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Thanks. I need to be proactive about this. Reactive is what got me to 300lbs!

I cannot tolerate foods that are high in carbs and I have to eat frequent small meals to combat the reactive hypoglycemia. It helps keep me in check but it's not a good feeling if I eat something high in carbs. I get really shaky and tired. If I try to counter the reactive hypoglycemia by eating more carbs it makes things worse. I've learned to plan my meals ahead if possible.

Good morning! I am feeling discouraged today . I see so many of you where you are having great success with losing weight and here I am and it's just slowly coming off! I know that I should not be comparing myself to anybody else. Since surgery Jan 20th I have lost a measly 12 lbs. most days I get all my fluids in and almost all of my required 60grs of protein. According to my NUT I can eat anything I want as long as I chew chew chew. I am keeping it to mostly soft foods. I have hypo thyroid/Graves disease which has always made it hard to lose weight . I was really hoping that with the surgery I would be able to lose faster. Maybe I am being to hard on myself after all 12 lbs in 3 weeks is still good better then WW or any other diet I ever tried!

I am so proud of all you for all the great posts. I agree and sadly most have other issues other than weight and are in denial. At least I am no longer in denial for the need for help. Here are a few quotes I like and want to share with you. God loves us just the way we are and we should too. " To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882) American Essayist & Poet "Just because I can't do it today, doesn't mean I won't be able to do it ever!" " Blessed are the flexible for they will not get bent out of shape!" From Buck the horse whispers foster mother "Just because I can't do it today, doesn't mean I won't be able to do it ever!" Arthur Boorman he lost a lot of weight " You know you've got to exercise your brain just like your muscles." Will Rogers "The mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work if it is not open.” Frank Zappa Be proactive not reactive. It's not how many times u have fallen- its how many times you pick yourself up that matters! Everyone has at least one issue/regret that needs help.If you need help admit it with no shame. Many are in denial. I was. Life is short so IF you disagree with someone Then it may be better to just agree to disagree. Me

it may have to do with blood sugar. Starting about year 3, I started having occasional dizziness that I couldn't explain. Had a complete workup at the doctor's office. Nothing. Everything normal. The next time I noticed it, It was about two hours after I had a piece of cake. I mentioned it to my doctor - she thinks it was probably reactive hypoglycemia, which sometimes happens in RNY patients (not super common, but it does happen to some). She thought that my glucose level just happened to be normal at the time I had the workup, so it didn't jump out at them. She recommended I eat something every three hours - preferably a protein - but if I eat a carb, to be sure to at least pair it with a protein. That seemed to have done the trick. At least for me. That may not be going on with you, though - you might want to check with your doctor.

I saw this and I couldn't stop laughing. Though, my thyroid has issues with not producing ENOUGH, so maybe there was a coup d'etat my body failed to let me in on. ETA: Oh wait, I found the one about Hypo! -- It cracks me up just as much.

Good Morning, Violets.. Up and showered and ready for Ethan to arrive for the day. Got my bills paid online and am good to go. We are going to go to Great Wolf Lodge tomorrow to meet up with DS Josh and his family. We get to see the grandkids!! We'll spend the day with them and then come back home as the Bobster is preaching at MY church Sunday. He's filling in for the "pastor" who is on vacation. (I use the term pastor loosely.. I really don't think much of the guy.) My fills are painless and quick. We drive 4 hours for a 5 minute appointment with the doctor. We spend more time with the nurses than the doctor, but I know if we had questions or concerns he'd spend more time with us. I hop up on the table, lift my legs up, he feels for the port sticks a little hypo in, pulls it out and we're done with a cotton pad on for a minute. Drink a glass of water and we're good for another month. The hypo in the picture on the home page was HUGE. It looked like it could hold a cup of liquid!! That's why I thought it might be photo shopped. I better go get dressed and get my hair dry and curled before the little guy arrives. Everyone have a great day!!

I'm confused. I was told Hyper was a high TSH level and Hypo was low. I'm Hypo, low.

