Are you stalled? Plateaued? Gained a few?
One thing I have always seen here on OH and other WLS sites is people lamenting their plataeus, stalls and "Why isn't the surgery working for me?". People wondering "Is their WLS 'broken'" People depressed, morose or any other problem (body dismorphia). I cannot speak for why they had WLS , but I can speak for why *I* did, and why it was already siucessful a long time ago...
It is simple. (And oh so very honest) I truly had WLS for my health. I cared less how "skinny" I got, I could have cared less about a nulmber on a scale, I wanted to feel better. My family has seen me fight ovarian cancer, two types of autoimmune disease and a host of other medical problems (As well as being wheelchair bound and having to use a mobility service dog).
My husband married me "thin" and healthy (when I was active duty in the Air Force) and watched me each year get heavier from Prednisone and steroid treatments and lack of mobility. He watched me take 4 narcotics and 10 medications a DAY just to survive, and he knew I was miserable...(Being "skinny" had nothing to do with it for me...It was being in EXTREME pain and literally dying that made me want to do WLS). I was told by two doctors (A Rheumatologist and an Endocronologist) that I had a mere 5 years to live. My Adrenals were shot, my blood sugar was at the borderline of diabetes, and my autoimmune disease was flaring uncontrollably. It was the last straw for me. Litrally. What do you do, when told you are going to die? ANYTHING you do can only be better (or end it quickly).
I told my husband bluntly bluntly, "If I was going to die, I would die either way...within 5 years or less from complications of being morbidly obese and all the medications and side effects...OR, if I died on the table, it would be quick and painless..." Again, he wasn't thrilled (Who would be? Seeing a loved one suffer so?) But he understood at a logical level of WHY it had to be done.
He attended all the seminars, spoke to the surgeon and read a lot of research and sites (such as this one). He knew I was having the surgery with or without his support...I needed the surgery to live. He decided to do as he as always done for 25+ years and give me support.
And he supported me indeed...I didn't expect him to change his eating habits or stop eating something because I couldn't... (Why should I ask him that?) But he realized then that this surgery wasn't just "cosmetic" but as important as Open heart surgery to someone who needs a new heart or cardiac bypass.
Just 2 months after the surgery he and I both considered it a sucess just after a 40 lb loss... After all I did NOT (repeating this a million times) did NOT have this surgery to "be thin" or to "be a certain weight"... But to be HEALTHY... I have achieved that goal a hundred times over. Anything else (a loss of weight on the scale, or clothing sizes going down) is merely icing on the cake... It is not a necessity and this is why I have never had the scale obsession or body dismorphia... Because "LOOKING" a certain way never bothered me. This is why I have NEVER had any depression about the surgery (Or worried about 'eating too much') or post op.. For me, It was always about the extreme pain of dis-ease.
Even if I died tomorrow...I would have had a year that I LIVED, truly LIVED more better than I have in the last 20 years! I have enjoyed the fresh air, my pain level has went from a 9-10 (daily...Imagine someone constantly physically torturing you) to a near 0. I am off 10 of my 13 prescription meds. I am in cancer remission and my autoimmune disease is in remission (for now).
PRE-Op, the pain was so bad I was seriously and honestly considering suicide, simply to escape the extreme pain . When you get THAT desperate to be healthy anything is better! Anything! Within the first 30 lb loss of pre-surgery liquid diet I was already feeling better than I had in over 10 years!
I don't know what your co-morbidities are...People need to realize that this is NOT cosmetic surgery but a chance for you to live again (especially if you have serious medical problems). If you are truly doing WLS to be a certain "number" on the scale, or a certain clothing size... You will not be happy... If you are doing this surgery hoping it will help you STOP "overeating" you will NOT be happy...If you are doing this surgery to LOOK good, you will not be happy. (Loose skin is never pretty! ha-ha) But IF you are doing this surgery to LIVE and be healthy and to start over (so to speak)...IF you are ready to make committments to being healthy than this surgery (WLS) will be indeed a miracle.
