angelface811

Loma Linda holds a informational/support group on the second Monday of every month from 6:30 to about 7:45. Topics vary...it is rather large at this time and is currently being run by the professional staff. The last group was on transfer addictions, we have also gone over nutrition, and next month, April will be an ask the surgeon session. It is open to those thinking of surgery, pre/op, post/op, etc. Doesn't matter where you had surgery you are welcome. It is held at the Loma Linda Heart and Surgical Hospital located at the corner of Barton rd. and New Jersey. There are plans in the works for further support and programs. LLUMC is trying to become a truly comprehensive program. Not just a do your surgery and your on your merry way. Come check it out...

I would definetly encourage your doctor to run a full thyroid panel. I have hypothyroidism and when I had my 6 month check up my thyroid levels had dropped. So I went from 150 mcg to 175 mcg of levothyroxine. I have been taking 150mcg for years now. I don't know if the drop is related to the surgery or not. I agree with a possible need for calorie adjustment. You need to find your sweet spot. I have to up my calories if I am really active that day or I am on my monthly cycle. If I don't I feel a difference. Measurements are a great tool. I started from the beginning. I measure my neck, biceps, forearms, chest, waist, hips, the largest part of my thigh and the largest part of my shin. Phew! I re-measure every 4-6 weeks and I do the same for my best friend. My weight loss began to slow, but not stop at about 6 months. I am now 11 months out and I have hit not only my doctor's role but I'm on par to hit my personal goal. I am 5'4 large frame and my personal goal is 135 pounds. According to the "national weight charts" I should weigh between 113-141. I am currently in a 4/6. My next goal is gaining more muscle mass so my body burns more calories both at rest and when I work out. So I am shooting for the fitness range. Sounds like your doing great just need some adjustments perhaps.

I have a lot of experience on this issue. I am currently 11 months out. I ended up in the hospital, impacted right after surgery. My first BM was 11 days out. The fact that you are passing gas is a great thing. That means your bowels are working. I was advised by my doctor to take Milk of Magnesia at first. Unfortunately that didn't work for me. I put miralax in my shake every morning. Some people have had success using the tea called "smooth move" which is caffeine free and can be found in most grocery stores. The best thing you can do is call your surgeon and follow their directions. Your intake right now is limited...later on you can implement more fiber. Don't let it go to long. Learn from my experience. Prior to gaining weight I had issues with constipation. When I developed Type 2 Diabetes with the weight gain and put in Metformin. Metformin helped me stay regular but the diabetes resolved itself immediately after surgery. I hope this helps you...it will all work out just keep that communication going.

Hi guys this is angelface. I am so glad to hear from you guys. My surgery was also May 5th, 2014. I have been doing great! I have already hit my doctor's goal (100 pound loss) and am currently working on my personal goal (11 pounds to go). I am trying to increase my muscle mass as well. I have been very involved with the Bariatric Center (university) I had surgery at. I love encouraging and supporting others. No deficiencies at all bloodwork looks great. Co-morbidities gone!

