CrazyCatLady

I use the sugar-free lemon and peach in homemade green tea, then run it through the blender with ice for a frosty treat...mmmmm.

I finally got around to watching Star Jones' interview about her weight loss via gastric bypass and subsequent media feeding frenzy. And something she said really hit me: "I needed to forgive myself for being such a smart girl, and so stupid when it came to something like my health." BINGO. I am not an unintelligent person. I have academic degrees and awards, I have taught skills to others and been recognized for my aptitude. But for some reason, managing my weight always eluded me. Deep inside I felt (and still do) like a failure, because I had a good head on my shoulders, but couldn't seem to manage something as simple as the body I slogged around in. It felt like no matter how well I did in school, or work, or life...as soon as someone laid eyes on me, my qualifications were instantly invalidated by my fat flesh that screamed, "LAZY! UNEDUCATED! SLOTHFUL! GLUTTON!". It is still odd, because I am still physically FAT, but inside, I have already begun to change...even if only in small ways. But no one can see it but me. I still wear the same clothes, and occupy (mostly) the same space. I'm not sure how to bridge the gap between always appologizing for being below the status quo...and finally feeling that I am, truely, good enough.

Surgery was April 16th, down 50lbs...and still wearing the same clothes. Still. Though I've gone from a D cup to a B cup, which makes me cry. I've had lots of plateaus so far. For instance - lost zero lbs this week. Same for a couple weeks ago. And a couple weeks before that. I seem to plateau the week before my period, every time. It is annoying me! Lost most of my weight the first few weeks, but not much in June. Ugh.

Sorry in advance for graphic post. So, after 9 weeks of consistent/constant bright yellow, loose, cramping stools, I finally talked to a doctor. Because I've always been the "I can fix it myself!" or the "I'll just wait it out" type, I was hesitant to bother a professional and be told "nothing to worry about". But having painful, uncontrollable diarrhea multiple times a day has gotten to be an issue. I can't always dissapear into the restroom for 30 minutes at a shot while working. And the sharts (see other threads!) are getting worse, not better. When my intestines start with the sharp, stabbing pain, I begin to sweat, ache, and feel dizzy. I am constantly dehydrated because of the total liquid nature of the stools. So, after asking some questions and collecting a sample, GI doc sends me for a slow-contract GI series...and here's the fun part: I now have an answer for WHY. Apparently, my pyloric sphincter (the one at the bottom of the stomach, that is the "gateway" between the stomach and the duodenum) has become overactive, in that it opens and allows unprocessed, incorrectly-pH'd food to pass out of the stomach when it is approx 50% full (1.2oz!). Upon reaching my small intestine, it is immediately rejected because it has not been properly broken down and mixed with stomach secretions, causing it to be moved along at a rapid pace. The phrase "gastric dumping syndrome" was used many times by the physician - so there goes the myth that sleevers can't dump! In my case, that is exactly what is happening. The bad news is - physician has no idea how/why this is happening. No matter whether eating solid Proteins, drinking fluids, eating Beans, etc....everything seems subject to this effect. I am already waiting 45 minutes after drinking before eating, and 30 minutes after, which is making it even harder to get my fluids in. There were no recommendations to remedy this issue, other than to stretch my window of fluids to an hour each direction - but large quantities of fluids (over 6 oz per 30 minutes) makes my intestines react as well. Does anyone have any experience with this? It's gotten so bad that I consumed NOTHING for the 8 hours I was at work today, because I was not at liberty to leave the floor for any reason, save for my 30 minute lunch, and I couldn't chance consuming something and having a bad reaction. Any advice or experience is welcome. Nine weeks out from surgery and still having things crop up. Man, bummer.

Sorry gals, already beat you on that one. Had issues right out of surgery, so they told me to pull lactose...then whey, then casien. So no dairy, haven't had it in weeks. They the thought was to pull gluten, so that's gone. Now even soy. I subsist on....solid animal Protein, and a few select veggies and fruits. That's it. It's a miserable existence. But the issue is, that EVERYTHING causes this. Water. Iced tea. Poached chicken breast with no seasonings of any type. I should note, that I was advised to add in some ocassional good fats (1/4 of an avocado...which seems to be the only thing that doesn't cause the terrible diarrhea, 1 tbs of ground flax seed, 1tbsp of olive oil), as my fat-soluable Vitamin ranges were getting into the malnutrition level.) I did ask the doc if there were any modifications in diet or otherwise that could positively effect this issue, and he said no - he felt that the nerve that innervates the sphincter had possibly been damaged in surgery, which is causing the hyperactivity. I'm not sure what else I can subtract from my diet at this point. I have deviated and eaten other things a few times, with disasterous results....went through 4 pairs of pants one day. Humiliating.

I made a HUGE pot of chili with Beans and ground chicken, lean turkey ham, etc....and pureed that up. At it a lot, high in Protein and vitamins/minerals. Refried beans of various types are always popular. Lentil Soup, gently pulsed in the blender works as well. Others, of course, would be things like greek yogurt, tofu (search for Savory Scrambled Tofu!), baked potato mashed up with lite sour cream.... Some docs list low-salt, no-additive deli meat as a soft food. I was quite fond of mesquite turkey breast lunch meat, very well chewed. Sat great. All of these things, of course, depend on what your NUT and MD recommend. I have a much more liberal carb allowance than most, so it broadened my horizons. Good luck!

