mousecat88

There's no meetups in my area - I live in a kinda rural place.

As a recovered post-surgical ulcer patient to you, I hope you're feeling better. I assume you're on Carafate? I was on it for about 12 weeks and it eventually helped me feel so much better. I have an extra bottle of it.... just in case something starts to feel off. lol.

I was never formally diagnosed because I never openly discussed my issues with food and didn't disclose that issue to the surgical psychologist. But when I had the surgery, it basically immediately resolved... because you vomit your brains out and physically can't binge eat anymore. The desire was there for a short time, but then I had unrelated complications and dumping from other things and knew if I binge ate I would be in so much horrific pain that the desire to do so was suppressed.

Whaaaa? How do they know if there's a problem without labs? lol. You could have a vitamin deficiency without any symptoms (like I did with Vitamin D).

Talked to my nutritionist and she said not to worry about the prealbumin and that my actual protein intake is a better indicator and she thinks I am doing fantastic. THANK GODDDD.

I just got back from my psychiatrist and she said to give it a try and see if my surgeon has referrals (which they don't). If it doesn't work, she will pitch my problem to the team there and see if a therapist will pick up my case. No one there deals with eating disorders, but EVERYONE deals with substance abuse disorders (yay, West Virginia) and addiction is addiction so someone may be willing to try to work with me.

That's what I am worried about. I want like common sense, real-world advice. I don't believe in the giving yourself over to a higher power thing or that "once an addict always an addict". I also feel like 12 step programs deflect personal responsibility. My friend is in school to become a therapist and has to attend a support group for her class so I think we may go on Friday just to see what it is like.

I got checked at 3 months and 6 months. Then at 12 months, and then annually after that. I did have a two week and one month visit, though. I actually had a lot more visits because I had complications, but the two week and one month was regularly scheduled to check incision sites, etc.

Arghhhh this is crazy. I just don't understand how they are LOWER than when I wasn't getting even 1/4 of what I get now. Stupid body.

I can't have Genepro because it has whey in it. Like, wtf though! How was my protein HIGHER when I wasn't eating any????

I struggled a LOT in the beginning getting protein. Like, I would get 20-30g a day. At my 3 month appointment my prealbumin levels were at the lowest end of normal. I since upped my protein and consistently get 80-90g a day, sometimes higher. Every day. Without fail. I got my 6 month labs back just now and now it says I am protein deficient!??!? WHAT THE HECK!? I can't physically consume any more protein! lol. Seriously, it's all I eat basically. What am I supposed to do?

You are never too old to want to look and feel confident. Go for it! ❤️

Slow Jogging International! That is amazing. lmao. My coworker is trying to get me to participate in a 5K Saturday and this is going to be me.... I love it.

After my last appointment it took 3 days for my approval to come back from insurance. My surgery was scheduled out for 5 weeks or so. Would have been sooner but I pushed it back due to work.

I know OA uses the 12-steps and I am NOT A FAN. I just want to talk to people with similar issues. I guess I could go and not actually follow the steps, but use it to talk? Arrrghhh. Maybe a friend will go with me the first time.

I dunno - the things I want to talk about are kind of like "hey, I became addicted to food because of these events in my past and struggled with body image even when I was thin.... so I had WLS and now I need help because those old feelings of wanting to snack are coming back and it's making me physically sick." WLS is part of my story now. My surgeon's office has a "support group" once a month, but from what I am told no one actually talks? They just have a speaker come in to talk about different things (one month was a plastic surgeon, one month a physical therapist, etc). I actually want to talk to people and get their advice.

I wish I had done the surgery at a lower weight when I first considered it (was 230 then). Would have been at my goal by now. Just don't be discouraged if you lose slower than us heavier-starting folk.

Has anyone here ever attended an Overeaters Anonymous meeting? Right after surgery I contacted the local chapter to talk to them about my reservations about the whole "higher power"/religious aspect of OA (I am nonreligious), and the host assured me it wasn't about religion. (The AA meetings I had gone to with a friend, they read from the Bible and prayed). Anyways, she went on to talk about how she became a food addict after SEVERE physical and sexual abuse by her family, and then I felt kinda like "my problems aren't nearly as bad as these people, so I don't think it's right for me to attend". I then mentioned I had WLS and she was kinda' iffy about it - gave me the impression she felt like I took an easy way out instead of working with OA and dieting, etc. I don't know... Anyways, I am 6 months out now and the feelings of just wanting to nibble all day are coming back. I also have been eating super fast again and I vomit a lot. I don't eat the wrong foods, or too much foods, just too quickly. And I am seriously battling snacking all day, which I haven't. OA is free and in the evenings, and I can't afford therapy or the time off work to go to it, so I am sort of thinking of going to OA. I just don't know if I will be ironically rejected for "cheating" by having WLS or being a bit thinner now. Anyone familiar with this group???? I have pretty bad anxiety and I am really nervous about the idea.

I stalled for 8 weeks - I feel your pain. While I guess I've lost a decent amount in 6 months, it still feels slow to me. I have another 52lbs I need to lose and my "honeymoon period" is apparently at its end so I don't feel like I will ever meet my goal. I feel like I should be losing more because of how much I workout and how well I eat.

Day 18 - I am antisocial and won't be going anywhere but work and the gym so can't buy anyone a coffee, lol.

I ended the day at 91g protein, 825 calories, 48g carbs.

cottage cheese is life!

I didn't have pain but was extremely nauseous for a month - was vomiting even from water. I had surgery scheduled the end of January, but went to the ER at the beginning of the month and the surgeon took it out the next day on a Saturday. Felt instantly better. Get that thang removed. They will be able to see stones/blockages in an ultrasound.

PS. No I didn't eat a "stick" of garlic. lolol. It was a beef and chicken stick. I think my trainer and nutritionist both want me to eat more carbs and more calories but I get full! I also get sicky easily so it's a fine line.

Nearing my 6 month mark (May 1). Anything else different you'd be eating? Here's where I am at today. For dinner I'll be having a Turkey burger patty with a slice of cheese and some green beans or mashed cauli, putting me at around 800 cals and 85g protein (the Turkey burger has 23g alone). I don't feel comfortable adding in more carbs yet =/ Carbs scare me since they were my vice. I exercise regularly and intensely 3 times a week.