Bypass2Freedom

It is so interesting the different advice that various surgeons give - mine has advised against NSAIDs but I suppose one here and there couldn't hurt if I needed it, though paracetamol does seem to do the trick for the most part! I definitely should have eaten something beforehand 😒 Probably (definitely) too high a dose! I took that x2 so I should have really thought it through, but I think I was just real anxious for the procedure and just wasn't thinking! Wow - that sounds like a really weird experience! I bet you have steered clear of that since! To be honest, I definitely got that spacy feeling!

100% agree with you there! I think I am just going to give it a miss - I don't rate just getting a headache 🤣

Definitely not an ideal day, @ShoppGirl! I'll be smarter next time and make sure I test meds before taking them 😭😂 though with that being said, I don't see myself taking cocodamol again! It's definitely a really interesting topic on how our body absorbs things now, and I think @SpartanMaker had a really valid point in that my body is probably absorbing things a lot quicker! It is a conundrum for me, because I fully expected that alcohol would be absorbed quickly post-bypass, and was warned about this by everyone but all it does is give me a headache, no drunk feeling at all! So it's pointless for me 😂

Note to self: don't accidentally OD on codiene again 😅🤢

Definitely agree with you on that one! What happened to your friend sounds so awful!!! I can't believe she had to go through all of that with no pain relief!

@ShoppGirl It is so frustrating isn't it - I think pain has been so unfortunately normalised for women in terms of childbirth, periods etc, that we are just expected to be able to handle it and get on with it. They only usually recommend paracetamol and I am not kidding, it does nothing for the pain you are actually in during the fitting of the IUD! I don't understand why it isn't better medicated. That is genuinely it though - you have hit the nail on the head - birth will always be the comparison! And what about those of us who have never given birth? The IUD fitting is worse because of that, and yet we are still told to get on with it essentially. So infuriating and belittling! My bf tried telling me that it is only temporary and it won't be that bad...I was just like...do you have to take any form of contraception? Most men I have encountered whine and moan about having to use a condom which is painless, let alone even having to consider more painful contraceptive alternatives!

Definitely based on what is best for you. When I had my consultation with my surgeon, I was pretty sure I wanted the sleeve as I thought it would be 'easier' (I was thoroughly misinformed haha), but when I spoke with my surgeon, ran through my medical history (which included a high BMI, an underactive thyroid & PCOS), he advised that the bypass would probably be more effective for me. BUT, at the end of the day, it is your decision

Celebrating the little wins today - getting into the overweight category in the dreaded BMI! Considering my BMI pre-surgery was like 46, to have now got down to 29.8, I feel chuffed! ❤️ I remember when I checked my BMI pre-surgery and the little X on the scale wasn't even registering on there, and the advice the webpage gives you is to 'see your Dr about your weight'. Now the X is comfortably on the scale, and seeing my Dr is only a suggestion 🤣 Anyone else celebrating wins today?!

Thank you everyone for the comments and the positivity! I really needed that today! My weight is so up & down at the moment (I'll be 8 months post-op on the 14th), and its the first time I am seeing a small gain which is annoying me! I have a feeling it could be because I am in the gym weight training a lot more, but I am trying not to overthink it!

You're too kind haha!! One of my fave outfits!

I know that things slow down, and I am not necessarily feeing low about this, but I just wanted to see what others experiences were with when their weight loss started to slow down & then stop. I am 7 months post-op tomorrow, and I am still losing, but it is definitely at a slower rate than the first 3-4 months (which is of course to be expected). My surgeon said you can keep losing weight anywhere up until 16-18 months post-op: does this resonate with anyone?

It is one of those really hard things isn't it! I genuinely think that there should be more of a remit for skin removal on the NHS following massive weight loss - it is so often detrimental to the individual's MH & sometimes their physical health too. I have gone from a 40GG bra size, to a 34FF and my boobs are sagging and under my right breast I have had this awful rash that doesn't go away - I think because of the excess skin!!

It is definitely a weird one! I can still see where I have more to lose - but I am like, how much of this is loose skin and what is fat? It is strange for sure! I still can't seem to bring myself to call myself skinny 🤣

This will be the first year that I am going into, having managed to lose weight! Feels like such a relief. 2025: Get to my first goal weight Drink more water Plan meals/meal prep See my family more Drive more Save money

My Christmas Eve outfit!

