Djmohr

I am glad this topic is available. Regain has been my biggest fear since this whole process started. In the last 8 weeks I have found myself hungrier than normal, not making the best decisions and I have gained 4lbs. I know that is not a lot and there is an expectation over time of some regain but it really is freaking me out some. Oh, and I really don't want to succumb to the regain. My clothes fit great, I look very healthy and have gotten used to my new weight and new look. I would like to keep it this way. I do think my hungrier state is due to two things. 1.) I had plastics 8 weeks ago and after the first week suddenly I was hungry all the time. I do believe this is because my body is craving more Protein to heal. 2.) I have not been making all the best decisions adding to my diet. Given I have been at goal for 6 months, I have added some whole grains into my diet but occasionally I am slipping and adding what I consider to be crap as well and I think that is a vicious circle. Once you let that stuff in, you crave it. So, now what to do about it so it doesn't keep going in the wrong direction....before I try the pouch test, I am going to remove the crap decisions and see if that works. It's back to a more stricter high protein, low good carbs. If that doesn't help with the hunger then, I will do the pouch test for a few days just to get back to a more restrictive feel. I do believe I won't need to get to this level if I just go back to basics but we will see.

@@LipstickLady I took this test many many years ago with my old company so it was time to do it again. Funny thing is....I am still an ESTJ We actually had training and classes on this for weeks at my old job. We had a huge team and we're focusing on working together. Anyway....thanks for the reminder.

Here is a warning........thinking about food and looking at food (Food Porn), will cause you to have serious head hunger. It is likely you are actually dealing with that given the hunger hormone was severed when they removed 90% of your stomach. In the early stages it is best to think about just meeting your Protein goals and it sounds like you are able to eat eggs, turkey, chicken.....stuff like that. I know I really struggled with Greek yogurt as well but found flavors that I could tolerate an slowly I actually began to like Greek yogurt. I like the Chobani flips. Same thing with cottage cheese which is a great protein source. I also look for ways to eat ricotta cheese and I now LOVE it. It is one of my favorites. It's even better when you can have fruit which I was allowed at 4 weeks. A grilled peach with a large spoon full of Splenda sweetened or natural honey is absolutely delicious. I use a small amount of honey because I am alergic to artificial sweeteners.

Yum.....love me some nuts and love me some spicy nuts!

I previously had a neurostimulator implanted for my lower lumbar and nerve pain in my right leg. It literally gave me my life back. That was in 2005 and I used it every single day for 3 years 24 hours per day. Then one day I turned it off and noticed the nerve pain in my leg was gone. So, I turned it off and only used it during flares which happen once or twice per year. Then when I lost all my weight, the stupid thing stopped working and because it was an old version it had to be removed. Besides....the internal box was literally sticking out of my back because of my weight loss. On my thoracic spine, I have used tens units in physical therapy and have purchased over the counter ones. For me the over the counter ones are a joke......the one from physical therapy helped as long as I was hooked up to it. The moment it was removed, my back and rib pain was right back. I will consider having a neurostimulator implanted for thoracic if and when they can figure out exactly what is causing the nerve pain. So far, 4 different doctors have differing opinions and are trying all the other crap first. It started with them drugging me out for almost 6 months. I put a stop to that in July. I am no longer on any narcotics or other garbage they tried. I still had severe pain and was now drugged out and sleeping half the day away. I feel fantastic, I am just struggling with debilitating back and rib pain. Hopefully the epidural will help or at least provide diagnosis for us.

@TheRealMeIsHere! I agree with the firm compression statement. Trust me, your body feels horrible when it swells. Those compression garments are both your best friend and your nemesis all at the same time.

I hate that damn waffle iron. It hurts more now to me too! Wonder what it will be like after implants.

@@LisaMergs I am already hungry and have not made dinner yet. So what do I don't? Click on the "food porn" post. LOL! Now, I a, going to have to go make something for dinner. Yum! Looks delicious.

I have absolutely experienced significant change in my spine post surgery. Keep in mind that I did have problems before my bypass, in fact had to have a fusion of L5 & S1 and also had cervical spinal stenosis with cord flattening. Post surgery, like you I was working out every day. An hour of cardio 5 times per week and 2 days of 3-5 miles walking per day on the other days. At about 7 months post op, I started to notice my cervical spine getting much worse causing severe numbness and tingling down my right arm along with very severe neck pain. I had been putting off cervical fusion for about 8 years. Well, when I went to the doctor instead of having only 1 level in severe shape, now I had 3 and because of the cord flattening and stenosis, they wanted to do surgery right away. This is all stemming from DDD. At the time I saw them, they told me they see many many patients post massive weight loss because all the fat was actually structure holding everything together. In June of last year I had a 3 level cervical fusion. I continued to lose more weight down now 152lbs and my thoracic spine and ribs are involved. I have been in physical therapy, myofacial release, acupuncture, since December to absolutely no avail. I started seeing a specialized chiropractor who works with patients with extensive fusions and he has definately helped other parts of my spine and neck but the severe thoracic pain is still there. Two weeks ago they tried trigger point injections in the muscle thinking that might help. The only thing it did was make me feel numb for about a day but I could still feel the pain in my back and ribs. So, now we are still working with chiropractor and on the 23rd they are going to try a epidural injection in my T9, T10 and T11 vertebrae following by some nerve injections in my intercostal ribs. I am praying this works because I really do not want to have another surgery to install a neurostimulator that may or may not work for this. Some people have a lot of relief after weight loss and I do have severe osteoarthritis of the spine along with DDD. Even still with all of this, I would have absolutely had the gastric bypass. All my other joints are better. I believe I waited about 10 years too long to have this surgery knowing I had back problems to begin with. I also believe if I was carrying around another 152lbs I would be in worse shape. Back problems are no picnic and today and I really lucky if I can walk from the parking lot into a store and around the store for 20 minutes. I hope that when they do these other injections it improves my state but the only exercise I can do right now are strength ing and stretching so I have to maintain my weight with food.