From someone who was in a wheelchair, who took 13 prescription medications, who was ready to commit suicide because of the constant physical pain of my illnesses...I HAVE suceeded! I am only on 4 medications, I can walk 5-6k comfortably and ENJOY it! I have went to the gym and put on healthy muscle and most importantly I am LIVING now...Connected to all around me and enjoying life each and every day. For me that is what I wanted WLS to do, and that is what it has done.
I wish ALL of you the best journey of all!
Warmly,
Jackie
It is simple. (And oh so very honest) I truly had WLS for my health. I cared less how "skinny" I got, I could have cared less about a nulmber on a scale, I wanted to feel better. My family has seen me fight ovarian cancer, two types of autoimmune disease and a host of other medical problems (As well as being wheelchair bound and having to use a mobility service dog).
My husband married me "thin" and healthy (when I was active duty in the Air Force) and watched me each year get heavier from Prednisone and steroid treatments and lack of mobility. He watched me take 4 narcotics and 10 medications a DAY just to survive, and he knew I was miserable...(Being "skinny" had nothing to do with it for me...It was being in EXTREME pain and literally dying that made me want to do WLS). I was told by two doctors (A Rheumatologist and an Endocronologist) that I had a mere 5 years to live. My Adrenals were shot, my blood sugar was at the borderline of diabetes, and my autoimmune disease was flaring uncontrollably. It was the last straw for me. Litrally. What do you do, when told you are going to die? ANYTHING you do can only be better (or end it quickly).
I told my husband bluntly bluntly, "If I was going to die, I would die either way...within 5 years or less from complications of being morbidly obese and all the medications and side effects...OR, if I died on the table, it would be quick and painless..." Again, he wasn't thrilled (Who would be? Seeing a loved one suffer so?) But he understood at a logical level of WHY it had to be done.
He attended all the seminars, spoke to the surgeon and read a lot of research and sites (such as this one). He knew I was having the surgery with or without his support...I needed the surgery to live. He decided to do as he as always done for 25+ years and give me support.
And he supported me indeed...I didn't expect him to change his eating habits or stop eating something because I couldn't... (Why should I ask him that?) But he realized then that this surgery wasn't just "cosmetic" but as important as Open heart surgery to someone who needs a new heart or cardiac bypass.
Just 2 months after the surgery he and I both considered it a sucess just after a 40 lb loss... After all I did NOT (repeating this a million times) did NOT have this surgery to "be thin" or to "be a certain weight"... But to be HEALTHY... I have achieved that goal a hundred times over. Anything else (a loss of weight on the scale, or clothing sizes going down) is merely icing on the cake... It is not a necessity and this is why I have never had the scale obsession or body dismorphia... Because "LOOKING" a certain way never bothered me. This is why I have NEVER had any depression about the surgery (Or worried about 'eating too much') or post op.. For me, It was always about the extreme pain of dis-ease.
Even if I died tomorrow...I would have had a year that I LIVED, truly LIVED more better than I have in the last 20 years! I have enjoyed the fresh air, my pain level has went from a 9-10 (daily...Imagine someone constantly physically torturing you) to a near 0. I am off 10 of my 13 prescription meds. I am in cancer remission and my autoimmune disease is in remission (for now).
PRE-Op, the pain was so bad I was seriously and honestly considering suicide, simply to escape the extreme pain . When you get THAT desperate to be healthy anything is better! Anything! Within the first 30 lb loss of pre-surgery liquid diet I was already feeling better than I had in over 10 years!
I don't know what your co-morbidities are...People need to realize that this is NOT cosmetic surgery but a chance for you to live again (especially if you have serious medical problems). If you are truly doing WLS to be a certain "number" on the scale, or a certain clothing size... You will not be happy... If you are doing this surgery hoping it will help you STOP "overeating" you will NOT be happy...If you are doing this surgery to LOOK good, you will not be happy. (Loose skin is never pretty! ha-ha) But IF you are doing this surgery to LIVE and be healthy and to start over (so to speak)...IF you are ready to make committments to being healthy than this surgery (WLS) will be indeed a miracle.
