NeonRaven8919

18 hours ago, Mark1107 said:

I was 330 lbs in 10/2019 had the sleevectomy. Since day one massive pain in my stomach. Never healed. Kaiser Dr. Edward Zane Southbay medical center. Was in hospital 2 days went home with a bottle of hydromorphone. I’m 56 years old, 6’1 and weigh 195. In 2021 I was as high as 220 but taking daily opioids and now I’m weaning myself off of them switching to cannabis gummies. Even on cannabis with the munchies I can’t eat anything.

I never healed and I’ve struggled for 5 years. I was prescribed hydromorphone since 2019 and I need it at every meal or drink. If I drink Water I cramp and bowl over in pain. I eat anything cold or hot I bend over in pain. I had ultrasounds endoscopies etc. I have serious GERD and been on proton pump inhibitors for 2 years. I can’t eat Protein of any type without massive pain and opioids from a hamburger white fish pork steak chicken turkey it all hurts all of the time. Carbs and minor fat also hurt but not as much as Protein.

I switched to BCBS the new bariatric Dr says I either have a stricture or I need the bypass surgery now.

current weight is 195and I’ve been losing weight this past year and really hate all food. It doesn’t matter if it’s carbs fat or protein it hurts my stomach. I also get nauseous and throw up if I eat too much regardless and have massive cramping 5years later. Also have burning sensation with bowel movements but was tested negative for crohns/ulcerative colitis.

after 5 years addicted to opioids I went to BCBS and they said Cedars Sinai surgeons can look at stricture correction surgery or just go for the bypass. They want me to eat nuclear egg salad and barium drink during an mri to see what is wrong. Last endoscopy was 10/24 and my esophageal ulcer was 90% healed. I had an untreated ulcer since 2019 that also contributed. Current medication metoprolol 100 mg x a day lisinopril20 mg 2 x a day, Amlodipine 5mg 2 x a day, omeprazole 2x a day, gummies and Vicodin daily with every meal. I can stop opioids once the pain stops.

after 5 years of losing weight and my quality of life has deteriorated I’m leaning towards bypass surgery.

please help group. I also have massive starvation and nutrition issues and take Vitamins but still can’t get even 2k of calories in my body and have low energy all of the time.

sincerely,

Mark

What a nightmare! I would be really annoyed with the surgical team for not doing anything to help for this long! 5 years in pain is just not ok!

I'm only two months post sleeve, so I don't really have anything useful to add, just wanted to say sorry to hear about your difficulties and I wish all the best with your new surgical team!

3 hours ago, ShoppGirl said:

You know what. I was doing so well and feeling so good with my nutrition and exercise. Then Thanksgiving and some medical stuff happened and I have been allowing some bad foods to slip in and i Am starting to notice I’m waking up more at night and waking up feeling fatigued. It’s honestly not worth it. The food that nourishes your body is such a good way to think of it because bad food is like cheap gas it just doesn’t make our bodies run very well and can cause engine failure. Ha. I think I just thought of that. Or I heard it somewhere and just think I did. Anyways, good for you with your nutrition. It is pretty amazing to realize the difference between a lifelong diet and a lifestyle change

This is a good analogy about cheap gas. We had my work Christmas Celebration which included a sit down, three course meal. I had to leave one course untouched because it was not worth the space in my stomach. While I'm sure it would have been delicious, it's just not good for me. The waiter looked a bit upset that I just didn't touch it, but I'm learning to choose the things that are better for me, not just what my taste buds feel are better. Side Note: At another time though, I will remember to look for a black cherry sorbet recipe and hopefully find a sugar free version.

I still over did it a little bit as I should have stuck to just the turkey and veg and not has as much of the stuffing, but even making one good choice is better than making all bad choices.

1 minute ago, NeonRaven8919 said:

Back in June when I was approved for Surgery, I was a size 22-24UK. Today, Two months post surgery, I'm wearing a size 18UK top!

