Berry78

Hey y'all, long time no see! I'm 14 months postop, and have lost 111lbs. The losses pretty much stopped at 10 months postop. Nowadays I can eat any and everything. My taste changes weren't terribly long-lived. I can eat 2 cups of food at a time, so basically everything feels like I never even had surgery! I still don't drink with my meals, but I do drink right up until I start eating. About 11 months postop I started having problems from my vitamins. My toes swelled up and were painful. I don't know what I was getting too much of, so I just quit them. I still am taking b12 and A and D, but no more multis. Oops, got to go!

I know I've missed the last couple weigh ins. I've been holding steady at 196lbs.

Woo hoo!!! Congrats! Fluff.. nah, the decapitation happened preop.. see the before pic.

198lbs last Wed.

Glad you sound like you're doing better! Now you know you are extra sensitive to pain meds. {Hugs}

Ask if it was a reaction to anesthesia. If it was, then you can feel confident that it is now out of your system and you won't have more trouble. {Hugs} I know it's a scary time, but since you now KNOW what is going on, it shows how much better you are doing! Like you said yourself, when you were at your sickest, you didn't know what was happening. Once you can get some sleep, your mind will have a chance to process this whole thing, and it'll quickly become "old news". Having had a scary time after giving birth to my last child, I know what you are going through. What helped me the most was to find out exactly what was going on with me. Much of my fear was because I didn't really understand what was wrong, and without that understanding, there were all sorts of "boogeymen" in my thoughts. I created problems where there weren't any. The biggest thing I learned was to not rely on nurses to explain what is going on. Get a doctor to tell you, and make sure they don't use "doctor words". As for vomiting blood, it's probably from bleeding during the surgery, and once you "clean it out", the vomiting should stop. You can also tell them you are feeling anxious, and whether there is anything they could give your for anxiety. (They may say "no" if they're concerned about medication reactions, but it doesn't hurt to ask).

Blood pressure meds can have side effects. Slightly elevated blood pressure (systolic up to about 140 or 150) isn't super dangerous.. so it's a judgement call as to the benefit of medicating these elevated pressures. I chose not to medicate mine once I was consistently under 150 systolic. If I was running 148-152, I'd probably take a half-dose, depending on the med. Of course, this is with the idea that I'm in a weight-reduction phase, and expect the pressures to continue improving. If I were in a weight- stable phase, then I'd want to stay on a blood pressure medication with pressures over 140.

My blood pressure was very high the day of surgery (190/95). A few weeks after surgery it went down to 145/85, and stayed in that range until I hit 200lbs, when it became normal (120/80). For me, getting close to a normal weight was more important than the actual surgery. So.. keep taking your medication, keep an eye on your pressures, and as you lose more and get closer to goal, you may find you need fewer meds, and perhaps get off of them at goal. (Not everyone CAN get off their meds.. there are plenty of normal-weight people running around that still need blood pressure meds.. but a normal weight will give you your best shot at it).

At 2 weeks out, I was still on liquids.. forget chicken breast!! Protein shakes, water, milk, juice, decaf coffee, tea, and walking.. no rides that are rougher than a car ride. Remember, your stomach isn't completely scarred over for 6-9 weeks after surgery. It is possible to develop leaks during the first 2 months postop, so you have to adhere 100% to your doctor's orders. Good luck!

Bands sometimes can develop problems after several years (like you are experiencing). They like to slip out of place and can even "dig" into the stomach and/or liver (called "eroding"). These problems can feel like heartburn and indigestion. Please do get checked out. If your surgeon finds a problem, your band will need to come out. This is also a good time to do some research into switching from band to sleeve or bypass. (Sometimes sleeve isn't an option because of scar tissue.. so check into both possibilities.) Depending on your situation, they sometimes will do a band to sleeve or bypass revision in one surgery.. sometimes they want you to heal for a while without the band before converting. Here's hoping for good news from your surgeon! (And if you don't have a surgeon right now, you need to find one to keep up with your care... you are a bariatric patient for life.)

Yes, it is fluids from the hospital. You need to really push to be getting in your 64oz fluids each day. Congrats on your surgery, and welcome to the losers' bench!

Wowsers.. that's almost a pound a day! Were you not getting your vitamins/protein requirements with the band in? Start working toward nutrition goals, without eating extras. 60-80g protein 35+g fat 75g -100g carbs Aim for about 1200 calories, which will stop the weight gain, and probably get the scale moving back down. If you DON'T lose weight on 1200 calories, then you need to get your thyroid checked. Here is a sample menu: Breakfast: 1/2 cup 1% cottage cheese and 1 whole piece of fruit (apple, orange, banana, etc.) Lunch: 1 egg and 1 cup pinto beans and 2 T. salsa Dinner: 4 oz protein and 1 cup veggies (green beans, spinach, etc), and 1 cup white or sweet potatoes with a pat of butter. optional: 1-2 cups lowfat milk If you are still hungry, concentrate on non-starchy veggies.

I agree that it's all about how many calories you eat. Some people stop "naturally", because they are "naturally" eating enough calories to stop losing at that point. (Enough room, appetite, time, and desire to eat). If you are at goal and want to stop losing (I assume you haven't updated your profile.. it still says you are 237lbs) then you need to examine what you are eating, and find healthy ways to boost your calories. I love starchy veggies for this. Potatoes, beans, etc. Lots of nutrition in a calorically dense package. Add a pat of butter for an extra 50-100 calories.

