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Hi all. I take 300 mg of lamotrigine/Lamictal every day as a mood stabilizer. It has literally changed my life. I was reading today that lamotrigine is one of the "do not use" post-surgery. I will of course call my doctor and find out what he says, but I also thought I would check on here. Have others used Lamictal/lamotrigine post-surgery and had problems? Or had no problems? I am (obviously) very worried about this given the success I've had with the medication - I can't imagine life without it.... Input is most appreciated. Thanks!

Hello! I have had gastric sleeve surgery (2013) and brain surgery to remove a meningioma (8 weeks ago). At the time of bariatric surgery, I was taking lamictal for bipolar. I’m now taking it post-brain surgery for seizures. In other words, I had the same surgeries in the opposite order! You might ask your doctor or pharmacist about getting a short-term script for lamictal that dissolves on your tongue. That’s what my doc gave me back in 2013. I was glad for it because I find lamictal pills to be hard to swallow even on my best days. Good luck! If you did brain surgery, bariatric surgery will be a piece of cake (pun intended)!

Please help me to get back on track I am absolutely horrified with what I have done to myself. I had surgery a little over a year ago and now I am gaining weight. It is all because of my poor choices. I know that this surgery was a tool and I have not used it properly. I am worried sick that I have stretched my sleeve (and or stretched the stoma). At this point, i can't do anything about that. But I refuse to just admit failure and give up my dream of being healthy. I spent way too much money and went through way too much hell to fail at this. Which leads me to my question: If you were in my position (basically ground zero), what steps would you take to get back on track? Go back in to pre-surgery mode and just do liquids for a couple of weeks? Come up with a very simple, no choices menu that I eat for a few weeks to just get me back on track. Any practical advice would be most appreciated.

I just wanted to chime in and say that I'm grateful you posted. I am feeling such shame - embarrassed about how my old habits are right back and it's like I never had surgery at all. I'm reading the responses and looking forward to hearing some good stuff as well. Thanks!

I don't do any Protein shakes - they gross me out. I routinely get my protein in with some combination of the following high protein choices (heavy on dairy, I know, but it is "mushy"). I've been successful with this combination since about 4 weeks out. GOOD LUCK! lowfat cottage cheese lowfat string cheese or babybell cheese chili (I have a sleeve of steel and was able to eat this at about 3 weeks out) greek yogurt (this is a life saver - 12 g of protein for 80 cal!) GNC has a protein power pudding that I find very tasty. 30 easy grams of protein Starbucks decaf grande skinny vanilla latte Protein pancakes (I make pumpkin ones and they are wonderful with 11 g of protein each) Deli turkey with lowfat swiss cheese as "bread"

My advice: DON'T TRY THEM! (I know that's totally unrealistic). My NUT said I could start introducing breads/carbs into my diet at 5-6 weeks and so, being the food addict I am, I ran out and tried eating a piece of toast. Slid down with no problem at all. Wanted more. Very scary experience. I have to treat sugar and bread like crack cocaine. I can't be trust to have "just a little." I know that this isn't everyone's experience....

Great thread. Great reminder that I should SLOW down. I very, very rarely feel full. Esp if I'm not eating protein. It always scares me. (I'm 6 wks out). Best of luck to all!

I understand the depression and the food issues. I struggle with both too. Unfortunately, I have not found an easy answer to this. I did want you to know that you are not alone. Also, chiming in with Healthier2Day. Don't give up on finding the right meds. I'm also bipolar and it took a long time to find the right combination for me. I'm on more meds than I'd like to be, but I have also learned the hard way that I will likely always need meds; today, I am ok with that. Sending love your way!

Great question - I wonder the same thing every day. I'm 6 weeks out and have had that "I'm overly full" feeling only a couple of times and that was after mini-binges on slider foods. I also worry that I'm stretching my stomach. I measure when I am at home, but I'm on the road quite a bit and I have to "eyeball." It's frustrating to me because I hoped I would start being able to just trust my body to tell me full/hungry. Again, only 6 weeks out, but that hasn't happened for me (yet). I do know that I've heard others say that they can only eat a couple of bites of a Subway sandwich. I know could eat a whole 6 inch sub if I let myself (but I get scared and stop). Looking forward to seeing other responses...! Thanks for posting!

I'm only 6 weeks out, but I still crave the same things. Hoping it changes the further out I get.

I have all the same worries and I also really struggle with cravings at TOM.... I know that doesn't help, except to tell you that you aren't alone. Hang in there.

