BABEwiththePOWER

Just googled the "no XL anti-depressants with VSG" and found this info on Obesityhelp.com. Makes sense that the effectiveness is less when a portion of the intestine are bypassed with Rouen-Y and DS, but it doesn't seem to include the sleeve, because we still have our entire intestine intact. Reduced Medication Effectiveness The shorter intestinal length after gastric bypass or duodenal switch surgery can make extended-release drug preparations less effective. Some extended-release drugs include antidepressants (Wellbutrin XL), anxiolytics and sleep medications (Xanax XR), and anti-hypertensives (Toprol XL, Verapamil XL). Because these formulations are intended to be absorbed over 2-12 hours, the pills may pass through the gastrointestinal tract before absorption is complete.

Hmmm. I've cleared my meds with the Doc, and the NUT, so that's weird... I am coming up on my 3 month check-up, so I'll be sure to bring it all up with my Doc. Maybe I need a new Rx... although, the original Rx was not prescribed by a psych, it was my OB who started me on it during my last pregnancy, and I thought it best to stay on it through surgery, since I knew there would be serious emotional aftermath. I probably need to see a real psych (not just my therapist, not an MD) for an Rx evaluation... maybe my surgeon can give me a reco. Any more info on the "no XL antidepressants" from your doc?

Thanks for the great advice! I'll definitely be aware of the carbs and where they come from, and I'll work out a plan to have scheduled "me" time daily. My husband is amazing, he's super supportive, he's just also super busy with work, and his schedule isn't always consistent. But, if I can get my a#@ up early, maybe I can start doing yoga or the gym in the beginning of the day. I know I just need to shut up and do it. And I know I'll feel better when I do. I'm sure the endorphins will also help counteract the hormone issue

Exercise is DEFINITELY an issue. Between both my kids naps and class schedules, shuttling around, and having to be home at certain times, going to the gym during the day is super hard. Plus, walking outside with them in the double stroller is even worse when the temp is above 95 every day. The only time I can go is at night, but that's when I want to crash. It's a vicious cycle. And I'm making excuses. I have to find a way, because when I DO go, I feel amazing. As for carb consumption, I'm only getting some carbs from fruit. I don't eat much in the way of bread or starches, as it's too filling. But, I'll keep an eye on that, if it's an energy-suck.

Seriously. Life is so good right now. Family is happy and healthy, husband and my relationship is great, friendships are good... I'm down almost 50 lbs in just under 3 months. So why can't I shake the blues? I'm predisposed to depression/anxiety, and I'm on Wellbutrin XL for that. But, even still, I can't shake the blahs. A few weeks ago, I was bursting with energy and happy happy happy. I even had a great increase in libido But now, it's like the opposite is true. I'm fighting the low-energy blahs with everything I've got. The two kids under 4 keep me really busy, but I'm still having a hard time. Is this just the hormones everyone was talking about? I know hormones are crazy strong, but I need some way to get through this slump. I want to be happy that the clothes are getting bigger and the number on the scale is getting smaller... but I can't seem to get there. Any ideas? Thanks

Has anyone heard any new info on this? I've been on a few insurance websites researching, and can't find anything written in black and white about it...I guess the next step is to call someone directly. I'm just surprised no on this forum has tried to get life insurance post-op?

Thanks everyone for your support and perspective. I know I need to stay positive and focus on the good...I think I just suffer from the "nothing's ever good enough" syndrome I am working on that, and on being grateful for my new found life. I think another part of it may be that I still feel the need to justify my decision to have VSG to my friends and family...and for some reason, I feel like that comes from the number on the scale. It's especially hard when my mom, who's very overweight, asks me whenever she sees me how much I've lost- like it's some proof one way or the other to whether I should have had the surgery. As I write this, I realize that I need to give myself a break. I did this for me, not my mom, not my husband, not my friends...so I should remember that. Thanks for letting me vent...again