12/13 198lbs

Technically, I was 200.00 on 12/06, but I want to count today's 199.8 instead. By next week, onederland will be old news! Lol!

She's 5'5 (170cm) and currently 182lbs (82.7kg). Her goal is 149lbs (68kgs).

It's probably surgery-related, but it's always best to ask your doc about new pain (especially pain that mimics heart trouble).

A re-feeding syndrome is basically low electrolytes. Sodium, potassium, magnesium. Coconut water is fabulous for adding a bit of sodium and a lot of potassium. I drink some almost every day. When I miss a few days, I start getting "charlie horse" muscle cramps. Sodium, of course, comes from salt. The best sources of potassium are potatoes, coconut water, and low sodium v8. Electrolytes aren't found much in multivitamins (you can get a separate pill over the counter for magnesium and calcium, but not potassium). Coconut water can be consumed at any time during the postop diets (it's a clear liquid). V8 is tomato based, and can be irritating to a new tummy, and potatoes don't show up in most patients' plans for a long time.

They just aren't used to you looking (relatively) slender. You should work with your doctor to determine a good goal weight, then tell your family and friends that your doctor is helping you decide when to stop losing weight. Congrats on getting so close to goal already! You should have no trouble getting there!

2 days later, and I've already forgotten about Saturday. Guess self-flagellation doesn't work for me! LOL! Can't bring myself to feel guilty or remember the misdeed. Ah well. Guess I'll go with plan B.. just forget it and move on, trying to do better in the future. (And I have been on-target yesterday and today.. no cravings at all).

blondie, the OP is quite petite, so 130lbs for her is like 162lbs for me (I'm 5'7). Which is thin, but not TOO thin. I would look great at 150lbs.. though I doubt I'll ever get there.

After losing 100lbs, good news! I have pubic hair! Lol! But, just because it's here now, doesn't mean it was there for the last 15 years, maybe that's where the hair off my head ended up...

I have 4. One is teeny tiny, and the others are just tiny. I didn't have one that was larger than the rest. Very pleased with Dr. Illan's handiwork there. I'm 8 months postop, and other than putting body lotion on after showers, haven't done anything special. The scars are visible, but have faded to about 1/2 white, 1/2 light pink. (I have fair, caucasian skin). As well as they've healed, even if there were 3 more of them, I wouldn't be concerned. I have enough loose skin that I won't be sporting a bikini anytime soon ever.

The mirror lies. Get pictures and video with you interacting with other people. That's how you can see your "true" self. Your doctor can help guide you to the ideal scale weight.. but according to BMI, you can drop quite a bit more before having to worry about getting "too thin". Keep in mind that most people regain 10-15lbs after hitting their lowest weight, so it's worthwhile to drop as low as is reasonable to guard against the bit of regain. (For the same reason, keep the clothing you are wearing now, even when you drop to the next lower size). People that know us aren't used to us being thin. They start worrying, frequently well before it's warranted. Assure your friends/family that you are working closely with your doctor, and your ultimate size will be a healthy one.

At 32 years old, I was 5'7 and 305lbs. No serious health problems. My blood pressure was borderline high, but no other issues. I was married, with children, and liked myself. No self-esteem issues. By time I was 38, my blood sugars were inching up into the prediabetic range. My blood pressure shot through the roof, and I went on a blood pressure medicine. Walking up a steep hill had me vomiting at the top. Stairs had me seeing stars. I woke up one day, and just KNEW I needed surgery for my weight. (I have no idea where the idea came from because I hadn't heard of bariatric surgery for 20 years.. I just woke up with the idea.. weird!). I had surgery 8 months ago, self pay in Mexico, and have lost 105lbs. My blood pressure is down and I no longer need meds, I think my blood sugars are back to normal (I have a checkup this week, so will find out more). I can jog up a few steps, without issue, and the hill is no longer a major challenge. And here's the thing. I wasn't exercising before the surgery, and I haven't started yet, after. All of these benefits are JUST from losing the weight from surgery and by controlling my diet. That's it! Most patients start an exercise program right off the bat, but I didn't. One day I will, but at least I am a clean example of what surgery and caloric restriction can accomplish, even without exercise. With your knees in that condition, exercise for you should be in the swimming pool. This may be easy, or challenging, depending on your location/circumstances. For me, living in a too-large body interfered with a normal life in several ways. I couldn't fit in a plane seat (no honeymoon in Hawaii!), and waiting room chairs were always tight. Sex wasn't interesting or fun. I couldn't cross my legs, and tying shoes was a chore. Shaving my legs was a joke, and pubic hair maintenance? Can't maintain what you can't reach or see. Family reunions were a source of embarrassment (family isn't heavy), and even the thought of entering the workforce was a concern because standing on my feet for 8 hours was unimaginable. (I've been a stay at home Mom since 2008, but getting out of the house would be good.. emotionally and financially). Avoidance of pictures since my visage had become bloated and unrecognizable. That last makes it sound like there were self esteem issues, and by time I was 38, these issues HAD cropped up (more than there had been at 32). Now, ALL of these issues are better. Sex would be better if I exercised. I haven't started working yet, but now I feel confident that I'll be ABLE to. Looking in the mirror is like seeing an old friend. I didn't know how heavy the burden of obesity was, until the weight was lifted. I'm still 30-40lbs from goal, and I look forward to feeling better and better.