ichabodny

Thank you so much! I think so too honestly. Still trying to wrap my head around it. I am so happy but also starting to see a lot of sagging skin so there are mixed feelings now watching the weight go down so fast. My arms are past the 'old lady batwings' to a definite extra skin sag. I have had a couple moments of trying to adjust to the self-image.

That's about the most accurate a statement I am feeling now over anything else in a nutshell. Sometimes it brings tears to my eyes to be healthy again and able to have a life. Thank you so much :-).

I did lose some pre-op (28 lbs-around there). I ran into complications in the hospital with the surgery and actually gained 13 lbs right off the bat. My stomach was amazingly purple and black and very, very swollen. I looked larger then the first day of program. After about 3 weeks or so, that weight gain of the loss pre-op came off in about a week. Then I started losing so fast those first 2 months. Two months ago, I started a job at a factory working ft with heavy lifting and running (my dept is on a line in receiving heavy boxes of merchandise). I stopped losing for about 2 weeks at that time and then it just came off unbelievably fast. I do have to see my Dr as it is much faster then I think is normal and my skin is becoming very loose. It truthfully seems like every two or three weeks I am still going down a size. Besides weight loss, most important, my measurements are really a loss of about an inch a week. Right now, I have a problem with trying to eat because of my new job and the jobs of everyone in the house. I work overnight then am on schedule for picking the kids up from their jobs, etc. so I don't really feel much like eating. I do try to get in at least 600 calories and pretty much just drink my protein powder mix with water while I'm working all night. My boss is extremely kind for giving me consideration with the surgery. Thank you for the congratulations. Losing 53 lbs before the surgery is absolutely amazing and a lot of work on your part.

This week I am 4 and a half months out from gastric bypass and down 113 lbs! I am 20 lbs away from goal but more importantly, I've gone from a size 28/30 barely fitting to a 12/14 depending on jeans or shirts and slacks. The red outfit I have was in a photo from yesterday; the outfit has been in my closet through a move from one state to another and 5 years as a 'goal oufit' that I was always depressed to think to never even come close to wearing! I was jumping up and down when this size 14 outfit easily slipped on yesterday. I honestly teared up seeing it finally come unfolded and the tags come off. Well, we are in NY, it's COLD and by the time winter subsides, I will be out of this outfit for summer and down at least another size so I'm wearing it in the house now lol. I still remain amazed at how much easier it is to move, breathe and even curl up in a ball or take a bath. I can work now in a very physical job and feel tired but not excruciating pain; it's absolutely unreal to me and delightful.

I've been on both facebook and two other groups. This is the one I stay on but not for negativity reasons on one group and the other one I was attacked for telling members that there were other support groups and to try to find the ones best for you. The person was mean and posted that I should not talk about any other groups as encouragement. I apologized and said that I was only told by my Dr (who has their own weekly in face meetings) that anyone having had surgery should find as much support as they can get from groups and to just try and see which are a good fit. Another was a good group but I am atheist and it was largely religious. It was an awesome support group for those with largely Christian beliefs but not a good fit for me. One group on fb did begin to become judgmental in responses and not so understanding to members who were older with families that had valid concerns. The members themselves would respond with comments that were mostly attacking or sarcastic and hurtful. It was addressed but I just left the group and it was fine. One of my favorite groups besides this one is for a group that is specific to women past menopause and over 50. For me, that is a very good fit and I use that group as well. If this group you are on makes you feel the way are relaying, it's not a good fit for you. This site is actually very informative and largely neutral in answers or encouraging. I have seen very little negativity but on the rare occasion I run across it, it's addressed and then let go.

Welcome to the group! Haven't gone through UHC but sending a hello. There's tons of info here and lots of encouragement. Any specific questions or thoughts needed, we're all happy to answer :-).

Absolutely amazing job-you have to be feeling so proud! Going down in the sizes is the best part imo! You just got back more years to your life and feeling healthier! You look amazing-what a difference.

