MrsKarenC2008

So as many of us know - we had the surgery for various reasons. Most are health related ... as was mine. Now 3 1/2 years out ... I'm developing a whole new set of health challenges ... Seems my refusal to eat sugar and carbs is catching up with me ... in the form of Hypoglycemia. Gotta love that. NOT. So the doctor says I need to eat some carbs and carry a piece of candy with me for when it hits ... which is getting more and more frequent and I've even passed out a few times ... once in the Chicago airport! LOVE the embarrassment there ... Carry a piece of candy?! Have you lost your mind?! So has this been an issue with anyone else? How do you handle it? I'm so sad about this and confused and I have been away from the boards for quite a while ... but I need someone to talk to ... I cannot and WILL NOT eat sugar or carbs willingly ... What has anyone else done? Am I being stupid? Am I being ridiculous?

OMGOSH everyone!!! Thank you for the overwhelming response .... It makes me feel SO MUCH better that I'm not alone ( which I knew, I just needed to hear it ... well read it ) .... I am SO glad I found my way back here to ask questions and get advice. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU again SO much sincerely ... I now have new things to toss out there to my doctor and see what plans we can make ... Thank you again everyone!!!! xoxox

thank you !! I've tried fruit ... but since surgery it gives me frequent trips to the potty ( ya know? ) ... so that is out ... I carry glucose tablets with me ... as a matter of fact - they're everywhere ... car/purse/stand by the couch/night stand ... I've even resorted to buying them in bulk!

@OutsideMatchInside - Thank you for those tips! Odd thing is ... I don't even crave sugary things anymore ... for me now ... it's all about the crunch ... so things like peanuts and Popchips are my main "gotta haves" .... so strange ... I do keep Protein bars on hand ... and even an extra Protein shake I've tried ... that seems to curb the crunch cravings a bit ... Thank God it's only a few days a month!!!!

SO I know that with the old me ... I would eat like a horse during PMS ... and for about 9 months after surgery ... PMS didn't affect me like that ... but now ... 16 months out ... I get the "munchies" really bad during PMS ... I know in my head it wont last ... so I don't stress too bad ... I'll gain 2 or 3 lbs ... but then after my period is over ... it drops back off ... I've tried to drink more water and walk more ( knees dictate my physical activity level ) ... but the urge to munch is still there ... ugh. any suggestions? thanks ladies !

So yes ... I am freeeezing most all of the time ... But we're saving on our AC bill ! Went to the movies over the weekend ... ( Live in GA ) ... it's like 98% humidity and 97 degrees outside ... I'm wearing a jacket inside the theater .... ( jeans and a long sleeve shirt too ) People next to me are in shorts and tank tops looking at me like I just rolled out from under an igloo! I'm just amazed at how my body temp has changed ... before I would be literally dripping sweat all the time ... now I'm sitting ( right now as a matter of fact ) with my desktop heater on ... at home I'm in a sweatshirt and sweatpants ... and sometimes even have the hood up AND a blanket covering me ! It's strange strange ... But hey ... if this is a side effect of losing weight and becoming healthier and feeling better and being able to do more things ... I'M IN !!!!!!!!

oh yes ... it's funny but I can actually smell sugar now ... and it STINKS! Used to love tomato Soup ... but now ... yuck. Cant stand banana's anymore ... they stink and taste horrible ... But yet ... I like spinach now ... Odd. Who knew !?

@@johnbamber I used to LOVE tomato Soup before surgery ... but since ... cant stand it I love the facial expression!! Definitely good to see you enjoying things !

Trampoline jumping ... ME? Really? Wahooooooooo!!!! Pic attached

@bellabeans I can only tell you what I know is true ... At my very heaviest ... I was 382 ... I was on some pretty hard pain medicine ( that cancer patients take ) ... I was getting injections in my knees every other month ... and STILL wanted to crawl in a hole and stay there ... I went to see a doctor about knee replacements ... but he told me and I quote " I cannot do your surgery because there is too much mass ( meaning fat ) there to bend your legs properly. Either lose weight or buy a scooter " That hurt me .. but he was honest .. so I couldn't fault him...the fault was all on me. So I had sleeve 7/8/15 and I've lost 167lbs ... and have NEVER looked back .... I'm OFF all the pain medication ... I take Tylenol for that ... I'm PROMISING you the relief is WORTH IT !!!!! You've got this! Blessings to you!

@@kmorri You look SOOOOO HAPPY !!!!!!! Congratulations !!

I know we probably all feel or have felt this way ... But I just had a co-worker tell me it was time I start "seeing" what others see ... and accept compliments better than I am ... I told her I still see the before-surgery me ... and I may always see that ... I mean I "see" the thinner me ... but I don't "feel" the thinner me ... does this make sense? I still walk with my head down ... I still don't make eye contact with people ... I still don't smile and nod at strangers ... I still want to hide ... But ... I like wearing the smaller clothes ... I don't get my brain ... Any suggestions or advice ... is more than welcome.

@@VSGAnn2014 You hit my nail on the head for sure...I always call myself a hermit ... but extrovert is the real name for it ... and I think being overweight for my whole life and having people shun you for it ... made me go inside myself and live within my walls ... But now ... now that people actually WANT to get to know me ... talk to me ... invite me to things ... I honestly have no idea how to handle it ... Maybe @@OutsideMatchInside is right ... it's time for counseling ... there is so much I'm missing because I lack the confidence and the skills to "deal" with it ... And @@jenn1 is right too ... my brain is not caught up with the weight loss ... I'm only a few days away from my 1 year surgiversary ... and I've lost 165lbs! 1 6 5 ... That alone is hard to wrap your mind around ... and then throw other issues with it ... Thank God I've not run for the brownies!! LOL

for me it's discomfort ... and it's misery for about 5 minutes ... but it's not because I eat too much ... I still eat too fast ... Ugh. That is such a hard habit to get out of ...

I'm with @KindaFamiliar ... People suck. Probably about 95% of them ... in more ways than one. But ... the other 5% ... have a great way of making you feel like you're on top of the world when they see you and compliment you on a job well done .... I'll take the 5% any day !

So I have met goal ... I'm almost at my 1 year surgiversary ... I'm good with where I am ... ( VERY good ) So how do I know if I'm "done" ? I asked the doc .. and he said "you'll know" ... I said that sounds like what my mom said when I asked how do I know if he is the one?! What signs did you guys have? How did your body clue you in? I'm just wondering if my body is telling me ... and I'm too clueless to know! Thanks everyone !!!

Yes, I am 5'6" and I'm currently at 194 as of this morning !!

I had to fly to NY this past weekend for baby sister's wedding ... haven't flown since 2002 ... Never liked it because of my size ... But this time ... it was non-issue !!! Enjoyed it sooooo much!!! Wahooooooo hooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!! Sky's the limit everyone!!!

I couldn't choose just one!