. I have switched doctors for having bad staff, stood up to them when I was not really in a strong position to do so (Literally on my back at a charity clinic). YOU are the expert. YOU pay the money, call the shots and wake up with your body. Your doctor can certainly express concern, that is their job..but that is about where it stops.

Have you gone to The Limited website, since they are owned by the same parent company? (That does not mean same quality, although The Limited tends to be well made). Most manufacturers have their own cut and patterns-making it larger/slightly different than smaller size is not rocket science My point is the argument for different patterns or cuts does not justify a higher price. I've actually noticed that they have with coupons etc, became cheaper (ish) and I think it is due to online shopping cutting into what was once a corner on the bigger size market.

WHO knocked you off the list, did you tell the hostess about the unwanted kiss or is the drunk guy cutting you off the list. I'd just show up and act like you have no idea and keep showing up, you DO live there, right? You are the pres of the housing association. Just act like you don't know nor care.. If you bring up, I would NOT mention the kiss, as maybe not why. I hate people.

@@OutsideMatchInside It may be a different cut for larger clothes, but that is what a larger clothing store sells to. It isn't THAT much harder to make a larger size/cut. Clothes from different stores are cut different/same size, so every clothing maker has their own patterns. Comparing Lane Bryant to Wal-Mart isn't a equal comparison, but comparing similar quality clothing with LB is a decent comparison. They are overall charging more. Worse, they love to have hideous patterns. Plus Size clothing makers MAINLY charge more not because of the rocket science of making larger science, but because they know they are a niche market. Where else are we going to go! I drop the cash at LB on their bras, jeans, pants because they are worth it-although it does make me cringe.

@@danser I haven't had surgery yet. Just found out self-pay is the same as going thru my insurance and I don't qualify for a loan. Trying to beg family to loan me the $$. I was approved (and it was paid for) a few years ago-but I walked..

I am curious what you have done. My thought is too big of a sleeve and maybe some sliding of diet.

Yep. Isn't this whole post for LGBTQ peeps?

For what is worth; 5 years ago I had the sleeve approved/scheduled and ready to go. I cancelled. I had lost some weight & other factors. Later gained it back, lost it again, had a breakup and lost about 40, re-gained that, plus more and kept it all on for over a year and a half. So now, 5 years later I am now a good 40 lbs heavier than the day I walked from surgery...and now, today, rejoined this forum and discovered that I NOW will be a 11K out of pocket patient. (Lotto anyone). I am terrified to have surgery and have it fail, but at this point, in my 40's with a big booty and a bum knee it might be my best bet..