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Hi mousecat88: I can't answer your question with respect to the population at large, but my personal experience was that PCOS did NOT result in slow weight loss after WLS. My nutritionist had warned me that my weight loss might be slower than normal due to being blessed (!) with both PCOS + hypothyroidism, but I ended up losing 78 lbs in 7 months following WLS. I had many more PCOS symptoms than it seems you do: ultrasound-confirmed ovarian cysts, painful cystic acne on my back, neck and jawline, mild hair growth on my neck and thinning hair on my head. I did not suffer the irregular menstrual cycles / infertility often associated with PCOS, leading me to believe my PCOS was more the result of excessive androgen production than insufficient estrogen. Also, like you, my blood glucose tests always came back normal. With respect to medication, I was on Diane-35 for 10+ years before WLS to control my cystic acne (I didn't find it helped much with the other symptoms). I went off my medication for my WLS and thought, "That's the last I will ever see of that stuff!" Not to scare you but it didn't quite work out that way. Though my weight dropped spectacularly quickly, my cystic acne flared up worse than ever within 2 months of WLS, especially on my back. The oil production from my skin following WLS was amazing: I could run my hand across my forehead after an hour of sitting at my desk and my hand would come away absolutely shiny with oil. My theory is that my stupid androgen-producing organs (ovaries or adrenal glands or both) didn't get the memo that there was less of me now and so they could reduce androgen production accordingly, thank you very much! After nearly 22 months of continuing to struggle with cystic acne post-WLS, I finally gave up and went back on Diane-35. Fortunately, the story doesn't end there. After a year back on Diane-35, I had to quit again for reasons unrelated to WLS. At my gynecologist's recommendation, I started taking 400 IU/d Vitamin E instead. This change took place almost a year ago now and to my very great surprise, my skin has stayed beautifully clear. I don't know whether to attribute this to taking Vitamin E or to my lousy ovaries / adrenal glands FINALLY getting the message that I didn't need so many androgens anymore, but either way, I am happy! All the best with your WLS journey! Dance

Great job, Congrats! On Giving Tuesday I took all my 18/20w pants to the Christin Mission. 6 bags! What a feeling! Found some of my next size down back of the closet. LOL What a feeling of wearing pants that don't feel like you have a load down there. I even had to put a belt on some of them because they would fall off. Now I think back that I should have never gotten my breast reduction 10 years ago. Was a "F" cup to a "D" cup and couldn't move. Now I think I'm loosing it all there. UUGH But I will find this coming summer a swim suit top that will fit and not fall out of.

I started the program with my doctor back in March of 2018 and now I have my surgery date of Jan 7th 2019. I am excited, nervous and scared all at the same time. Frightening because I am the basic bread winner so i am praying all goes well. I have battled with my weight my whole life. Am currently at one of my heaviest points at 320. I go to the gym regularly eat right but my digestive is extremely slow plus having a desk job doesn't always serve me well. I am praying that this will help reduce my weight. Since starting the program I haven't lost but maybe a couple pounds which was expected. I drink what I am supposed to. I eat what I am supposed too, don't drink or smoke. I am hoping that once I start my liquid diet prior to surgery that I will start to show some downward movement. I only eat what I am to eat measure and weigh everything and exercise. So I am hoping wishing praying that this works cause I have tried everything else for years so this is my last hope that I can finally lose weight. I am having the sleeve surgery it's less evasive than gastric bypass.

There's a used version on Amazon for 5$! The book new is less than 10. So good.

Never Binge Again, I'll start looking around, see if I can find a cheap enough copy, might try my local library system. If I can't find one, it will be one of the first items I buy in 2019.

