Search the Community

Hello, November peeps! How are you all doing? I'm frustrated and struggling. I've been stuck at 69 lbs down for 3 weeks. I've only lost 5 in the past 6 weeks. I know it's partly my fault because I've not been faithful go my diet. I can do good while at work during the day, but the evenings are my worse times of temptation. Now my thyroid is fluctuating from hyper to hypo and the doctor is trying to adjust my Synthroid dosage. I've been tearful, moody, had horrible hair loss, and tired. I'm sure it's a mix of thyroid trouble and changes overall. I've found that I don't always get sick after eating poorly, which I wish I'd never found out. I need to get my rear in gear and get back to the gym. I had some pretty bad center abdominal pain twice last week and I called my surgeon's office. The oncall doctor suggested possible hernia and to see my surgeon. I'm honestly embarrassed to go in without losing more weight first. Aahh! I'm babbling, what thoughts do y'all have? Thanks!

GOOOD morning everyone! David here with an update i guess now over 2 years post op! ! Pretty exciting things have went on and continue to go on in my life and i really appologize for the delays in posting. Let me first start off by saying you are all too kind with you posts here. It's wonderfull to know that this post has at least helped a few people. Let me give a little update and brief recap for those of you wondering. I had RNY done in Bismarck ND with the only complication being some post op gas pain even after walking my legs off! 3 days after surgery i was home and realized a few things. 1. I am glad i know enough medically to realize that 5 weeks post op when i stood and felt like i was going to pass out it was likely my BP meds continuing to drop my BP when it was not needed anymore. Check my BP and sure enough i went from a 150's bp down to 90's without medication. A quick conversation with my PCP (primary care provider) and i dc'd my blood pressure meds. A word on reactive hypoglycemia now since I am one of the lucky individuals that has this wonderfull little side effect. My pancrease works really well, that being said when i eat high carb foods it releases plenty of insulin but the food moves thru so quickly that TADA my blood glucose drops. Lowest i have been so far is 38. I can tell you, not a fun experience. That being said go back to square one if you find yourself struggling with this. I re-evaluate my food choices and find EVERY TIME that i am eatting things i know better than to eat. Ok so here is the update.. Starting Weight : 330lbs Pre op weight : 299lbs RNY: 7/24/2012 10/13/12 : 233lbs 3/22/15 - 179 lbs I currently work as a Flight Paramedic (something that has always been a dream but always too large) I am almost done with my nursing progam and am pretty much just lovin life! I still love to cook and bake I just do so in moderation. I will post a few pictures in a few minutes so yall can see the changes. You can be successful. You can make positive changes and be the you that you need to be. Please know that this surgery is a tool that when used correctly can have life changing, mind blowing effects. I can run up and down stairs, i can get on the ground with my patients and get back up without hurting. If you have questions ask away i will be checking back for a few days to answer any questions you have. Nothings off limits ask away =-)

everyones differant thats for sure..I have hashis..Im on armour for thyroid. 1 side of thyroid is dead and shriveled up the other is enlarged..I was going back on forth from hypo to hyper...now stable on ty med..increasing my calories with non ff items and mainly proteins have worked for me. my plan is more ketogenic with high protein...so far so good. I feel for us with sluggish metabolisms . the ff/low fat/sf diet is what got myself where I was but this isn't the case for everyone though. have you had a complete thyroid panel done lately? I get mine done throughout the yr...just throwing this out there not for sure it'll help or not. I understand the physical limitations I struggle with several autoimmune diseases including fibro it can be brutal some days. I noticed you said a sf/ff greek yogurt? I have been settling for the chobani greek it was the lowest on sugar per serving organic and I eat the kroger carbmaster brands their really good. the chobani is what I make the hubs protein shakes/smoothies out of. I'll have one here and there but barely theres to much sugar for me. the only fruit I keep on hand handy is the green grapes their easy to have. Do you use MFP? maybe start using it again to add up everything and kinda see where your at? maybe? IDK...Im sure you are...just throwing that out there..do you think maybe cutting out the rice cakes even though you dont eat often might make a differance in not such a struggle? I can't have grains or white processed items they were my worst enemy for me. another suggestion thats all...congrats on maintaining I hope I'm as successful as you are! thats wonderful! keep us posted

