addmay

I too started my journey over the 400lb mark. 2 months post op and I'm at 334lbs. I wish you the best of luck. Just do what they tell you and you will be successful.
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I too started my journey over the 400lb mark. 2 months post op and I'm at 334lbs. I wish you the best of luck. Just do what they tell you and you will be successful.
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I too started my journey over the 400lb mark. 2 months post op and I'm at 334lbs. I wish you the best of luck. Just do what they tell you and you will be successful.
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Congratulations!
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Today my scale read 298. I wanted to cry with happiness!
I haven't been this light for 6 years. I don't even know how to feel about it.
HW- 350
SW- 334
CW- 298
I've lost a total of 52 pounds in 8 weeks. I'm 6 weeks post surgery and even though it has been a rough journey it feels like life is starting to come together. I'm learning more every day and I've gotten through my first stall.
I'm starting to see why people say this was the best decision they ever made. As I'm not fully there yet, I hope one day I am.
My main goal for this post was because when things were super tough I needed to see the success people were achieving. I want to help inspire.
I want you to know you're not alone and even though each of our journeys are our own, you have more support here than you realize.
And hopefully I will never see a 3 on my scale again.

I just got off the phone with the CRNP a few minutes ago. She confirmed that occasional use of ibuprofen is perfectly acceptable at this point, and assured me several times that she will be having a conversation with the person who is in charge of the woman who took my call. Apparently there is some evidence that she is NOT the office coordinator. I predict someone is going to have her rear in a sling by this time tomorrow - maybe even now.

I too started my journey over the 400lb mark. 2 months post op and I'm at 334lbs. I wish you the best of luck. Just do what they tell you and you will be successful.
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Here's my "before" photo. I'm 428 lbs. Starting my pre-op diet. I'm giving up Coca-cola, smoking and most carbs. Trying to lose 25-40lbs before surgery. Hopefully January 13th during my next appointment we will schedule surgery.
Picture in comments below.

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Wow, you look amazing for only 2 months out. You can see those curves coming through.
I'm "doing the deed" tomorrow and am a little nervous and wondering if I'm doing the right thing. But seeing the results like yours makes me feel confident in my decision. Everyone asked me why I didn't want to wait until after the holidays for the surgery, and I kept saying why wait another month when I could be down 20-30 pounds by then. I've been fat long enough and have definitely ate my share of Christmas Cookies. lol

Feeling pretty successful so far. I have 53 lbs to go to meet goal, but have lost 45!
HW: 240 (pictured in blue top 9/15/16, size 1x, 20
SW: 219 10/3/16
CW: 192. (Pictured In black 12/5/16), size L-xL, 14
Now time to keep focused and on track through holiday/cookie season!

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Thanks for saying this. It made me think hard about what I'm doing. I need to be really careful about what I eat and follow the NUT instructions. Not a cure but a tool! Sent from my LGLS996 using the BariatricPal App

Be careful--- and please don't take a few peoples regrets or "buyers remorse" as the status quo. Most of us who've had surgery are SO very thankful, have been extremely successful and would do it again and again if that was what was needed.
Yes, some people have complications. That happens with ANY procedure. Nothing is 100%. Those people are usually the loudest and can easily drown out the ones who are content.
The best thing you can do is BE PREPARED. Know what lay ahead, be willing to do the work, and make needed changes to your lifestyle. Don't expect this to be an "easy out"- it isn't. But it does become easier and easier rather quickly, to the point that you no longer see yourself as a bariatric patient, rather, a new "normal" for you.
Good luck on your journey!!! There is a lot of support here to be had...and remember: preparedness is KEY. KNOWLEDGE is essential. If you are not getting enough info from your team, RESEARCH!
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The regret question assumes either a yes or no answer, but for me there are things I regret about having the surgery and things that I don't regret. I had the sleeve surgery on 7/29 and ended up in hospital a little over 3 weeks later with a leak. I was seriously ill and had to have infections drained. I was not allowed to eat or drink anything and was put on liquid nutrition delivered through a pic line. I also had antibiotics delivered through a second port to fight the infections. I was in hospital for 10 days and then a few weeks later for another 3 days. I missed 2 months of work, and had a nurse coming into my home to take blood, change dressings, etc. I had a stent placed in my esophagus going down into my stomach to 'seal up' the hole. The stent made me even sicker and I was throwing up all the time. There were times when I was not sure I would survive.
But I did survive, and today I have no infection, no stent, no home healthcare, am back to work and am down 51 pounds.
I have been asked by family members if I regret having the surgery. I feel like it is a moot point. I DID have the surgery, and thankfully I survived a serious complication. I can regret it all I want, but it won't change the facts.
I don't like having to think about what I am going to eat all the time; worrying about whether I have gotten enough Protein or liquids. I don't like not being able to eat an entire cheeseburger or drink half a glass of ice Water in one go. I am still experimenting with what I can and cannot eat and how much of something I can eat.
I did not realize, despite a lot of research, how completely my relationship with food would change. I don't like having to make a major attitude adjustment about how good times and good food go together. There are a lot of things about having this surgery that, even though I did a lot of research, are very different in reality because it is now my reality. When it is personal then it becomes real.
All that said, and even with the serious medical problems I encountered post-op, there is no way in the world I could be at the weight I am now if I had not had the surgery. I am really happy to be losing weight and know that I would not have been able to do it with this 'tool'. The sleeve is forcing me to redefine my relationship with food. Two of the girls I work with eat all day long. Little Snacks all day long and then they have a light lunch. Neither has ever had weight loss surgery and they are both slim. Now I eat like they do, not out of choice (like them), but due to necessity. The sleeve is forcing me into new habits, which is what I expected, but I did not know how much I would miss eating like I did before.
November 29th will be 4 months and I was pretty sick for 2.5 of those months (during which I did lose weight). I agree with the comment that society focuses too much on how we look, but that was a big part of why I decided to have the surgery and I am sure it is for others, too. Yes, health is also a big part of the decision, but looking at yourself in the mirror and hating how you look is not good for your ongoing mental health which, as we now know, effects our physical health.
The bottom line for me is that I can regret it all I want, but it won't change a thing and I am really happy to be losing weight.

