LAN2k

Hi Lonna, My goodness, it seems like a decade ago since I had my sleeve in 2009. I was glued to this website as it was my support and solace. You've been through alot and although I haven't an answer for you I want to commend you for having a courageous attitude. I do hope as time goes by you will find a healing remedy. I'm wondering if drinking high alkaline Water would help. Just a thought. My nose often gets runny after or during a meal, but not always. I sometimes chew on a couple of Tums at the end of the day before I retire. Hang in there with that great attitude and try drinking water that's at 9.5 pH. It may be very helpful.

Recently I met a friend whom I have not seen in many months even prior to having the surgery. She was very surprised to see my weight loss and I told her about the WLS I had. She is a slender woman. However, she told me that 5 years ago her brother had a gastric bypass and died due to the negligence of his surgeon and hospital administrators. The few nurses who spoke up for the patient were fired. There was a lawsuit and finally a 7 figure settlement, however a man died, he was happily married and a father of young children. The surgeon is still performing WLS but not in the same facility. This happened on LI in NY. The point I am trying to make is that even in our own country it is very difficult to have justice aptly served when it comes to medical malpractice. Sadly the elderly, obese and even children are victimized most. I can only imagine how much more difficult it must be to have a bad situation happen out of the country.

Thanks for posting this. I for one will be consulting with a therapist. This is a major change and I am encountering mixed emotions about my decision to have had this surgery.

Congratulations Cajun! I'm so glad things went well. I too had my hiatal hernia repaired during my sleeve procedure and was relieved to know that it was repaired. Thank you so much for detailing your experience. It is so helpful to know what other people are going through and how they are handling it. Like many other "sleevers" your attitude is great and that really helps me put things inside my busy head into perspective at times. I'll be looking out for all your posts. BTW I was 232, after pre op diet 215 and now I'm 208.

Ok I will do that! Thanks Oregondaisy---now I've got to drink! I feel like I'm starving!

Wow I wish I knew how to navigate these forums better Cajun. Congratulations!!!! I am thrilled, it sounds like your doing great and I am so happy about that. I can't wait to hear more about how things went and continue to go with you.

Welcome, I am in your category, and had the same BMI along with some of the same physical issues you mentioned. Since my VSG, 6 months ago, I can actually bend at the knee and have lost 70lbs. I'd like to drop another 20 but my caloric intake has increased to a little over 1000 calories a day and I have not been exercising much. That should change now that spring is emerging. It took me a while to get used to not having food as my best buddy, and I am still getting used to the restrictions. I'm feeling more and more like a normal person, only I'm no longer a heavy weight and I eat smaller portions than I otherwise would find acceptable. But I am coming along and slowly realizing that I may have really done somethng good for my health by having this procedure. I initially was contemplating the Lapband but I came to the conclusion that I personally would have had a nervous breakdown knowing that such a contraption was implanted inside of me and the only way to get it out would be to have it surgically removed. This message board is excellent; I'm glad you found it. I hope you are able to sort things out. Best wishes.

Hi Ricky, Lis here and I'm a grateful recovering compulsive over-eater in other words, food addict. Grateful because the surgery is forcing me to face myself. I have felt like a tortoise stripped of its shell. Anxious, I went home from the hospital and sank into a most morbid depression. I was so bad that I didn't care about losing weight. My life as I knew it was over and I was left stripped of my identity, alone in my disease and terrified. Terrified because my drug of choice, food as I knew it, was history. My aging parents came to me and stood by while I was paralyzed with fear, I dwelt on death. I went for counseling. I went to 2 psychiatrists. I went through 2 anti-anxiety medications and finally was put on an antidepressant that stimulated my appetite enough so I wouldn't end up back in the hospital, (I was repulsed by food). Now I am working the 12 steps. Years ago, in spite of my lifelong addiction to food, I snubbed the 12 step OA program. Not any more, although I'm still afraid, I'm grateful because the effects of this surgery, (withdrawal from food as I knew it), made me realize my addiction and how years of addiction to food stunted my growth, (joke unintended). For me, shedding the weight is not enough. As I now see it, I've no choice but to work the 12 steps and heal inside. I'm on step one and it's taken me half a lifetime to get there. Thanks for your post.:smile:

