Bariatric Surgery & Weight Loss: Meet others & Share

My name is Melissa and I am 48 years old. I have struggled with my weight all my life but I have been able to keep it under control until i went through menopause. My life changed then. The next thing I knew I was over 250lbs. I had only been over 200lbs when i was pregnant with my son. I have learned alot about menopause and the one thing that I hear the most is about the weight gain and how hard it is to get it off.
I have tried every diet there is, every shot that you can get and have spent thousands of dollars just trying to stay under 200lbs. I was at my lowest and have given up and this is my last resort and I am suffering from depression and I have no intimacy in my life with my partner. I actually moved out because he deserves to be with someone that has confidence and is able to meet his needs. Maybe I am saying too much here but this is real for me and I don't want to be a super model or super skinny, I just want to feel like myself again. I want to not look in the mirror with absolute hate or feel disgusting. I usually am around 140-155lbs. So, I have never been this big and I hate myself more everyday. And i just don't want to feel that way anymore.
I am hoping that this group will help me with some of the mental things that are going on in my head so when I do lose the weight that I can be my best self. I am going to be a grandma for the first time in February and I want to enjoy that and not be this person that I am today.
I hope that there is someone out there that can relate to this or at least understand what I am saying.
Thank you for listening and reading a little bit about my story.
Melissa

@meluthe

Welcome to Mayo Connect. There are many discussions about menopause and its problems, as well as solutions that can help. Due to an increase in members talking about menopause, Mayo Connect has created a separate support group for: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/menopause/

Even though there is a separate group, the topic spreads to many groups because of the symptoms of menopause.

I went through menopause multiple times. First surgical induced because of hysterectomy in 40s. Then I was on hormone replacements for years, and when I stopped, I went through menopause again later in life. My most significant problems were hot flashes, reduced sleep, no energy, etc... My weight was all over the place. I ended up having bariatric surgery to reduce weight. Even after that, my weight has had its ups and downs.

You do not need to suffer, even though it is part of aging; there is help. If you're in an area that has a Women's Clinic or even a Menopause specialist, they can help. You might even consider talking to a therapist to work on self-esteem.

Have you discussed your issues with PCP?

Pilates was essential in my post op recovery. I was in a lot of pain even several months out. Pilates helped so much!

My body doesn’t seem to confirm to a single pattern or consistency or diet or strategy, so I just never know what to do or try. I have not been able to access additional plastics after the panni and am left looking remarkably odd. This body is hard to use but I have resolved that Im stuck as I am now for the most part. Just trying to be the best whatever I am from here on out.

Hi @herbi13 - just checking in to see how you are doing these days? You'd mentioned before that your body was hard to use. Is this because of not being able to access additional plastics, not conforming to a single pattern or strategy, or something else?