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I can't comment after surgery but I can after weight loss (which obviously I regained). I reached a weight I was happy at, not in the healthy weight range for BMI, but I was curvy and fitted a size 12 (Australian). Losing the weight gave me the confidence to put myself back out there, as it were. I put a profile on a dating site, had some contacts, didn't meet too many, but there was one who I was quite taken with...we were together for about nine years. That relationship finished up March last year. With the weight loss and improved self confidence, I was happy to wear fitted clothes in lovely colours not the baggy shapeless clothes in dark or dreary I tended to wear. I know there are plenty of people with the confidence to put themselves out there regardless of what they weigh, not me, I practically become a recluse. For the period of time I kept most of the weight off I was quite confident and social. I wish I had that confidence, that self believe in myself regardless of what a number on the scales say. I think confidence is an attractive trait and people respond to it in a positive way. With confidence we stand tall, we smile at strangers, most strangers (including service staff such as shop workers) reactive positively to people who smile, who don't slouch etc. And to be fair to the opposite sex, there are plenty of men who love a confident (or not) woman regardless of what she weighs. Sorry for waffle!

I have too. ( Reactive Hypoglycemia ) But it was after the sleeve. And only a few months ago! I eat 6 times a day and very little refined sugar. I eat complex Protein. That means a carb with a protein and it seems to be working better for me......

My oldest daughter has it. It was brought on by the birth of her first child 4 years ago, she is 40 so she had her babies late. They medicated her than her thyroid went the other way. But she no longer has the buggy eyes. Her doctor said many times it is brought on my some sort of trauma to the system in her case it was having a baby. She did have to have invetro to have her 2 babies. However it does run in the family, she has a cousin on her dad's side who also has it. Strange thing in all of this is my other two daughters have hypo thyroid, So they all 3 have problems with their thyroid and I do not and their dad did not.

Oh, I guess I wasn't clear - I have no interest in the lap band. I've been doing lots of research and I'll be honest - I never thought I would ever be considering WLS. It wasn't until recently that I had even heard of VSG and what I've read about it makes me think it is a very viable option. I guess it just bums me out to realize that even though it seems like I am a prime example of someone who could be greatly helped by VSG (BMI of 48.something with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, pre diabetic, depression, and a history of sudden cardiac death in my family) but my insurance doesn't care about all that and would rather take a reactive rather than proactive approach to my health.

I am a horse of a different color. I now have Reactive Hypoglycemia..So now I eat 6 times a day...I am eating more complex carbs now to keep my sugars settled....I think that my caloric intake has gone up..But I am still losing weight and am getting where it is no longer a good idea..... Everyone is different! But at some point our bodies are supposed to level off and we need to maintain within 5-10 lbs.

I have reactive hypoglycemia now(I'm in no way a dr, not giving you medical advice at all). I have it now that I've had surgery, but also had it when I was younger. The things you describe are what I feel when I have an episode. Go search reactive hypoglycemia in and there is a great post from RJ's beginning on the subject. Mayne you can relate to some of it. I would start to carry around a baggie of nuts with you everywhere you go. Or a Quest Protein bar. Something with fat and Fiber both. The nuts and a cheese stick pick me uo fast when I have an episode.

THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT DJHOHR. I LIVE IN SOUTH AFRICA, AND LIVE ON A DISABILITY GRANT OF R1500 EQUIVALENT TO USD 109. I NOW HAVE ABOUT 5 DIAPERS LEFT FOR THE MONTH. I HAVE TO SAVE THEM FOR WHEN I HAVE TO LEAVE THE ROOM I LIVE IN. I CANNOT JUST GO BACK TO THE HOSPITAL, THEY DO NOT ALLOW IT. MY OP WAS DONE DUE TO NON ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE. I WILL SEE MY DIETITIAN IN 2 WEEKS TIME. IF I HAVE ANY PROBLEMS SHE WILL CONTACT MY DR. I WILL ONLY SEE HIM IN 2 MONTHS TIME. THE HOSPITAL I HAD MY OP IN IS A STATE RUN FACILITY, A VERY GOOD ONE AT THAT. BUT DUE TO THE MASSES OF PATIENTS YOU CANNOT JUST WALK IN THE FRONT DOOR. INKOSI ALBERT LUTHULI HOSPITAL IN DURBAN. MY SURGEON IS VERY GOOD, BUT OVERWORKED. DUE TO NOT HAVING MONEY FOR DIAPERS, I AM RUINING THE CLOTHS THAT STILL FIT ME. I CANNOT GET THE STAINS OUT OF THEM OR EVEN MY BEDDING. THEY FOUND POLYPS IN MY STOMACH TOOK A BIOPSY OF THEM AND MY LIVER BUT THE RESULT ARE NOT IN YET. I ALSO HAVE REACTIVE LYMPH NODES IN MY GROIN THAT HAVE NOT YET BEEN BIOPSIED. I AM HAPPY ABOUT THE WEIGHT LOSS, BUT THE PROBLEMS ARE PILLING UP AND TAKING THE JOY THAT I SHOULD BE FEELING AWAY FROM ME. I AM BECOMING VERY DEPRESSED.

I would for sure take the initiative and call. You are having the surgery and you are paying the premiums. Had I not continually called I would have never known that, the office sent my claim to BCBS of Texas and not BCBS of CA. Be proactive not reactive.

For post WLS patients the hypoglycemia after booze would be reactive, and it can cause you to pass out. Alcohol is extremely carb-dense, and its liquid so it will be absorbed very quickly, your body will respond in kind by releasing tons of insulin into the bloodstream. The booze will past through your digestive tract extremely quickly and the insulin will lower the glucose in your bloodstream by far more than you can handle. This problem gets compounded if you haven't had much to eat or drink, as in water, not booze, in the prior few hours. At any decent concert one can be there for hours.. even worse if they're burning off energy standing, walking, moshing, etc., and not sitting, out in the heat, it only gets worse. Sometimes people need to learn the hard way that their bodies can't take much post-op.

The only time I don't have the whole 'body kicking it out' type thing, is when I eat grilled chicken. My surgeons nurse took blood multiple times and nothing came up unusual and said my symptoms were dumping syndrome. Although, in self research, I found I had the same symptoms as reactive hypoglycemia. I've had either extremely rare difficulties, even since I had surgery in the hospital, or I've had unheard of symptoms that no one can pinpoint with a sleever. It's awful and I feel lost to be honest. Sent from my moto g(7) supra using BariatricPal mobile app

Wow, thank you, I think this is truly what I need to hear. I am already looking into therapists because while Ive never had an ED, I think it's better to be proactive then reactive, and I actually found one who uses food as healing which I think will be great for me! I definitely am giving myself credit - I've lost 34 lbs from my first visit, and 10 post-op. I just am a "nip it in the bud" kinda gal when problems arise. Overall, I think aiming for perfection, as most of you said, right now is a good goal - but knowing it wont be perfect everytime is something I have to be mindful of!

Does having no thyroid at all = hypo? I've wondered about that. I'm losing pretty well so far on pre-op diet. 9lbs in 10 days. But thats on all liquids except a lean dinner. 9lbs is a big deal since it would normally take a year to lose 5 just to gain back 15. The struggle is real with no metabolism. I gained 70 my first year after having it removed. I'd give anything if modern medicine would figure out how to do a transplant.

I'm going on Day 5 post op, have had no problems at all and felt great. I was off pain meds and I walked a mile today, but I decided to take a full dose of my liquid hydrocodone tonight at 8:30 after I put my kids to bed. I am still on clear liquids. I am starting to feel a little shaky, a little faint(the feeling I used to get occasionally when I would accidently forget to eat) and cured if I had a glucose tab or a quick sugar fix to counteract the low blood sugar. I've never been diagnosed with hypoglycemia but it has happened a handful of times in the past. My question is.... if this feeling continues to get worse and I feel like my blood sugar is dropping, can I take a glucose tab or an ounce of apple juice with sugar to bring my blood sugar back up? I'm starting to freak out a little bc my kids are all here asleep. If I knew I could have regular apple juice that would set my mind at ease but I know Im not supposed to have sugar??? Will it cause me to have a leak or is it only for losing weight reason. What will happen if I need to dissolve a glucose tab to prevent passing out? Like I said, I have been feeling 100% great, getting pleanty of proteins and liquids in. I'm afraid maybe walking in excess, taking care of kids while my husband traveled today and having a full dose of hydrocodone was a bad combo for me. Any advice please??? Thank you, any help appreciated.

