Zom B

I’m thrilled to have reached goal today! Coincidentally, it happened on the anniversary of my initial consult with my surgeon. I’m down 100lbs and feel lighter than air!

Pics are below! For those that wonder about loose skin, yeah I gots it! I’m having PS to remove it, but I’ll take the loose skin over fat any day! Tried to show what I look like with clothes on, with shirt pulled up and with loose skin untucked out of my pants! LOL!

Thanks so much! Biggest benefit is definitely the way I'm able to move, run up a flight of stairs, carry in groceries without huffing and puffing. Basically the things that non-obese people take for granted!
Favorite snack is greek yogurt, esp Dannon light n' fit caramel apple pie.
Best NSV is hard, b/c there have been so many. I would choose buying clothes off the clearance rack. The reason being is that clearance rack clothes always seem to be size S or XS. Now I'm small enough to get the great deals! LOL!

Congratulations! You look great! What has been the biggest benefit so far? Favorite "go to" meal or snack? Best NSV?

Fill a pitcher with Water, add cucumbers and lemons, let sit overnight. The next morning start drinking, it’s refreshing, regulated blood sugar, and works well for Constipation. I do this often and it works every time. I hope this help.

phase 3 started yesterday and had some uncomfortable pain in my stomach. I don’t think I’m ready to advance yet. I might do liquids/ Protein for another week
i Have an appt with my dietician this Tuesday going to discuss it

Hi, I hope everyone is doing ok out there...
After a shaky psychology assessment , its been reconfirmed for the 31st (gastric bypass) provided I find counselling post op.
Counselling is expensive privately but we'll see when I cross that bridge.
My pre op diet is going ok ish ....i am just eating eggs all day for 2 weeks. I really sick of eggs lol.

Hello all. Had my VSG on 19OCT so still trying figure things out. Need to update my profile and stuff still, but not in front of the computer. Here are my stats: 6’1”, starting weight 300lbs, went in to surgery at 288. BMI was 39. I’m five days post surgery and weighing it at 283. Goal is 200lbs.

I’m having the typical food addiction withdrawals, but getting through the liquid diet portion as well as possible. Looking forward to solids. Nothing major right now and just fatigued, which should change as my body adjust.

My surgery is on Monday, October 26th! I'm so happy to have found this group so that we can follow each others journey's! Good luck to all!

I had my surgery on Monday the 19th with a hernia repair. The surgery was a little over two hours with the repair and scar tissue issue I had. Lots of gas pain first night in the hospital along with some vomitting. I spent one night in the hospital. I walked alot to ease up on the gas. Drink but small sips. Jello and Crystal Light never tasted better.
any question, lmk!
Good Luck!

I have anxiety bad also and just had my surgery today. Deep breaths and it's over before you know it. You've come too far to turn back now. You got this!

Someone cancelled and I got pushed up to October 28th! Next Wednesday 😀

Had my surgery on Wednesday. Had a hard time with vomiting after and it lasted until Thursday afternoon. Most likely a reaction to the anesthesia. Once that subsided it hasn't been too bad. I stayed an extra night in the hospital since I couldn't keep anything down. Today I feel fine just incision site pain. Not sleeping great since I can't sleep on my side. I am able to keep liquids down fine and was able to drink 1 Protein Shake yesterday. It gets easier every day.

