RJ'S/beginning

Hi; I have not read about this topic on here and so I thought I would share my latest health issue. I found this article on it and thought others might find it interesting because it does happen to WLS patients more then you think! What is reactive hypoglycemia? After bariatric surgery you may experience reactive hypoglycemia: • Hypoglycemia means low blood sugar • Reactive hypoglycemia is having low blood sugar after eating a meal or snack This may happen after eating foods that are high in sugar or simple carbohydrates. It is thought to be related to dumping syndrome. How do I know if I have reactive hypoglycemia? You have reactive hypoglycemia if you have: • any symptoms listed below a few hours after having a meal or snack and • these symptoms go away after eating or drinking What are the symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia? You may feel one or more of these: • hungry • sweaty • shaky • anxious • dizzy • weak • sleepy • confused What should I do if I think I have reactive hypoglycemia after having a meal or snack? Having low blood sugar is not good for your overall health and can be life-threatening. • If you think you have reactive hypoglycemia, check your blood sugar. • If your blood sugar is less than 4 mmol/L, you need to treat it to bring your sugar above 4 mmol/LWhat is reactive hypoglycemia? After bariatric surgery you may experience reactive hypoglycemia: • Hypoglycemia means low blood sugar • Reactive hypoglycemia is having low blood sugar after eating a meal or snack This may happen after eating foods that are high in sugar or simple carbohydrates. It is thought to be related to dumping syndrome. How do I know if I have reactive hypoglycemia? You have reactive hypoglycemia if you have: • any symptoms listed below a few hours after having a meal or snack and • these symptoms go away after eating or drinking What are the symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia? You may feel one or more of these: • hungry • sweaty • shaky • anxious • dizzy • weak • sleepy • confused What should I do if I think I have reactive hypoglycemia after having a meal or snack? Having low blood sugar is not good for your overall health and can be life-threatening. • If you think you have reactive hypoglycemia, check your blood sugar. • If your blood sugar is less than 4 mmol/L, you need to treat it to bring your sugar above 4 mmol/L. Follow the steps on the next page. If you do not have a meter, talk to your family doctor, health care provider or the diabetes educator in the Bariatric Clinic to get a meter. When your blood sugar is less than 4 mmol/L: 1. Take 15 grams of a fast acting carbohydrate right away. This will raise your blood sugar quickly. Examples of fast acting carbohydrate include: • Chewing 3 to 4 dextrose or glucose tablets (read the label) or • Drinking ¾ cup (175 ml) of juice 2. Wait 15 minutes and check your blood sugar again. 3. If your blood sugar is still below 4 mmol/L treat again with one of the fast acting carbohydrates listed above. 4. Repeat these steps until your blood sugar is above 4 mmol/L. 5. If your next meal or snack is more than 1 hour away, you need to have a snack that contains carbohydrate and Protein that fits into the stage of diet you are at. Examples of Snacks are listed on the last page. You may feel like eating sweet foods like Cookies, cake and candy. Even though these foods are high in sugar and can raise your blood sugar, your blood sugar will go too high too fast which is not safe. This can then lead to another low blood sugar because too much insulin is released. How can I prevent reactive hypoglycemia? You can help prevent reactive hypoglycemia by following your diet guidelines for bariatric surgery. • eat 3 healthy meals and 2 healthy snacks each day • space meals and snacks 2 to 3 hours apart • eat protein at each meal and snack time • avoid skipping meals andsnacks • avoid or limit alcohol depending on what stage of diet your are at • avoid or limit caffeine depending on what stage of diet your are at • avoid sweets like cookies, cakes, candy, pop, juice and sweet drinks Instead of sugars and simple carbohydrates, eat complex carbohydrates because they release less sugar over a longer period of time. Having a complex carbohydrate with protein will slow this release even more. Try putting any of these together when they fit the stage of bariatric diet you are at: Complex Carbohydrates • whole wheat crackers • whole wheat bread • whole wheat pita • whole grain rice • potatoes • cereal Protein • nuts • cheese • meat • lentils • peanut butter • eggs • yogurt Here are some snack ideas to have after treating a low blood sugar: • crackers and cheese • pita and hummus • nuts and yogurt • melba toast and Peanut Butter

