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I wanna see if there is anyone who has similar demographics to me and what your outcomes were for the questions below the demographics. Height: 5'6 HW: 340 GW: 150 Age: Early 20's Diagnosed with PCOS Starting Cup Size: H Goal Cup Size: D or DD How much hair loss did you have after surgery? Did you have sagging skin after losing weight? If so, did it go away after a while without plastic surgery? If yes, what did you do to make it go away? Did your stomach go down with the rest of your body while losing weight or is your stomach still bigger than the rest of your body?

I have had the band for 13 years now. It's doing nothing inside me. I have it loose so I don't get complications. I trying to find out if and when it should be removed, especially if it's doing nothing. I don't want to find out 5 years later that I need surgery and it started to cause internal issues. To remove or not to remove?? How long does the actual material last or deteriorate inside ? Help! I am in Ontario and need some real honest answers if anyone can direct me. Thanks.

I have researched it like crazy it took me over a year of research to decide to even do this - I am right on the BMI boarder but I’m type 2 diabetic and my two uncles were juvenile diabetic my Dad died (very thin and very active) at 59 due to diabetes. I have tried everything - I went vegan for about 6 months before covid hit and got my diabetes under control and weight low but I broke my talas bone and did a third grade tendon tear in my left ankle September 2020 which isn’t healing and prevented me from walking much so there went the weight and the sugars. So I’m getting the sleeve to get the weight off and then I can get the surgery on my ankle. I actually love Warrior Brand Protein powder it is vegan but I’ve used it for years. The protein is 28 grams I use it to make banana nice cream and all kinds of stuff now - have for about 2 years. I’m going to get a few others just to have but the Warrior protein powders are not sweet so it may be a good option for me. I am not going to stock up at first other than sugar free G2 and vitamin water once I see what I like my husband will go get stuff for me. Also I’m making broth and soups and freezing them in ice cube trays so I have a variety and can just pop them in the microwave. I’ve been watching my 600 pound life - driving my poor husband crazy - but I’ve gotten great tips from that show plus seeing people not loose or gain and why so I don’t make those mistakes. My life really depends on getting the diabetes under control I am 53 so not far off from when my dad died. I’ve had 2 siblings already die 32 and 59 so it kicks my family in the butt.

Didn’t get them after my surgery but they could be growing because a lot of hormones & enzymes, etc. which were stored in your fat are released into your body as you lose weight. Will your GP remove them? My previous GP removed moles, sebaceous cysts, etc. in his surgery but my current GP doesn’t. She sent me to a parasitic surgeon to remove my papilloma, cysts & the skin tag on the side of my nose. (Should have hit him to do a little facial tightening at the same time 😆.) He literally just shaved that tag off. A little local anaesthetic, slice, a tiny dot of blood, no sutures, no bandage & it was bigger than a traditional skin tag. Dr Pimple Popper likely would have had half my head bandaged 😆😆😆.

I’m with the give them a miss until you’re at or close to your goal team. Sticking to your plan will help you take the most advantage of your surgery. When you get closer to goal you may start to look for healthy substitutes for your traditional choices. Try air fried or oven baked not deep fried. Try vegetable based pastas (you can eat zucchini noodles & cauliflower rice from solid foods). There are keto friendly low carb high protein breads you could try later on. If your desire to eat these ‘non bariatric friendly foods’ is driven by emotions, finding a good therapist may be helpful. Recognising the causes of your emotional eating, finding ways to manage them better & identifying other means of coping with your emotional needs than eating, etc. will only help you be more successful with your weight loss & maintenance. A benefit of avoiding those foods while you’re losing is by goal you may actually reduce or lose some of your desire for pizza, pasta, & the other foods you currently want & depend on. Which will make it much easier if you chose to have the odd slice of bread or pizza, etc. now & again in the future. Personally, I don’t eat pasta (only fresh zucchini noodles), rice or bread & avoid sweet things & fried foods. They were all things I ate regularly & enjoyed but I don’t really miss them at all now. I was able to break my need for them & I was eating them for a lot longer than you’ve been alive 😉. It can be done. Exercise will only contribute to you losing a maximum of 20% of the weight you have to lose. Of course it has lots of other benefits so I’m certainly not saying exercise is a waste of time but don’t rely on it to loose your weight. But it’s really up to you & you discovering what works best for you. Good luck.

Hello from 2 days post op. I just wanted to make a small list of things that helped me while in hospital. 1) lip ointment ( Aquaphor or anything thick & goopy) lips were really chapped. 2) Dry mouth swish...(I used Biotene) just make sure to spit it out! 3) Neck pillow 4) Ear buds & phone charger 5) Sleep mask 6) Air freshener 7) Hair tie 😎 Face wash & lotion helped too. I was very dry coming out of surgery. ***I also wore very loose, high waisted thin yoga type pants w/ oversize shirt. I almost wore a large maxi dress, but realized that they would need to lift the full dress up to check my wounds.

