If you stop taking your daily vitamins first you'll get depressed and lethargic from lack of vitamin b s .

Your skin will look flabby and old from lack of daily vitamin C and you will be very vulnerable to infections like Covid 19.

longer term iron deficiency/ chronic anemia is a HUGE sickener .

There's a REASON the successful long term posters here succeed - we follow the guidelines we agreed to before our life changing surgeries . A blood test every six months and daily vitamins are VITAL ! ((())) hugs

As a newbie, I want to thank you for sharing your story and being so open about it. Many of us who have had surgery or are going to have surgery do not realize how alcohol can impact us. I am only 10 mos post op and I have lost 140 to date. I recently started becoming more social and that entailed going out with others who were drinking and yep you guessed it I picked up a bad habit. My weight loss has stalled. I am not dealing with a bit of an issue of wanting to socially drink every night and it is hard to NOT. I CAN'T seem to drink normally, NOW. I hope I can overcome this and get back on the right path. No one should ever take drinking, even socially after surgery lightly. It can easily get away from you.

Congratulations on your 18 months of sobriety, on your reconnection with your sons and I, wish you continued success and many good things to come. I hope you continue to update us on how you are doing.

AW

You have had some great responses. Consider all of your options. Do you have home equity or retirement funds that you can borrow for the surgery? Look into a medical credit card. Explore options in Mexico. Consult with other surgeons, even if you pay a fee to do it. Some surgeons are better with insurance than others.

Looking and feeling healthy is something worth paying for if you can find a way. One of my friends spent about $35000 on lower body lift, breast inplants, and repairs to her arms and legs. Her husband said it was worth every penny and he enjoys it more than the car that they would have spent the money on.

Unfortunately most insurances will not pay for excessive skin removal unless you have documented issues with it. Like rashes, sores, etc. Sometimes with a write letter from your doctor documenting the issues you have they may cover the removal. Many people just save money to have it done themselves.

danluvsme,
Great observation. 18yrs out for me.
For me, it took a few years just to figure out
where to put my hands when standing at rest.
I had always rested them on my big belly.
Even with my arms down at my sides,
They they were held out from my sides
by my width.
After losing over half of my body weight,
I struggled to not feel awkward
when standing. Sounds silly,
but that small detail took quite a while
to stop noticing.

As for Keeping weight off for good,
I just started following my Dr.s' post-op regimen,
and it has kept me on track.
Proteins First, nearly no "White Carbs,"-
(White Bread, Rice, Potatoes, most Pasta, Sugar)
I have them in small portions
or I will have uncomfortable gas.
Some white carbs have specific results.
Potatoes put me to sleep
Literally as if I have been given a sedative.
Sugar gives me "dumping syndrome."
More than a large tablespoon
of something sweetened with sugar,
and I'm making several trips to the bathroom.
My body responds to Sugar
as if it were food poisoning.
This has made it very easy to avoid Sugar.
Chocolate loses it's appeal
when it is effectively "Ex-lax."
After only a handful of attempts
to eat sugared sweets,
and suffering it's effects,
I was no longer attracted to sweets.
I do use Stevia products as those with
Sugar Alcohols have the same laxative impact.

I've kept my weight off by listening to my body-
Starting to feel full? -Stop eating immediately.
I have thrown away "Half" of so many entrees.
Our natural tendency is to finish
what we've put on our plates,
even if it seems a small portion.
And-
Yes, it's a waste of food and $
if I've ordered slightly too much food,
But Far, far cheaper than
fighting a battle with my weight.

Has worked for me.
Your Results May Vary.

Best Wishes-
DxE