Sleeved36

I haven't read the entire thread but here are some of my NSVs:
Biggest one for me is that I SMILE when I see myself in the mirror. I actually look, smile, think "Gee that looks cute" or something along those lines. I have NEVER liked the way I look... until now. This makes me so happy that sometimes I cry.
I have collarbones! And shoulder bones, hip bones... I really DO have a skeleton!
No need for a seatbelt extender on the plane, or hoping that nobody sits next to me so I don't "overlap" on them. Overlap is also gone from movie theater seats, amusement rides, etc. Many thanks to my good friends who tolerated my "flopping" on them through all those many shows of Nutcracker (our daughters are ballerinas).
I can wear regular shoes again. Yes, I still love my crocs, but now there are actual options- even heels!
I fit through the turnstiles at some of the rides at Disney World this summer... and I wore a bathing suit to the pool!

There are a bunch of lactation cookie recipes online that include brewers yeast, you could start there. Never tried them bc I suck at baking, but they looked good.
Breastfeeding is half of the reason I needed surgery. I was "stocky" for my whole life and gained small, but appropriate amounts of weight in pregnancy. BUT breastfeeding turned me into an eating machine. The hormones released with breastfeeding can mess with you. I ate like crazy, but still always felt hungry. I breastfed both of my boys for over 1 year and that led to being up 60 pounds after 2 kids. 😢
Orchids is right too, get more sleep. Nap all you can. Tired makes you want carbs/sugar.
Hang in there! It is tough, but you have already been through a lot and overcome!

Thanks everyone. Appreciate the tips. I’m just extra nervous considering the situation. Don’t want to mess up.

For the record @creekimp13 I was “following medical advice” I was on birth control. It failed. I’ve already talked to my doctors and my surgeons and the nutritionist. They haven’t been very helpful so thanks but no thanks for the lack of advice and support. Everyone on my medical team has said this happens sometimes, it’s known this surgery can increase your fertility. And btw I work in medicine so I’m aware of the risks, hence the birth control.

Oh, weeell . . . . . I have only lost half of the weight I want to. I could potentially be a real mess in another 6 months or so. I am actually hoping that lasers might help my skin shrink as I lose the next 40 pounds? That's why I posted my original question about people's experiences with lasers. Hoping to hear from other WLS patients. For sure we are a different subset of the population, with different considerations.
My skin scars up easily. I had a little skin thing removed years ago and every doctor I see says "what is THAT from!?" A stupid mole ok!
Can't even imagine what would happen if I had a skin FOLD cut off . . . . . Might end up looking like a naked zombie costume or ready for an episode of Botched. No Thanks.

Oh, weeell . . . . . I have only lost half of the weight I want to. I could potentially be a real mess in another 6 months or so. I am actually hoping that lasers might help my skin shrink as I lose the next 40 pounds? That's why I posted my original question about people's experiences with lasers. Hoping to hear from other WLS patients. For sure we are a different subset of the population, with different considerations.
My skin scars up easily. I had a little skin thing removed years ago and every doctor I see says "what is THAT from!?" A stupid mole ok!
Can't even imagine what would happen if I had a skin FOLD cut off . . . . . Might end up looking like a naked zombie costume or ready for an episode of Botched. No Thanks.

So, my girlfriends and I went out two weekends ago. It was spur of the moment and I didn't get all dolled up or put a lot of effort into looking good for the occasion. Needless to say, a little bit of liquid courage had me acting like the movie "I feel pretty". Literally, I talked to anyone who made eye contact with me or came within talking distance. I complimented people randomly and laughed with strangers. This is not something I would have done pre-weight loss. The next day, I couldn't help but chuckle to myself. My friends made comments that they've never seen me like that. That my energy was infectious. That the men were attracted to this confidence (even though I'm very happily married).
This is why I said earlier, that I have changed. Alcohol may have played a contributing factor into it, but I know that I wouldn't have acted this way prior to surgery.

