Emeree

Yes, I know exactly how you feel. My husband says I look a 1/3 of my original size, but when I look in the mirror, I still see myself overweight, like I haven't lost much. Or as I go about my day, I feel very heavy and think "oh no, I'm gaining weight!" I think because we have been trapped inside of our larger selves for so long, that it takes a long while to realize that we are changing or have changed. I struggle with body image alot now, almost obsessively. I think there are a lot of us who feel this way. Keep up the great work!

Congrats! Don't stop, get it get it!

It is a real daily struggle for me, but I just this past few weeks am now able to get in 48-60 grams of protein and 48-53 ounces of liquids. I do still get at least a day or two every week, where I fall short due to stomach pain. I have been struggling with more pronounced food sensitivities since the surgery. And if you add having a stressful or upsetting day... forget about it. My lil stomach has a tantrum! But just keep plugging away at it. Every day is a new day to strive for your goals!

Hi there, are you in the swing of our new way of life?

I am a week shy of 6 months and I am still struggling to get in enough liquid. During my last appointment with my NUT at the end of October, she gave me a goal to get in the minimum amount of 48 oz of fluids a day. It takes focus and dedication for me to achieve that amount, cause it isn't easy and I achieve that 95% of the time. For me to achieve the minimum of 48 oz, I have to make one of my meals liquid. I do have a few days where I can only get in 36-40oz. and that happens when my pouch doesn't want anything in it! I get bloated on anything that isn't plain Water so it is a struggle. I see the NUT again on 2/10th and I will be able to see how my body is doing with that minimum amount. I can tell you this, I am very tired all of the time and it is probably due to not enough liquids; however, my urine is mostly clear to a pale yellow. I don't believe I am dehydrated, based on the color of my urine, but I sometimes wonder. If you can do it, stay hydrated. I can't wait to be able to drink 64 oz of Fluid and I hope that comes soon.

Way to Go! Congratulations!

I have been feeling great but had a lil pain in kidney area on left and thought had stones so got check for that to find out something serious is wrong!! I was like OMG wasn't expecting this. It's all new since the new year Sorry to hear this. Prayer and positive thoughts for you too! And you hang in there also!

My prayers and positive thoughts for you. Hang in there!

Unless that tablet had a lot of sugar, I doubt it was dumping. I'd lean more towards it simply got stuck, hurt like heck and has now irritated your pouch. When in doubt, ask your team. Treat your pouch gently for a few days, definitely baby it. But I gotta say, Amy pain that has you screaming and groaning is probably ER worthy.....(even from a rural location...that's a pretty extremely reaction). Hope you feel well soon!!!! Thanks for your thoughts. My husband though it was dumping, but my gut tells me that I don't think it was. It was pretty severe. I know...I should have gone to the ER. I feel so much better today and yes, I have had to baby my pouch these few days. Thank you for your thoughts and well wishes.

Was there sugar in the zinc pill? Was it one you swallow or let dissolve? Also did you eat or drink anything either just prior or two hours before? It was just plain zinc and it was one I swallowed. I had half of a Protein Drink approx. 1 hour prior. Maybe I didn't have enough in my system. It has been a few days since incident and my pouch is 80% back to normal.. Thank God! Thanks for posing your questions and helping me think about what I did.

That's awesome! Thanks so much for sharing!

I too had a secret surgery, hence why I don't have a pic of myself on this site out of paranoia that someone I know may have done this and tell my family . My husband knows and one of my out of state friends, who is my fibromyalgia penpal knows, but that's it. I have been able to easily hide it because I moved away from family and friends and live in a very rural area and I have no friends where I currently live. However, my husband and I are planning to move back home and I'm not sure how I am going to hide the way I eat. My family and a friend back home know that I lost weight, but they think that it is from a combination of me eating healthy for over a year and from me losing my appetite a lot from my fibro flare-ups. It will be hard to eat so little when I am around them, so although I have another 6 months before I return home, I am a lil bit worried about that. Just wanted to share this so you will know that you are not alone .

Has anyone ever dumped on a Vitamin? I felt like I was coming down with a cold, so I took a zinc pill (50 mg, but I cut it in half, taking 25 mg). About 30 minutes later I experienced horrible stomach pains, nausea, quick breathing, dizziness and stomach cramping, dry heaving (for 15 min). These acute symptoms lasted for 3 hours and I thought I was going to die. I was literally screaming and moaning in pain for 3 hours. I should have gone to the ER, but I live in a very rural area and I just figured that if I didn't get better by tomorrow I would go. After about 3 hours of this, the stomach pain calmed down to a dull ache all through the night. When I awakened the next morning it was better, but now my pouch is very grouchy and I am back to really struggling getting all Protein and liquids in again What makes this bad, is I wasn't even great at getting all protein and liquids to begin with. I have never dumped, so I don't know if this was dumping? Was this dumping? Has anyone ever experienced this (for hours) and from a vitamin? Please advise...thanks for any help or comments.

