tigerbelle

Typically, studies have shown that WLS doesn't permanently "cure" diabetes. Once the pancreas has become damaged and no longer can produce the proper amounts of insulin, it will never regenerate back the the pre-diabetic levels. This does not mean that diabetes cannot be controlled through diet and exercise and with significant weight loss. I don't think that WLS, even RNY, is the cure that people seek however. I was on 2000mg of Metformin, and 100mg Actos and at 6 months I am down to 500mg of Metformin alone. My plan is to hit my goal weight and get off the drugs, but I know at some point, I will always need to have something that will help me control the sugar. At surgery my A1C was 7, now it is 5.6 and at 5.3 you are no longer classified as a diabetic.

I am type 2. I have always kept it well controlled with metformin. My last a1c before surgery was 5.7. That said, I have not taken metformin since surgery (3 weeks) and have not had a reading over 90 mg/dl (5 mmol/l). Most readings have been around 86-87 and it is trending downward. Even in the hospital it was already this low. I can't predict the future, but for now this is great.

Hi everyone!
I'm new to the forum but wanted to provide a little help with coping strategies in getting through this process. I was sleeved 5/20 at Stanford hospital in Palo Alto, Ca. I was a band to sleeve revision. Band was placed in 2010 and I suffered for two years not losing much weight. During my time with the band i sought therapy and even had to go into treatment for an eating disorder. I felt hopeless since losing almost no weight and spiraled out of control with binging and purging and diet pills. I Decided to have my band removed in 2012 and start personal training. Trained for 6mos lost 10-12lbs and some body fat and decided after suffering from depression and medical complications i would move forward with another procedure. So here I am 15 days post op
My doc cleared me to began a regular diet after losing 12lbs post-op and 5 pre-op so 17lbs as of 11 days post op. (keep in mind he's a world renown surgeon) he was concern about my weight loss moving to fast as I don't have a huge amount to lose. Pre-op 213 Surgery Day- 208 CW- 194....so here my thoughts. Although I have been cleared to eat I'm not ready so I'm working slowly on getting in my Protein and Water. I decided to purchase a few books on the importance of clean eating, obesity related medical problems, and a journal. As I began feeling "cravings" I started reading and journaling more and more. And this has been a HUGE help!!
Learning about what I have done to my old body and the seeing how I have the opportunity to start over now helps me in managing how I will eat with this new tummy I also journal everything I'm feeling, physical changes I'm experiencing, etc. I actually bought the journal before surgery and began to keep notes the weekend before. I wrote down the hospital name, doctor, time, date, etc. the next day I wrote who was present during my surgery (husband/family) why I choose to have the surgery and what I was feeling. I plan to use the journal as a reminder for myself, even years from now, of my painful/life changing journey.
I work in mental health and provide counseling services on a daily basis but it wasn't until I began to use the coping strategies that I teach to my clients for myself that I was able to see things differently. food is no longer an option for coping! It's prayer, god, and reading that is my strength. Hope this helps as I know it's a I difficult process as I too am struggling with it all but remind yourself why you sought the change in the first place.

brady, thanks for the input...I am glad for you and very much hope I start losing again, too

I had to read this topic when I saw the description because it is exactly how I am feeling today, and I am almost a month out...I still have my ups and downs...I remember feeling like you when I was on liquids still...then I started feeling better when I could eat mushy foods...my current "funk" is the result of my not losing any more weight at all for at least a week...it is extremely frustrating because I am following the program...I am only taking in about 500 to 600 calories per day, so how can I not be losing at least a little weight? I can assure you that a month pre-surgery I was eating way over 500 calories a day--also eating my beloved bread, Pasta, potatoes, rice, and the occasional sweet and I didn't gain weight...I didn't lose either I admit but now I am the same (not losing) and yet I am doing without...I know I am just whining now and usually I am much more of a realist than a whiner...blame it on my hormones, lack of carbs, depression, whatever...but I just feel like saying "it isn't fair!"

My stall that hit at 2 weeks out lasted for 10 days, and that seems to be what a lot of others experienced. So hang in there! My stall finally broke last week, and now I'm back to losing about a pound a day.