I believe there are Protein powders you can mix with fruit juices ? Also it does not have the MOST protein in it ,,, i am not sure if there is any dairy in the mix itself. you might try Carnation instant Breakfast mix. Anything "Whey" will have dairy in them . So careful with that. Check out "Celiac Forums" for Celiacs disease . They have to stay away from dairy . Just did a quick search and found these .. Protein from Rice, powder, Dairy Free, Vegetarian / Vegan, Hypo Allergenic, Plain - 1 lb. 5 oz. Go Dairy Free | beverages - smoothies & Mixes If you find a mix you can mix it with Lactose free milk could you not ? Can you drink that ? If you have a whole foods near you they should have tons of info or stuff. HTH mindy PS I just googled " Dairy Free Protein Mix" and came up w/ quite a bit Mindy

Okay, I have a question...when I went to the nutritionist a few years back, she said I was "pre-diabetic" (that my insulin gets out of whack from me being obese.) Basically what happens is if I don't eat every few hours, I start to get this queasy, dizzy, lightheaded yet SUPER hungry feeling where I feel as though I need to eat everything in the room in order to get my blood sugar back to normal. It's like a reactive hypoglycemia thing, I guess. My question is, after the VSG surgery where you can only drink liquid at first, wouldn't that reactive hypoglycemia reaction go nutso from not getting any food in? I know it would eventually go back to normal, but I just wonder if the first few weeks wouldn't be hellish. Just wondering if anyone else has/had this pre-diabetes thing and how the VSG effected it. Thanks!

When I was going through this early post op phase, there was a group on one of these forums from a particular surgeon who did very well with combining the sleeve with extreme dieting, and he got overall very good results with even very high BMI patients (lost track as they all disappeared, so have no idea how they are doing now, however!) There was one guy on there who was very similar to my stats who was following this program and got to his goal weight at a bit over four months. Wow, but so what? I was working on slowing things down at six months to ease into maintenance, and wasn't doing any of that extreme dieting. I wonder now how well that guy is doing - did he learn how to maintain his weight over the long term, or was he one of those who "gained it all back"? It really isn't a matter of whether you can do better, or lose faster, but can you meet your goals, and maintain yourself in the long term? This is a marathon, not a sprint. so what happens to you over the next 5, 10 and 20 years is a lot more important than how you lose over the first 4, 6 or 12 months.vsg Overall, the bypass has very similar performance to the VSG in overall weight loss and rate, so there isn't much to choose there - one might lose a bit quicker with the bypass owing to its' malabsorptive component, but that dissipates after a year or two and you are metabolically in the same basic place that you would be with a sleeve, but you still have the added nutritional deficiencies to make up for. Have there been some challenges in maintaining my weight over time? Yes, much the same as there would have been had I gotten a bypass (my second choice was the DS, which does make weight maintenance easier as it is metabolically a stronger procedure, but I felt that it would have been overkill for my needs then, and still do.) We see just as many come through here who struggle with being "slow losers" or "gained it all back" with the VSG as with the RNY. With the VSG, I do have a bit of GERD, which is easily controlled with low level OTC meds (some are not so lucky, others are more so and have no problems.) OTH, I do not miss having any of the comparable RNY potential side effects - dumping, reactive hypoglycemia, marginal ulcers, bile reflux (pretty rare these days with how they structure RNYs) low iron requiring periodic iron infusions, osteoporosis (already have a family tendency towards that, so don't need more risk added,) or the other limitations in medication and medical treatment options as I get (even) older that come along with a bypass. These are not insurmountable problems if one needs to go with a bypass owing to preexisting conditions, but are things that I don't think are worth risking for whatever very small difference there might be in weight loss performance. I don't miss that at all. YMMV

I was at 35. I gained some weight before I requested the surgery - I was at 37 and got approved. I have diabetes 2 and hypo thyroid. It has been 4 weeks since the surgery and I am at 33 BMI. I lost 28lbs in 4 weeks since the surgery - isn't that awesome? You can always appeal if they deny you.

