KarenLR75

@angiebear yea that’s what I need to keep telling myself. Thanks for your encouraging words. Glad I’m not in this alone

I would love to add that it’s important to keep in mind that your stomach is healing right now. Even though you can’t see it, and on the surface you just have a few small cuts. But inside that major organ was sliced apart, the majority of it removed, and then stitched/stapled back together again. And now it’s expected to still function, when it’s tender and healing. But, like any wound, as it heals it will get less tender and it will be less of a battle to drink and eat.
Framing it this way in my mind really helped me early out when things were especially tough.

Absolutely it does. Right now it’s just so much harder to regulate your thoughts because you are exhausted, stressed, and struggling.
Just because “it’s all in your head” doesn’t make it less real. You are smack dab in one of the toughest parts right now. Your job is to get enough liquids in, and it can be pretty dang daunting and all emcompassing. It should get easier, though. I’ll be rooting for you. ❤️

I don’t feel suicidal just upset. I think I have been mourning food. Also worried I’m not getting enough Protein. I wasn’t following completely but I’ve gotten in touch with my surgeons office and they helped put me on a better diet. I need to get passed these few weeks and I will be ok I’m sure. I just need to get over it ASAP. I’ve always had anxiety like post partum baby blues. Lasts for about a week. This also happened to me the last time I went cold turkey on a diet. I’m just in my head. Thank you for your advice! We can all do this together.

So I didnt have anything to worry about. The surgeon said if the antibiotic gave me nausea while on the liquid diet I can stop and resume taking them after the surgery. To be honest I was hoping they would say I could eat a little something with it...lol. She also is sending me for an ultrasound of my liver since my levels are so high. She just wants to confirm it's just fatty liver and not something else. It seems like for every test I have they want to do more test...smh. I know it's better to be safe than sorry. Or the test show something. The cardiologist sent me for an ultrasound and found mild mitral valve regurgitation, the endoscopy found h.phylori now the liver needs an ultrasound. But a part of me is happy to basically am getting a semi-final body check and if anything is wrong at least I know.

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I understand the temptation and actually feeling that way..let's see you are 16 days out from surgery, is that correct?
I was...a bit stunned during my first month that barely anything happened (my DEFINITE interpretation at the time and the first 2 weeks weight loss was from all I had been given to understand and yes..comparing myself against others....was so so little.
I called my surgeon's office and talked to him and the nutritionist. They told me repeatedly something I had not seen here before (not that it might not have been said many times by others) but they told me DESPITE what I have found on many forums, they have done this for well more than a decade and that directly post-op, whether you were on IV fluids for 1 day, 2 days or more..or even NONE, that MANY people do not start hitting their body's full potential for weight loss until after they have HEALED which would be 6 weeks for RNY - unsure what it is for sleeve..maybe the same.
I, however, felt after haunting WLS forums for 3 years PRIOR to surgery, that while I knew my doctor was very good, they simply HAD TO BE WRONG....I mean...I read how many hundreds of post of all of these people losing at LEAST 10 lbs a month. I thought I was 'oh so careful' to only compare my weight loss against other women...around the same age...and who had additional metabolic challenges (whether it be from medications, illnesses, PCOS, thyroid, etc.).....so I thought sensibly...I'm not comparing myself against a 'young man' or even a young woman.
I finally quit looking at some of the posts, I sought out my surgery siblings more..the ones who had a slightly slower weight loss...I read some of the threads from the vets and basically white-knuckled my way thru month 1, month 2.
Flash forward to now...6 months out as of 3 days ago and I started posting on this thread. In working with some of the vets when I posted here, we have looked at my total weight loss since surgery and then averaged it out and my monthly weight loss at SIX MONTHS is 12.6 lbs a month! If you had told me in Months 1 or 2...like my poor doctor tried to tell me...that things would WORK THEMSELVES out if I just stuck to it, I'd be leery...and that indeed was what I was told. Ironically in week 8, 2 weeks after 'you are healed by now' date, my weight loss kicked up higher.
Some of my fellow siblings or ppl who had surgery in the late summer, early fall...the ones who lost a lot in month 1, oh how i remember that month, are starting to slow down a bit (nothing to be worried about)...some are now hitting 10 lbs a month consistently (and hey, I literally AM losing roughly 12 lbs a month and that is NOT with just averaging).
Please hang in there...be kind to yourself and your body...it is literally still healing. The surgery is a big one and your body has been shaken up. You are a rockstar with the working out! I truly admire that. If you hang in there, the weight will come off and it won't remain in single digits.
If it helps, even though you are on liquids, post what you are drinking, overall calories, etc. but again, the first month after surgery is really really rough on your body even if you feel 'ok'. My calories for the first month were 450 or less..some days 100, some days 200-250. Your body has to settle itself out so some of us do not see that gigantic loss in the first month and we think it is for nothing. It WILL COME OFF. With your level of exercise, and knowing what month 1 is like...I promise it WILL COME OFF if you are working your plan.