Sorry you are going through this. I was hyper thyroid and went to hypo thyroid so they changed my meds but only by a 25mcg and I make them check it every month to see if I'm on track don't wait. However, I think it is why I have stalled in my weight loss no loss or gain for 3months

I was one of match's original members. Have a lifetime membership. Met my ex husband on there. Will reactivate once i finish my year of ME

Did they check you for over active thyroid? My family is notorious for going from hypo(slow) too hyper(superfast) thyroid. My sister had been almost 400 lbs her whole life and now she is about 150 and dropping. Good luck hope it gets worked out

Hi there! I had planned on having sleeve and was switched to bypass after learning that the sleeve could make my reflux worse. I am so happy I had bypass. All of my co-morbitiies are gone now. I am off medications with the exception of hypo thyroid replacement. I feel fantastic! It is hard work and a new way of life. I think both surgeries require a lot of lifestyle change. The most important thing you can do for yourself is feel very comfortable before you go in. You must have a positive attitude in WLS or you will struggle to make the necessary changes. Good luck on your upcoming surgery!

Dizzy spells could be reactive hypoglycemia ...if you eat heavy on the carbs. As the previous poster mentioned start exploring new foods. This is the time to be devoting a whole new way of eating. You may be grieving and comparing foods to old processed, high fat, and or sugar choices and bottom line newer and healthier foods aren't initially glamorous at first. Use spices etc...and over time you will see a difference. Even though I am newly postoperative I lost 130 pounds and kept it off until a injury. I learned to savor foods I never thought I would like. Also check out this blog..she has wonderful ideas..... The World According To Eggface.

I seemed to have developed hypo thyroidisym after surgery. My PCP didn't put me on anything yet. I just reached gaol and she wants to recheck it in a month.

From what I have read Reactive hypoglycemia is something to be aware of. Google it...can't post link here.

Interesting that you are losing hair with hyperthyroidism, I thought it was with hypothyroidism, which I have had since 1995. Hair loss was a big issue for me and as one of my major symptoms. It resolved itself quickly once I went on the Synthroid. I wonder if you have had the thyroid issue prior to your surgery, but were just unaware, as these things tend to creep up very quietly? I have read that a lot of folks have (especially) hypothyroidism, but aren't aware of it, and attribute a lot of their symptoms to other things. Did you have your levels checked prior to surgery? Might want to ask about that. My sleeve surgery was 12/3/14, and as I have had the hypothyroidism AND hyperparathyroidism (including surgery for both issues), I am checked every 3 months. I have not had any changes in either case because of the sleeve surgery. Just was checked about 2 weeks ago, all is well there. The meds they prescribe for both hyper and hypo seem to take care of the issues, from what I have experienced, and from what I have heard from others, as well. Good luck to you!

Thyroid meds can be tricky, especially when you don't take them consistently and properly. My thyroid was taken out due to having thyroid cancer. But I've always made sure to take my meds at the same time everyday, on an empty stomach, with nothing to eat for an hour afterwards. I lost 60 pounds prior to surgery following a less than 1200 calorie diet and exercising 4-5xs/week. So while being hypo is a challenge, losing weight is very much doable if you are disciplined and consistent.

Don't now and never have focused on low carbs ... am only concerned not to go so low-carb that I wind up among the very small minority of VSG patients (3%) who suffer from post-bariatric reactive hypoglycemia. It's a low risk, but you do NOT want to have that monkey climb up on your back. Google it.

I'm a diabetic, and yes it does sound very much like how I get when I am having a hypo - I think you should go and get checked out for this as its not good to let it go on. Also buy yourself some dextrose tablets and take 3 or 4 of those when you are feeling like this - if it makes you feel better quickly, you will also have your answer... Take care. this isn't something to be ignored.

