hills&valleys

Personally I think anytime you go under general anesthesia an overnight stay should be required particularly if you are under for over an hour. General anesthesia used to require an overnight stay but insurance companies have been responsible for the change in policy for obvious reasons. The last two times I had general anesthesia I was hard to wake as well having excessive lingering effects for 12+ hours. Turns out I am highly sensitive to anesthesia. After my VSG surgery, I was not able to stay awake for almost 8 hours. Even with assistance I was unable to stand and walk. Within 12 hours I started to rally and by 20 hours I was heading to the spa for a massage.

Today marks my one year anniversary of my VSG. This was the best gift I could have given myself. As promised, I am back to give my 12 month update. I hope all will follow up with status updates so the results can be tabulated. 1. Basics: GENDER, AGE (at time of surgery) , HEIGHT - F, 62, 5'5" 2. Total Weight lost in the 6 months BEFORE surgery (if any) - 6.5 LBS 3.Weight on DAY OF SURGERY. - 202.5 LBS 4. Weight at 1 MONTH POST surgery - 187.4 LBS 5. Weight at 3 MONTHs POST surgery - 170.8 LBS 6. Weight at 6 MONTHs POST surgery - 149.2 LBS 7. Weight at 12 MONTHs POST surgery - 134.2 LBS

Kosher pickles and the pickle juice were the saving grace for me. They were not on the approved food list but based on the nutritional information should be unless the patient is on an extreme sodium restriction diet. I confessed my addition to my doctor and amazingly pickles are now included on the group's pre-op diet.

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.

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year and a successful journey to better health. On March 1, 2023 before heading to the airport traveling to Piedras Negras, Mexico for my scheduled March 3rd VSG with Dr. Alvarez at Endobariatric; I logged my weight and recorded my measurements. I have kept a running spreadsheet, updating the stats the 1st of every month. Ten months later, I am down 75 pounds and fitting comfortably in a size 6. I am not finished. I had set my goal at 112 which in reality is too thin for me but I wanted to allow for the common 5 to 7 pound regain from the lowest weight, hopefully settling in the 117 to 118 range. I have not had one moment's regret. This is the greatest gift I have given myself and look forward to a healthier and more active 2024.

@BabySpoons Love, love, love this....saved it!

Several years ago, I experienced something similar but it was mainly during my daily walks. At first Meralgia Paresthetica was suspected but it turned out to being related to my hypothyroidism with a TSH level at 192. The symptoms you describe does check the "boxes" of Meralgia Paresthetica but you should consult with your doctor ASAP. https://www.aocd.org/page/MeralgiaParesthetic

"her comment to me was that she was so glad to know I had weight loss surgery because I looked like I was dyeing from cancer cancer lol!" Classic example of passive aggressive behavior. I can relate. My mother was obsessive about staying thin. Through my preteen and teen years I would yo-yo between average size to slightly chubby. Within weeks after my youngest child was born, I moved out of state. Two years later I moved back to my hometown. I was thinner than my mother. She would make comments that I was too thin (I wasn't). I was almost 30 and she was in her early 50s. She secretly started abusing diuretics and laxatives to drop pounds in an attempt to be smaller than me. She ended up in the hospital with electrolyte imbalances and deficiencies. Years later, my daughter was battling with about 35 to 40 extra pounds. She asked me to help her with a low carb diet which is how I maintained my weight at 115 to 117 for most of my adult life. She lost the excess weight and I was bragging about my 22 year old daughter's victory to my mother. My 73 year old mother, who was weighing in about140, replied with the most selfish and disgusting comment imaginable...."Great, now I am the only fat one in the family!" I very sharply responded with "That is digusting! Be happy for her. It's her time now." Be prepared.....people who once secretly pitied you, emotionally supported you and openly cheered your success may now feel threatened by the change in the dynamic. My mother's self-worth was so closely tied to being the most svelte of any woman in her circle. When I surplanted her claim to fame, my mother felt assaulted. My daughter's weight loss after my mother's gain was the final blow to her ego. Because of my mother's sabatoging and competitive nature, I chose not to tell her about my choice to undergo VSG.

It is contradictory to label this a victory. Yesterday I was standing beside the porch (approx. height 24"), a gust of wind blew me over onto the porch. Fortunately I was not injured but was "blown away" with shock at the realization I had lost enough weight that non-gale force winds could knock me over. But a true NSV, I now have my thigh-gap back!

You look fabulous!!!

Since we all started at different weights, heights, etc., I find comparisons to be best evaluated by percentage of body weight lost. At 6 months, I had lost 28.5% of my body weight. Now at 7 months and one week, I have now lost an additional 4%, for a total of 32.5% of my starting weight. Comparisons are a gauge but be careful when comparing yourself to others. We may all be vying for the same destination of better health and slimmer selves but our journey is uniquely our own with hills and valleys.

Considering there are a multitude of thyroid disorders, without a specific confirmed medical diagnosis, it would be impossible to offer an opinion as to how WLS could affect your prognosis. As someone who has dealt with the extreme swing from stroke-level hyperthyroidism cause by the autoimmune disorder of Grave's Disease to a partial thyroidectomy during the early weeks of an unknown pregnancy which placed addition stress on my remaining thyroid causing the destruction of all thyroid function; I have run the gambit of thyroid crisis scenarios including a couple of life threatening emergencies with myxedema comas. I am closely monitored by a team of endocrinologists who specialize in unique cases. How WLS could affect your particular thyroid issue would be best answered by an endocrinologist who specialize in thyroid disorders. As far as my 40 years of experience dealing with the thyroid roller coaster, my tsh, uptake, t3 levels and thyroid medication dosage were never affected by my weight. Good luck to you!

I second @Shazzie2017.....music. if I am down or stressed I start with slow, soulful music gradually increasing the tempo elevating my mood until i feel like dancing in the streets!

Today, marks my 6 month surgery anniversary so I wanted to update my stats. I will update again at the 12 month marker. I look forward to seeing the results of the survey. 1. Basics: GENDER, AGE (at time of surgery) , HEIGHT - F, 62, 5'5" 2. Total Weight lost in the 6 months BEFORE surgery (if any) - 6.5 LBS 3. Weight on DAY OF SURGERY. - 202.5 LBS 4. Weight at 1 MONTH POST surgery - 187.4 LBS 5. Weight at 3 MONTHs POST surgery - 170.8 LBS 6. Weight at 6 MONTHs POST surgery - 149.2 7. Weight at 12 MONTHs POST surgery - TBD

After all the challenges and complications you have experienced, we can all share your tears of joy from peeling off the layers which had imprisoned you for so many years! Your positive attitude will propel you to reach your goals successfully....Bravo, Bravo, Bravo!