momof4

Removal of my gall bladeer was a horrible Experience not experiment! Haha

Hi, it'll be 10 months for me this week. I've lost two pounds this past month and only 40 overall to date. I'm hardly a success story! Haha My 9 month check up was me at 200.1 and my doctor was so surprised I hadn't been easily under 200 yet. So they of course were thinking--- well she's not going on our success wall-haha The way I look at it is that I've still lost 40lbs this year and nothing else I was trying would have done that for me. I hope another -40 will be in my future and if it takes another year, well so be it! At least there is a possibility it'll happen more than ever before. I have had a lot of issues in my way, horrible acid reflux, gallstone attack that damaged my pancreas and then resulted in removal of my gallstone. (omg pay attention to pains and get checked ASAP as it was the worst experiment of my life and 8 days in hospital)! And I broke an elbow in a fall and I'm just simply tired all the dang time, so it's been a rough year but every month I think it's better so I'm guessing I'm a slow healer as well as loser;) Take it easy an just work at what u know you need and you'll reap the rewards!

Gallstones! Please please pay attention to the warning signs!!! Wow what a week. I've been in the hospital since last Sunday, no food or Water since then either. I had some pain here an there the past two months that once I was told by my surgeon was prob food poising and the next time they said it was prob That i ate too much too fast and that I also had alcohol (it was 1&1/2weak drinks). I've been spitting up lots of acid with stomach pain after meals which was reduced to being acid reflux. Then last weekend it hit me and HARD!!! I called my dr who made an apt for me the next day saying it was probably gallstones and that since surgery in feb ive made it far because its common to have them develop even with a sleeve. Then the nurse said that if it didn't pass in an hour to go to the ER. Well In about five minutes After talking i was on the floor crying and my gut felt like muscle spasms, Charlie horse and stabbing all together. I doubled over and was spitting up (all I had was coffee that morning so far and it was still hot coming out) I started sweating like someone poured water on me and I could barely walk. My husband rushed home from work and could barely get me to move Let alone stand, so I was taken to the ER. They wheeled me in from the car cause I was puking (dry heaves of course) the whole way and as we pulled up. I don't even remember the first hour as it was a blur and hazy experience due to the agony. The staff got me in right away and they figured it was stones but gave me pain meds to calm me down and took a CT scan and MRI. Not only was it gallstones but one, the size of a quarter, had lodged in my duct (opening size of a pea) where the pancreas connects and my pancreas was bleeding and my liver Enflamed. My hemoglobin was incredibly low and I was majorly dehydrated. So after 11 hrs in the ER hallway bed, they finally had a room for me. The 3 hr dose pain killers would wear off in about 45 minutes at most the Pain was unbearable, so they scheduled an emergency surgery. But the surgeon was very afraid of my levels --- normal enzyme levels should be 45-50 and mine were incalculable as the scale only read up to 1,0000! So they had to postpone it until my pancreas could calm down.Each day a new issue with the pancreas or liver came. And each day a new pain killer was introduced as none were working. All making me puke, but again it was dry heaves acid and with each gag it pulled on my insides and caused more tears and swelling. So last night day 7, still no food or water the entire time, I had the surgery to remove the gall bladder. My blood count was so low they had blood ready and warned me I could go into cardiac arrest because the enzymes that normally eat bile were now eating me. But that they couldn't wait longer as the blocked stone passed and this was their chance before another one came up. The doctors said everyday since I haven't had a BM they were afraid I'd get what's called dead bowel. That's where there is bile in your intestine and when you're put to sleep your intestines freeze and that area doesn't react when u wake and they have to cut out the section with bile and reroute that part of the intestine. But an enema was too dangerous for me now. I hadn't eaten so couldn't see how to push the bile they knew was there so of course this added to my stress and tears. The meds gave me such bad acid reflux that I had horrible chest pains that felt like I was having heart attacks and I was burping and gagging like after the sleeve recovery. My surgeon ended up with complications with another surgery and was late for me after I was already in surgery room I was told to try to walk around to calm down and get the gas outta me. So I cried and cried and somehow I decided to spend that time on the toilet and 20min into that i ended up having a BM it was amazing how that happened? The dr said that saved me from so many complications! Surgery was about 45 min and today my color is back in my face and i feel like half way normal and even hungry! I've walked around to expel the gas and had Jello & ice tonight (24hrs after surgery and 8days after last meal). No I don't look like I've lost weight hahaha... In so bloated from all the different meds and fluids that I look like a white Madea! Haha Today the dr said if I can go rest of day without the IV pain meds I can go home tomorrow instead of weening me slowly over 3 days. They're very bad to be on more than a week! And I gotta be able to be off them to go home anyway. I was totally fine taking liquid meds and have all day so tomorrow I'll go home. This was an unreal nightmare and I pray someone, anyone, who thinks they may have pain that's been blown off, goes in and gets the abdominal ct scan! It may save you from agony or even just save your life!!!!