I understand the temptation and actually feeling that way..let's see you are 16 days out from surgery, is that correct?
I was...a bit stunned during my first month that barely anything happened (my DEFINITE interpretation at the time and the first 2 weeks weight loss was from all I had been given to understand and yes..comparing myself against others....was so so little.
I called my surgeon's office and talked to him and the nutritionist. They told me repeatedly something I had not seen here before (not that it might not have been said many times by others) but they told me DESPITE what I have found on many forums, they have done this for well more than a decade and that directly post-op, whether you were on IV fluids for 1 day, 2 days or more..or even NONE, that MANY people do not start hitting their body's full potential for weight loss until after they have HEALED which would be 6 weeks for RNY - unsure what it is for sleeve..maybe the same.
I, however, felt after haunting WLS forums for 3 years PRIOR to surgery, that while I knew my doctor was very good, they simply HAD TO BE WRONG....I mean...I read how many hundreds of post of all of these people losing at LEAST 10 lbs a month. I thought I was 'oh so careful' to only compare my weight loss against other women...around the same age...and who had additional metabolic challenges (whether it be from medications, illnesses, PCOS, thyroid, etc.).....so I thought sensibly...I'm not comparing myself against a 'young man' or even a young woman.
I finally quit looking at some of the posts, I sought out my surgery siblings more..the ones who had a slightly slower weight loss...I read some of the threads from the vets and basically white-knuckled my way thru month 1, month 2.
Flash forward to now...6 months out as of 3 days ago and I started posting on this thread. In working with some of the vets when I posted here, we have looked at my total weight loss since surgery and then averaged it out and my monthly weight loss at SIX MONTHS is 12.6 lbs a month! If you had told me in Months 1 or 2...like my poor doctor tried to tell me...that things would WORK THEMSELVES out if I just stuck to it, I'd be leery...and that indeed was what I was told. Ironically in week 8, 2 weeks after 'you are healed by now' date, my weight loss kicked up higher.
Some of my fellow siblings or ppl who had surgery in the late summer, early fall...the ones who lost a lot in month 1, oh how i remember that month, are starting to slow down a bit (nothing to be worried about)...some are now hitting 10 lbs a month consistently (and hey, I literally AM losing roughly 12 lbs a month and that is NOT with just averaging).
Please hang in there...be kind to yourself and your body...it is literally still healing. The surgery is a big one and your body has been shaken up. You are a rockstar with the working out! I truly admire that. If you hang in there, the weight will come off and it won't remain in single digits.
If it helps, even though you are on liquids, post what you are drinking, overall calories, etc. but again, the first month after surgery is really really rough on your body even if you feel 'ok'. My calories for the first month were 450 or less..some days 100, some days 200-250. Your body has to settle itself out so some of us do not see that gigantic loss in the first month and we think it is for nothing. It WILL COME OFF. With your level of exercise, and knowing what month 1 is like...I promise it WILL COME OFF if you are working your plan.

Yep, took it before and still continue to. Both my dr and my surgeon discussed. Haven't noticed any negative changes.