Hi Brandy, I originally had the lapband but it prolapsed three times before I gave up on the idea of having a forth surgery to have another lap band done so my doc sent me to a friend of his who does DS. with the DS I ended up having a lot of Vitamin and mineral deficiencies as well as bile reflux and gastroparesis as the surgeon severed my vegus nerve and the food was staying stagnant in my sleeve also the sleeve formed what they call an hourglass figure where the centre of the sleeve was very narrow and wouldn't allow the food to go through so I had to have yet another surgery which was the rny, I have since long suspected leaky guy syndrome as im experiencing fevers, hot and cold flushes, feeling ill when eating, no energy bloating, gassy, rashes, vomiting, dizziness and a host of other ailments. also my ferritin has been sitting very high in the 600 mark and the surgeon doesn't know why this is so but it is an indication of inflammation somewhere in the body. now leaky gut syndrome is associated with celiac, thyroid, colitis crohns and other diseases. I know am sensitive to foods and my thyroid is hypo mind you there is no one in our family who have either of these diseases and i have only been diagnosed since the RNY I have also gone to a naturopathic doctor who did some blood testes and diagnosed me with leaky gut. she even showed me on the slide machine how the contents of my stomach is seeping through the intestines and is going into the blood steam. at the moment I am taking zinc supplement 500mg a day along with glutamine powder mixed in Water to strengthen the intestines so as the food etc doesn't leak through into the blood stream to cause anymore immune responses. I am also waiting an appointment with my current surgeon to see what can be done as far as my ailments but have to wait till july to see him I don't think that my intestines can be lengthened in any way as the previouse surgeon removed and threw them away(which angers me because now should anything major happen I don't have anything to fall back on as far as reversals. in the below article it describes how rny patents develop bacterial overgrowth due to lack of stomach acid basically it is this that turns into leaky gut from my understanding from what the naturopath has told me which in turn has caused the other issues http://www.news-medical.net/health/Gastric-Bypass-Complications.aspx Many patients then experience a condition known as achlorhydia. Achlorhydia is a condition where there is not enough acid in stomach. Patients can develop an overgrowth of bacteria as a result of the low acidity levels in the stomach. A study conducted on 43 post operative patients revealed that almost all of the patients tested positive for a hydrogen breath test, which determined an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine. The overgrowth of bacteria will cause the gut ecology to change and will induce nausea and vomiting. Recurring nausea and vomiting will change the absorbance rate of food which contributes to the vitamin and nutrition deficiencies common in post operative gastric bypass patients. and here is another link on bacterial overgrowth http://digestivehealthinstitute.org/2012/08/17/sibo-diet-and-digestive-health/ here is a link about another rny patent who had problems and leaky gut syndrome sorry I don't have much time now to provide all my links for you but will try later http://arkansasunshine.tripod.com/testimony/testimony.html

Yes I am also hypo. Have been since they did iodine when I was young. Went from hyper to hypo and been heavy ever since. I just got banded, but it seems to me it can be slower but stillpossible. Also depends what your eating habits or hangups are. Mine seem to be about portion control, so seems to be dropping pretty quick. We will see what the months bring

Dawg...tell US what C-reactive protien is and does!!!!!!!!!! Come back! Somebody go get him!!!!

Thanks bigsexy! But help me too, my TSH was .005 Which is that? Hypo or hyper?

Hey everyone, I was diagnosed with Hypo at the age of 9. My blood sugar stays around 60 and can spike to about 90 if I drink alot of soda. It is always on the low side. I am just curious how well I am going to do on an all liquid diet. If I don't get enough to eat I will crash. I am always exhausted as it is and my endo recommended the lap band. He said I wouldn't be so tired if I lost the weight. I am not sure if he realized the liquid diet that came with it. I am just wondering if I am gonna get in over my head. I am doing carb free diet right now and feel light headed and can't concentrate. My Dad has done low carb for years and says it is sorta like going through withdrawls. After a few days the aching will pass. Any input?

I have hypo, and PCOS and had Lapband surgery July 06 in Mexico with dr. Kuri. Everything was fine. My levels were ok though. I don't think it will be a problem and maybe some of the symptoms with improve with weight loss. The Synthroid I am on is so tiny, it goes down pretty good. Good Luck!

