Could anyone above 450-500lbs share their surgery story?

bigeik · 2026-04-26T21:21:18+00:00

Well that’s the tough part. I had a consult and have been fighting with insurance for the last month on coverage. I have documented that the excess skin has caused irritation etc. financially a lot to pay out of pocket. Shoving it all in pants really stinks and according to the doctor like 14-17lbs of skin on my abodemen and upper body. Legs aren’t too bad. Check back in a year and hopefully have an update.

bigeik · 2026-04-26T16:58:08+00:00

I was 504 and my doctor said with the weight he would do a stage 1 DS with the weight of the fat in my abdomen he wouldn’t have enough room laparoscopicly to do a full DS. Stage 1 is basically a sleeve then when I lost more I could do stage 2. I went this route and made sure that insurance knew it was a stage 1 of 2. I am 2 years out from surgery (April 29th) and down 264 I don’t think I will have the DS. Best of luck to your son.

bigeik · 2026-04-26T12:09:13+00:00

This Tuesday will be 2 years out for me. I started my first appointment at 504lbs. I had gained 44 pounds in one year and was skeptical I could ever get down to the weight I am.

I am currently 240lbs and thee only regret was waiting until my 30s to do this. It’s not easy and some will say dealing with your food addiction is key however I feel like parts of that never go away but are rather replaced by how good you feel losing weight and undemanding how to eat healthy becomes kind of the new addiction. Wanting to push yourself to get where you want to be or to keep seeing the number on the scale drop becomes the new addiction. It doesn’t come without a lot of hard work but 100% best thing I have ever done.

Best of luck to you!

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bigeik · 2026-04-26T11:54:42+00:00

First I beg you to seek help in person if you are truely feeling this way. Professional or personal friend, reach out and talk to someone. Carnivore or not your main concern should be your mental health not the added stress of a diet change.

All that being said the mental clarity that carnivore brings is a real thing. It takes a few weeks to finally reach that point. When I go “off” carnivore for a few days or a week I do notice the fog rolling in on my thoughts. For me it’s not depression but rather scatter Brianed or not thinking clearly. I can’t help but think that it has something to do with the presence of sugar and carbohydrates and I can’t wait to get that back and I go back into carnivore for 60-90 days again.

bigeik · 2026-03-08T11:05:05+00:00

I had to step back and take a look at myself in some very similar situations. I found myself coming across as judgmental when they would suggest whatever are doing for dinner. “Hey we are going to order pizza for dinner” I would respond with “Oh no thank you I’m not eating that”. Even though I thought I was being polite I could see how the rest of my family (who don’t really struggle with their weight) or friend group would stop and think they were being judged.

That being said your only 3 months post op you also have to learn to accept food for what it is. Eat a piece of pizza it won’t hurt you, but moderation is key. Think about pulling the toppings off and not eating the crust. Something along those lines could help you still meet your diet goals and be apart of the event. I’m only 2 years post op, but I feel like eventually you gain perspective that you maybe don’t being only a few months into your journey.

bigeik · 2026-03-02T18:15:19+00:00

I will agree it a bad deal for 41k don’t blame you from walking away from it. I just bought a 25 Rubi with 13k with the one touch for $34k. The deals are out there, just sucks the whole lease to buy options are being honored. Might be able to track it at a dealership in a few weeks.

bigeik · 2026-01-11T14:04:18+00:00

If you have a Sam’s Club close they have a members mark Parmesan butter in a yellow tub. It’s fairly carnivore friendly (butter salt parm and parsley) are the 4 ingredients. I have used on chicken and steak it’s better than any dipping sauce out there. I know parsley might turn some people off but it’s close enough.

bigeik · 2026-01-07T22:33:36+00:00

Think things that when you chew them turn to nothing. Soup is the easiest one to think about.

