dexter

I had my sleeve 8 years ago and have been battling severe GERD for two years and serious weight gain since my hysterectomy just last December. Now, I am miserable and weak. 10-20 tums a day, unable to properly take my medications because I throw them up. Cannot eat because I throw it all up too. Just ordered some syntax iced tea and protein soups. I’m taking 80mg protonix daily and wake up choking on my bile bile at night. My PCP dismissed me. Saw her PA and at no time did she even look down my throat. Got a referral to a GI and they called to have a consult in a month! A consult! Only! Called my old bariatric surgeon and he’s not in my insurance network and I can’t afford him. Called one in town and have an appointment on the 9th. But if it requires a revision, I don’t know if it’s covered on my insurance. I’m losing hope. I feel like everyone else has since I’ve been dismissed at every turn. My brain is fuzzy, my eyes are sunken. Work is hard. I pretend I’m fine and eat at company meetings then go quietly to the bathroom to throw everything up. I’m miserable. I need an answer but no medical professionals seem to be in a hurry.

Those who’ve had revisions- how did you get your doctor to do something? How did you convey the urgency without sounding like a hypochondriac? It’s gotten so very bad and I’ve been begging someone to listen for two months now. I can’t keep going like this.

Oh my! I started doing kettle bells and am doing them 4 days a week with recovery workouts in between. I use either a 15 or 20lb KB depending on the move. In two weeks, I've suddenly gone up 4 lbs. NO CHANGE in my diet. In my 'pms' week and usually experience maybe a 1-2lb gain but it is quickly lost. But 4lbs?? Ugh. Have had a stressful week (2 elderly dogs had to be euthanized yesterday. Been preparing for a week).. No inches gained or lost. Any thoughts?? Think it's temporary? Just in that flux between building muscle and losing extra fat? Btw, I am 10 months out, down to 176 (was 172) from 285.

Thank you all so much for your responses. Not stressing it so much now.

I went and bought a water bottle specifically for my workouts. I fill it with water and a little crystal light peach Bellini and take around with me during my workout. Sip between sets and every few minutes of cardio. Sip, sip, sip!

And the number of true friends I have is ZERO! I have moved people (last one was 4 freaking days after my surgery - had to enlist help of my kids), helped others through problems, taken them out to chase away blues, given rides, etc. I asked one thing of my 'friends'. That during my recovery to just save me and take me out for tea to help stave off getting depressed or stir crazy. And do you know how many have called to see if I want to get out? Yep. Zero. I'm forgotten. At least it feels that way. Kids in school, hubby at work. My car tire has a slow leak that hubby keeps forgetting about so I can't get to gym. No support groups nearby. No meetup groups (unless I want to go to the Ron Paul group or anarchists group). Just me. I'm just done doing anything for people. Next time someone asks for my help, I just may be too busy for them.

IM taking this opportunity to change my form of birth control to something with no hormones. Also, with the conflicting info about effectiveness of the pill, I would be paranoid every month. Heck! I'd be paranoid everytime I had sex (and that is NOT a mood enhancer). I'm 40 and done having kids. Don't want a bonus baby 15 years after my last kid. I've been married 17 years and we find condoms just annoying, BTW So, I've been researching the main two options. One is Essure that inserts little stints in the fallopian tubes and causes them to seal themselves off so you have permanent sterilization without surgery. The other is Paraguard, the hormone free IUD. Anyone use either other these? What are your thoughts?

I'm three weeks out. Used to be on birth control pills but not for a little over a month (my birth control is a little more permanent and non hormonal now BUT I do have birth control AND back up). Should be having a period but it has been the saddest little excuse of a period ever. I've been exercising as much as I can (congenital hip dysplasia gives me fits some days) but there aren't enough minutes to burn off my crazy rage. I know I'm dumping hormones and PMSing. I'm also in massive withdrawal. Times like this, I would eat. Fatty rich foods would put me in a neutral haze. But now, nope. Was desperate and tried a chocolate Protein shake just to see if it would help. Ha! I live with my hubby and our two teenaged sons. I'm the only estrogen in the house. They fear for their lives. Their heads may literally be bitten off one of these days. And now they know not to bother me when I'm cooking their dinner. I get really hostile then. I'm sure if I could just crouch over the table and snarl and growl I would. Besides exercise, how do you stave off the inner homicidal maniac?! The testosterone in my house thanks you in advance.

This is serious. And no one answered. Not a single person. If I asked if I could get drink yet or that I have rectal bleeding and is that normal, everyone jumps on it. This is a serious thing. Yes, I tried to be sarcastic about it but the feelings are the same. Glad you all have been there for me on this. Support group for only certain topics and certain people. Don't bother responding. I'm deleting the app. After waiting nearly a month to check responses only to find NONE, I've come to realize this is not a forum for me. Goodbye.