I can completely relate to those who've had bad experiences. Though my experience comes indirectly...My dad died after a gastric bypass in 1982. But I'm still going through with the gastric sleeve. I know things have come a long way since 1982, and I have done my research. I was too young to remember much about what happened with my dad--I do know there was a lawsuit. BUT, all that aside, if anything it has given me a healthy respect/fear of the gravity of what I'm getting myself into, if that makes sense. Thank you to everyone who cares enough to share their experiences (good and bad) with us newbies.

Regarding Regret...I have tried everything else. This works for me. How or why could I ever regret it? I am just 3 weeks out, but I already feel so much better. I feel so much better about the food than before. Yes, I have to focus a lot on what I eat, but I plan ahead to minimize the annoyance. I travel with a small cooler now and make sure that I have something available should my plans change. If for some reason, I don't have the cooler...thanks to my former fast food and casual dining days, I know who serves cottage cheese or where I can get tuna with low fat mayo.
To those who have had complications, I do feel for your situation. hair loss has been a huge concern for me since pre-surgery days. The Protein, the fluids, and the Vitamins are key!

Sometimes I regret having the surgery because to be perfectly honest, I miss "pigging" out sometimes. I miss McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy's, and especially the fried fish place around the block. Let's face it, we were or are food addicts. Our stomachs have changed, but some of our thinking hasn't. I had my RNY gastric bypass on June 20, 2016. My weight at surgery counseltation was 288 lbs. My weight at surgery day was 265 lbs. As of today, Nov. 16, 2016 I am now 197 lbs! So, when I look at the scale and my baggy clothes, no, I don't really regret it because if I didn't have the surgery, I would still be 288 lbs today! If I could have lost the weight on my own, I would have done it years ago. It's still going to be a daily battle, but, thanks to the weight loss surgery, it's a battle that I'm going to win this time!
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I was very worried about doing the right thing for me when I went in and I spent the first week in awful depression over what I had done. Lets face it, like many, I had a perfectly usable part of me removed.
Now just over 4 weeks later I'm so glad Iv'e had it done and the doubt has gone.
This is a huge life changing operation that will not suit everybody. Sadly some will only find out after the event.
It's one of those things you can prepare for until you're as knowledgeable as almost any surgeon but until you have it done you just don't know.
I'm now more than happy with having it done despite a few ups and downs with my body. Anyone who goes in to this expecting absolutely no problems afterwards needs to re assess how they think. It's not all plain sailing.

I did when I woke up in pain but now I have no regrets. It gets easier each day.
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I did when I woke up in pain but now I have no regrets. It gets easier each day.
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Well, What a year this has been! Life has flown this past year, especially the last few months, but I made it to one year. I couldn't be happier with how the last year has gone. In the last 12 months I have, lost nearly 105 pounds, 5 pants sizes almost 6, some hair, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and GERD. I have gained confidence, energy, and health. I have finished the Couch to 5K program, run several 5Ks, completed a super sprint triathlon in under an hour, run a 10 mile race in 2 hours and 16 minutes, and traveled to Montana for a "working" vacation including running a saw mill, herding cattle and horses, fighting a wildfire, and running every morning before work!
My life isn't perfect. I am still single, no dates, still working a job I need to get out of, still obese (according to my BMI), but only obese. I have an apron and hanging skin in all the usual places. My hair got noticeably thinner, but its coming back. I still have about 5 more pounds to the overweight BMI category and 35 to my goal and I am still losing slowly. But here's the most important thing of all, I feel better, stronger, healthier than I ever remember feeling in my life and I wouldn't trade it for the world. This journey has had ups and downs, but there have definitely been more ups than downs.
What are my plans for year two? Well, I have already signed up for three 5ks, a 10k, a 10 mile, and 2 half marathons. I am hoping to do a sprint triathlon as well. I want to get my 5k time down to 30 minutes or less and continue to be active and injury free. I plan to lose those last 35 pounds and do whatever else tickles my fancy! I am working on the different job.
To everyone out there who might be struggling, know that it gets better. To all the vets who have been such great support this past year+, thank you from the bottom of my much healthier heart! To everyone, in the immortal words of Dori, "Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming." I mean that both in terms of the journey itself and in terms of getting moving however you can. Exercise has been an amazing and valuable part of my journey. I know we can't all run, but we can all move somehow. I promise all those fabulous endocrines are worth the effort!
Enjoy the journey.
pam

I did when I woke up in pain but now I have no regrets. It gets easier each day.
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You look fantastic!
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