Djmohr

Amen to that. The people that spout off the most know the least about metabolic disease. It feels great to rant and get it off your chest and this is just the place to do it. Now, just get it done and stick it right up her A$$! I have what I used to call a friend do the same thing to me except she was just and big as I was. Since having surgery and watching me work my plan and get to goal, she never ever ever comments about my weight loss unless someone else does first and then you can see her become severely uncomfortable with the conversation. My husband saw her last week (it's been about 3 months since I have seen her). He said she has gained no less than 25 to 30lbs more. She is soon entering the super obese but apparently she knows everything. Oh well, to each his own.....right! Best if luck to you!

You are living my worst nightmare! Having reached my goal weight a few months ago, I am still learning how to maintain. Gaining and losing over and over. As most WLS patients I too got rid of all of my heavy clothes including clothes even one size up from where I am because I never want to go there again. I gained 7lbs last month and my size 8 jeans became snug and I panicked. I am and have been unable to do serious exercise for over 1 year now having had 3 major surgeries in the last 12 months and that did not include my bypass. I was still successful in losing all of my weight but had to be very very strict on what I consume. Prior to these surgeries I did cardio for an hour a day. Obviously you already know what you need to do. Until you can begin to gain more exercise momentum you may have to give up some of your beer consumption. I think you already realize this...... I do hope you get back on track soon and get back to where you are comfortable both with exercise while able to enjoy your hobby. Also keep in mind that after that first couple years it really does get harder to maintain. That happens with age as well.

The toughest part post op is managing all of your fluids and Protein. This is mostly because you could honestly care less about eating or drinking anything. You are simply not hungry! In the first few weeks/months following surgery the most critical thing is Water and protein. WLS patients get into trouble when they are unable or don't understand how important this is to not only weight loss but staying healthy through the weight loss phase. I used simple tricks to help me through. I would use cups that measured my fluids so I really knew exactly what I was consuming. I also used Myfitnesspal to track exactly what I consumed including my liquids. I learned very quickly to literally hold my water cup in my hand constantly. I would sip sip sip every few minutes until I got to the minimum water. I really did get to the point where I would be well hydrated first thing in the am which then helped get me to a full 64oz by 6 or 7pm. Of course my first two weeks post surgery I really struggled thinking I had to eat and drink everything on my surgeons post op diet only to learn that in the first month it is hardly possible. They would simply tell me to do the best that I could. So that is what I did. By 8 weeks post op I was finally able to get all of my fluids and protein in. Measuring and tracking is important but in the beginning you likely won't come close to eating and drinking absolutely everything on that menu. I ended up with tons of little containers of food like turkey or chicken purees that I never even used because I simply did not tolerate it during the purée stage. I learned to simply measure as I needed it. I remember a container of yogurt lasting me 4 or 5 days. LOL. I simply could not eat much at all. Setting timers also will help you.

@@BrookeM07 First, congratulations!!!!! Isn't it crazy that once we make the decision to move forward and hit road blocks it causes such distress? I can remember crying when things would get held up because of some stupid mistake that was made to hold me up along the way. I am not a cryer! It is a crazy roller coaster but so very worth all the effort to get through the process. I think it is made difficult to ensure you are very serious about moving forward. In my opinion this is mostly because the hard work has to come from each patient. WLS is not a miracle cure for obesity. It is simply a tool that with very hard work from us, will create a miracle. Never in a million years did I think I would lose all of my weight through the process but I did. I look fantastic, feel even better and all of my comorbitities are gone. I wish you the very best of luck and hope that all of your dreams come true and ultimately you are able to conceive! You are on your way to a whole new life and let me tell you life at a normal weight is grand!!!! Congratulations for working hard to get through this first hurdle.

