Lipedema and VSG

[Mando313 6]

Hi. I’m new here and had vsg December 9th 2019. I have been following the advice and instruction of my team and find that I’m not losing as quickly as some who were sleeved around the same time.
I’m also recently diagnosed with lipedema and was wondering if anyone else has been diagnosed and if it causes weight loss to be very slow?
I also wonder if weight is slightly inaccurate because of the Fluid and fat in our legs?
I would appreciate anyone with Lipedema to chat it out with me because it’s so discouraging to not lose after having had surgery for weight... Is there anyone with wls success stories who happen to have lipedema?
Thanks in advance.

[catwoman7 10,847]

I can't speak to lipedema specifically, but people lose weight at all different rates for all different reasons - age, gender, metabolic rate, activity level, starting BMI, whether or not the lost weight prior to surgery, etc. Most WLS patients seem to lose somewhere in the 15-25 lb range the first month. Of course, you'll always find people who lose more or less than that, but that seems to be about average. I lost 16 lbs the first month, and I started out at over 300 lbs. But I'm female, I was 55 years old when I had surgery, I'd dropped over 50 lbs before I had surgery, etc. All those things are factors. My rate of loss was slow the whole time I was in weight loss mode. BUT, I was very committed to my plan and ended up losing all of my excess weight. My point is, don't be discouraged and try not to compare yourself to others.

[Mando313 6]

Thank you. I’m down 35 or so pounds in two months. I just want to do my best and I was told I was behind at first so it scared me a bit.
I am trying to find a lipedema specialist in my area as well. I want to try and go through the next year really focusing on myself for a change.
Thank you for your response. It can be so discouraging to be told you’re behind and not know what else to do...

[catwoman7 10,847]

28 minutes ago, Mando313 said:

Thank you. I’m down 35 or so pounds in two months. I just want to do my best and I was told I was behind at first so it scared me a bit.
I am trying to find a lipedema specialist in my area as well. I want to try and go through the next year really focusing on myself for a change.
Thank you for your response. It can be so discouraging to be told you’re behind and not know what else to do...

I remember this stupid medical resident telling me at one of my follow-up appointments during my first year post-op that I was a slow loser and behind the pack. That's the last thing I needed to hear. I think I probably ended up blowing everyone else I went through the program with out of the Water, though, because I ended up losing all of my excess weight. But I wish that resident would have kept his mouth shut because it was pretty discouraging to hear that! I'm glad I ended up charging ahead rather than throwing in the towel, because that's pretty much what I felt like at the time...

[catwoman7 10,847]

btw - 35 lbs in two months is better than I did. I lost 16 lbs the first month and 12 lbs the second, so that's 28 lbs. I went on to lose over 200 lbs...

[Puddin pie 11]

Wow..now that is amazing.Congratulations!!

[Mando313 6]

Thank you all so much for the encouragement. Three month follow up says I’m down 46 pounds. She said by my next appointment I should post 50-70. I’m not sure if that means total or for months 3-6? She wasn’t clear.
Any tips on how to lose better? I just want to do a good job...

[catwoman7 10,847]

that would mean total. Losing 50-70 lbs for months 3-6, when things start to slow down, would be unrealistic unless you started at a really high BMI

[Puddin pie 11]

Amazing..really wonderful.Gives me hope as I wait.

[Somenelsons 1]

On 3/13/2020 at 11:34 PM, Mando313 said:

Thank you all so much for the encouragement. Three month follow up says I’m down 46 pounds. She said by my next appointment I should post 50-70. I’m not sure if that means total or for months 3-6? She wasn’t clear.
Any tips on how to lose better? I just want to do a good job...

Hello there Mando313, I have lipedema and I am in the pre-op phase of WLS. My bariatric surgeon is familiar with lipedema (hooray!!!! such a wonderful surprise). I'm not sure though how many patients he's had with lipedema and how their weight loss looks after WLS. He is reccomending the Loop-DS (aka SIPS aka SADI-s) for me. The Loop-DS is supposed to keep glucose levels more steady which *should* help with more fat loss than a VSG ( i read that insulin fluctates more with a VSG than with a DS.. I can send the link if interested.)

Anyhow, glad to find someone out there who's had WLS and has lipedema. Would love to hear how your journey has been since you posted.