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I would guess that labs might look ok for now since it could take several months to years to show a deficit. That said I would talk to your MD and see if maybe you should take one every other day and retest in another 6 months. That way you are still taking them but will see more of a long term effect. I myself take them daily. It's the one thing I'm strict about but if I continue to have high Vit B I will look into another brand that has less. I am always forgetting to take my calcium but I get around 5 servings of dairy a day so I am not too concerned but I know I should make it a habit. I freaked out about still losing too quickly at the 8 month mark at 130 lbs and kept losing despite increasing calories. it eventually plateaued and now I am steady at 126 but with a 40% carb, 30% each protein and fat diet of 1700 calories. I had plastics a few months ago and after the swelling went down I dropped to 123. Which is still a healthy BMI however I am muscular and still have loose skin elsewhere so I look better heavier with a more curves and less sag. I do not plan on further plastics and feel I would look better around 130. It is such a mental game because when the scale hits 128 or 129 I feel panicky that it's going to be 150 a week later or that when I hit the natural regain at the 2-3 year mark that it will suddenly go up to the 150 or 160s. However I was also worried when I saw 123 and increased nuts and carbs to get calories in. I guess it's just the feeling that we need to have control over our weight. I can eat anything now which is good but also a little scary. If it is high sugar I don't feel good, not ill but feel crappy. It's enough that I purposely limit high sugar foods. I think I do see a slight weight gain if I have a few days where I hit over 1800 calories and do less activity so it seems that my metabolism makes sense. Do you find that to be true or you can't gain no matter the calories you take in? How are your arm incisions? I am 3 months post and they are starting to fade but still very pink/red in comparison to my skin. I don't feel comfortable in short sleeves yet. I have a few places on the incisions with skin folded on itself that i hope will smooth out or will need to be touched up. I also still have loose skin right at the pit if I hold my arm half way up to horizontal. It goes away as I lift my arm up higher so I don't know if it can be fixed since the skin has to stretch to allow me to lift my arm all the way up.

I didn't have a date before since my first visit was around mid February. Luckily the fast track allowed me to get everything completed more quickly and before things go way out of whack, so I got the call at the first of the week and I am scheduled for June 18! I didn't expect it so quickly. I had taken care of most everything, but then having major surgery in addition to work, life, etc. is always a bit overwhelming. Plus, the day after I got that news I learned that I likely have a basal cell carcinoma (type of skin cancer) on my shoulder; I get the biopsy Tuesday. It won't stop the surgery, but that is never news that you want to hear!

I had mt surgery in 2017 and didn't have much luck in the loosing weight department. I have an appointment with my surgeon and ask for a revision. I am unsure if my insurance horizon health nj will cover it a second time and what are the new requirements to have the surgery done again. Any help would be appreciated [emoji120] Sent from my SM-G981U using BariatricPal mobile app

Beautiful room @Sophie7713 and snap re the Louis chair & French inspired fabric choice. I have it near a cow hide too (a lovely vanilla & butter caramel charolaise skin) so double snap I have two chairs which were the carvers from my parents’ dining table in the early 80s. I recovered them about 10 yrs ago. Finding the correct sized underwear is sooo frustrating. At my fitting I bought two different styles that worked for me then I went online & bought two more of the same ...for a reduced price. Yay!

I started looking into this surgery because I was pre-diabetic and starving all the time. Like I just finished a huge meal, and my stomach hurt, but I still wanted to eat and eat and eat. My hunger has been increasing and getting worse over the past 10 years, along with gradual increases in my fasting blood sugar and other symptoms of metabolic syndrome like skin tags. My dad has diabetes (and got it when he was about 5 years older than I am now), so I knew what was coming. The thing that really excited me about the surgery was that it provides a mechanism to reset your metabolism, to actually CHANGE your hormonal balance and your set point so that you naturally feel satisfied at a lower weight, and eating less food with less hunger. Now I am 2.5 months out, and I really feel it working - with the smaller stomach, it gets full faster, so ghrelin (a hormone that your stomach makes when it is empty that makes you feel hungry) starts to DECREASE quickly after you take your first few bites. Studies show that ghrelin levels are about 50% lower after bariatric surgery than before. And that has an effect - you really, seriously, truly feel much less hungry, even though you are eating way less. In contrast, normally when you go on a diet, your ghrelin levels INCREASE compared to when you started. Studies show that after a 3-6 month diet without surgery, your ghrelin levels will increase by 50%. And that has an effect - you are much more hungry and so you want to eat even more and gain the weight back - it may even make you feel like an addict! Since before my surgery, I would often feel hungry even when my stomach felt full, I can totally see why you'd be scared that you'd still feel really hungry even when your new small stomach is full. And I can tell you from experience - being hungry with a full stomach feels miserable! I can see why you'd be scared of that! But I really want to assure you - the surgery works as advertised. You will feel satisfied, even when you are eating way less food than before. For me, the change in my hunger is like night and day - it's amazing!

