BlondePatriotInCDA

Coming up on 2 years post-op next month and looking back the only thing I wish is that I had trusted the process and worried less about losing. Give yourself grace. Reading all these forum posts shows that everyone worries about the same things with mostly the exact same concerns; losing the weight. Its understandable considering its why we're all here and why we all had the surgery, after all we've exhausted other methods without success, but we need and should just give ourselves a break, step back and trust the surgery/process it will work as long as the rules/guidelines are followed. Lastly, there will be loose skin and no matter what you do it will happen. No amount of anything; vitamins, collagen, exercise or sitting in vats of moisturizer will correct it. Just either learn to live with it or plastics if you can afford it. Just come to grips with it before surgery because it WILL happen. Like MIZ60 said get used to no shorts and no short sleeves and definitely no bikinis!

A "J" shaped stomach is an accepted variation, but not considered an abnormal variation anatomy of the stomach. Your doctor was just stating its shaped differently, but nothing should change your surgery or the outcomes. There really isn't anything to be worried about, your surgeon was passing along what was observed!

You've lost a significant amount of weight in a short amount of time. Perhaps its your expectations that are off. In fact, you've lost on the higher side of most other people with the same surgery in the same amount of time. Just trust the process, but if you still have concerns contact your bariatric surgeons office and speak to them. Otherwise, keep up the good job!

Are you sure it would be in a place that won't be affected by loose skin? There isn't a single place on my body that hasn't been affected by loose skin..other than my scalp, hands, tops of my feet and forehead....everywhere else...loose. I have a tattoo and its right on my hip bone, I'm hoping with a panniculectomy (I can't afford a tummy tuck) it will end up being pulled a up and removed it now looks horrible. When you loose weight you get loose skin everywhere its not just as visible hanging skin everywhere. I know you say an opportunity has presented itself.. Cost, time...etc., but I personally would wait. Use the potential for a tattoo as a reward for all your hard work in your health journey, make sure you have a canvas worthy of your art and your grandfather. Also, having a tattoo and having friends and family who also have body art I along with all of them would say make sure its the right artist, NOT the right price that convinces you. Research the artist and style you want. Save the extra money you would have on food etc., put it in a save for my grandfather and healthier body stash reward to get exactly what you want by a great researched artist when you're not rushed to get it. Lastly, as far as surgery...the ink enters your bloodstream and also there is always a chance of reactions and/or infection, you can't donate blood or plasma for 6 months after receiving a tattoo..there is a reason. Why risk all that I'm sure you've done presurgery at this point in time for a reasonable cost? Just my two cents, I hope it helps some. There might be others who disagree so perhaps you'll get both sides...

I'm still finding it difficult because those "important bits" have changed now (besides the normal decency ones) because now instead of trying to cover the fat, I've exchanged that for loose skin covering up! I refuse to show my arms, stomach and legs now..so I've just traded one embarrassment for another. ?

Anyone try DUNE Awakening? I'm thinking about giving it a try...

Thank you for explaining it for me. I'm glad you're finally seeing some downward movement on the scale!

I'm a bit confused, your stats show: 360 lbs Weight Lost:138.8 lbs Current Weight:221.2 lbs BMI:45 with your surgery date being February 2025, that's a significant amount to have lost from February this year to July - 5 months! Am I missing something, or have I managed to read this incorrectly? From what you stated it should only be 29.2lbs, or are your stats including a prior surgery? Sorry if I've misread or for my confusion.

Congrats on both achievements! I don't have a done with chemo treatment bell..but if I did Ding Ding Ding!

I'm wondering if the way you handle your anxiety now opposed to how you might have handled it before is what is actually different and why you're noticing it as more extreme, did you use food to self sooth? Perhaps this is why you're noticing it more is because you can't/don't have that option anymore and the lack of soothing with food ramps up the anxiety? I don't know if that's what you used to do in anxious situations which is why I'm asking.. But if so its my guess opposed to it being something else. Plus, you've gone through a lot with surgery and your grandmother passing (sorry for your loss). Life can be riddled with anxiety inducing situations unfortunately. From reading your posts, you're a strong woman and I have no doubts that you will tackle this head on and come out on top! Perhaps talking to a mental heath professional may help, I've never personally been a huge fan and haven't found them worthwhile, but for a lot of ppl it does help! You've got this, just continue on being your strong self!

The shoe size really surprised me, all my old shoes flop around on my feet now ? cute shoes too! Trust me don't wear them, I not realizing this was a thing wore my most comfy shoes (Sketchers sherpa lined clogs) on a trip and I ended up with major blisters just walking in the airport! 3 pairs of socks and bandaids and hobbling along the entire trip. Take it from me - just donate them and buy some new cute shoes!

I concur ..you shouldn't feel nauseated all the time. I'd contact your prescribing doctor and let them know! I've been on Wegovy for 6 months and never feel nauseated, it just removed the constant food drumbeat in my head. You don't want to risk potential stomach issues!

Yet....?

