fourmonthspreop

Hi everyone again! Long venting sesh. Looking for support and advice. I'm back perusing the forums because I've been on a most frustrating journey to curb my regain. Unfortunately, life, life-ed and I went through a lot of stressors/changes and let the old maladaptive comfort eating cope slither back into my life. I am working on feelings of shame around my weight gain. I've gained about 25 lbs now and it's been a slow burn. I feel so embarrassed, so ashamed that I can't even talk about it with my family or my husband. It's pretty bad. I keep thinking "how did you get a gastric bypass and still have issues controlling what you eat?! What is wrong with you?" I know this is not a productive mindset to be in however it's eating at me (no pun intended) and it's making it really hard not to fall into a depression. I want nothing more than to stop the constant thoughts about food, what I should/shouldn't eat and the itch to eat all the time no matter what the food is. I did therapy for years before my bypass and I got to a really good place mentally where I was able to lose 30 lbs on my own before surgery. But I understand life ebbs and flows. It's not always going to be easy, you need tune ups and check ins. I kind of let myself go (not in a physical sense) but a mental sense thinking it would just be perfect from here on out because the high of weight loss after bypass, there's nothing like it! I was on top of the world. I cannot go back to the life I was living. I know food can be such a dangerous game for me and my psychology. It always has been, hence why I had wls in the first place. I can't go back to the knee pain, the weakness, the tiredness, the isolation of binge eating etc. I CANNOT! I REFUSE!! But I also can't sit here and stare at my wounds and call myself stupid for getting wounded in the first place. I just want to focus on getting better. Anyway, I've been advised actually for a while now to take a GLP1. And I keep hearing that it's the best thing since sliced bread to add to your bariatric after-care in terms of long term success. But it's so stigmatized it kept me from even asking. But I truly believe obesity is a disease. It's a chronic illness that must be managed and you have good years and bad years. There is a lot of modern studies in obesity medicine that suggest-so, the system-wide inflammation associated with it its proof in of itself for me. This isn't about looking my best or fitting into some size. It's about saving my life because I know where it all leads to. I'm in my 30's now. I want kids soon. I want to be the best version of myself. And I have to ask the universe for help again. And I can't let that make me feel small and ashamed. I think to myself being scared about the stigma is ironic because I'm sitting here with a bypassed stomach and 30 years of weight-related trauma lol. Yes, I've been obese most my life. The second layer was cost. I spent so much money on stupid things I didn't need. The money I paid for the bypass, well every cent was worth it. I didn't get on a GLP1 because it was so expensive. This week, I pooled together some funds, only enough to try the meds for 3 months and I am currently awaiting my first month of the compounded pill. If it offers me the same relief as the bypass did, even a fraction, I'll take it. It's worth the money to fix my health. I am hoping and praying that this works for me. It's okay if it doesn't, and I am exploring psychiatric options with my providers as well as I have bipolar type 2 and receive medication management for that. I am open to other psychiatric interventions for obsessive eating. I am in group therapy currently. I am exercising and walking everyday and I eat at least 100 grams of protein a day. The problem is the extra meals (grazing) outside of the healthy ones. But here, I guess I am starting on a new foot. I have to put these negative feelings away because they are not serving me. They're driving me to eat. It's the same pain I felt before I had surgery and I can't let it get as bad as it did. The only thing that helped me get help and get a therapist and lose the weight was relinquishing shame. I have to go back there. I've been on a mood stabilizer for 5-6 years now. I don't feel badly about telling people I need that. So why is it so hard to admit to myself and others that I need a GLP1 after bypass? So odd. How do I even begin to look at this normally and in a positive light? So I got a 1.5 mg compounded pill (says it's Wegovy but I'm not sure that comes in pill form). I start that for a month then it increases from there. The goal is to get me to 4mg? But I want to see where one month leads me. If I can stop this constant feeling of emptiness inside of me, being head hungry and craving to have something in my mouth, well then I'll take it as a win. Can anyone share their stories and/or tips with bariatric regain? How did you go about it? What did you feel? How did people around you react?

Following - just got on oral compound wegovy from Hers. Haven't received the medication yet. I would rather take pills because I am scared of injecting myself lol. I already take daily pills too so I don't mind adding it in. Wondering what the side effects and efficacy are for someone with the bypass. I got very strict instructions to take it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach with no more than 4 oz of water.

