Hi,

I'm new to the forums and in the starting stages of obtaining a VSG. Just looking to see if there are any other men who were above 400 (or even close to 500) pounds before starting this journey and how life after surgery has been. Did you suffer any complications from surgery due to your size? Did your doctor make you do anything extra or warn you of any possible issues? Did you lose more rapidly than average patients? Did you lose any motivation when you had lost enough weight to lead a fairly "normal" life, even though you might still have a good amount of excess weight?

A little background...I'm 31, 5'10", and honestly can't bear how difficult my weight has made my life. Just this weekend my wife went alone to her sister's engagement dinner at a restaurant due to my fear the chairs wouldn't be supportive enough. (I typically avoid restaurant situations unless there's a booth with a table I can adjust, ideally half booth/half chairs.) I've avoided flying for a couple years, will only attend theatre or sporting events where I can be guaranteed an aisle seat, etc. It seems like in the last 60 or so pounds many social situations involving sitting have escalated from very uncomfortable to more or less unbearable. Healthwise, I have hypertension and am very likely will be diagnosed with sleep apnea once the results of my sleep study last week come in.

Look forward to hearing from any of you have started in similar situations.

Glad I found this thread!

I started off years ago (around 2010). Realized I had managed to get up to around 640+ pounds. I was very lucky as my only co-morbidity turned out to be sleep apnea.

I started trying to lose the weight and had the usual 'ups and downs'. I got down to around 520 by last May and decided to get the sleeve.

I got down to about 480 during the six month weight. And I'm down to 446 since the surgery (1-23-17). So far so good.

I think I hit my first stall, but I can't weight to get back to lifting and boxing. I think the results I always missed before!

The info on these forums has been an invaluable tool!

So this morning I stepped on the scale and saw a number I hadn't seen in decades.....241. I was at 241lbs this morning. I am close oh so so close to getting into my goal weight range of the 230lbs.

To me 241lbs never looked so good. Especially coming from good and well over 600lbs too.

Surgery was a success. Was pretty uncomfortable with the trapped air yesterday but was able to sleep fairly well and still sore but not as bad today. Should be getting discharged this afternoon. And I weighed myself in preop at 436 and 440 yesterday eve during a walk.

So glad everything went well!

To me 241lbs never looked so good. Especially coming from good and well over 600lbs too.

Woooow over 600... You did WELL!!!! EXCELLENT, AMAZING...WONT HE DO IT!!! God is good

17 hours ago, strengthin#ers said:

Woooow over 600... You did WELL!!!! EXCELLENT, AMAZING...WONT HE DO IT!!! God is good

Yup good and well over 600lbs I was. Hell I think in the other pick with the grey A shirt I was in the 380lbs range. Granted I was only about 8/9 months post op and had at that time dropped over 200lbs.

Yup good and well over 600lbs I was. Hell I think in the other pick with the grey A shirt I was in the 380lbs range. Granted I was only about 8/9 months post op and had at that time dropped over 200lbs.

Amazing!!wooooow you look GR8[emoji106]

I'm wondering of this is weight related, but the last two stores I have been in, people have asked me for an opinion on something. They both started off with, "I know you don't work here but..." When I was heavier, nobody solicited my opinion. I'm not sure if it's coincidence or not.

I was talking earlier about finding a compression shirt and I found one I really like. It's the first shirt that is tight around the chest and also work on my arms. I got a medium and it's nice and tight. Only $16.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BXBWUCG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Any of you guys start out over 500 and got skin removal ? When did you get it did you pay for it. What the price range on it , or any tips on getting insurance to pay for it ?

Hw 421.7 Which Was The Day Of My Consultation With The Surgeon He Asked That I Lose 50Lbs For Him To Do The Surgery Because Of The Possible Risk And Complications That Was On Wednesday 3/15/17 Leaving That Office I Wanted To Cry Because I Was Ready Had All The Insurance Requirements Only Thing I Needed Was to Send In Everything For The Insurance To Accept It And A Date. I Have Hypothyroidism I Been Obese All My Life And Never Could Lose More Than 3Lbs Before Gaining 10 So I Was Scared And Ready To Give Up By Now 6Days Later With My Low Calories Diet, Exercise, And Dedication I Am Down 19.7 Lbs I Currently Weigh 402.0 From My Starting Weight 6Days Ago Of 421.7

6 hours ago, HypothyroidFighter said:

Hw 421.7 Which Was The Day Of My Consultation With The Surgeon He Asked That I Lose 50Lbs For Him To Do The Surgery Because Of The Possible Risk And Complications That Was On Wednesday 3/15/17 Leaving That Office I Wanted To Cry Because I Was Ready Had All The Insurance Requirements Only Thing I Needed Was to Send In Everything For The Insurance To Accept It And A Date. I Have Hypothyroidism I Been Obese All My Life And Never Could Lose More Than 3Lbs Before Gaining 10 So I Was Scared And Ready To Give Up By Now 6Days Later With My Low Calories Diet, Exercise, And Dedication I Am Down 19.7 Lbs I Currently Weigh 402.0 From My Starting Weight 6Days Ago Of 421.7

You can do this. Stay focus and use this as the motivation that you need to keep going.

On 3/12/2017 at 4:36 PM, bill1130 said:

Any of you guys start out over 500 and got skin removal ? When did you get it did you pay for it. What the price range on it , or any tips on getting insurance to pay for it ?

I haven't gotten skin surgery yet and I probably won't for at least another year or so. I wanted to be a good 3 to 4 years removed from surgery before I go under the knife again. Bad reactions to being under has me hesitant on going under general anesthesia again, but I want to get to my absolute lowest weight possible and maintain it for at least a year or two before I have the skin removed.

I don't know how insurance is gonna go moving forward espeically here in the states. But I know that now currently, the only way my insurance will 100% cover my skin removal surgery is that I have to prove that its causing additional health conditions. Otherwise they will treat it as cosmetic and not fully cover it. Since I was diabetic and have suffered from skin rashes due to yeast infections, I may have a case for getting it removed when the time comes. But I'm just not there yet to have that battle with insurance over it.

How's everyone doing? I've lost about 120 pounds since my pre-op diet began Oct. 14. I've noticed I can "get away" with higher calories and more carbs/sugar than I would have anticipated. It's becoming quite clear that this truly is hard work. That said, I'm still losing at a good clip and have many, many more good days than bad. Will start personal training and boxing classes soon to supplement walking (currently my sole form of exercise).

On a high note, when I attend my sister-in-law's wedding next weekend I won't be worried about the seating, the dancing, and, most of all, uncomfortable dress clothes. I'll wear a suit that fits better than when I bought it in July 2011.

Onward and downward, gents.