Start here
Where are you in your journey?
Choose the path that fits today. We’ll take you to the most useful discussions.
- GLP-1 medication Zepbound, Wegovy, access, side effects, progress, and support.
- Before surgery Compare procedures, plan ahead, and get honest pre-op answers.
- Post-op Recovery, food stages, symptoms, and support.
- Long-term Regain, labs, habits, and life after the honeymoon.
- Revision Explore revision options, complications, and next steps.
Everything posted by GreenTealael
-
Food Before and After Photos
Which book and Author ?
-
Gaining weight - experience of a decade
I am firmly behind using every tool at your advantage to tackle regain: Tracking portions, exercise, joining a support group, checking in with your previous or new weight management team and use of the new anti obesity medications.
-
Wisdom from a 10-year VSG Veteran
Great post ! Happy 10th surgiversary and wishing you many more years of restored health!
-
Pain skin removal
Yes it hurts, a lot. All the people on social media (and in real life) seemingly recovering at lightning speed are using traditional pain medication. No one talks about it because it’s pretty much implied. Speedy Recovery!
-
Hello to my fellow WLS Rockstars!
Congratulations!!!
-
Pain skin removal
This was planned with your surgeon? Were alternatives like nerve pain meds discussed?
-
Pain skin removal
Plastic surgery recovery is rough and the only way I managed was with medication. What is your pain management plan?
-
A little after brag
Well done! That’s a good look ❤️
-
Almost a year out
I’m a few years out so I have a little bit of perspective. I think staying consistent in a sustainable way is the key. Inly commit to drastic changes you can see yourself continuing 5-10 yrs later. It’s the only thing you can really control, everything else happens on a biological level. Also try to avoid diet/lifestyle creep. Special occasions diets (birthday cake, peeps, royal icing cookies, apple pies, stuffing and pies, gingerbread houses, eggnog etc) should stay where they belong. Don’t do it all of the time. There’s always going to be special occasions but they don’t have to derail months worth of progress (l’m looking at you November/December!). Congratulations in advance on your surgery anniversary ❤️
-
7 months post-op
Congratulations! Looking fit!
-
Measurements!
I love seeing measurements! Congratulations
-
Food Before and After Photos
For me it was about 4-5 months and even then I didn’t eat it often. Give yourself some time to adjust.
-
PreOp Anxiety
I cleaned my house 2x the night before surgery. Then I decided to just stay up and watch a bunch of movies and listen to music. I never slept. Looking back, I was very anxious. Likely of the unknown. So here’s what happened the morning of my surgery: I drove to the hospital, parked and checked in. I was given a clipboard with tons of paperwork to fill out. There was a lot. I was give a scannable wristband to confirm my identity. I talked with the person who came with me trying to keep my mind off of what was happening. We talked about a lot of random things, but mostly what I was doing the next month. That helped me to believe that there was a future beyond the surgery. The nurse called me in. I gave her a the clipboard and was asked to verify my info. My wrist band was scanned. She measured my weight asked me to give a urine sample. I brought back to a room and given the preop gown to change into a bag for all the things I brought with me. My companion was also allowed in this room. The nurse asked me to confirm name and my date of birth and scanned the wrist band. She measured my blood pressure O2 levels and started an IV line with saline. Next in was the anesthesiologist. I once again confirmed my info and was asked questions previous responses to anesthesia. Since this was my first surgery with general anesthesia I asked what it felt like and he it explained everything very well. The surgeon came in and once again I gave my info but this time he asked me to verify what surgery I having. He asked if I had any questions or concerns I did not. Last person to come in was the nurse who is brought back to the OR. This is where it began to get real for me I was a little nervous. When I rolled into the OR everyone was clapping like it was a party and they were congratulating me in advance. It was pretty special. One by one they introduced themselves and their positions. I was moved from one bed to another. Then the dance to hook me up to cardiac monitors and other devices began. I was giving instructions on how to move which way to roll and everything that they were going to do before it happens. I was never left in the dark. When anesthesiologist came in I was hooked up to the IV he explain what would be administered. The oxygen mask went on and I was told to count backwards from 10 to 1. I didn’t get very far. I felt extremely tired, blinking a few times before drifting off to sleep. This was a dreamless sleep that felt like only a few minutes when I began to awake in the recovery room. I asked no one in particular if the surgery happened. I drifted in and out of sleep for a while. When I finally woke up I was in the hospital room, I would stay until I went home. I Hope that helps!
-
Should I Consider A Revision?
You are not a failure, obesity is a complex disease. It often requires many tools to tame. There’s no shame in that. As a person who has had both VSG and RNY, I can tell you first hand that If you are relying on further restrictions to help you *may* not get that. Almost always the pylorus is bypassed so no there will sphincter holding food in your sleeve creating that classic VSG full sensation. However there are a lot of behind the scenes biological changes that *may* happen but you won’t know how you will respond until after surgery. The new class of obesity med may help immediately (if you can afford them). They are spectacular. In the time it will take you to go through referrals, appointments, testing and waiting for a date, you may lose the weight. They work that fast. Of course there are risks, some who cannot tolerate them or are very slow responders but the beauty is you can decide week by week if it’s worth it. If not, nothing permanent has been done. That’s the other issue. These are permanent use meds just like HRT or TRT. Maintenance doses are still being fiddled with by individuals so what permanent use looks like may not be weekly. Do a ton of research and ask your Bari/weight management team (if you still have one) what they think. Good Luck!
-
Food Before and After Photos
Thanks! Now I have another sandwich I want to try. Do you like the Sola bread? Is it a seeded rye vibe or multi grain?
-
Exciting! GLP-1RA Work Differently Than Previously Thought
Perhaps we will!
-
Exciting! GLP-1RA Work Differently Than Previously Thought
Ever evolving science! GLP-1RA directly impact metabolism. With each advance in the field of obesity medicine, we get closer to a cure ❤️ Easy read: https://www.newsweek.com/ozempic-works-differently-thought-1943422 Journal: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/oby.24126
-
Compliments
I agree completely!
-
OOTD
I love it! Too bad you didn’t get it ?
-
Itty Bitty Titty Committee
I joined the ranks back in 2021(plastics) and I love it here! I’m a small B cup, sometimes A if my weight fluctuates but I'm very happy with it. I will eventually get BA (I was supposed to in 2021) but I want to remain a B cup if possible. Prior to WLS I was a H cup so this is life on easy street for me.
-
Celebrating 2 Big Milestones Today!
Congratulations!
-
Food Before and After Photos
The marzipan is beautiful ?
-
Food Before and After Photos
Ok I love this size! I’d rather have 3 small tortillas than cutting a large one into 3 pieces. That’s weird right?
-
OOTD
Good to know! I’ll keep the tradition going ?
-
Never thought this would be a frustration of mine.....
I’ve been teaching my daughter how to hand and machine sew this year. She went from zero to altering a skirt in 3 days. You might surprise yourself with the new skills you can pick up when needed ❤️