I saw my ENDO today and, according to them, I have lost 20 lbs sincy my last visit there (in DEC). I got some other info about HYPO and lab band. They said that we need to be on the lookout for the jittery, anxious, fast hear beat, palpatations feeling because it is very easy to fall into the HYPER range for every 15-20 lbs lost. Make sure that you are seeing your endo regularly. Mine won't let me go past 3 months on regulated meds and 1 month on changed meds! I will have the official and post the weight loss count on Wednesday when I see my WLS!

It did not effect my surgery date for next week 4/23/13, I just found out I was hypo thyroid a month ago.

Thyroid meds can be tricky, especially when you don't take them consistently and properly. My thyroid was taken out due to having thyroid cancer. But I've always made sure to take my meds at the same time everyday, on an empty stomach, with nothing to eat for an hour afterwards. I lost 60 pounds prior to surgery following a less than 1200 calorie diet and exercising 4-5xs/week. So while being hypo is a challenge, losing weight is very much doable if you are disciplined and consistent.

I have a wonderful recipe for crab cakes. I don't know how it stacks up nutritionally but it doesn't use a lot of breadcrumbs for filler so it is better than most. I 'fry' them on a pancake griddle with just a little oil so it's not a diet-buster. I'm happy to share it. I made these when my husband and I had a food truck. Big seller! Cajun-Style Crab Cakes 6 Slices white bread 1 tsp garlic, minced 2 eggs 1lb crab meat ¼ c heavy cream 4 green onions 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice 5 slices bacon, cooked & crumbled ½ tsp dry mustard 1 tsp Cajun spice mix Salt, to taste Tear up bread slices and grind in a blender or food processor. Add eggs, cream and lemon juice to form a heavy batter, then remove to a bowl and add all the remaining ingredients. Fry in oil or on oiled grill. Serve with Creole Honey-Mustard Sauce. Creole Honey-Mustard Sauce 1 tbsp vegetable oil 6 tbsp mayonnaise 1 tbsp green peppercorns, crushed 6 tbsp sour cream 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper 1 tbsp honey 1 shallot, minced ½ c dry white wine 2 tbsp Dijon mustard In a small, non-reactive saucepan over medium heat, heat the oil and sauté the peppercorns, pepper, and shallots for about 3 minutes or until the shallots are translucent. Add the white wine and simmer until the wine has almost completely evaporated. Let cool. Add the remaining ingredients and check the seasoning. Oh, the sauce is DIVINE!! Enjoy.

