Reputation from CyclicalLoser

CyclicalLoser got a reaction from Mrs. Hayes in Please hlep! Bad Pain in stomach 8 months post op May 26, 2019

This is a long shot, but I would imagine you're open to any ideas. When I had my lap band, sometimes when I ate too much, I would get radiated pain into my left shoulder. Occasionally, it would happen even if I wasn't eating. It turns out that in the case of the lap band, sometimes it would rub against the vagas nerve, and cause those pains.
Now I realize you don't have the band, and so far, since I had the band revision to bypass, I have not felt the pain, but maybe there is a possibility that when you are drinking, something is hitting the vagas (or some other) nerve. I don't think that is something that is going to show up on conventional imaging, but maybe an MRI?
Again, just a thought. If you search for vagas nerve, you will see it is somewhat common with the lap banders.

CyclicalLoser got a reaction from Mrs. Hayes in Depression Meds post op May 26, 2019

Your first several sentences are exactly what I felt, although to be honest, I am still (After 10 years) trying to find a complete remission of anxiety. I don't think the average person understands how much these mental issues physiologically affect someone. Many a friend had an isolated bout of anxiety and as I walked them through it, they would often remark "Boy you're good at this" and then after it was over "Is this literally what you deal with, all the time" - Yep. Sucks doesn't it?
I wouldn't wish these things on anyone. And frankly I wish mental disorders didn't have such negative connotations against them.

CyclicalLoser got a reaction from Mdnytangel in 6 week post-op update March 7, 2019

Congrats for both of ladies. You both have a week on me. I'm progressing very slowly into foods. Not that I'm having problems, but I'm just not that hungry and don't feel like pureeing chicken. My BP has went down quite a bit as well, it's amazing how much this helps. It's not like I am anywhere near what I should be at, yet my BP went from a solid borderline to basically perfect.
I don't know about you ladies, but I definitely don't fit in my old clothes anymore. I'm too cheap to buy anything that I know will be transient, so I just cinch up the belt a bit. Most definitely stairs hurt less. Glad you're both having steady progress!

CyclicalLoser got a reaction from Liz The New Me in 100 lbs in under a year? February 6, 2019

Yep, I hit 100 pound weight loss in 6-7 months, can't remember. But, I think BMI is more important as a 500# male is going to lose 100# much faster than a 200# female who is much closer to normal BMI.

CyclicalLoser got a reaction from Frustr8 in magnesium citrate. extreme pain. help. February 6, 2019

I second milk of magnesia.
If you google "sugar free gummi bears" you will find that they have incredible laxative effects. I'm not suggesting you make them a regular staple, but on the "it's been 3 days" day, maybe eat some of them and let the bears work their magic.
https://www.amazon.com/Albanese-Candy-Assorted-Sugar-Free-Flavor/product-reviews/B00DE4GWWY
Whatever you do, eat them in small quantities!

CyclicalLoser got a reaction from ByPassing! in Nausea and different taste buds HELP! February 6, 2019

I developed very bad lactose intolerance about a week after surgery. It went away after a month or two. My smells are still messed up - lots of things smell like popcorn to me for whatever reason - and it's not like I loved or hated it beforehand. I have yet to find a drink that I like the taste of, but I've found that the further out I go, the more the wierdness goes away.
Sometimes I feel like what Pregnant women have told me - their tastes and smells are wacko. Bottom line though, it will pass, just give it time. Work with it and not against it. If "X" doesn't work, then try "Y", but do so very slowly and keep your nutritionist aware of what you are doing because they can be a Huge help. For me, unflavored isolated whea was all I could use to get in Protein during my out-of-nowhere lactose intolerance.