I didn't despise myself...it was more like I despised the medical issues that got me there. The tragedies I had endured. I had Type 2 Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Metabolic Syndrome, Obstructive sleep Apnea and then some. I lost 102 pounds on my own and was on pace to lose the weight I needed to. The key to my success was exercise and I would work out faithfully at least 8 hours a week. Then I tore my right hip. At the same time my thyroid plummeted. I gained 40 pounds in a snap but managed to keep some of the weight I lost off. After that I saw several top orthopedic surgeons and found out that I not only had a labral tear, but bone spurs and the femoral head needed to be re-surfaced to fit into the joint. The doctor said he could do arthroscopic hip surgery but it was a minimum of 6 weeks on crutches. He was honest and said because I was overweight putting that much weight on my hip would be detrimental to the recovery and put me at a higher surgical risk. He recommended that bariatric surgery, which I previously looked into, may be a good option for me. It might take enough pressure off of the joint to relieve the pain I felt and put off surgery. If the weight loss didn't work at least I would be much lighter when I had the surgery and easier with the crutches. I am turning 40 next year so it's best for me to put off hip surgery as it could go very wrong and leave me with a limp. So far so good. I am currently 5'4 and 145 pounds. My doctors goal was 150 and my personal goal is 135 which would give me a little cushion. I am technically suppose to weigh between 113-141lbs based on current weight charts. My doctor fully supports me. I am a size small/medium on top and 6 on the bottom. My highest weight ever was 302 pounds. Emotionally I have had to work through being molested as a child, witnessing the horrific death of my first husband and having severe post-partum depression. I re-married and had a baby boy and apparently the PTSD put me at a much higher risk for developing that type of depression. He is now 12. These are the main issues I have had to deal with emotionally and have been in therapy for the last 20+ years. I currently help mentor others that have had the surgery especially the ones who were not properly educated pre-surgery. It's funny because they blame the doctors but this is an elective surgery and ultimately your choice. You have to do some research on your own. What is the good, bad, and the ugly of this surgery and how it can impact me? Lack of personal accountability is very present. But you being a nurse previously in the field I think you know the bulk of this information. I accepted the risks and rewards of the surgery. My Type 2 Diabetes was gone before I left the hospital...my high blood pressure gone in a week. Apnea is gone. I can't help the thyroid (just test frequently it did drop again during my weight loss and we had to bump up my meds)...but the hip is 90% better. My pastor came to visit me and pray with me even though I was 1.5 hours away. My anthem song was "I will never be the same again" He sang it to me at my bedside, he loves to sing. If you have never heard it take a listen. If you have any other questions ask away.????

I had gastric bypass surgery and am maintaining my goal weight. My advice to you would be to ask yourself why lap-band failed? That's not to be meant in an insensitive way but to search inside yourself for that answer. It could be the device, you never felt full, medical circumstances, or not following guidelines. Are you in need of working on some deep personal and emotional issues...I know I had to. By doing so before surgery for many years and continuing that therapy it has helped immensely in my success. So many people do it backwards. They have the surgery, lose the weight, regain the weight and sometimes it's as a result of not dealing with emotional issues or eating issues and turning to food for comfort. Also, do you need further education with nutrition. When it comes to gastric bypass nutrition and education is key and ongoing...Lastly, if you have all of these in line I would encourage you to have the bypass. For myself, I was watching my life go by and not being a full and active participant in it. I would avoid gatherings with my husband's coworkers because in his field let's just say it would be harshly judged. I wouldn't do certain activities because my weight got in the way but my heart sure wanted to do it. None of us know how many days we have but we need to live our days with as much happiness and joy as we can. Tragedy does occur...yes that was part of my problem. But I was determined to fight for myself and with God and the physicians he has provided I have been able to do so. Remember that losing the weight isn't going to solve all of your problems...but from personal experience it has empowered me and made me stronger in conjunction with the treatment I received previously. I hope this makes sense and I really do mean it in a loving way because I want you to succeed and overcome!!

My roots are originally from Tejeda, Spain. I am 38 years old and am coming up on one year out from surgery. It has been the best thing I have ever done for myself. I also have a thyroid issue. At first I had hyperthyroidism, which usually causes extreme weight loss. But not with me...I was at my highest weight of 302 lbs. I had radiation on my thyroid because it was making my heart work incredibly hard. My resting heart rate was 140bpm. My thyroid was balanced for about 4 years and then plummeted. I have been on levothyroxine for a while now. I did have to increase the dosage about 6 months after surgery. So make sure doctors are checking it because it can impair your weight loss as you have probably found out. Best of luck to you feel free to message me about your experiences, frustrations, etc. Best of luck to you from the USA.

Absolutely you can tell!! I know sometimes we have a bit of distortion in regards to our size. That's why I recommend taking measurements and buying a full length mirror. Also saving a pair of your largest pants so you can on occasion put them on. At a point the weight loss will slow down...sometimes there will be stalls but there are other ways to gauge the loss besides the number on the scale and it's so important to know that. Looking good...keep it up!

I am also a Type 2 diabetic and was on Metformin at the time but before surgery I was taken off my medication and ever since my sugars have run normal. When I came home I tested often for the first 30 days and now I test less often. Doctors told me they know there is a link between WLS and the resolution (for some people) of Type 2 diabetes but they haven't exactly figured out why.

