Grammie2

Glad you are hanging in there! Keep working at it! I’ve been slow in my weightloss too, but still losing, and I’m very thankful for that! I am 15 lbs. from my goal, so I know it will still take awhile, but if I don’t lose another pound I am thankful for what I have lost and hope it continues. The dr. Told me at my 7 month visit that he was very pleased and said I shouldn’t want to lose much more because if I get sick I still have some weight to help. My goal is 135 or 130, I go back and forth about which one, and I’m presently at 145. I was 209 when I started, and it’s now been 9 mos. I started out the first few weeks losing 5 lbs at a week but that only lasted a couple weeks and suddenly I was down only 1-1-1/2 lbs. a week, and it has stayed that way ever since. But I fell a lot better than I did for the first couple months. I was always sooo tired. I have a lot more energy now and I can walk much better. I’m so very thankful I had this operation.

Great news! Just keep on keeping on, as they say! That’s all we can do! I’m still losing about 1 lb or 1-1/2 lbs a week, so as long as I’m losing I’m happy! I finally broke into the 150’s, and am presently at 154.6 yesterday. And we go out to eat several times a week and I’m retired. I still haven’t gotten into exercising yet, and I still don’t have the strength I used to but I may not at this age. I’m 69.
but you are doing great, so keep up the good work and join that gym!

2 hours ago, MSWDiet said:

Thanks for asking

Every day I have GRATITUDE for having had weight loss surgery. No surgical complications. No surgery related problems short or long term.

I have medical issues unrelated to obesity that frustrated my weight loss. It took a long time but I made it below my surgeons goal to ensure a "normal" BMI.

I struggled with the usual ups and downs you can expect over the years. Overall, I'm maintaining. There is no way I will allow myself to go backwards.

Pre wls I wore 18/20/2x in most brands. At my personal goal weight I wear 0/2/4 at Gap/ Old Navy. Today I can't wear my size 0 jeans but I'm working my way back into them. My un breakable rule of maintenance is Never, Ever Buy A Larger Size.

This keeps re gain in check. I shop with a tape measure to ensure consistency between brands. I consciously work on my disfunctional eating to address what surgery cannot.

I hope my story is helpful.

MSW

Wow!!! I sure hope I’m strong enough to keep my weight off. I still have 25-30 lbs. yet to go, but I’m just happy to be where I’m at now! I was in the same sizes you were in before surgery,and I can’t imagine being in a zero or even a 2!! You are amazing!! I’m so glad to read your surgical health has been good, too. On this site I’ve read so many that have had to have multiple surgeries. I don’t know if that was from the Sleeve surgery or the bypass (RNY), which is what I had. Thank you for your inspiration for keeping on going on. You are amazing, and I hope I can do the same.

9 hours ago, MSWDiet said:

While I know nothing about the skin issues I can comment be on the Hair loss. Biotin 5000 daily is still my hair best friend a dozen years post op.

Hair loss is common within the first six months post op as others have already explained. For me the hair loss slowed but never completely stopped. I take my Vitamins religiously and have no nutritional deficiencies. Nonetheless, Biotin is a must or the hair loss starts again.

MSW

I wanted to ask you something- you said you had your surgery 12 years ago- have you had any complications ? Are you still keeping your weight off? Are you still glad you had the operation? Hope you don’t mind me asking- I just wonder what it will be like for me 12 years down the road. I’d appreciate hearing your insight! Thanks again!!

Thanks so much for sharing that with me!! I don’t have much hair left to lose anymore!! Lol I can see a big diff in my hair and I’m on 10,000 units of Biotin. It’s been 6 mos. today so maybe it will slow down soon. Cant go much longer!!!😖😥but thanks again! I appreciate that and it gives me some hope.