Kim- no I was not on actigall.

Had surgery feb 2012, the past few months I've experienced wicked stomach spasm cramping on average once a week. Sometimes after I've eaten and sometimes before I've eaten early in the morning. My dr has no advice for me! Just says lay down and use a eating pad, which works great but I'm not always some place I can lay down with a heating pad. Most of the time it starts out as bad spasm cramping and I'll puke (always acid type liquid) just a little like spitting up some Water and it'll subside a little but still lasts an hour or so, & Sometimes it has me doubled over and I can't walk or do anything! I'm at a Loss here and just don't know how to prevent this or of its common for anyone else?;(

Katie- u were right! My pain got so much worse and I didn't want to wait to see my dr in two days so I went to the ER! It's pancritis (sp?) and my gall bladder is England with stones so they're doing emergancy surgery. I've been in the ER since 2 and am waiting for a room and the surgeon now! Scary for me and sad to have messed up our holiday plans and important other stuff! Guess it never good timing to be in the hospital huh!? I'm told 75% of sleevers end up having their gall bladder out

Thanks! I'm gonna make an apt with my general dr. Since my surgeon has no concern.

Nobody has tested me for that, but my nurse said she doubted that when I asked because I don't have any other symptoms other than the pain and moderate throwing up. They say I'd likely have diarrhea and pain Wouk travel up to side and back and even shoulder area and none of that is an issue. ;(

Well 7 months has only resulted in a --40lb loss:( I know that everyone is different but I feel like if I can just get my energy back maybe the exercise can be stepped up? I have been yo-yo'ing between 210-202 for over two an a half months now! Talk about frustration? I'm hungry all the time, which makes this even harder! I eat and drink my Proteins and love Water so that's no prob, but I eat too much too often I'm sure because I'm just not losing. The exercise is hard because I'm winded so easily & I'm just so dang tired! I have no energy and don't sleep much. Have had issues with sleep ever since starting this weight loss journey in February. Ughhhhhhhhh I'm not sorry, just frustrated!!!;(

Thanks everyone! This is all great information! I've got a lot to consider here and as always, appreciate the support form those that know and understand :-)

I'm 7 months out and know I eat too much!! It's def more than 3-4oz for sure! I eat often and am not losing much weight at all. Nothing past two and a half months so I feel ya when u think you're eating too much! Probably are!;(

Seems the more I workout- the hungrier I am? And the more I eat I've only lost -34# in 5.5 months. Not much to anyone's standards on this site;( I'm still having issues with acu reflux, which sucks as everything I eat causes pain and I'm tilt addicted to having gasx after every meal;( I don't sleep much as my hunger pains usually hit at and during the night. Now... With that said; I of course feel better having lost weight and I do believe I will eventually lose more. Will I lose my goal of -80#? I seriously doubt that. My dr says if I lose -50# total he'd be happy and surprised if I lost more than that? Uhhhh not at all what I expected going into this. But I guess after that point it'll be Jenny Craig or weight watchers again, not that they worked out for me before but this time I may stick with them since I Wont be so hungry all the time like I was before? Idk... I'm trying to stay positive and just try to keep telling myself if I stick with a meal program then maybe in a few years I'll be where I want to be? Just seems I went about it wrong, but in the end I feel I'd do it again as it gave me more power over eating and less capability to eat too much. I do miss my capt and diet tho;(

Great feedback! Thanks! It makes me feel so much better. Good luck to all

Thanks all. I guess there are others stuck losing slow too? Sorry for u, but good for me to hear. I started at 240, and my dr said my bmi was 36, I have no idea how that calculates so I take his word;-) right now he says it's at 31.5, so it's gone down. I really thought since being told my healthy eight was 160 that I would make that number my goal, but now my dr says if I get to 180 I'm lucky and at 190 he'd be satisfied! I WON'T! Uhhhh didn't do all this for that number-haha So I will work at it and it may just be year two not one in which I'll meet my goals? I think it's possible!

