NovaLuna

Originally I was also going to use a different surgeon, but they had a wait list that would have made me wait three more months and COVID hit around that time so my surgery would have undoubtedly been delayed so I'm glad I went with a different surgeon. It worked out in the end and I'm incredibly happy with my results. It may be a different choice from your original, but I hope it works out as well for you as it did for me! I hope the rest of your journey is much smoother!

Hey guys. New here. On Medicaid only and starting the long road to approval. I’m currently 34, 418 lbs, 6’0. I have high blood pressure, sleep apnea, diabetes (type II), and high cholesterol. I started in January seeing a doctor for my 6 month physician led weight loss attempt and documentation. I was on adipex as well as lipotropic injections through them. My first visit was in January and I was at 413. I hovered 399-413 over the first 5 months, and on my 7th visit in September, weighed in at my highest of 418. I spoke with a physician in Huntsville at the beginning of my journey and they told me to go ahead and complete my 6 month plan, and then come to them for the rest. I called them and was bummed to find they recently stopped taking patients with Medicaid only. I was heartbroken. I had searched for years to find this physician. However, the recommended a doctor to me who ended up being my long term family surgeon. He just recently began accepting Medicaid only patients for bariatric surgery. I got a referral for a cardiology consult and psych consult. Going to psych next week and hopefully cardio as well. Then will get to meet with the surgeon. Praying so hard everything goes well.

When I STARTED the process for WLS I was 389 pounds (in 2019). My highest recorded weight ever was 392 pounds (in 2017). My weight on the day of surgery was 321 pounds. At 6 months post-op I was 237 pounds. I reached my goal weight at 18 months 1 day post op and I'm down an extra two pounds passed that so far. I started having stalls 3 months post op and have had them every single month since. I'm currently in one right now, as a matter of fact lol (17 day stall so far).

Sometimes your hormones from the weight loss can totally mess up your cycle! My own was really messed up at one point and I had my period then was off it for about a week and had it again and then was off it for a week again and had it again and it kept recycling that for about two months (in which I had my period about 5 times) before it even itself out. I did bring it up to my doctor, but by that point it had even itself out again. She told me that if it happened again she'd give me some meds to hopefully regulate it so you could always bring it up with your PCP.

When I STARTED the process for WLS I was 389 pounds (in 2019). My highest recorded weight ever was 392 pounds (in 2017). My weight on the day of surgery was 321 pounds. At 6 months post-op I was 237 pounds. I reached my goal weight at 18 months 1 day post op and I'm down an extra two pounds passed that so far. I started having stalls 3 months post op and have had them every single month since. I'm currently in one right now, as a matter of fact lol (17 day stall so far).

I agree with @NovaLuna.You have to work with a nutritionist and therapist and get support from whomever is bringing you food. I think you mentioned in another post that you were limited to your bed, so someone must be bringing you food. Try to track your food by weighing/measuring everything you eat and limit carbs and increase Protein to keep you full on fewer calories. Don't drink regular soda and if possible, stop diet soda because after surgery you won't be able to drink carbonation. Try to only have drinks with no calories (except maybe drink a Protein Shake for Breakfast or something).
But really, even if you work with a nutritionist and therapist, it's a life long commitment and it's not easy!
Best of luck and keep us posted!

I think everyone is different. I had no issues giving up carbs or eating healthier, as long as I get results it keeps me on track. But everyone is different. I have a co-workers who had WLS and are strict about their diet years out and the results speak for themselves. I have co-workers who had WLS who aren't as strict, but don't have terrible habits, just the occasional 'bad' habit that still have good to decent results. Then I have co-workers who are years out and have gained back half their weight AT LEAST because they've gone back to their bad habits. (My place of employment has over 250 employees and weight loss surgery is fairly common there... I can think of more than a dozen people off the top of my head who've had it...). Personally, if you know that you have food addictions, then you should DEFINITELY see a psyche doctor regularly and they can help you work through it. I know if I start to struggle, I won't hesitate to make an appointment for myself if I feel I need it.