Back in June when I was approved for Surgery, I was a size 22-24UK. Today, Two months post surgery, I'm wearing a size 18UK top!

Not sure if this is a win, or if it's just in my mind, but here it is.

I was in the US for Thanksgiving so I haven't been riding my bike to work for the last two weeks. Today, I got on the bike for the the first time in two weeks and I just felt lighter and faster than I usually do. I think my bike is breathing a sigh of relief that she has less weight to carry. I can feel like I'm really flying now, even on the eco power mode (ebike) and not the full power mode.

Tomorrow is my 2 month surgiversary and I'm already halfway to my (numerical) weight loss goal!

7 hours ago, ms.sss said:

i HEART your stepmother and sister!!!

Yes I got a lot more support than I expected. I knew they would be helpful, but this was really great.

45 minutes ago, FifiLux said:

That is great, good for you. Maybe you should have bought a size small hoodie as well, you'll no doubt need it soon.

If you haven't already done so at home maybe buy smaller bowls and plates. That is what I did, some at home and a set at the office and I use for my meals, what was called an appetiser set - plate 15*15cm and bowl 10*10cm. I use a regular sized side plate sometimes but rarely and using the smaller ones makes Portion Control easy.

It was a Black Friday sale and they only had the medium, but I will start buying new clothes soon. Most of my work outfits are too big.

I do have some small plates, but I've only just started eating solids when I was in America so I've only used small bowls. Now that I can eat more, I'm going to start meal prepping again instead of just heating up cans of Soup.

4 minutes ago, FifiLux said:

No, Luxembourg. Here it is covered but you have to meet certain conditions like significant weight loss, loss has stablised and then the doctor submits a report to the health service. I figure I will go and see what he says, the cost of the consultation is 90% refundable so nothing really to lose.

Oh that's really good. I'm going to have to start saving up. It's mostly my arms that are really starting to get baggy.

Christmas should be easier because I will be two months post op and I've been getting better at adjusting to my new eating requirements. Also, I'm not really a drinker so I will be able to say no to all the drinks which will happen

16 hours ago, FifiLux said:

Well not sure I am getting anything yet but in my email to the clinic I asked for the appointment to discuss "cosmetic surgery following significant weight loss, in particular breast surgery" so will see what the dr says.

If I do get anything I would only be doing what is covered by the national health coverage, not paying out of my own pocket. I would love a legs and arms as they are what I am most self conscious of but I know that they are painful and after all the post sleeve complications I had I am hesitant (verging on scared) to do anything.

Are you in the UK? I am and I was told that the NHS doesn't do any cosmetic surgery after weight loss unless it's causing a health problem. I really hope that they can do something for you if you want.

I went home to America for Thanksgiving for the first time in 20 years! I was really nervous about going back, but I actually had a really good time!

Thanksgiving went really well! My stepmother had the sleeve two years ago and I told her I had the sleeve recently so she just dished me up a plate that was about the portion size she eats now so I didn't have to do any guess work with new foods! She even made a sugar free desert for the two of us! I had about a bite of everything and that was enough!

I even managed to lose 2.5kg (5.5lbs) during the 8 days I was there. I think what helped the most is I was staying with my sister who has two girls who are 6 and 3 so she just dished me up the same amount that she did for her kids so I was never tempted to over eat. Child size plates have been really helpful!

I went to my favourite stores for the nostalgia. I bought a hoodie which is a size MEDIUM and it fits! Eventually it will be as baggy as my current ones, but it feels really good to wear a medium!

I was really worried about what this food centred holiday was going to do to me, but it went really well.

I'm seriously considering moving back to Montana permanently, but that's a topic for another day.

This year, I'm going home for Thanksgiving. It's the first time I've been back in 20 years. I have some family members who don't know/approve of surgery so it's going to be a bit tough, but I will try and treat like a normal, get Protein in first, then veg, then carbs. and no Snacks in between.