Hello,
My name is Kelsey and I am a 26 yr old type 1 diabetic nurse. I am not married and I do not have children. I recently packed up my belongings and sold my house in PA, in hopes to finding a brighter, happier future in North Carolina. Ive been here for about 2 months now.
One morning, while getting ready for a long 13 hr night shift, I looked in the mirror and was stopped dead in my tracks when I saw what was looking back at me. Who was that? What did I let happen?
There I was. 220 lbs looking back at me. Rolls, stretch marks, fat....staring back at me. I wish I could say the mirror lies, but it didn't. That was the solid truth. That was the reflection of someone who dreaded getting dressed in the morning because of how I looked in all my clothing. The reflection of someone who hated getting a bath because she'd have to see herself naked and notice how the bath Water doesn't even reach above her stomach when she lies down in it. She cant even submerge her thighs in the water. The reflection of a girl who's eyes welled up with fresh salty tears cause every night when she lies down for sleep, she tells herself she wont do this tomorrow. She wont overeat, comfort eat, boredom eat, and emotional eat the next day... and when the first daylight hours comes realizes she already failed the promises she made to herself the mere hours before.
It's painful and frustrating to hate everything you are in terms of appearance. Its hard to want to go out and meet people and make friends in a new area when you know all you're going to be focused on is pulling your shirt out away from your stomach when you sit down, hoping it, for once, wont cling to you.
On April 14th, 2020, I googled possible options to help me battle this overwhelming addiction to food and overeating and discovered this thing called Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG). Even as a surgical nurse, I never knew this existed. I was intrigued to say the least.
On April 15th, 2020 I was emailed back by a near gastroenterology clinic after my inquires on the procedure. In just the few following hours, and one phone call interview from the surgeon... I WAS APPROVED and medically cleared for the procedure. Then the assistant mentioned the finances and bills. Because I wasn't quite obese "enough", the procedure wouldn't be considered medically necessary, therefore wouldn't be covered by insurance. The price tag? $10,000 out of pocket. That night I laid in bed excited that maybe I found a crutch that could help me move forward and not loathe myself so much, but also distraught over realizing how much money i'd have to dedicate to something that relied so much on my own dedication to it. Oh well, its time right?
April 16th, 2020 I told my parents about my decision to proceed with the procedure. I was apprehensive about mentioning it for a few reasons. 1. I didn't want the lecture about "maybe theres more important things you could use that money for". After all, some decisions I have made in the past haven't been the most thought out or haven't been what my family would have chosen for me. So was I disappointing my family? maybe. And I am so exhausted and tired of disappointing my family. I know I don't look the way they want me too. I've had several family members make heartbreaking comments about my weight and my body and "if would just lose 20 lbs, the opportunities [I'd] have. I've heard things like that for years. Eventually you start believing it. Your weight stops doors from opening, stops you from being loved and wanted, prevents you from being respected and admired. I do blame a lot of my anxiety and overthinking tendencies on my weight. it makes sense in my mind. Im physically disappointing. Why would anyone want me?
2. "Why don't you just exercise and eat fewer calories like a normal person?" It's like they never tried to lose weight and think its just that easy. Of course, sometimes I was just lazy and lacked the motivation to exercise like I could have. and yes, I indulged way too much and too often in foods that weren't necessarily good for me. But I also have type 1 diabetes, which makes balancing exercise and food consumption difficult. Let's say I am on one of my "get healthy" kicks and I go to the gym, hop on the treadmill, and not 8 minutes into it my insulin pump reads my sugars as 139...122...97...71...and before you know it im in the critical 40s and slurring my words and shaking uncontrollably. I need a sugary, carbloaded snack just to maintain a safe sugar level. Counterproductive... Frusturating.
May 6th, 2020. Covid-19 restrictions are finally being ever so gently lifted. Elective surgeries are starting to resume. On this day, I got an email from the office assistant asking about a tentative operative date. May 21st at 1:30. Be there at 12:30. . . you know I will be early. Finally, I have a countdown to start and a new beginning to look forward to.
I read the preop paperwork sent to me about all the guidelines for the few days before surgery and the lifetime of recommendations for after surgery. 2 tablespoons of substance for the first several weeks after surgery? That's a bit drastic. Especially considering I would eat 3 plates of food at a buffet before. Oh well. Its about time, right?
Today is May 9th... about 3 am. I'm at work and just cant stop thinking about the road ahead. Less than 2 weeks.... 12 days. That's it. Wow..

I'm not sure what to make of this. Some of it could be due to a stricture, which the gastroscopy will find - and that's an easy fix (I had to do it twice - at 4 weeks out and again at 8 weeks out). I'm not sure about the rest of it. You're right in that what you're going through (other than stricture-related stuff, which happens to about 5% of bypass patients) is pretty rare - but I'm so sorry you're going through that!

EDITED to add: you know, I just re-read this. I suppose this COULD all be related to a stricture - the extreme exhaustion could be due to the fact you're unable to take in very many calories (due to the stricture - if in fact that's what it is). A lot of this other stuff is similar to what I experienced when I had strictures. Please keep us updated - I'm curious to see what they think is going on.

Hey Guys,

I just found this site after a hopeful search looking for someone who has or is going through something similar.

I had RNY with a Minimizer Ring on the 18th of February 2020. I am 43 and 5ft 9In. My surgery weight was 296 pounds and I am now 238 pounds. A loss of 58 pounds so far.

I had been planning/researching the surgery for 5 years and after my last failed attempt of maintaining, went ahead with surgery with full knowledge of what to expect (well so I thought).

