CristinHope

Let me start by saying this: There is no "right" or "wrong" choice to deciding whether or not to disclose WLS. That being said, I have been very open about having WLS, both with close family and friends and total strangers. “Isn’t that private or too personal?” Yes, it’s a very personal decision that should be made only after careful consideration. It is not the right choice for everyone. But was my weight problem private? Absolutely not! Though I could conceal the actual number on the scale, I’ve worn my weight problem every single day of my life, out in the open for all to see. My family and friends have seen me battle obesity since childhood. I joke that I learned basic mathematics by counting calories and Weight Watcher points. I have struggled and fought with my weight in front of anyone I’ve ever met, both those close to me and strangers I'd pass on the street. That’s the thing about being overweight....no matter how you dress it, there’s nothing private about it. “Aren’t you worried about what people will think?” Yes, and that’s exactly why I decided to be open and honest. There is such a stigma about weight loss surgery, whether we want to acknowledge it or not. It’s something that causes people to judge you, possibly even ridicule or scold you, and offer completely unsolicited opinions. You’re made to feel as though you should be ashamed or embarrassed for even considering it. I struggled for over two years with whether or not I should have weight loss surgery. I was afraid if I voiced it, it meant admitting I was a failure, because that’s what society tells us. Society says surgery is “the easy way out” and “you should just diet”. I will never understand why we discourage people who are trying to improve? Like anyone considering surgery hasn’t tried every diet known to man? Ask me about the Cabbage Soup Diet! It was the worst! Let me tell you, there is nothing “easy” about having 85% of your stomach removed! Surgery doesn’t magically change what foods I choose to eat. I still have to make a conscious decision every single time I’m hungry. I still have to choose foods that will help me versus harm me. Surgery didn't prevent me from eating garbage. Weight loss surgery is just a tool. It’s all about how you use it. Deciding to have weight loss surgery was one of the SCARIEST things I have ever done in my life and I am PROUD to tell everyone. If I can help just one person, it is all worth it! I have had multiple people come to me who were considering surgery but had no one to talk to or ask questions to. It's one thing to hear about surgery from a doctor or a website. It's completely different when you know someone who has gone through it. That's what makes it worth it for me, being able to help someone else. I will not feel ashamed for making this decision and I will continue to be as transparent as possible. I refuse to feed the stigma. If someone thinks I took an "easy" route, I take time to educate them. I honestly think most negative thoughts about WLS come from either a lack of knowledge or are the result of someone's own insecurities about their weight. The only way to change it is to talk about it! Most people have NO CLUE what WLS actually involves. And most aren't jerks, they're just genuinely clueless. All of that being said, I do not judge anyone who chooses to not disclose or lie about their surgery. Everyone makes their own decisions for their own reasons. This is simply why I made the decision I made.

So I am 4 months post-op and I still have to be proactive about this. I NEVER had this issue pre-surgery but I have accepted it as my new norm, which is fine now that I know how to manage it. I take Miralax every other day to keep me regulated. I don't have any issues with it upsetting my stomach or causing pain or diarrhea and it's safe to use as often as needed, unlike stimulant laxatives. I also take stool softeners regularly. You'll have to work to find the balance for how often you need to take something to get the right balance and not end up with the OTHER issue! Unfortunately, once you're really bad off, there's not much you can do other than what others have suggested with glycerin suppositories and/or enemas. LOTS of folks end up with impaction and/or obstruction. Make an effort to stay on top of it proactively to avoid the horrible consequences. Surgery was still totally worth it!

Hi Fellow November Sleevers! I hope you are all doing well on your journey and are starting to enjoy some of the super fun non-scale victories there are with losing weight!! I had my favorite #nsv yet this weekend when I finally felt confident enough to jump on the back of my boyfriend's motorcycle! I have always been far too self-conscious to do so, thinking I'd look like Miss Piggy on the back of that bike! But I am starting to feel great about myself and decided to push past my fear and just go for it!! It was THE MOST FUN! I hope you all are discovering new things and enjoying life in new ways too!!!

THIS!! YES!! I started at 330 in June 2018. I was 283 when I had VSG on 11/6/18 and I'm 235 now, exactly 4 months post-op. I'm 5lbs away from being down 100lbs since June 2018. So start NOW, lose as much as possible beforehand. Everyone loses at a different rate afterwards.