I am not getting my plastic surgery as I am to high of a risk factor. Because of everything I have gone through and still experiencing they feel that I could most likely die from it. They are concerned that I will become septic again and this time not survive. They had a ton of reasons why it was rejected. I was not expecting that. It came out of the blue for me. Here is the issue if anyone can help. Does anyone know where I can buy support for my entire body. By being able to keep it tight to me. Esp. The panni area which gives me the most issues. I feel so disheartened. But totally understand the reasoning behind their choice. But on the other hand I will look like a monster the rest of my life. I need to find a way to tuck it all in when I am in public. If anyone knows about how to do this I would appreciate it. Thank you; Jane

@@Valentina Wow. I am so sorry for your kind of pain that you deal with on a daily basis. Life sure throws curves whatever we choose to do. Your sacrifice was a biggy. I wish you all the best and good and love as you go forward in this journey.

That a lot of people worry about dying on the table but that there are much worse things that can happen to you then dying. I know that sounds harsh but please make sure you are prepared for anything that might happen and are ready to except anything that might happen. I learned an awful lot about WLS after the fact. And I thought I knew a lot before. Maybe it is difference 4 years later I don't know..But I doubt it very much! That is what I wish someone had told me before I did it anyway....not that I would have listened.

@@MrsPJ Ty very much....I have been on and off of here for years. There are times I get so tired of the same old that I leave fore a while but always check in to see how Alex's dream is coming a long. BTW he looks amazing in his new photo. Anyway. I will keep it in mind. Have great evening.

That is always the best way to go. ASK questions from your team and be knowledgeable about everything before you go in for surgery. Know what is going to happen. Possible outcomes good and bad. Be prepared for anything. Except any possible outcome before you agree to let WLS happen to you. It is your life your body. You are your own champion no one else will do it for you.

Actually it is very normal. Try just snacking a little bit at a time. Trust me if you had a leak there would be a lot more then just bile coming up. You would have a temp. And feeling quite dizzy and sick just to say a bit. Keep the Protein going in yogurt and Protein drinks for now. when you start to feel your heart beat under the food stop eating. It will ease up with time. Look for high protein and low fat foods. There are so many choices out now.

TY for that @@MrsPJ I am okay with who I am now. When it all happened it was painful. But I have managed to adjust. I am in a lot of pain due to scaring because of the complications of WLS. So for me to wear tight body forming garments is not possible. It has been hard but I now like who I am even with the lumps and bumps. It is part of the sacrifices I made to lose the weight. A choice I made good or bad.

Once the decision has been made all is a go. That was the easy part! Now the hard work of dealing with all of it for the rest of your life. No different then dealing with it all before the sleeve or bypass. Except you will be thin and healthy. It is a life long fight that will have losses and gains literally! And yes we may loose some battles but the war is ours... Good luck with your choice and don't be hard on yourself. How you dealt with coming to this decision was natural.....

My Sister had the Gastric bypass and has been extremely successful. I had the sleeve and am still not in good health. Her surgery went flawless. In either case there are good results and bad results. Please have your surgeon go over all the information and stats as far as success rates go and make your choice with confidence that what ever you choose you can deal with it because this is what you want more then anything. Remember you are not your close family members who had these problems but it is something to consider when making a life changing decision. And that is what it is.......

