oldandtired

OK, this one: LOL Backstory--I have a now 30 year old granddaughter, who was a size 3. She got married, had a baby, who is a 6 year old. After she had the baby, she got what I (in my head) called a "mom body." Fluffy. Anyway, she got onto a healthy diet/exercise program, and has lost a lot of weight, toned up.

OK now my non-scale victory-- I asked her what size she is now--size 2. What size were you when you started this program? A solid 8. I asked her for her old clothes!! 🤣

Lord that felt good.

hi-- I copied and pasted from my original post.

"OK, anybody have persistent diarrhea? They are apparently just now connecting the loss of pancreatic function with WLS. Sometimes. Google it. I went for months to the GP, and they threw antibiotics at this gas/poop problem; while I ate yogurt to get it to stop. Horrible gas as well. BAD stinky gas, lol sorry. Nothing worked. I ASKED MY WEIGHT LOSS DOC TOO. "Oh no, no diarrhea reported with this." That was horse hockey as well. I then went to a Gastrointestinal specialist, who did a protease enzyme test. Turns out my pancreas is not working. While it is not life threatening, it is darn inconvenient. I am not posting this to have you not have the surgery -- I still would have done it, even if I had a crystal ball. BUT if you have those symptoms, Google it, ask your doc, and maybe even if your WLS doctor says nope, go to a Gastrointestinal one. It can be managed. FYI."

RE: Catwoman's post--They are just now becoming aware of the "cause and effect" of it. I had to go to a gastro doc before they did the right test. The GP thought it may have been just a bug---gave me antibiotics. Then I asked the WLS surgeon about the diarrhea, and he discounted it. I was buying Imodium every 3 days, and gas pills too. I am putting this out here because I want the one person who may have this issue (besides me) to know what is going on. You can get seriously malnourished with this, no matter what you eat, your body cannot absorb what it needs without those enzymes.

OK dumb question: are you hungry? I realized that I was eating because it was time to eat. Or I ate the whole thing when 2 bites would have done it. I'm going to be honest, I am a fast food/junk food addict. But I ate a couple of bites and put it down. My lab results have generally been good. BTW, I am 4-11, and weighed 194 in Jan. 2022. I am at 126 now. Also, interestingly, in the last month or two I've had to change up the way I eat--not less--just different. I lost 5 pounds in 10 days, so fast it almost scared me. I had been stuck for 2 months. Just food for thought haha.

On 3/7/2023 at 4:28 PM, catwoman7 said:

I hadn't heard of this, so I just googled it. It doesn't sound like this is very common (although you're right - it CAN happen) - and I read that the surgery can also *improve* certain pancreatic conditions. Being obese, too, can be a factor in certain pancreatic conditions, like diabetes - or increase your risk of pancreatic cancer. So sounds like there's a chance you could deal with some sort of pancreatic condition either way (i.e, having surgery OR not having surgery and staying obese). So...(looking for an emoji that indicates indecision - can't find one!)

Well I thought about it, and, if I could go back in time and tell myself this was going to happen--BUT also tell myself all of the problems that I did have would go away, (example-blood pressure now is terrific; arthritis almost gone; NO heartburn) I would do it again in a heartbeat.

This appears to be permanent. I am on Creon, and it works --sometimes. It depends on what I eat. Interestingly, it has not made me diabetic. (They checked) The pancreas releases enzymes to break down and have you absorb food. Without those enzymes, it will cause malabsorption, and I will not get the nutrients all of us need. I brought this up because if someone out there has this problem, they may not go to the doc with it. I ate Imodium constantly for 4 months.

OK, anybody have persistent diarrhea? They are apparently just now connecting the loss of pancreatic function with WLS. Sometimes. Google it. I went for months to the GP, and they threw antibiotics at this gas/poop problem; while I ate yogurt to get it to stop. Horrible gas as well. BAD stinky gas, lol sorry. Nothing worked. I ASKED MY WEIGHT LOSS DOC TOO. "Oh no, no diarrhea reported with this." That was horse hockey as well. I then went to a Gastrointestinal specialist, who did a protease enzyme test. Turns out my pancreas is not working. While it is not life threatening, it is darn inconvenient. I am not posting this to have you not have the surgery -- I still would have done it, even if I had a crystal ball. BUT if you have those symptoms, Google it, ask your doc, and maybe even if your WLS doctor says nope, go to a Gastrointestinal one. It can be managed. FYI.

I've gotten a few compliments, but mostly nothing- my face, at my age, has also "lost weight", so I look older. PLUS I think people think I have some disease, and don't dare to mention it. 🤣

Plus mine is not as drastic-I didn't as much to take off.

I have had some problems--but would i do it again? YES! I feel great, things don't hurt as much, I've come off some meds.

P.S. You didn't do it for THEM. You did it for YOU!!!

No, I understand, who else can she talk to but the rest of us? Being older, the surgery did nothing for my face. I look older. I'd rather be thin (ner) and look older, I can fix that lol. But original poster ought to be ABLE to talk to us.

Personally, I am horrified when I go out with friends or family and see just HOW MUCH they eat! I'm polite on the outside, but inside...OMG!!

It's strange, I went this last weekend, and shopped for boots, and guess what?? Didn't need the wide calf either! Whoo hoo!

Also a thought- Since meds tend to race through our system quicker now, ask your doctor if you should take say, 1/2 of a pill in the morning and another at night, space out the dose a little.

Yea-scrambled egg, yogurt, refried Beans, all ways to get some of the Protein in you.

But tell your doc, though...

I had nausea from the beginning; tell your doc. (Mine said it was hormones, like when you are pregnant) Either way, tell him. There are several nausea pills (prescription) that he can give you.

Nothing will really help, but brush your teeth--it helps.

