baribetty

A waist trainer (according to my surgeon) won’t help you with shape. The only thing that will help with loose skin is hard exercise. I do suggest a stomach binder for recovery, it REALLY made a huge difference in controlling the pain. I was given one at a follow up appt, but I would buy one on Amazon if I were you! Last I checked they were like $17. You don’t need anything special, just some compression around your stomach to help with incision and muscular pain. I started wearing mine on top of a T-shirt bc it chaffed.

I’m sorry, that must be hard! Have you considered going lighter, rather than darker? If you dye your hair dark, your thin roots may show more. I know you said you have tried shampoos, my stylist suggested ColorProf if you are up for trying another.

I will look for the thread. Thanks!!

I love your advice and attitude!! Thank you! What does your IF plan look like?

Any tips or experience for plateaus? I think I remember your before/after pics from right around the time of my surgery and you were quite the inspo!

Thanks for your response! I didn’t exercise much over the winter season, unfortunately, BUT I have been walking about 6 miles most days for the last couple weeks. Doing that and not seeing the scale move much has been alarming.

I had a VSG in May 2018, so about 10 months ago. My weight loss has slowed significantly since December. Is the honeymoon period over, or could this be a stall?

Way more than I would have expected ? but I don’t really know what number. Maybe 60.

Your stomach also looks amazing!!

She said it has something to do with the stomach muscles.

What a dick.

My mother in law is getting ready to have surgery and mentioned not being able to throw up, ever again, even if she gets sick. I’m 10 months post op, and went through months of pre-op education with Kaiser and I have never heard this?! I’ve also thrown up twice since surgery.... so, is this a thing for people?

You mean you are making poor choices, as far as food goes? But not eating as much as you used to? If that is the case... sure it could be normal - but it comes back to the fact that these surgeries are tools, not fixes. I have struggled with making better food choices, especially because recovering from surgery passes, and then life goes on as usual, and you CAN eat whatever you want, if you choose to. The worse you eat, the more bad food you will want. Don't get too down about it, but I think its important to be conscious about what you're choosing to eat and remember that you deserve to give your body the good things.

Yes, I lost a toooon of hair. It came out all day every day in handfuls, I don't know how I had any left. Luckily, I had a lot to begin with, but it really freaked me out. I had the sleeve surgery on May 2 2018, and my hair started falling out around month 3 and started growing back around month 5. Now I have a lot of baby hairs. Its just part of the process, and its freaky, but Im glad to say it will grow back!

I haven’t told many people. I’ve lost 100 pounds and people don’t even mention it. It’s actually bizarre. I think it’s totally possible to tell no one, and people won’t notice the everyday variables like how much you’re eating in front of them.

That’s really crappy. I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with all of that invasion of your privacy. I think ultimately people aren’t thinking about us as much as we think they are... hopefully the work chatter will end when the next point of focus comes to their attention.

My boobs are totally deflating. Why are you buying so many bras at once? I would suggest buying as you need them, because both your cup and size may change, and at different rates. I’ve been wearing a lot of sports bras, but I’m lucky to work from home so I can wear casual stuff most of the time.

I think the success of the sleeve has everything to do with you and your individual decisions and actions. I had the surgery on May 2nd and 7 months later I can already see how easy it could be to go back to unhealthy choices. Life goes back to normal on the other side of surgery and the surgery itself can only do so much for you. Changing your lifestyle really is everything. I know we hear that, and also that the surgery is just a tool a lot pre-op... but it really is true!

Don’t stress too much about that. Is it the one just next to your belly button? It was the same for me, especially at that incision. Take the rule of not lifting anything heavy seriously, because that will make it hurt sooo much more. Just be patient, it will go away. Also, a stomach binder really helped me.

I went through the Kaiser Options program in Southern California and it was great. I started in November, and had my surgery on 5/2/18. The support is well rounded and the care is great. I’d highly suggest it. It cost me $655.

I agree, call and chat with a membership rep about the plans that cover it. I used Kaiser in So cal, but my mom had a Kaiser surgeon do her sleeve surgery years ago in SF. Honestly, both of us have had incredible experiences and great care.

Love your honest comment! Do you think clip ins would be helpful, or would you recommend more permanent extensions? I’ve thought about buying Barefoot blonde fill ins, but they are expensive (I know all good extensions are...) but I guess I’m a little afraid of longer term extensions damaging my real hair that’s left.

I am 9 months out. It wasn’t that way to start with - I had a lap band for 9 or so years, and this was the thing I struggled with the most for the first 4 years when it was working. I never got used to it. After the bypass I tried sipping with a meal - and at about 4 months found it was fine. I drink pretty much only lightly carbonated Water, maybe 1/4 glass with a meal, and usually to wet my mouth, throat, for swallowing. My surgeon is fine with this and comfortable it has no ill effects. I don’t drink after I am finished eating, though. Do you let the water flatten or is there a magical “half carbonated” water out there?? :)

The stomach isn’t a super sensitive organ (apparently). I found that my pain was mostly at the incisions and muscular. It was difficult to sit up, reposition in bed, and you really shouldn’t lift anything for 3 weeks. I also had the common pulling pain at the main incision by my belly button that kind of scared me at times. I was taken aback by surgery a bit... because I knew it wasn’t a very difficult recovery going in, the reality of surgery was sort of confronting. It wasn’t terrible, and looking back even less bad, but I remember thinking it wasn’t great, and a little more intense than I expected. But I also feel like it wasn’t very intense at all... I guess the body and mind have a good way of helping us forget. Adjusting to the immediate post op diet was more difficult... especially since you feel like you should be losing a lot of weight after doing something so drastic, but what I have come to realize through experience and reading these forums is that it’s a slower process than you might expect.

When did your regrowth begin?