You made me laugh! I didn’t really believe that stuff either, but don’t you believe everything about us here in the states, either! I’ve been around long enough I know pretty much not to believe everything I hear, and I expect you are the same.
I talked to my dr. today about the HRT, and unless I’m pretty severe in my symptoms she doesn’t recommend it, especially with blood clots in the family. If I get any worse I’ll go to a gynecologist and get it thru them. But i don’t think I’m too bad yet. I’ll be spending time camping with my sisters in May, and I’ll see how my reactions are then! Lol I love them, but in close quarters for a week, and me being the baby (at 69) of us 3 I never do anything right, so this will be a great test if this surgery has stirred up my hormones being around them.
Well Aussie friend hope you have a good day!

I don’t know if the program was factual, but it sure was interesting and I loved the characters. It wasn’t called the Australian Express, I remember now it was called Five Mile Creek and it was about the beginning of the mail service in Australia. Don’t know how much fact it was, just that it was really good story writing. We had the VHS tapes of it years ago. Don’t have them anymore but wish I could get my hands on the show again. Great family entertainment.

Back to the HRT, when I tried it a hundred years ago (seems like) I did put on weight, and that’s why I asked you about it. I wonder if it would do that to me now. I sure don’t want that after going through this surgery. And I don’t want to stop losing at this point either with 26 lbs. to go yet. But I do recognize HRT has had a lot of years to improve since I’ve been on it. I have mixed feelings about it all. But I will talk to my GP tomorrow and see what she says. Maybe this will go away on its own when I stop losing weight?

12 hours ago, Arabesque said:

Thank you for your kind words. Only second best country? Tsk tsk. 😁😁 Maybe you’ll be able to visit with your lovely friend in Adelaide soon. Damn COVID & how it limits our lives.

It’s definitely worth a conversation with your GP about HRT. Good luck.

Oh yeah I forgot I wanted to ask if you put on more weight after being on HRT? I understand that could be a side effect.

12 hours ago, Arabesque said:

Thank you for your kind words. Only second best country? Tsk tsk. 😁😁 Maybe you’ll be able to visit with your lovely friend in Adelaide soon. Damn COVID & how it limits our lives.

It’s definitely worth a conversation with your GP about HRT. Good luck.

Second only because I’ve never been there, but that’s on my bucket list!!!
The way things are going here, we may want to consider moving there!! Lol Did you ever watch an old series called The Australian Express (I think)? I watched that with my kids when they were little and they are now in their late 40’s. We all loved it and rewatched it many times. It was about the early days in Australia and the Pony Express getting started. I loved it. We all did. Just a nice memory!

Thanks so much for your response. I just read your story, and I too put on a tremendous amount of weight in perimenopause and menopause, and I had never had a weight problem before that! I quit smoking when I was 30, then had a miscarriage, and had one more child (#4) and started going thru menopause at 40, then it was post menopause at 50. After our 3rd child I weighed 106!!! At 68 I weighed 209!! You are a great writer! You are inspiring as well. And you live in the second best country in the world! I have a friend who just finished nursing school who lives in Adelaide. More like a daughter, but she’s a sweety , and I’m proud of her. She is Vietnamese.
I have a GP appointment this week, and I may ask her about HRT. Part of me thinks it may be a great idea, but another part says it’s one more pill you gotta buy, and I’m sick of all these pills!! What will happen on Wednesday when I talk to her??” Stay tuned to find out! Lol THANKS AGAIN!

I’m sorry you thought I don’t trust my doctors. I didn’t mean that at all. They give you a list of all different things that can happen to you as a result of the Gastric Bypass surgery, and I did not see anything about bone loss in your jaw. I don’t know that it would have changed my mind about the surgery, but it’s good to know that this is also a possibility. I trust my doctors and I am still glad I had the surgery.

I’m sorry - I just your message! I’m sure HRT has made great strides in the last 25 years (lol) so I may take that into consideration. Do you think that has helped you? How long did it take to get to workin for you? Any bad side affects?

