LISS011

Congratulations to you, on your upcoming weight loss surgery.

I am 62 and own a retail shoe store. I was sleeved in Mexico on Mon June 8th, drove home (6 hours) on Fri June 12th and was back in the store Saturday June 13th. I also have been through Ovarian cancer and had major abdominal surgery with that. In comparison, this was a breeze, but I am one tough bird. Being at work makes the day go by faster and I am focused on something other than myself.

You all don't have any problems eating the bad stuff?
My doctors office requires appointments with the nutritionist after surgery. In fact they have you pay $550 which is not covered by insurance, this gives you lifetime access to the nutritionist who you can call or see anytime. I'm not scheduled until 2/26 for surgery and I already have a binder full of papers and instructions from the nutritionist. Along with samples and coupons for different products. I can't believe some of your doctors did not give you more direction. It's no wonder why your feeling lost.

My Story. Well, if that isn't a loaded title I don't know what is. I have so many stories.
I guess since this is a weight loss forum, I should start with the story of my weight. That tale shakes out more like a timeline, really. Childhood: Chubby kid. Recall dieting with my mom as early as the third grade. High School: Got down to about a size 8-10. Used Jenny Craig or Nutri Systems. . . Can't even remember which one. Most of College: Gained it all back and then some. Darn those Provolone grilled Bagels at the Coates Center and Queso and Tortillas from TC's. Senior Year: Jenny Craig again. Modest weight loss, but this time it seemed to stick. And then there was Law School (i.e. the best diet ever for a Type A student who suddenly found herself in over her head academically for the first time): Nothing will send a metabolism into overdrive like pure fear of failure. Combine that with living in a remote town with only 1 fast food restaurant and no more student dining and waaalaa (really not sure how you spell that) the weight just sort of started falling off. I was a solid size 8, sometimes even a 6, by the time I graduated.
The Wedding: You'll no doubt have noticed that I never really mentioned exercise up to this point. I never really did any, either, until the year of my judicial clerkship, which actually coincided with my engagement. That year I spent in an even more remote town where the only local that I had anything at all in common with happened to be a former CPA who decided to open a gym after her own weight loss journey. So I started working out. . . a lot. I had a 9-5 job and a long distance relationship. What else was there to do? I used a food and exercise journal (maybe a little too religiously) and by the wedding, I was 124 pound, hiking up my size 4 Vera Wang, which I really should have had altered one more time, and loving it. Its a good typing I got pictures, but my kids barely recognize me in them.
My 30s: Big city private law practice with its 12 hour days spent mostly behind my desk and its ready access to a constant stream of icy cold diet dr. peppers, we not kind to me on a number of fronts, one of which was my figure. After 10 years of relatively steady weightless or maintenance, 30 found me up a few pounds and pregnant with my first child. Every pound made me want to cry, and believe me there were many to cry over. Its like my body craves weight during pregnancy. I can gain 10 pound before that second line will even think about appearing on that stick. My boy was born, and I went back to Jenny Craig. Third times the charm? Well, not so much in my case. I think I got back down to 180 or so, but then there was the next pregnancy, and the next. I miscarried those babies at about 13 weeks, but I still found, and kept, a few pounds with each. Then there was the adoption weight. . . . who knew the stress of adopting would pack on the pounds like that. Then, when my beautiful daughter was only 6 weeks old, I discovered I was carrying her baby brother. At that point I was 208 which, miraculously, I managed to get back down to by the time I left the hospital with him. They call my OB the Weight Nazi for good reason.
Then, just as I had hired a trainer and was headed for a healthier lifestyle, my mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, my dad with MS. As an only chid and a mother of a then 5 year old, one year old and a 6 month old baby, I switched into crisis mode, quit my job and became the worlds most over-educated chauffeur. My babies spent their first couple of years strapped into car seats as we drove NaNa and Pops from one doctors appointment to another. Her chemo therapy sessions were long 12 hour days and she was hospitalized more than once. He spent 6 weeks in a rehab hospital and ultimately lost the use of his legs. You can't believe how many prescriptions they had between them. And I managed it all. I also gained about 40 more pounds in the process.
Please do not get me wrong. It was worth it. My mom is enjoying full remission from a disease that everyone said would kill her, and my dad is stable in an assisted living facility if not enjoying the retirement we had hoped for him. My kids are smart and beautiful at 3, 4 and 8, and it is time that I turn this weight issue around once and for all.
So, I have decided to get the gastric sleeve procedure. A colleague of my husband had it a few years back and has enjoyed amazing results. I know it is not a quick fix, merely a tool, but I have decided that I owe myself that jump start after all I have been through over the past 3 years. I know that I can stick to a program once I get good and into it. I just need to make sure that, this time, I am not derailed by life's unexpected tragedies. I have enlisted the help and support of my dear friend who has found her second career as a dance fitness instructor, and I am looking towards a brighter future where I can keep up with my kids, at least a little better, and shop for clothes in regular stores. My surgery date is August 7.

