RubyTuesday

Well, I've been gone for a while. Everything was going really well, then I hit a long stall. I stopped having bowel movements but once every couple of weeks, I developed random heartburn and pain in my chest. One night, I woke up with severe nausea, then the pain started. I thought I was having a heart attack. I rushed myself to the ER, and the doctor ignored me. I was in severe pain, and very dehydrated but he discharged me with a stomach virus, even though the pain I was having was not abdominal, but more in my sternum, and was burning not cramping. So, once discharged, and embarrassed, I walked over to the surgery clinic and they, God bless them, saw me right away. They did an abdominal series, blood work, and scoped me. The scope revealed what looked to be a hiatal hernia. So, I was admitted to the hospital and scheduled for surgery the next day. The next morning they performed a barium swallow and discovered that it was actually a pouch that formed off of my sleeve and was acting like a psuedo-stomach, collecting food and the like, but not digesting. My sleeve was virtually untouched. It's very rare, and as far as I know unheard of. So, I was operated on to remove the pouch. I'm doing MUCH better, and the great news is I have a brand new and smaller sleeve. Yee ha! I'm down to 185, which makes me 65 lbs less. This pouch was my fault. It's very rare, but happened because I ate too fast. My surgeon does not tend to cut right next to the esophagus to avoid leaks, and the small portion of stomach there began to dialate and expand as I ate. It was 5cm big by the time they removed it. Needless to say, it was an experience. But I still wouldn't trade my sleeve for the world. I'm just going to be really careful this time around. -Ruby P.S. For all who know me, my hubby is deployed, but I get to see him in 2 weeks for R&R. He hasn't seen me since the surgery!!!!!!:smile1:

p.s. I'll post pictures soon!!

Thank you for your support everyone! I was reluctant to share the story, because, to be honest- it's embarrassing. Everyone always tells you to slow down, etc., but I just couldn't. I think one of the hardest parts of all this, is that I have to start all over with the post op diet again. I'm back on mushies!

Thanks gals! Lan- I'm about 5 months out. It's crazy- it feels like it's been so much longer! Nov. 2nd was the big day. Like I said, it is EXTREMELY rare. But it's always better to slow down. If there's pain- it's wrong. I got to the point where I was eating to pain. And now that my sleeve has been fixed, the only thing that can expand is the sleeve, or my esophagus. And the esophagus dialating is dangerous. I've decided I'm going to chew 25-30 times, and put my spoon down for 2 mins in between bites, until it's habit. le sigh. But it's all worth it. :smile1:

You're in our prayers! Congrats!

I had the same fear. But once I started eating solid protein, all those fears were laid to rest. I can eat maybe 1/4 to 1/2 of a 4 oz chicken breast before i'm stuffed.

Hi there Rgod- First of all, I'm so sorry you're not being supported in your decision. It is so important to have a support system through all this, and so, I hope you are able to have SOMEONE there to root you on. Secondly, each person needs to make a decision about this surgery on their own. It's major surgery, and absolutely carries risks with it, but, for me at least, the risks were worth it. I find difficult to understand that the fellow died of malnourishment. Since there is no malabsorption component to this surgery, if you take your Vitamins and eat sensibly, you shouldn't have a problem. Also, this surgery is OFTEN performed on people with stomach cancers. The surgery itself has been performed for a while now, but it's new to the weight loss surgery realm of things. I'm so happy your uncles have had success with the band. But trust your instincts. If the sleeve is right for you, then that's what matters. My personal journey has been uncomplicated and easy after the initial two weeks. The only trouble I've encountered is a little depression immediately following the surgery. I have PLENTY of energy, in fact more than I've ever had. And now, I'm happy, and down 56 lbs in just over 2 months. Good luck in your decision and let me know if you need anything or have any questions! -Ruby

You're in my prayers Ready2BHealthy!! You'll do great, and before you know it you'll be in the losers circle! -Ruby

Well, the moment has finally arrived! I've been moved up to mushies for the next month. Any ideas? I grabbed that ricotta recipe already. What about crab cakes? Thanks guys :thumbup: -Ruby

I agree with Mini-Me. You should consult your nutritionist/dietician. For me- I wasn't given any real guideline for it. My personal trainer says 60% of your daily calories should be from carbs. My doc says just limit white carbs- after all your body needs carbs to function. I generally eat alot of carbs. But they're fruit and veggie, and dietary Fiber, not so much refined sugars. I'm of the understanding that it's more about the quality not quantity. -Ruby

I'm sort of a mix of everyone- I just don't feel like eating any more when I'm done. Occassionally, when I eat too fast, which is often, I get pain in my chest, and that stops me fast. But other than that, I just don't have a taste for the food anymore. I don't feel hunger- but I have a burning sensation in my upper stomach. When I eat some, it goes away. I'm just 2 months out, so I am certainly still working out the kinks.