My starting weight was 248, I lost 10 lbs in April from a pre-op diet, had surgery May 1st and lost just 11lbs by June 1st. I am now 227. I will say that I have struggled with my hunger. I identified head hunger tnx to this forum early on and fight it but after the third week..I have been very physically hungry and able to eat way more than I thought I would :-( I do not push to fullness, I measure my food, don't drink 15 mins before or 30 mins after. It's been a struggle.

I go everyday and get a Gladiator from smoothie King. They are so much better than ones made at home and have 45 grams of Protein. I do them in 3 sessions. the last part i usually put in the freezer and eat right before bed like ice cream (frozen)

the only thing I can think to add is that if the reason he broke up with you has to do with mood swings from this temporary life situation, he isn't the type of partner you want to see you through "thick and thin" and all the crises that life can bring...I realize that doesn't help with the hurt and sadness, but perhaps it can add something to your perspective

yes, I was truly hungry, especially when I was on the liquid diet post-op...it did get better when I moved to soft foods...some people say it's not really hunger but the excess acid causing stomach rumblings...are you on a PPI? when I started taking Prevacid my dr had prescribed, it did help--but didn't totally alleviate the hunger...again, it is much better now that I can eat some dense protein....hang in there

Not sure if you are done losing, or if this size is a short-term stop along the way...but, once you have reached your "final" size, if you still have a discrepancy that makes you need a larger size to fit one part than what is needed for another, your best bet is to find a good tailor....from years of watching "What Not To Wear", I know that they say you need to buy the size that fits your widest part, but alter the rest so that the clothes for your body everywhere :-)

I also agree with dma and Nancy about the stress of the accident throwing off your hormones

I think beth, curvy, laura-ven, janice and others made some great posts...I can't add much to what they've already expressed...the things I see as consistently relevant are, first and foremost, the fact that we are changing/growing/morphing as persons continually--both physically and emotionally, and it's irrelevant and counterproductive to worry about whether who we are currently with or hope to be with would have loved us or been attracted to us in a previous iteration of ourselves...another thing is the idea about trusting your instincts and getting to know the person you are dating--you will be able to tell I think whether a person is of high character, moral, shallow, materialistic, etc. once you get to know them--based on what you discover about each other during the dating process, that is how you make your judgment about the type of person your partner is and not using what-ifs--life what if I were this or that or had this or didn't have this
to me it all comes down to a trust issue--something a lot of us (including me need to work on)...not only learning how or whom to trust..but also trusting in yourself...and for some of us who believe in a higher power, it is also trusting in that to guide you to the place and the person you need

congrats and thanks for sharing! this was especially inspiring for me, because we had similar starting stats...I am also 5'2" and weighed 268 on my surgery date (about 4 weeks ago)...I was wearing size 22/24 pants and 2X tops...my personal goal is 150 lbs....if I could lose 90 lbs. in six months, I would be thrilled! Since surgery, I am just down 20 lbs., so I have a ways to go

the only thing I can think to add is that if the reason he broke up with you has to do with mood swings from this temporary life situation, he isn't the type of partner you want to see you through "thick and thin" and all the crises that life can bring...I realize that doesn't help with the hurt and sadness, but perhaps it can add something to your perspective

the only thing I can think to add is that if the reason he broke up with you has to do with mood swings from this temporary life situation, he isn't the type of partner you want to see you through "thick and thin" and all the crises that life can bring...I realize that doesn't help with the hurt and sadness, but perhaps it can add something to your perspective

I think beth, curvy, laura-ven, janice and others made some great posts...I can't add much to what they've already expressed...the things I see as consistently relevant are, first and foremost, the fact that we are changing/growing/morphing as persons continually--both physically and emotionally, and it's irrelevant and counterproductive to worry about whether who we are currently with or hope to be with would have loved us or been attracted to us in a previous iteration of ourselves...another thing is the idea about trusting your instincts and getting to know the person you are dating--you will be able to tell I think whether a person is of high character, moral, shallow, materialistic, etc. once you get to know them--based on what you discover about each other during the dating process, that is how you make your judgment about the type of person your partner is and not using what-ifs--life what if I were this or that or had this or didn't have this
to me it all comes down to a trust issue--something a lot of us (including me need to work on)...not only learning how or whom to trust..but also trusting in yourself...and for some of us who believe in a higher power, it is also trusting in that to guide you to the place and the person you need