For full disclosure, my weight problems I think were based on years of yo-yo dieting. Mainly extreme calorie cutting and exercise to get to normal weight. However, when off the ‘diet wagon’ I would only eat a huge meal once a day after not eating all day and being starving when I got home. Usually meals were very much carb based with heavy sauces. I would eat normally on the weekend, but overly big portion sizes. I am not a sweet tooth or an emotional eater, nor am I a fussy eater. I also loved coke zero, which I have just found out is apparently a trickster. Anyways, I think I ruined my metabolism and losing weight was no longer working like it used to!

What I expected:

· 5-10 days of a Keto kind of flu whilst my body adjusted to fat burning mode
· Minimal appetite, but still some kind of signal I needed to eat
· Being easily satiated with small amounts of food
· Having to chew my food 20-30 times
· No Water 30 mins before or 60 mins after food
· Protein first, avoid simple carbs
What I did not expect

· Persistent nausea
· Aversions to all meat/poultry/fish and eggs (physically make me heave) and other random things (sour cream, mushrooms, pumpkin Soup, cheese that has been grilled)
· Complete and utter exhaustion to the point where my personal hygiene is embarrassing because sometimes I can’t muster enough energy to have a shower for days
· Dumping sometimes trying food for the first time, sometimes after having food that did not make me dump last time (for me it is sweating, heart racing, severe cramps and diarrhoea within 30 mins of eating)
· Being so uncomfortably full even if it is just water, or a couple of tiny bites of food. I get less than 1000 calories in a week
· That chewing the food so many times would make most foods unpalatable and having to spit it out or throw up
· The amount of times I belch, heave and bring up thick saliva……all day…..its disgusting and embarrassing!
I had read many stories before the surgery, some positive and some negative and was always quick to judge people thinking they were just negative Nancy’s or hypochondriacs and like attention. So it hard to write this post knowing a lot of people will think what I did.

I have had scans with contrasts and there are no issues. I have been hospitalised for dehydration, low potassium and high blood ketones. Ketones are normal due to weigh loss. Dehydration and potassium easily fixed with IV Fluid.< /p>

I have a gastroscope tomorrow morning to check if there is scar tissue etc causing my issues.

BUT WHAT IF THEY FIND NOTHING???? WILL THIS BE MY FOREVER??? HAS ANYONE DEALT WITH ANYTHING SIMILAR OR IS IT JUST MY BODY FREAKING OUT AND TAKING LONGER THAN NORMAL TO ADJUST?

Thanks if you read this far, it really means a lot. I would love to hear from you. I am open to all feedback.

Best,

Laura (Alice Springs, Australia)

For me, it was around 6 weeks before I could sit up, cough, sneeze, twist my upper body and wear high waisted anything without pain. Some folks heal super fast and some of us take time.

one thing I did that helped me log my progress when it felt agonizingly slow was to write on my kitchen calendar. Day 6 clear pee
Day 20 glue washed off
Day 25 eggs came up, mashed p’s stayed down
ETC. That’s really helped me remember the journey when every day was slow like molasses but a week flew by abs felt like zero progress. If I could go back, I would rest after my walks and listen to music more. Natural mood booster.
Hope you’re incisions start to feel better.

ME!! October 26th

For the first time this week I had a FULL bowl movement and no straining. So I think that combo of prunes and stool softener worked.

Can you let me know how the prunes go? I’m really sick of Miralax and enjoy fruit.

Those sneezes and coughs are no joke! I wasn’t prewarned and had a rough allergy attack in late August. Day 1 - 6 were the absolute worst, I felt a shift around day 7 - 8 and got better and better. You’re already ahead of most if you’re monitoring your urine and electrolytes. Nice job!

Me!!! October 21st

Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

Lol welcome to the miralax club which im prob lifetime member of. When you say doctor are you talking about your surgeon or your primary care? Did you get the stone even with taking ursodil post op? I was thinking that med might b causing Constipation. I had a ct today too so ill find out shortly. Im thinking few minor bumps then smooth sailing for us hopefully

I had the sleeve on the 12th & it wasn’t until last night that I slept through the night & until today that I did not spend the majority of the day in bed. Feeling more like myself on Day 4 & hoping you are too! Hang in there!

October 27th for me! Soooo excited.

The bloated feeling doesn’t go away for a while from what I’m experiencing. I’m 5 days past surgery and still gassy and bloated. I took so much stuff to have a bowel movement that I ended up pooping for 12 hours! MISERABLE! Anyway, keep doing what they tell you and it will happen. Walk, walk, move in different positions, sit straight up, and drinks lots and lots of Water.