How is everyone doing?! Almost at Christmas now! This is my first Christmas post-surgery, and I am actually feeling alright about it! I know that I won't eat anything at all like I did last year, and I will feel a little strange when everyone else around me is eating normally 😂 But other than this I am feeling kinda prepared! I am going to buy some Lindt 90% dark chocolate so I can have a little "sweet" treat if I feel like it and bring that with me to my parents! I am also so happy that I am close-ish to my 1st goal of 12 stone - even if it does feel like miles off still - but I am celebrating the fact I got into a new stone bracket this morning ❤️ On a more serious note, I do have a check-up in the new year for suspected breast cancer as I have found a little lump - but I am not sure if it is just because I have lost so much weight that my breasts feel different, or if there is actually something there - either way! Best to get it checked, especially as I have a strong family history of breast cancer. Kind of just putting it out of my mind until I need to worry about it! Hope everyone is feeling good, and looking forward to the holidays ❤️

Oh wow that is madness!! It is so strange and quite shocking what excess weight can hide that we don't even think of! Really glad that they got it out for you! I am glad you are feeling it a little bit more with the tree up - something this year does feel a little lackluster doesn't it? I hope your Christmas turns out to be proper bonny though Oooo they sound lovely! I may need to check them out! I got some sugar free vanilla wafers and some sugar free digestives & oatmeal biscuits from Sainsbury's today!

Thank you ❤️ I am definitely hoping it is just that! Oh my god my ribs confused me too!! I was in the shower just soaping myself off and felt a hard bump and I was like...wtf is that?!?! only to realise it was my rib 😂😂 Glad I am not the only one! Thank you so much! Everyone definitely needs a little treat! I actually found some 0 sugar biscuits today so I am very excited for that! Have a lovely Christmas ❤️

I am hoping it is just hormonal or just normal lumps and bumps - but you just never know! I am glad that everything is okay so far - good that you got it checked! It is definitely harder to tell, like when my boobs were bigger nothing felt strange, but now they are saggier and smaller everything feels strange haha I feel that on the cold front!! I have also had this Christmas flu that has been going around and I have been unwell for the last 2 weeks so I just want it to budge before Xmas! I hope you get your wrapping done!

So I stayed in hospital after my op for 2 nights which is quite common - I could have only stayed in for 1 night but I was a little bit dehydrated. I had an IV which gave me paracetamol and if pain was ever too much (it rarely was, they gave me some co-codamol). I was sent home with co-codamol and to be honest I didn't take it once - just rest up as much as you can after your op and you should be okay!

Always feel free to reach out! Well done on your loss so far!

What you are experiencing are very normal worries - I think we all would have had some form of concern or anxiety leading up to the surgery! Just my personal experience, I started talking about surgery YEARS before I even booked a consultation with a surgeon. I am talking like 3 years worth of "umming" about whether or not I should go for it, and subsequently talking myself out of it. I would berate myself saying that I should be able to do it the natural way, I should be strong enough and surgery is risky etc, but I think I was just making excuses for myself really! I'd tried to lose weight since I was a teenager to no avail, and I honestly wish I had just had the surgery sooner! It was my first operation as an adult, so I was definitely scared of the pain and of the whole experience itself but honestly, it was all manageable and it didn't last long! You'd be so surprised how quickly you get used to your new way of living - and genuinely this forum has been an amazing place to just not feel so alone in your experiences. So, ultimately, think about the pros and cons for each potential decision and make sure it is the right one for you. You've got this!

Yeah it is definitely normal for it to slow - and a good thing to remind us of the priorities when it comes to eating etc! Definitely good prep for the future I can see how that is a thing - I definitely weigh myself far far less than I used to in the earlier day of surgery, but I still find myself on that scale maybe 3-4 times per week! I need to perhaps take a step back and get the tape measure out instead and just weigh in once a month as you say!

I am hoping I still have a while left of losing! My initial goal is to get to 12 stone, which is just about 17 lbs to go I think...12 stone was the lowest I had ever weighed in my adult life when I was at university, though I didn't stay that weight for long before I ballooned to 20st+! Then I have a new goal set for after that, maybe 10 stone IF I can get there, but we will see. I'd like to see how I feel back at that 1st goal! I like the way you are looking at it though - the fact that really our bodies have a lot of control over this, and the rate of losing and where it is comfy. It is probably time I start respecting my body rather than forcing it (and sometimes failing) to do what I want 😅 Thank you for the reassurance ❤️

Thank you for reminding me of how far I have come so far I definitely will keep on track - one good thing about being Autistic is that I find it almost impossible to deviate from the "rules", so I still haven't had sugar or fizzy or anything I was told I initially couldn't have 😂 I am too scared I think 🤔 You've come so far though, and you haven't given up which is honestly inspiring!