mousecat88

Thanks everyone. Will keep posted. The upper GI is scheduled Feb 16 and endoscopy in 2 weeks. I've eaten fine the last 2 days no issues. It's just... random.

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yes - that IS late, if that's what it is. Those usually show up 1-3 months after surgery. Let us know when you find out...

More surgery for meeee..

I've been vomiting up stuck food a lot... for a long time (several months but it is far more frequent the past 3 months... nearly daily)... went to the surgeon today and they suspect a late term stricture. He said the regular treatment with dilation through endoscopy may not work since I am over 2 years post-op but they're going to try. Appointment on the 27th for the 1st round. They try it 3 times before they go in and "widen" it manually. If it isn't a stricture, they're also checking for a hernia that may have pushed my pouch into the wrong spot or esophageal dysmotility. That test is in February. Sigh. Siiigggh. It doesn't make sense though because sometimes I can eat anything fine and sometimes it gets stuck. I could eat a burger fine, but then cottage cheese gets stuck. I dunno... to be continued... you'd think if it was a permanent narrowing from scarring, it wouldn't be discriminate. I have a history of a hernia and an ulcer so he thinks I am high risk for the stricture. And yes, I still smoke. No, I don't need a lecture on that.

Can anyone that's had a stricture give me any insight? Did food sometimes go through and other times it wouldn't?

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19 hours ago, ms.sss said:

I remember you liked spinning? If you have a stationary at home you could do videos? Or get those pedestals you can rig a regular bike on to become stationary. Also, Peloton has a free 30-day at home free trial...*

*I do not work nor do business with Peloton, lol

I have really been considering buying a spin bike. Schwinn and other brands make their own, some for as low as 500$ and you can buy the Peloton app for $12/month. I really like the group setting, though, and I think it may just end up a clothing rack. lol.

I couldn't and still can't drink any whey Protein isolate anything. I would get SO nauseous. I relied on soy protein isolate. Options are limited, but still tasty. NowSports is a good brand.

14 hours ago, Darktowerdream said:

We tend to be most critical of ourselves. The folded skin should smooth out over time. Some folds from my thigh lift have started smoothing out finally.

I don’t have before photos and I haven’t shared after. The only before and after I have are ones my surgeon shared on their website.

I didn’t have much breast tissue I was surprised I had anything, but my breast reduction I had very solid dense breast tissue so whatever was left after weight loss was whatever was left of that and I lost all the fat leaving behind empty skin. I do feel I have some loose skin left also after my augmentation I’m hoping won’t be too much as swelling goes down. I think you have the option to ask for a larger implant once. Although for me I can’t afford the expense to travel and the operating room expenses.

When you have the butt lift alone it can cause issues, I hope your doctor fixes it so that you are happy with the results.

i Find myself seeing some imperfections that I don’t quite know what normal is. I don’t regret my surgeries. I just see things like my knees being a weird shape and looking big. But I think these things take time as we heal and our bodies adapt to the changes.

not to be nosy but what do you measure under bust? Measured tight. Whatever you measure is your bra band size. Rounded up if necessary. Ie. 31” = 32 band size. But I’m fairly certain to get cup size if your bust measures 34” at the fullest for example you’d take 34 - 31 = 3 “ and each inch equals 1 cup size. So this example bra size would be 32C. Although my measurements are weird 25.5” under bust and 32” bust ...

https://lindasonline.com/pages/bra-fitting-calculator

My under bust size measures at a 32" and my bust a 36". I am wearing a 34D (no WAY could a 32 actually fit...), but think a 36D would feel better. I think it will depend on style, etc. I ordered an underwire bra for next month in a 36D and it seems like it will be a good fit.

My surgeon doesn't go all the way to the knee or all the way to the elbow so I notice puffiness at my elbows and knees since there is still loose skin there. BUT, still improved. I'll always be self critical...