Thanks. The suggested weight loss suggested does not seem to be health-related. It’s based on the ideal weight for my height. My cholesterol level is low, around 150. My sugar level is fine. My dietician suggested that we test my body composition to determine my fat level. Since it took me quite a while to get to my goal, I don’t want to be “greedy”. I want to plateau at this weight, then after a sizable stable period, I’d like to see if I can loose more. 10 more pounds is not a lot to loose, but Im afraid to loose more weight only to gain more than 10 pounds back. It’s mostly a mental thing for me. It’s hard to explain, but I’d imagine that people here might be concerned with loosing more than you feel you can maintain. I’m delighted and so grateful for what I’ve accomplished so far. I guess I just want my doctor to be as happy with the result as I am.

It took me about 18 months to get to my after. I've been maintaining for almost 3 years. I bounce up and down about 10 lbs. Which freaks me completely out. But I try to remember the journey and be patient with myself when I work to take it off. I had my loose skin removed over 2 surgeries. I am posting the before, pre skin removal, and post skin removal pics.

Hi. I had gastric sleeve surgery in September of 2016. I quickly lost weight and put a lot of it back on. However, in January of 2019, I changed my diet with the doctor’s help. Throughout 2019, I steadily lost weight. I am 5’8” tall. Before surgery I weighed 289 pounds. My goal was 190 pounds. That’s still a higher than average weight, but I would have been more than satisfied, considering how heavy I was. I now weight 180 pounds. I am very happy at this weight, even though I “should” weigh 165 pounds. My weight doctor and nurse practitioner want me to drop another 10 pounds. I feel some pressure to loose more weight, but I want to first successfully manage to keep steady at my new weight and not think about loosing additional weight until I’ve held this weight for about a year. Has anyone else experienced “pressure” to get to their statistical ideal weight? How much weight loss is enough? Just curious if anyone had an opinion. Thank you!

idk if your condition is related to surgery. but look up urticaria (chronic hives), i've never had WLS, but one day out of nowhere my senior year of high school, my skin started freaking out and i was diagnosed with urticaria. It flares, i was in remission or whatever for a couple years, then it got really bad last year.. right now its stopped but i'm scared its gonna come back. basically my dr treated with allergy medications. also the eczema/oatmeal cream from aveeno helped me a lot.

Hi friends! I know this thread is old, but since we are at our two year surgiversary, I thought I’d check in. I’ve lost about 123 pounds (HW 289), and I’m feeling pretty normal at this new size, meaning I’ve gotten used to it. I feel good, but still have insecurities like loose tummy and inner thigh skin. Overall, really happy to have had the surgery and would do it all over again. How’s everyone else doing??

I my self have 80 to 90 lbs to loose..my date is soon

@jasmineinmymind, You are really lucky! Although I wish your sort of journey on everyone, not everyone’s ends up being like this. Agreed about the loose skin

I wish I would have known that having gastric bypass really wasn't going to be anything like I thought it would be. My journey has been very different than the youtube videos I binged watched and it's been significantly easier than I thought. Easy is probably not the right word, but problem free. Basically I can eat anything, nothing makes me sick except maybe eggs and sometimes anything with too much oil like salmon. I have only experienced dumping in terms of a rapid heartbeat with upset stomach but NOTHING like I read about. I am almost 1.5 years out and have never thrown up, not once. I can eat steak, rice, pasta, bread, no problem. I just dont have any of the scary problems I read about. So if I would have known I would have done it 10 years ago!! I had severe acid reflux before the surgery and NONE after. So yes it's been the best thing I ever did for myself. As far as skin, sure you'll have saggy skin but it sure as hell beats being 100 pounds overweight.

