Suzi_the_Q

Right??

So, back when I was normal sized before, I did waist training with actual corsets, Victorian- style. You need a corset with steel bones, both flats and spirals, and a steel busk in the front. Yes, they work. It takes about 6 months to a year of slowly tightening them down about 1/2 inch per week or 2. It's best to get a custom made one (Etsy) and wear a thin tank top underneath so it stays clean. You have to wear it to bed too, though loosened. I permanently moved my ribs and pulled my (uncorsetted) waist in by about 4-6". It takes 6 months to a year for your bones to recalcify in their new shape, afterwards it's more or less permanent, though over time some spread can happen. I recommend doing your research first as it can be dangerous if you go too fast or use the wrong garments. Under all my bulk I can still feel the sharp hourglass shape of my bones even though it's been around 15ish years since I did this in earnest. I think I wore them every day for at least a year to achieve this. It IS work, but you get results Here's a website that can help you get started if you wish to go this way. https://www.orchardcorset.com/pages/how-to-waist-train-safe-effective

My surgeon requires the mammogram and pap, plus birth control, so the IUD. My PCP wants the urine collection and the ultrasound (because I have leak issues and haven't had a regular period in about 8 months, likely due to weight.)

Yes, a few of them are doubled up/ back to back. I also have a couple in the same day but across town from each other. My insurance won't pay for me to have my pap and IUD in the same appointment, so that's a nonsensical split.

You're so lucky- my insurance requires a 6 month, doctor supervised diet, so my surgery won't be until late December at the very earliest, most likely January or February.

From what I understand (I'm still pre-op), when you lose all that fat it dumps a ton of hormones into your body which can really affect your emotions/ depression. Luckily, that's temporary and will pass. Are you on psych meds? If so, when was the last time you had them rejiggered? Bypass changes your metabolism and how you absorb things too, so it may be that you need to work with your doctor/ psychiatrist on finding the right combination for you in your new body. Depression can really wear you out and we're all going through such stressful times right now. Aside from that, the B-12 and iron as mentioned above, you may want to add a probiotic to your regular course of vitamins. (I recommend flor restore- you can find it in regular drug stores and often the grocery store too). They're learning so much now about how gut bacteria impacts the brain including happiness/ depression. It may help.

Oh- I take non-essentials like collagen, saw palmetto, and hyaluronic acid for skin and hair. Plus flaxseed oil (omega 3,6,9), vitamin C, and D3. But thank you- I'll likely replace my multivitamin with the bariatric pal one when I get my surgery. Currently I take a pre-natal as my multi because it makes my hair amazing. (Yes I know I may lose some hair after surgery).

Addendum question: what about vitamins/ supplements? I take a LOT of vitamins for assorted things now (pre-op) and some of them are rather large- will I be able to take them still post-op?

So, I had pretty much the same question and got some really helpful answers on this thread here. Hope it helps.

Wow! How long did it take you to lose the weight?

Spoke to my surgeon's office today for the initial consult since they've got my paperwork. My insurance requires the 6 month monitored diet. I wish I had realized that/ my PCP had barely mentioned it in February so that I could have gotten started. =( Several years ago I lost 95lbs and kept it off for about 5 years- prior to pregnancy and then 3 subsequent car accidents that gave me mobility issues. I feel like I know what I need to do and I'm worried that the 6 months out will put me right in the middle of our next big wave of flu and Covid-19. The surgery scheduler told me that I wouldn't have surgery until January/ February (!?!) THAT'S SO FAR AWAY!!! =( Best case scenario is that with Covid-19 my insurance starts allowing waivers for the diet, but they're not even close to doing that rn with the state kinda opening back up. I'm just really anxious to get this going. I've debated about it with myself for YEARS and I'm very ready now! It seems like everything takes at least a week with them- like they're gong over my paperwork this week so I can take the pee/ drug test next week, then I have to wait another however long to get an appointment with the Dr. to get my 1st official weigh in so I can get started etc. I'm just so frustrated!

So, my mom is not very supportive of my decision to go the surgery route at ALL. She herself has struggled with her weight her whole life and is an overeaters anonymous/ program person. She's a binge eater and in no way can moderate herself at all, it's on the wagon or off for her. I am not. In the past without surgery I lost 95 lbs sans surgery and kept it off for years through moderate diet and exercise until #1 pregnancy & #2 major back injuries severely impeded my mobility. Fast forward I'm heavier than I was before and not able to gym rat the way I used to at my current weight. I alway used exercise as a way of keeping myself honest and focused on my moderate diet. I plan to use the surgery in the same way- i.e. I'm not going to go through all that just to screw it up! She used to try to scare me out of surgery by saying that it could kill me, or that I could still mess it up and gain it all back (she wishes), now her thing is telling me that I'm not going to eat anymore and that I love food aren't I going to miss it etc. ? I told her that I'd love being healthy more, but goddamn it! From what I gather, after your body has evened out you can have small amounts of just about whatever, depending on how your system handles it. If not though, do you miss food? I'm definitely going through with the surgery, I just want to know. It sucks not really having an in person support system. My sister is so dead-set against it I'm not even telling her until after it's all done. Then again she has never had weight issues (her current thing is fasting for 18-20 hours per day which sounds like a repackaged version of anorexia tbh.)