Been gone for a bit. Had to take a break from online and try to live a little. I'm still on the Coumadin for my portal vein clot, but it's become very difficult to stay thinned-out enough since I started eating more solid foods. Went in for my checkup today and had an INR of 1.1...which is BAD, as my target is 2.5 - 3.5. Also, have been feeling "off" the last few days, keep losing my voice...I have atypical bacterial pneumonia. I was sent home with a doubled dose of Coumadin, and some antibiotics for the pneumonia. While I no longer feel in the 'pit of despair' as I used to, it feels like the last two months have just been one thing after another. Is it selfish to say that I want a break? I still wish things could go back to how they were. My weight loss is at a crawl, as my stomach has decided it doesn't want to tolerate much in the way of any type of protein now. I can eat some tofu once or twice a day, and a couple bites of chicken, and that's it. I'm chronically constipated, and milk of mag makes me slime badly. I'm not as frustrated as I was a month ago, but am still feeling unbalanced. Just a small break, that's all I need.

Wow, I disappear for a few days and come back to ....pyramids and icebergs!! Carry on, folks :wub:

You beat me to it! Yes, my husband (who is post-op RNY) is HUGE into spicy foods. It wants food so hot that it makes his brow sweat and his bunghole tingle....and eats pretty much any spicy food he wants, with restriction only to carbs, as the sweet stuff really messes with him. Chances are, EVENTUALLY you will be able to have those spicy goodies again, but it won't be on your time table...it'll be on your sleeve's timetable. Patience, young padawan!!

I second that. Was talking to a dietician friend of mine, and she keeps bringing up drinking milk as a good way of protein/fluid replacement. I'm so sad to have to exclude dairy from my life - if I would have known I was going to be one of the unlucky ones, I would have spent my last weeks before surgery freebasing the stuff!

Sausage wallet....sounds like something that probably wouldn't make it through secondary TSA screening at the airport. Just sayin

It's more of a - no outside liquids issue (currently working contract in a prison. Thanks anyways.

Wormholes?? I'm more of a Stargate gal myself, so I assumed it has something to do with the space-time continuum, and possibly the Goa'uld. Just sayin. Seriously though, I had that same issue myself the last two weeks. Stalled out, and miraculously dropped a pant size, despite dropping no weight. WTF. Best not to question it, just go with the flow Congrats on your continued success!

You may have lost your period....cause apparently, I found it! I started my period 3 days after surgery, and it went for almost 2 weeks. So I figured this month, I'd get a break....wrong! Another 13 day period. Sigh. Ain't it grand to be a woman? lol

Another thought - depending on how your hormones are influencing where you lose weight, you may not lose sizes for a bit and then BAM, skip over a size or two. Remember, fat stores estrogen, and as that fat is released, so is the stored estrogen. Sometimes, it sucks to be a woman >.<

Let me correct myself - the powdered Lean Shakes. I can't do RTD due to the nature of my work. Wish I could >.<

I am so bummed - saw this post this AM and beat feet to my nearest GNC....only to find out that the Lean Shake is NOT lactose free. As I am totally and painfully lactose intolerant, I am sad - I have been looking for a good no-lactose shake without luck. Maybe next time.

My husband had his RNY about 3 years ago. We had dated in the past, then separated, and he had his surgery during the intervening years while we weren't in much contact. When we hooked back up, I almost made a comment along the lines of "OH DEAR GOD, who's junk did you cut off and get surgically attached to you!!", because things had evolved from...um...a biscuit to a loaf of french bread! I admit, I was giddy with glee! Heh heh heheeeeee...ahem. As a reference, he lost around 250lbs As far as OPs original topic - even with only my 40lbs post-op weight loss, certain sensations seem to translate easier now. Losing some fluff off the inner thighs (since that's where the majority of my loss has been) has certainly afforded for a bit more flexibility for play time :ph34r: Ask me again in another 80lbs

So, it appears that my body was just waiting for some unknown signal from my ovaries that yes, my period was DONE and I was allowed to commence losing weight again. Phew. Though, it was really bizarre to step on the scale and see a "5" in the second digit. The 250s are a historically hot-button weight for me. I always seem to hinge stuff on the 250 mark... "I'll buy a swimsuit when I hit 250" "I'll go to the gym when I hit 250 - when I'm heavier, my knees hurt too bad and I can't exercise" .....ad nauseum So today, I bought a swimsuit. Yes, it's a fluffy lady suit with a skirt...cause that's what I could find, dammit! But it's not bad looking, and it's a size 20, instead of the 26 I had to buy last time (and that made my boobs sag to where they were nearly parallel with my waistline, I kid you not). Cause eventually, I have to stop being a number and start being a person, even if ignorant teenagers still "mooooo" at me ocassionally. It's all good.

You may also try posting this on the Self Pay/Mexico forum, lots of Dr Garcia patients there that may be able to share some insight

There's quite a discrepancy between docs, so you always have to go with with what your Surg/NUT advises. That being said....man, I wish I COULD hit 600 cals! I got to 480 last thursday, and felt like a champ, lol.

I admit, I've been using sports bras...because at the end of a 12 hour shift of lifting people, I couldn't deal with underwires anymore. And much like others, I'm having the "dissapearing band" problem. I'll look into the Genie bra, though...thanks!