I am following this! Congrats on your weight loss, that's a huge accomplishment. I understand needing more help too. I got down to 197 from 340 then stalled out then put back 20 lbs. I have been struggling like crazy. I don't feel my hunger cues strongly anymore and I graze because of it. I also definitely use eating as a coping mechanism and did before I had my surgery. I did two years of intensive therapy and meds before my bypass to get help with my mental/emotional eating issues. But I have had a resurgence of these symptoms in the last year due to stress in my life. I am just about going crazy with the food noise and urges. I will do anything to stop it and get back on track. I just got a prescription for compounded wegovy pills through Hers. I was always told to get on a GLP1, post bariatric surgery but never felt like I had the money. I have a bit of extra money right now so out of desperation and necessity, I got on Hers and got a prescription. It's 150 a month plus 150 membership to the service. I figure I could try it for 2 months and if it's worth it then I will figure it out. Anyway, I am turning back to the forums because I want to invest in myself again. I'm not happy with where I am at and don't feel in control of my weight loss anymore. I am nervous of starting the pills and I'm embarrassed to tell my family but whatever I need to put me first. I am scared about side effects too. Is starting on a 1.5 mg pill going to help? Is it going to cause a lot of side effects? Is that the right dose? How can the doctor know? I also wonder for those who have had the bypass - did you get acid reflux? Ever since my bypass my reflux went away. I used to have GERD symptoms before my surgery. Wondering if this gets worse or comes back? Super scared about that. I am good on eating enough protein and drinking enough water, it's the grazing on carbs that ruin my progress. I get about 100-120 grams of protein a day and also drink 80-100 oz of water minimum not counting coffee, unsweetened drinks.

Hi! I think I deal with the same thing occasionally. I haven't had an official diagnosis but pretty much about 1.5 years post op I started developing crashes after eating meals with simple carbs/no fiber or protein. I found that padding the carb with fiberous vegetables helped prevent the crash and shaky feeling. When I eat sensible portions of whole foods, including rice and beans, I do not receive a crash and shaky feeling. I also pair this with protein and loads of raw vegetables. I specifically get the spike/crash and shakes from eating high sugary foods...things we're not really supposed to have but given a moment of holiday pressure, we do lol I haven't had this checked but I'm wondering if it can lead to developing type 2 diabetes in the future? Idk about you but it also has me struggling with cravings. I think when it does happen, after a spike and drop I am craving carbs/starch even if I'm not actually hungry. It's a major issue in the middle of the night. Have you experienced this too? Just trying to get more information. I'm also trying to find a new doctor because I moved but I am having a hard time finding someone that works with lots of wls patients.

Update: healing well. Started scar laser therapy last week. Still in compression but I got a cute short sleeve dress I can't wait to wear on my summer vacation. I will probably be in compression for the rest of the summer just because the swelling gets so crazy in the extreme heat where I live. I am excited and loving the results so far. It feels so great to not feel my arms shake and move around while doing things daily. Going down stairs, running, stirring while cooking, all feels different. Also I am a violinist and I no longer feel my arms shake and move while I play. I am so happy about that.

Welll.... got my brachio. On post op day 4. Feeling pretty good. It's still very swollen. Here's post op day 3 photo. I can't wait to be healed and wearing t shirt. I have to wear this compression top for 2 weeks straight then for 12 hours a day for 4 more weeks or so.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I am hoping it'll be a smooth recovery but I understand it's a huge procedure and costly, it's still something I believe will help me along my journey. I just feel so uncomfortable with my arms, way more than the loose skin on my belly and legs. I understand it might not be as drastic as some other cases on here and in no way did I mean to compare myself to anyone else's struggles. It's just something personally I have had trouble with and wanted to know how the recovery process is and how you view yourself after. My surgeon said there's two people that usually come into his office. The first one is someone who doesn't have enough loose skin and doesn't really qualify for a brachio (they are more looking at lipo and skin tightening procedures). The other patient is someone who has huge amounts of excess skin (people who've lost between 150/200 lbs with poorer skin elasticity) and have no other options except a brachio (less invasive procedures would not make a difference). He said I sit right on the cusp of absolutely needed a brachio to see the results I want. He said my skin elasticity is good but it won't ever bounce back to a normal size without skin removal. He said I could do skin tightening I believe they call is morpheous body but it won't get rid of the flap of skin under my arm. He suggests it to his patients who qualify who are more concerned about scarring. I personally don't care about scars. He also noticed I have a lot of loose skin folded over on my bra line so he is recommends the brachio with the bra line skin removal procedure for me. Of course I want brachio, but I am going with what my surgeon thinks is best and that is the removal of the skin. I included some other pics, sorry I don't take the best pictures but hopefully, you can see my arms a bit more if you were curious what my situation is. Again, I am in no way comparing my physical shape to anyone else. We all have different circumstances, bodies, elasticity, goals, etc. I don't have the photos from my surgeon yet (the before, clearest photos) but you can see more of my arm hangage here in these photos. No, it doesn't look super obvious when I wear long sleeves pic for reference (I am always wearing long sleeves) however I personally would like to have a brachio to feel confident in t-shirts without that arm flap wacking against my side.

Hey! You look great and happy after your surgery! I am getting brachio done in a month...nervous as heck. How are you recovering?