Just saying hello to fellow Feb 2013 buddies. How is everyone doing? I'm down 136' to 155. That's where my body wants to be. I had two problems-- hernia with small bowel obstruction and reactive hypoglycemia. The hernia was repaired and then it was found I needed abdominal wall reconstruction and a re-repair of the hernia. That I had done with a panniculectomy in Dec. I have the hypoglycemia under control by eating right. I wear a size 10-12, down from a 24/26. I can wear high heels and have energy and feel great! Best decision ever to have RNY.

My post-op experience was a challenge also. The surgery itself (on 11/10) and the 2 days in the hospital went fine. It was after I was home about 5 days that things started going south. I called my surgeon's office to schedule my first post-op appt. His nurse did not like how I was sounding on the phone so she had him call me later that day. He told me to go into the office the next morning (11/18) to see his PA (he was going to be in his other office so I wasn't able to see him) and have her check me out. After the PA checked me out, what she found was my O2 sat was 85 and HR 115, she conferred with my surgeon by phone and then told my husband to drive me to the hospital for a CT to check for blood clots. No clots were found, thank goodness. However, my hospital journey began as they admitted me in order to run more tests. Over the course of a few days, I had multiple CT scans, x-rays, blood work, etc. Ended up with a couple of drains for a hematoma in my stomach and for where bile was collecting under my diaphragm. These two things plus an infection caused my body to create "reactive fluid" in the chest area between my ribs and left lung which is what was causing me to be so short of breath. After draining off over 1400cc of Fluid, my breathing improved considerably finally. My hospital stay lasted 13 days with an additional 5 days in inpatient rehab to try and regain some of my strength and balance back. I lost a lot of weight and muscle strength during those 18 days. I could not walk without assistance I was so weak. Once I was discharged from rehab on 12/6, I continued with outpatient rehab through December. Today I'm doing so much better physically, have lost about 40 lbs. since pre-surgery days, and am working out regularly to lose more. All that said, despite the complications I experienced after the surgery, I would have the surgery again. It took me a long time to make the decision to have the surgery, and I'm glad I did. I may not be losing the weight as quickly as my surgeon is expecting me to, but I am doing all the homework to make it happen, i.e. Protein protein protein, tracking food intake, ramped up my exercise routine, and staying away from the junk food. It will come off in due time. When you consider how small our stomachs are now, it makes it easier (at least for me) to make better choices about what to eat since I can eat so little before I'm full. I encourage anyone considering having VSG to do it. I don't believe you'll regret your decision to do whatever it takes to improve your health. I'm no longer on my diabetes or blood pressure medications I will be very interested to see what happens with my fatty liver situation as I get farther down the weight loss road. So I had my surgery on January 20th. I am a nurse and have researched this for years before finally decided on the surgery. I went to all the pre-op classes, did everything I was supposed to do when I was supposed to and i thought I knew exactly what I was getting myself into. Holy crap was I wrong. No amount of prep could have prepared me for what was in store. Post op, felt great. a bit nauseous but ok. Went for a nice long walk, had my foley, i was Nothing by mouth and a dilauded pca with zofran around the clock. I feel asleep for a bit woke at 2 am and was super sick to my stomach. The discontinued my iv in the morning and asked me to start drinking. WHAT!!!!! I tried, please understand I tried...so hard....They gave me Roxicodone liqiud, which just made things worse. My Blood pressure went through the rood because of the pain and nausea so they gave me meds for that which sucked because my head was killing me. They ended up restarting my IV and i was a blubbering idiot, in tears wondering what the hell i did to myself. The nurse practitioner came in and gave me toradol. with the hour i was able to stand again, ate some jello and cleaned up which allowed me to get out of the hospital that day. It is now 5 days later. I am doing so much better. Still have some staples in place and steri strips. Water is going down easier, Jello as well. Still not a big fan of broth. I know with all my heart and soul that this was the right thing for me to do but I had my moment of weakness. I felt guilty and stupid about it but the NP told me that no one, no matter how much you know, can anticipate how your body will react to the surgery. Be patient. Forgive yourself for the doubts you have because you will have doubts and remember....it will get better.