Which surgery did you have? I know with bypass they make the opening (Stoma) between your new pouch and your intestines small. In the beginning months you also have swelling on top of it but once that swelling goes down the opening is a little bigger. I was told that at the beginning, the opening is no bigger than the top of an eraser. That is why you must chew like crazy. Now nearly two years post op, that opening is definately bigger but I still cannot swallow pills that are too fat or food that is not chewed well. In addition if you eat too quickly, you get that same stuck feeling and it can really end a meal and leave you short of Protein for the day if you don't go back and eat more later.

I like #5, bottom middle.

I know......it really never bothers me to go to the doctor any more. I look forward to the stupid scale. It makes me proud that I will never look at a 3 before my weight again! Congratulations! You have done so well and have been such an inspiration to others on this site.

I went to 3 in person support groups and decided that the only support group I wanted to leverage is this one. I have found there is just too much whining and negativity in the support group meetings that was connected to my clinic. I have turned out ok so far. 2 years post op this month and at goal and maintaining well. Some people just struggle in those environments.

For me it was my favorite thing since I was a kid. I had spagetti and meatballs. Now, I love meatballs but really do not like spagetti at all. It just isn't appealing.

Woot woot! Congratulations!

Probably after I lost my first 60lbs I noticed how terribly cold I was all the time, unless of course I was having a hot flash. LOL. Now 152lbs lighter I find myself wearing a jacket or sweater even in the summertime. I use my husband to warm up my fingers and toes and he is constantly checking to see if I am dead or not. He swears I am.

It all depends on how much weight you have to lose. I started feeling the energy right around 8 weeks post op and it only got better from there.

I am with @@KristenLe on this one, if you can take a loan against your 401k that would work best because you simply pay yourself back. Otherwise it really might be worth it to you to purchase insurance that covers Bariatric surgery. I know there are others on here who have done that. Best of luck to you!

The most important thing those first few weeks is to get your fluids in. Try sipping on room temp or slightly warmed Water. Especially first thing in th am. For some reason following surgery cold stuff just causes the pouch to almost spasm. Your tummy needs to to wake up so a cup of slightly warm water or tea is perfect. Then keep sipping room temp water. If you are not getting enough hydration, you will feel like crap, get nauseous and dizzy and the only way to feel better is to hydrate. Once you have that under control you will start to feel better and everything else can get added. Sip slow, definately no big drinks or gulps. They can be quite painful and when that happens you don't want to drink. It is a vicious circle. I hope it gets better soon. Call your surgeons office if you need to.

Tons and tons of Water will wash the sodium which is what causes that weight gain during your period. And then try to reduce your sodium intake if you can that should help. Try not to worry so much about it, we all have that fear........and for you, no food funerals! LOL. That could make it worse!

Well, it is all a question of what your docs want you on. For example mine will only allow calcium citrate because they worry about kidney stones from the others. Are you looking for how to make sure you are taking them? Or recommendations on the actual Vitamins? I finally broke down and bought one of those pill organizers that is for a week straight. I take 1 multi Vitamin with added D3, I take D3, B1, B12 sublingual and my calcium citrate chews from Bariatric Advantage. The calcium is the most expensive, the others are all generics that I buy 2 bottles for the price of one and Walgreens. I take calcium twice daily, once in the morning and once at night after dinner because our tummys malabsorb it if we push too much at once. Then I take all others in the evening an hour or so before bed. My organizer keeps me on track because I don't have to question whether or not I took it. If there are pills in that section I know I did not take them and then I take them right away. It's been working for me for about the last 18 months and my nutritional panels have been excellent. The only time I had a problem was after the first 6 months, I was taking too much B12 and not getting enough B1(thiamin). So we held the b12 for 6 months and I took 100mg b1 daily. The last two times I have had blood work, they have been perfect. Not sure if this is what your looking for but hope it helps. If you are forgetting you could set an alarm on your phone to remind you. That helps too.

@@madadams Wow, that is neat to hear they can do it so fast under a local these days. I had my tubal ligation immediately following the birth of my 2nd child. I was only 19, married with 2 kids and was married to a horses a$$. I knew there was no way I wanted more children with him so I asked my ob/gyn to perform the surgery. It was a actual knock you out surgery and one night in the hospital back then. They added it right on to my 3 day stay from having a baby. Boy have things changed. I will say....my doc should never have agreed to do it at 19 and years later when I met and married my now husband (been married to him for 29 years), I had wished they were not tied. However, I got over it quickly and am thankful for my two beautiful boys and their now 12 year old daughters.......being a grandparent is the best!

I hear ya sister! That is the only protein drink I actually like and still drink one chocolate one every morning for breakfast.