🐭🐺Fluffy Chix calls this emjoi Jazz Hands , I call it a hug from ME to You and we both may be correct, just heard from my TPN dietician, yeah got my own, her name is Kelly that since my blood work shows I am at least trying to eat, for 2 nights I go to a clear formula, no fats so it won't look milky like baby formula anymore, and there is a possibility I may decrease length of feeding from 14 hours to 12, depends on what my Thursday blood draw says. Surprise, I NEVER KNEW it could talk! But she, and by extension Dr Noria are pleased , that's nice but ultimately I should be the one pleased, not them. I have been 2oz cupping down a strawberry shake, after 19 weeks of protein shakes my my palate is jaded, I am varying from one shake, 2 soups to 2 shakes, one soup, and liquids , vitamins, minerals, Dexilent, Zofran, Wellbutrin, Carafate in between . Tomkitten wants to sell one TV to make money at the pawnstore, I am resisting, I HATE pawnstore, check into cash places and all those liwlifes. Been trying to sell my very nice Kerosun heater worth $159 for $30, that would ensure he and I at least get our haircut for Christmas, next month will be better November I had those moving expenses, December I was in the hospital, had to buy meals for Tomkitten because he was loyal enough stay in Columbus with Me. Next month, should be early- mid, my insurance settlements will disperse, the ones originally set,to come August at latest but it he side drug their feet, they were and are a self- insurered entity, does the term" Big Box Store" ring a🔔 bell? Yep THEM People, the original pay low, sell High folk founded by a gentleman named Sam . Worked for them for over 11 years, showed up H***, High Water, Tornadoes, Cracked ribs, drug myself in, I believed in THEM, did they reurn the FAVOR? Nope, a full wallet has no conscience, consequently we Did Part company. Oh I miss my customers, especially the regulars, my former work area looks worse than a train wreck , try to not to look when I shop there, I do not miss the ungreatful lying for their own gain supervisors I had. Might have bowed under, dropped my case without a whimper,but one came up to me one day , stated "Why should we pay you anything, you don't work for us any more, why don't you just disappear from sight? " honey I do have strawberry blonde(golden red) hair, grew each and every strand myself, not that fakey rose-gold from a box shade she was wearing. Now don't get me wrong,it is pretty,on many ladies but not with an ugly bulldog face. When I did still work there, I often thought I KNOW who her mama slept with. But I am not the compliant sweet tempered person who buckled under, kept her mouth shut for the good of the COMPANY. Throw me down a challenge like THAT , and like Dee Snider of Twisted Sister " We ain't gonna take it anymore!: I thanked her for her observation, told her I had other things to do and left her standing with her ugly mouth hanging open in the middle of the Produce Section. Went home ,called my extremely competent Columbus Lawyer and Said " Let's Rock" , after 2 and a half that Corporate Turnip will bleed, bleed, bleed. And although it does reflect badly on the local store, the money ultimately comes from the Head Honchos at Corporate. And after any outstanding bills are paid, I have a few little projects to plow money into. When it happens I may tell ALL about it, just keep tuned!

Mouse's you said you would like a permanent IV in you? Be careful WHAT you wish for, I have had a PICC line in my upper left arm for 2 weeks tomorrow, not a barrel of giggles and laughs, oh it does have some sterling features but my feeding solution weighs close to 8-10 pounds, which is (surprise surprise) the amount you cannot safely exceed lifting with affected arm, so must remember to always puck bag apparatus up with right arm, yeah the one that has broken twice and had to be surgical repaired 8 years ago with a titanium plate and 12 screws. So both of this birdies wings have been wounded! Squawk squawk! Most of the time I wear it on my back, let my back muscles bear the strain, get fed for 14 out of the 24, so if I put it on at 9pm it isn't through until 11 am the next morning. And a story upon myself, last Friday I made a trek to. the BR, and 2500mp being fed in means frequent #1 trips. Took bag off, laid it on my shower bench to take a test from the weight. Got up and went to swing it back on, over balanced , staggered trying to regain my center of gravity, ended up hitting the bathroom door with my rump and sliding down it to the cold floor. And there I am, cradling the bag in my arms like a sick toddler. Tomkitten , hearing the commotion, comes trotting from the other end of the house. Now remember hes's all mine , even thinks like me, poor kid. " Are you all right?" Oh yeah, every 72 year old woman dreams of sitting on a cold slate floor on a Friday Night! " Shall I pick you up?" No Junior, any stress on THAT ARM you better have your Funeral suit found because if the catheter snaps inside me, it goes to my ❤, my lungs I might make it to local hospital but I'll die before I make Columbus! So I rolled to my least injured side and by bracing my feet and doing some fancy maneuvers managed to regain an upright position. TK wishes he had. made a video to post on YouTube, said he would earn MASSIVE👍 and it would be,popular. How much longer will I have this? End of year soonest, longest FOREVER? And since it is an open access to my innards it has to be kept very clean and sterile as possible. Monday was to be a blood draw day for me, went to my local Band Aid Station, derogatory term Columbus hospitals have for my county community hospital, and the access was clotted off, had to get order to declot and make the PICC line open again. It was accepting the saline flushes and TPN in, but like a little toilet flapper valve, it was flopping closed. So spent a couple- 3 hours having it rectified, and I actually got a small free dinner. I had about a third cup mashed potatoes, some gravy and a Tablespoon maybe Tablespoon and half very tender Turkey that I chewed, chewed and put gravy( one bari-pal called it meat lube) on it, swallowed and kept it down. Mousecat, that is the first MEAT I have had since September 5th that I could keep down. And I took it abysmally slow but it worked. I almost cried with joy. And now my TPN for the next couple days will be clear, they are stepping back on the fat content, since I kept some food down. I made myself some potato soup with skim milk and my lower fat cheese, celery and onion, and pureed it down smooth. Heat up about a 1/2cup in the microwave, sometimes I can get it all down, sometimes not but slowly. with baby spoonfuls I try. I want to get WELL so badly!