I appreciate your post, its an opportunity to understand human nature and the constant struggles we have fighting the basic life requirement to eat. That being said, I would like to ask fellow forum members the following questions if they too have had/have their other half going down the same paths... seeing your wife having weight/health issues and what others do/say/handle that situation. My husband eats like a 12 year old boy. He knows it, he told his doctor the same thing (his doctor laughed and said he eats the same way). His BMI (I know its not a great metric but its the easiest and most ppl understand it) is 29.98. I've explained obese is 30.00. He says he gets "plenty of exercise" because he walks 12 miles a day, which he does (mail carrier). I say that's moving NOT exercise since its nothing more than a long stroll, not getting his heart rate up. So, my question like what Spartan says how do you help someone see the light? Yes, I realize its like everything else each person has to come to the realization on their own, but how can we help the process along, after all time doesn't stand still and no one is getting younger. I try to get him to eat the meals I prepare, but its not what he "likes": cereals, processed foods i.e. hot dogs, fast food, candy and soda. He has tried dieting, it lasts less than a day or he only "eats a half bowl of sugary cereal until I point out that a serving is 1/4 cup and his half a bowl is 4 servings...etc. What have you tried, done said etc., on your journey to bring your other half kicking and screaming into a healthier lifestyle that worked? I don't want anger or alienate my husband, but do you just stand back and continue to let someone you love keep pulling the trigger?

"Good news is that I am now 1/4 way through my 30 day supply of these bovine collagen tablets…on day 2. This afternoon I snorted at the neighbors dog and stamped my hoof….didn’t charge, though. Prolly will after a few more days at this intake." Trust me you're at the easy stage...just wait until your horns break through...painful!!!!

Congratulations, you are winning the battle day by day!

Thank you Ms. Pretty! I appreciate you.

A quick post on a long journey: Win; Starting size 2X 20 months later... Current size 4. Shock when buying jeans!

As Spartan stated it could be different lab values. A good portion of my lab values come back "abnormal" but that's as my doctor told me very subjective. IF its just a point or two in either direction its most likely "normal" and could just be "normal" for you or different labs different "normals." Were you told that you're showing symptoms for dehydration? If your values continue to change, are more than a few points in the "abnormal" range and are trending in those directions over a period of time then perhaps its a reason for concern but until then I wouldn't worry. Remember, if its concerning to you ASK your doctor at the very least your doctor should go over it with you to alleviate your concerns.

I'm just checking in with all my August 2023 fellow surgery patients! I hope everyone is doing well and has been genuinely happy at 19+ months PO! I finally conceded that I'm probably not going to get to my "goal" since I've been stuck here for months now. I also like to think that if I were to have skin removal on all the places I need it (stomach, arms legs and butt) it would take me to goal. This puts me at where I was weight wise most of my adult life before I started gaining weight ten years ago. So, I'm happy with the wls results physically health wise, lol just not looks wise. I knew what to expect...but its still difficult to actually seeing it. Plus all the new aches and pains from past stress on the body and shifting lose joints is .... Great ? Again, I hope everyone is doing well and has adjusted to their new healthy life!

I agree with SpartanMaker that you can try all the supplements people suggest but; ..I recently went to my dermatologist for hair loss and I worked in a dermatology clinic for years so not only did I ask my personal dermatologist, but I went back and asked my former employers about supplements/treatments. My personal dermatologist said studies/research shows that they really don't work including biotin shampoos etc. Biotin coats the hair shaft to fluff it i.e. make it stand up a bit giving the appearance of being fuller and working, but its coating hair that's already dead so its not treating hair loss. So until your hair stops shedding it can help with appearances. Collagen can't hurt, but most likely won't help. All the dermatologists at my old clinic (6 separate doctors) all agreed that hair supplements aren't worth the money since they really don't work, but if it made me "feel better" taking them and I didn't mind "wasting money" they couldn't hurt. They all agreed that making sure I got all my protein in each day and taking my multivitamin so I wasn't deficient was the best route to take. I was told that in general after a major surgery if people continued to "shed" after 12 - 18 months to be sure to make an appointment as there could be more going on but until then it was completely normal. Needless to say I continued to shed past 18 months and made an appointment. I'm now being treated for possible LPP which could have been brought on by the stress of surgery - its difficult to determine as its idiopathic. Luckily for me its really early and doctor feels I won't get bald patches. Whew! So, unless its major shedding (clumps), you notice bald spots, itching, sores, redness, scaling etc, or you've gone past the 18 months timeline its a "normal" reaction to the stress of surgery there isn't anything to be done other than wait it out. All else fails to assure you, make an appointment with your dermatologist to alleviate your concerns.

Did you go in to the clinic and did your doctor do a full physical? If not I would consider a second opinion especially being 9 weeks out. At 9 weeks you should be on solid foods unless you were advised to do liquid/puree for longer and you didn't? A second opinion can never hurt. You said mentally food makes you want to "gag"and you find food " disgusting ", perhaps not only having a complete physical but talking to the dietician or a mental health professional would also help... Also, you never stated what your average meal menus consist of...and quantity..other than low fat meats and protein drinks. Are you getting enough fiber to assist with those " accidents"? I'd at the bare minimum set up an appointment with the dietician. Good luck hope you start doing better soon!

I agree with the other two posts, contact your surgical team, what you're experiencing in is not "normal." Don't risk your health further.

I told him that's ok..I wouldn't want my sexy time with Thor interrupted anyway!

I agree!!! It was a backhanded "compliment"!