Sadlers1999

Lots of amazing progress here. I have lost 35 since surgery Dec. 19th and 53 since Sept. Would love to be up there with some of you with the big numbers but our bodies are all different and our starting size is a factor. I am still working on adjusting my food intake' date=' my dietician has me on 3-- 1/4 cup meals of Protein food a day and that is it. I was averaging 300 cal. and 30-40 grams of protein and have been having slow weight loss but most people are eating more than that when I polled on here and with other friends so I am trying to add more calories and protein. It is not easy because I sitll get really full very fast and have trouble getting any protein drinks down for some reason. So my plan to add a protein drink has not really happened regularly, I still haven't branched out to protein Snacks, kind of afraid to have snacks added in like I am going to go too far. My exercise is pretty good, I keep adding in more walking and more strenuous hills and hiking as well. Usually every day. I am considering joining a health club to get more types of exercise in.

I was at a Bariatric meeting and a surgeon other than my own was speaking, he was saying that getting into ketosis, eating mainly protein and fat, little or no carbs could help get the fat moving, has anyone done this?[/quote']

Surgeons WANT us to get into ketosis? :-(

Threw up for the first time since surgery. Ate 1/4 cup roasted edamame (130 cal, 13 g). I have eaten this before without feeling sick, but this time, maybe I didn't chew well enough...It was horrible. :-(

I was just saying the same thing. Once I read something that makes me uncomfortable' date=' I'm Googling away to find the truth...uuughhh - how frustrating![/quote']

So, this is just one more topic on this site where there is no 100% agreement. In some ways, being part of an "in-person" support group at a hospital is insulating. As I said elsewhere, I was the only person at the meeting who hadn't had surgery at this hospital and they "snortled" when I mentioned things I have read/learned at this forum. It's less confusing if you are told what to do by your doctor and you surround yourself with people who have been told the same thing. This forum is confusing because there are so many differences pre-operatively and post-operatively between what surgeons tell us.

I do think that it comes down to what someone else said, "Sore is okay. Pain is not." I also should add that 1/2 the patients in the WLS support group had bypass surgery, not the sleeve. I get the feeling that bypass patients have to be more careful not just over what they eat, but also what they do post-operatively.

So my BMI is still in the obese range, but I think I am officially back in onederland. Very excited. I don't think I have been under 200 lbs in 7 years. (The reason I say "I think" is because I was weighing myself on the scale at the gym which is more like the doctor's office scale...It said I was 198 1/2.)

I was told no abdominal focus for three months but I had complications which required my ribs to be spread and holes cut into my chest so that might be why mine was further out than most. I will say that at four months I went to a Pilates class with a friend which I thoroughly loved because it worked all my focus areas' date=' but the day after I was in so much pain in my rib cage I had to call the doc and ask if I'd screwed anything up. He said to go ahead and continue if I wanted but not to push the abdominal area as hard as I had, and to phase it in, listening to my body. Sore is ok Pain is not.

[/quote']

This is kind of funny. When I first read this, I didn't realize it was you writing it, Iggychic. So, I was thinking...wow...ANOTHER horror story. I am sorry you had a rough time, but I am relieved that you did not have a "twin" experience-wise with this surgery. I do totally agree that there is a huge difference between being sore and feeling pain. REally, it's the only thing that makes sense.

I have a question for all December sleevers' date=' got my labs back a bit worried by B12 was off the charts 50000,anyone had this happen? My D was also up . Have not seen my surgeon ye, will see him on the 13th. Stopped taking all my Vitamins really freak out . I was sleeved Dec 13th first blood test since surgery![/quote']

I won't get any blood work done until the 6-month mark. (I don't have any co-morbidities, so maybe that's why?) In any case, that is interesting that you are so "high." My NUT has me on so many vitamins! It looks like a geriatric pill-taking time in the morning when I take most of them. Keep us posted about what they tell you since this is the opposite outcome than what we expect.

I had another 2 week stall' date=' then my weight dropped 8 lbs in one day! It was related to TOM so I wasn't super surprised. I'm down 28 lbs now in 5 weeks.