Hey! Mine is 01/07! I am super excited!!!! Celebrate before this big day!

Sooooooo super excited that my surgery was approved and I’m locked in on 1/28/19! Although it’s later than I wanted I plan on making the most of my time before hand. My bday is 2/11 so I plan to celebrate 1/11 instead. That’ll give me the chance to have a super lit game night with tacos and margaritas before I make this life change... can’t wait anybody else getting vsg done in January?

This morning I woke up suddenly at 1am extremely nauseous. I jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom and dry-heaved my brains out for about 10 min. Only a small amount of mucus and saliva came up. There wasn't anything TO come up, as my last "meal" was a soy shake at 6pm the previous day. Before that I had 2oz puree chicken salad at noon. I went back to bed and woke up a few times nauseous, but not pukey. I am staying home from work and going in at noon. Trying to sip water but it makes me nauseous as soon as it hits my stomach so I've only had 6 sips in the last hour. What gives?!? Sent from my SM-G930R4 using BariatricPal mobile app

Sooo, I decided to join you guys here :) I had my surgery 9th of October. I am down 85pounds since preop and 41 of them where postop. At the beginning I had no issue with water, I feel a bit weird now after even some sips and have to wait some time extra before drinking again. I barely make it for the 60oz per day. From foods I am mostly ok, been trying out a bit of everything, having issues only with legumes and spaghetti all others I can eat without issues so far (well from what I tried :p) I think I am a bit slow in comparison to what I see from others when it comes to losing weight but I am happy for losing anyway :p. Just a bit more (less than 6lbs) and I will be less than the lighter I ever was the past 10 years ! Yay I don’t miss sugar that much, as I was avoiding preop too... for savory snacks I found something like beef jerky here, it is dried chicken chips let’s say, super low calories, it’s chicken, proteins and no carbs. The perfect snack :p I fit in everything I ever owned and was too cute to throw away although it was not fitting anymore and I hope that I will manage to reach summer without having to buy many new clothes(I will pillage on my mothers closet most likely lol) Sometimes I think my blood pressure is quite low after surgery (was about 12-14max. before surgery now it can be as low as 10) Also there is no more sweating... last year I was sweating after five steps maximum, even at midwinter, now I am feeling mostly chilly and have to wear layers to fix that. Also I had a bad allergic reaction every day for a week most likely from the cold, I am on antihistamines and cortisone therapy now (I was so scared to take the cortisones I didn’t want to get back the precious kilos I just lost but oh well I am on day 9 of my treatment, it may slowed me down a bit but there was no regain) That’s all that comes to my mind at the moment, will update if something else comes up :) Be safe everyone and love yourselves!

@ChristieNandez any update? I never had pain from my endo pain outside of my period until Jan of this year when a golf ball sized endo growth was taken off of my abdominal wall. From there the pain has been off the charts. I had an ablation that helped and went on Depot Lupron to keep it from returning quickly. The pounds packed on this year. I was sleeved on 10/22 and things have been going good but I definitely still have severe hip/back pain. Whenever a flair up happens, I stall or gain weight.

