SIPS in Seattle

Curiosity got me.... you want a lapband but your screen name is gastricsleeve2018?

We are going on vacation in September, I’ve been on the hunt for some cool, comfortable dresses. My NSV is that I can buy small and medium sizes now. I even bought a small for my tankini bottoms. Small! Omg.

The leftover lunch. Leftover crockpot pulled pork mixed with leftover stir fried cabbage. Still can’t wrap my head around portion sizes I plate vs what I can eat. Was delicious and I’m stuffed.

I had my revision one year ago today. I’m shocked and amazed at the changes that have occurred this year. My boobs have disappeared, I lost a lot of hair... but more importantly I’m no longer overweight. I still have a belly (and lose skin) but I’m learning to love myself just as I am. I’m so thankful to be on this road.

Now I just need to get my butt back in the gym, good news is that it is within walking distance now.

No regrets. ❤️

I had my revision one year ago today. I’m shocked and amazed at the changes that have occurred this year. My boobs have disappeared, I lost a lot of hair... but more importantly I’m no longer overweight. I still have a belly (and lose skin) but I’m learning to love myself just as I am. I’m so thankful to be on this road.

Now I just need to get my butt back in the gym, good news is that it is within walking distance now.

No regrets. ❤️

I had my revision one year ago today. I’m shocked and amazed at the changes that have occurred this year. My boobs have disappeared, I lost a lot of hair... but more importantly I’m no longer overweight. I still have a belly (and lose skin) but I’m learning to love myself just as I am. I’m so thankful to be on this road.

Now I just need to get my butt back in the gym, good news is that it is within walking distance now.

No regrets. ❤️

Awesome Congratulations

Bravo!

I'm so thankful for support that I've found here. I don't know anyone in "real life" who has had WLS. I don't attend any group meetings. All my pre-op appointments were individual. I was too nervous to even attend a group information session! So I'm hoping that no one minds if I share how I'm feeling on my first surgiversary.
One year ago today was the eve of my VSG! A year later and I'm 71kg or 156 pounds lighter. It has been the most insane year of my life. I've learned so much about myself and what I might be capable of. I've pushed myself harder than I ever thought possible. It's been baby steps and huge leaps all at once.
A lot has happened this year. I've read a million diet and nutrition articles online. I've obsessed over the numbers on the scale every morning. I have amassed a small mountain sized pile of clothes that I'm too worried to throw out in case I need them again. I cried the first time I tried on something in a "normal" store and it actually fit. I picked out more loose hairs from my shower drain than I ever thought possible. I tried out yoga and pilates. I cooked vegetables that I would have had difficulty identifying a year ago. I worried that I was losing weight too quickly. I worried that I was losing weight too slowly. One of my rings got so big that it flew off my hand and got flushed down the toilet. I spent an obscene amount of money on new clothes. I've eaten too quickly and felt sick. Sometimes I play with my squishy loose skin like it's play doh. Most of my shoes are too loose and don't fit properly. I can now fly without an extra seat belt extender. The first thing I do every morning is immediately feel my stomach and check that the weight hasn't come back over night or that this past year wasn't just some weird dream. Sometimes I look in the mirror and think I might pass for normal. Other times I hate my reflection. It's been harder than I thought it would be and it's been easier than I thought it would be. It's been a strange ride!
Anyway, below are some "before" and "after" shots. Hopefully you can identify which is which!

I can totally relate. I have a friend from college, we met freshman year. She’s always been super thin, boys fawn all over her etc. She was hurt in an accident that left her unable to exercise in her usual manner coupled with stress, work, depression etc and gained upwards of 50lbs this past year whereas I dropped 90+. First time ever that I’ve been smaller than her. Gave her a bunch of my clothes tonight that I’ve sized out of. It feels so good yet I feel a little guilty cuz her thinness was always her “thing” and I know she’s super sensitive about it. Yet I can’t help but smile about it on the inside.

Went shopping yesterday: I officially DO NOT wear plus sizes anymore!
A whole world of possibilities has opened up! It is exciting and overwhelming.
BYE Torrid, Lane Bryant, and the scary back corner of Macy's!