I'm wondering if anyone else feels kind of...I'm not sure how else to put it..."crazy" sometimes? Sometimes I just say something that is totally out of character for me. I even did it on this forum, which was terrible. Anyone else notice that they do or say stuff that is out of character? I think losing food as a mood regulator has something to do with it, and hormonal changes with weight loss...or maybe I'm just rationalizing and I'm not as nice a person as I think I am?

Anyone else?[/quote']

Well, they did tell me prior to surgery that people can be depressed after surgery. Depression can lead to mood changes that are atypical. Ironically, I was on anti-depressants prior to surgery (for post partum depression) and was relieved to give them up after surgery. But, everyone is different. I don't think what you are describing sounds "abnormal." I think if you did use food as a mood regulator, it is likely that being on the post surgery diet would make you grumpy. And, what they would probably tell you is to take up another activity that makes you feel good to replace the eating. I think someone on this forum took up knitting in place of eating. Knitting made her feel good. She knitted whenever she needed to pick herself up (vs. eating). A lot of people would say replace the eating with exercise, but this isn't always practical.

BTW, speaking of hormones, getting my second TOM was rough. It wasn't "normal" and I was hormonal. I really would have loved a piece of chocolate...not something chocolate flavored. Real chocolate. :-)

I know exactly how you feel! when I hear someone who has lost 30 or more pounds on their first month and they are complaining about a "stall"' date=' it makes me feel like a failure since it will be a miracle if I can hit 20 at the end of my first month. I'm only 10 pounds down at 19 days out. I'm following all the rules and was hoping for 20 at 4 weeks. dde15BUT, I will persevere! I'm blessed to have had this surgery and the best is yet to come![/quote']

My PCP believes that there are a lot more patients like us (people who don't lose as fast) but because we don't have these incredible numbers to report, we don't report them...vs. the people who do have great success want to shout it from the roof tops. She thought that 20 lbs in 6 weeks was "good" weight loss results.

COLORADO GIRL HERE!!

so excited ..just started my classes and did the whole Physical and shrink test! I am getting scheduled for end of April or beginning of May. I am SO excited with a little scared mixed in...I am so tired of being "chunky" and being the one who...'well she has a pretty face'. I have dieted for most of my life...40 years or so...grrrrrrr..

I live near Castle Rock..would love to talk to someone in Colorado!

Stephanie

Just messaged you, Gibsongirl-Stephanie.

I got in a pair of size 18 pants tonight after being in size 22...almost 24...this past year. The weird thing is that my size 22 clothes are loose, but not "falling off" me, so I think that's part of my problem. I don't feel like it is wildly obvious that I have lost 40 lbs since last August (20 since surgery in December)...

You know' date=' now I'm curious.

If I understand this operation correctly, the stomach muscles were not really cut., or were they? Maybe cut at belly button area to insert the scissors/stapler and at some points to insert the gas and camera thingy? Where are the main places that exercise could cause trouble after a laparoscopic surgery?[/quote']

re; curious - See. This is what I mean. The forum can be helpful, but it can make you crazy when the information is conflicting. I won't see my doctor again until the 3-mos. mark, so I guess I won't do anything too crazy with my middle until then.

I was under the general impression that I, too, was supposed to "listen" to my body about how much to do. That's why I was shocked when I heard all these people saying it.

I didn't specifically ask my doctor about situps and crunches. But at this group, it was a life-long ban...not just 8 weeks. Weird, huh?

I went to a support group meeting at a hospital last night. It's not the same place I had my surgery. The NUT running the group has done bariatic-specific support for 25 years and she said that eating more Protein is not necessarily better. It depends on your gender (male vs. female) and size (height, not weight)....In any case, she says the trend right now is for doctors to tell us to eat more protein, but in her experience, eating protein with every meal is important but not hitting high numbers like what you describe.

Went to a support group meeting for all types of WLS last night at a local hospital. It is not the hospital where I had surgery. The patients in this support group were told not to do sit ups and crunches (even after 6 weeks post op)? I need feedback. I assumed that it would be okay to resume those activities when I was ready.