I’m five days post-op. Literally, five days. Stitches, pain meds, learning to eat, all the hot mess. And my darling husband says, “You know, I’m not really attracted to thin women. I hope you don’t lose very much weight.”
WTH. I’ve been working toward this goal for 13 months, and he just mentions this now. Seems like all those times i asked if he had any questions, comments, or input that this should have come up. I asked him to come to the education classes and he said we could talk after, which we did. I am furious.

💚💚💚💚💚💚 CONGRATULATIONS 💚💚💚💚💚💚

I’m so excited! Started this journey about a year ago, was 286 at my highest. Surgery 8/12. Hit Onederland this morning! I’m so thrilled with my results :)

I agree with starting to save the 💰 now but using your research as a motivating force to make it to your goal.
You're absolutely right that you'll have no clue what your body will look like after 70- 90 lbs more of loss but problem areas now will not improve so that is at least an indicator.
Also you'll be surprised how fast plastics can happen if your paying out of pocket ❤
Good Luck 💚

I waited until I was 19 months post to have anything done. I still have weight to lose and I'm not completely happy with the results, I definitely needed the excess skin removed and it's helped me be able to move more. I know I'll never be 100% happy as body dysmorphia is a real thing. I'm just happy I'm not where I was 2.5 yrs ago. If you're interested start looking at realself and asking around. Hugs

I asked this question at my 6 month and much to my surprise he he said to start the research process now as it will take time to get an appointment then they will advise where they suggest being weight wise before they can do whatever procedure to get my desired results. I have my 9 month follow up today and next week I see the plastic surgeon for the initial consult (took 3 months to get an appointment) I am still 30lbs from my goal and my progress has slowed to a crawl. I could still get in a lot more activity and really need something to motivate me as I can feel complacency of my "new normal".

While I was much bigger at 390...I'm still rather LARGE+++ at 250 lbs (ok, scale said 253.2 today..sigh). It seems that most of the people I've followed when I've had time were already at their goal weight before finding dr's and talking procedures/options.
I can see that this probably is required as it would be hard for a doctor to correctly advise/tell what I'm going to have leftover at 170 vs. 253.2.
170 is my first goal - obviously the 'charts' want me at 140-150..sigh. I guess the ONE thing that I can do is start saving money...a whole LOTTA money!
I wish I could tell 'now' what procedures I'd want done and in what order. I KNOW I want my arms done - they have always been bad even when I was a 135 teenager and on the swim team for years. Getting up to 390 and I have arm flab the size of small cities.
The 'girls' are deflated balloons that breastfeeding 2 kids..or attempting to...did nothing to help. Just had mammogram and it was 'clear' but it hurt like a you know what. My last one was done when I was 390 7 years ago. They are now so totally deflated it felt like the tech was trying to roll out pizza or bread dough with the machine. They don't class me as high risk yet as my Mom diagnosed with breast cancer in 60's. My maternal cousin, however, was diagnosed at 49..and hard partial breast removal. Honestly, I figure mine are going to turn on me some day and I'd like to beat them to it.
Just wondering what I should simply leave alone until I'm down to 140-170....

While I was much bigger at 390...I'm still rather LARGE+++ at 250 lbs (ok, scale said 253.2 today..sigh). It seems that most of the people I've followed when I've had time were already at their goal weight before finding dr's and talking procedures/options.
I can see that this probably is required as it would be hard for a doctor to correctly advise/tell what I'm going to have leftover at 170 vs. 253.2.
170 is my first goal - obviously the 'charts' want me at 140-150..sigh. I guess the ONE thing that I can do is start saving money...a whole LOTTA money!
I wish I could tell 'now' what procedures I'd want done and in what order. I KNOW I want my arms done - they have always been bad even when I was a 135 teenager and on the swim team for years. Getting up to 390 and I have arm flab the size of small cities.
The 'girls' are deflated balloons that breastfeeding 2 kids..or attempting to...did nothing to help. Just had mammogram and it was 'clear' but it hurt like a you know what. My last one was done when I was 390 7 years ago. They are now so totally deflated it felt like the tech was trying to roll out pizza or bread dough with the machine. They don't class me as high risk yet as my Mom diagnosed with breast cancer in 60's. My maternal cousin, however, was diagnosed at 49..and hard partial breast removal. Honestly, I figure mine are going to turn on me some day and I'd like to beat them to it.
Just wondering what I should simply leave alone until I'm down to 140-170....