So, I haven't really been at the gym since September 2019. I herniated a disc in my back and by the time that felt better I had my TT and arm lift. Once that healed, I made it back in a few times and COVID occurred. I am not an at-home exerciser so the gym was my thing. My gym reopened in May (?) but the locker rooms are closed and they are at reduced capacity, so I requested my account stay on hold. Now I've recently had my butt and leg lift and implants, so I can't exercise until September 1-ish anyways. I am really itching to get back. My TT seems all flabby and I want to tone my new booty and get back to spin.

Are you guys back in the gym and do you feel your gym is taking good precautions? I just don't see how everything can be properly sanitized. =/ Masks weren't mandatory until we had a spike about 2 weeks ago and now they are, so I won't go back if a mask is required because I panic with them on and would just feel uncomfortable all sweaty in one.

On 7/18/2020 at 7:40 PM, Darktowerdream said:

Awesome results @mousecat88 I hope recovery is going good. Was that 450cc implants or is that total volume? That confused me. My implants are 200cc with 370cc total volume. I assumed the implants were 320cc but it meant total volume. I also had reduction forever ago though. My doctor advised on size. I chose upper pole fullness. Funny thing is a small part of me is like did I not get big enough 🤣 of course the doctor advised size based on my frame and thin skin ... but I digress.
Congratulations on coming to the end of your journey 🧡

I have no clue. lol. I was just told they were 450cc implants. I had NO breast fat so I still have some loose horizontal skin. He had to suture my pec muscles really tight on the right side so it wouldn't migrate to my armpit. This resulted in the right breast looking wider. I don't think I want a revision, though. Not worth it. Everything is still healing and I have some folded skin at my lower back that looks like a second butt crack (lol) that he will have to fix in 5 months just in-office with Lidocaine. I don't think I would do a butt lift again. I'll post before and after photos of all that in 5 months. lol!

I was going to go with 400cc but glad I didn't because then I'd have even more loose skin. My end result is a 34D. I almost wish I went with 500 because maybe it would have filled up ALL the loose skin. I dunno. I had a reduction from a 48H in 2017. That left me at a 46D. Then I lost weight and instead of drooping so much, I had a lot of horizontal skin, which is unusual.

I do want to stress this is only 6 months out so the scars will fade even more. And I haven't used any tapes or creams. Also haven't been working out... I blame covid for closing my gym even though my lazy butt could lift at home. Shhhhh

My arms were the first to go, along with a TT. No regrets. Painless. Super quick recovery. And the scars aren't noticeable unless you walk around with your arms sticking up in the air. Here are my 6 months photos. The only thing that annoys me is he doesn't go all the way to the elbow so scaring wont limit movement so there's a little puff of fat there but I'm sure I'm the only one who notices. I had my legs done last week and it's the same bu my inner knee. But still so much better. Battle scars!

My legs and butt went well. Still have 2 drains in. First 2 days were painful. I get half the staples out next Monday. Here are my pre and post OP implant pics! Just done this morning. 450cc silicone. Owies. Also will see if I can post my pre and post OP arm and tummy.....

I am officially DONE.

Heyyyy it's yo girl. Got my arrival time for my butt lift and thighplasty tomorrow at 7:30 a.m., then 450cc silicone implants in-office on the 15th! Thus will conclude the plastic surgery journey. Prior to bypass I had a breast reduction w/ full nipple graft breast lift and full body liposuction. Post-bypass I had bra-line excision, arm lift, Tummy Tuck, and soon-to-be butt and thigh lift and implants. AMA! I'm officially an expert. lmao. There's nowhere else for them to nip and tuck!

$$$$$$$$$$$

He was supposed to email me my before and after tummy tuck and arm lift but he forgot. I will post them this week when I remind him at my follow-up Friday.

I've only tried edibles twice. The first time it did nothing. The second time I took an antacid and ate a bit beforehand on recommendation from someone more experienced and... it kicked it quickly and very strongly.