I can't imagine losing a pound a day. If it didn't happen immediately after surgery, I just don' think it's going to happen. It's taken 7 weeks to get 20 lbs off and I met a guy last night (at the in-person support group) who lost 20 lbs in one week. Such different results from the same procedure.

Just as with online comments' date=' you have to take everything you hear with a grain of salt. I think it is honestly best to stick as close as we can to the guidelines our actual program put forth. I've been to a live meeting where the doctor said you only need the Vitamins for the first year, which made very little sense to me. Protein is good for many things in our bodies, and it is the most satiating foods out there, so I think it is wise to take in a great amount of protein and to chose protein foods first. I don't know about you, but those choices tend to be low calorie and keep me full longer.[/quote']

I don't think she was saying NOT to eat protein first. I think she was saying to eat protein with every meal, but that if I got anything above 30 g. of protein, my body would be fine....like my muscles weren't going to deteriorate. She definitely thought protein provides the most satisfying long-burn, but she was concerned that too many of us obsess over hitting the protein goal of 60-70 and that might not be the most important thing.

On a different note, they mentioned that people with bariatric surgery should not do sit ups or crunches. Has anyone else's doctor told them that? We are supposed to weight bearing exercise for sure, but not supposed to "tax" the area most affected by the surgery. I thought after 6 weeks I could do anything.

Do you have trouble with Protein Shakes? I make one every morning -- it takes literally 1-2 minutes - and it's delicious. I get 30 grams of Protein right off the bat! If I start with a shake I can get to my goal of 70 grams really easily. I also get uncomfortable with almost all dense protein' date=' although a baked piece of softer fish goes down pretty easily. I can also handle scrambled egg whites really well -- low low calories and lots of protein. Most everything else that is not on the soft side feels like I swallowed a brick within 2 bites.... and yes, it does take the joy out of eating... which for me, might not be a bad thing!

~Dana[/quote']

I don't like the powdered protein mixes. I can drink Isopure and that Protein Drink (premixed) from costco. I also make a shake from Greek yogurt and skim milk many mornings. However, I got the impression from my surgeon's NUT that I am supposed to move away from shakes and eat my protein from regular food. I am having trouble with that. I hate the "brick" feeling.

Went to the "live" support group tonight. The NUT there has been a bariatric NUT for 25 years and she does NOT think that protein is as important as the current trend makes it seem. She says the 60-70 g. target is based on a man of a certain height and is NOT a one size fits all (meaning not necessarily what I need as a woman who is only 5'3 1/2")... I think for all of us the journey is really very individualistic. What works for one may not work for another. I was kind of hoping for something more standardized, but it isn't going to be that way.

I went to my first live support group meeting. It was for all types of surgery (bypass, lapband...there was even one person with plication). When I mentioned that I belonged to an online group, they kind of dissed it. They said there is a lot of "bad" info on here. I don't think any info is bad. There is just a lot of conflicting info and maybe for some people (especially prior to surgery) it is better to just have the school of thought of their surgeon. I was the only one there who hadn't had a drain. I thought the drains were to detect leaks, but someone there said their surgeons used it to prevent infection (like plastic surgeons)...Any way, it was interesting. The NUT there said that Protein is not the be all - end all. She said the 60-79 g of protein is based on a man of a certain height and that I shouldn't worry about it as much as getting a balanced diet. She didn't say NOT to do what I was told only that the science wasn't there to support the rule that we get so much protein. (She has been a bariatric NUT for 25 years...) Any way, it was interesting.

TOM time of month???

Yes...Was a new expression to me until I started on this forum.

How are all the December sleevers doing this week? Any successes or challenges? I have been traveling and it is hard to get the 90-100 grams of Protein a day or even exercise. Lost a couple of pounds this week.