bravo

I'm single, and one of my goals with this surgery was to increase my chances of finding someone I can spend the rest of my life with. I can understand why a man wouldn't initially be attracted to me when I was very overweight - I wasn't loving myself enough to keep myself in optimal health. And I would like to be with a man who is active and loves himself enough to stay healthy as well. I don't think that is shallow. Its about how I want to spend my life moving forward. It is a life where I can travel without worrying about fitting into airplane seats. And where I am comfortable walking around a new city all day, just exploring. And where sex is hot! I don't see myself as shallow as wanting these things. And I trust my instincts enough that I believe I will be able to know if a man truly loves me for me.
What i wasn't thinking about when I imagined the post op period was dealing with incredibly saggy breasts and lots of excess skin. Not hot! And it is something that I would want to discuss with a guy before we got naked for the first time, because I'm sure I will feel insecure about it. Its just an obstacle that I hadn't considered, but I'm sure I can handle.
Have others handled the skin situation yet? How did it go?

Nice post Curvy. You said it great.

First of all I want to commend your bravery for posting this very real, and probably very common, fear out there, good for you. Also, there is a thread in the lounge that I started called "attention, I thought that's what I wanted", it addresses some of your fears.
Perhaps I'm an odd duck but, when I was a kid "popular" meant nothing to me. I simply didn't understand that you were *supposed* to want to hang out with people because they were "popular". This concept puzzled me - why would I want to hang out with someone if they weren't my friend? Why was I supposed to want something because someone else wanted it? This was highly illogical to me. I wanted french fries because I liked french fries, not because somebody I didn't know wanted french fries.
the point of my random story is that I apply the same principles to men now. Why would I want someone who doesn't want me? The men who didn't want me when I was obese - it is beside the point of whether or not they would want me now, because fat or thin, I would never want to be with someone that shallow. And it goes in reverse too, there really are men out there who are derogatory to thin women and will only date fat - again, here is a person that is categorizing people based on appearances and not substance and why on earth would I want to be with a person like that?
Now, lets forget the boys for a moment, I was deeply unhappy in my my body mind and heart over the state of my body, I was miserable. I felt trapped, like I was drowning in a sea of fat and couldn't participate in the things I love most about a physical life. How could I expect someone to love me, when I didn't love myself? So, I hold no grudge or animosity toward the hypothetical man who may find this current shell attractive, but who wouldn't have found the other one attractive. THAT is not who I am, THIS is, and I don't want to get obsessed with spilled milk.
Good luck and welcome!

wow...great work

congrats and thanks for sharing! this was especially inspiring for me, because we had similar starting stats...I am also 5'2" and weighed 268 on my surgery date (about 4 weeks ago)...I was wearing size 22/24 pants and 2X tops...my personal goal is 150 lbs....if I could lose 90 lbs. in six months, I would be thrilled! Since surgery, I am just down 20 lbs., so I have a ways to go

As I am just beginning my journey post-op I've seen a lot of people relate it to being born again. I'm always looking for inspiration and thought I would share these words from Deepak Chopra:
"You are [newly sleeved], right in the middle of a transitional phase. You relate as someone who is growing into a new person. That person won't fully appear for awhile. Yet the tendencies are already in evidence. Be gentle with this new person as she is being born. Be just as gentle with others. Realize that much more is going on beneath the surface than they are letting on. Associate with the most positive people in your group, not the most popular or the ones everybody envies and imitates."
Have a great new day!
Starting Weight: 270<br />Surgery Weight: 251<br />Two-Week Post-op Weight: 241

I am almost 4 weeks out and have been in a stall most of this week--after having lost 20 lbs the first two weeks post-op...I am not going to lie--it has been discouraging this week, but what has helped is reading from others here that have experienced similar stalls; they advise to just keep with the program and that the weight loss will eventually continue, and I am trusting in that...my NUT had warned me not to weigh every day for this very reason...I haven't really cheated at all--mainly because I am too scared...I haven't had any problems so far ::knock on wood:: and don't want to take any chances