CyclicalLoser got a reaction from Alpaca55 in How many carbs can you safely eat without dumping? February 6, 2019

I'm curious here, even though I've had the RNY since July, I'm a bit of a slow-adopter. Meaning that I haven't "ventured" out much because when I have dumped, well let's be honest, it's no fun. We're all different I know, and there are dozens of ways to calculate carbs, but at the end of the day anything other than Fiber carbs is going to make some of us dump.
So, while I know that eating a majority of Protein and fibrous carbs are best, when one is at the supermarket thinking about a chicken noodle Soup, or brown rice, or any of the moderately high carb foods, how much is too much? This is not to try and see how much junk food one can eat, but on the same regard, can one eat a half can of chicken noodle soup, or have a waffle with sugar free Syrup, or even a whole wheat sandwich at Subway. Just throwing out some types of food which are admittedly higher on the carb percentages than normal, but sometimes (not always) it is nice to break up the monotony of (in my case) almost nothing but nuts and Protein Drinks. Feel free to qualify your answer - I'm still trying to figure out what works for me. I have eaten apples and I had half a banana the first time today and it did not make me dump, so I know I can incorporate foods quicker than I am.
And yes, I do know that "sugars added" (When listed) really help with assessing the "dumpability score " of a food. Because it's not listed, I'm trying to go off the total carbs minus fiber carbs.

Thank you for your feedback! I think this would be really helpful for people just starting out as well.

CyclicalLoser got a reaction from Frustr8 in Psych Meds February 5, 2019

The SSNRI's are really hard on me. I gave effexor a shot for a couple of weeks, and my anxiety was literally off the scale. Blood pressure was outrageous. But yeah, since it is an sustained release, they might want to put you on effexor, which is the "father" of cymbalta, and is available in an immediate dose. They might break it into multiple smaller doses so the GI tract doesn't become coated/overwhelmed by the medication - but I'm not a doctor, so I'd talk to yours about it.
Boy did the SSNRI's wipe out my back pain though, that was an immediate and really nice side effect!
You could try to switch over now (If your psychiatrist won't let you stay on cymbalta) to get through the transition to effexor, but, remember that even then you will have to tweak the amount of it after surgery.

CyclicalLoser got a reaction from LadyBeasley in Need a little uplifting depression is trying to settle in! February 4, 2019

I take things really slow. Right now if I'm honest with myself, I'm addicted to sugar free junk food. It's terrible, but we come here to tell the truth and not sugar coat it (pun intended).
Nevertheless, I had problems at first as well. I still have Constipation pretty bad. I chew a magnesium citrate pill in the afternoon, which helps me (um...you know...go) in the evening or next morning. It helps a lot. Getting in enough Fluid does the best though.
Calories is what makes you feel sluggish, and maybe low B12. Check your calories, my doc wanted me at 800 cals a day at 3 weeks out. I was at about 450 (No lie) and I felt pretty bad. 3 Protein Drinks and that was pretty much it. I still need to incorporate more Fiber into my diet - I have veggies, so I try to eat a fiborous fruit like an apple (With the skin one....can be rough, so chew chew chew!).
Bottom line is: part of your depression is probably because you wonder why you did this & you feel still pretty lousy & you might not be seeing the weight loss you expected & you miss your old food. It gets better, trust me. I've had a gallon of sugar free/low carb ice cream in the freezer since probably before Christmas. It's still unopened. I just don't want it any more.

CyclicalLoser got a reaction from BlueIGT in Getting cold feet, normal? February 4, 2019

I think it is very normal. At some point, you have to relinquish control (or lack thereof) and let the Good Lord (Or surgeon, if you will) take the wheel for you. Yeah, it's scary - and there are tons of opinions out there. I was asking lots of questions before I pulled the trigger.
Motivation? Watch "My 600# life". That worked for me.
Can I eat the yummy foods I used to? Maybe. Have I tried? Nope. Why? Well, I won't be the first to say this, but my body literally doesn't crave them (* most of the time). I've lost 100# in 7 months, lost 10 inches off my waist, I can walk up steps to my office, and I can work on my car without feeling like I'm going to have a heart attack. Also, I can fit in amusement park rides now, something I couldn't do before.

CyclicalLoser reacted to Believe2002 in 17 yrs post op any others out there? February 4, 2019

I’ve kept all my weight off and have excellent labs. Wondering if anyone is as old post op as I am and successful keeping the weight off this long.
Gina
Located in Iowa
RNY open
Transected 180cm distal
-146lbs