I am the same way and it is real hunger. I keep a small snack for this. I'm not sure how you are eating during the day but it could be that you aren't get a lot of calories during the day, your stomach gets a rest for most of the evening (5 or 6 hours?) and is able to take a little something more. I have some questions on where it comes from as I started a new job last month just before Thanksgiving. I work from 4 pm until around 12-1 am but don't eat at all during my shift (I drink tons of water mixed with my genepro protein for energy though all shift long). My work is at a factory and I'm doing fast, physical work with heavy lifting. I then pick up my son after work (our family works at the same place but different buildings) and I have to wait for him. By the time I get home, I'm really ravenous but can't eat many things still. I have some mild slim jims put aside and will eat a couple of the small snack size. I can't drink anymore and still getting used to the schedule. I have to go back and pick up my husband at 4 am (he works 12 hour shifts) so I don't sleep so much but I'm not hungry again until the next afternoon after sleeping all morning until around 3 pm with my husband. Until I read your post, I thought that was the reason for the hunger but it can be just the time our stomachs can handle it after not eating for so many hours.

When I see posts like this one, my first thought and feeing is that I hope you have mountains of support around you-both at your Drs clinic and with friends and family. We all work hard for this-both before and after. There are lots of posts on how secretive to be with the surgery. I think this is a result of having all of these feelings. Feel proud! This surgery changed my life and added years for my family-period. It's what it gives everyone. Reasons for the surgery to validate your feelings of 'failure' with dieting in life are unimportant and really just need to be history. I know that can be difficult but if you just keep only support around you and get rid of anyone else who may be projecting their own feelings of jealousy and 'failure' to you, your life can be much better all around. Because that is the only reason anyone around you will try to make you feel as if you are 'taking the easy way out'. I am loud and proud about the surgery but I've gone through too many health scares and years to not be. I don't have most of my family in my life anymore (not just for this reason-if a person is going to be non-supportive and judgmental in this; it's their personality). The friends and family I do have are 150% supportive and happy for me. At work, my co-workers are surprised that I even had the surgery as I only started recently and I tell them; no problem, if it comes up or asked (usually with shirt sizes for events or why I'm not eating banquet meals, etc). I feel that is the key to combating having these feelings. As far as the surgery, I was so scared beforehand. I was literally shaking when they put me under. I even had a really rough time after with complications. I'm 4 months out and my life has completely changed thanks to it. I am so, so happy! I feel awesome, my fatty liver is gone! I'm healthy and I can do stupid things like curling on a sofa in a ball or bending, sitting in a chair and not worrying how big the chair is. Pffft. No shame, girl. Lose that. Anyone can write a million reasons why you should justify your surgery and decision but it's literally NOT important. Live happy, live long, have fun and be the best you. Those are the results-NOTHING else matters! For real.

Everyone is going to respond differently to this as it's so different with each person to what they can be ready for, Dr and NUT orders, etc. I've learned after much research to go with what you can handle. After the surgery, all protein shakes just made me nauseous or food come back up (not quite vomit but definitely some coming back out). I was pureeing turkey meatballs (ONLY the Wegmans turkey meatballs-can't handle anything else) right at the soft food stage but mixing with some sauce or fat free gravy. I still can't handle chicken-even soft. Eggs are by the day after I started just learning to chew until pureed in my mouth. I could handle mashed potatoes that were plain at that stage and I still live on sugar free popsicles at 4 months out. Cheese is good for me; ice cream KILLS me. Most of my calories comes from the turkey meatballs and mixing cheese with them as I can handle the cheese that is shredded. This is really just a thing of trying what you can handle off of the list you are given. I had some complications after the surgery so the recovery was longer but after about 4-6 weeks, I could get a bit more daring with trying things. I still keep nausea pills with me just in case but try not to use them unless really vomiting.

Thank you so much-this answer was extremely helpful; I had wondered about that as well.

