Foxbins

I have been taking thyroid hormone since 1998--I had a TSH level done in March, 8 weeks after surgery, and again this month. Both were within limit for me (I do best under 1.0.) Rather than needing more, my PCP expects to lower the dosage as my body mass gets smaller. I have a sluggish metabolism but I have never had a stall, although it's true that some weeks I only lose a pound. Hope you and your physician figure something out.

So glad to hear it! Let us know how it goes--

My .02 and my reasons for low-carb: It's not about the calories. It's about getting your body into ketosis, which is the mechanism the body uses to burn fat for fuel rather than carbohydrates. If you are eating carbs, your body will prefer those for energy rather than fat. When carbohydrate stores are depleted, the body burns the fat. That's why I am eating low-carb. Plus, I'm not prone to depression. I agree, anybody can lose weight ingesting only 300-800 calories a day, but if those calories are carbs, especially starches and sugars, you will keep replenishing your liver stores of glycogen. Then you are using both carbs and fat for energy. It works fine for some people.

I was on fluids only for the first month and I did fine. Now I am not hungry so I eat to meet my protein and fluid goals; generally that's 4-6 times a day. I'm not really eating "meals." I'll have a protein shake in the morning, then later, 3 oz of shrimp, and then a couple of hours later a slice of turkey, maybe some cottage cheese for dinner...with water and calcium in between. I can't eat enough at a "meal" to meet my goal of 60-70gms of protein so I have to do it this way.

My three best (although there are lots more, these were the first things off the top of my head) 1. Having more energy to do the things I love 2. Wearing cuter clothes 3. Not having a double chin anymore!

You don't want a Vertical Band, you want a vertical sleeve. I don't know if Medicare covers the sleeve but you could ask again.

Good job! I am so happy for you--Congratulations!

Starygirl is right that most anorexics begin anorexia at or near normal body weight and "diet" way below safe levels of restricted intake. So you have someone of normal BMI who is eating very few calories and who has few reserves to burn. We sleevers have fat to burn. The body will use the fat we have as an energy source until it is gone, which is when true starvation begins and the body begins to consume muscle, nerve, and other tissues. However, because we don't have the disordered thinking, we will never reach the point of true starvation. We will increase calories to prevent the body from consuming itself. Edited to add: Plus, it is about the mental--anorexia is considered a mental disorder in the DSM-IV, the manual of the American Psychiatric Association that has the criteria for diagnosable mental diseases/disorders. I doubt that many of us here on the forum would presently meet criteria for an anorexia diagnosis, and it would certainly bar someone from receiving this surgery without a psych eval and treatment.

The mental aspect is the major component as the disordered eating behavior is accompanied by a distorted self-image. Anorexics can. literally, be starving and look like they are starving but continue to perceive themselves as fat. You might consider their beliefs delusional as they fit the definition--an unshakeable belief not shared by most other people (i.e., that they are fat). Many anorexics feel out of control is many areas of their lives and use food as the one area where they have the power to control intake. People who have bariatric surgery generally don't have disordered eating behavior--they are not surviving on 2 saltines and a cup of tea. After post-op restrictions are lifted, most WLS patients follow their doctor's orders. Although it may take some time, their self-images also adjust so that they no longer see themselves as fat. And WLS surgery patients don't use food to give themselves a feeling of control, although many report feeling pride in mastering formerly out-of-control impulses to overeat. (Sorry, don't mean to lecture, but I'm a psychologist!)

My bubbles all wanted to come out as belches for the first 3 months; now it has calmed down quite a bit. I still get the growlies with certain foods and with my calcium citrate liquid. My dogs look at me funny, too.

Who is your surgeon? I had Dr. Aceves and he did a urinalysis, blood tests, an EKG, and a chest X-ray. If he had found something that made surgery unsafe for him to perform, I expect he would have sent me home to my PCP to see if it could be corrected, but I am only guessing; everything was fine. Why don't you ask them in order to put your mind at ease?

Sounds like ketosis to me, too. My tongue stayed ucky-looking for a while, a couple of weeks at least, and even now in the morning it's coated. Food rubs it off once you can have solids.

I am 4 months post op. I was on omeprazole for the first three months--stopped after my pills ran out, but began waking up in the middle of the night with acid reflux. Started back on omeprazole and no more problems. I'll try again to stop at six months; I might try the pill every other day schedule then (thanks Oregondaisy).

You work surrounded by correctional officers? Start there--find something you have in common, a sport, a band, a book--and invite them to a game or a concert or dinner. Even if it doesn't work out romantically, you might make a friend. I think you need to be a little outgoing, just not around the inmates.

I don't think there's a guaranteed way to avoid hair loss; I read somewhere that 30% keep all their hair and the other 70% experience varying amounts of loss. Mine is coming out a lot, but I don't care, I would rather be thin with thin hair than fat with thick hair. Besides, it grows back.

I also had an easy recovery but no energy; I think I took afternoon naps the first two weeks. After about week 4 my energy picked up as my calories went up. Fear not, you will continue to lose weight for months.

Liquids run right through you and can't cause a leak. It sounds as though you don't have much swelling and can drink easily--that's good as a problem to look out for is dehydration in the days after surgery. You are doing fine, keep it up!

More is better, but 100 with no leaks would lead me to believe the surgeon knows what he's doing. Think of the 100th time you did something--changed a diaper, the oil in the car, made a cake--you pretty much knew what you were doing and where the pitfalls were.

Where are you looking? I always had luck at work, or getting set up by friends, or at parties, or on vacation (I do adventure stuff like white-water rafting and scuba diving).

Hope you feel better soon--the haze goes away pretty quick. Sip, walk, burp, repeat!

I don't get hungry anymore either, but I don't get gas pains--I don't seem to have much gas anymore, whereas before surgery it was kind of embarassing. Anyway, I get cranky, headachy, or an empty, sort of hollow feeling when I am hungry. Early out my stomach would rumble when it was empty.

I have to try this--I am getting really tired of turkeyburgers or fish for breakfast!

You will do fine, I'm sure. They want to make sure you don't have unrealistic expectations of the surgery, that you have thought about the changes you will need to make in your eating habits, that you have some sort of support system in place if the going gets rough, and that you have valid reasons for wanting surgery. Don't worry!

Up until the anesthesiologist put the knockout drops in my IV, I told myself "If you change your mind, you can just leave and go home." Somehow that was very reassuring for me. Thankfully, I recovered very easily and have no regrets at all. Best of luck to you!

First post, and the story is a serious complication? Sorry, I think this was placed here to elicit the caring responses the members of this board provided. If I am wrong, I am very sorry and I hope your fiancee recovers uneventfully, but the people who have true complications here are usually members of our community, not first-time posters.