I felt the EXACT same way. I really and truly was a wreck before surgery. And I kept eating to soothe myself, which made me even more panicked that this surgery was not right for me and that I would/will fail. Here is what worked for me... I reminded myself that when I was in a much calmer, much more sane frame of mind, I weighed the risks and benefits of this surgery. I reminded myself that when I was in a much calmer, much more sane frame of mind, I did my research and understood that this surgery was not a magic cure for my food insanity. And I reminded myself that when I was in a much calmer, much more sane frame of mind, I decided that this surgery was the right thing for me. Then I let it go. I truly just had to keep reminding myself for 4 weeks pre-op that I could not trust what my mind was telling me given my fear and I had to rely on the calmer, saner me. I am happy to report that I am now 5.5 weeks out. The surgery itself was simple. That said, I have struggled with my mind hunger and my urges to binge -- that part has been really hard for me. But at the end of the day, I am learning "the drill" and I am happy I had the surgery and didn't allow my jitters to keep me from doing it. Of course, I'm not saying "this is just jitters, close your eyes and go for it." Only you know in your heart of hearts whether the calmer, saner you made this decision for the right reasons. But if you conclude that it was the calmer, saner you who decided to have surgery, then CLOSE YOUR EYES AND GO FOR IT!

I wondered the EXACT same thing at 3.5 weeks. Here is my two cents: I was eating very similar to you at 3 weeks out. I never felt sick, nothing ever came back up, and my doctor told me not to worry about calories and to just make sure and get my Protein and fluids in. The doc also told me that I was healing quickly and that I must not have had much swelling (which is a good thing). He also promised me that once I got to solids, I would feel the restriction. Well...I am THRILLED to report that he was right. I'm at 5.5 weeks. The last couple days I have moved on to real solid food (with my surgeon's blessing). Here was today: B: Egg muffin (homemade with egg whites and veggie sausage - very tasty!). L: 3 oz. brisket Snack: 5 oz protein pudding from GNC D: 3 oz turkey with 3 slices reduced fat swiss cheese (I used the cheese as my "bread"). Today, I was not hungry at all. I had to remind myself to eat. I didn't feel overly full today, but I am completely and totally satisfied. And I have no cravings for sweet things (sweets are my downfall). Today is honestly the first day that I have felt absolutely sure that I didn't make a mistake having this surgery. Bottom line: try not to worry. As long as you are following your doc's instructions, you're fine and it will all work itself out. My doc was great about reminding me how steep this learning curve is....

GREAT WORK!!! Remember -- you see yourself every day. Trust me, I'm sure others are noticing! And, like you said, the NSV are AMAZING!!! Congratulations!

Laura, I am the one who ate 1.5 cups of pumpkin a week ago and was scared. I'm not sure why you would obsess about my post and/or need to "call me out." Trust me, I don't need a "call out." I'm struggling and scared as I said clearly in my post and as I've shared very candidly on this board. As I said in my post, I am only 4 weeks out. There is no doubt in my mind that someone a year out will have better advice and more experience than I could possibly have at four weeks -- so the answer to your question is "Yes, I will have a much different perspective than someone that's say a year out?" Again, was just trying to share my limited, four week experience in hopes that it might help someone out. And, FWIW, I've been in therapy (for 9 years and ongoing) and 12 step meetings (5 years). I am very well aware of my food addiction issues and binge eating issues. I'm working on it the best I can by reaching out for help on this board, reaching out to others to share my experience, and continuing therapy to work through my issues. All of that said, I am not sorry I had this surgery. As I was trying to communicate in my post, the surgery has helped me quite a bit already - I'm measuring my food, planning my food, and tracking my food. I never thought I would be able to do that before surgery. Am I doing it all perfectly? No way! My food issues certainly did not correct overnight nor do I expect this surgery to fix any of them. My apologies to anyone who misread or misunderstood my post. I truly was trying to say straight out: (1) I am 4 weeks out; (2) I was scared before surgery like the OP; (3) The first few weeks were easy to stay on plan because I didn't feel good; (4) Since I've started feeling better, I've struggled with my binge eating; and (4) despite my struggles, the surgery has helped me in terms of planning, measuring, and tracking my meals. Best to all, Angela

I completely understand your fears. Like you, I looked forward to the movie popcorn (and junior mints) more than the movie. Sometimes I couldn't tell you what I saw, but I could tell you what I ate...! I had surgery on 8/22. Here is what I can tell you about it. The surgery itself wasn't bad at all. I had the worst time the few weeks leading up to surgery. It was a real mind f--k. Soooo many fears (similar to yours). After surgery, it was really easy for the first couple of weeks to follow "the plan." You don't feel good enough to not follow it. Now, at 4 weeks, I feel great and I am struggling with my "food issues" again. Last night, I was at a party and there were all my favorite foods there. I grazed some on Cookies, which then awoke my carb monster and I got pretty miserable because I wanted to eat more. But... I look at it this way: Before, if I would have grazed on some cookies, I would have followed it up with a couple bowls of Cereal and then a PBJ to top it off. A "binge" these days isn't much food even when I make a bad choice. And, today, I'm back on track. I'm doing things now that I NEVER would have/could have done before surgery. For example, today, I am spending the day cooking my meals for the week, creating 1/2 cups of healthy, Protein rich foods. Then I will do what I said I would NEVER do -- track it all in My Fitness Pal. Again, don't let these things overwhelm you - I never thought I would be able to do this. My fear was: If I were able to diet and exercise, I wouldn't be in this predicament in the first place. Surgery DOES help with it. I hope you will reach some peace with your decision, whatever it is. Only you know what is best for you. That said, given you have insurance approval, I'd think long and hard about it (I had to self-pay...with insurance coverage would have been much more incentive for me). One more thing I will add: I am in AA. I don't bother myself too much with the question of whether I am a "real" alcoholic. I have a desire not to drink, which is all that is required for membership. The 12-step program has helped me SO much with all of my addictive behaviors (I quit smoking for surgery). Like you, I can get addicted to pretty much anything. And after surgery, you aren't going to be able to drink for a long while and, when you can again, it will be in limited amounts. AA has been a real life saver for me. If you don't go with AA, you could also consider OA, which is another version of the 12 steps. Each of these programs costs $1 per day - much cheaper than one-on- Good luck to you!!! -Angela