Thank you so much everybody I will represent proudly...your comments really did help. T

I am now 8 months out of surgery and 6 pounds away from my goal weight. I developed some great relationships with the professionals I worked with at the "un-named" university I had my surgery. I was really flattered when they called me up to ask if I could represent the program as a patient. There will be over 1000 people in attendance. If you were a potential patient coming to visit our informational booth what would you like to here? I have mentored others and I absolutely love it. All opinions are welcomed...thank you with all my heart❤️

I really like the bariatric advantage line and also purchase from bariatric choice. At first a few of my vitamins just made me gag but after some time I got use to them and they are vital for the rest of your life. Gummy vitamins were also off limits because there is a potential for possible blockage...at least that is what my surgeon told me. So I'm staying away. Run them by your nutritionist or surgeon ASAP and ask specifically when they want you to start them. I take the RNY multi, calcium, iron, b-12 and biotin as well. My bloodwork has come back excellently. I believe if you aren't happy with the vitamins bariatric choice accepts returns but double check on that. Best of luck to you...

Wow! And younger...

I have a board on Pinterest called "Not The Easy Way Out" under angelface811 I believe. I have pinned and tried many many recipes. I think it's wonderful that you are seeking out more food options. All of us are under different restrictions and our programs vary but my ultimate goal is to transition my entire family to a healthier way of eating so we can all benefit. I've gotten both good and bad reviews...lol...but we are getting somewhere.

It can be a very difficult process and a confusing one. You can actually have your insurance company send you their policy regarding WLS coverage. This is what I ended up doing with my HMO because you are absolutely right some representatives will give you different answers. It was a lengthy group of papers but the full policy was there in black and white. I was also able to secure a health care advocate through my insurance company. I have actually been fighting to get this surgery since 2008 and I finally had my RNY in May 2014. I met all the requirements and went through a few different medical groups until I found a doctor and specialists who were willing to support my need for the surgery. I did have to go through the 6 month program in which I had to fulfill my insurance requirements but also my medical group requirements. At first I was a bit annoyed because I had become so studied in the surgeries. I had to drive down to meetings at least once a week which for me was a 3 hour round trip. But I learned and observed several different things from my teachers and fellow patients. I even took a 2 month psychology class which was awesome. I have lost 90 pounds post-surgery and have 10 more to go to meet my goal weight. I have gotten rid of several conditions and medications. I was also recently asked to be a representative for my University's Bariatric Program at an upcoming health event. I have really developed a passion for helping those going through the process. So if you need any encouragement or I can help answer any questions feel free to ask. You sound pretty determined and that is probably the best quality you can have right now. Keep that passion, keep pushing, don't give up...❤️

I agree...if you are eating correctly and getting in all protein and all liquids it could be a deficiency. But if you are not getting the nutrition and hydration you should be I would say there is your problem. Regardless I would begin journaling daily. Minimally include your liquid and protein intake and when you are taking them in. What time of the day you are most tired? Utilizing a Cpap?A vitamin checklist etc etc....commit to keeping a detailed journal for a week because either way it will help you or your doc pin down what might be behind that low energy.

I absolutely agree with the previous comment. My best friend and I both had the RNY at two very"prestigious" places. But there are differences in our diets. What is allowed and what is not. Certain foods she could eat I was unable to eat until much further out. Utilize the nutritionist they should have on staff. Foods may seem monotonous in the beginning but don't worry little by little your choices will increase. I think we can all agree that protein and hydration are key at this point.

I am a very slow healer. I was in pain/discomfort longer than most. I utilized my pain meds and did everything I was told to do. I asked for assistance (I arranged for help for 2 weeks) when getting up and even laying down. I felt some burning, pulling and almost ripping pain. I was hunched over for a while as well. I was given an abdominal binder and that helped me tremendously. Heat is an excellent tool because it accelerates the healing process along with hydration and protein. I am now 8 months out and have absolutely no regrets. I am 10 pounds from my surgeon's goal and I have gotten rid of several medical conditions and eliminated medications. Listen to your body...when it says no...don't do it! You will continue to progress...if however you feel as though this pain is unbearable or unusual or accompanied with additional symptoms by all means contact your doctor. This is part of their job. Post-surgical care is absolutely part of their commitment to you as their patient. In the mean time try to just relax and take this opportunity to educate yourself not only on the next phases of your diet but start pinning recipes. Have a game plan. Hope this helps you out????