From someone who was in a wheelchair, who took 13 prescription medications, who was ready to commit suicide because of the constant physical pain of my illnesses...I HAVE suceeded! I am only on 4 medications, I can walk 5-6k comfortably and ENJOY it! I have went to the gym and put on healthy muscle and most importantly I am LIVING now...Connected to all around me and enjoying life each and every day. For me that is what I wanted WLS to do, and that is what it has done.
I wish ALL of you the best journey of all!
Warmly,
Jackie
Jackie, that was very beautifully written. I can't imagine the joy you feel now when you think about how things were before. I too had this surgery to be healthy. Would it be nice to reach a certain number on the scale? Yeah, but it's not my priority. I want to be healthy and active like I haven't been able to do before. I'm on pain medications as well due to Fibro, Degenerative Disc Disease and severely herniated discs in my back. My hope is that when the weight starts to come off the pain gets better. I haven't been able to be the kind of mother I want to be because of my weight and the pain.
Reading your story gives me hope that I will be there one day. Thank you so much for posting this today. I needed to read this more than you can possibly know.
Reading your story gives me hope that I will be there one day. Thank you so much for posting this today. I needed to read this more than you can possibly know.
I still want a "like" button.
Fabulous thread - and a great thought provoker for many, I'm sure.
Congratulations on your health - it's so wonderful that you have it back.
Rebecca
Circumferential LBL, anchor TT, BL/BR, brachioplasty 12-16-10 Drs. Howard and Gutowski
Thigh lift 3-24-11, Drs. Howard and Gutowski again!
Height 5' 5". Start point 254. DH's goal: 154. My guess: 144. Insurance goal: 134. Currently bouncing around 130-135.
Circumferential LBL, anchor TT, BL/BR, brachioplasty 12-16-10 Drs. Howard and Gutowski
Thigh lift 3-24-11, Drs. Howard and Gutowski again!
Height 5' 5". Start point 254. DH's goal: 154. My guess: 144. Insurance goal: 134. Currently bouncing around 130-135. 
You are an inspiration. I hope when all is said and done I can feel the same way as you. Right now I'm on more meds, but that's not the RNY. It's the bowel surgery I had 6 weeks after. But I'm staying positive. I'm accepting the changes that I'm making in my and my kids lives. It's amazing how much healthier they eat now. My 5 yr old (one of the twins) actually asks for veggies each meal. My oldest son has cut his munching.
wtg! You've done well, an very well written.
wtg! You've done well, an very well written.
Teri
Lapbanded 9-16-08 revision from Lapband to RNY on January 11, 2011
HW 273/ 1st surgery 243/Lapband removed 260/ Current 172/ Goal weight 169
I am so glad you posted this. I have been neating myself up becaue i really dont mind that I have been stalled for 3 weeks or so. When I look at the whole picture I have gone from 353 a year ago to 250 now I have gone from sz 26/28 and sometimes 30/32 to 16/18 since November. I posted about being content on here and there were some who thought that I should not be content with only losing 75 lbs post op and I started to feel bad about it but after I read your post I am happy. I to had auto immune issues and pulminary sarcoidosis, IIH and a heart rate at rest 120 my I retained so much water my feet looked like an elephants and were blue from the adema but not anymore. I happy content and will stay that way if I lose maore that would be fantastic but if not that is ok also
I really liked your post. Thank you. It made me think about a few things... but you know what? Im going to say what everyone else is thinking. Deep down I still want to be "thin" or what I feel is a thin body image to me.
Im tired of being fat. I am tired of being discriminated against just because I am overweight. Yah okay, I lost 38ish lbs... do I feel better? Nope. Okay I fit into a few pairs of pants i had sitting around the house now, so what.
Knees still hurt from all the surgeries, tailbone still hurts, still have the insulin resistance from PCOS dispite my total carb avoidance, and sloooooooooooow if not impossible weight loss. yah, I have stalled... Ive stalled twice now. Im on my second stall now.. This ones been 3 weeks. Not one person at work has even said squat to me about anything... not that people at work would mean anything to me... but I am just tired of it all.
I am tired of being passed over at the counter when I need help because the cute little brown haird lady is standing next to me.
I am tired of being the fat ***** who speaks up, instead of the cute girl who made a comment.
There I said it. Now I feel better.
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