Hi, folks. I have not been on this board for a long time. Today, I had a visit to my bariatric surgeon's physician assistant (PA). I am 16 months out from roux en y surgery and have lost a total of 101 pounds. I went there today because I have been experiencing severe abdominal pain, bloating and flatulence at night, every night x 2-3 weeks. I should add that I am an RN and am one semester away from completing my Family Nurse Practitioner Master's degree. The PA gave me some advice, ordered some meds and labs and I checked out--it was about 4:10pm.
She had told me to do the labs today, due to the severity of the symptoms I was having. Their office was closing. I went to my PCP's office--which has a lab tech--and they were closing and the lab tech had left. I went downstairs to the outpatient lab and it was closed. The only lab open was the STAT lab on the 2nd floor. Since I was still in the building, I thought I'd just double check that the PA did not want these labs to be drawn STAT. I went back to the office.
It was locked. I knocked on the door. I had already heard the cackling and loud voices from 10 ft away. As I got closer, I heard the PA saying "I know, and every time she moved her arms! I couldn't believe it! And she had her teenage son with her!" Needless to say both me and my teenaged son (almost 17) heard this. He drove me today because I wasn't feeling well and he also needs to rack up his driving hours to complete his driver's permit and get his regular license. Just then, the PA, the receptionist and someone from the billing dept emerged from the door. They turned white as ghosts. Their jaws almost hit the floor. Being the classy person that I am, I didn't reference that I overheard them talking about something on my body just then. Their reaction confirmed what I thought I overheard. I asked the PA if she wanted the labs STAT, she said no, and my son and I walked to the elevator. The women huddled back by the door, somehow frozen. The only way to either the stairs or the elevator was toward the direction my son and I walked. Clearly, the women felt ashamed (?)/shook by being overheard body-shaming a patient, violating HIPAA, and being overall terrible people.
As we drove home, I was pretty hurt. Most patients at a bariatric surgeon's office are going to have body image issues. Whether they are pre-op or post-op, they have likely experienced some type of negativity about their bodies (either from within or without, or both.) Also, I should add, I am a breast cancer survivor. December 2018 is my five-year anniversary of having stage 2 invasive breast cancer and having a b/l radical mastectomy and subsequent reconstruction, followed by a hysterectomy. One year after my b/l mastectomy, the reality hit me that my GG breasts were now AAs, mutilated and scarred. I felt unattractive, repulsive and beyond depressed. I was thrilled to be alive and that it was caught in time to prevent spreading to my lymph nodes and that by doing a b/l mastectomy, I didn't have to do chemo or radiation. I failed to be able to tolerate Tamoxifen, and had to be put on a cocktail of other meds that resulted in me gaining about 50 pounds to my already Rubenesque 225 lb body. It was a low time.
Then, I got my reconstruction. My breast did not, do not, and will not look like "porn star" boobs, or "stripper boobs," although many people have suggested that was the "up side" of breast cancer. See, when you get a radical mastectomy, they hollow you out like a cantaloupe. Then, either at the same time, or at a later surgery, they insert implants (or, in some cases, spacers). Because I was 220 pounds when I got my reconstruction, they put the biggest implants the FDA allows--800 cc. The reconstruction surgeon repaired a lot of the scarring caused by a severe post-op infection from the initial surgery, during which both of my breast turned black and I had to debride the dead tissue myself at home. I was and am thrilled that I had a good reconstruction surgeon and, after recovering, felt a little bit more whole.
While I had no breast tissue before, but now, any extra cushion vanished as I lost over 100 pounds. My breasts are skin and implant. It's definitely not a "hot" look. Well, all this cancer talk comes into play because what the women were talking about was my breasts. You see, when you get a breast reconstruction, your breasts don't look like regular breasts. Again, they are hard, stiff, and look like "robot boobs," as I call them. Today, at the office, I was wearing a bamboo material sundress, that was mostly dark teal, but also had other colors tie-dyed into the design. In the front is a "peekaboo" hole. The rest of the dress is just an A-line dress with a full skirt. It is not particularly "sexy." (Including my flabby/flappy wing-like arms!) But because my breasts don't move, there is a tiny bit of "side boob" seen protruding into my armpits. Not regular side boob--because remember, nothing is "soft" anymore. No, it's part of the round, button shape (just imagine an implant covered with skin, literally.)
As I reconstructed what the women were saying, I recalled more and more of the beginning. I guess in the moment, in shock, my brain kind of protected me and I somewhat blanked out. Look, we are all human, I get it. We all make mistakes. But for God's sakes, you would think that the staff--including a provider--would be a little more sensitive about yucking it up about patient's bodies while anywhere near the doors/exit.
I am posting here in general for support because it just feels yucky. I know I've never done anything like that as an RN, but one never knows how one's words may affect another person. Also, the HIPAA violation bothers me. I work very hard to whisper, even when I am behind closed office doors, because I know how much sound carries in offices. I often tell my patients "I'm sorry I'm kind of talking softly, but these room walls are paper-thin and I want to protect your privacy." I know I won't have the b*lls to tell the office. I feel like somehow they would turn it around on me, even though 3 of them were there and me *AND* my son heard that. And as a mother of a 16 year old son, a 19 year old son, and a 21 year old daughter--it's creepy.
The implication that my son--who has seen me go through hell and high Water with cancer and this gastric bypass--would even think about looking at my breasts is disgusting. This can only come from a woman with no children. The PA is probably like 35 (I am 44), no wedding ring. Normally, I wouldn't even mention any of that because I fully believe in living my own life and others live theirs but for f*cks sake, please don't foist your sick thoughts on me.
I would like some thoughts on how I might handle this. I feel like I won't have the courage to say anything, for fear of being "gaslighted." But, I also feel like there is a lesson for their staff to learn. It occurred to me to write an anonymous letter to the surgeon/head of practice and give a little vague summary of what happened and advise that his staff might want to not be so catty, mean, and to stop violating HIPAA. I don't know. I just know it hurt. I'm hurt. Thanks in advance for any words of wisdom.