If you have a sweet tooth I really like taking 1% cottage cheese with 0% fat Fage Greek Yogurt and adding sugar free cheesecake powder about a teaspoon at a time. Play with the proportions to your own personal taste. It's tart yet sweet. You can even add pumpkin purée. It is packed with protein. And will keep in the frig for a few days. I just portion it out.

Wow! 5'9" and 155 pounds is great. I assume your in maintenance phase and we all have different BMR's depending on our height, gender, age, and activity level. So if that caloric amount keeps you at your maintenance phase I think you found your sweet spot. I really struggle with what the "right weight" is for myself. My doctor says one thing and my nutritionist says another. One takes into account body structure and the other uses "the chart." Did you have bounce back weight? My doctor said his patients tend to hit their their bottom weight and gain about 10 lbs or so and level out. I am 5'4 and have a large bone structure. I am currently a size 8. I actually slipped into a size 6 pair of jeans and was able to button them. I am happy with my clothed figure...still working on weight/strength training to tighten up as much as possible underneath. Oddly enough my breasts bother me more than my tummy. Boy have things gone way south. But for Christmas I got a Victoria Secret gift card. Yay! I am still wearing some size 16 undies lol...ready for some undergarments that fit. Well that's my tangent for the day...night all!

I have 4 incisions. One is slightly larger which is where I was told they utilized the most to work on the intestines. I am almost 8 months out and they continue to lighten in color.

I also ended up in the hospital impacted. Do not wait until it is to late. I went through Colace, Milk of Magnesia, Miralax, SF Metamucil and would still have to use an enema to really feel relieved. TMI...I know. I have a very lazy colon and bowel but didn't know it. So now I am on Amitiza. A prescription medication for people who have severe constipation or IBS. Hopefully when I implement more foods things will improve but for now it seems to be doing the job.

Hemorrhoids but no constipation...interesting but it happens. I would say make sure you are not pushing to hard or in a hurry to go potty. Take a little more time. You can also purchase a sitz bath kit and soak in the warm water a few times per day. You can add Epsom salt and you can alternate throughout the day with ice cold compresses using some type of barrier of course...lol. These are both soothing and the cold will reduce swelling. But you have to be consistent to see results. If that doesn't work you may want to see your doc and possibly look into other treatments. Try to make sure you also have enough cushion when you sit.

I am 6 months out and so many things factor into your weight loss after WLS surgery. There is no guaranteed amount you will lose and some lose faster and some slower. In my support groups I have learned that everyone is on their own journey. During those journeys there are smooth roads, rough roads, unexpected delays, needs for repair before continuing on, pit stops, etc. That being said I believe there are things you can do to maximize your weight loss. Follow the proper dietary guidelines for the phase you are in, follow up with your nutritionist, make sure you are hydrating properly and hitting your protein mark (that can affect weight loss). I have lost 80lbs and have 20 more to go. Weight loss has slowed down but I can't complain I am still losing. Two weeks could go by and no loss then I lose. I no longer have Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and some of my other medical conditions have improved. THANK GOD. If you are adhering to the "rules" you will be successful but it's kinda on your body's terms. I would suggest taking measurements if you haven't already as a way to see your progress and re-take them every 4 weeks. I would also suggest not weighing yourself to much during the weight loss phase. I wait at least 5 days...This is just what has worked for me and what I've learned this far on my journey. Best Wishes

Oh my gosh! You guys too. I thought I was the oddball. At first my tailbone felt a little bruised. Now when I lay or sit it feels like it sticks out so much. As though my weight is all on it. So I compensate by switching sides. This just recently happened. I have lost 80 lbs and have 20 to go. I admit I have a flat butt. Sometimes it even feels as though the bone is off center. I was told to work on building my glutes back up and to strengthen my core more aggressively. I have iced it and put heat and sometimes it helps. I have also used a tennis ball on my butt...laying on top of it to help release the tension in the area surrounding. Thanks for the pillow referral I am going to invest in one. I will ask the doc if there is anything else I can do. Thanks for posting...