I am going to a support group tonight and there should be people who have had different surgeons than mine. In any case, one of the things I want to talk about is why you (for example) would be told 90-100 grams of protein when I am still between 60-70 grams of protein...and frankly, i have trouble getting to 60-70, so I would lose my mind trying to get to 90-100. I really hate protein these days. I can only eat/drink Greek yogurt or a Tbsp of Peanut Butter and not feel uncomfortable. Everything else I have tried: fish, chicken, tofu, etc. makes me uncomfortable and takes all the "joy" out of eating it.

Maybe I should have been more clear Dr. Sadler1999. I had Graves Disease. I HAD radioactive iodine therapy and I NO longer have a thyroid' date=' therefore I have hypothyroidism-autoimmune. No, thyroid issues are not considered comorbidities. The internet doctors are amazing. For knowledge on a specific autoimmune disorder or any other thyroid disease, please consult your physician.[/quote']

Sorry I struck the wrong tone with you, but even you would have to admit that it's less likely to find someone on your journey (hyper to hypo) in our forum. My neighbor had/has Grave's. She also had the iodine therapy and it didn't kill her thyroid like anticipated. She got pregnant and carried a miracle baby to term. The baby was born hyperthyroid and is the only documented case of it. She's going in the medical journals. In the meantime, her mom is probably going to have her thyroid removed, but even with just the iodine treatment, she has put on some weight. It must be extremely difficult to go from one extreme to the other.

As for doctors, I think they are more likely to discuss Grave's with you than Hashimoto's. I have lived in three states and I have had three endocrinologists over 10 years. No one told me I had Hashimoto's. I had to ask. It's a little frustrating.

Don't forget about Graves Disease' date=' which is autoimmune. That is what I had. I was very thin.[/quote']

Grave's Disease is HYPERthyroidism, not HYPOthyroidism. They are different things. In some ways, I think hyper- is worse than hypo-, though. Also, if you have surgery to remove your thyroid, even if you have been HYPER, you can become HYPO. But, yes, Grave's Disease is also autoimmune. I would suspect, though, that most people getting bariatric surgery would not have had HYPERthyroidism unless it was in the past and subsequently the thyroid was removed.

Again, thyroid issues are not considered morbidity issues. You can live to a ripe old age on synthroid, levoxyl, etc.

I think it's important to point out that there are at least two types of hypothyroidism: thyroiditis (which can be a temporary phase) and Hashimoto's (an auto-immune disease). When I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism ten years ago, I thought I had the temporary kind. My doctors believed that eventually my body would get its groove back. That did not happen and subsequently I needed increasing doses of synthroid to remain functional. Finally I asked someone what was going on and they told me I had Hashimoto's. I suspect most of us have Hashimoto's. The symptoms are mostly classic hypothyroidism which is why most doctors don't differentiate it for patients. However, like all auto-immune diseases, we can benefit from limiting gluten, dairy and sugar. I tried to give up gluten before surgery. However, I am not sure how I would get rid of dairy from my diet now. I am relying heavily on skim milk and Greek yogurt.

The other thing you have to remember is that 20 years ago, they only gave thyroid medicine to people whose TSH fell outside of very strict parameters. Today, the modern approach is to treat symptoms. If your TSH is outside of norms but you are asymptomatic, your doctor doesn't need to give you anything. If your TSH is still "normal" but you have symptoms, they might give you something.

I don't think of synthroid like medication for hypertension and diabetes. Being hypothyroid is NOT a co-morbidity. Glad if someone doesn't need their synthroid any more, but I would think that you are not typical in our group.

I was sleeved on 12/17/12. Prior to surgery I lost 20 pounds from July to December. Day of surgery I weighed 222 and I have lost about 20 lbs post surgery (at 6-7 weeks). I am hovering around the entry-way to "one-der land." Because I am only 5'3 1/2", my BMI is still obese. I have had a few non-scale victories though....I can wear some bras that haven't fit me in ages. I am lighter than I have ever been in the past 8 years. Overall, from July to now, I have lost a "toddler." My 4-year old doesn't even weigh 40 lbs.

Thx.....I feel a little better...just been really bummed about it...

Just a reminder... You still have lost more than me and I haven't stalled. I just don't lose much on any given week. I think your body is just adjusting to the diet and exercise.