Thanks for the encouragement VJslim- it's nice to know I'm not the only one with slow "scale loss" but steady inch loss. I know I'll get to goal someday, but I also still feel like this will be another failed diet attempt... And keeping the faith is hard when you don't have numbers to show you you're on the right track...maybe I'm just being sensitive and pms-ing

I know we're not supposed to compare our weightloss to one another's, but I can't help but feel like a 35lb loss since my surgery on April 19th, isn't really stellar. I had hoped, based on what I'd seen others go through, to be down by about 50 by now. I know I'm losing inches, but silly me, I forgot to measure myself on the day of surgery... but I was a 20/22 the day of surgery, and I just bought a 14 dress on Friday that fits great. That's a big deal, I know, but for some reason, I can't Celebrate without that reaffirmation from the scale. I did hit a 3 week stall around week 4, and then it picked up again, slowly, but at least started losing again. I need to get to the gym more, but with 2 kiddos under 4 at home, it doesn't come too easily. I can probably also do better with the calorie counting. The last week or two I stopped tracking my calories, but I also really don't eat much. I make sure to take all my Vitamins, get my Water and Protein in, but after that, I just take a couple bites at each meal. Maybe I should start tracking again, but I read a post a while back that has really stuck in my brain - it talked about how the poster lost weight with VSG, but slowly- because they ate whatever they wanted, just less of it. This was to avoid the "diet mentality" and the aftermath of what happens when the dieting/deprivation phase ends. I really think all of my past failures with diets were for that reason exactly. I would be all crazy for a week or two, then quit because it was too drastic, and not just a simple lifestyle choice. I know we should take advantage of the first six months post op because we have the opportunity to lose the most weight then, and I don't want to fail, but I'm at a loss for how to feel right now. Sorry, long post, just needed to vent I guess.

It's my understanding that a complete and thorough medical history is taken before a life insurance policy is granted. They not only do a current physical and bloodwork up, but review all your past history. One would think that having the sleeve to reduce weight and risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, etc would be a good thing, but I don't know... I hope there's someone on this forum that can shed some light.

Before having the sleeve, I never even tried to get a life insurance policy on myself, because I knew that it would either be denied, or be too expensive at my previous weight. Luckily for me, my husband is the breadwinner, and he is covered. But, now that my health is on its way to being "average/normal," I'm thinking of looking into getting covered. My dad is a financial planner, and handles all our money. He arranged our policy for my husband, and when discussing this with him, he raised the question... "Can you get life insurance after being sleeved?" That thought had never occurred to me. I assume that, since you're healthier, etc, that you'd (I'd) be fine. But I'm curious if anyone else has had any experience with this? Has anyone opened a policy "post-sleeve?" Thanks for the info

I know how you feel. I just sent an email to my doc because the depression is kicking in from not losing more than a pound in 8 days. I'll be six weeks out on Thursday, and I've lost under 25lbs post-op. I thought by now I'd be at least 40lbs down. I'm sticking to 600 cals/day and get all my protein/water/etc. I'm pretty exhausted lately, and being a stay at home mom of 2 kids under 4 isn't helping =) I read another post that B-12 helps the exhaustion, but I'm not sure what to do about this stall. I stalled for a week at week 3 as well. I know it's not an overnight solution, but I'm getting pretty discouraged

I'm on day 19 post-op, and I've been steadily losing about a pound a day. But recently, when I went to input my weight on my weight tracker online, I realized I'm only down 16lbs post-op. I have only lost 1lb in the last few days. I'm on mushy foods, and I'm trying to get out and walk everyday. I'm not back in the gym yet, because I want to wait a bit longer to really let myself heal before I go too crazy with workouts. I'm getting in all my Protein and cals. I have my first check-in appt with my surgeon on Thursday, and I really wanted to be down at least 20lbs by day 21. Am I crazy? Am I doing something wrong, or is this the infamous 3rd week stall??? HELP!