Check out my butt in this plane seat! There's some chair left over! About an inch. I'm counting it as a win

On 11/21/2024 at 11:31 PM, BlondePatriotInCDA said:

Ohh, I've been contemplating getting a helix piercing... Glad you mentioned this!

I'm glad I got, but it was tener for a few weeks. After that, I just got used to sleeping on my back. It became a habit.

Just now, NeonRaven8919 said:

The top pick last week, the bottome pick July 2024 a week after I started the pre op diet.

21 hours ago, summerseeker said:

I went with my weight the day I went to the see the surgeon for my initial consultation. This was the highest I was ever going to be.

Same. But it was also to my knowledge the highest I ever weighed.

1 minute ago, NickelChip said:

I had to add the laughing emoji on your last comment because that bullshit button is awesome. If only we all had one on our foreheads that other people could press as needed... (although we would probably not appreciate it so much in the moment, I'm thinking).

Good luck on your trip and remember to give yourself grace as you navigate a totally new life experience of being a bariatric patient in a different environment, with family, during the holidays. It's not going to go perfectly, and that's fine.

Thanks! It's not just family, it's family I haven't seen 20 years at Thanksgiving. Fortunately, my stepmom is 2years post sleeve so she should have some guidance on negotiating the feast.

On 11/14/2024 at 11:22 AM, Mspretty86 said:

Do not know how to explain this I am a side sleeper fetal position like. My knees can now touch each other feels thin and bony they are rubbing together and it annoys be. When larger I did not feel this 😂

I was a side sleeper for years until I got a piercing high up on my ear so I switched to being a back sleeper. Suddenly since surgery, my body wants to sleep on the side and my knees are getting bonier. My body must secretly love pain

19 hours ago, Leighanne12 said:

Has anyone ever had weight loss "stalling"? The scale has not moved for almost a month (it has not gone up either). I doing everything I can think of: exercising, eating correctly, measuring food portions, food journaling, more Water, daily Vitamins. EVERYTHING. Is the end of the road for me? (I am 10 months post-op. ) Anyone else go thru these times?

I had a stall during my pre-op diet which took about a week to end. Then at 3 weeks post op I had stall. But in week 4 suddenly 10lbs was gone. I get more stressed about it if I weigh myself every day, so I try not to, but it's really difficult not to.

Thanks everyone. I think me panic was more stress induced than anything else. So I've just gone through my house again, and threw out everything that I shouldn't eat again. I definitely think I have a food addiction so I think I will check out overeaters anonymous. Honestly, I never something like that existed! My weight is back on a downward trend (.5kg or 1lb) since Monday so I'm starting to see the light at the end again. I'm flying on Sunday so I've been feeling stressed about that which doesn't help.

Thank you for all your support. Sometimes I just need someone to press the "bullshit" button and snap me out of the funk.

Back to onwards and downwards.

I cycle about 5 miles a day. It's just my commute, but I love it.

Yes. you're all right of course. I'm just blowing this out of proportion. As the saying goes. "it's a bad day. not a bad life." I think I'm stressed about my long trip to on Sunday and seeing people for the first time in 20 years.

And your definitely right. I've been eating more than I have in weeks and more than I shoud, but definitely less than this time last year.

43 minutes ago, BigSue said:

It’s understandable that you’re upset by this setback, but it’s way too early to declare failure. The first several months after WLS are a major adjustment and very stressful, both physically and mentally. Do you have a therapist? Your post reads like a CBT textbook chapter on cognitive distortions, and all of this can be addressed in therapy.

I can't get therapy. I've had the one session with the therapist that I get with the MDT and it was all about mindful eating. Which was just "eat slower and focus on the taste and texture so you know when you are full." Well, I'm full but I keep eating and can't stop. I mean, if this is going to continue and I can't get help, I can't really see how this isn't a failure. I can't get more therapy sessions. That was it.