Wow, so I have been on Insulin for 25 years and we share the same Gastric by pass Day! I also had mine done on 12 Jan, I'm having tons of hypo's and adjusting my insulin pump daily! I had a bad complication after the op and had ketoacidosis, was really scary, spent 7 days in ICU! Still in hospital now and just starting to hold down liquids without an IV bag! So feeling much improved, you sound like it's going really well for you! So happy for you, I'm sure I'll be following in your footsteps soon ...

following this as I'm hypo too. I unfortunately still am in the "normal" range for TSH but luckily have found a dr willing to test levels regularly and treat my symptoms (total lack of energy). I've gained the 80lbs I need to lose all in the last 5-7 years and havent even had kids yet so I'm desperate to lose weight (thus why looking into WLS) I understand the frustration b/c I do eat healthy (just finished yeast-free (gluten/sugar/dairy) diet of 2 months with ZERO weight loss) and work out. SO hopeful WLS will be able to help me too!

That is interesting. Are you hypo? I've never heard of taking thyroid meds solely because of nodules. Nodules in and of themselves are not bad and they grow so slowly (years). If they get large enough, a fine needle biopsy is done and most of the time turn out benign. There is cardiovascular danger to taking too much thyroid medication...particularly if the person is not hypo.

I don't have a thyroid due to cancer so I'm definitely hypo. When I was at 286, I was on 200 mcg of synthroid. At 240 I was placed on 175mcg. Just last week at 208, I was placed on 150mcg. What I do is call my endocrinologist, leave a message with the nurse, stating my current weight and whether or not I need an adjustment. The Dr. Calls me to say go to the labs and get the bloodwork done, then based on the results decides whether to change my meds. It is not always immediate based on the weight loss alone. The Dr said it takes awhile for the body to adjust so they wait until lab results to determine if it's time to lower the dose.

I'm still dropping too, but would like to be 10 lb lighter for running. Not liking that I'm losing my ass though. I like bonk bars. Not a fan of the gels and goo and Beans. I have reactive hypoglycemia and those can really do a number on me.

I was told 11 years ago, that I would be better, having chronic fatigue, that having a gastric by-pass would make it better. It certainly does not. The hormone that is in your stomach, as with the duodenum, gets by-passed. So, you have a lot of episodes of shaking and hypo-glycemia. It DOES NOT make your chronic- fatigue better. In fact, it makes it worse!! I am proof positive. Please understand that I'm not saying a by-pass is bad, but if you have chronic fatigue it does NOT make it better. So be aware that you will have to eat. I have gained 35 pounds back. That's not good. I have to find some other way to help balance the hypo-glycemia that is a result of chronic fatigue.

Hi, I had surgery Oct 2012 and have lost about 110lbs. I still need to lose about 30lbs to be to my own personal goal - one where I will be viable for skin surgery. I had shoulder surgery too, just a month ago and have put on 12lbs since that time! On Monday of this week I started cutting out all the junk that I've been eating over Christmas - I'm not totally low carb as I am diabetic and often feel like I get hypos when I don't have any carbs.. but I'm doing better. Trying not to weigh myself as I can easily get hung up on the numbers, if you know what I mean. Just want to feel better within myself. I'm thinking that I might have stretched my stomach a bit too, but hoping that if I have more liquid Protein meals that that will help some to get some of the restriction back. Maybe you should consider going back to your surgeon and getting some pointers from him? he may surprise you!

I have lost hundreds of pounds on diets only to gain all of them back multiple times. That is really hard on your body and your heart. I noticed in the last 5 years, I am 51 that I just was not able to lose weight as easily as when I was younger. For me it took a diagnosis of stage 3 kidney disease on top of diabetes, apnea, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. I have had 5 back surgeries because I have psoriatic arthritis and this extra weight was literally crushing my spine. I saw my nurse today for a follow up and she asked me if I was happy that I made this decision. For me, it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I have not regretted it even for a second. I feel fantastic, am off all meds besides my hypo thyroid replacement. I think you should take the time needed to get your head around it so you have the best chance of success. You MUST be ready before you move forward. Good luck to you! Keep us posted on your progress.

Hi ya! Synthroid is a medication that is given to people with thryoid conditions. In our case - Hypo or underactive thyroid! :-)