MaineDoc

My weight has fluctuated so much over the years that I had clothes in essentially 4 different sizes:
XXXL, XXL, XL, and L

Over the past 10 years I kept all of them because I always worried about going back even when I had successfully lost lots of weight and was comfortably wearing an L.

This time, however, has been different. I *did* get rid of all my clothes XL and above once I got into an L. I finally had my surgery 3 days ago and I expect I’ll probably be in a medium when all is said and done. I’ll plan on getting rid of my Ls once that happens.

My weight has fluctuated so much over the years that I had clothes in essentially 4 different sizes:
XXXL, XXL, XL, and L

Over the past 10 years I kept all of them because I always worried about going back even when I had successfully lost lots of weight and was comfortably wearing an L.

This time, however, has been different. I *did* get rid of all my clothes XL and above once I got into an L. I finally had my surgery 3 days ago and I expect I’ll probably be in a medium when all is said and done. I’ll plan on getting rid of my Ls once that happens.

It is so interesting how we all experience things so differently.

I’m day 3 post-op and it is legit work for me to get the daily Fluid requirements. Drinking, even relatively small sips, can often lead to it feeling like my stomach and esophagus spasming. I’ve tried fluids at different temperatures-I think warm works the best, but even that’s not perfect. I’ve tried using hyoscyamine which has been somewhat helpful. But even with that I’m having to be exceedingly mindful of how much I’m drinking. Basically I try to make sure I’m drinking at least 2 Dixie cups of fluid each hour. Usually at first I’m ok but over the course of a couple hours it becomes increasingly uncomfortable.

And in terms of hunger-I have ZERO appetite. I have absolutely no desire to eat or drink. Even seeing my family eat things I’ve historically enjoyed has not tempted me at all. It all just seems so off putting. And as others have experienced it feels like my tastes have changed. I used to genuinely enjoy Protein Shakes, even before I ever started in a weight loss program, but now I find them fairly revolting. I’m drinking them because I have to but it’s not easy.

Anyway just sharing my experience to perhaps provide another data point in the conversation.

It is so interesting how we all experience things so differently.

I’m day 3 post-op and it is legit work for me to get the daily Fluid requirements. Drinking, even relatively small sips, can often lead to it feeling like my stomach and esophagus spasming. I’ve tried fluids at different temperatures-I think warm works the best, but even that’s not perfect. I’ve tried using hyoscyamine which has been somewhat helpful. But even with that I’m having to be exceedingly mindful of how much I’m drinking. Basically I try to make sure I’m drinking at least 2 Dixie cups of fluid each hour. Usually at first I’m ok but over the course of a couple hours it becomes increasingly uncomfortable.

And in terms of hunger-I have ZERO appetite. I have absolutely no desire to eat or drink. Even seeing my family eat things I’ve historically enjoyed has not tempted me at all. It all just seems so off putting. And as others have experienced it feels like my tastes have changed. I used to genuinely enjoy Protein Shakes, even before I ever started in a weight loss program, but now I find them fairly revolting. I’m drinking them because I have to but it’s not easy.

Anyway just sharing my experience to perhaps provide another data point in the conversation.

It is so interesting how we all experience things so differently.

I’m day 3 post-op and it is legit work for me to get the daily Fluid requirements. Drinking, even relatively small sips, can often lead to it feeling like my stomach and esophagus spasming. I’ve tried fluids at different temperatures-I think warm works the best, but even that’s not perfect. I’ve tried using hyoscyamine which has been somewhat helpful. But even with that I’m having to be exceedingly mindful of how much I’m drinking. Basically I try to make sure I’m drinking at least 2 Dixie cups of fluid each hour. Usually at first I’m ok but over the course of a couple hours it becomes increasingly uncomfortable.

And in terms of hunger-I have ZERO appetite. I have absolutely no desire to eat or drink. Even seeing my family eat things I’ve historically enjoyed has not tempted me at all. It all just seems so off putting. And as others have experienced it feels like my tastes have changed. I used to genuinely enjoy Protein Shakes, even before I ever started in a weight loss program, but now I find them fairly revolting. I’m drinking them because I have to but it’s not easy.

Anyway just sharing my experience to perhaps provide another data point in the conversation.

I’m scheduled for March 11. Just waiting for insurance approval. best of luck!

March 11 sleeve here

So I’m preop, a little under 3 weeks to go until my surgery. I’ve lost almost 70 lbs.

As many of you have experienced I’m sure, a number of people have complimented me/made comments about how much weight I’ve lost.

However I still myself as a “fat” person. When I look in the mirror, my eyes go to my “big” belly which I guess isn’t so big anymore but to my eyes really doesn’t look any different. Whenever I’m out and about, I still have a perception that people look at me as the “big” guy but that may not be the case.

Have you all been through something similar? What has it been like to change your self-perception?

Got insurance approval so it’s finally really real!

Got insurance approval so it’s finally really real!