Unfortunately and fortunately I can relate to 99% of what you wrote. I have seen vast changes in relationships. We can make generalizations about the "why" all day long. Is it them? Is it us? Are we different now, which causes people to treat us differently? I was initially offended by people in the beginning, but now, I have reflected enough to know that it is me. I am different. And I like me.

It's a % of your EBW (excess body weight) so say 65-70% of your EBW is the average expected loss in perfect conditions. Some will lose a lot more , some a lot less
Caution: it's definitely a curve and people will end up on all points of it depending upon MANY MANY MANY factors and ultimately your body will decide where you land
Safe Journey!

Congrats on all of your hard work!
I'm not sure it matters but go with what you are day of surgery since that is when the forced metabolic shift will occur.
Someone more knowledgeable, please chime in...
I only lost 10lbs in the months leading up to surgery,but around 30 in the year prior.
I go by the BMI range I should be in, as faulty as that system is, because it is what my team uses.

If only my pannus could use a little improvement...
Sounds interesting, following.

I have seen reviews of people using lasers for body contouring "problem areas". Just wondered results on a "problem pannus" 😕
I don't think my loose skin is extreme enough to warrant surgery, but I would be happy to have a little improvement.
Just give me a few months, maybe I will be the first to review laser therapy here!

I could have written this same post! I'm at my half-way and going through many similar thoughts. Congrats on tackling the journey so well.

I'm half way there. I didn't think I'd get there this fast as I'm a light weight and I was told by my team to expect to go at a snail's pace. I'm now down 58lbs. And I never thought it was possible
..
I have 51lbs to go. Knowing I've lost more than I have to lose makes me believe I will get there one day. And I've said to myself there is no rush. Id like to be at my goal by 12-18 months but im aware the loss gets slower as you get closer.
It's still surreal to think one day I may be in a 'normal' weight bracket.

It's not been a smooth journey for my health not related to the sleeve. But I'm great full for the sleeve curing my high blood pressure and making me more confident. I didn't think I'd look much different between 244 and 186 but people already treat me differently like I'm in a new body.
I am alot saggier than I imagined I'd be. My tummy my butt thighs and top of my arms but I don't mind so much.
Just thought I'd share my experience.. I'm.one of the people that doubted it would work for.me. as nothing else did !
It's odd to say that I'm in a stage were it's so much easier. I don't feel I'm dieting. It's not hard for me to follow my plan seeing my amazing results.. and it's never been easier. When I used to diet I'd starve and struggled. But I'm eating healthy and living my life.

I have seen reviews of people using lasers for body contouring "problem areas". Just wondered results on a "problem pannus" 😕
I don't think my loose skin is extreme enough to warrant surgery, but I would be happy to have a little improvement.
Just give me a few months, maybe I will be the first to review laser therapy here!

Out of all the boards I have read, I've never seen anyone talk about skin Tightening with lasers. I'm researching PS and I've never come across a single mention of it. Is it new? Maybe it is that rare!

Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

I have seen reviews of this but mostly for women using on the face and neck area.
Most people here that have lost large amounts of weight are going to have larger amounts of skin that a laser treatment is not likely to fix.
If you look on sites like RealSelf.com you can find more reviews on this procedure.

I don't think as many people read that one.
I posted a similar question there about skin tightening with lasers and got almost no responses. 😕 There is no way that no one on the forum has tried it!
So, if you are out there . .. . . Has anyone tried skintyte?