style="margin:0;padding:0;background-color:#d8dde8;color:#5a5a5a;font:normal 13px helvetica, arial, sans-serif;position:relative;"> Hey BariatricPal Members! Merry Christmas, and Happy Hanukah to our Jewish friends! Season’s Greetings for those of you who are not celebrating a holiday now – it’s still a festive time when everyone can enjoy the uplifting spirit around town. As we near the end of a long season of tempting food, you may need a little help getting back on track or staying on track. Here are our offerings. Weight Loss on Christmas? A Personal Challenge Breaking the Slump: Make a Healthy Choice Now! The Holidays, Your Family, and Weight Loss Surgery Hopefully this newsletter can help you keep your weight loss goals in mind and give you a little push to inch closer to hitting them. After reading the newsletter and spending some quality time with your loved ones, don’t forget to head on over to the BariatricPal Forums so you can share your tips and ideas with all of the BariatricPal members! Merry Christmas! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal Weight Loss on Christmas? A Personal Challenge The weight loss surgery journey itself is a bumpy road, and recent weeks may have been even tougher as the holiday spirit has taken over. High-calorie, fatty, sugary foods have been everywhere, and gift shopping, family obligations, and holiday parties may have been eating into the time you might otherwise have spent exercising or planning healthy meals. So, what do you say to a challenge to lose weight this Christmas? The idea may sound crazy, but it is actually possible if you try hard. Here are our suggestions for a weight loss Christmas Day. Christmas dinner the WLS Way The totals for a full-blown Christmas dinner can be somewhere between staggering and horrifying. You yourself may have indulged in a few such dinners in the past. Between the ham or turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, casseroles, and Desserts, plus some alcohol and a bit of nibbling on appetizers and nuts, you can have 5,000 or more calories on this single day. Yuck – that’s 1.5 pounds of fat! Here is a more reasonable Christmas Day scenario to consider. Breakfast: Festive Protein pancakes with 1 cup sliced strawberries (150 calories) Meet ‘n’ Greet Appetizers 1 cup fresh cut vegetables with yogurt-based dip (100 calories) Red, white, and green Christmas skewers with cherries, peeled apples or pears, and green grapes. (100 calories) chocolate Coated Protein Puffs Soy Snacks (150 calories) Christmas Dinner 3 ounces of ham or skinless turkey or duck breast with mustard (150 calories) Green bean frittata – a high-protein, low-calorie substitute for green bean casserole (100 calories) Green salad with Light Dressing ½ cup pureed sweet potatoes sprinkled lightly with crushed pecans and sugar (or honey or low-calorie sugar substitute) (200 calories) 1 medium baked apple with cinnamon, served with light or sugar-free whipped topping (150 calories) Later Snacks Protein Cocoa or Mocha (100 calories) 1/2 ounce mixed nuts (100 calories) (Don’t forget to use coupon code BPNEWSLETTER10 for a 10% discount of your first order!) Savor Your Treat Don’t forget to leave room for a treat. That’s right, even WLS patients deserve a treat. Just make sure: It’s one that you really, really want. You can tolerate it (some treats are too sugary or fatty for your post-op digestive system, and even a small serving can make you feel sick). You take only a small amount and count the calories. In the sample Christmas Day menu shown above, there is room for another 200 to 400 calories from your treat while still staying under 1,500 to 1,800 for the day. Those calories can get you any two of the following: A half-cup of mashed potatoes with gravy. A half-cup of bread or rice-based stuffing. A 1-inch sliver of pecan, pumpkin, or another kind of pie. A small square of fudge. A small dinner roll with a pat of butter. A half-cup of eggnog. Get Moving, for So Many Reasons It’s a busy day, but surely you can find a few minutes to get in a short walk or workout. There are so many reasons to get moving in the morning or during the day. Burn calories and boost metabolism. Keep yourself motivated as you notice how good it feels to get moving rather than eat. Take time away from the food because when you are walking, you are not eating. Bond with your children, nieces, or nephews; with your out of town relatives; or with your significant other. Breaking the Slump: Make a Healthy Choice Now! One bad day of eating does not make a habit, but a six-week period does. A skipped workout or two doesn’t get you out of shape, but a month of inactivity makes you sluggish. A single bad weigh-in is no cause for alarm, but a few weeks of climbing numbers is reason to take heed. The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas can put you in a weight loss slump. Over time, your can get weaker and those poor decisions can get easier. While a bite of a cookie might have made you feel guilty in early November, the whole cookie and a second one may be par for the course now. Snap out of it! It is time to get out your slump. If the thought of reversing all those bad habits at once is too much, take heart. You can put yourself on the right path with a single decision. One good decision can increase your confidence and lead to more good decisions. You could: Make your own 200-calorie Breakfast sandwich with Protein Pancakes, a fat-free slice of cheese, and egg whites instead of hitting the drive-through for a 500-calorie breakfast biscuit. Schedule a short walk with a neighbor – no backing out! Log your food for a day, no matter how bad you know the numbers will be. Step on the scale if you’ve been avoiding it. How will you break your slump? The Holidays, Your Family, and Weight Loss Surgery As hard as the food and lifestyle around the holidays may be for you as a weight loss surgery patient, your family can make things even harder. You can prevent them from knocking you off your game by being prepared for what to expect and how to handle it. Problem: Pressure to Go Off Your Diet Saying no is just one of those things you have to learn how to do in life. Refusing your relatives’ offer of freshly baked Christmas bread or Christmas Cookies made “just for you” is difficult. They may feel that you are rejecting them. Practicing ahead of time can help. A simple, “No, thanks” can do wonders, and it leaves no room for argument. You could elaborate with variations such as “No, thanks, I’m not hungry,” “No, thanks, my doctor says I can’t eat that anymore,” or, “Not right now, thanks. It’s already great to get to see you!” Problem: Unwanted Comments on Your Weight or Weight Loss If you got your WLS in the past year, you may have dropped several pounds since relatives from out of town saw you. They may be overly reactive to your weight loss. Or, they could have the opposite reaction and say something discouraging about how they expected you to lose more weight by now. Whatever they say, do not let them throw you off your game. Problem: Lack of Acceptance of Your WLS They are not living your life, and they do not know exactly what you have gone through. A lack of understanding about what WLS is and how a WLS lives can inspire negative comments. You can choose to ignore them, or try to explain your WLS to them. You can also try to include them in your routine, such as inviting them on a walk or asking for their help in your kitchen while they’re in town. You can grow closer and develop a better understanding. Again, Happy Holidays! Enjoy this special time with family and friends, and make it a safe and healthy time for yourself and your loved ones. Thanks for spending some time with the newsletter, and we look forward to seeing you on the forums! · Unsubscribe from all BariatricPal E-Mail.