I'm 3 weeks out and asked my nut why I wasn't feeling restriction. She said it would come with a vengeance when I started solids. She was right. I'm on soft meats (flaky fish & the sort) and can get about 1 1/2 oz in. Then I do a nice hiccup too. Then I say "and that's the sign the tank is full". Stupid & corny but oh well

My nut had me do low carb protein snacks and 2 little meals a day but the scale didn't budge. I had to lose 15 before I was given a surgery date. With her blessing, I went insanely strict. 3 protein shakes during the day and 1 teeny dinner of mainly the protein and a little veg. And enough water to float a car. I was able to lose my remaining weight in a month (13 lbs). I even cheated a few times. The tough part was I had to keep it off until surgery date. I ate the same but made sure I was below that target weight and made sure I splurged 1 last time. It will happen. Try to relax. Stress isn't good for weight loss.

I knew some people I knew would think I cheated. So, I went to Facebook. Yep, I was super sleever! I posted my intentions, that I didn't want to hear terrifying stories about someone's cousin's best friend's little sister's piano teacher died a horrid death because of it. I asked for their support. I explained how it felt to wake up fat everyday. How it felt to fail every diet known to man. Then I posted every dr. Appt, every test and even my diet during pre-op. I figured if they are gonna judge, they can judge me on everything. And maybe, just maybe, someone would learn something new along the way. So far, I've only had positive responses, no one has unfriended me and a few other distant friends came out of the cupboard to say they had WLS as well.

Maybe hidden insecurity that is expressed by lashing out? My husband and I have had tough times but he's remained supportive. But, in the hospital, he asked me something late that first night. It was hard for him to say. He just quietly asked "when you lose the weight, will you leave me?" Of course not! But this was a real issue on his heart. Maybe an issue similar to this is going on? Maybe he needs some reassurance you aren't going anywhere.

I'm two week out and started to really get serious about exercise. I know that the days of perky parts are long gone. But I'll be darned if I'm gonna let myself get that ball-in-a-sock look up top. Right now, I'm starting extremely low weight workouts to help the chest & side boob area. I never thought about the hoo-ha! Ha! I was just looking forward to the day I can see that part again without using the mirror. Not sure of an exercise to help sagging there.

Okay, looked at it again. The wife beater & grandpa boxers are not flattering. I'm still stumped with the teeny head, girl hands and feet. It's like they tried to make this offensive! It still boggles my mind. I'm not offended by it- just really confused. Hoping that's not how the rest of the world sees me! Blech.

Is that supposed to be a male or female? Does it have to have such lack of shape? We're not blobs you know. And why is its head so freaking small?!! I prefer the look of the Lane Bryant mannequins over these, but that's me. Mannequins are supposed to be fashionable no matter the size imho. That one is... well, I can't quite put my finger on it.

But whatever you do- DO NOT take alka-seltzer this way!! No matter how bad you think it tastes!

I was just at my gynecologist's office for and unrelated reason. I did mention that I can't have big horse pills anymore. Then he said "you can still take pills. Just put them in your vagina." I hope your eyes were as wide as mine were! So, there you go. Got a big pill to take? Stick it in your vagina. (I wish I could make this stuff up!)

Please read. If you don't subscribe to them on Facebook, you may have missed this. Please keep our bubbly little NUT Steph in your thoughts and prayers. Last night, she and her fiancé were in a bad car accident on the Turner Tpk. He has a concussion and bruises, but Steph is in ICU in critical but stable condition.

Steph update from WeightWise is that she is awake & tube free. Asking questions too. She has several broken bones, a collapsed lung and other internal injuries. Please continue to pray and keep her in your thoughts.

He's got excellent credentials. I'm not saying I'm going to run to the medicine cabinet to try this- but, it would get absorbed into the blood stream there. That's how the nuva ring works. I used to work with drug addicts and some took their drugs through their bum. Suppositories work in the same way. The vagina is just a different entrance point I guess. The mechanics of it makes sense in a way.

I'm in Tulsa as well. I like my selection of MIOs right now. I also am drinking watered down powerade zero (lime) for the electrolytes. Protein drink is syntax nectar strawberry mousse made with almond milk.

When the time comes, you'll be ready to get this done! Tell them you've never been put out before. They'll help you through it. I was sleeved almost 2 weeks ago. They wheeled me in and had me move to the operating table. I asked why ORs are so cold. (Go ahead and make small talk- it keeps your mind off things) while I was asking the nurse a few questions, the anesthesiologist was hooking me up (he sat behind me- they usually do). Next thing I knew - I was done. And even now, I don't remember that part much. I could swear I dreamt while out but they say you don't. Maybe it was a weird little hallucination on my part while waking up. You'll do great. The anesthesiologist is your best friend. They do this all the time. You'll meet yours before surgery. Go ahead and tell yours that this is your first time out too.

My surgeon required it. For one, we are required to lose 5% of our body weight before we even get a date. And then we need to keep it off or the surgery gets cancelled. I also think its so the anesthesiologist has a very accurate weight to measure his drugs properly for you.

Try to drink some powerade zero to help keep your electrolytes in check. If its too strong straight, go ahead and water it down. We've made it without food before- just try to get your 64oz of fluid down to keep hydrated. What about good old fashioned chicken broth? Our version of chicken soup maybe?? I hope it passes quickly.