Without a doubt, if you choose to go to a Dr. outside the US, make your arrangements ahead of time. Not all surgeons in Mexico are out to screw you over, same as not all in the US are upstanding! So with that in mind, plan accordingly. My Mexican surgeon insisted before he banded me that I have follow up care closer to me. He helped me arrange that with the surgeon I would have used had insurance come through---he has done my fills without issue of my being banded in Mexico. Many will simply because that is where they were proctored in the procedure. Where I live there is no close Dr. dealing with bands, so even the one I found and use is over 6 hours away one way. So my surgeon also ask me to contact my local ER and find out about emergency unfills. They would not even talk to me, they did not refuse, they just blanket stated they could handle it. Well I knew from this board that is not always true. So I contacted my former oncologist, and they are adept at accessing ports, and he agreed to both speak with my surgeon in Mexico and provide an emergency unfill should I ever need it. Taking off blindly to have surgery with no details for aftercare is not something anyone should do....but it can be dealt with responsibly. One of my surgeons things he does is the morning you leave the hospital, you have a swallow test done under fluoro, so you get to see your band in place and working---and he gives you a copy of those X rays---for you to have if you go to another Dr. Some surgeons or Dr.s will see no one other than patients they have done. That includes patients banded in the US that have moved. So you do need to do some prep work before hand. My mantra to my kids was always to be proactive rather than reactive----it fits here too! Kat

I've had a few carby things here and there and I have reactive hypoglycemia. Not sure if I am dumping or just still suffering from the hypoglycemia.

For what its worth. Last year my bmi was 3o. I weighed170. Mind u ive been obese always...205 at age 21. Ik 5 ft 4. But menapause has reactivated my weight gain with a vengeance..yep im on thyroid meds...so i go a year ago and talk to a Doc hear in Va who says why to thin,,,,great. Could go to mexico. But just not for me...so here i am a yera later now 185 still being told u r too thin to qualify. So 12,000 later and a trip to NC and Im sleeved..for me it was the only option.,! At worst Ill stop gaining at best ill get healthy under 150 Keep tuned in

I have Hashimotos (hypothyroidism). I did gain weight, however Ive yet to find an endocrinologist who sees a correlation. They do not buy into hypothyroid= fatness. I did not/will not tell mine I was getting banded. I will be excited to see her reaction to my weight loss. I dont know where I stand on the hypothyroid and weight since Ive met far more thin hypos than overweight hypos. So I think the band is a personal decision. It still comes down to calories in vs calories out. For me the band is/has been the correct decision.. I WAS eating too much. I lost weight on my endocrinologists 1200 calorie plan just didnt keep it off because I wasnt able to stick to it. Low carb is great if you can stick to it. The band will make me stick to it because bread is a no no! Good Luck on whatever you decide.

Well, Girls, Today is my FOUR YEAR surgiversary! All in all, I'm pleased that I am at goal and was able to have this life changing surgery! I have found in the last few weeks, that I still have some work to do on making sure I make good choices. I tend to really work to ACHIEVE a goal, and then when I get there, somewhat relax and old habits/eating patterns creep back. I'm right at 148-150 - my goal from original and where my body really likes to be overall. I did get down to about 140 last year with 5:2 and I'm REALLY REALLY THIN at that weight (being 5'8") I like it for ME but my face looks OLD and others seem to think I look "sick". With that said, I need to "shape up" a bit - just with life itself, my energy level is low, my stress level - high and I'm tired, tired, tired! I've also been experiencing reactive hypoglycemia (I think due to increased carbs and sugar) where my blood sugar gets extremely low (to the point of faintness). I guess what I'm trying to say is - I'm very happy with what I have achieved, I'm thankful and grateful, and I realize AGAIN that it's a LIFELONG JOURNEY!!!

So over it---You are so right about the sissys, hypos, and the impatient. you said it best. In March, I was beating myself up over not getting closer to goal in the year after banding. Impatience.... Lately I have been just cruising with my band- not stressing- not really caring much about food and it has been wonderful. I realized I will take the time it takes and that's it. I'm thrilled for all those who can get the weight off quick but I guess it's not going to be me. Cruising feels wonderful and not caring much about food for the last few weeks is a very new feeling. I think this is how normal people are! I feel at peace about food (for once!) and am losing weight naturally. I still have to be sure to get in my exercise every day because my family has Type 2 diabetes but the exercise feels great and natural. So there you go- even after a year, you can discover new things about yourself and where you can go with the band. It's not easy but it's worth the trip. Love and success on your journey everyone Sadie

Some people experience reactive hypoglycemia after RNY gastric bypass surgery. This is irrespective of whether they had diabetes prior to surgery or not. Here is a link for symptoms. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/expert-answers/reactive-hypoglycemia/faq-20057778