bewitched

I have lost 150 pounds. My highest weight was 370 in November 2008. As of yesterday, I weigh 220 pounds. My surgery was August 20, 2009. I weighed 343. Since surgery, I have lost 123 pounds. I'm proud of myself! Just thought I'd share the great news. I still want to lose more and my surgeon believes I can make my goal of weighing 150 lbs.

Thanks everyone. I feel a lot better. Able to do more things for sure. Best of luck to all of you.

I had it done to confirm I could swallow following surgery. I just drank some Water while the tube was in my throat. I have a neuromuscular disease so they had to be sure my muscles would work properly. It didn't hurt, a little uncomfortable. It took less than 30 minutes.

Did your PCP test your magnesium? When mine is low, I have low blood pressure: 100/60 Samantha

Because of myasthenia gravis I'm not allowed to exercise. I have lost 94 pounds in the six months since my surgery. Samantha

I've had wheat and milk sensitivities for years. It wasn't until after the sleeve that we (my doc and I) realized that I have celiac. I had chronic diarrhea and abdominal pain since surgery. It was the gluten in my food. I've stopped eating all gluten and my other intolerances and I have improved greatly. My surgery was August 20, 2009. I've lost 90 pounds since then and 110 since the start of the process.

I had the same experience. My magnesium was below normal.

Anyone else having abdominal pain 20 minutes after eating? It doesn't matter what I eat, I get a pain in my low abdomen near my bladder. I don't have an bladder infection. Most of the time there is nausea. It's so bad that I stop eating. I have a colonoscopy scheduled for January 11. It couldn't be done before that because I was on blood thinners from the blood clot I had in September. Thanks for any replies.

I don't have gall stones. The pain is in my low abdomen above my pelvic bone. My prep for the colonoscopy was 5 oz of Pico Salix at 3 pm and 7 pm the day before. It went fine.

I have Myasthenia Gravis, not MS. It is an autoimmune disease that attacks the muscle receptors. And I have a sleeve. My neurologist was very supportive and has been with me every step of the way providing information and support. My surgery was a team effort by the VSG surgeon, my neuro and my PCP.

I had my colonoscopy yesterday. Everything was normal. We are now checking for celiac. I'll keep you updated.

Hey Tiffykins, You deserve the credit. I've lost 97 and I almost 5 months out.

Boredoncemore, that's how I feel. It's definitely my intestines. I'm ok with liquids but solids give me pain no matter how much I eat. I will keep you up to date with what my doctor's find out.

Thanks DeeDee. I called my surgeon and he doesn't think it is VSG related. Some days are better than others. I just keep pushing through.

I already have a bracelet for other medical conditions. I will add it to the list with MedicAlert. But to be honest, I've been in the hospital many times over the years and only one nurse has ever looked at my bracelet.

Hello Everyone, I'm eight weeks out on Thursday and thought I'd share my story. I felt great, other than the usual post-op pain, for the first two weeks. Then on September 2 it started: diarrhea, dehydration, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, low electrolytes. I received IV and potassium. I felt horrible: tired, weak, lifeless. Doctors said it was normal after surgery. One week later, my arm started to pain where they had put the PICC line. I had an ultrasound and they found blood clots in my arm. So onto Coumodin and more shots in the abdomen. One week later, they find a bladder infection. Onto Macrobid again. I was on it for three weeks before my surgery on August 20. All this time, I'm still having all the previous symptoms. Diarrhea within 20 minutes of eating anything, even Protein shakes. One week after that, this past Wednesday, I feel numb from the abdomen to my knees. The ER doctor takes me off the Macrobid. It can cause numbness. On Thursday, I see my PCP about the contant diarrhea. He says I have pseudomembranous colitis. It's inflammation of the small and large intestines caused by a bacteria over population. Here's the perfect storm part. I had all the risk factors. No wonder I got it. Risk factors for it are: antibiotic use surgery proton pump inhibitors drug use opoid drug use (pain killers) immuno suppressant therapy Symptoms of pseudomembranous colitis include: Diarrhea Abdominal cramps and pain Fever, which may be higher than 101 F (38.3 C) Urge to have a bowel movement (fecal urgency) Pus or mucus in your stool Nausea Dehydration Malaise I'm getting treatment now and feel better. Just thought I'd give a heads up. If you have these symptoms, don't assume that it's a normal part of healing. I knew something wasn't right. We know our bodies better than anyone else. Listen to it.

Have you checked out Sun Warrior Protein? It is rice protein with stevia. It's website says that it is manufactured in an allergy-free facility. Here's the link: www.sunwarrior.com

WLS has really made my wheat and milk intolerances more pronounced and painful. I'm finding it hard dealing with the emotions. It's like greiving. Will I ever stop?