I know this is an old posting but it’s the most recent on the subject. I haven’t seen much activity on the forums lately. I’ve actually scheduled plastics for June that includes belt Lipectomy / butterfly lift, thigh lift and ... why I’m on this topic, augmentation. im torn in some ways and it’s hard to ask without a long story. Short version. Or not so short ... I’ve battled my weight forever. I’ve never been the weight I’m at today as long as I can remember, heck I could have been 9 years old for all I know. My chest size was problematic. I’d swear they grew overnight at a young age and were massive dense breast tissue that sagged terribly and were painful. (I was also bullied) When I was finally old enough to seek out reduction surgery my weight had skyrocketed due to metabolic disorders. I went from what the school called mildly obese 135lbs to 180lbs practically overnight. It was a very stressful time. I’m grateful for the clinic I went to and the surgeon that fought for me who knew losing weight wouldn’t fix the problem. I guess When I first lost weight I only managed to maintain 134lbs I would say my bra size was 30H/30FF UK ? I never reached goal for my height until now. Until I finally had the tool of gastric bypass surgery. I’d say I’m 28D at best. (I haven’t bought new bras I’m just wearing cheap sports bras) But my right side has a kind of um ... dent In it. Although I don’t need a lift the skin is deflated. I was never full on top so now it’s rather bony. (It was even at my heaviest now it’s more noticeable) it’s hard to talk about. I’m not the most feminine person. I’ve always been rather neither here nor there. I only recently bought a few old navy Jersey swing dresses. Mostly for comfort during recovery. Part of me can do without boobs and bras and all that. The other is like wow I could Finally fill out a nice bra without having a ski slope or having to wear a moulded cup bra ... Talk about split personality. ive planned on it, it’s silicon implant up to 575cc. I just haven’t thought about it. I have no idea what size I’d go. ive got my flight booked and I’m trying to prepare yet at the same time I haven’t had the head space to think about it. The other two procedures are priority this is the I’m there why not part. I don’t know, the women here are beautiful and have reason to want to have the surgery to feel good. And have great results. But I’m not and im also alone. I question am I even worth it. I am doing this because I fought like hell to lose 105lbs and want the ugly wrinkled excess skin gone. But I guess I’m dealing with issues I can’t verbalize or process. Or talk through. I hesitate to post. I’m juggling some things that have been delayed due to Covid. While planning this. I did write a post about it. I didn’t go into detail about this aspect. One part of these forums that bothers me is if I am uncomfortable about my post I can’t remove it. Hopefully I haven’t just said a lot of nonsense ...

I too took a very strict approach, especially going up against metabolic disorders and inability to exercise. I note daily my weight, food intake, protein and calories. As a general rule I get minimum 0.36 grams protein per 1lb body weight. I started very low calorie and low carb never more than 5 grams of sugar as per my nutritionist. I was very slow to enter purée phase. I had protein shakes. it took me a while to find one I could tolerate. For me I used PEScience Select protein powder and 6 ounces of Ripple milk (pea protein milk plain unsweetened which added protein for practically no carbs) which was 160 calories, 30 grams protein and no more than 3-4 carbs. They did a lot of work to get the healthiest protein blend and best taste. I now mix it with Greek yogurt either plain nonfat Fage or TwoGood yogurt and half a scoop (I measure everything on a scale though) and it mixes to a frosting like texture. link for PEScience http://rwrd.io/c6uus2e I couldn’t do bariatric vitamins. I needed ones without added iodine. But I personally recommend Whole Foods based vitamins. It’s tough to budget in but I preferred Garden of life Whole Foods multivitamins (prenatal) my nutritionist approved of them and any sugar (below 5 grams) came from natural foods ingredients. I take a separate calcium with vit d, hair skin and nails formula, omegas, and some people take b12 and vitamin k. Your doctor should do bloodwork to check vitamin levels to recommend any extra supplements. I know the hardest part is getting your head in the right place and working on food addiction. I had fought this years before having gastric bypass surgery. My lifelong chronic illness fought me in other ways. The biggest battle I think is the sugar addiction. Once you realize there are healthy versions of sweet things and that small portions of protein can satisfy you and that we eat to live rather than live to eat, it’s one step ahead on the journey. Like Superman84 said. It’s time to get strict with yourself. Cut out sugar, carbs and soda. It’s a hard addiction to kick. But if I did it, anyone can. You can too. Remove temptations from your reach as well. And ... just keep taking it one step at a time.