I’m sorry you thought I don’t trust my doctors. I didn’t mean that at all. They give you a list of all different things that can happen to you as a result of the Gastric Bypass surgery, and I did not see anything about bone loss in your jaw. I don’t know that it would have changed my mind about the surgery, but it’s good to know that this is also a possibility. I trust my doctors and I am still glad I had the surgery.

10 hours ago, FireEMT710 said:

Hey everyone! It's been a long time since I've checked in! I'm down to where I can wear just large leggings, size 14 jeans, and large or medium shirts. My smart scale now gets confused over if it's my big football playing kiddo on the scale who's gained a few or me who's lost weight! lol The kids and I went on vacation to Florida and it was nonstop on the go.. and I was able to keep up. I was able to ride every ride at universal/disney. I also was confident enough to walk around the beach in a 1 piece with no cover up! I'm loving life and SO close to being under 200 lbs, which has probably been like 15-17 years for me!

Good morning FireEM! Wow! What wonderful progress you’ve been making!
we had our surgeries in the same month! I am 5’3” and I’m in the same ballpark for sizes, my weight has come off slower, but consistent, so I’m not complaining! I, too am in a size 14-16, and I never thought I’d be excited about being in that size, but I actually am!! I started adding pounds on during menopause and ballooned from 160’s to over 200. But I am so thankful it’s been coming off, ONE POUND AT A TIME, but still losing, and we are both aiming for the same weight. We’ll get there! “Just keep swimming, swimming!” Lol!

9 hours ago, Arabesque said:

My mother who is 81 still suffers menopausal symptoms too & continues to take HRT. I worry that may be what I experience as well especially as all my menopausal symptoms came back after I stopped losing. More fun days ahead I guess. Damn hormones.

Yes it was the same with my mom til she died at 86. I a ENT been to a gynecologist for many years, so unless it gets unbearable or something else shows up I don’t think I will be on HRT. I’m the baby in the family and I don’t believe my 2 older sisters are on them either. Hope it stays that way! Maybe the sun will help my skin, Today I go to the dentist for the second time since my surgery, and that has affected my teeth as well! I’m now officially falling apart!
I may have bone loss in my jaw . My bite wing X-rays didn’t look good and all the sudden I have 5 areas that I have cavities in between my teeth! I haven’t had cavities for years!!! Last visit he gave me a script for strong fluoride toothpaste. So more meds! Can’t wait to find out if he can save my molars! Have a great day! Did you encounter any problems like that after your surgery?

Thank you for taking the time to let me know about the Hair loss and the bumpy skin. I was told the hair would come back, but was just surprised how much it was!! The Biotin is for when the new hair comes in and was told it will be a lot healthier with taking the biotin. We’ll see.
The bumpy skin hormone thing makes sense. Even my face is breaking out some and I’m 69 and have been thru menopause for 19 years! But I know my mom had hot flashes into her 80’s so maybe that I’ll be like her cuz I’ve had more heat flashes recently as well.
just knowing these symptoms are “normal” is enough to satisfy me. I’ve dealt with worse, and will probably deal with a lot more before my time is up. But I appreciate your explanation and your time! Thanks so much!

I had RNY in Nov. 2020. Not long after my shoulders started getting little bumps all over. Thought it was dry skin. It seemed to go away after a few weeks, but it’s back again only the bumps seem more like pimples , bigger now than the first time. And it’s all over my upper back. Anyone have trouble with that?
I’m also losing ALOT of hair!!! I’m taking 10,000 units of Biotin, and understand that by the end of the year it should be growing back. But the pimply skin bugs me, is there anything I can do for it?

On 3/19/2021 at 3:07 PM, catwoman7 said:

it's usually due to GERD or perhaps dry mouth (if you have that). I've been on Prevident (that ultra-high fluoride toothpaste) since I had surgery six years ago. My dentist said that can go a long way toward preventing damage from acid. As far as dry mouth, things like Biotene products (or the generic form - sprays, mouthwash, lozenges) can help - so can things like gum or breath mints with xylitol in them. And be sure to keep well hydrated, too.

