Getting-used-to-new-me

Ok. Thanks again!

Has anyone had problems with depression after RNY? If so, what's the best way to deal with it? Can it be cured?

Ok. My goal for this RNY was to go without all the meds I had to take. My goal was"normal" health. That's still my goal. Ive got a couple more questions. Do you know, or does your doctor know if you end up feeling more depressed if you take medicine for it everyday? Also, if you come off the antidepressants, is there a downer withdrawal?

I just set an appointment. Is that what you had/have? Is there a time-frame for being cured?

My ARNP suggested I see my PCP about my "blunted" (her phrase) responses. My wife, who's been dealing with clinical depression for years, agreed with the ARNP. I haven't seen my PCP about it yet. I wonder if this is part of normalizing after RNY.

Exactly! And I have faith in you and the others here because we're all doing our best. We wouldn't be here otherwise.

I agree. The ONLY way I can is by using my phone alarms. I have them set for every three hours, 9 am, 12 pm, 3 pm, and 6 pm. But then life happens, I'm in the middle of something else and can't eat and drink and don't remember to until the next alarm goes off. I also try to not be too hard on myself. And my surgeons group staff tell me that being in the overweight range, where I am now, instead of the obese range, where I was not many months ago, is really a huge success! I sincerely hope this helps. I don't really know you or anyone here. But I have faith in you!

I'm not sure what Hendersonville is. But I know that without my protein shakes and protein bars I wouldn't get the protein I need each day. And a few days of low protein intake seems to be followed by a week or so of stalling. Also, since I can now eat more normal foods, I am. That means I'm not getting my protein in. There's just not enough room for both.

That's great news! You're really doing better than you might think.

I have faith in you!

I'd like to add my own NSV's. In my loss so far of almost the equivalent of seven, ten pound bags of taters, (70 pounds), I've gone from an extra extra large (2XL) shirt/coat to a large (L), and from a forty inch waist to a thirty-three! I'm still losing. I don't know where I'll end up. But I'm sticking with the plan my surgeon's group has given me. I'm also making good use of the thrift stores in the area. Don't want to spend too much on these transition clothes.

I don't know about you all, but my surgery group, surgeon and his staff, have always cautioned me to NOT count calories. Instead they want me to focus on protein, supplements, feeding times, food in small amounts, pouch pain, dumping syndrome, aerobic exercise, and strength exercise. They very occasionally have patients journal their daily eating. But they haven't had me do it yet. I think it's for those who lose too fast or too slow. Instead they have me focus on other things. They have me giving blood samples at regular intervals, (one month, three months, six months, and one year, then annually after that), which they check for nutrient levels and cholesterol and fat, etc. They also have me meeting with the surgeon or his ARNP and dietician at those intervals as well. At those doctor visits, they look at me for weight loss, my vital signs, my mental health, (most of us grieve about our former selves and the drastic surgery we've allowed to be done to ourselves), how I'm healing, (my surgery scars, etc.), and what they found out from my blood samples. What do you do?

Fear is a great motivator isn't it? Hopefully our motivations will move from fear to health, and mobility, and happiness, and long life, and on and on.

I have that fear too. Maybe we all do. And the in-person group meetings ARE a great help, even though almost all the participants are women. Being a guy, it'd be nice to have more guys show up to our groups. I know they're out there, though in less numbers than the women who get this surgery. Just using my co-workers as a sample of the women to men ratio means there should be about a third of the attendees that are men. Most meetings it's just me and two other guys attending with about forty women. We guys tend to sit together, with our backs against a wall! Back to that fear: For me, the other side of that fear of gaining back all the weight, is that with the drastically reduced nutrient absorption that moving our pouch outlet down our small intestine causes, I'm afraid that I might be in a situation that I can't get enough nutrients and food in. When will my weight loss stabilize? Will I end up skin and bones? There's no way to know these things until I live them, or live something else. And the best way to manage these fears is to get all the good data on this subject that I can, to attend my appointments with my doctor, to stay current here in this online group, etc., etc. And to get all that info on a daily basis. I hope this helps you.

I'm sorry you have to work so much. I'm sorry you're two hours away from your surgery support group. I hope you're getting some support from these forums. Even though I'm able to attend my surgery group's support groups in person. They're only once a month. And I need these forums for daily support. I need you're input and others' every day. I also get support from the DailyStrength online support group for bariatric patients. One of the things I was told at my last doctor's visit last month was that those of us who had surgery last December are still "babies" in this journey. That was their word--"babies". I was told we don't really get into a new normal until we're 18 months to two years post surgery. They also added that with my complications, my case was set back one month from the normal progression. I think it's important to remember that we're still "babies" right now. And as such maybe we should keep babying ourselves, at least a little. Be more forgiving about our current progress, etc. Like DLCoggin said in one of his past posts: it gets better, and then it gets even better, and after that it even gets better!

Then it's great to have bariatric pal, isn't it? Have you checked out starting a bariatric pal local chapter?

My bariatric-surgery-group-affiliated-athletic-trainer gives general guidelines for exercise: She says, for aerobics, to work until you start to sweat. Then maintain that level for twenty to thirty minutes, five to six times a week. For strength, to work until failure. In other words, repeat the exercise, like push-ups, until you can't do anymore. She also says that for strength training, it doesn't matter what you lift, as long as you do the correct range of motion, and you do it to failure. So, we can lift cans of vegetables, or dishes, or dumbbells, or kids/grandkids, etc. Until we can't do it anymore. What have you been told?

Ninety pounds is HUGE! For perspective I like to see the equivalent in how many ten-pound sacks of potatoes I've lost. That's about seven for me, since 12/10/13. And NINE for you! WAY TO GO!

I agree. I can't get enough water and enough liquid without protein shakes. My usual breakfast is a protein shake with a half liter of ice cold water, two scoops of whey protein, (60 grams protein), a fruit (usually a banana), and some psyllium fiber. It tastes better than it sounds! Some days I have to also have a protein bar, like CLIF brand or PURE PROTEIN brand. After that I hit the treadmill for a slow twenty minutes, 1 to 3 MPH. In fact, I'm typing this while walking on my treadmill right now. I made a cheap "laptop computer desk" for my treadmill by placing some solid foam insulation "boards" on top of the treadmill handrails. It's nothing fancy. If you want, I'll try to attach some photos of my set up to a later post. Faster than 1 to 3 MPH and I can't type! Two miles per hour makes me sweat, so I think I'm also getting the aerobic benefit! MAYBE, and that's a big MAYBE, I'll get to the point that I have to run to sweat. But I'm not there yet!

Pookybear is right. You have to chew protein bars even more than regular foods, unless you're at the point of having liquids with your meals. And that would be after you're on regular foods. But they're real handy as meal replacements, when you can.

In my experience, dumping syndrome feels like nausea. So the urge to launch from both ends goes with it. But dumping syndrome doesn't usually actually produce vomiting or diarrhea with me. I just feel sick until it passes. Sometimes drinking a little water helps settle the nausea. What you describe sounds like a little food poisoning. I vigorously recommend you call your doctor or on call nurse about it. Please do so now. And don't forget to re-hydrate yourself.

Being mostly vegetarian isn't bad at all!

That's all good to know. I don't think I'll try your ostrich though! I've tried all the others, with mixed results. I'm glad whey protein is available. It most often ensures I get enough protein each day.

I agree! It IS empowering, even for a guy! I was just talking about this with my wife last night. I used to buy clothes that were okay, but mostly if they seemed to fit. Now I can buy clothes like I used to. And I'm saving money by not having to buy in the extended sizes.

Exactly!