This is GOOD to know since I have PCOS and have not had surgery yet.
I can go for Ultrasounds and One time have cysts and another time not have any at all. I was getting an ultrasound to get diagnosed with PCOS and the Xray tech was looking and she said " OH CRAP " i said what . She said well im not suppose to tell you this but you have well over 100 cycts in your right ovary . Turns out I had about the same amount in my other ovary . They were just small ones. I went in for a follow up ultra sound 4 weeks later and all but 40 of them dissolved . Eventually they all dissappeared. Luckily none of mine have been fibroid cysts. Mine always dissappear . But its scarey .
Im glad your ok and im glad your watermelon baby came out .
I think this is something I will make sure is looked into before surgery , i too am self pay . Im putting this on my " What to look into list for pre op " LOL
Thanks again . I hope your doing well
Mindy

Ouch!
Bless your heart.
Heck, I totally sympathise. Been there, did that, and wished I didn't have the T-Shirt.
I only tell my story because I agree, obesity can be a special burden on women.
I was on the operating table during a routine TT when the Plastic Surgeon found numerous uterine fibroids. He was so shocked (mad?) that he dragged my WLS surgeon out of the next Operating Room., and pulled him into the O.R. to look at me. The PS demanded to know if he knew I had them. (Of course my WLS doc didn't know. Heck, I didn't know either. )
My WLS doc famously said in exasperation, "But, I don't look at her uterus!"
The PSurg then called in an OB/Gyn into the O.R. (the room was so full they should have inplemented a cover charge, LOL ) and he confirmed that it looked like fibroid tumours. What? Unbelievable! I had no symptoms and no idea.
Later I had to have them removed (too big for laproscopic) and my PS 'sat in' and handled the incisions. I'm eternally grateful to him for catching what my former OB/Gyn did not (I have a new one now and she did a fabulous job with the surgery.)
So I'm sorry you had to go through it.
But think of it this way, it's the fastest way you'll probably ever lost your 8# and a few inches without lipo! :nervous

When I was in Mexico having the band put on, Dr Kuri told me I had a cyst. It was too low for him to take care of. He said it was the size of a orange. When I got home i recovered for a month and went for a ultrasound about the cyst. At that time they said it was huge 23cm! Like a 5 month pregnancy. So I scheduled surgery. I have no insurance and got denied for emergency medical so I had to use my doctor for the surgery and had to wait a month longer. I had surgery Tues of last week, a full Laparotomy, It was so big they could not do it laproscopically. These details are gross, sorry: They cut from my belly button to the crease line above my, ya know. The cyst was so big, it took up the entire right side of my abdomen all the way to my ribs! They removed 4 liters of Fluid, that is 2 giant 2 liter sodas!!!!!!!!!! My ovary was twisted three times, I lost it. Luckily, the doc says my other one looks good cause I hope to use it one day! She said that the sac that formed was so strong and full of blood vessels. When I was recovering form lapband surgery, my body probably focused energy to this growing alien!
I am 8 lbs less now, thankfully! Who else can say they gave birth to a 8 lb baby alien watermellon!!!! Needless to say, I am so glad it is gone, even though I had to do another surgery so soon after lapband. The good news is that I am now 32 lbs lighter than my heaviest! Why am I telling you all this? I know it is common for those of us with a weight problem to have cysts and PCOS, we are not alone! Apparently, surgery or other body trauma can cause existing cysts to grow. If you know of a cyst or have a "functional" cyst beware of not getting rid of it before surgery. I looked pregnant, and now it is gone and I can finally see the weight loss I have been working so hard to loose!
Zoe

You could call your local AAA just to be sure but I believe for a day trip like that you only need your ID which you do have.
I posted back on your other thread about your ovary and cyst. I forgot to add that I was in the emergency room three times with pain and they never spotted the cyst. It was hidden behind my ovary too far for ultrasound to pick up. Exam didn't pick up anything but the tenderness on that side of my body. Ultrasound picked up the darkness on the screen (blood pooling) when my cyst finally ruptured. I am thankful that neither one of us died.
Good luck on your fill. Post back on how it goes. I may be going to Dr. Ortiz.