My starting BMI was 39.7 (with hypertension and high cholesterol) and after about 6 months of participating in the medically supervised weight loss program, my BMI is about 29.8. During the first few months of participating in the program I thought strongly about not pursuing surgery. However after giving it serious thought and reviewing my own personal weight loss history of having gained and lost about 500 lbs in my life and discussing with my surgeon it really became clear that this is the right (and really only) decision for me.

My hope is that I can finally get down to a weight I’ve always tried to get to, have come close to, but have never attained (about 185 lbs, BMI would be about 26 but I have a good amount of muscle mass). More than that, though, I hope to use the surgery as a tool to lock in long-term habits and changes so that I can maintain the weight loss long term and stop all this yo-yo’ing I’ve been doing for 20 years.

Just sharing in the event this perspective is helpful.

March 11 sleeve here

Not trying to sugar coat things, but simply trying to offer a hopeful/optimistic perspective:

The good news with your decision to take better control of your health by pursuing WLS necessitated that this pancreatic issue got worked up prior to going ahead with WLS. Perhaps if you hadn’t made this decision, the pancreatic issue would have become more of a problem if it hadn’t been discovered or if you had waited longer to have it worked up.

Again not trying to minimize your anxiety and how frustrating this whole process can be for so many reasons, but just trying to maybe reframe your outlook on this as something else that will lead to improved health for you.

I hope that you get an answer quickly, that it’s benign, and that you can proceed with WLS ASAP. My best wishes to you.

March 11 sleeve here

Just an update-really good news guys! The cyst is actually forming from my kidney. Soooo the doctor has decided to monitor it every 6 months since cytology came back with everything being non-malignant. This means after my March 3rd psych appointment everything will be sent into the insurance! I’m super excited & ready.

I’m scheduled for March 11. Just waiting for insurance approval. best of luck!

Ahhh man good luck on that! Hopefully they approve you with no problems.
Thankfully, my surgeon didn't require me to lose weight.

Not trying to sugar coat things, but simply trying to offer a hopeful/optimistic perspective:

The good news with your decision to take better control of your health by pursuing WLS necessitated that this pancreatic issue got worked up prior to going ahead with WLS. Perhaps if you hadn’t made this decision, the pancreatic issue would have become more of a problem if it hadn’t been discovered or if you had waited longer to have it worked up.

Again not trying to minimize your anxiety and how frustrating this whole process can be for so many reasons, but just trying to maybe reframe your outlook on this as something else that will lead to improved health for you.

I hope that you get an answer quickly, that it’s benign, and that you can proceed with WLS ASAP. My best wishes to you.

Not trying to sugar coat things, but simply trying to offer a hopeful/optimistic perspective:

The good news with your decision to take better control of your health by pursuing WLS necessitated that this pancreatic issue got worked up prior to going ahead with WLS. Perhaps if you hadn’t made this decision, the pancreatic issue would have become more of a problem if it hadn’t been discovered or if you had waited longer to have it worked up.

Again not trying to minimize your anxiety and how frustrating this whole process can be for so many reasons, but just trying to maybe reframe your outlook on this as something else that will lead to improved health for you.

I hope that you get an answer quickly, that it’s benign, and that you can proceed with WLS ASAP. My best wishes to you.

Thank you, this is great and helpful! I'd just add, that the "fear," at least from my perspective, is a Fear of Missing Out--it's that voice that says to you, "if you don't eat this (yummy whatever) right this instant, then you may not ever get to again! you don't want to miss that, do you?" it's similar to the other fears you mentioned and I think what you said about simply labeling these reactions as being really important makes a lot of sense, but I just wanted to add this to the discussion.

Thank you, this is great and helpful! I'd just add, that the "fear," at least from my perspective, is a Fear of Missing Out--it's that voice that says to you, "if you don't eat this (yummy whatever) right this instant, then you may not ever get to again! you don't want to miss that, do you?" it's similar to the other fears you mentioned and I think what you said about simply labeling these reactions as being really important makes a lot of sense, but I just wanted to add this to the discussion.

Congrats dude. Awesome and inspiring! You must feel so good!

I don't think you'll find anyone on the forum who not only struggles to make good choices consistently, but also to accept that you can make a bad choice, forgive yourself and move on. This is the nature of the beast. It is really difficult to try to stay on very low calorie intake before your surgery. I'd focus more on high-quality choices, maybe trying out high-protein recipes, getting in more Water, etc. Instill those habits now. The drop in calories will happen naturally after the surgery. One warning - do NOT get in the habit of Protein Shakes now or you will be sooooo burned out by the time you actually need them! Best of luck to you!

Not that I’m a veteran by any means but I guess I’ve been here longer than you so I’ll take the opportunity to say welcome! This really is a great community ripe with knowledge and support! Congrats on your decision and well wishes on your journey.

Not that I’m a veteran by any means but I guess I’ve been here longer than you so I’ll take the opportunity to say welcome! This really is a great community ripe with knowledge and support! Congrats on your decision and well wishes on your journey.