Your welcome, and yes you make sense. I too like learning about how others experience life. I learn from other individual perspectives and that helps me with my own life.
food was the only thing that I obsessed over, and that obsession controlled and consumed so much of my time. Over indulging in food was my habit, not smoking, sex, drugs or alcohal... Food was my "habit". And now thanks to this sleeve, I am forced to break the habit in a rather abrupt or "cold turkey" way. I'm learning how I can face the issues behind my food obsession. The sleeve helped me to finally break the destructive cycle. Now that I am free, I have all this time and I'm slowly allowing myself to use it in constructive ways. The nice thing about it is that I can still enjoy food just not to excess.

Without giving you an official or text book definition I'm inclined to think of food addiction as an emotional obsession with food, and eating. I grew up with alcoholism and a very volatile relationship between my parents. I have obsessed over food ever since I can remember. Always wanting more and if I couldn't get enough to satisfy my craving I would figure out ways, places, and times, that I could. As a child for example, if at Breakfast there were only so many pancakes shared between family, I'd imagine myself surrounded by pancakes dripping with butter and maple Syrup. I'd seek out other foods to gorge myself with...salty, sweet, whatever! I'd find ways to compensate, usually while alone or with a friend that also liked to over-indulge in eating. The food never really satisfied me so I would keep foraging through food as if my life depended upon it. This behavior caused self loathing, shame, guilt...and diets, doctors, pills, bouts with bulimia, (I did alot of sneak eating, binging and purging...) This is not normal behavior and best resembles addiction. I always felt out of control. I hated myself for the urges, binging and nagging desire for more. I substituted food for emotional needs which went unmet. It felt like a self perpetuating trap for which I don't fully comprehend. Since the VSG, I am no longer able to "treat" myself, (as before), with food. I would not assume that everyone who is overweight to obese is that way due to a food addiction per se, but I do believe that I am and have been since childhood.

Your welcome, and yes you make sense. I too like learning about how others experience life. I learn from other individual perspectives and that helps me with my own life.
food was the only thing that I obsessed over, and that obsession controlled and consumed so much of my time. Over indulging in food was my habit, not smoking, sex, drugs or alcohal... Food was my "habit". And now thanks to this sleeve, I am forced to break the habit in a rather abrupt or "cold turkey" way. I'm learning how I can face the issues behind my food obsession. The sleeve helped me to finally break the destructive cycle. Now that I am free, I have all this time and I'm slowly allowing myself to use it in constructive ways. The nice thing about it is that I can still enjoy food just not to excess.

Without giving you an official or text book definition I'm inclined to think of food addiction as an emotional obsession with food, and eating. I grew up with alcoholism and a very volatile relationship between my parents. I have obsessed over food ever since I can remember. Always wanting more and if I couldn't get enough to satisfy my craving I would figure out ways, places, and times, that I could. As a child for example, if at Breakfast there were only so many pancakes shared between family, I'd imagine myself surrounded by pancakes dripping with butter and maple Syrup. I'd seek out other foods to gorge myself with...salty, sweet, whatever! I'd find ways to compensate, usually while alone or with a friend that also liked to over-indulge in eating. The food never really satisfied me so I would keep foraging through food as if my life depended upon it. This behavior caused self loathing, shame, guilt...and diets, doctors, pills, bouts with bulimia, (I did alot of sneak eating, binging and purging...) This is not normal behavior and best resembles addiction. I always felt out of control. I hated myself for the urges, binging and nagging desire for more. I substituted food for emotional needs which went unmet. It felt like a self perpetuating trap for which I don't fully comprehend. Since the VSG, I am no longer able to "treat" myself, (as before), with food. I would not assume that everyone who is overweight to obese is that way due to a food addiction per se, but I do believe that I am and have been since childhood.

Thanks for posting this. I for one will be consulting with a therapist. This is a major change and I am encountering mixed emotions about my decision to have had this surgery.

