I don’t know if this has been discussed before but I see people talk about how you should look more at size loss (measurements) than the scale.

I am getting frustrated at the fact that my weight is going down and I should be fitting smaller sizes but my measurements don’t seem to match the scale. I am 5’ and I think my weight loss finally hit 39lbs. (203lbs at surgery)

I did buy a few pieces of loose clothes that were on the bigger side and then switched to size large in some activewear bottoms that run I guess size 14-16? and men’s T-shirt’s also size large (women’s xl?) I bought other size L but they run 12-14 (old navy) the 14-16 are a little loose especially my hips and the 12-14 too tight once they hit my stomach. I buy stuff when I can get it cheap enough on sale. I wanted back ups since I thought I’d at least fit the smaller size large.

I finally decided to measure. I’d swear despite the weight loss my measurements haven’t changed. My abdomen is still abnormally swollen. And I’m frustrated. It did go down in size under my bust, but my waist wherever it is, is still big. My upper bust could probably fit a women’s medium, buy my stomach a L-XL. My hips aren’t that big 42”. But once you get to my abdomen it’s out of proportion.

I have a mass in my pelvic area but my doctor told me to wait even though he didn’t follow what the ct scan results said to (follow up with another test to check if it’s a risk and if I need biopsy) the ultrasound wasn’t able to visualize the mass. The tech said I need an mri, but my doctor? No he said wait. It was already two months or more by the time I got an appointment to see him. But I digress.

Im just worried that the measurements aren’t changing.

I was always a denim Bermuda shorts and T-shirt person but now I’m wearing exercise capris. Since I can’t afford to try to find shorts that fit.

My weight went up so rapidly (again) that I was size 4 and bought a size 6 Levi’s that I never got to wear and are in a bin in my closet with new size small tops and size 5 underwear. I have no idea how long the bin has been in my closet (I buy things when I can find big sales but only enough for what I need but I won’t get into my ocd clothing habits) I rapidly went up to a large size 14 with a lot of stretch. At that point I couldn’t afford to size up again. The denim would end up not fitting my stomach and scrunch up on my hips.

Im sorry my post likely is just a lot of nonsense. I just can’t get answers from my doctors. Of course there are more important issues than measurements and pant size but my abdomen is just endlessly painfully swollen.

Not sure if this helps, but my first few months my butt, arms and legs lost a lot more inches (as a % of where they were) than my waist. So the same clothes fit for about 50#. Then it just all kind of caught up over time. I was super frustrated not losing a size for months. But it did eventually come. And I’m glad o have the measurements to look at. Some months I lose a lot of weight, but not many inches. Sometimes that’s flipped. Sometimes I lose a lot off my butt, other times off my waist. But it is coming off.

I posted about measurements yesterday. They're a good way to track success other than just the scale. Mine haven't had a lot of movement in the last 6 weeks even though I've lost weight, but overall they've changed. Plus, I haven't exercised in 3 weeks because of the heat wave, so I guess I need to get back to toning up at the gym.

Thanks, I finally hit a 41lb loss but my waist is still the same. I guess I’m just feeling something else is going on here. Usually if I sense a problem it’s correct but I just don’t know what. Ive tried to address this with my doctors with no success. I was supposed to have a colonoscopy prior to surgery but the date of surgery ended up coming first. I had a CT scan that showed suspected colitis.

I have pcos, endometriosis, late onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Some years ago I had to have a hysterectomy. Than prior to RNY surgery had surgery related to that and the doctor had to remove one of my ovaries covered in endometriosis.

I actually used to be 5’ 4” but degenerative disc disease and now scoliosis I’m 5’ losing weight Im reminded how much bone density I lost over the years my wrists, fingers and forearms are bony as heck. People would look at me and wonder why I was having weight loss surgery. But I had already hit 208lbs and feared it going higher.

I can see muscle wasting I had started to develop and my primary care wanted me to see a neuromuscular specialist at the time. My current neurologist is running tests because I was told I have Dysphasia. Yet my stomach is still so swollen.

I wish I could just go to a gym. Muscle burns fat. But i have one of few medical conditions that exercise is damaging. Exertion anywhere from writing this message, to daily tasks, to exercising actually damage and age muscles and exacerbate sy. I’ve tried to trick body, going on slow walks, taking photos. But every step I feel it and when I’m done I crash hard. I haven’t been able to even try do that since April.

It was probably a dumb question for me to ask. But thank you for the responses.

Sounds like you have a lot going on. Try to let go of stress you cannot control and continue to follow your Dr advice. I hope this week is better for you.

New_Me 2019

Wow. So belly fat is often the last part to go as other posters mentioned.