I'm the same but only 4 months out. Taste changes after surgery. This can be all kinds of issues; especially if you didn't have this until just now. I had gerd 3 before the surgery and then still having gerd issues post op; even sinuses and this issue can be affected by all kinds of different gerd and heartburn issues (some can be silent). I also was very close to NASH before the surgery but now down to stage 1 with full reversal so the liver should be the last thing affected. I'm not sure how they are watching that; if there is a concern, a fibroscan, enzyme labs and eventually a possible biopsy should be the thing with the liver but numbness or any kind of issues should not be present with liver problems. Does your pcp know you had the surgery? Is there a medical weight loss center near you that does more then just the surgeries? The clinics that deal with medical weight loss AND surgeries as separate issues could possibly help you with the labs you need it more detail. This is not an issue to be worried about honestly, just something to check out.

All I can emphatically add to this is to keep on top of everything they are doing until you get that letter. I had a great team with Guthrie but my pcp was horrible. In fact, I had many issues with my weight and depression for it before and saw my pcp for two years, begging for help. Finally, after my birthday and hitting an unbelievable depression, my husband did his own research and found Guthrie for me. When we asked the pcp, she was unconcerned and wouldn't call back but Guthrie has taken over. So, everything is ready, six months up, all testing done and it gets submitted. I had this feeling about my pcp. I get a message from my NUT at Guthrie saying they thought they had the pcp letter ( which they asked for 4 months prior) but didn't seem to have it. So basically I spent the next 3 weeks going back and forth with the Dr in person (during covid) and calling. The receptionist, nurses and the administrator all were apologetic and I am convinced they tried to push every time I showed up about it as they stated. Finally, I threatened to get any Dr willing to write it from the practice and got it. After that, it did take a couple weeks for it to get past the processing phase and then the surgery was scheduled for 10 weeks from that date but just two weeks later I got a call saying to start my liquid diet TODAY; surgery moved up to 13 days from that point; about 7 weeks earlier then scheduled. With the best of them, you still have to just get on top of it. If you have any niggling thought that something could be off for the paperwork or submissions, just get with the scheduler or one in charge of that with your surgeon. It's getting there! Should be no time now :-).

Pleased to meet you! It does sound like some rough times and so sorry to hear that. I had gerd stage 3, yearly esophageal widenings and knots in my chest full of strange tight fists with even water coming back up even before the surgery. Had complications with the surgery and the same nausea/vomitting and sharp pains the first months as well. Still having the typical nausea, etc and have had an ulcer form even with the Panteprazole and Omni 40 I have daily per my surgeon. Everything else has gotten way better and my stage 2 fatty liver disease is now reversing already to a low stage 1 with full reversal (my largest concern pre-surgery). I still have the gerd symptoms but not as bad. I'm 4 months out and the Dr said with that damage, it just takes time. Not sure what your Dr is giving you or diagnosing but I would keep pestering a bit with these things if you are having this ongoing in such a severe way. I am still so thankful for my surgery every day-kinda used to the other side effects for having gerd so long before hand, but we are much healthier in the long run for it!

Agree 100% with this post. Everyone's body is different; age, start-weight, etc are all factors. People put start weight, lost weight stats etc and I never knew how to calculate that my first month post-op. My start weight was much, much higher then yours and I lost before the surgery, had complications with massive swelling, gained 13 lbs from the surgery, nothing but a couple lbs the week after (miserable!) the 3 weeks out started losing like close to 20 lbs in just a week (the swelling went down completely and lost the surgery weight I had gained). I've lost very quickly since then but other conditions affect that as well. Also, inches count! Now, at 4 months out with a new job this last month that is VERY physical labor in a factory have contributed to lbs not going down but my pants are falling and inches are going down. You can't go bad with this really. Just give it time and be patient honestly-you'll be feeling good in no time and feeling the weight loss more as you heal and get into a more normal way of life.