I was given Celebrex and 3 days of Percocet for home. I didn't even use the Percocet. It's so bizarre because you'd think there would be a lot of pain given the procedure, but I didn't have any (except for the first hour in recovery... that was brutal but I had fentanyl there, LOL). While I was in the hospital they gave me Toradol IV as needed.

Do you think you could handle high calorie Protein Shakes? Like ones meant for weight lifting/muscle building? Obviously check with your doctor first, but that may be an easy way to get in more calories.

Okay, I know the title sounds sorta' childish... but it is really really bothering me.

I was NEVER made fun of when I was fat. Ever. No one ever commented on my appearance.

But for the FOURTH time in two weeks, random internet assholes have made fun of how I look. This morning I woke up to some girl commenting on a totally unrelated post I made that "weight loss and anorexia is bad for the skin and I look old af" and the other day some guy said it "looks like I don't have any face left".

Like really cruel, eff'd up comments about my weight and my slim face. I don't engage; I just delete my comment and the entire thread. But it's really starting to hurt my feelings. I am finally happy and healthy but now I get mercilessly mocked for being a normal weight?? I don't understand. Even my mom has been saying things about how thin I am and how thin my face looks and it bothers me. My boss even makes comments about how I am thin and how she doesn't understand why I don't gain any weight because she does see me eat pizza and stuff sometimes.

My doctors all say I am a healthy weight and my labs are fine. I feel like I look fine. I do feel like my face is a tiny bit too skinny, but I can't help where the weight came off. I am certainly not anorexic. I know I shouldn't let the comments of strangers (or anyone) bother me, but it really does. This is definitely NOT something I expected to have happen. I'm just feeling really down this morning... I think because the last month or so in particular I've been getting a lot of negative feedback from all over the place about how I look. I'm not here to please anyone with my appearance, but I wish people would just mind their own business. I know it's the internet and trolls exist but this is totally unexpected ****. I feel like I could cry.

Iron profile and Parathyroid came back. Totally normal. Iron is actually at 150 and the upper range of normal is 160. Again... no Vitamins since November.... =/ I am SHOCKED my Vitamin D is normal. I have always had critically low vitamin D. And now that I don't take anything... they are fine. What the heck.

On 5/24/2020 at 10:02 PM, Darktowerdream said:

@mousecat88 I’m curious of any updates on your decision of augmentation. You mentioned surgery in 2020 have you had it or scheduled it? I’ve had my hesitation but ended up including plans for augmentation. Which it is weird after having breast reduction so many years ago to then have augmentation. But I never expected to be able to lose weight let alone reach this weight loss goal. There are probably details to decide when I meet the surgeon beyond the fact that it will be silicone implants. How do people decide these things. For me it’s not about looks but the fact that bras just don’t fit and they are just empty at the top and uncomfortable. I guess it feels like reconstruction of a normal person.

not that I will ever be a normal person.

I have my consult on June 19th for implants, a butt lift, and thigh lift. I am definitely getting implants. My boobs are completely deflated and I could roll them up like fruit rollups. It's just totally skin with zero fat in it.

On 5/22/2020 at 5:08 PM, 2Bsmaller18 said:

How are your arm incisions? I am 3 months post and they are starting to fade but still very pink/red in comparison to my skin. I don't feel comfortable in short sleeves yet. I have a few places on the incisions with skin folded on itself that i hope will smooth out or will need to be touched up. I also still have loose skin right at the pit if I hold my arm half way up to horizontal. It goes away as I lift my arm up higher so I don't know if it can be fixed since the skin has to stretch to allow me to lift my arm all the way up.

They've faded but they are like a medium purple. I don't mind it... you can't really see them since it's inner arm. I have a puff of fat at my elbow, but he said I would because he doesn't go down that far because he said scarring there could restrict arm movement. It is kinda weird looking, and worse on my left arm. BUT, better than before so I try not to worry. I may mention it next consult. I definitely still have some loose skin... like if I hold my arm up totally straight some skin slinks downwards and wrinkles, but I've also lost 15lbs since I had my surgery. It may tighten up once I get back to the gym, though. I think the inner thigh incisions I will have will be much worse and much more noticeable.