The thing I've found with hypos as a diabetic is they happen if I have a long gap between eating. So I would recommend splitting your calories into 3 meals with 3 snacks spaced evenly. Try eating some cheese and/or nuts for your snack (something with a bit of protein), and a smaller meal to balance the calorie load. Eg Breakfast 7.30am, snack 10.30am, lunch 1pm, snack 3.30pm, dinner 6pm, snack 8.30pm. You should still carry some fast absorbing sugar (eg glucose tablets) just in case. And do healthy carbs for your meal eg veggies and beans, mixed with your protein of course. Sent from my SM-G930F using BariatricPal mobile app

I too am having trouble controlling my depression. I went to my family doc who changed my Celexa to Cymbalta. I also have Reactive arthritis which causes pain daily, so the Cymbalta helps with that too. I have been working (full time) with pain and dealing with the relatively new Lap Band. So I don't know if it's the combo of it all or the Lap Band. Although, the books do mention depression after bariatric surgery. Sue

I am 27 I had mine done Jan 26 and I have no regrets at all I have hypo thyroidism I went from 125 pounds to 225 in like 2 months BC it was so out of whack then I had two kids and was married my highest weight was 261 I am now at 240 in only three weeks!! I've never been so happy w it my parents were very supportive and I even got into a gym because the excess skin I do not want that at all my surgery went great he said it was textbook I had a little reaction to the sturry strips but no infection nothing I missed for for about a week and then I got OK w it ! Im so glad y'all divided to do it it is so life changing ! I feel 100% better already @lesleslosinit ur surgery was two days after mine