Abdominal distention can be a sign of gynecological problems (ovarian cancer among other things). Please get it checked out asap.

I am so happy to hear that you have taken control of your life rather than letting others control you. For the sake of you and your daughter, love yourself and put yourself first. You can't be there for your daughter unless you are first there for yourself.
The vast majority of WLS patients will tell you that their only regret is that they didn't have the surgery earlier. The members of bariatricpal.com are very supportive and knowledgeable. Reach out....you are among friends and not alone.

Thank you!

You have put it perfectly - I don't understand how it is still such a stigmatised and poorly understood thing! It is absolutely shattering for people who feel like they are stuck, and I know that I definitely do feel that way!

Thank you ❤️ I honestly really appreciate that x

Happy to have you!!!
I have been overweight most of my life, my first diet was at 12 with Weight Watchers because mom kept telling me that If I lost 20lbs I would be so pretty (it was never about health). My dad would tell me that I would never have a boyfriend because I was fat or I would struggle with acceptance because of my weight.
I did not have my first relationship until I was 20 because of my self poor image ( I was about 240lbs at this point). Ended up marrying him and he was the most emotionally, verbally, sexually, physically and mentally abusive human being. We moved across the country and that's when the abuse got worse. He would degrade me and tell me no on would want me because I was disgusting and he had to imagine other women while we were intimate. We ended up having a daughter together and she was the best thing that's ever happened to me, but after 10 long years I left with my daughter when she was 18months! When I finally left I was 325lbs.
Since then It opened me to a whole new world opened up for me and my daughter. I was able to focus on just us and my health was something that I needed to control- I started working out, eating right and got down to 240lbs met the love of my life and now I have happy weight. He is the best thing that has every happened to my daughter and I. Her bio-dad is not in her life, and we ended up having a son together and I shot back up to 297lbs. After some health scares with my family I decided WLS is the way to go!!
I am set to have the Sleeve on the 24th!

So glad you're here!
There is so much idiocy in the medical community regarding weight and weight loss. Doctors literally know 95% of people cannot physically lose more than a small amount of their weight and keep it off, but they act like everyone can except you and they can't figure out why you're not doing it. Imagine if they told diabetics they couldn't have insulin until they used their willpower to lower their blood sugar on their own, just to prove they take it seriously.
As for your ex partner, I hope on your behalf that certain parts of his anatomy shrivel up and fall off. You deserve better, no matter what weight you are at. It's hard not to internalize that kind of abuse, but remind yourself as often as you need to that he's garbage and did you a favor by taking himself out.

**Trigger warning: domestic abuse**

My name is Georgia, I am 27, and I have been 'bigger' for my entire adult life, and a lot of my childhood too.
I have PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) insulin resistant type, and an Underactive Thyroid, both of which cause me to put on weight quickly, retain weight, and makes losing weight extremely difficult.
I can't even remember the countless amounts of fad diets I have been on, or the amount of times I have tried to lose weight, but failed again and again. When I was 18 I was going to the gym 5-6 times a week for over an hour, I was doing HIIT training and Tai Chi, and I was jogging, eating well etc, but I still only managed to lose 2 stone in a year - make it make sense! I didn't know back then that I had underlying conditions that made it hard for me to lose weight, so I internalised a lot of the guilt in not being able to get healthy, and it resulted in me putting on around 6 stone from then until now.
I was also a victim of domestic abuse/violence, and a lot of the verbal abuse that I suffered was centred around my weight - constantly being told by my ex-partner that I was fat, he would pinch my thighs, tummy, arms etc, telling me he was seeing how many inches I could lose. It completely broke me, and I started binge eating in secret. He ended up leaving me, telling me that he could no longer be with me due to my weight and how it made me sexually unattractive.
I think I am probably just over 20 stone now. My back hurts when I walk, I cannot look in any mirrors without feeling low, I don't feel comfortable going out in public, and I am exhausted all the time.
Every time I went to my GP about something, I was always told I needed to lose weight, as if it were a miracle cure and so simple to do just by trying hard enough. It was always blamed on me not putting in enough effort - and those in the UK will know that the NHS isn't a simple thing to navigate and the waiting lists for obesity support are long and often disheartening.
Around 2 years ago I was put on a waiting list for weight loss management with the NHS. I was finally accepted in September of 2023. This is a year long commitment to the weight loss management pathway (Tier 3), in which you have to lose 5% of your weight in order to then be put on to another waiting list for a referral for the actual WLS (Tier 4). I have been told that this can take a further 4-6 years.
I had a harrowing thought that by the time my WLS actually came around, I'd be well into my 30s, still desperately unhappy with myself, and I would have put on even more weight and probably be immobile. I can no longer do this to myself. I deserve better.
I made the decision to look into private weight loss surgery, and I had a free consultation with a recommended surgeon just before Christmas 2023. This was genuinely the first time that a medical professional sat me down and talked to me with some humanity about my weight. He told me that with my conditions (particularly the insulin resistance, and hormonal imbalance), that my metabolic rate needed an entire reset, and this was not possible to do without surgical intervention. He explained that the difficulties I have had in trying to lose weight and being unable to, are not my fault (though of course I accept responsibility that getting here in the first place is my fault), and that surgery is recommended as perhaps the only thing that will enable me to lose the weight. I have never felt so seen, and so heard.
I booked in my surgery for May 2024 there and then.
So, now I start my journey, and I was looking for support, and here I am. I look forward to posting on here and using this thread to update everyone once I have had my surgery!
I am quite an open and honest person, so if anyone wants to reach out to talk, my inbox is open

