helen098

Was 198.8 this morning It’s been rough, I had my gallbladder out on April 2 and still can’t eat normal When I try to eat protein like we are supposed to first my stomach hurts and I get diarrhea sometimes almost immediately. So I have been eating more veggies (but then I am hungry) but it seems to be working I am down a total of 31 + pounds since aug 22 Can’t go back to the gym till I see the surgeon on may 22 but have been waking Also will get my cpap for my very mild sleep apnea in 1 ½ weeks so hopefully that will also help as my pulmonary doc says the sleep apnea could also be messing with my diet and metabolism it’s been a long road but things are starting to look up--- won’t be able to wear the short shirt this summer but look out new years eve 2012 Thanks for listening

Doesn’t seem like my body likes all of this healthy living. As of today’s date I am down 26 and ½ pounds since last sep, very happy about this as I haven’t been this light (ha ha ha ) for about 3 years or so. I have gone down a size (yay size 16) but still on the wrong side of 200 (it will happen soon, it will happen soon) But I feel like crap….i am so tired all the time….am sleeping 9 hours during the week and at least 11 on the weekend and still want a nap when I wake up…..have no energy to do anything at all…can’t concentrate at work … am late a lot …. And in real trouble with the boss And have had 3 gallbladder attacks (one at thanksgiving then 4 weeks ago and twice 2 weeks ago) Have seen 2 internists, eye doc (had pink eye for a month—fingers crossed it’s gone) the weight loss department at nyu had tons of blood work (all normal except for Vitamin d I am at 26 and normal starts at 30) and a ultrasound ( not normal shows many small stones), talked to my pulmonary/primary doc and onc and they all say I have textbook gallbladder symptoms and it must come out---not an emergency but I have to do it…….i have an appointment with the surgeon who did my band on mac 30 (Dr. Ren Fielding) sure she will schedule surgery soon While I am upset about the gallbladder ---- this will be my 12th surgery and 19th time I am knocked out And wonder how much of this crap I can take? The fatigue is my biggest concern…. All the blood except for the low vitamin D- which all the docs says should not cause the fatigue but have upped it to 5000mg a day Next step another sleep study --- on mar 22-- I feel almost as bad as during chemo ….. At 5 years post chemo I expected to feel much better……I don’t Honestly I felt much better post cancer …. I was only 179 was eating anything I wanted (within reason) No exercise and felt good …..now I have neuropathy, poop my pants sometimes, arthritis, exama, gall stones, poss sleep apnea can’t have a glass of milk and a cookie at the same time Thanks for letting my rant, just feels like life stinks right now and am afraid of what’s coming I am only 47 and don’t deserve all of this I had the surgery to feel better and not feel worst

I was banded on aug 22, so far 22 pounds lost…. I little slower than I would have liked but the scale is going in the right direction finally. I have been sicker over the last two months than the last 5 years So far I have had bronchitis, two stomach bugs, an eye infection in each eye and that past weekend food poisoning …the more weight I lose the crapier I feel I am sleeping 9 hours during the week and 10-12 on the weekend and am still tired,…. I am late for work and just have no energy to dealt with the usual bs….. I wonder what’s wrong with me? I think it could either be the diet, could be causing gallstones Or the methadone for my neuropathy ( have been taking 10mg once a day for about a year for the pain… I had an appointment this morning at NYU but they cancelled it do to the doctor’s emergency.. The first appointment they have is not till Feb 28….have a script for blood work and an appointment for Feb 16….and another appointment for an internist on feb 22 …and if none of they help will see the pain management doc in March While I know you are not docs but does anyone else have this type of problem. I would love to hear that I am not crazy.