I am 19 weeks today and only at a loss of 32#. My dr was disappointed, saying I should be double that? Wow really? I'm just tired all the time and still have bad nausea with Vitamins to the point I usually puke them up. So aside of the monthly b12 shot I get, I'm guessing the vitamins issue is contributing to my lack of energy? I take two daily RX for the acid reflux and chew tums a lot, and still nothing I eat is satisfying due to the acid indigestion. I'm just not progressing as I'm told I should be and it's frustrating and discouraging. I know eventually I will keep losing because I'm not eating half what I used to but who knows when it'll be enough to see and feel a real Difference.

Well today marks week 7! Total loss since surgery is 14lbs. yes it's a loss but not one that anyone says they've noticed. I've gotten a few comments that my face looks thinner but nobody has noticed and my clothes aren't lose just a little more comfy. I'm not sad or anything cause it'll be a slow process for me because I know it's still a process in the right direction. I really expected a lot more by now, with eating well and so little but I'm also not working out at the gym yet (just at home with walking dogs and treadmill and some wii fitness), so I hope that today now that my dr gave me the ok to workout, will start some real movement in my weight loss since I'm ready to really workout more!!! I'm so happy for those I know that have lost a ton of weight, it's encouraging! And I hope at some point I can encourage someone too! Good luck to all and stay positive and hopeful if you are also a slow loser.... It's just different for us all and eventually we and everyone else will notice the changes and before you know it we will be close to or at our goal weight! Hang in there and keep in touch!

Wheetsin: great explanation! Thanks for the useful info:-)

To sleeved--- I didn't know anything about the connection of bmi to weight loss? Mine was 35 at time of surgery. Idk if it's changed but you've given me something to look up now! Thanks

Doc-- go into profile settings an u can change your starting weight. U can also adjust your calories and protein and fats. I have specific ones my dr wants me to meet so I adjusted it to trailer me. That has to be done from the actual website tho not thr mobile app but the starting weight can be adjust under your profile settings

My, I do agree thy in time it will slowly work in my favor. With such little calories it has to!!!:-) It's hard to not wonder if I made a mistake as this is less success than Jenny Craig But then it hits me I gained double that back by over indulging when I couldn't stand depriving myself. At least it hurts to do so which throws the stop switch that says "whoa slow down and don't eat or drink that cause it's not good for you and will actually hurt u" I mean that's a in time habit and will pass in time. Patience is my new friend.. We don't get along well but I'm learning to live with it;-)

Omg I'm so right there with you!!!! To me I feel like I'm on another weight loss diet that I'm gonna fail. I've worked so hard and see less results than I did before the surgery. Now I'm told these results will last longer but they still require lots of hard work. I'm 4.5 weeks PO and week 2.5 to week four I lost nothing but actually GAINED 2lbs. This week I lost three so am now at a one pouf loss for over three weeks time!!! How's that supposed to feel other than depressing!!! ????

Whoaaaa did I write this? I've experienced the EXACT same thing!!!!

My heartburn and acid reflux started after my 3rd week. It's with anything I eat or drink. I have a once a day Pepcid rx but obviously it doesn't work well enough. My dr said this will pass in about a month and it's been two and a half weeks so far & I hope he's right!!!! Bleeeehhhhh

What a great feeling to have so many sharing and caring stories! YES IT DOES HELP!!!! thank you all and I hope everyone has great success on their journeys too!!! Now let's all go out and celebrate with a cracker and some water!!!!:-))))

Thanks for the understanding and support Dooter! My NUT thinks if I get in 400 cal a day that's a lot and will be very hard to get more than that. Then My dr comes in and says 700 is more likely what i will end up at here soon but not to think this early I can reach that. I told him I've been reaching 600-700 for two weeks so obviously I'm eating too much. He says no i still hluld not be gaining!!! Then says he didnt believe I could get that much in so soon, until I showed him my fitness pal app, so then says even with that based in what I tracked down as my food choices I'm eating stuff he totally approves so although he doubts I am finishing everything I listed (which I am), I still should be losing weight. Lastly the NUT comes back in and says although the first 2 months is where I will lose fast, I obviously am an exception to the rule and she will not worry until 6 month mark. Oh is that supposed to make me feel better? Hahah Hey bottom line, I do know eventually if I keep my calories and exercise and Water where I'm being advised to then eventually I will lose. So patience (not my strength) is all I got now..... In due time..... (sigh)