No, it’s a variety called Delicata. It has a much thinner skin than most squash, so the skin is edible. The flavor is similar to acorn or butternut squash.

As I shrink, I'm getting skin tags in my armpits and they're incredibly painful. Did anyone else have this? How did you get rid of them? The dermatologists are all backed up for months and it is driving me BATTY.

Thank you very much for your reply. Loads of info in there. I will definitely tilt at a skint and pinch the skin from now on. Thanks again 🙂

Yeah, that's super common. I have a clotting disorder that wasn't controlled by either Coumadin or Xarelto, so I am a lifer on injectable Lovenox. Raised purple bruises or blotches are normal. Definitely avoid those areas when you inject again, you don't want to inject into an already bruised area. It helps me to inject at a slant, rather than perpendicular to my skin, I seem to bruise less that way. I try to avoid any visible veins. Make sure you pinch enough of the injection site (don't inject into flat skin). Other than that, it's hard to prevent the bruising. But they'll fade (sometimes VERY slowly).

There’s a lot going on here. I agree with the posters above. I would also talk with a dietitian and knowledgeable pharmacist. They would know more about medication/vitamin interactions and the brain. I had bypass so our vitamin requirements have us separate the daily vitamin and extra sublingual B vitamins (all B’s together) and calcium citrate w/D chews. I would talk with professional med/vitamin/food people and explain your depression as a symptom. I would also bring this up with whoever prescribed your depression medication because they should also be updated on blood/brain barrier interactions with vitamins. Many people on this forum and on YouTube have difficulty finding their balance emotionally after loosing significant weight. You are not alone, this is a known side affect. There is an emotional effect, but also a brain chemical effect. Please keep us updated on your progress. I love how you are curious and fighting for your health by asking good questions.

I had vsg surgery last November. I had the typical shedding of hair that happens with weight loss. I thought I was over the hump. But my hair feels even thinner now. I just bought bariatric fusion hair nails and skin vitamins as well as Olaplex. I haven’t been great with my vitamins, so I’m completely taking the blame. But I’m freaking out! Any input is appreciated. Thanks!

I feel really defeated and upset. Sorry this is gonna be a negative post but I dont know what to do anymore. I had my surgery (vsg) September 28th (in another post I mixed up September and October) and recovered very well, very fast. Hardly any gas pain, no incisional pain and so far no vomiting. As thankful as I am about all that that pretty much sums up all the good things there are. First of I’m hungry ALL THE TIME!! In fact my cravings have never been this bad. I think about food 24/7!! Then the moment I smell food or prepare food my hunger vanishes and gets replaced by feeling incredibly nauseous. I can only eat something once then it grosses me out. Because of this I avoid eating and - as stupid as it sounds I’m well aware of that - I get scared to eat because I dont want to be miserable. I can tolerate everything fine but the smell is just awful! Speaking of awful I have the worst and most disgusting bad breath of my life!! No matter how much I brush my teeth and floss my mouth my family can smell me from down the hall. I feel so gross! If only I was loosing weight I’d accept it all but the kicker is I’m not losing any!! The first two weeks I lost 25lbs. Week 3 and four I lost 3lbs and since then (two weeks!!) I’ve been stalling. I’m so frustrated!! What makes matters the absolute worst (sorry this is tmi) I can’t 💩!!!! I havent gone in 15 days!! I’m seeing a nutritionist, who has prescribed me stool softener but nothing happened. I’ll probably have to go back to the hospital over the weekend to get a stronger laxative (talked to the surgeon on the phone today). I didnt expect to have regular bowl movement as before but feeling constipated for two weeks is really no fun. I’m telling myself at least once that’s out maybe my weight will finally drop? Some more context: My surgeon’s plan calls for regular food after day 4. I didnt follow that guideline because it scared me and ate soft foods till aprox. week 5 focusing on my protein intake. I weigh my food though I feel like I can eat a lot. So far I consume around 300-400kcal a day. I had to eat out once for work where I had bread with cheese. Other than that I’m very diligent with my diet. My water intake could be better but I’m constantly sipping on water and cant get more down than 1 maybe 1 1/2L a day. I feel like I’m being punished because I lost (and gained back) 100lbs three times before with very restrictive diets and my body is so used to “being starved” so it’s not playing along. I keep reminding myself my main goal isnt weight loss (though I need and want to) but to stop yoyo dieting in such excess. It’s hardly comforting though because I’m really really frustrated. I’m sorry to be so negative! And I’m sorry I wrote so much but I need to get it off my chest. Have any of y’all had a similar hard beginning? Does it really get better? At this point I can’t imagine it

i did since its open enrollment now and currently none of the plans include the surgery. They said its something they are looking into having added in the future but not for 2022 plans unfortunately. So right now i can loose a year of time invested in this and wait "IF" they add it, appeal the rejection, or find another provider outside of work that covers it.

yes you definitely do have to let go of comparisons to other people. I am a slow loser too but I am 11 pounds from a normal BMI and I am still losing. The important thing is not how fast you lose it just that you keep losing. Honestly I am glad I am a slow loser. So far I do not have any loose skin and I think the slower loss may be why.