taking a multi vit, Iron , Vitamin d, calcum and vit c

I have been going to all of my follow up appointments, the crummy feeling has been there a while but I keep brushing it off …thought it was from the surgery, then the new diet then just normal stuff ( to much work ect)…but I now know something is definitely wrong and won’t stop till I get an answer I thought once I started to lose weight that I would feel better not worst

weird i was going to start a post like this i was banded on aug and despite a very slow weight loss ( only 20 pounds so far) my period has been very weird ... a week or so late and alot a cramps saddly no sex so it's not that I have told a few of my many docs and they all say the same thing it could be a combination of things...surgery, weight loss, meds , and you are now 47

Not with the band – but when I was on chemo I couldn’t have anything cold for over six months and after about 2 months of wamr I would have dreams of ice cream and how good it would taste. Never did taste as good as in my dreams….at that time I was also having xrated dreams everything..never with the ice cream though I don’t think you are crazy….it’s just your mind

how do you eat Soup or Cereal and deal with the liquids and solid food at the same time? I can't if i try i get a restricion....i eat the ceral first then wait at least 15 minues (can't drink the good stuff at the bottom of the bowl) with soup i eat the vegies and rice then wait so long to drink the liqids some times i just throw it out any ideas?

the problem is i am hungry but if i try to eat (liquids and solid food) at the same time it hurts and i end up throwing up

my problem with bannans is from the first bite i feel like i am choking restrictons big time i used to love bannans sine my chemo in 2006 i used to eat at least 2 a day (at one point during chemo my potassium was real low so the dog said to go home and eat 4 to 6 bannans---mush better thant a pill or IV)....i do miss them

I thought the holiday’s with the band would be easy Well no ……I ate so much less than I would normally ( I ate less that 1 slice of pizza when everyone around me was on their 3rd slice) tried to make good choices but the holiday food got me Turkey, Ham ,cold cuts, Italian food, Chinese , Cookies , chips (not at the same time) In addition to Christmas and new years I have my birthday on dec 30- tried to eat a time bit of steak on my birthday and ending up throwing it all up (does not taste good at all coming up Most of the time I was ok with a couple of bites…..had a few restrictions some gagging but for the most part stopped when I thought there would be a problem. It is so hard to eat my tiny plate….slowly when others are devouring mounds of food and drink Always the last one at the table..wanting to eat more but unable because I knew the pain would be unbearable…found myself hungry a lot ..then would eat something bad then pain Felt sorry for myself .mad at myself and the world and other time happy with the band The worst part was the alcohol--- i used to like the flavored beers (lemon, lime ect) can’t drink them now because of the carbonation……even mixed drinks I like with soda so not too much to drink…mostly sober in a room full of half drunk people …not so much fun Am having a hard time getting back to normal….miss food want to eat but know it will cause pain Maybe I should so back to liquids for a few days and restart my system On new years I weighed in at 209.4 --- from 230+ before surgery aug 22 its working I know it will get better but its hard Bad foods that go down real easy Snapple Lemonade Chips Cereal (sugary ones) Peppermint candy canes Cake

i didn;t know the stomach and shoulder were somehow connected i had surgery on aug 22 and get the lest shoulder pain if i eat too fast and i thought it was gas I had real bad pains in the lesft should for the first week or so walking helps let the gas out for me

and we are already exercising Looking back 2011 was a very good year for me a found a solution (not a sure) to my neuropathy pain and I didn’t chicken out –got the band and am 23 pounds lighter than last year for only the second year (the other time was the year on chemo) i don't have to add diet to my resolution......mabye my resolution is to just keep inproving myself Happy New Year to All----looking foreward to 2012 and beyond

Is it just me? Since i got the band when ihave to eat with others i think they all eat like pigs at 3 and 1/2 months or so i am eating moslty normal foods now...i find it's weird with friends when you eat so much less them they do (i used to be the one who ate everything on my plate, the bread and crumbs on the table ect) now i get a soup or if it's family style everyone wonders at the end why we have so many leftovers.... i don't realy enjoy eating with others as i can't use my timer and have to count in my head its ok when you are talking between bites But eventually the others all dig in and you have to just eat a little and stop I am jealous of how others can still eat…I know it’s wrong and silly but when I gee others munching on something I used to love it hurts