Hi everyone, I am new here but I have been in my Bariatric program for 8 months of so. I had a surgery date for February 4th however a week before my surgery I went to get cleared by my primary care. My EKG came back normal but she decided to send me to the Cardiologist and have him review my results just incase my surgeon decided something additional would be needed at the last minute. I went to the Cardiologist and after his initial check he said he would clear me. He then asked what kind of surgery I was having and once I told him he responds with "Are you sure you want to do that?" He then decides to look into the labs database at some blood work results I had done over a year ago and said "oh it looks like your cholesterol is elevated....I can't clear you until I give you a stress test." I was furious. Then he says the only open appointment he had for the stress test was on THE SAME DAY AS MY SURGERY. But not before telling me all about a patient he cleared once and they arrested on the operating table.
I went in yesterday for the stress test and passed with flying colors. As I was about to leave he says "I still think this is a radical option for you to take." He promised he would expedite my results and get my results over to my surgeon the same day which didn't happen. I called back today and he had his aid to tell me AGAIN that my cholesterol was elevated and that may cause me to have a heart attack. If that wasn't enough he called me personally after I hung up with his aid and repeated the same thing. I explained that I went over my RESENT results with my primary care yesterday and everything is under control.
This man knew nothing about my struggle with my weight my entire life. All of the different size clothes in my closet, all of the diets and WL programs I have joined. From the start he decided he didn't agree with my decision and took every opportunity to discourage me.
It was at that I realized I had met this doctor about 5 years ago when I accompanied a dear friend to his office at another location. I remember he asked my name and when I told him he said my name was really pretty but I should lose some weight because "my name was too pretty to be overweight "
Needless to say, I will NEVER go to this doctor again. Sorry this is so long. He really upset me with all of this.
Hopefully I will have a new surgery date soon.
Thanks for listening

most surgeons want you at your goal weight for 6-12 months before they do body contouring surgery. Or I guess I should say your desired weight, which may or may not be a normal BMI. Most will advise you not to gain or lose more than 10 lbs or so after plastic surgery, since it'll affect your results. So....weight-wise you need to be where you plan to stay for the rest of your life.
if you did it now but hope to lose 70 more pounds (and succeed at that), you'll probably need it done again.
I personally would use the time to save up money, as you said, and also start researching surgeons. It took me quite awhile to whittle it down to a short list of about 10 - and then further whittle it down to the four I had consults with. Spend some time searching on here and other internet forums for names - and also, realself (it's a Web site that has reviews of doctors - most of them (not all - but most) are plastic surgeons, and lots of people post before & after pictures, which are helpful - since if you go to the surgeons' Web sites, they usually only post photos of their best work. You can often see more "normal" results on a site like realself).

Wow, thank you for this.
I feel like a big weight has been lifted off me, thank you.

If you do the buffing cream like I do there is no need for the UV light. Melanoma is a nasty, nasty cancer.