Hair loss is normal in weight loss. It sucks. I remember mine started around 4 or 5 months out. It stops after a few months. Also, it looks like a lot to YOU, but people around you won't even notice. At least in my own experience, anyway.

A nutritionist/dietitian and a therapist are extremely helpful in a weight loss journey. The nutritionist/dietitian helps set you up with a diet plan and helps get you into better eating habits prior to surgery so it's not such a drastic change once you actually HAVE the surgery. The therapist helps you work through if you have disordered eating (such as binging) or if you're going through some other stuff in your life such as depression, stress, anxiety, etc (which are known to add to weight gain).
Weight loss is never easy and one of the most difficult things is finding support in those you live with. You'll be on a special diet and it'll be easier on YOU if those you live with aren't bringing in the things you used to eat which would tempt to cheat on your diet. Try and talk it out with them and stress how important to you it is that they don't bring junk food into the house. Willpower is such a difficult thing. I admit, that if I hadn't developed a wheat allergy after surgery what would have ruined me is the junk food that my family brings into the house. Because of my wheat allergy, I can't eat that food. Nor can I get fast food (of which they eat a LOT). So the wheat allergy is a blessing. A sucky as hell blessing, but a blessing none the less lol (there is only a 3% chance of developing a wheat allergy or Celiac's Disease after your surgery. So chances are you'll be fine. My luck just sucks. Well, maybe not, because I really do consider the allergy a blessing in disguise as it keeps me on track and stops me from cheating as I, quite literally, have to keep track of every little thing I eat and the ingredients in what I put into my mouth).

Um, SADI is not a mini bypass hun. It's another name for the SIPS/Loop Duodenal Switch surgery. And because the sleeve is, quite literally, the first part of the surgery they probably didn't feel the need to mess with your stomach and just went ahead and did the intestinal bit. They should have at least checked to see if there was any stretching in your original pouch, but if they didn't see anything wrong with it's size then they wouldn't have felt the need to mess with it because that would have been pointless if it wasn't necessary. If your surgeon didn't at least check your pouch then I'd complain, but if they did and didn't feel the need to mess with it then you're fine. Yes, it massively sucks that because they didn't work on your pouch you have your hunger hormone and can eat more than you would right after surgery, so that's bound to be difficult. I, myself, didn't have a revision, but had the full SADI/SIPS/Loop DS surgery 19 months ago right out the gate. It's a powerful tool and malabsorption should work really well for you weight loss as long as you watch your intake. Keep in mind that the Protein and Vitamin levels necessary are much higher than for the VSG so what you're eating is very important. Also, keep in mind that you're still really early in your revision and there's always that pesky stall that most people get right in the first month of weight loss. Buyers remorse in the beginning is normal. I know I felt it for the first two weeks or so, but I got over it pretty quickly after that and I just wish I'd done it for myself sooner. I hope everything works out for you and I wish you luck on your new journey!

I've only had three surgeries, but I've been put under a LOT because I've had multiple EGD's due to my EoE. You go into the OR and they prep you, and maybe ask you some questions and then with two of the surgeries they put me to sleep via the IV in my arm. I remember I woke after my WLS and felt like I got hit by a BUS! There was only one of my three surgeries that differed as it was brain surgery and they instead put on an oxygen mask over my face and I got the anesthesia that way for that one and they thought I'd get claustrophobic because a lot of patients start to panic with the mask on supposedly, but I was really calm and was complimented for that (next thing I remember about that one was waking up in recovery with the WORST headache of my LIFE and at that point the worst nausea of my life up until the nurse tells me that my sister is there to see me and the second my sister walked in I vomited! She thought it was hilarious that I puked as soon as I saw her lol.)

