v4victory

Greetings: I am now located in Cedartown, Georgia. My Gastric Bypass surgery was done in Indianapolis, Indiana in March, 2013..

Hi All: This is my third week enjoying the blessing of finding not only a heated swimming pool, but a hot tub as well. God is good! In Rome, Georgia, they have a YMCA with just what I need. My health insurance provider told me about it, and it's great that I'm covered to participate at eligible fitness locations free of charge. Hooray for the wonderful SilverSneakers program!

Hi Vjrich: I'm in Cedartown.

Hi All: I moved from Indiana to beautiful Northwest Georgia in August 2013. I'm doing OK, but would be much better if I hadn't started "grazing" in November and December 2013. I researched information about grazing which is a form of "binging" & it's a serious eating disorder. My weight loss plateau for these two months with no further change proved I was sabotaging myself. Now I know that I must find a good weight loss support group to attend weekly to fight food addiction. Also, there's no heated pool where I live now for water fitness, which is the only way I can safely exercise with Fibromyalgia. Thank God my new stomach pouch limits my food intake from six to eight ounces max. No matter how good a meal tastes, & how much I want to continue eating, when my stomach pouch gets full, I immediately stop eating to avoid getting sick and dumping. I only overeat when I'm distracted and not paying attention to my feeding. It's real important for me to avoid eating while watching TV or sitting at the computer because suddenly I become sick with a tight stomach needing relief because it's overstuffed! It's shocking how I can repeatedly use a fork to spear food, raise it to put food into my mouth, chew and swallow the food, and not be conscious of what I'm doing when my attention is focused on something else. Rome, Georgia has a Bariatric Center of Excellence facility, so I'll try there since no Overeaters Anonymous, or Meetup Groups for weight loss are anywhere in my area. To date, I am at (-74) pounds since Gastric Bypass Surgery in March, 2013.

Hi March, 2013 group. My surgery date was March 22nd at St. Francis Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. My excellent surgeon was Hazem N. Shamseddeen. My surgery went great, and I'm struggling with getting-down the daily protein supplement powder and chewable calcium citrate requirements. I look forward to sharing ideas and encouragement with you all.

We've found in a few conversations that we have a lot of the same unusual experiences. Did you know that people with Fibromyalgia who are sensitive to smells and noise, are experiencing heightened sensitivities in those areas after weight loss surgery? We can help each other by caring, and sharing info.

ccwolf3 I understand how you feel. I have so many wonderful changes to look forward to with excess weight loss since my bariatric surgery, but I have to admit that I've been sabotaging myself because I've been rebelling against the food limitations. I pray that you will be able to face your "demons" too so you can begin to really heal.

Kesetosis? Yuck! Never heard of it, so I Googled. It sounds awful. I am more sensitive to odors (and excessively loud noise) now, more than before surgery.

Hi iamworthit: I lived in Jacksonville, FL for 3 1/2 years. Pretty city with all of those bridges and beaches, but crime ruins it. My favorite beaches are in the Gulf "Emerald" Coast. Was a frequent flyer between JAX and Indpls.

I won't miss my hip circulation being cut-off, requesting seatbelt extenders, or fearing that persons sitting next to me will insist on lowering the armrests, in those tiny jetliner seats.

So happy to have lost 47 pounds since my March 22, 2013 RNY surgery. I can already tell the difference in how clothes I had to put-aside now fit better. My family is excited and proud of my progress and looking forward to continual improvements. I have faith that many of my co-morbid stuff will be alleviated over time along with my weight loss. I notice family disappointment when they want me to do something even now and I won't because of Fibromyalgia pain. My blood pressure, osteoarthritis in both knees (needing replacement) and my spine should improve. I don't know if I can expect that with Fibro. How is it working-out for you so far?

I did some serious reading in my textbook "Emotional First Aid," which brought me back on track from my eating frenzy. Now that I've reached 60+ days post-op, I'm allowed Stage 5: 4 oz. Regular Diet. I had trouble eating previously because I was trying to eat regular foods. My stomach pouch won't tolerate fried foods (like bacon or chicken), rice, beef stroganoff, or baked chicken breast (too dry). I will follow the bariatric diet, take it slowly, and see what works best for my digestive system. Also I am learning what it feels like when my pouch is becoming full, so I can avoid overload which causes discomfort and dumping.

Hi bequi: I've lost 38 pounds in two months post-op. I got into trouble with being stubborn at trying to eat regular foods. I did some serious reading in my textbook "Emotional First Aid," which brought me back on track from my eating frenzy. Now that I've reached 60+ days post-op, I'm allowed Stage 5: 4 oz. Regular Diet. I had trouble eating previously because I was trying to eat regular foods. My stomach pouch won't tolerate fried foods (like bacon or chicken), rice, beef stroganoff, or baked chicken breast (too dry). I will take it slowly and see what works best for my digestive system. Also I am learning what it feels like when my pouch is becoming full, so I can avoid overload which causes discomfort and dumping.