A few things that may sound familiar and affect many of us during the holiday season are: Family traditions and ethnic backgrounds with food memories that have followed us through life. Trauma, hardships or losses that make holiday cheer tough to enjoy or even tolerate on some levels. Falling back on a diet mindset and thinking it’s ok to eat recreate old habits from October 31-January 2. Awareness of mental and emotional struggles feeling more acute during the holiday season. For bariatric patients, an immediate fear presents itself: “How can I survive all the parties and family celebrations while embracing my post-surgery food choices so I don’t lose control with holiday eating and drinking this year?” The practical answer: Prepare for it, just as if the surgery was ahead of you. Think and plan for success with the least amount of guilt and destruction possible. Holiday foods are not “rewards” or “treats” or a reason to fall off the mindful thinking that you use every day. We all have family and cultural traditions of holiday foods, and the meanings behind them; that often follow us into adulthood. The connection is to people, not food itself. Holiday time often intensifies many people’s mental and emotional struggle with life issues. Food can often be an immediate distraction and way to receive immediate gratification in tough times. The trouble is, the stresses and issues remain after the food is consumed. Often, alcohol consumption increases at holiday time as well, so mindset is altered by allowing more uninhibited behavior to prevail. Using good judgment often decreases as well. So, if we can use the model of being prepared and accountable for ourselves, what would it look like? Think of the season on your terms. Where can you plan and take the lead on making good choices for yourself while still feeling the holiday spirit? Find control where you can make food to bring to others parties or meals. Host at your home to take pressure off of yourself. Be honest and ask to be considered when food is being prepared and served so that you can also taste but be flooded by the excessive choices and behaviors all around us. Find ways to relax and refresh so you are not overwhelmed or drained by the holiday madness. Keep a journal of your thoughts, fears, successes and challenges to remind you of the proud journey you are on now. Use meditative activities to bring a more even and peaceful attitude to the business of the season and the potential for burnout and self-destruction. Give of yourself to others that need to be uplifted. Find a community, group hobby or counselor if the season is troubling of extremely unmanageable. Many times the holiday triggers are too hard to handle alone. Ask for help and know that you are being proactive (helping yourself) instead of reactive (always behind and at the mercy of others decisions and actions). The key is to stay connected to the resources, the people, places and things that bring successful experiences to us, and avoid harmful or undermining circumstances that reinforce low self-esteem and bad, and often destructive, behaviors. As a bariatric patient, being accountable is helping yourself stay focused on a positive and productive mindset with help provide a fulfilling and peaceful holiday season each and every year. Yes, this is you, enjoying your life during the holidays.

Yes, we do get into it here sometimes. There are posts and comments that cause our hackles to rise. We are from different states, countries, cultures and have different values systems, experiences and opinions. We respond to different approaches in different ways. Some of us need a "kick in the pants" or "tough love" and respond well to that, others are more responsive to a gentle hand and softer words. There is no one size fits all in these forums, which is what makes it stronger for the differences. One thing is obvious to me at least, and that is we all share a common experience and passion. We are planning to, or have been through vsg surgery and we are at times scared, excited, thankful, ashamed, proud, angry, apathetic, and countless other feelings. This is an emotional process. It is mentally stressful. It is academic in our search for information. It is very physical. For some it is even spiritual. We do not have to agree on everything. We are here to share our thoughts, opinions, experiences and questions. Since it is a public forum, it is also open to anything from anyone at anytime. That may be more challenging for some than others when they read a response that they interpret as offensive. Some react strongly, others are not as emotionally invested in what others have to say. There is no right or wrong way to feel about this. We do all need to remember that we are working through a framework of a shared experience, though we may process our thinking about it in different ways. Definition of Reactive Thinking Reactive thinking is crisis-based thinking, coming up with solutions after problems develop. Reactive thinking responds to the situation. A reactive thinker often spends too much of his time fighting fires. A reactive thinker is easily blindsided by circumstances. A crisis-driven reactive thinker may be more prone to feeling stress. Definition of Proactive Thinking Proactive thinking, on the other hand, involves foresight. To be proactive means to think ahead, in anticipation of future changes or problems. It means covering your bases to include all possible scenarios. A proactive thinker will have several contingencies in mind. A proactive thinker sees the likelihood of crises before they happen. Ref: http://www.ehow.com/...e-thinking.html

I don't have reactive hypoglycemia, but I have been suffering from hypoglycemia for over a year. I do have occasional issues with reactive hypoglycemia if I have things like protein bars. I also have issues with low blood pressure. My body has never fully adjusted to a lower weight like I hoped it would.

My friend, I would be concerned about adding a weight suppressant right now. Didn't you just recently start another new med? I think I would ask if THAT med might be revving up your appetite. It's weird how meds reactive so differently within individuals. Until you can find out about the med and its possibilities pertaining to you new appetite, I wouldn't be adding anything new. I'll always side on "changing the existing recipe" before "adding another ingredient". Decisions, decisions. Why do we always have to be making them? Prayers going up for you---and me.