An IUD is known to cause spotting and irregular bleeding but if you used it before WLS with no problems, I would agree that it's probably a release of estrogen and hormonal changes due to surgery. But it seems excessive. I would make sure you are getting enough Iron or risk becoming anemic.
I wouldn't be too quick to have an Ablation either. Unless you are done having children. If so, then you would be taking care of two issues at once with no longer needing contraception and hopefully end the bleeding.
I was told by my OB GYN that I needed an Ablation a few years back but for different reasons. I had an ultrasound that showed a golf ball size fibroid tumor that was causing major bleeding. I was so desperate for it to stop that I scheduled the surgery. But after going home and reading up on the procedure, I quickly found others online who had avoided it by Water fasting. Those that had the same size tumor said it took 40 days for their bodies to rid themselves of it. So I called and cancelled the surgery. Doc didn't argue with me. Said give it a try and then we can re-access.
I don't think she thought I could do it, but I did. When I went back for a follow up, the gal doing the ultrasound found no trace of it. I told her my story and she was shocked and amazed. The body is capable of some pretty amazing things if we let it.
I said all that to say this.... I'm not advocating you water fast. Especially after WLS. But I would have a thorough exam to justify the need, if at all for an Ablation. But before even that, take out the IUD. Stop the hormones/meds. Take Iron if needed and let your body cleanse itself.
GL!!
.

I had a great experience, The Bariatric department @ the Richmond Kiaser is one of the best in the world. I have been waiting for ten years for my surgery. I have congestive heart failure, AFIb , Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, sleep Apnea, arthritis and deteriorating meniscus in both knees. I took a fit test in preparation for the surgery. In March of this year that came back positive so they scheduled me for a colonoscopy in July finding 2 polyps, one was flat in my transverse colon, during this procedure only 1 was removed, I had to have the procedure done by a specialist to remove the flat one. On November 22, 2023 I had my surgery , and they discovered a GIST “ Tumor” in my stomach. I elected to get the sleeve so 80% of my stomach was removed, the tumor was also removed during the process. So literally and figuratively the Bariatric surgery saved my life. After the surgery they immediately took me off my diabetes medications. I have a lot of energy and have already lost 20lb , I am 50 and feel this is the second half of my life. This is the best place to get your surgery and the best place to do it.

Today's your day...safe procedure...

Originally I was having gastric sleeve done in Las Vegas(blossom bariatric) in July 2020..during procedure they found a sac of tumors in my abdomen and decided not to complete sleeve...had tumors removed June of 2021 in El Paso TX..targeted therapy for cancer since then..was scheduled for sleeve in Sept 2023..another hiccup (atrial fibrillation)..well after cardiac catheterization and aversion..got cleared for surgery probably late Dec or early Jan...finally

I’ve been worried these past few weeks, since I went on a work trip and felt I messed up with my eating plans. I honestly think I have hit a stall because of this. I’m not seeing or feeling any changes in the way my clothes fit.
HOWEVER....
I just had my yearly OB check up, and for the first time in over 20 years... there weren’t any cysts on my ovaries!!! I have been diagnosed with PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) since I was about 17-18, when I was still a healthy weight. It’s something that wouldn’t go away with diets, medicine, or anything else. NOW, 8 months after my WLS, still weighing about 50 lbs (23Kgs) more than I did as a teenager, I’m PCOS-free, with no meds!!!
And chatting about it with my medical team, they reminded me that the changes are not only on the scale.. but the overall improvement of our health. And not to let a little bump on the way (trip) or a stall to negate all the progress that I’ve made.