Helen here so thrilled that I have meet and beat my goal for December as of today I am 207 .2 Almost 23 pounds since surgery on aug 22 Unbelievably happy as I haven’t been this light since 2009 (before my major diet and exercise ) I did get a little help last fri I got another fill (only ¼ of a cc) I am now at 5 ¾ cc in a 10 cc band , had 3 fills so far and the doc thinks I am almost in the green zone So happy

I am all most 4 months out (banded aug 22 ) and all of the holiday stuff is very tempting But I know I can’t eat just one --- I will want the whole bag and then with the band throw up so hand but at leasti know if I eat it I will feel sick….keep repeating ..soon it will be jan….no treats just cold weather and snow…o no then stuck in the house….

so many fears 1 I would not wake up from the surgery---- don’t know why to date I have had 11 surgeries (including the lapband) and have been anesthetized an additional 7 times for colonoscopies and have woken up from all of them with no complications 2. it would not work and it would be something else I could add to the failure pile----so far 18 ½ pounds since surgery on aug 22…slow but going in the right direction 3. I could only eat baby food and Protein drinks--- not true just finished ½ or so of a grilled cheese sandwich – I have a bad cold that makes everyone real hungry 4. everyone would know-----my family still does not know and will never know

Things have been going very well since I got the timer Am eating slow and small amounts and except for thanksgiving I have been real good with no major problems Well yesterday afternoon I was eating my lunch late around 3pm , I had a drinkable yogurt and a few pieces of Roast Beef left over from the weekend. I had no problem with the meat on sun night but yesterday …after a few very small very tiny bites I started to feel the pain in my chest I immediately stopped eating but it was too late…it took almost 2 hours to clear and finally ended up throwing up a little….i was scared and mad at myself for doing such a dumb thing …but the worst part was that I was at work…went through all of my emergency tissues then keep running to the bathroom because I couldn’t stop the phlegm afterwards my throat hurt and it still does a little … This is the part of the band that I hate

was 211.8 today with horrible pms (hope to drop more by next week) only 1 1/2 pounds to meet this months challenge was real hungry yesterday for some reanon and today was still eating my Breakfast Cereal at 12n threw our half my lunch ensure...not hungry at all today but boy would i like some chocolate mabye a little piece after dinner?

mabye all the leftovers should go to the dog instead of me in the future it's just kind of anoying to be 46 and relearning how to eat

banded on aug 22 so a little over three months down a total of 17 1/2 pounds it's harder than you would think it would be but so worth it

Name, real or screen~ Helen Dittmer Age~46 till Dec 30 Weight on December 1st~ 213.8 Goal weight for December 29th~210 Dietary goal for December~ more Fiber Exercise goal for December~more walking and exercise Personal goal for December~ be happy were i am Date banded~ aug 22 ,2011 Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 16 1/2 lb One thing that has improved with your health since banding~ My knees have stoped making the loud crunchy noise and it's easier to go up the stairs failed my first 2 challanges so i am more conservative with my goal this time really really want to be 210 or less on my birthday dec 30

thought I was real good ate very small amounts chewed till it was liquid and stopped the 15 to 30 seconds between bites. I did eat more that I normally would but only about 1/5 of what I would normally eat..I had to keep lying and say it was my seconds or thirds plate when it was really my first I got real tired around 11pm and feel asleep on the couch for about ½ hour and when I woke up I had such a bad pain in my right side where the port is. I threw up a little bit and went to bed.I thought I was going to have to go to the er…I sleep for about ½ and woke up with a lot less pain It was the worst pain ever I guess I overdid it ..never want to go back there….

You may need another fill I went from 3 ½ cc and being able to eat anything to 4 ½ with a lot of restrictions Its amazing what a difference the small amount can make But how much weight are you losing? My doc says as long as I lose 1 to 2 pounds a week I don’t need another fill

once a week on friday if i try during the week and it goes up and down i get too sad so i figure once a week is good when i get up ..after going to the bathroom...buck naked