I've only had three surgeries, but I've been put under a LOT because I've had multiple EGD's due to my EoE. You go into the OR and they prep you, and maybe ask you some questions and then with two of the surgeries they put me to sleep via the IV in my arm. I remember I woke after my WLS and felt like I got hit by a BUS! There was only one of my three surgeries that differed as it was brain surgery and they instead put on an oxygen mask over my face and I got the anesthesia that way for that one and they thought I'd get claustrophobic because a lot of patients start to panic with the mask on supposedly, but I was really calm and was complimented for that (next thing I remember about that one was waking up in recovery with the WORST headache of my LIFE and at that point the worst nausea of my life up until the nurse tells me that my sister is there to see me and the second my sister walked in I vomited! She thought it was hilarious that I puked as soon as I saw her lol.)

Stalls are normal. They suck. But they're normal. I've had soooooooo many. More than anyone I've ever seen on this site to be perfectly honest. I've had many that lasted in the 20-ish day range, two in the 30-ish day range, and even one that lasted in the 40-ish day range. Currently it's been 31 days since I last lost a pound. Of course, I also have hypothryoidism so... I knew stalls were going to bite me in the ass. All you can really do is eat as you're supposed to and just try and ride it out. You can try adjusting what you're eating if you feel like it will help, but often times all you can do is wait.
Also, most people get their first stall in week 3 post op. There are thousands of posts on it. It's, unfortunately, very common. Hope yours passes soon!

Immediately after surgery you are on liquid diet so you can't really tell tbh. But, the first time I had a Protein Shake a few days after surgery it was suuuuuper sweet to me, where before my surgery I didn't feel like it was sweet enough. So, by that I'd say yeah. Your taste buds do change almost immediately. At least by that experience. I hated eggs before my surgery... and I still hate them after surgery though so some things don't change.

Immediately after surgery you are on liquid diet so you can't really tell tbh. But, the first time I had a Protein Shake a few days after surgery it was suuuuuper sweet to me, where before my surgery I didn't feel like it was sweet enough. So, by that I'd say yeah. Your taste buds do change almost immediately. At least by that experience. I hated eggs before my surgery... and I still hate them after surgery though so some things don't change.

I lost 23 pounds the first month... but I was also over 300 pounds. Also, there something called the 'three week stall' that many people get in the beginning of their journey. That skipped me. There are thousands of posts about the three week stall so you can look it up if you want. You may be going through that yourself. It usually happens within the first month after surgery and can last up to 3 weeks.

I lost 23 pounds the first month... but I was also over 300 pounds. Also, there something called the 'three week stall' that many people get in the beginning of their journey. That skipped me. There are thousands of posts about the three week stall so you can look it up if you want. You may be going through that yourself. It usually happens within the first month after surgery and can last up to 3 weeks.

Not the first few months, but I'm almost 20 months out and currently going through that. I have to take benadryl 50mg 3x a day because if I don't I get hives on my arms, legs, back, neck, etc. We don't really know exactly what's causing it, but I developed two allergies that we know of after surgery. 1. Wheat allergy 2. NSAID allergy. I got a gluten free pizza a week and a half ago and they weren't careful when they made it so I got hives and other issues from the wheat contaminated pizza so maybe that's part of the reason I'm currently having issues with the hives. A month ago I tried the third and LAST NSAID that made my doctor put me down for an NSAID allergy because I ended up getting a giant hives rash on my back that is STILL there, but is mostly healed. So my doctor thinks the hives are in part my allergies, but also part stress (which, yep, I agree with).
So your allergies may be a new food or medication allergy OR it could be stress. Or a combo of both. Maybe narrow down when they started and if you started eating or taking anything new around that time.

Let me stress that I am consuming plenty of Water, exactly enough Protein, and I’m following the full liquid diet to perfection. I’m using sugar free, lactose free, fat free, high protein milk for my Protein Shakes. I’m eating sugar free Jello, and low sodium, low fat Soup that is blended and strained. I’m active, up and moving around… but I’ve lost nothing. Literally, nothing. What is going on?