I had a very bad episode on vacation last year. I passed out in front of my grand daughter and worse the tide was coming in on the Bay of Fundy. As much as I am now used to this condition it can still rear up even when I am properly maintaining my Protein intake and everything. I find that if I get too excited about something happening it can happen anyway. My count goes down below 2 which 5 is normal. It has caused some issues with my over all health and some weight gain. It is just another symptom of the choices we make regarding what we feel is best for our overall health. Even with this nasty part of it. I am still happy I did it....

ajbishop2 I know why you shared the experience. And your attitude is amazing. I was just giving a general thought about how you can get caught up what others think. That woman had no right to treat you like that. But for some reason so many of them lack patient skills. They think they have the right to say anything. This is not so. But it is something we have had to deal with. It is the last remaining prejudice that has been left unchecked. By the way. I remember saying similar comments like you made about knowing what to do and then doing it. I am not trying to say anything negative about anything. I am just gently reminding you that you are a human and we have a struggle that we will fight our entire lives. Even when we know what we are supposed to do. I am heading into my fourth year now and fight every day to do what is right for my health and well being. Some days are great others not so great. That is why I said what I said. I was speaking as someone who has been on the other side of WLS. It was not meant in a derogatory way. It is simply the way it is. When you chose to write things on a forum like this it can be taken the wrong way. That was not my intention. I rarely post now for that very reason.... I want to say all the best and I am so glad you have the support you need. I did as well and it makes a huge difference when the fight begins. Take care.

When people make that comment I always say " so skinny people live forever " Most times it defuses the comment. but you need to know that WLS does not fix the brain. That will be an ongoing process for the rest of your life. There is a high percentage of people who become addicted to something that takes the place of food. This is something to watch out for. WLS is not a miracle it is a work in progress for the rest of your life. Bad times and good times will follow you and no matter what you will still have body issues. So what I am saying is fix the brain. How you think about yourself no matter what anyone says. This is about you and only how you can feel about yourself. Good luck on your journey and much success is what I wish for you.

Swimsuit? That is not even an option for me. I keep telling myself that it is just my outer shell and it means nothing. It seems to be working at times. I am pleased that I can do so much more now. I just finished another course and am very active. I need to be happy with that. I have developed pain in my side and cannot wear fitted clothing anymore. So I have had to go up a size or two just to be comfortable. They tell me it is all the scar tissue that is causing the strain on my body. That is fine. It is what it is. I had skin cancer removed from my face just recently and didn't it get infected. So I know I am now prone to it and that is that. Thank you for your comments ssflbelle I appreciate all the kind words people have offered me on here. It is a wonderful thing to have a place to come where others are understanding the issues we all go through. Believe me I would not like to go back to where I was so I will make due.

@@MichiganChic Thank you for your understanding. I am already coming to terms with it. My sister God bless her said that, "I am not defined by my shell but who I am on the inside. Think of the reasons you did this in the first place." And when I did it had nothing to do with the finish look. It was all about my grand daughter and moving and walking and energy and living. I feel like this was just another part of the journey now and it is time to go forward with my life and enjoy what WLS has allowed me to become. I just needed to get through the disappointment and I am almost there.

I just really can't wrap my head around the idea that it isn't going to happen. I am just stunned. I never expected this at all. As far as I knew it was all a go. It hit both my hubby and I like a ton of bricks. No it is not the end of the world, but we cried together because we did not see this happening. It was a sure thing. And yes my hubby loves me no matter what. But it was what I counted on as a reward for all I went through. Do I deserve it more then anyone else. NO! It was just part of the plan... the whole plan. The completion to a...... it was all worth it. Did I expect to look like a model. No. Did I expect to look twenty. No. I would lay in the hospital bed thinking about how wonderful it would be when it was all over. All over. It never even entered my mind that it wouldn't happen. It just didn't. Some of you will understand where others will not and I say that is okay! For some it was never part of the plan. Some would not do it for a million years or if they were millionaires. And that's okay. But for me. It was the cherry on the top of all the work, hard work. I geared myself up for it. I planned it. It was part of MY journey. No one else's..... Some of you have said some very heart warming comments and I am truly grateful for them.

All valid points ladies and I appreciate your kind words. It was just something I was not expecting. Last I heard it was a go. Two surgeons working side by side. Not no, and the list went on for thirty minutes why. Each reason was valid. I am just upset. where to go is here. i think of others like me and need their words of wisdom as you have all shown me. My body takes forever to heal now. I get sick easily. My skin breaks down there is no pre work I can do. It is what it is. I have to except that and thank you for the sites. I am no computer savvy. Will look up Compression garments after weight loss surgery.