There are only a few things that are on my never again list. The most critical one is soda pop. Drinking anything while eating is a no no permanently and NSAIDs. Now keep in mind that if you have severe arthritis your Bariatric team will work with you on an NSAIDs program that will protect your pouch. I have severe arthritis in my spine and several other joints but I choose not to risk a potential ulcer. Alcohol after year 1 is fine in small amounts but realize you are drinking your calories. I have been eating raw celery once 8 weeks out, it has never bothered me. I just chop it in salads and Soups small. I use a straw everyday! It helps me drink all my liquids. You simply have to learn not to gulp. I am now 21 months post op and have tried just about everything else I once did. I just don't like things like greasy foods, sweets or heavy carb foods. I crave good quality Protein, great fruit and veggies.

Sassy peguins make me giggle. Every time i see this clip it makes me happy!

Um.....yum! I wasn't hungry until I saw all that lovely protein! I eat bacon and cream cheese regularly. Bacon is my new favorite. The key is......don't eat too much of it.

@@Ashleyconder I would defiantly talk to your bariatric team about this. With RNY mine is 100 percent gone from the very first minute after my surgery. They had me take Nexium for the first 30 days post surgery as a preventative of ulcer while healing but stopped it. I eat things that used to give me such a belly ache that I would walk the floors all night. Now, nothing causes gerd. I am excited for you. You can feel so much better in the near future!

@@Daisee68 So far I have discovered I maintain at 1200 but if I go over that, I begin gaining. If I drop below it I begin losing again. Like you I would love to know how to get to that 1500 because I feel more satiated there.

hair loss is not a given. Mine started right around the beginning of month 3. It was severe and did not stop until my weight loss slowed to a crawl which was around month 13. I lost so much hair that I was shocked that I had any on my head at all. Now I am 21 months post op and my hair is very very thick and it came back very curly. I am having to learn how to manage it differently because of how curly it has become. I spoke with my dermatologist about it because he specializes in hair as well and he said it is common for your hair to change once you go through something so extraordinary. The same thing happens with cancer patients. I love my new hair and it was totally worth every worry. I am slightly below goal at 161lbs down, almost 150lbs. I look great and feel even better.

@@Ashleyconder Hi Ashley! I struggled with my weight my whole life. When I was young I was called horrible names and bullied because I was too thin. String bean, bean pole......the list goes on and on. I am also tall and have been the same height since I was 12. After I had my children (I was done with childbirth at 19). I started to put on weight just by looking at food. I did not understand what was happening to me. I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I remember telling my husband how scared I was that I was going to gain weight. Well I was 51 when I was so sick from comorbitities that my kidneys were actually failing. I had severe arthritis in my spine, knees, shoulders and hands. My kidney doctor suggested I consider Bariatric surgery. I immediately went home and began researching on line. I attended a course on line and then immediately got into a Bariatric program at my clinic. They were a Bariatric center of excellence. Like you I had gerd, mine was severe. I was 5'10" and weighed 310 lbs. as I began gaining weight I explained it to myself that I was simply big boned. I chose gastric bypass because it is known for curing gerd completely. In my case it did and I had very severe gerd that caused me to cough for a whole year all day long. I disrupted meetings at work or movies. You name it I disrupted it with my constant coughing before docs figured out that was what was happening. Well I am not big boned at all. I am now 161lbs just below my goal. All of my comorbitities disappeared very quickly. Unfortunately I waited way to long and did a lot of damage to my bones. So although I am very very healthy now, I am paying for waiting too long. If I can give you any advice at all it would be don't wait start your research and decide to get well again. As far as your sister goes, just remember she does not understand that obesity is actually a metabolic disease. As the disease progresses it becomes harder and harder to lose and keep the weight off with diet and exercise. Also keep in mind that the surgery is not a magical key that changes you forever. You have to do your part to make it work. You have to eat right and exercise. The surgery helps you do that. The best of luck to you!

It comes from a lack of education around obesity. They have no idea that obesity is actually a metabolic disease. And some diseases require surgery. Yes, some people can be successful losing weight and keeping it off through diet and exercise but I believe the long term success is less than 5% where as someone who has gone through WLS has a better than 30% chance of long term success. Let's face it most of did not know that until we started doing our research and meeting with Bariatric specialists.