I understand the temptation and actually feeling that way..let's see you are 16 days out from surgery, is that correct?
I was...a bit stunned during my first month that barely anything happened (my DEFINITE interpretation at the time and the first 2 weeks weight loss was from all I had been given to understand and yes..comparing myself against others....was so so little.
I called my surgeon's office and talked to him and the nutritionist. They told me repeatedly something I had not seen here before (not that it might not have been said many times by others) but they told me DESPITE what I have found on many forums, they have done this for well more than a decade and that directly post-op, whether you were on IV fluids for 1 day, 2 days or more..or even NONE, that MANY people do not start hitting their body's full potential for weight loss until after they have HEALED which would be 6 weeks for RNY - unsure what it is for sleeve..maybe the same.
I, however, felt after haunting WLS forums for 3 years PRIOR to surgery, that while I knew my doctor was very good, they simply HAD TO BE WRONG....I mean...I read how many hundreds of post of all of these people losing at LEAST 10 lbs a month. I thought I was 'oh so careful' to only compare my weight loss against other women...around the same age...and who had additional metabolic challenges (whether it be from medications, illnesses, PCOS, thyroid, etc.).....so I thought sensibly...I'm not comparing myself against a 'young man' or even a young woman.
I finally quit looking at some of the posts, I sought out my surgery siblings more..the ones who had a slightly slower weight loss...I read some of the threads from the vets and basically white-knuckled my way thru month 1, month 2.
Flash forward to now...6 months out as of 3 days ago and I started posting on this thread. In working with some of the vets when I posted here, we have looked at my total weight loss since surgery and then averaged it out and my monthly weight loss at SIX MONTHS is 12.6 lbs a month! If you had told me in Months 1 or 2...like my poor doctor tried to tell me...that things would WORK THEMSELVES out if I just stuck to it, I'd be leery...and that indeed was what I was told. Ironically in week 8, 2 weeks after 'you are healed by now' date, my weight loss kicked up higher.
Some of my fellow siblings or ppl who had surgery in the late summer, early fall...the ones who lost a lot in month 1, oh how i remember that month, are starting to slow down a bit (nothing to be worried about)...some are now hitting 10 lbs a month consistently (and hey, I literally AM losing roughly 12 lbs a month and that is NOT with just averaging).
Please hang in there...be kind to yourself and your body...it is literally still healing. The surgery is a big one and your body has been shaken up. You are a rockstar with the working out! I truly admire that. If you hang in there, the weight will come off and it won't remain in single digits.
If it helps, even though you are on liquids, post what you are drinking, overall calories, etc. but again, the first month after surgery is really really rough on your body even if you feel 'ok'. My calories for the first month were 450 or less..some days 100, some days 200-250. Your body has to settle itself out so some of us do not see that gigantic loss in the first month and we think it is for nothing. It WILL COME OFF. With your level of exercise, and knowing what month 1 is like...I promise it WILL COME OFF if you are working your plan.

I understand the temptation and actually feeling that way..let's see you are 16 days out from surgery, is that correct?
I was...a bit stunned during my first month that barely anything happened (my DEFINITE interpretation at the time and the first 2 weeks weight loss was from all I had been given to understand and yes..comparing myself against others....was so so little.
I called my surgeon's office and talked to him and the nutritionist. They told me repeatedly something I had not seen here before (not that it might not have been said many times by others) but they told me DESPITE what I have found on many forums, they have done this for well more than a decade and that directly post-op, whether you were on IV fluids for 1 day, 2 days or more..or even NONE, that MANY people do not start hitting their body's full potential for weight loss until after they have HEALED which would be 6 weeks for RNY - unsure what it is for sleeve..maybe the same.
I, however, felt after haunting WLS forums for 3 years PRIOR to surgery, that while I knew my doctor was very good, they simply HAD TO BE WRONG....I mean...I read how many hundreds of post of all of these people losing at LEAST 10 lbs a month. I thought I was 'oh so careful' to only compare my weight loss against other women...around the same age...and who had additional metabolic challenges (whether it be from medications, illnesses, PCOS, thyroid, etc.).....so I thought sensibly...I'm not comparing myself against a 'young man' or even a young woman.
I finally quit looking at some of the posts, I sought out my surgery siblings more..the ones who had a slightly slower weight loss...I read some of the threads from the vets and basically white-knuckled my way thru month 1, month 2.
Flash forward to now...6 months out as of 3 days ago and I started posting on this thread. In working with some of the vets when I posted here, we have looked at my total weight loss since surgery and then averaged it out and my monthly weight loss at SIX MONTHS is 12.6 lbs a month! If you had told me in Months 1 or 2...like my poor doctor tried to tell me...that things would WORK THEMSELVES out if I just stuck to it, I'd be leery...and that indeed was what I was told. Ironically in week 8, 2 weeks after 'you are healed by now' date, my weight loss kicked up higher.
Some of my fellow siblings or ppl who had surgery in the late summer, early fall...the ones who lost a lot in month 1, oh how i remember that month, are starting to slow down a bit (nothing to be worried about)...some are now hitting 10 lbs a month consistently (and hey, I literally AM losing roughly 12 lbs a month and that is NOT with just averaging).
Please hang in there...be kind to yourself and your body...it is literally still healing. The surgery is a big one and your body has been shaken up. You are a rockstar with the working out! I truly admire that. If you hang in there, the weight will come off and it won't remain in single digits.
If it helps, even though you are on liquids, post what you are drinking, overall calories, etc. but again, the first month after surgery is really really rough on your body even if you feel 'ok'. My calories for the first month were 450 or less..some days 100, some days 200-250. Your body has to settle itself out so some of us do not see that gigantic loss in the first month and we think it is for nothing. It WILL COME OFF. With your level of exercise, and knowing what month 1 is like...I promise it WILL COME OFF if you are working your plan.

