The never ending pain!!!!!! It was the worst horrific experience of my life. I was sent home with two drain tubes (that the Dr eventually admitted should've been four) that constantly bled out. I had to wear a compression garment for 6 months but couldn't move without extreme assistance for about 5 weeks straight. I couldn't lay down flat for months and had to sit upright 24/7. I needed constant help, so my wife had to take a month off work, then my family had to step in and help me move around. If I moved a quarter inch in any direction it felt like I was going to rip apart...like literally hot knives stabbing me where I felt like I was going to be pulled in half!
Aside from that, I was basically a crackhead for 6 months due to the necessity of being on every prescription pain pill imaginable. I atrophied down to 156lbs from the surgery (I was 330 at my heaviest) skin and bones and sick/unhealthy.
I remember trying to get up from the couch on my own one time a few weeks out because I was already sick of having to rely on other people, and naturally, the second I moved too far forward, I popped stitches in my back and bled out to what looked like a murder scene and had to be rushed back to the dr.
My stomach around my navel is still numb and the feeling will never come back. Up to 1.5 years post surgery, I was still having extreme hot knife sharp pains from the nerve endings finally waking up...I'd be walking around fine and normal and suddenly drop to my knees because it felt like someone had literally stabbed me. The whole recovery process was just awful, awful, awful. But, soon enough, I was able to walk back in the gym and finally lift again. I started with 5lb DB's and was unable to flat bench for almost 2 years, so the majority of chest work was done with cables and incline benches. I didn't sleep flat in a bed for almost a year.
I could go on and on...
My entire story of WLS, skin surgery, and competing is on my site, TheWeightStopsNow dot com if anyone cares to see more.
I was definitely one of the guys that subscribed to the whole magic pill process of tightening skin, but I can 100% assure you nothing will help tighten your skin if it's loose, period! Unfortunately, surgery is the only cure.
Thanks again!