Weight can have a 1-5 pound fluctuation on the daily. I was so mad about that last week because at one point I was up 7 pounds (which is over the 5 pound average) and got up to 185 last week. Of course it turns out a lot of that was due to inflammation from my arthritis (and doing physical therapy), but turns out it was also because of my monthly because after that started I got right back down to 178 (178.2 if you want my EXACT weight)... which is what I am today. Still... I've been in a stall for nearly 4 weeks now and I really do hope I'm not in maintenance. I would like to at least see 170 before I get there.
I'd say don't stress about the daily fluctuations, but from experience if you continue to hold onto that extra weight more than two days in a row you'll definitely stress about it.

My first goal was 180. The last weight I remember when I was social and comfortable enough with my appearance that I went out and did things like bowling league. I just reached 180.7 today!!

I had low standards lol. For me I was excited to fit into non plus sized clothing (I used to be a 34 in US womens jeans. I'm now a 12), when I had my blood pressure taken at the doctors office I wanted them to be able to take it on my upper arm like a normal person instead of having it on my wrist because it didn't fit my upper arm, when I had to do tests at the doctor's I was looking forward to not having to ask for a plus sized gown anymore, to being able to fit into the back seat of a car again (the seat belt in the back seats used to never fit me. it made family road trips difficult), to being able to sit in a booth at a restaurant again, to not get out of breath walking for more than 5 minutes, etc. Those were all the things I looked forward to most. And I've met all of those goals.

I lost 68 pounds leading up to my surgery. 15 pounds of that during the pre-op diet, so 53 pounds before the pre-op diet. I don't feel like it affected my weight loss after surgery and the surgeon actually said it was better to lose as much weight as you can before your surgery because then you'll lose more overall, but I guess every surgeon has a different opinion on that... I've lost 143 pounds post-op (so 211 pounds in total) and am still losing. Slowly, but still losing. My slower then average loss is because of my hypothyroidism though. And inflammation from my arthritis. You'll probably be fine. And surgeons just give people a statistical average. Those averages include a mix of people who follow the diet religiously and those who somewhat follow the diet and those who basically eat whatever they want after they get back into the general diet because they don't care anymore (or the ones who drink their calories and then don't count those calories among what they ate for the day and wonder why they're not losing weight... hmm, I wonder... -_-"). Anyway, if you follow the plan and watch your intake then I don't see why you couldn't pass the statistical average and reach your goal.

I lost 68 pounds leading up to my surgery. 15 pounds of that during the pre-op diet, so 53 pounds before the pre-op diet. I don't feel like it affected my weight loss after surgery and the surgeon actually said it was better to lose as much weight as you can before your surgery because then you'll lose more overall, but I guess every surgeon has a different opinion on that... I've lost 143 pounds post-op (so 211 pounds in total) and am still losing. Slowly, but still losing. My slower then average loss is because of my hypothyroidism though. And inflammation from my arthritis. You'll probably be fine. And surgeons just give people a statistical average. Those averages include a mix of people who follow the diet religiously and those who somewhat follow the diet and those who basically eat whatever they want after they get back into the general diet because they don't care anymore (or the ones who drink their calories and then don't count those calories among what they ate for the day and wonder why they're not losing weight... hmm, I wonder... -_-"). Anyway, if you follow the plan and watch your intake then I don't see why you couldn't pass the statistical average and reach your goal.

I can totally understand being upset by them suddenly adding an extra two months when you already worked your ass off to get where you are. You just have to remind yourself on how far you've come and how close you are to getting your surgery. Two months is nothing! It flies by! I did the 6 month weigh in thing myself and due to my six months falling around Thanksgiving my surgery got knocked back due to them being overscheduled so, for me, it was actually 8 months from my first appointment to my surgery. I, however, wasn't given a set amount of weight to lose. I was just told not to GAIN weight. I choose to try to lose as much weight as I could though and to try to get myself into healthier eating habits before my surgery and I was proud that I'd lost 68 pounds during that time. Now I'm almost 18 months post op and time has flown by! Right now two months seems like forever, but it'll go by fast! Try not to be discouraged! You'll get there!