Yep it's serious, I can be so easy to switch one addiction for another and alcohol is an easy one to switch to. It's readily available, easy to get down ie liquids go straight down, there is some research out there saying that WLS patients get to feel the effects of alcohol sooner / more intensely than non WLS peope bbcause of the changes made to our digestive system.
This has been a really big issue for me and has caused me a significant amount of heartache, suffering, pain and depression. I never thought I would talk about it openly but hey, I this is a support group. I might start a new thread tomorrow and tell you guys about my true story and see how I feel getting it off my chest and to see what help I can get and understand if there are people out there who have been through or are going through similar things as me who I can help to learn from me and my mistakes.
OK post tomorrow when I have more time on my hands.
Sorry WV Chef, not wanting to detract from your story or questions. You seem to have experienced similar issue to me regarding the increased alcohol intake. You do loo amazing though and I hope you're proud of your achievements. You're obviously one strong lady! Please feel free to PVT me if you want to talk about ongoing booze issues post op or anything else :-)
Thanks guys,
John

A friend if mine sent this to me this morning, it's from 4 years ago today at my heaviest around 270 maybe higher (honestly probably higher)
Pictures never lie, except on Instagram but whatever,
I'll probably post this in other places but I felt like I needed this space because I don't reflect enough on my accomplishments.
I think everyone should...

Thank you very much. That is kind of you to say. The colo-rectal surgeon came in this morning and said he was astonished that he did not have to do his part open. He removed scar tissue on my small intestines in areas where I have had small bowel obstructions in the past and moved the ostomy up to the new location. He also said the bariatric surgeon did the hernia repair on my abdomen (I had assumed it was the colo-rectal surgeon). He is also very happy with my progress so far.

So, apparently, my surgery went very well. The bariatric surgeon did his part of the procedure first and was able to do it laparoscopically. He told me at the pre-op appointment that I had a hiatal hernia and that he would repair it during the surgery. I forgot to ask him if it was repaired. I’ll ask today when I see him or his team.

The colo-rectal surgeon, much to my surprise, was also able to do all of his work laparoscopically. I was expecting it to be an open procedure, which is very painful and takes many months to heal. My pain is virtually nonexistent. The colo-rectal surgeon did have to repair a hernia between my old ostomy site and the new one, and that is where the majority of my pain is. The new ostomy is much higher than I had expected, so I will actually be able to wear shirts with them tucked in. This is huge for me. I think untucked shirts look sloppy and I've had to look sloppy since last August.

I’ve been drinking my Water 60ml (two plastic pill serving cups) at a time, about every 15 minutes. Last night for dinner, I had extremely salty beef broth and SF lime Jello. I had about 3 spoonsful of the broth and half of the jello. I felt full although the sensation of being full was different than what I remember from before the surgery. This morning for Breakfast, I had vegetable broth, which I ate two spoonsful of, and lime jello, which I ate all of it. They also brought me a Protein Shake, which I had the nurse take back because it is not on my phase 1 diet. (-:

I walked two times yesterday and already one time this morning. I walked 0.5 miles on the second walk yesterday and the one today. That is if my Apple Watch workout app is accurate.

Is this a good look for me?

Thank you very much, I appreciate it!

So, I actually forgot to add something in my lengthy post: every time I've had surgery on my intestines, they do not "wake up" very quickly. When I had the original surgery in 1995, I did not eat for 11 days. The second surgery in 1995, I did not eat for 9 days. The surgery in May of 2017, I did not eat for 7 days. And, the surgery in August 2017, I did not eat for 17 days. The bariatric surgery will not be the surgery that dictates when I can leave the hospital. With the surgery on my intestines, they will not let me leave until I can eat at least a full-liquid diet. (of course, the bariatric diet needs me to be on full liquids before I leave the hospital too, but it may be a week or more before I even start eating anything)
Having said that, I am hoping that my intestines wake up quicker this time. I was in the hospital last August for 25 days total, and I did not eat for 17 of them. It was not fun...

I think your post inspired some people to update thier weight!
It is now more than 100 pounds more than when you posted! 🤗 way to go everyone!

Wow! What a rough journey!
You deserve all of the health and happiness that is coming your way!
Rooting for you!
The first 2 weeks after surgery are usually the worst, not trying to be a downer. Just want you to be prepared and know that it only gets better from here!