Hello, Im completely new to all of this and i started the process to fill out all the requirements to have bariatric surgery approved by my insurance. in that time my company changed insurance providers and we were told the plans would not change much but when the time came to submit the request for approval they rejected my application because that type of surgery is not covered. So now i find myself desperately searching online for a private provider that does cover the surgery because i dont want to loose all the work i already put into this. Any info anyone has would be very much appreciated. Thank you!

I had a sleeve to bypass due to gerd. It feels exactly like the sleeve but I get full on a couple of ounces. I can eat spicy foods and can tolerate anything up to date. Fruit skins were tough for the first two months.

I have such loose flabby breasts now, so I smooshed to really flat pancakes. I’m not super sensitive so the feeling was the same, just deflated.

Thank u. I'm 36. Everybody tells me I'm not big just thick and they look at me like I'm crazy for getting this surgery done. But i have thunder thighs, big butt, no stomach, back fat, and luv handles lol. I was planning to get a personal trainer n workout after to try n avoid the saggy skin.

Hello! I'm 5 feet tall and started out at 250. I'm 2 and 1/2 years out from surgery and I currently weigh about 122 pounds. No real advice about sagging skin, there's really no avoiding it. If you're younger, your skin may be more elastic and less saggy. Adding muscle will make you look more toned, but sagging skin can only really be removed via surgery. I just had a tummy tuck to deal with all the skin on my stomach. But I'm fine with the loose skin I have, I wouldn't take back the 130 pounds I have lost!

Anyone post op that's 5ft and started out near 235. Any updates on what ur weight is since post op? Also any advice on sagging skin lol...

This is true hunger. My bariatric therapist said about 20% of her patients have no loss of hunger after surgery. It feels exactly like if I had gone all day without eating prior to surgery, but I have it all the time, even right after a meal. I don't have specific cravings for food, although my mom served my favorite cake last night (there were guests besides me there) and I definitely wanted some, but decided the risk of starting back on eating cake wasn't worth what I remembered the cake tasting like. I had a ff greek yogurt instead. It was a little sad, but I'm glad I made that choice. Of course, I've lost 25 lb in the 8 weeks since surgery and I'm down 75 since I started preparing for surgery in February, so I'm trying to focus on the positive. It's just that I too thought everyone looses their hunger and starts craving healthy foods. It's just not true (although MOST people do lose their hunger for about 6 months).

All parts of your brain are spot on. The idea of feeling better in your own skin and being healthier is appealing. It *IS* possible to do it without surgery. Up to a massive 3% of morbidly obese people actually accomplish lasting weight loss without surgery. I wasn't one of the 3%. For years I got bigger and bigger with the belief I could do it through diet and exercise. I finally admitted I couldn't. Fearing the unknown is a waste of time and energy. Commit to dealing with whatever comes, period. So many people speak of regretting surgery because of pain in the first few weeks post-op. Consider problems as the cost of getting from here to there. Every fear you have has an answer. Do research on your fears. Knowledge is power. Every problem you encounter in the first weeks or months post-op are simply the price of admission. Problems will teach you to listen to your surgery teaching you to live again. Good luck, Tek

So I'm on the 11th day of my pre-op. It's going OK, have not strayed or anything, but I keep having intrusive thoughts (or maybe logical thoughts) that I should bail. Not because I have a better way or think I can lose it on my own, but because cutting out half my stomach inviting in possible unknown complications and more stress into my already complicated life seems pretty irrational. Fear of the unknown is in every corner. I could have issues in other areas of my life arise, and would have to deal with them as they come. But this seems like an unnecessary venture - at least that's what 1/2 my brain is telling me. The other half is excited and thrilled with the idea of feeling better in my own skin, continuing working on a healthier relationship with food, and getting to a new normal that is satisfying. Literally telling people about the surgery, my husband has off, I've got my protein, my physical being is proceeding forward as if this is going to happen, That's my plan, at least. But then a part of me just wonders why I don't just DO that without surgery. Work a healthy path of eating, etc. I may not lose as much weight, but I can continue on the path of healthier relationship without surgery and without inviting the unknown complications in. I realize this is probably part of the mental battle. And maybe it's harder because I'm pre-surgery. Post, I wouldn't have the option of deciding on surgery or not, just to move forward and work on the food/emotions/etc. I had surgery scheduled for May, but got sick and had to delay. Part of me wondered if that was actually serendipity/God/fate letting me know that it wasn't for me. There was relief, but also sadness. Regardless, I stuck with the program. I've learned healthy habits, and learned a lot about myself through the program, honestly. But my weight hasn't really changed because of it. Just my head. Did anyone else get cold feet? Sometimes I hate my brain!

I've heard really great things about peptides (namely, The Ordinary's Buffet serum, which is shockingly affordable) for increasing collagen in the skin. the first thing I've noticed is the bags under my eyes and the same brand of caffeine gel fixed them right up. I can fool myself into think I'm well-rested!