Beautiful in both pics, but BOTH are pics of a stunning woman! You have a gorgeously shaped face which will continue to look stunning even if your face gets a bit smaller.
I'd legit consider hurting someone to get your cheekbones! LOL

I understand the temptation and actually feeling that way..let's see you are 16 days out from surgery, is that correct?
I was...a bit stunned during my first month that barely anything happened (my DEFINITE interpretation at the time and the first 2 weeks weight loss was from all I had been given to understand and yes..comparing myself against others....was so so little.
I called my surgeon's office and talked to him and the nutritionist. They told me repeatedly something I had not seen here before (not that it might not have been said many times by others) but they told me DESPITE what I have found on many forums, they have done this for well more than a decade and that directly post-op, whether you were on IV fluids for 1 day, 2 days or more..or even NONE, that MANY people do not start hitting their body's full potential for weight loss until after they have HEALED which would be 6 weeks for RNY - unsure what it is for sleeve..maybe the same.
I, however, felt after haunting WLS forums for 3 years PRIOR to surgery, that while I knew my doctor was very good, they simply HAD TO BE WRONG....I mean...I read how many hundreds of post of all of these people losing at LEAST 10 lbs a month. I thought I was 'oh so careful' to only compare my weight loss against other women...around the same age...and who had additional metabolic challenges (whether it be from medications, illnesses, PCOS, thyroid, etc.).....so I thought sensibly...I'm not comparing myself against a 'young man' or even a young woman.
I finally quit looking at some of the posts, I sought out my surgery siblings more..the ones who had a slightly slower weight loss...I read some of the threads from the vets and basically white-knuckled my way thru month 1, month 2.
Flash forward to now...6 months out as of 3 days ago and I started posting on this thread. In working with some of the vets when I posted here, we have looked at my total weight loss since surgery and then averaged it out and my monthly weight loss at SIX MONTHS is 12.6 lbs a month! If you had told me in Months 1 or 2...like my poor doctor tried to tell me...that things would WORK THEMSELVES out if I just stuck to it, I'd be leery...and that indeed was what I was told. Ironically in week 8, 2 weeks after 'you are healed by now' date, my weight loss kicked up higher.
Some of my fellow siblings or ppl who had surgery in the late summer, early fall...the ones who lost a lot in month 1, oh how i remember that month, are starting to slow down a bit (nothing to be worried about)...some are now hitting 10 lbs a month consistently (and hey, I literally AM losing roughly 12 lbs a month and that is NOT with just averaging).
Please hang in there...be kind to yourself and your body...it is literally still healing. The surgery is a big one and your body has been shaken up. You are a rockstar with the working out! I truly admire that. If you hang in there, the weight will come off and it won't remain in single digits.
If it helps, even though you are on liquids, post what you are drinking, overall calories, etc. but again, the first month after surgery is really really rough on your body even if you feel 'ok'. My calories for the first month were 450 or less..some days 100, some days 200-250. Your body has to settle itself out so some of us do not see that gigantic loss in the first month and we think it is for nothing. It WILL COME OFF. With your level of exercise, and knowing what month 1 is like...I promise it WILL COME OFF if you are working your plan.

Had a haircut for a big anniversary do that people will be at that I’ve not seen for years. Before my 120 lb loss. I said ‘please cut it to my shoulders’. It’s two inches above that... just below my jaw. I’m gutted. FML.