I do think you are overthinking it. I know because I did it too!! I was obsessed with reading this forum and trying to figure out what it was going to be like. At the end of the day, I realized that it just like anything else in life. Some people are going to tell you it was horrible. Others will tell you it's no big deal. We all have our own perceptions. For me, it was pretty easy and I look back at what I had done and think, "Man, that's incredible! It was so simple." "Real" pain was an issue ONLY the night of the surgery and at that point I had the most excellent morphine drip. After that first night, I felt fine, albeit sore -- like I'd done lots and lots of sit ups. My main complaint was the fatigue. I did A LOT of sleeping. And I still do. Although I went back to work full time on week 2, I still go to bed when I get home from the office and on weekends, I can easily sleep 12-14 hours. Bottom line: Don't sweat it. Remind yourself why you made the decision. Reassure yourself by reading all our positive stories and then shut your eyes and go for it! Good luck!!

I really appreciate this thread. I certainly "get it" too. I binged on pumpkin pie a couple of nights ago and I'm only 3.5 weeks out - scared myself to death. My two cents on therapy: After over 10 years of therapy, the most helpful has been cognitive behavioral therapy. It is solution focused and focuses directly on solving the behavior (e.g., the binge eating). Although working through my family issues etc etc blah blah blah might have been helpful, it is the cognitive behavioral therapy that helps me in a practical way. Now if I would just put it in practice more often... Good luck to you! Please keep us all posted!

I had the same experience as the OP. On day 2 after surgery, I got up and went to a picnic. On Day 3, I went to a meeting and lunch with friends and did fine. Then, day 4 and I hit a wall. Slept ALL the time. It does get better. I went back to work f/t at 2 weeks and did fine. That said, this Saturday, I slept for 16 hours straight. Crazy. I chalk it up to body healing and just trust the process. I have to believe our energy will come back! In the meantime, take it easy when you can!

i LOVE THIS THREAD! I am almost 4 weeks out and I keep trying to eat "no sugar added" frozen yogurt. EVERY time I eat it, I get horrible, painful, gas. And then I try it again. I'm a SLOOOWWW learner.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Ha! I get it! I eat 1/2 cup of food and I still go "Is that all?" I'm almost 4 weeks out , eating "soft" foods and I still have hunger. My surgeon promises that once I get to "solids," the restriction will start kicking in and I will feel satisfied with 2-3oz of food. We shall see....! No matter what, I appreciate this sleeve. Have fun with the 1/2 cups -- CONGRATULATIONS!!

Aww man, I totally know how you are feeling. You're almost there. Mine got better at about 7 days. It was weird, I couldn't touch the stiches part either, but I ended up with water blisters above and below the incision sites. Those itched like crazy too until they popped. I don't know why I'm sharing this b/c it's pretty gross, but just wanted you to know that, if you get those little water blisters, the end is definitely near! Hang in there!

Also, I meant to mention, you might try myfitnesspal.com to track. I said I would NEVER track food. Ever. But here I am tracking it - it is SO easy and it makes it SO easy to make sure I am getting my protein in (and see where I am on calories).

Just wanted to chime in and say hang in there! it sounds like you're making good progress, albeit not as quickly as you'd like. Think what it will be like once you get the drill down! You said you are a vegetarian, but you didn't mention vegan. So... here are some ideas. This is my meal plan (I'm almost a month out) and I get my Protein in every day: Bkfst: Protein shake Snack: String cheese Lunch: 1/2 cup refried Beans with 1/8 cup lowfat shredded cheese Snack: Dannon light and fit greek yogurt Dinner: Depending on where I am on the protein, I will go with 1/2 c cottage cheese or an egg over hard with 1/8 cup lowfat cheese. If I don't need the protein, I will go with tomato Soup or butternut squash soup (etc). . I realize this is a lot of dairy, but it is working for me GOOD LUCK! You can do this!