I totally know what you mean. I keep waiting for the person shopping next to me to tell me I’m crazy to think I can fit into a six. Even though I’m wearing a six.

I had a band to SIPS revision with Aetna. The time from submission to approval was super fast, I think like 2 or 3 days. I can’t exactly remember but I do recall it being so fast that I had to question if they really said approved.

We may have to change your pen name to Size SIX in Seattle, congratulations on this RSV, real scale ✌ victory!

I totally know what you mean. I keep waiting for the person shopping next to me to tell me I’m crazy to think I can fit into a six. Even though I’m wearing a six.

I totally know what you mean. I keep waiting for the person shopping next to me to tell me I’m crazy to think I can fit into a six. Even though I’m wearing a six.

Congrats! Woot woot!

We are going on vacation in September, I’ve been on the hunt for some cool, comfortable dresses. My NSV is that I can buy small and medium sizes now. I even bought a small for my tankini bottoms. Small! Omg.

I finally have one. Took the kiddos to Rye Playland this weekend. When I was a teenager, the first time I dealt with obesity, I couldn't fit on the Dragon Coaster and had to get off. It was crowded and I was humiliated. My daughter asked me to ride with her and I explained that this coaster was built in 1928 when people were a lot smaller and mom might not fit, so dad might have to step in. But surprise, surprise -- bar closed and an old demon was banished.

The leftover lunch. Leftover crockpot pulled pork mixed with leftover stir fried cabbage. Still can’t wrap my head around portion sizes I plate vs what I can eat. Was delicious and I’m stuffed.

Seems silly but my hair elastic doesn’t cut my wrist circulation off anymore 😂

Well, I am officially below 200 lbs. I simply cannot believe it. It almost doesn't feel real to me. I never thought in a million years I would accomplish any weight loss goals let alone get below 200 lbs. I have gotten a lot of good advice from members on here and I want to thank you all. Although our journeys are all unique they all revolve around the same basic premise, changing our lives for the better.
I still have so much work to do such as working out harder, coming to terms with the new me I am striving everyday to be better. I ask myself, why didn't I do this sooner? I had a great day today.

The leftover lunch. Leftover crockpot pulled pork mixed with leftover stir fried cabbage. Still can’t wrap my head around portion sizes I plate vs what I can eat. Was delicious and I’m stuffed.

The leftover lunch. Leftover crockpot pulled pork mixed with leftover stir fried cabbage. Still can’t wrap my head around portion sizes I plate vs what I can eat. Was delicious and I’m stuffed.