RNY Evangelist, thank you for encouragement

I'm not eating right, I'm struggling big-time. I know the Bariatric surgery is a tool and I will be on a restricted diet for the rest of my life, but I still have to deal with food addition. I see a TV commercial, picture, or think of foods I like and my mouth starts watering and I crave tasting that food. I've been at several family feast events, and after seeing/smelling the food, I begin a battle of trying to tweak my stomach pouch limitations so I can have some of that food. Until the end of May I am limited to 3 oz. pureed meals, and believe me that's all my pouch can hold. It makes me dump if I eat too much or if the food is fried (like chicken, or bacon). Even though I bought a blender, I insist that I can still eat regular food if I "puree" it by chewing it good with my teeth! I've never been into cooking; only went for fixing something quick, or getting something already prepared--instant gratification. Potato chips, cookies, ice cream, and chocolate candy are things I've always snacked and ate as meals. They are the "trigger foods" that I can no longer have in my home! My Bariatric program provides counselors, dietitians, nurses, doctors--anything I need. Looks like I better make an appointment to see a counselor ASAP! .

Hi All: I just had the RNY procedure March 22, 2013, at St. Francis Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. My surgeon is Hazem N. Shamseddeen, M. D. I'll never forget the day in July, 2011 when my medical complaints to my general practitioner were about starting to injure my arms & hands in supporting my weight to get in and out of bed, and up and down from seated position. I was being treated mainly for complications of Fibromyalgia, Osteoarthritis, Morbid Obesity, and severe mobility impairment requiring use of a power wheelchair. She asked me if I had ever considered Bariatric surgery, told me to do my homework and let her know what I decide. (I thought only people who had really good insurance coverage and income could have the surgery). When I told my daughters the things I had learned about it from research over the web, they became so excited and supportive, that we began thanking God continually for this chance to change my life. I was not at all afraid of having Gastric Bypass surgery and hoped to obtain quick approval in order to have it done ASAP. I first went to the St. Francis Weight Loss Center on April 2, 2012, and returned for orientation of April 5, 2012. Thus my journey began growing more and more frustrated with the screening process I had to complete before I would be told that I met the qualifications for having the surgery. I scheduled and followed-through with the orders for lab work, cardiac evaluation, sleep study, and psych eval, but later found that the psych eval tripped me up because I had some deep issues stemming from childhood physical and emotional abuse. My daughters yelled "Mom what did you tell them all that stuff for!" It's funny as I think now of their reaction. I received orders to have weekly counseling, and jumped through all the hoops necessary to convince them I have come such a long way, and I'm ready to move-on. I finally got that "Congratulations you're having the surgery" call December, 2012, and in January, 2013 learned the date for my Roux-en-y Gastric Bypass surgery: March 22, 2013! It was a beautiful experience of togetherness for my daughters and I in leaving our homes at 5:00 A.M. to get me checked-in at St. Francis by 6:00 A.M. The Intake Nurse was so perky and entertaining, and the Chaplin who came in offering to pray did an excellent job. I'm right-handed and they had to put the IV in the right-arm, because the left-arm wasn't showing my artery--big mistake! That is extremely awkward and uncomfortable, and any movement of the arm sets off alarms. I was perfectly calm when they came and got me for surgery, as I told my daughters "I'll see you in a bit." Surgery went just great and they woke me before getting me into my hospital bed. My daughters were already there waiting. I was not in any pain, except that I had a sore throat, which felt like Tonsillitis. I was in the hospital from Friday, until Monday, March 25, 2013. My daughters surprised me and did not take me home, but rather drove me to the oldest daughter's apartment where I stayed 10 days before returning to my apartment. It was sweet how my youngest daughter and her kids, gutted my kitchen of "trigger foods" and stashes. My daughters worked together those first few days at taking care of me, preparing my meals, and giving me the 2x/day shots. Because I had both my daughters by C-Section, and also had a total Hysterectomy, I was familiar with abdominal surgery and determined for once, not to suffer from gas pains. I'm proud to say that I had NO gas pains. Oh, and that "Binder" elastic wrap was a wonderful recovery tool for me, because it helped hold me together--especially when I had to cough. I'll stop here because My Story could go on-and-on...LOL

Hi sazzygirl. To answer your question about the shots: LOVENOX® helps reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis—also known as DVT blood clots—to help avoid a potential pulmonary embolism in patients undergoing abdominal surgery, hip-replacement surgery, knee-replacement surgery, or medical patients with severely restricted mobility during acute illness.

denisse g: About eating, taking chewable calcium citrate tabs and protein powder, I've been having a hard time. One thing for sure is I learned to take the calcium citrate before brushing my teeth and tongue, because that stuff leaves a coating on my tongue that alters the taste of food all day. I remember some time ago wishing there was something available to decrease my tastebud cravings for food--well that chewable calcium citrate definitely messes with my tastebuds. I managed to find one tasty thing I enjoy eating as a 3 ounce meal. That's ground turkey mixed with taco seasoning mix, and topped with salsa. It really helps when people around me are eating pizza too.

Hi denisse g: Glad to find we share the same surgery date. I had no problems with gas because after 3 past abdominal surgeries with the chief complication being gas pains, I couldn't bear to have it happen again. I got up and walked whenever I could. Wearing the binder made it easier for me to move around by holding me together.

Hi March, 2013 group. My surgery date was March 22nd. I look forward to sharing ideas and encouragement with you all.

cathyh thanks so much for your prayers and encouragement. God bless

Thanks momlambert, I'm doing good, except problems with taking some of the vitamins and protein supplement powders, eating and super-sensitive to smells.

Wow! Is there a group here for us with Fibromyalgia, Lupus, Osteoarthritis, & Chronic Pain?

nursemissy, I'll send you a pm

Hi All: I am age 59 and will be 60 August, 2013. My RNY surgery was March, 2013 in Indianapolis, IN, at St. Francis Hospital. Looks like this group may be the best fit for me.