Schedule a wheelchair for yourself for the flight home. They take you from the curb to your gate, handle your baggage and generally take good care of you.

Hey just FYI, nicotine can cause ulcers (as well as NSAIDs) post-op. That includes the patch and vaping, so you may want to get on quitting before surgery so you can still use the patch/ gum to help you quit. My doctor insists on quitting prior to surgery, I'm surprised yours hasn't been more forthright about it. Best of luck, quitting isn't easy, but so worth it!

They have medications to help you stop drinking and smoking now, if you want to ask your Dr. about it. Good luck!

"Does your mum’s negativity come from her fear that you’ll lose weight when she can’t or the loss of something you currently share (eating and being overweight)? " I don't think it's that, I think it's that in a way she thinks I'm taking the "easy" way out or something. She's very much an OA dieter, has been for 25+ years and it's a bit of a cult, honestly. I think it might a little bit be preemptive jealousy, like if/when I get thin and manage to STAY that way in a way that she perceives as easier than it would be for her. (Her weight goes up and down.) I don't have the misconception that this is easy or that the diet throughout and for the rest of my life will be a no brainer or anything though. She has weird identification issues with me (not my sister) and jealousy stuff that I don't get I think because I'm the one that looks like her. She tends to project a lot onto me. I think also the idea of surgery at all just scares her. She is starting to come around to the idea of surgery for me the more I explain it to her though. Today I told her about this thread and the answers to these question. She was very impressed that I'm a member of a support group and really learning about it beforehand. I've literally been thinking about this for a couple of years though, so it's not that surprising. Also when I explained that I'm doing it in large part for my son- he's 5 and developmentally disabled and very active in ways that I can't keep up with. I feel like I'm missing half of his life and I don't want that. She agreed and is being more positive, so that's good.

I figured that was pretty much how it would be, and that bottomless hole thing- that's exactly how I feel sometimes and why I want to do this. I hate that it takes so much for me to feel satisfied. I'm so sorry about your sister, but at least it made you change your lifestyle for the better.

I'm in Oregon. I don't smoke because I'm asthmatic, so no worries there. I just can't wait to get this process going. I guess the lockdown has me more focused on it.

I just spoke to my bariatric center today and since my state is reopening elective surgeries May 1st they're sending me the initial packet and paperwork! I'm so bummed at myself for having an edible last week, I basically never use MJ but I was trying to relax with all this Covid stress. Now I have to wait 6 weeks to pass a drug test- what?? Meanwhile I still haven't gone through my insurance yet so I know that'll be another THING, but I'm EXCITED- and a little terrified. Maybe as soon as 6 weeks I can have my surgery?? It seems unreal. I'm just hoping and praying it's true, I really need a win right now.

Yeah, I made the mistake of telling my sister last night and now she won't leave me alone about her starvation diet.

Yes Oregon is an all legal state. The receptionist stated specifically that there's a pre-op drug test and the website mentions cannabis cessation too. Meh. Reading about it, the edible is probably no longer detectable in my system now since I only did a little bit and it's not a habit at all for me. By the time all the paperwork and everything has gone through I should be fine.

I'm in Oregon (with OHP insurance) and I'm having a really hard time finding ANY DS surgeons in the state. I used the tool on the site and only came up with 2 that actually look legit. Does anyone have any advice or recommendations? I'm 90% certain DS is the right surgery for me, it's just been difficult getting started.

Thank you!

My PCP just put in the referral for me about a month ago. I haven't heard from them so I called today and the bariatric practice is not scheduling any appointments "until things cool down." I mentioned that it could take a year to which they said, "yeah, maybe." I asked about tele appointments to get me started- nope. I'm so disappointed! They told me to call back in a few weeks to see if they were opening up again. I hope so. I really wish I had settled on this course of action 6 months ago instead. Then I'd already be losing the weight. =(

Meh. My PCP just put in my referral for a bariatric specialist last month but now with all elective surgeries cancelled, who knows now when they'll call! I'm so bummed out.