You need to focus on where you will be in 10 years, with and without the surgery. Make it a simple "yes, no" choice. Which will lead to my better life? Think long term, it puts everything into perspective. Good luck!

Hi so they ended 8 times to get an IV were even considering putting in my neck 🙁 my surgery got pushed back because of it. Got 2 more for blood draws 10 total. My veins r tiny deep and roll they said the dehydration make it worse. On the bright no nausea lots of pain wish I had ice chips not allowed til swallow test tomorrow ugh. Can’t wait. Been trying to walk

Hi there, sleeved March 7th. Down 80lbs! 5 more till goal. I stalled a number of times but I never actually gained so I was good. Didn't do as much exercise as I should which is why the last 10 libs have been hard. I have never looked back. Only issue I had was constipation right after surgery but felt great ever since. Best decision I have ever made. The holidays may be hard with all of the food that is EVERYWHERE in the office all of the time. I don't crave it like I used to so that is good. i just make sure I have healthy snacks on hand.

I just got my surgery date today!!! Its February 1st!! 52 more days

MrClasik, congrats! How are you feeling? My surgery is 01/07, i can’t wait!

Hey, when they submitted to UHC what was your Stat(BMI), and how many days til you got an approval?! If you dont mind me asking....Mine is still pending on Day 10(wkend included)! 😕 I'm Anxious Do you now if they count weekends or just business days? I'm super nervous, Dr scheduled me for Next Friday, but said if I dont get an answer by then surgery is cancelled! Thanks

I am 40 and am 5 weeks post-op. No complications so far (besides, like everyone else, trying to pass a stone where you shouldn't). Just had my 1 month post op appt earlier today and doc says I'm doing well, I feel excellent, energetic, and have had tons of NSV's in a really short period of time. To the original poster - my 1 week post op appt was a post surgery class that included about 10 other people that were also 1 week post op- I would say at least 7 or 8 out of those 11 people were 40+. I wouldn't worry too much about the age thing.

my days are pretty much the following: wake up scramble egg with a little bit of cheese mixed in. drive to work drink 24 to 32 ounces of water Protein shake, and 20 ounces of tea. Lunch- deli sliced turkey low sodium, or shrimp, or turkey meatball, or Bolognese sauce. way home from work- drink 24 to 32 ounces of water dinner- salmon (my number one choice) plus able to eat over a few meals instead of egg will have this, and then same for lunch, works out great. flounder easy peasy but my toddle and husband will share this with me, Bolognese sauce is easy to make. there is a place by me called captain chucky's and they make the best unbreaded crab cakes ever and they also do them in three ounce portions amazing. Ground turkey and gravy has gone over pretty well too. Like I said I focus on the protein first but have also tried to up some carbs have done well with cooked carrot, broc, mushroom, and beans. but I can hardly fit them in. I usually split dinner into two segments to maximize protein. Snack: slice of turkey or a shrimp (again protein lol) Bedtime usually another 16 to 24 ounces of water. my calorie intake seems to be ranging 500- 650 a day red meat even lean seems to bring it up and my carbs are ranging from 9 to 19 a day. Chicken is still hit or miss I find trying things a few times before giving up, and still trying to add in a new item, for instance each veg a day I try to make a new one. I find that when I have the higher calorie days I am having the higher carb day and I see the scale move a bit more. oh I also did the ricotta bake with ground beef in it so so so good.