Sleeve in 2017 to revision Gastric Bypass Aug 2023 - Update

Hi All!
I can't believe how fast time has gone! I will be going to my 6 mth check up tomorrow 2/20/24. Everything is a lot better! As of today I am 173lbs, I'll update my ticker it's still at 183. I am able to eat more varieties that I cook at home. Can't tolerate beef to well but I was never a big red meat person. I am still on the fence with salads/raw vegs though I can tolerate raw onions and tomatoes.
I CANNOT eat take out! Purchased chinese for my son as he was going back to college... tried a little and was bringing it back up the rest of the night! If I eat out it has to be at a place that actually cooks food like salmon, veggies, no added anything. Food prepared at home is MUCH beter because you know what's in it.
I am not doing too well with my multi because I purchased capsules that I open to put in my Protein smoothies (Unjury Vanilla) which I don't take every day anymore. I just purchase the multi-vitamin patch from the bariatric store, I'll update you on that later
My food is mostly a diet consistency of pescatarian due to the low cal/high protein and the ease of my system digesting the food. I would occassionally eat chicken as well (ground, poached breast etc), turkey hardly ever because the meat is not as soft as chicken. My veggies are fine steamed, some legumes & Beans (occasional), as far as grains or potatoes etc I try to not do carbs at all or keep them at a bare minimum (jasmine or basati brown rice) with an occasional meal...I've really gotten into sweet potatoes as I didn't eat them a lot before.
Swelling is gone, skin is good, and I can visually see the difference in pounds and inches loss especially from a side view lol.
I still have work to do (vitamins, eat more, move more) and I am working on it.
BTW!!!! I am back in the health & wellness field as I start my new position next week. I took a pause last summer. Now as I am on my health journey I'll be helping my patients with weight loss and adopting healthier lifestyles.
My goal is to lose 13 more lbs and as you all know after running so long and you can see the finish line in sight....your legs get weary and that last sprint is the hardest.
It is good to move from "morbidly obese", to "obese", to now "overweight"...do you guys feel the same?
Let me know how you all are doing!

I'm hoping to get a revision to a bypass for gerd and sleep apnea if that is a possible. I called tricare and the lady said that they only cover 1 weight loss surgery in the lifetime or the person. Any experience with getting approved with tricare select?

Hello All,

Long time a member but have been away a long time. I was banded in April 2012 at 488lbs. My lowest weight attained was 170. I have since over the years climbed back up to 328.

Monday, Jan 8th I am scheduled for a conversion to bypass. Removing my band as well as my gallbladder.

Any advice would be appreciated. It's been 10 years. I imagine somethings have changed while some haven't.

I know it's a tool. I know the weight doesn't fall off overnight. The band saved my life. I hope bypass gets me back on track.

Thanks, Jim.

I checked my measurements this morning and I am down several inches from the day before surgery, so that definitely makes me feel better.

Yes! In fact, my entire weight loss since surgery has been slooooow. I don't recommend kicking the scale - it hurts 😋 I even talked to my bariatric "team" who just didn't seem concerned. It only added to my anger..to go through all this to lose 4" lbs a month 3 months in and still at 6 months! Where did my honeymoon period go?? Only 80 lbs since starting the pre surgery weight loss portion... 80 lbs in 9 months, that's less than 10 each month! 😠 So yeah, I understand your frustration.
I at this point wouldn't be to worried, you retain lots of fluids for several weeks following surgery, plus the standard response you'll read on here is the "your body is going through a lot and could be doing a self check reset reevaluating" at this point. I'd give it at least a month and as long as you're hitting nutritional goals and nothing feels off you'll be fine - (sigh) slow or not..its a downward trend. 😀

NickelChip - keep track of your measurements. That happened to me - my weight was so slow, but the first time I measured myself ,I lost 15 inches ! I'm glad you feel so great after surgery !