There are so many points of view on this topic written by physicians. The best thing you can do is not freak out but follow the plan. Stay away from carbonation and eating and drinking together as well as overeating. In the beginning it is difficult to overeat because your body will simply cause you to vomit, in the future you are more apt to push yourself further because something tastes good. We all do it once in a while but it is not good and if you do it all the time for every meal it can become a big problem. Many times people who have had revision from bypass to bypass again it's because they did not follow the plan, learned to eat around or overeat consistently. They did not follow the rules thereby causing them to gain their weight back, they will blame it on a stretched pouch but that likely is not the reason for the revision. To eat around you have to be grazing....eating small quantities all day. I have done it once or twice and boy do I regret it when I do. It's usually a holiday and I immediately get back on the plan.

@@LibrarianBecky I still have a hard time eating more than 2oz of dense Protein like chicken, shrimp, pork and beef. I am 20 months post op. Now, other soft foods I can eat a lot so measuring for me is critical.

@@kealot I am also guessing you will also have some swelling for several months. I think they look very good compared to before. I am green with envy, my arms are the worst part of my excess skin. Do you mind if I ask how much it cost you to have it done?

Yup shoes and jewelry, glasses, head gear for C-pap if you use one. I joke with my husband regarding the head hear for C-pap.....I must have had a big fat head and I don't any more. It definitely is not cheap losing all this weight but it is too much fun shopping for new stuff. In fact trying on clothing and shoes is my favorite thing to do because I fit into normal sizes. I used to avoid shopping for clothing and shoes like the plaque because it was depressing. p.s. Hopefully you will lose the C-pap within the 1st year anyway but some people don't.

@@PdxMan They have you drink a solution while watching your digestive system using X-ray. This way they can see if you have a stricture or if everything is working as designed.

@@Ele marie Yes, it will go away as you get furthere down the road. The problem is, you really really really need to stay hydrated. It is the number 1 most important thing right after surgery. Try adding some fruit or veggies to your Water to enhance the flavor. That perfume thing happens to some people. I know that I had the same problem but simply had to muscle through it. I tried some of those water enhancers but it only made it worse for me. My doctor had me try adding cucumbers or watermelon and that helped. For me that became too fussy to deal with so I simply started drinking plain room temp water and forcing myself to drink it. That feeling passed once I made it to soft foods.

It is disheartening to know that our bodies work so hard against us but it does make sense given how many times in my life I dropped 50 to 100 pounds through diet and exercise but those pounds always came back and brought some buddies with them too. When I was young it was almost a game for me, I got good at losing the weight. What I did not see coming was how age plays into your ability to lose. I actually got to a point where I could lose tops 5lbs only to have it return and frustrate me. When I realized that i was doing more damage than good I finally threw in the towel when it came to diet and exercise completely. By then though a lot of damage to my bones and organs were in full swing. Ugh. I have learned that there is no such thing as a diet for me. A healthy balanced meal that consists of good Proteins, vegetables and fruits in my diet is critical to my being able to maintain my loss. As I have just entered the maintenance phase in the last couple months I am still learning how many calories I can eat per day to maintain. For me, it is lower than most because I am also not physically capable of doing the exercise i would like to. Hopefully soon we will figure things out so I can get back to cardio daily which will allow me to add some additional calories. I am sad for those folks who are obese and don't understand how this works. I am thrilled for the young folks who recognize they need to do something more permanent. The only cure for obesity long term is WLS. I believe that to be completely true. I would argue those folks that go through WLS and dont take the time to learn good nutritional habits still won't be successful long term and they will continue to blame it on the surgery. Obesity is an epidemic and it is quite scary. I seriously notice people more now that I understand the disease and I feel like our PCPs are not educated enough about obesity and the cure. When you are in a crowd of people just stop and take notice of those around you. There are very few normal sized people. Most are overweight, on their way to being obese or obese already. It's frightening.