I had the shiniest mouth in the galaxy!! 😂

I find that I feel full after 4-5 bites. I push it away, and find I want to come back to it in 5 to 10 minutes, eat another bite or two, then push it back. There is a ?feeling..? when your tummy has had enough, and it's like a dog with its hackles up..back off or you will be sorry.....

You will fill up on your Protein. After that, I eat most anything. I am still losing, but slowly.

On 10/26/2022 at 9:03 AM, catwoman7 said:

People are more likely to smile at me and/or strike up a conversation. I've gotten some male attention (some of it unwanted), which surprised me since I'm in my 60s. Attention has been positive - as opposed to negative attention that I got (that is, when I got it...) when I was obese. For instance, no being laughed at or pointed out by adolescent males - and no one peering into my cart at the grocery store to see what "fat people" eat. Also, it still seems very weird to me to be able to eat in public without people looking at me. Oddly, I still feel anxious about doing something like walking around eating an ice cream cone, even though I know no one is going to think or say anything, like they might have when I was obese. So yes - I'm treated differently - at least in some instances.

I saw some attention (I too am in my 60's)-but the fat I have lost in my face--well, the next thing for me is going to some kind of nip-and-tuck, lol...

20 hours ago, kaylee50 said:

This is the second post I have seen re: lack of post-op follow-up from a clinic in Mexico. I don't care what country they are in, this is unacceptable. They advertise for patients in other locations, so they should have a system in place for follow-up with traveling patients.

Here's my suggestion: locate the clinic's account on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or however you located this surgeon (perhaps it was a referral network based here). Then use the power of social media to make sure they contact you -- or at least inform other potential patients that they are post-op deadbeats. Post about the problems you are having, their failure to follow-up, and tag/link them. Use the most popular hashtags for your procedure (the more the better), so that others who look up this procedure will know to avoid them. If nothing else, you will be doing a public service.

If it is a US-based physician or business that referred you, contact them (be persistent!) until they start helping you get a hold of the Mexico clinic. If they don't help, and they earned a referral fee***, start preservation of evidence linking the referral source to the deadbeat clinic (marketing emails, screenshots of call logs on your phone, and print & save as PDF their website pages linking to the clinic). Then consult a lawyer. Vigorously advocate for your own health. You are not helpless.

Lastly, pull up your health insurance plan or policy, and find out if there is an exclusion for the treatment you need now (some policies exclude treatment for consequences of cosmetic surgery and non-emergency procedures overseas). If no exclusion, make an appointment with an in-network GI or bariatric specialist, and get the help you need. I hope it is nothing -- or something easily fixed. I am rooting for you!

***Edit: You probably cannot tell; this will come out in discovery later on. But assume they get a fee, because this is standard in most professions. Even YouTubers get a cut from Amazon if you click on product links.

Sorry for the long ranty post. As a professional and a business owner, this really frosts me!

I agree; be persistent. Polite (at first) but persistent, You are paying (Or have paid) them. Too many people just accept the treatment they are given.

My watch fell off. I always liked to wear my watch loose, more like a Bracelet, but the other day i was reaching for something and whoop! There it went. (Cheap watch, didn't hurt it.) But I just stood there, like I had done a magic trick, lol. Slipped it back on, wiggled it off. Gotta find someone to take out links. 😋

I had two C-sections, both back in the day when you were seriously cut open. AND a hysterectomy, same way. This surgery for me, a piece of cake. Yes, I hurt-but I used the pain pills they gave me. But for me personally? not bad at all. I had the full blown bypass.

On 10/25/2022 at 1:00 PM, SpartanMaker said:

Hmm, I look at it completely the other way around. How I wish I'd done this when I was 44, or even better 34, instead of waiting to my late 50's.

I think of all the opportunities to enjoy life I passed up on because I was too fat. How many opportunities to do things as a family did I pass up on because I was to heavy to do them. How many times did I stay home instead of go out because of my weight.

I also think of the fact that I lived decades in pain that probably could have been avoided had I been healthier when I was younger. How many of the 15 plus surgeries that I've had could have been avoided? How many of the conditions like diabetes, coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure could I have avoided entirely had I done this decades ago?

I think of the fact that I now see the same patterns of disordered eating showing up in my grown children and have to wonder if I'd addressed this obesity disease when I was younger, could I have modeled healthy living for them and perhaps have broken the cycle? I have to wonder if now it's too late for them to see me making health changes and make their own changes as a result.

So yes, how I wish I'd done this while I was "awfully young".

Wow, hon-

He asked for what we thought. That was what I thought. And yes, he is younger than my youngest child. So he is "awfully young." Once again it is a personal opinion. I personally lost 50 pounds when I was 50, on willpower alone, but could not do it (although I tried) as I grew older. So, January of 2022, when I was 68, I had WLS.

I'll say it again. He wanted an opinion-don't trash me for mine.

At 44? Well-my husband was 5'7" so I can "see" you. I understand you wanting to do that, but I really do think you are awfully young. You probably come home in the afternoon and sit in front of the TV, like most of us as we grow older. I know I do it. The truth? I think a little modification in what you eat and more exercise. I know it is not what you wanted to hear, but you asked for the truth. But it is nice to know that that is there, if you really need it. 😉

Quote

Theme from Rocky -- can you tell i'm old? lol

an oldie, and not exactly for the guys here, but, "I am woman, hear me roar?" Helen Reddy

My doc said it was because of your hormones. After a while of suffering, I went back and they gave me two different prescriptions. You CAN control the nausea, you have to TELL them, and tell them again, until you can cope.

Also-I have discovered, on a personal level, that docs will give you the lowest dose. If that does not do it for you, tell them. Don't suffer. On a personal level again, i googled the meds, and saw that an extra would not kill me, took that extra dose, and the next time I went back, I told them. Guess who got a script for an increased dosage?