Hi, I was banded to begin with and lost 60 pounds, but it wasn't easy and then I gained it all back and then some within 2 years. Additionally, I did not feel that the band was restricting enough and I could eat around it. Also there were many times the band tightened up on me, making it difficult to eat consistently. A few times my band adversely tightened to the point I could not even swallow my saliva. When I had the opportunity for a revision, I thought about getting the sleeve, but I didn't want the chance of it not being restricting enough for me. I couldn't stand the thought of failing another WLS, so I chose the bypass. I was really scared, but my choice to get it has not left me with any regret. I love the bypass and it serves me very well. I am 5.5 months out and have lost 90 pounds so far. I can feel when I need to stop eating. I feel more in control of portions. It is just so much easier and I get validation with the steady pounds that come off. I steadily lose 2-3 pounds per week (even as a "revisioner"; even with a recent loss of right side of my thyroid, putting me instantly into hypothyroidism). If you choose the bypass, just make sure you are very diligent with Vitamins and getting enough protein/water and some form of exercise. Eating and drinking is still a challenge, but I am very happy about my revision to the bypass. Hope this helps.

Hi there, Location: Bangor, Maine had a revision surgery from band to bypass on 8/1/13 HW: 264 SW: 236 CW: 170 GW: 130

I hope not either. Maybe we both ought to check it out. My appointment is not til feb 10th, but I will ask when I do go. Speaking of getting nutrition in. I have to go and put something into the tank now to stay on top of things. It is a struggle isn't it! Cheers.

I get the same feeling off and on since Surgery 5 months ago. I haven't checked into it. But what I have noticed is that it occurs to me whenever I haven't had enough protein or nutrition in my system. I do good when I have at least 20-30 grams of protein in my body for breakfast. If I can do that, then I usually don't get that light headed & dizzy feeling whenever I stand up. Hope this helps you. Hang in there!

Oh okay. Thanks for the info and I guess we will just have to ride it out. If I had to choose between having my hair and losing this weight, I would pick losing this weight and then just rock a wig!!!! LOL

Oh and I am supposed to drink 8 ounces of milk in between meals along with water; however, I have developed an intolerance to milk also. So I bought protein nectar tea and drink it once or twice a day depending on if I am falling short of protein. At first my NUT had me shooting for 45 grams of protein a day. After my 3 month follow-up I told her my nails broke off and my hair was falling out badly so she changed my daily protein goal to 60 grams a day, but I still fall short, only getting about 45-50 grams.

My NUT has me eating like this: 2 ounces of lean protein (eggs, chicken, fish, beef, pork-any meats I can tolerate) together with 1 tablespoon of fruit or veggie and 1 tablespoon of a carb-preferably some sort of wheat or whole grain. I usually skip the carb. I have developed an intolerance to wheat products since surgery. Or I can have a half to one slice of bread (I do cloud bread or gluten free bread) with the 2 ounces of lean protein.

I feel you on the hair loss. Me too. I have been growing my hair which is difficult as it is under normal conditions, now only to have it drastically falling out and getting very thin. Uuugh. I wonder when it will stop? Hang in there!

It's 10:00pmEST, thought I'd check out the new site. Yeah, had difficulty too. Today I received my Fuzzy Navel Nectar Protein from Vitacost! I can't wait to try it tomorrow morning for breakfast. I find that when I have a liquid (protein shake or hot tea or whateva' liquid in the morning, it makes it easier to get in all of my liquids (which I struggle with). Well, signing out. Hope everyone has a great weekend

I'm sorry you are having a tough time today. You are not alone. I feel that way every now and again and what makes it harder is not abusing food for comfort. I can share what I have done to help feel better: Hot tea or hot cocoa, hot bath, music, rock in rocking chair, jigsaw puzzle, karaoke. I hope this helps and try not to be hard on yourself, k.

I take two centrum chewables with breakfast; 1 600 calc/400 vit D tab with lunch; same with dinner. Once a week, I take 1250 mcg sublingual vit B12. I won't know if I need to add anything until I do my first labs (6mo) in February.

Hi there, I went from a lapband to a bypass. Prior to surgery I was 264 pounds as of January 2013. I lost 28 pounds by the time I had my surgery on Aug 1st. So surgery weight was 236. I now weigh 211 (27 pound loss at about 3 pounds a week. I think I lose slower because of the revision, but also because of other challenging health issues; however, I am pleased with losing something. I do worry if I will make it to my goal weight, but what I think will help is some sort of exercises or swimming in the pool as a regular form of exercise. Keep in touch with me if you like, because once I am able to afford to go the pool regularly, I will let you know if it helps. Good luck to you!