On 5/22/2020 at 3:17 PM, summerset said:

What labs were taken? Did they include e. g. parathormone?

Yeah, I am still waiting on that. CBC, metabolic panel, B12, folate, Vitamin D, lipid, Iron, PTH w calcium... possibly something else I can't remember offhand.

On 5/23/2020 at 3:43 AM, summerset said:

Same here and I paid for it with elevated parathormone. A Calcium deficiency doesn't show in regular blood work.

All my labs have returned EXCEPT the PTH and Iron. But all the rest were perfect. I'm really trying to get back on the Vitamin bandwagon. The bariatric office was just like "we can't recommend not taking vitamins". And then they wanted to schedule an appointment with the dietitian but I don't need to pay someone 50$ to tell me what I already know. They still have my chart showing me eating 600 calories a day because the last time I saw her in person was like 8 months ago. I eat 600 calories a meal now, usually. It's just weird that I don't gain. I ate crap on Sunday and got sick 4 separate times so I am really going to work on eating better.

Sooooo it's been a while. lol.

Here is my confession of the stupid things I've been doing and their consequences or lack thereof.

I stopped losing weight in January or so. My lowest was 112, but I am a steady 116. My face looks super drawn and thin. I am a size 2. I wanted to gain about 10lbs so I started adding in more calories. And then more calories. And then that didn't do anything so I started eating junk food again (what I can stomach). And more junk food. And now I eat a lot of (good) carbs and basically full-sized meals. And I still weigh 116. And I still look anorexic (yes, I realize the "BMI" says I am normal... but I am deffo too thin for my taste). My mother also is/was very concerned about my thin appearance. Some foods still make me sick so I don't eat them and eating too much of other foods makes me sick. But, for example, for lunch I had a pumpkin muffin, peas, quinoa, and an entire salami sandwich and it sat fine. I can eat a double quarter pounder with cheese if I wanted to. I crushed an entire box of Triscuits in an hour the other week. But I don't gain weight.

I also haven't taken any Vitamins since about November 2019. I had to stop them for my last plastic surgery and just never got in the habit of taking them again. So I had labs done this week. Totally normal. All levels are perfect. AND, my cholesterol which has ALWAYS been high (even before I was ever obese) went from 291 to 174 in the last 4 months. They are perfect for the first time ever. So, do I take the vitamins and risk my levels being TOO high? Do I not take them because apparently I am getting what I need from food? If I am absorbing what I need from food, why am I not gaining any weight?

I haven't been exercising since last September I herniated my back and then had plastics and then the gyms closed... but plan on going back when they reopen next week.

Anyways, a lot of weird crap. I started my vitamins again this week just because... but now I am wondering, truly, if I need them because my labs were great despite me not taking them for 6 months. A deficiency would have been reflected by now. When do people usually start regaining post-op? I want to get back to eating healthy, but it's hard when you fall off the wagon... ESPECIALLY when you aren't gaining anything from doing so.

Nah, I don't need scolding... I know I am screwing up... but I am truly baffled as to why I can't gain and why my labs are fine. Which I guess I shouldn't complain about but.... weird.

Also I have a consult on June 19th for my final round of plastics: butt lift, thigh lift, and implants.

I did send an email to my PCP and my dietitian about the vitamins thing... I'll update here when I hear back.

16 hours ago, Miss Liss said:

Thank you for this! I see you had gastric bypass in 2018 and passed your goal. That's awesome! I know they say after a year the weight loss slows down tremendously. Would you say you're still losing almost 2 years out?

I am 14 months out from surgery. I pretty much stabilized at 12 months. But I don't have any more weight to lose, so, that's probably a good thing. lol. I hit my personal goal weight at 10 months out..

I had a 3 month stall 4 months post op. And then it just started again. I just kept on with the plan.

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two people at work just back to back skinny shamed me for seeing my collar bones. so here. they can drink their f**king haterade from them. b*****s.  

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