@@jenn1 Are you planning plastics. or are you okay with lose skin. Or you look young. Did your skin just bounce back. I did not lose weight like others with normal circumstances. I lift the hospital with 97 lbs gone. in 5 months. And it wasn't because I was dieting or even eating. I lost it because I didn't eat for 5 months. My Dr. said the other day. " You think your healthy don't you! You think that you can do anything. Right! Well your wrong. You have a lot more to deal with before you can call yourself okay or even healthy. It is still a long road for you." I just smiled because I thought he was out of his mind. But when I got home I was reminded quickly about the severe pain under my ribs from scar tissue. I get severe spasms from that. Where is all the scaring connected too that pulls like that and that is only one issue. Today I don't care about the good things about this surgery. Today three years ago I went septic and started my hell of 5.5 months in the hospital.

The surgeon I chose flew all over Canada to get advice on my issues. He researched it thoroughly and I trust his judgement. If he says I will have a heart attack, or severe infections or better yet die. Then I know that he is telling me all. Sure, there are some that would do it because of money but he won't because he cares about me personally. And it was extremely painful for both my husband and I to hear that it was not a go and why. My history with WLS has been a bumpy, surgery filled, not to mention coma and being on the brink of death more then once. So I believe him when he said he talked to the top experts in Canada. And everyone agreed it was too risky. Hell they don't even know where my stomach is exactly or how much scaring is there due to the 30 procedures and surgeries I had because of my decision to have WLS. I know that tomorrow I will remember why I did this and what the positives were and are regarding it all. But for today I am really looking for options to hide the skin.

@BLERDgirl @CowgirlJane I am mostly concerned about the pantie part. i have things I wear for the upper part that are quite comfortable. If there is a garment out there for the pantie area. that will hold in all the extra. That is what I am looking for. Maybe I am not a monster. but I feel like one when my flesh slides out of the garment I am wearing that holds in the skin down south. Today is a hate Jane day. Feel sorry for Jane day. Cry day. Nothing has gone like it should but you are right I am a survivor. I just wonder sometimes where the breaking point may be.....

@@jenn1 That seems a bit extreme. Where does she find time to live!?

It is 3 years today that I went for my life saving surgery. I had no idea of the positives or negatives that would befall me on this journey. I wonder if I knew then what I know now would I have done it at all. I think the answer is yes! With all the complications and difficulties I personally faced and still am facing I am a changed girl. One that is free to walk long distances. Go anywhere with out people staring or making unkind remarks. I have become invisible to the masses. I like that a lot. Soon I will undergo skin removal surgery and will really be changed forever. ( always being watchful of my addiction of course ) I live in a different world now. I started my own business and now work for a organization that appreciates my efforts. My journey is unfolding before my eyes. For the good may I say. I don't feel the same about anything in my life. I can't remember being this happy and it all began with the approval for WLS. I know who I am better. My weaknesses and I have much more compassion for others. The complications I still have are a strict reminder of where I have been and how far I have come. It has been quite a ride! Thank you everyone for being part of it. Couldn't have done it without the support of so many on this site. Thank you Alex for giving us a place to discuss freely the ups and downs of WLS. Jane

The only one who can answer that question is your surgeon. but I suggest that you do inform him/her that you consumed cornflakes and when. The incision will be his. Some go forward with the surgery and others don't. Some see it as you are not ready. Others will see it that it has to be done for your health and worry about your addiction later. But you have to be ready for what is ahead. And that is retraining your thinking and actions regarding food. It is not your master. You are the master. You can do this! Go forward with confidence and knowledge that this is what you want. So that you can become a healthier and happier person, by letting the real you out.

Thank you for your opinion. But I stand by my original post and further comments! There is no reason to regurgitate the same what's what over and over again. I shall go on seeing the Dietitian now that she has figured out the real reason I went to see her in the first place. As we spent a lot of time talking about my HISTORY! Now as for the specialist. He leaves a bad taste in my mouth because he did not include my HISTORY! He dropped the ball as far as I am concerned. But no matter, life goes on. Right!