No, they advised against solid food for four weeks, but sometimes I play fast and loose. I have followed up with dietitian, but I knew as much about diet and nutrition as she does before the surgery. My obesity was simply from alcohol consumption, poor choices, and putting a sedentary career first. I have long since known what had to be done to accomplish weight loss. There was 8 years or so period before I was married where I was akin to an amateur body builder, although I never competed or cared to. I hear you about the old eating habits. I don't plan to keep it up, but I was just being honest about why I have only lost a pound or so in the last three days.

@rs yeah, cutting those strips in half are def a money saver. And the cica silicone tape is way better than others i have tried (thanks for the tip, btw)...they last much longer! i didnt know that about the steroid shots...i was supposed to get it in march but then covid happened. I’ll ask my surgeon whenever i get re-scheduled. As for massaging, i’ve been doing it daily but don't really see much Improvement. My arms especially have sections that are still pretty raised and reddish, and wide. My boob and tummy scars are faring much better, but while my boob scars are flat, thin and close to skin colour, my tummy scars are still reddish and wide (but flat, so there’s that). Oh and there are still days that I look 3 mnths pregnant! Le Sigh. Minor annoyances, really, but i am super pleased with the results so far, regardless. I wish quarantine was over AND that it would effing warm up already so that I can go out and wear cute tops to display my fabulous arm, lol! Do you think you might want to share a pic of YOUR fabulous arms??

Yep. Though i think chicharron is more like cracklings in that it also has a bit of meat on them (not just skin). They are super high and calories and fat (and basically zero carbs) so I wouldn’t suggest partaking in them during weight loss phase. But I totally went to town on them when I was attempting to stop weight loss.

Telling coworkers is not an good idea. I did my surgery last June and I didn't tell them as any thing. They notice I loosing weight. I told them the same. I don't cares about anyone Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

I know what ya mean about losing too low and looking sickly. When I hit 164 my mom said I needed to stop. My face was drawn in and the skin was worse too ! I would actually like to hit 160 and hold there. I figure it will take me 3 months to lose 25 lb. I had already started struggling just to get a few pounds off and it sucks because a year ago I could do it without too much issue. So yes, I will be sticking to the 5 lb rule which worked very well for me until I decided to use covid as an excuse to gain 10 lbs !

I'm 32 and had the sleeve 1/7/20. Down 77 pounds. My first two days were very difficult, but mainly in the sense that I could not get my water down, and I was so nauseous that I was even throwing up my anti-nausea meds. I had a few hiccups, including 5 weeks post op, landing back in the hospital for dehydration but that had nothing to do with the surgery (although I am sure it was exacerbated by my recovery), and everything to do with the stomach bug my family was passing around. I got a couple bags of fluid, and was let go the same day. So far I really don't have too much excess skin, but it is early. Ideally I would like to lose another 50-60 pounds. Not sure how my skin will be then. Socially, my situation is probably a bit different than most. I work at a hospital, and my best friends all work with me. They knew about the surgery and have been 100% supportive since day one. They are used to patients of all kinds, so my being a bariatric patient was no big deal. They do razz me occasionally about how little I eat before I get full...but it is kind of comical at times, and its all in good humor. This was by FAR the best choice I have ever made. No regrets at all, never have had any.

Had RNY BYPASS never had any injections just take multivitamins. I wanted and needed to have my stomach fixed and the bypass has made my metabolism so much better than it was. Yes I lost weight quick which was fine by me been lucky with little excess skin.

I actually developed a sun allergy after getting the sleeve. Puffy eyes, itchy welts on neck and chest progressing to arms and legs and eventually feet if I continue to expose my skin. The only answer I found was to keep covered outdoors. I even found a long sleeve swim top.