Also, your mass needs to be checked. So please follow-up and insist on having it imaged. That is also interfering with your losses in your abdomen. Go get that fixed girl. You've now lost 41lbs. So you are in a better shape to have that removed. It's probably a pedunculated fibroid tumor (rarely malignant), and in most cases the solution is a total hysterectomy. I know this cuz I had many along with a 4 month "fetus" sized uterus that made my gut huge. So don't wait for that. ((hugs)) Congrats on the 41lbs! Outstanding!

1 hour ago, FluffyChix said:

Wow. So belly fat is often the last part to go as other posters mentioned.

Also, your mass needs to be checked. So please follow-up and insist on having it imaged. That is also interfering with your losses in your abdomen. Go get that fixed girl. You've now lost 41lbs. So you are in a better shape to have that removed. It's probably a pedunculated fibroid tumor (rarely malignant), and in most cases the solution is a total hysterectomy. I know this cuz I had many along with a 4 month "fetus" sized uterus that made my gut huge. So don't wait for that. ((hugs)) Congrats on the 41lbs! Outstanding!

Thanks @FluffyChix I guess I should have mentioned in 2010 I had a hysterectomy due to fast growing fibroids that were growing everywhere. I actually had a pedunculated fibroid on my uterus, my uterus was retroflexed and bending toward my spine and the fibroid was there so it pushed into my colon and spine. Fibroids were in the walls of my uterus, cervical, and my left ovary. Pathology showed all kinds of cysts and nodules in both as well. The doctor and I knew this was my only option. I have a distrust for ultrasound since there was a growth on my left ovary they called a complex cyst it was a fibroid. She left my ovaries, removing the fibroid.

ffw to 2018 and I needed pelvic floor surgery to try to help some issues from the hysterectomy. An ultrasound showed a mass on my left ovary. In surgery it turned out to be endometriosis. He left the other ovary despite seeing some endometriosis there.

Given my history, the fact that they saw a decent size mass in the right adnexa on a CT, I just want to know and the tech that did the ultrasounds said I should have an mri to get a clearer picture. And they said they would speak to the doctors office about it. But no one said anything. I had an appointment to see him but he actually canceled it. Then the office called and said why didn’t I show up. I have a very hard time dealing with doctors, worse for being on the autism spectrum.

Its exhausting. I’ve never had a flat stomach but My abdomen was not quite like this except for before I had my hysterectomy. And it was huge then (I weighed less)

im also waiting on bloodwork results that should have come by now. It’s been two weeks. They always show up online within a week. So of course my brain goes to the place, does my doctor not want me to see the results?

btw thank you so much for the congrats, I appreciate it. I find it uncomfortable if someone says I “look good” A. Looks doesn’t equate good health and B. I actually didn’t have RNY For looks. Definitely not for other people. Anyone I’ve known, from family to friends have all run off due to my chronic illness, disability and being on the spectrum.

ty again

((hugs)) With or without being on the spectrum, this is HARD, so hard to deal with and the unknown and waiting for lab results are the worst!!! ((hugs)) Be gentle with yourself. You are doing so great.

I'm so sorry to hear your struggles. Call the doc and insist on that MRI hon. I don't think it's a conspiracy, but I do think sometimes they miss posting things. U/S have their place, but MRIs and CTs are the gold standard, especially for differentiating solid masses.

Saying prayers for peace and answers for you!!!

One of the worst things for ME, and YES I Am a Spectrum Sister, the abiding sense I was a square Peg living in a Round Peg World, I was just enough diverse. to feel homeless and alone. Please get your MRI, I believe it will give you answers and more Peace of Mind to know a little more of the answers.

I require help with phone calls and at times trying to get information through to doctors, my mother does what she can. Sometimes it’s like navigating blind.

Whenever I try to write things down for the doctor they don’t want to read it, they say or imply they have to hear it from me. Never mind that just the act of being there and trying to explain things, exhausts me. We are trying to get through to the doctors office to get information, they ordered the ultrasound to follow up on the CT scan even though the technician later said that’s going backwards and an mri should have been ordered. No one passes on information. It should have been in my records from the original ct scan. My specialist doctor (uro/gyn) who did my pelvic surgery should have had the records from the hospital when I went to the Er. When I made an appointment to see him they had me see a nurse practitioner instead.

Maybe I said this already. I’m sorry. My bathroom is being renovated and today is a noisy day.

I had to get emailed the blood test results but they seem inconclusive. The doctor was looking to rule out myasthenia Gravis but not all people with it have positive blood test results. I have the symptoms. He was looking into it due to neurologically caused dysphasia.

I can deal with what I know, but there are always questions without answers. The more I know the easier it is to handle everything on my plate. But I’ll never have a normal life. I have come to terms with that for the most part. Mainly I’m just getting by. I probably posted too much. I don’t usually post in public forums. I hadn’t done so in a long time. After it led to a disaster of a “friendship”