emilygrace

Can usually get them at pharmacies.

Muscle cramps can be a reason to stop statins because you can end up with a thing called rhabdomyolysis which can make you pretty sick from breaking down cells. However, taking coq10 can help too - are you on it? Statins deplete the CoQ10 which gives energy to the cells. Make sure you talk to your doctor.

To be honest, I would choose the elliptical (and usually do) - but mostly because it challenges me more and makes me fitter. The more my heart rate gets up and I sweat, the more I am training my heart and lungs, and improving my cardiovascular health. The fact that it is also making my weight melt away (11 lbs last month) is a bonus. Walking is proven great, and anything is better than nothing. Do what you will continue to do long-term.

It's certainly worth a try, but I don't think the pregnancy comparison is valid - pregnancy is very short term expansion of the skin, and most people return to "almost" normal post-partum (but many do indeed have stretch marks and a pooch). I'm talking about long term and/or extensive stretching (and usually up and down weight over years), and permanent damage. Once the stretch marks are there, the collagen is damaged and I don't believe compression would help. BUT - I can't live without my compression garments now to smooth things out and stop the muffin top/thighs so I really hope compression DOES help with excess skin!

Hyperthyroidism certainly can make people lose weight, it's often one of the main signs because excess thyroid hormone increases the basal metabolic rate. That is of course unless they increase their caloric intake to match, which some people do because they get hungrier. Similarly, people who are hypo often gain weight, have trouble losing it, and then can lose some when they begin to receive thyroid hormone treatment. However - if they are treated back to "normal" levels the meds won't "make" them lose weight, just make it possible if they restrict calories & exercise. http://www.thyroid.org/patients/brochures/Thyroid_and_Weight.pdf

They usually do pregnancy tests preop if there's a chance of that.

I don't eat Taco Bell or other fast foods. I am really trying while in my first yr postop to lose all my excess weight. I *LOVE* mexican food AND fast food so moderation isn't really good for me.. I have to avoid altogether!

I had the same thing with nausea after Multivitamin, but find if I take it last thing at night before bed it doesn't make me feel sick. The other thing is a liquid multivitamin that I got at costco that you just take a shot of daily.

I don't think compression garments can help that much if you've been huge and lose a ton of weight - if skin is stretched, it's stretched.

As they say, the definition of insanity is continuing to do the same thing and expecting a different result. I was exhausted by losing and regaining, and just felt like I wasn't living. I am getting "me" back now. It is easier, because I don't have the option of pigging out, but I am making good choices every day including working out and eating well.

I'm so sorry you are going through this, it must be so hard after thinking you were getting your health on track with the sleeve. As you said, a huge blessing that it was found. Losing weight reduces risks of so many diseases including cancer. Best of luck with both the cancer treatment and the weight loss, you're in my thoughts.

PPI = proton pump inhibitor, the reflux drugs ending in -azole, as a rule: omeprazole, esomeprazole (Nexium), pantoprazole (Protonix), rabeprazole (Aciphex). I had no heartburn preop, but I did have an annoying dry cough which I now think was reflux-related. At sleeve surgery a hiatal hernia was found and repaired. I started with reflux immediately postop and was commenced on Nexium. It worked well. After about 3 months I had to go off nexium due to insurance issues and tried Prilosec OTC. It doesn't help much. Went to see a GI guy who did an upper GI scope this week (EGD). Showed a normal esophagus and stomach. He took biopsies which I have to wait for the results. My reflux isn't "bad", just annoying. I feel kind of bubbles rolling up my throat when the prilosec is due. Often if I feel "hungry" and eat a Tums it goes away. My surgeon did tell me it may last 3-12 months postop - he said just like you have scars on the outside, your stomach has a long scar on one side that is stiff and needs to soften up over time. jovigrl62 - it may be worth you trying a PPI instead of your Pepcid (which is an acid blocker but not a PPI). H2 blockers are good at treating symptoms of acid reflux but not at healing the esophageal irritation. Reglan is not very effective for heartburn either.

My PCP recommended a couple of GI docs to go to in order to have my reflux investigated. The one I went to ordered an upper GI scope (EGD). No probs with insurance, since I have reflux. PCP did order all my followup bloodwork and was super excited by my weight loss.

Also folate (B9) deficiency can cause peripheral tingling/numbness.

Omeprazole is just an over the counter drug which is not the most effective PPI. You should definitely get an upper GI scope (EGD) to check what state your esophagus and stomach are in, and to make sure things look ok and nothing else is wrong. If not, you may just need stronger drugs (esomeprazole - the active metabolite of omeprazole - or pantoprazole eg. protonix). Go see a GI guy.

Yeah I think many/most people need meds at least for a few months postop. I have the exact same feeling as you if I don't take my PPI.

People at work keep ordering fatty sandwiches with chips that tastes amazing (!) but they don't understand why I won't eat it, "just once".They say "gee, your willpower is amazing!". It's not willpower. Moderation in "bad" food doesn't work for me, and I know this about myself. I'm better to just have none of it, or I want more and more. Plus, I wouldn't have been able to eat even half of it since it's a huge serve, so then I would have brought it home and kept eating it... I agree that I do not crave crap anymore. I go to Starbucks for my latte each morning and see a shelf full of cakes and donuts and just think "ugh, so much fat and sugar". I think a lot of it is that I am exercising regularly now, and I want to see the results on the scale! I am almost at 7 mo postop and I know the weight loss will be slowing down soon enough, so I am working even harder to get to goal!

Proton pump inhibitor = med that stops acid production in your stomach, like Nexium, Losec, Prilosec, Prevacid.

I started off on the Oikos flavored yoghurts, and I LOVE the honey flavor... but they cost $2 EACH! So I switched to the cheaper Chobani (can get 12 @ costco for $10 something) and I love them too. I have to say the pineapple 2% tastes a whole lot better, for only 20 extra calories so sometimes I get that, otherwise blueberry is my fave. I have to stop myself from eating 2 or 3 a day, it's just so easy and yum.

How close to when you ate does the pain happen? Sounds like gallbladder to me too - which does happen commonly after rapid weight loss.

Even just 4 years ago I lost a ton of weight doing bootcamp/PT and my body was firm-ish (except my arms). This time, I am just so sad at the damage I have done to myself with obesity - I have wrinkly knees, my inner thighs are like crepe paper, my tummy has shrunk considerably but I don't know that the leftover bulges/jelly belly will go anywhere, my elbows are wrinkly and my arms are not good... it's quite devastating really. Of course you can't tell with clothes on.. but I am 35 and never been married, so I'm going to have to get naked at times haha! I just don't know if I will have enough guts (no pun intended) to do plastics... I don't know if it's worth trading the skin for huge scars?

That's a lot different than a long haul flight. I flew back from Australia to the US (~22hrs flight time) 3 weeks postop and that was pushing what my doctor wanted me to do, but I had to get back to work. They did thrombosis testing to check if I was prone to clots, I took aspirin, wore compression stockings, drank a lot of Water and walked as much as possible. I also travelled business class.

Sounds like reflux - do you take a PPI?

Do you take fish oil supplements by any chance? I know several people who have incredibly vivid dreams on fish oil.

I wasn't aware that I had one, but one was found and fixed during the operation. My recovery was fine and uneventful. I do have bad reflux since immediately postop, not sure if it's related to the hernia or just the sleeve.