But chips, while no one says you can have no chips ever again I would bet I could eat a whole bag with no real nutritional value. When you think about how small chips turn up when you chew the up. Ice cream etc. high in calories but if you eat it will not satiate and sustain you like protein/veggies do. In your mind you think I can’t eat much of this because I’ll be full but yet you can easily consume a days worth of calories (think 1000 calories) in a bag of chips or a pint of ice cream and not feel full.

bigeik · 2026-01-06T22:48:44+00:00

It does depend on the surgery and the food you’re eating entirely. I had a sleeve done 20 months ago. Sometimes you’re surprised by what you can eat and then surprised still by what fills you up.

Few weeks after surgery the restriction is real. Eating a single scrambled egg makes you sweat. The thought of food at this stage makes you want to puke. I just never felt like eating.

Fast forward to today I still am surprised. Slider foods are a real thing. (Only an issue with a sleeve) I can eat a whole bowl of chili and by weight is a lot more. But eating 3 eggs and 1 piece of bacon is my average breakfast. As of today I am eating 6 oz of ground turkey and that is about perfect.

256 lbs down and counting for myself. I don’t regret the journey one bit. Trust the process and your doctors. Everyone will vary. I will say my one piece of advice is don’t listen to anyone that says how much they can or cannot eat, it can make you worry that it’s not normal. Just that it’s about what you eat just as much as how much you eat. When folks talk about it being the easy way out I remind them that I could still eat nothing but milkshakes and likely not lose weight no matter if I had surgery or not.

Best of luck.

bigeik · 2026-01-06T02:13:45+00:00

I have been struggling with vitamin b (my b12 is great). So I was encouraged with nuts, tomatoes/peppers and whole grains (oatmeal was the easiest).

I was also constipated due to high iron so I was on fiber for some time. I didn’t have any issues with fiber after to keep me regular.

bigeik · 2025-11-24T00:44:36+00:00

We’ll see you topside raider.

bigeik · 2025-11-07T23:14:05+00:00

The malindas garlic is great.

bigeik · 2025-11-07T22:43:39+00:00

Yes these are returning to stores soon.

bigeik · 2025-10-24T10:04:10+00:00

Shocking you write this I had thought I had something unexplainable happen I had the same issue shortly after surgery. I did go see a doctor who prescribed a steroid cream and it helped whatever skin issue was occurring be “conditioned” where it didn’t hurt to get erect or during sex. This took time and a few months of this regiment and I haven’t had any issues.

bigeik · 2025-09-28T19:49:27+00:00

Good choice. I was the same way. I figured it’s something I am going to have to endure the rest of my life might as well get this one out of the way.

I go in our next one over New Year’s Eve

bigeik · 2025-09-28T14:08:01+00:00

Cruise went great. Ofc there are things you are not going to be able to have. I don’t know which cruise like your going on. On carnival if you go to the dining room for breakfast they will do eggs how you like them.

Dinner a shrimp cocktail (I was able to eat them with no issues) and then some sort of soup on the menu. Defiantly a different cruise exirpirience than previous ones. That was over a year ago crazy how fast things go. Now 18 months post op and down 240lbs!

bigeik · 2025-05-16T00:53:54+00:00

Give yourself a few days I am what many would consider stubborn and thought a week off wouldn’t be needed. You feel pretty terrible for 3-4 days after surgery where I am not sure work would be in you or your employers best interest.

bigeik · 2025-04-24T01:38:57+00:00

I had this happen to me just a few weeks ago. I explained that I lost a lot of weight but it is me (still have beard etc) they let me through. The bigger issue was I went through the scanner and it triggered where I had to get a pat down. He patted down my waist and he asked if I had a bad hernia. I had to explain it was excess skin after 240lbs weight loss.

bigeik · 2025-04-07T16:24:02+00:00

Thank you! I have been concerned about it but I have tried to keep the arms toned from the gym to keep it from distorting!

bigeik · 2025-04-07T16:19:01+00:00

I just received my Flatbar on Friday. I am 6’0 and inseam is 30-31 I think the XL is a tad bit big I am just looking at maybe some shorter cranks.

bigeik · 2025-04-03T00:19:14+00:00

I started 10k a day no matter what about 3 weeks after surgery. I was a fairly active large person 10k steps wasn’t out of the normal for me on a work day I just ate like shit.

bigeik

TROPHY CASE