Suzi_the_Q

check out "The World According to Eggface" blog. She had weight loss surgery several years ago and loves cooking (she's also very active in the bariatric community - including on the board of the Obesity Action Committee). She's got recipes for all stages on here:
http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/

Well dang I don’t remember signing on to become a lifelong bariatric surgery counselor when I got surgery. I’m a private person and I don’t discuss my medical issues with people I’m not very close with.

There’s a huge difference between me just living my life and not sharing my personal medical information and someone positioning themselves as a weight loss expert/influencer and not disclosing it. I’ve had some comments on how great my skin looks at my age as well, and for some people I offer a thanks, and for others I offer information on my Botox provider. It’s almost like I’m an adult who doesn’t owe every human I meet my life story. Do you think I should put a sign on my door that outlines my various surgeries and medical procedures on the off chance it influences someone? Oh maybe I should also list any marital/child rearing difficulties I’ve ever had and information on my bowel habits too. Or do I maybe have the right to decide who I share what information with?

Let people live their lives and worry about yourself and your own decisions.

I had initially planned to be open but after raising the topic with a close friend and family member and getting into an argument about how ridiculous and unnecessary it was I decided to keep it to myself. I don’t owe ANYONE an explanation about the decisions I make about MY life.

I've found when I've told ppl casually, I get instantly written off, like I don't have to work at it at all or watch what I eat, exercise etc. So, I'm pretty much going to keep it to myself.

I've found when I've told ppl casually, I get instantly written off, like I don't have to work at it at all or watch what I eat, exercise etc. So, I'm pretty much going to keep it to myself.

I've found when I've told ppl casually, I get instantly written off, like I don't have to work at it at all or watch what I eat, exercise etc. So, I'm pretty much going to keep it to myself.

I've found when I've told ppl casually, I get instantly written off, like I don't have to work at it at all or watch what I eat, exercise etc. So, I'm pretty much going to keep it to myself.

I have told my family and my best friend. I wont tell others because people that have never been overweight or obese havent got a clue. They are judgemental even if they say they arent. In subtle ways and in not so subtle ways I have been treated differently by most people because of my weight. The last thing I want to hear is someone said “she took the easy way out”. This is far from the easy way out. Being a diabetic nearly made weight loss impossible for me. I do not see it as a lie in any way. I see it as a personal choice. I dont owe it to any one to be truthful about this journey as long as Im truthful with myself.

My first post to this forum and I'm grateful I found you.
My surgeon does Band to Bypass in two steps. I had my band removed about two months ago. Except for tugging on a stitch I didn't know was there and having that hurt bad, it went smoothly. Four days ago I went in for step two... RNY.
I was told in advance that there was about 20% chance that adhesions from a prior surgery (colon resection) might prevent the doc from pulling up the small intestine to meet the stomach. Imagine my surprise when I woke up and the nurse handed me ice Water to drink. I knew I didn't have the bypass. Why?
Holy Can of Worms Batman! I'm still waiting to get photographs from the doctor since I barely remember seeing them in post op but my initial Band Surgeon (Dr. Kuri in TJ) something "EXTREMELY" rare. (yup, my doc replied in caps to that) When I had the band in 2004 he said he put an extra stitch in to avoid slippage. I'm not sure what I have yet but apparently it was to dangerous to fix. I know there were stitches the doctor couldn't see when he removed the band and that my stomach is in the wrong place and he couldn't fix it.
I've tried contacting Dr. Kuri just to find out what his technique was called or if my doc could talk to him or something. No such luck.
My stomach is in knots in every way possible. I'm hoping to find out more about Dr. Kuri's surgical technique around 2004. Staff non-responsive so far.

I'm happy to report that this has gone away- THANK the GODS! I guess it was just my stomach fully healing. Thank you for all the advice and sympathy!

A lot more space between my tummy and the steering wheel, much roomier chairs.

A lot more space between my tummy and the steering wheel, much roomier chairs.

Girllllll it's WAY too early to start freaking out. First off, you often GAIN anywhere between 5-15 lbs from the fluids they pump into you and swelling. That can take a couple of weeks to shake off, plus your surgery involves a lot of sutures- so again SWELLING. Secondly, your body has just been through what it perceives as a trauma; it's a whole lot of chaos as far as it's concerned and it may take a little while to get with the program you have in mind. Lastly, there's that damned 3 week stall thing... Mine came at about 2 or 2.5 weeks... and lasted more than 3 weeks from there. It was very disheartening, but it did break eventually! (And I've had smaller stalls since, I've learned to live with it.)
It's not a race, it's a marathon, and really this is a lifestyle change.
RE: when you "get to look ok"? WLS patients have a lot of body dysmorphia issues. In your mind, you may get to your goal and still not feel like that. It's something to address with a counselor, setting your expectations realistically. (I may be wrong, you may have realistic expectations but are expressing it as part of this general frustration.)
Generally, I think you are being too hard on yourself and need to be a kinder to yourself during this process. You're doing all the right things. Everyone who goes through this is afraid it won't work for them. Give it some time and keep doing what you're doing. Maybe contact your surgeon about what your expectations should be; this type of surgery is pretty new, so it may be a little different.
It'll be ok, just give it time.

It’s been a little over 3 months, so here are some updated progress pics! Scar continues to fade, but it’s not like anyone sees it anyway! I love my flat tummy and someday will treat myself to a spray tan so I can really enjoy it! Lol!!

Loving my new body!

A lot more space between my tummy and the steering wheel, much roomier chairs.

The sous vide bites. Hella Protein.

A lot more space between my tummy and the steering wheel, much roomier chairs.

This whole process of getting my insurance to approve this surgery is a freaking nightmare. I started this whole process in August of 2020. I did everything the surgeon and insurance required of me. Got a tentative surgery date of 12/9/20. I was so excited! My insurance denied me in November. They said they needed more info and I needed more classes ( I had already done 12, I just did all of them in 2 months). So my team added on 4 more classes, once each month and resent all of my info highlighting the info ins. claimed to not have. Got a new date of March 19. End of Feb. I got ANOTHER denial because they are STILL claiming to not have all of my info. My team sent it yet again and got confirmation that it was received. I was rescheduled again and again and again, each time having to have it pushed because the ins needed more time. Always more time. It's finally to the point that I stopped scheduling because the back and forth with the ins. is endless. I got another denial last week because now it's different info that they didn't get. Stuff that was previously sent on multiple occasions but now is just magically not in my file. So my team sent it all again and the waiting starts all over. I have strayed so far off course I have gained back everything I previously lost and then some. I know I need to get back on track just in case by some divine intervention my insurance actually approves my surgery I'm not scrambling to get back down at the last minute but it's so hard. I've fallen back into my depression pit and just feel hopeless. There is no way I can self pay. I don't want to give up but that little nagging voice in my head just keeps telling me it will never happen for me. That I'm just not worth it. I wish I could afford an attorney or an advocate aside from surgical team but that's not in the cards for me either. Blah... Sorry to be a Debby Downer, I just don't have many people that understand where I'm at that I can vent to.

A lot more space between my tummy and the steering wheel, much roomier chairs.

A lot more space between my tummy and the steering wheel, much roomier chairs.

I'm happy to report that this has gone away- THANK the GODS! I guess it was just my stomach fully healing. Thank you for all the advice and sympathy!

A lot more space between my tummy and the steering wheel, much roomier chairs.

A lot more space between my tummy and the steering wheel, much roomier chairs.

I made a request for an LGBTQIA Room in a "contact us" email. I suggest others do so as well.

A lot more space between my tummy and the steering wheel, much roomier chairs.