P.S. there's some thought that people who've had WLS have more acidic saliva than normal people - but that toothpaste should help with that. I also get a fluoride varnish brushed on my teeth every six months (by the dental hygienist)

I just got the special toothpaste, and believe I had been on Biotine for several years until the surgery, then wondered if I should stay on it, so I stopped. But yes, I also have dry mouth, I think from my pravastatin for cholesterol? I’ve been on that for so long I don’t remember why anymore but that sounded good....lol thank you for telling me about that, because I thought it sounded really strange, but now I see it’s not so strange! Did you tell your Bariatric surgeon or the dietician? They should warn people about that! Thanks again for answering my message topic!

Ha! I read all these messages about teeth being bad after WLS and didn’t have the problem......UNTIL! I went to the dentist for the first time since my surgery, and also hadn’t been there in over a year and had 5 areas on my teeth with cavities! I ALWAYS (since adulthood) had great checkups. I could hardly believe it! He asked me if I had GERD, and I said yes, I’ve had it for YEARS and I’m on pantoprazole even now, but he said acid is causing my problems. I have no problems with GERD being on the medicine, so what else could it be??? He also gave me a script for the strong fluoride toothpaste, but doesn’t know if he can save my molars! Great news! Just thought I’d share! I am not on a Calcium supplement.

Have you thought about going back to the beginning with the liquid diet and staying on that for a week or two and see if that will jump start you again. I’m so sorry for your trouble. Sounds like you were doing great with your Water and Protein and calorie intake. Hope the suggestion will help. Good luck!

I too have had some encouraging happenings. With Covid dominating everything and not getting out much at all, it was great when we went to a wildlife refuge about an hour or so away and walked a path back to where the Snow Geese were on a lake there. Every year they come there on their way back to Canada, and it’s a beautiful sight to see. About 80,000 Snow Geese fly in to this place and hang out while they rest up for the rest of the trip home.
But walking that path back to the lake and then back to the parking lot I was soooo happy I managed to do it and only stopped once to sit for a minute, then finished the walk. I haven’t been able to do that for so long! It felt so good! Back in February I have a lower lumbar ablation done to get rid of pain in my sciatic nerve from my lower back to my knee. So with that being taken care of and my weight going down and my strength coming back I, too have much to be thankful for, and I’m feeling pretty good, Just got my first bloodwork back and all in in the normal range which really surprised me because I was concerned about my Protein level, but the PA said that was all in the normal range and I’m not showing any malnutrition! YAY!

I’m 3 mos. out from surgery and just tried popcorn my hubby made the other day. Just a handful, not even half a cup. Had no problems with it. But I have been constipated for a few days now.....🥴🥴 what can you take for that? I’ve doubled up on my stool softener, but still got nothin! Lol Can I take a laxative?

I feel nauseous almost every day as well. I’m thinking it’s these crazy supplements you chew or dissolve in your mouth - it’s a lot of “fake sugar right off the bat. I don’t know if that’s it or not, but not taking capsules you don’t have much choice. My multi, my Biotin, B1, B12, and then there’s magnesium, fiber/probiotic. All with fake sugars. Not to mention my yogurt, and anything I bake......oatmeal? I hadn’t thought of that - might just try that!

As my fav aunt used to say, “You got that right!” 👍🥰

I haven’t been on Celebrex since my surgery, and I was really missing it! I still have inflammation in my lower back, and my knee joint, but yes, I’m off inflammatory medicines. Hoping to go off blood pressure medicine, but I started having SVT’s about a year or so ago, and the medicine for that also helps manage my blood pressure as well, so I may not get off that for awhile.
The main things I’m on now is all these supplements, multi, B1, B12, Biotin, Fiber, stool softener, magnesium, potatassium., and finally probiotic. Oh yeah , pantoprazole for acid reflux, but the dr. said that’s good...........guess this is my new life, right? I can live with it....🙃 It’s expensive to buy all these supplements...

Thanks for asking tho - I think you got more info than you bargained for! Lol