I am 4+ months out and am having the same problem. Eating is such an effort and I must say that nothing appeals to me. This has happened before when I was put on antidepressant medication. Because of such a loss of appetite I went off the medication and was again able to at least find some foods appealing. Since I am suffering with anxiety and depression I was started again on Zoloft at a low dose but the same thing is happening and I haven't desire nor will to eat. Are you on any medication that may be causing this I wonder?

Thanks for posting this. I for one will be consulting with a therapist. This is a major change and I am encountering mixed emotions about my decision to have had this surgery.

Tiff I have been suffering with a sinus condition for a while now and I bought myself a netty pot and I use it religiously, (before I go to bed & in the morning after brushing my teeth). Here is what I add to the luke warm Water that I fill the netty pot with and a glass I gargle with. I first boil some Water then adjust the temperature by adding in some cold water to bring it to a luke warm temp. I add a pinch or so of sea salt and a dropper full of colloidal silver (it is anti-fungal/viral/bacterial), I don't taste anything but gargle first. Then I take the netty pot with same solution in it and run it through each nostril. I am able to go without nasal spray day and night. Before that I was using Rhinocort. Naxonex and Flonase did not work for me. There is a machine you can buy but it's alot more expensive than a netty pot. It is a really good contraption though to thoroughly cleanse the sinus cavities using the same solution mx I gave you. Here is a video ...[nomedia=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YrG_KJJpC8]YouTube- SinuPulse Elite - Advanced Nasal Sinus Irrigation System[/nomedia] Here is a link where you may purchase but you can search yourself for the best purchase price-http://www.natlallergy.com/prod/1761/sinupulse-elite-sinus-irrigation-system-for-nasal-washing-and-misting.html?sid=GOOGLE&eid=GOOGLE&tid=g_csrs_p_sinupulse_system&gclid=CNTk_snUhqECFV1-5Qodw12Jyw
This is the best antimicrobial etc...silver I think. It is the one I use and this is the link where I found it to be sold at the lowest price. I get 3 bottles at a time.
Invision Intl - Silver 100 - Optimal Health Concepts
The first time it came to me with two bottles broken. I called the guy and he sent them to me over night no problem. I get the 2oz dropper bottles.
In any case I hope you find a good solution that will work for you. -Lis

Without giving you an official or text book definition I'm inclined to think of food addiction as an emotional obsession with food, and eating. I grew up with alcoholism and a very volatile relationship between my parents. I have obsessed over food ever since I can remember. Always wanting more and if I couldn't get enough to satisfy my craving I would figure out ways, places, and times, that I could. As a child for example, if at Breakfast there were only so many pancakes shared between family, I'd imagine myself surrounded by pancakes dripping with butter and maple Syrup. I'd seek out other foods to gorge myself with...salty, sweet, whatever! I'd find ways to compensate, usually while alone or with a friend that also liked to over-indulge in eating. The food never really satisfied me so I would keep foraging through food as if my life depended upon it. This behavior caused self loathing, shame, guilt...and diets, doctors, pills, bouts with bulimia, (I did alot of sneak eating, binging and purging...) This is not normal behavior and best resembles addiction. I always felt out of control. I hated myself for the urges, binging and nagging desire for more. I substituted food for emotional needs which went unmet. It felt like a self perpetuating trap for which I don't fully comprehend. Since the VSG, I am no longer able to "treat" myself, (as before), with food. I would not assume that everyone who is overweight to obese is that way due to a food addiction per se, but I do believe that I am and have been since childhood.

Your welcome, and yes you make sense. I too like learning about how others experience life. I learn from other individual perspectives and that helps me with my own life.
food was the only thing that I obsessed over, and that obsession controlled and consumed so much of my time. Over indulging in food was my habit, not smoking, sex, drugs or alcohal... Food was my "habit". And now thanks to this sleeve, I am forced to break the habit in a rather abrupt or "cold turkey" way. I'm learning how I can face the issues behind my food obsession. The sleeve helped me to finally break the destructive cycle. Now that I am free, I have all this time and I'm slowly allowing myself to use it in constructive ways. The nice thing about it is that I can still enjoy food just not to excess.