Anything in yellow txt was required by my insurance carrier and anything in blue txt was required by my program/surgeon. June 13, 2016 - Referral to Weight Loss Surgery Seminar @ Ohio State University by PCP July 26, 2016 - Attended Seminar Nov 03, 2016 - Submitted application to begin weight loss surgery process Dec 19, 2016 - Entry Psych Eval (All patients have to pass a consult w/ MMPI psych eval prior to entry into the program) Jan 2017 - Therapist pushed referral to see psychiatrist to discuss medications Mar 14, 2017 - First of 9 monthly PCP visits per insurance Mar 20, 2017 - Second Psych Eval @ OSU - Passed and entered program My insurance requires a consecutive 9 month weight loss monitoring program with a PCP and they counted the visit prior to passing the second psych eval as 1 of 9. April 5, 2017 - Initial visit with at bariatric clinic with dietitian and nurse practitioner ALSO required EKG and labs May 2, 2017 - Required Endoscopy to check for h. Pylori (negative results) May 3, 2017 - 2 of 9 PCP visits June 7, 2017 - Dietitian follow up June 8, 2017 - 3 of 9 PCP visits June 19, 2017 - Cardiology Clearance July 13, 2017 - 4 of 9 PCP visits July 30, 2017 - Initial Psychiatrist appt for Mood stabilizers Aug 16, 2017 - 5 of 9 PCP visits Sept 14, 2017 - 6 of 9 PCP visits Sept 9, 2017 - Pulmonary clearance (I have thrombophelia) Oct 2, 2017 - Gastroenterology Clearance (I had Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome) Oct 3, 2017 - Required Sleep Study (passed... no apnea) *Had I had apnea I would have then began 6 months of mandatory CPAP usage, followed by another sleep study, etc... this would have extended the 9 month requirement well into 15+ months) Oct 18, 2017 - 7 of 9 PCP visits Oct 25, 2017 - Dietitian follow up Nov 22, 2017 - 8 of 9 PCP visits Nov 29, 2017 - Dietitian follow up Dec 12, 2017 - Third Required Psych Eval (Psych Eval had to be within 6 months of surgery so a third one was required) Dec 12, 2017 Required "Life After Surgery" consult with nurse practitioner *Required my program NOT insurance Dec 19, 2017 Dietitian follow up Dec 21, 2017 Required "Life After Surgery" consult with family (husband plus children) with dietitian and nurse practioner. *Required by my program NOT insurance Dec 27, 2017 9 of 9 PCP visits - ALL paperwork was submitted on this day to insurance including 5 years of weight history (I had to get records from other doctors where applicable and email them to the patient coordinator) > Began 4 weekly online video conference courses on "Life After Surgery" that had to be completed as a requirement of program Jan 4, 2018 Insurance Approval!!! Surgery tentatively scheduled for 1/31/18 Jan 15, 2018 Began Liver Shrink Diet (5 protein shakes, 1 300/cal or less frozen meal, 1 salad, 1 small fruit, unlimited non-starch veg) Jan 23, 2018 Initial meeting with surgeon PLUS dietitian follow up > Surgeon was changed the next day due to scheduling conflict Jan 29, 2018 - Pre-Op Assessment with anesthesiologist, blood typing, and labs Jan 31, 2018 - Surgery Day!

Had my third excess skin removal surgery Dec 5th. Have lost over 270 pounds and finally had my hernia repair and 10 pounds of my tummy skin removed. Spent 1 night in the hospital and was up out of bed within 12 hours of my surgeries. Was told my hernia was twisted and encased and the Dr did not want to use mesh because of possible infection. He had to take my belly button for the same reason. I have been taking Tylenol extra strength and tramadol. Have 2 drains and had a followup yesterday. Was told I am healing well but still need to keep the drains in. Was tired yesterday from the trip to and from the followup but overall I am doing better than when I had my Brachioplasty in March.

Challenge Starting weight: 148.4lbs / CW 151.2lbs (+2.8lbs) / 149.6lbs (+1.2lbs) Current weight lost: 137.4lbs WLS Starting weight: 287lbs Losing or maintaining weight: Losing but just barely!!!!! (slowly) Working on Goal#2 - 140lbs Fitness/exercise goal: Exercise 6-7 days per week with 3 days being strength building with bands Total weight loss at the end of challenge: (Post January 1st 2019) To Come Check in: Tell us how you are doing - (How is your diet and exercise plan going? Any struggles? Stress level? What have you overcome? Any strategies that have helped)--Diet is back on track mainly. Still having hiccups on the weekends with making good food choices. Trying to look and "act" as a skinny woman, making skinny woman weight loss choices--like if I'm gonna have a thrill meal that day, then will economize on calories and carbs but get my protein in for the remaining day and maybe go stripped down the following day.