I had a neurostimulator in my spine for 10 years and just had it removed in November. Mine was an older device that did not have rechargeable capability and given I had lost over 100lbs it was literally sticking out of my lower back, I got it stuck in the slats of a chair once didn't know it and tried to stand up. Ouch!!! Anyway, I wanted to respond because this device literally gave me back my life. I had severe nerve pain running down my leg following lumbar fusion surgery. We tried everything for 5 years and finally they offered me the neurostimulator solution. The first time we turned it on in the operating room it felt magical. The pain was gone and it felt like tiny littles champagne bubbles running up and down my spine and my leg. They work! It only makes sense that they could somehow use it to resolve the feelings of hunger. I do believe in order for long term success a person would still have to deal with head hunger, cravings and the underlying food addiction issues. I know even days or weeks after my RNY, I had head hunger that would make me want to go eat a cheeseburger. I had to learn how to deal with it. Obviously the same diet and exercise will be important as well right? Very interesting, thanks for sharing.

@@axlr8n My first blood sugar in the am is usually between 70 and 75 which is excellent. Your morning numbers are great. It is all about eating a balanced diet. Good carbs and Protein for every meal. If you can stick to that it should not be a problem. It is smart to document when you do have an episode and then look back at what you consumed. That is how I know cream of wheat will do it for me if I don't follow that bowl of cereal with a protein bar or shake. My doctor loves that I have that cereal, it is whole grain and a very good source of Iron. He immediately said don't stop eating just try adding protein and hour later, so far that has worked great for me. I know in every instance it has happened exactly why and it has to do with the combination of what I ate and the timing of that food.

So I am one of the unlucky ones who gets reactive hypoglycemia. It is not fun and I am still trying to figure out the combination of foods that cause if for me. I have had it happen about 12 times since surgery 20 months ago. When it comes on, you don't even realize it is happening until it is almost too late. I suddenly don't feel right, I start shaking and I crash very fast. It takes a lot to get my sugars back to normal. I was a very controlled diabetic before surgery. I will usually have a Protein shake for break fast but occasionally I like a small bowl of cream of wheat. On the days I have that cream of wheat I have to be very careful eating some protein within an hour of the cream of wheat. If I don't do that I am almost guaranteed a episode. Once you have an episode it is very difficult to get control of it without eating more carbs all day long so the trick is never getting there in the first place. I had an episode last week and looking back at why, I know my carbs were higher than normal and my body simply does not like that. It is a very scary condition and if it gets too severe and you don't figure out what causes it, the only cure is having your bypass reversed which is absolutely not a solution for me. So, I have to be diligent about eating right and checking your sugar the minute you feel weird. Last week when I felt it I tested my sugar and I was at 43. Scary! I hope you figure out what might be causing your situation. Make sure you get to the bottom of it so you don't break your face!

I had sleep apnea and was on bipap. I have not needed my machine for over a year now. Recently however they put me on heavy duty pain meds (fentanyl patch). This med is scary because it definitely affects your breathing. I have been on it for 6 weeks and I recently asked for a different plan as this drug is effecting me in a negative way. Anyway, I hauled out my bipap machine and have been using it while on this medication. I cannot simply stop it because I am on a high dose and will go through severe withdrawals so they put me on a cocktail of antidepressants for pain control and it will take about 6 weeks for that to start working. So they have me taking this high dose for a month of fentanyl and then we will ween me down slowly. It is not a drug I would allow them to put me on in the future. I have the strangest dreams that reoccur and continue. Also my memory is shot. Things that happen for real, I mistake for dreams and dreams become real. It is very friggin scary stuff.

I was nearly 5' 11" my entire life, then in 2001 I had a lumbar fusion and suddenly I was 5'10". In June I had a 3 level cervical fusion and now I am 5' 9 3/4" I mean seriously can I stop shrinking please! Hubby thinks it's funny, I do not. I like my height.