Long post alert, just venting and catching up after so much time away... TLDR, I'm getting an arm lift. I want to hear from other people who got it and how it changed their body/body image, recovery, success stories, and whatever else you want to share! Wow, I haven't posted in a while. This forum got me through some dark times when I had my gastric bypass both before and after. I am posting today because I am FINALLY getting some plastics done. I have been waiting a while because I wanted to maintain my weight. I just turned 30, I'm not getting any younger and I've been doing excellent maintaining my weight loss so I finally scheduled a brachioplasty to start. I am getting an arm lift in other words. I included a pic of my arm and the skin hang-age. This is my before. Disclaimer, this pic is from a couple months ago it's the one I had handy on my desktop but I've been doing a lot of weight training and have built up my bicep a bit more. I would like to do a tummy tuck too (I have A LOT of loose skin in an apron belly shape and my boobs sag down to my ribs ? ) but I am okay with not getting it for now. I can't afford both and don't really have the time to recover from all that surgery. I am starting with just the brachio for now. I have spent my whole life hiding my body and after losing all this weight, I found I am concealing it even MORE because of how droopy and flappy everything has gotten. I am fed up of feeling uncomfortable in my own skin after all the hard work I put in. I'm sure a lot of people who get plastic surgery post-major weight loss can relate to this. At this point it feels like a necessity. My bat wing arms also smack against my body like crazy, I can't wear short sleeves without this happening and tops do not fit me right because of my wonky proportions. My bicep has very little fat on it and all the bulk on my arm is hanging under it so it's very uncomfortable. I've been holding off because of how expensive it is as well. I am paying out of pocket 15k and it's a chunk of my savings but I'd rather have this than a payment plan and I can start ASAP to recoup my savings. I have a lot of body image issues as one does from being morbidly obese their whole life... so honestly I am almost 100% sure this surgery is NOT going to fix the way I see myself. I am more looking at it as a way to feel more comfortable on a day-to-day basis whether I am exercising or just trying to wear a short sleeve outfit in this very hot state I live in. So that's basically my update. I have been doing well, maintaining my weight loss and a healthy lifestyle. Gastric bypass has completely changed my life and made it so much easier to make better choices for my body and my longevity. I am ready for the arm lift and I am so scared but also excited to see how this all goes. I want to hear from other people who got an arm lift or any loose skin removal and how the recovery went for you and how it helped you and your confidence. Thanks and you're all wonderful people!

Amazing! The joy on your face says it all. Get well soon xx

I bought a skirt and dress from Goodwill today. I used to not enjoy thrifting because nothing ever fit me that was fashionable/nice as I was a size 4X/24+. Now as a M/L, I can actually find some stylish and vintage pieces, try endless things on, and walk out with something. I hated buying plus size clothes because they were few and far between and so expensive. It's nice to be able to thrift. I found a really cute 90's romantic black skirt, def vintage and I love it.

Hey everyone! I'm 2.7 years post op. I've maintained about a 140 lb weight loss. I have a lot of loose skin and I honestly feel like I can't fully enjoy my body until I get some of this skin off. The problem is I can't afford it. I spent everything on the surgery (insurance didn't cover) and I'm not making much money right now because I decided to go back to school. I am currently living in Texas. I would love to know how some of you paid for your plastics. Was it hard to make payments? What options are there usually? I'd like to get my belly skin, breasts and arms lifted. I am just looking at arms right now and just that alone is $14000. I just need any ideas or out-of-the-box suggestions. The weight loss surgery and weight loss/maintenance was one thing, but making this next step happen feels impossible sometimes.

I don't post too much on here anymore because I'm 2 years and 3 months post of from bypass. Life has pretty much normalized and I've reached my goal weight. I would like to get down to maybe 195 lbs but I'm not sweating it too much because I feel the best I've ever been since starting this whole process. I am six feet tall and sit around 198/199 at the moment. I started this journey at around 340 lbs. I lost 30 lbs before my surgery. I have lots of loose skin on my belly, my thighs, and my arms. Unfortunately, I can't afford skin removal but I'm saving to do my arms next summer. After a while, sometimes you have days where you no longer connect to your old obese self. I have days where I feel huge and ugly still. It's easy to forget where you came from or how far you've come. What helps me is now and then I check my old photos and make comparisons so I can see my progress. The body dysmorphia is so real and something I know most of you if not all can and will relate to. Losing the weight did not fix my body image but it's different for everyone. Some things IT DID improve however: -Improve my joint health (daily knee pain gone). -Took up running. Avid runner now. Have done races and run regularly outside. -Lowered my blood pressure. -Lowered my heart rate. -No longer profusely sweat or turn red from basic activities. -No longer use alcohol and food to cope with anxiety. -So much energy to move and do chores/tasks. -Healed my obsession with food. I love seeing everyone's progress and reading your stories. Getting the surgery is not a fix-all. We have to do the work to eat the right foods in the right portions and get exercise regularly. It's easier the first year but I can tell you it gets harder and harder. Every day is a battle when you're trying to escape obesity. That's not a bad thing. It's rewarding and you learn so much and become a more resilient and deep person. So keep remembering why you did this, where you came from, and how much better life is getting for you!

I suppose this isn't really weird, but since my surgery and losing the weight I started running again. Around 220 lbs I was cleared to run regularly without damage to my joints as long as I did my physical rehab exercises for my knees and quads. I started amping up my running and started my mile at 15 min pace, today I have it down to 9 min pace for a 5k. I am doing my first 5k this weekend and I'm not nervous, scared, or worried I'll be out of place or injured. I've always wanted to participate in a race but couldn't because of my size which also affected my mental health...so I'm very excited about this and feel proud of myself.

Everyone looks amazing and is doing amazing. Congrats to all! xxxx