TakingBackChrissy

So, I have a random question for any of you ladies out there that have suffered with PCOS or facial hair prior to surgery. I've tried EVERYTHING for this stupid facial hair growth. I'm now just back to plucking every other day. Doctors aren't sure if it's ACTUALLY PCOS (I have an upcoming appointment with a specialist.) or if it's just a hormonal imbalance due to the extreme obesity. Either way, even after losing my first 125lbs naturally, I've not seen much change...Although I'm still incredibly overweight, my cycle is finally getting some sort of regularity and ultrasounds have never actually showed any cysts on the ovaries. I have the sleeve done next month, yay! I tell you all of that to see if any ladies struggled with facial hair prior to weight loss and have you seen any improvement once you lost weight? My doctors are hopeful this will be the case, but meanwhile I'm still stuck here in front of the mirror every other day trying to keep the 5 o'clock shadow at bay!

I’m feeling VERY discouraged! I bad lapband to sleeve revision surgery September 13th and in the first month or so dropped about 25lbs. However, but the end of the 4th week or so and up until now I’ve been at a CRAWLING weight loss pace...I don’t weigh every day, but it feels like I’m just bouncing between 355-358. How am I stalling this early on? I’m not eating nearly as much as I used to, of course and doing my damndest to get in all of my protein. (It’s really hard since protein shakes are now making me gag just because I’ve been doing them basically non-stop for the last 2-3months in my pre and post-surgery diets.) I’ve tried exercise, but I’m so quick to get weak and tired...I think it’s my lack of calories. 😩 I’m wondering if this plateau has something to do with being on such a restricted diet for so long. I lost about 125 with diet and exercise prior to surgery, I was eating about 1400 cal/day and exercised pretty heavy as well. It’s so frustrating with this lack of stamina and eating so little while not seeing numbers change. I’ve decided to cut out ALL POSSIBLE carbs from my diet now that I’m off liquids and go straight to low-fat protein options...only because I can get just a few bites of anything in without feeling queasy still and straight protein doesn’t seem to give me that effect as bad. (Anything creamy, heavy or even mildly “rich” makes my stomach churn minutes after eating.) I’ve added protein to my coffee drinks in the morning, trying to get at least one shake in and nibble on chicken, tuna or whatever protein feels like it’ll sit right. Anyway, long story short...I’m trying but not seeing the scale move hardly at all. How much were you guys still losing a month or two out? I’m terrified this stall means trouble on the horizon and I’m failing this sleeve thing! Please help!! 😭😭

Hey everyone! I’m 2 days post-op from having my lapband to sleeve revision surgery. I’m having a HARD time getting water down and feel like I’m experiencing an abnormal amount of discomfort still. The nurse at discharge told me it was normal, because of the band removal/scar tissue repair as well as the sleeve itself. It’s weird, because the bubbling sensation I get here and there almost feels similar to my stomach growling, but every once in awhile it comes up a a tiny burp...It adds a lot of relief if I can pass any gas this way!! I’ve been chewing some gas-x in hopes it’ll give some relief, but almost wonder if it’s the trapped air causing my issues? No real nausea today except when big bubbles come and go. Also, my surgeon prescribed meds for acid reflux (I never took it before) and nausea as needed. He said I’d need to take the acid reflux meds for 3mo or so, but it’s in pill form and if I can’t get water down, how am I supposed to get a pill? Anyone else that was given pills to take right after surgery? Did you have any luck? My paid meds are liquid and hard enough...can’t imagine trying a full pill. Any help or encouragement would be greatly appreciated! I’ve got a low pain tolerance anyway, but I just feel ultra whiney and emotional now! Lol

Gahhh! Ladies!! When will we ever have a GOOD solution to this *seemingly* simple problem?? I think I'm gonna look more into the laser solution...I think with laser I guess it's about managing the expectations. I don't need it to be perfectly smooth, I just need to stop having 5 o'clock shadow, lol!

I tried Spironolactone, but because my blood pressure was always really good I couldn't get the dose high enough to be effective for hair growth without dropping my BP waaaay too low. Metformin never helped, just gave me (TMI warning) terrible diarrhea.

Any ideas on laser cost? It's a decently sized area on my face...Most of it now, ugh! Also, how much pain/healing is associated with it? I tried the electrolysis once, problem wasn't the pain but the cost, time and the healing afterwards. The hairs are highly visible on my face for the most part, but it's literally hair by hair. We did small patches all over my face and the next day I looked like a teenager with the worst case of acne ever! It took about a month before my skin returned to normal and I was told by the lady that did it, it would take treating every single hair at least twice sometimes 3-4 times before the hair follicle was completely dead. In the hour we did the first treatment, we no where near touched the tip of the iceberg. This would have literally been months and months of treatments and healing cycles and way more money than I had to invest! I sort of gave up looking into these types of treatments, feeling like if electrolysis didn't work, laser probably wouldn't either. If you all say it works, I'm willing to reconsider!!