Judy that's so awesome!!! Congrats!!! How do you feel??

Chancie- You have come such a long way and I'm so happy for you!!! You're NSV's are so motivating! I can't wait to get there. I had an NSV today- I could zip my size 12 pants today! They didn't look good, but they zipped and buttoned!!

my understanding is that your body will go through an adjustment period, and then realize it's not startving and will stop retaining everything. Also, my doc said that losing inches is the best indicator- it means you're burning fat, not just losing water weight. Additionally, I think by definition 800-1000 cals a day IS a starvation diet no matter how you slice the pie. Of course, I think we all eat around that amount. Which takes me back to my first remark- you're body will hold on to everything until it understands it's not starving, and then lbs will start moving. This is according to my nutritionist. Hope this is some what reassuring!

Oh, lord you HAVE to measure. I bet you'll see huge results. And the best indicator is that you ARE feeling better. You WILL lose weight. Let me know how the measurements go. I measure my waist, my hips, my neck, my upper arm, and thigh. I'll be rootin' for you!

Rachel- I'm sorry I'm late on this, but I had the same experience as you. I lost 20 lbs the first week after my surgery, and then stopped losing. I stalled for nearly 3 weeks. I was losing inches, but no weight. I spoke to my doc about it, and he said it's normal when you drop so much weight so fast for your body to hold what it can. He said that when your body realizes it's not going to starve it will stop retaining. And sure enough, I kept at it, and now I'm down 50 lbs. It's scary and frustrating, I know. But keep up keeping up. Like my doc said, our metabolisms are set at like 1300 cals a day. That means it's burning, by itself 1300 calories. You aren't even eating that much, AND you are exercising. There's no way you aren't going to lose weight, especially if you're eating what you say you are. Stop weighing yourself. Take inches. The scale gets obsessive, and you will almost always be disappointed if you use only that. I hope this helps. Let me know if you need anything. -Ruby p.s. I have watched what carbs I eat- no white carbs, but I eat plenty of carbs of other kinds.

Well, I hope everyone had a stupendous Christmas and New year!! I thought I'd share some of my successes since having my surgery Nov. 2. I'm down 50 lbs! Woot! I can bend over and tie my shoes without breaking a sweat! I can run again! And with no pain! I'm down to a size 16 pants, and almost ready for a 14! I'm so happy.

Hey Nick- I got that pain all the time in the beginning. And still do occasionally. I'm 8 weeks out. My doc told me it's from eating too much too fast, and the food travels back up the esophagus. NOT pleasant. I can't even breathe deeply. I've heard it lasting anywhere from 5 hours to a few seconds. Mine usually stops after about 30 mins. Drinking only ever made it worse for me. I just had to stop eating and sit up. I made the mistake of laying down once, and threw up. Yuck. Hope this helped. Good luck.

p.s. i also have a 110 lb great dane puppy who i often have to wrestle.

Amerigirl- I'm late on this thread but I also have a 22 month old baby. Not lifting her wasn't an option for me. But I put her in daycare for a week and my hubby took care of her. After that week I was fine. I lifted weights (albeit light) at the gym and was fine. My doc told me to let my body be my guide. if it hurts don't do it. I had no restrictions or other guidelines. My husband deployed pretty much right after my surgery, so I was on my own with baby lifting from then on.

Judy- I haven't been around in a while and so just learned you finally got your surgery! I'mn so happy for you, and congrats on the awesome progress!! -Ruby

Well, I have been dreading this day for a year, but it has arrived. My husband, John deployed yesterday to Iraq for a year (at least). It was harder than I thought it would be. He was devastated to have to leave our daughter, Lily (20 months). And me of course- but it's harder to leave the kids, especially when they're so young. :sad0: I'm so happy that I have such a strong marriage, and we can be seperated like this, and not worry about what the other is up to ( I know alot of military couples don't have that). But, it makes me miss him more. After I got home last night from dropping him off, all I wanted to do was gorge myself. Nothing sounded so good as to curl up on the couch with a crappy lifetime movie, some crappy, fatty food and a coke. But I didn't. Instead I wrote him an e-mail, and sipped my Water. So, I guess my first NSV? Anyway, I'm doing better today, but still missing him something awful. :thumbup1: Thanks for listening. -Ruby

Hey everyone- I'm a couple days out from my surgery, and have been trying to find the right Vitamins. I found this Vitamin drink from One-A-Day. It seemed to be about the same as the other tablet vitamins, but do you all have any cautionary words about it? Any other suggestions? :confused1: Thanks!

Thank you all so much for the support. I'm constantly amazed by how wonderful all of you are. And John will be happy to know that so many people out there are rooting for him. Once I hit 100lbs lost, I fully intend on doing a full make over. And I'm nominating myself for What Not to Wear! Haha. My plan is to knock his socks off. ;o)