The doctor didn't even mention the sleeve over bypass...And if he did, I'd have looked at him like he was crazy. I just want it out, lol! My goal right now is the sleeve, with the intent to go back in after my next 100lb loss and do the DS part of the surgery. Originally I wanted to convert the band to the full DS in one go, but with my BMI still too high and with the additional time in removing the band and possible repairs, it's just too much trauma and too long for me to be under anesthesia. I will absolutely let you know about my results and if you happen to be on IG, feel free to follow me there. (This isn't a shameless plug, I swear! lol!!) It's at the same name "TakingBackChrissy." I'm sooo excited I can't stand it. (Although this pre-surgery diet might literally be murder, hahaha!)

My LapBand was nothing but problems from the very beginning - Everything I was supposed to eat got stuck and everything I should have stayed away from went down just fine. The fill in my band was unpredictable. Some days water would gurgle, others I could mindlessly eat a huge chunk of chicken or pasta and slip on through no problem. It would change depending on the time of month and there was no "sweet spot fill" everyone talks about. To make matters worse, if you ever get the flu or food poisoning it is an EMERGENT issue. (No one ever told me this was a "thing.") If your doctor is only a few minutes away and available after hours, no biggie. (Until you have to move years later or he does.) Mine was a 3 hour drive away. Imagine me heaving for hours upon hours in the backseat of the car after eating bad sashimi - My stomach was in obscene amounts of pain..I could physically feel it trying to come up, only to get stuck under the band. My ordeal started at 4am and didn't make it to the doctor until almost 12hrs later - I'm surprised that much wretching didn't cause a slip. This whole situation scared me so much, it wasn't until over a year later I went back to re-fill. There are a lot more issues people talk about above I don't have to mention again here and I know it works for some people - But it never did for me. I'm being revised to a sleeve next month and I couldn't be more excited. I want this thing OUT before it causes more damage. My doctor already mentioned he more often than not sees damage from these bands when being removed...It scars the esophagus over time, regardless of complications. My advice, do what's right for you...It is your choice and your body! I, on the other hand, would still never recommend this surgery to anyone!

Sometimes we feed the emotions, sometimes the feeding (and subsequent weight gain) leads to emotions. Your best tool to combat both scenarios is simply learning to separate food from emotions...which is way easier said than done. Sometimes I’ll down countless calories before I even realize I did it and usually just because I was bored or anxious. Personally, I’m working on mediation techniques and making a habit of planning and counting everything that goes into my mouth. If it’s not on my plan, what reason am I eating it? Meal plans are best made when you’ve got your best self in mind - Let the thoughtful, self-loving side of you decide what to eat...That way when you’re feeling impulsive and reaching for a snack it’s the perfect red flag. Then you can stop and evaluate - Am I in the right state of mind make this food decision?Am I hungry or am I (insert emotion here)? Is this food serving my goals? If you can answer those honestly and favorably, eat away! If not, delve a little deeper...But sometimes I'm way too caught up that I just have to walk away and do something else for a bit. I can revisit it later. Sometimes I have literal arguments with myself in my head over what to eat...it’s amazing the excuses I come up with, lol! Just take it one day, one meal, one bite at a time! You got this!

I had the LapBand done in August of 2012 and it's been nothing but a nightmare! The surgeon and surgery itself went fine, but had I known I'd forever have food "stuck" and be miserable I'd have opted for a different surgery. I was over 500lbs when I decided to have it put in and lost to 460lbs the day of surgery. I only ever dropped to 403lbs - And NONE of it was the healthy way. I was ALWAYS hungry and I said all the time, the stuff that I SHOULD eat gets stuck, but the things I shoudn't eat sits just fine. For a long time, I blamed myself for this issue, but find it's a pretty common occurrence for Banders I hear now. I would NEVER recommend this surgery for anyone...If it was the Band or nothing, I'd have chose nothing! So, years later I ballooned back over 500lbs. I went to a fitness camp for 6mo and with their help and all the knowledge I took home, I'm down to 389lbs as of today. I am scheduled to have my band removed next month and have the sleeve done at the same time. I have plans down the road to have the sleeve then revised into the DS, which is basically the sleeve with the added malabsorption part included. Because my BMI still sits so high and the possible complications from band removal, my surgeon refused to do the full DS at one time - But felt confident the sleeve and band removal could be done simultaneously. For me, the band made me feel like a total failure and that I'd forever be doomed to be over 500lbs. Through thorough nutrition and exercise education, I finally feel like I'm going to be able to get my life back! The sleeve is just one step on my journey there. Best of luck to you and whatever your surgeon suggests, I'd follow those recommendations if you trust him! (But always do your research and stick to your guns on what's right for you!)