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I'm here too. I just got back about half an hour ago from seeing my surgeon. He took some of my fill out. I explained how I hadn't been able to get any food down for about 3 weeks now and that I could only get fluids down in the afternoon. Anything before that or after 9pm would just come straight back out again or have me up all night with reflux problems. So they removed .125ccs. Half of what I got at my last fill. I'm very happy with that. :woot: I'm not really looking forward to any appetite I may get as a result, but I know it's better for me to be able to get proper food and protein into my body. I'm on fluids for the next 2 days, the same procedure as after a fill, and then I can see how mushies go. I'm looking forward to getting back on track. It was wonderful to see the scale go down consistently, but I was miserable a lot of the time. Having the flu on top of it didn't help any. Rashes - thank you everyone for your suggestions. I'm going to try them ALL. I have always have sensitive skin. I use Dove soap and wash my clothes in hypo-allergenic liquids. Even when I'm careful I can still break out in an eczema rash without problem. I have a shelf in my bathroom cabinet dedicated to lotions and potions just for that. I've already tried most of them with my tummy rash, with mixed results. It doesn't hurt to have other methods to attack this with. Part of me wants to get rid of it yesterday, another part of me wants to use this with the insurance company to help with a TT approval. I think I'll time a visit to the doctor's between subsequent outbreaks just to keep things on record in case I need it. Shopping - well I went shopping this weekend. It's not a favorite activity of mine, but I was still excited because I was going to the normal section. :tt1: You were dead right Janet, there are SOOOOOOO many choices there. At least in the BBW section there are only 2 choices; clothes that fit and clothes that don't. When looking for jeans I was given choices of classic rise, low rise, lowest rise, straight, boot cut, flared, long, short, regular :eek: It was daunting! I started with a few different styles of 14s, none of them fit! :sad2: In a good way! They were all too big! :w00t: So I went down to 12s and some of them fit, some of them didn't. I made the insane decision to try on a pair of 10s They fit too! :w00t: I ended up buying 2 pairs of 12s and a pair of 10s. I was on top of the world. :biggrin2: I don't ever remember buying a pair of 10s. Not this century anyway. :cryin: So that's my latest NSV. :Yawn: There were other things I wanted to respond to, but kidzheimers has struck and I can't remember anymore. I need to fix dinner and I'll come back and read through the thread again to jog my forgettory and get back later this evening. Thanks for all they help you guys in getting me to where I am today. Yes, it's your fault as much as mine that I'm feeling this good.

3 years out. I feel like I eat small to normal size meals now. I still take a long time to eat a meal and usually just take leftovers home and eat in "chapters" as my other WLS friends say. The amount of restriction varies, sometimes I can only get down a few bites and sometimes I can eat almost a full meal. I've only had actual dumping once or twice. If I eat a few bites too much or something too carb heavy I will feel a little bit sick for maybe half an hour. It's nothing serious, but it's enough to make me think twice about taking that last bite of something. My biggest challenge is protein intake and blood sugar management. I don't eat meat much anymore, so I try to eat a lot of legumes. I have some instances of hypoglycemia and I have more frequent occurrences of reactive hypoglycemia after I eat. My body still makes too much insulin and drops my blood sugar. I keep a lot of juice boxes and small snacks around.

I'm 40 years old, from Canada and am going in for my sleeve on October 16. I have followed my liquid diet completely, and am excited and very nervous about my surgery. I have PCOS and Hypo Thyroid, and am hoping that this will finally set me free so to speak. My top weight was 243, I am now 225. I wish everyone health and success!

Hi All. I'm preparing for gastric bypass reversal December 3. I had gastric bypass RNY in 2004. I had little to no complications the first 2 years. Then I started having extreme stomach pain. After several tests they found no cause and decided I had slow bowels that were causing painful constipation. After several years of on and off stomach pain, I ended up in the ER where they found an internal hernia that was strangulated between my liver and my kidneys. Apparently during the time of my original gastric bypass there was an area of the abdomen that was left vulnerable to internal hernias. They say that they no longer have that problem in current surgeries. Anyways, I died on the table that night. But they revived me, and corrected the hernia. My original rny was laparoscopic. With the internal hernia, I went into the ER with the severe stomach pain, then woke up with a long vertical scar on my stomach that looked like a large zipper, was a little shocking. 1 year later I ended up in the ER because the scar tissue from the open stomach surgery a year before, had given me a blocked bowel. Once again I woke up with the whole zipper down the front. This time they had to go around the other side of my belly button for some reason, so I now had "train tracks" down the lower part of my stomach. 2 years later, after I'd been working out quite a bit, they found that the seam line of my scar hadn't healed all the way properly. One surgeon said it was like Swiss cheese. So, they went back in and sewed in a mesh to protect my seam line from further hernias. After the first emergency surgery, I noticed I had hypoglycemia every 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Year by year, I started needing to eat more often. But I was able to keep the weight off. About a year ago, I got to where I need to eat every 40-50 minutes or I get "sick." And started gaining weight. I asked my primary care for help, but he told me he too has hypoglycemia and just make sure I eat properly. I finally researched severe reactive hypoglycemia, and severe dumping syndrome, printed out info from the NIH website, and took it with me. Finally I got sent to a bariatric surgeon for help. He sent me to an endocrinologist who implanted a Continuous blood glucose monitor for 6 days. (That thing was so cool! It takes your blood sugar reading every 5 minutes.) It was found that any time I ate even just 1 1/2 grams of carbs my blood sugar would drop by 60-80 points within 40-60 minutes...causing me to need to eat again, to keep from passing out. When I ate only Protein, my blood sugar would stay on the low side, which left me no energy at all. I could go for about 90 minutes before my blood sugar would drop...but even just eating protein would trigger the blood sugar drop. It was found that the hole between my stomach pouch, which is still quite small, and the attached intestine has become over large, so the food is dropping straight into my intestines, and triggering my pancreas to produce extra insulin. The hardest part is going to the store etc, and if I get involved and don't pay attention to the clock, I can suddenly feel a flushing feeling, and feel like I'm going to pass out immediately if I don't eat. It's become very difficult to go anywhere away from the house. Would I have gastric bypass if I knew all about this, NO. I have grown to appreciate Energy. Energy levels. I enjoy working with horses and being active, but have been unable to for the past 2 years. I cannot count on maintaining enough energy from hour to hour. My goal, to be able to eat something and maintain good stable energy for 3 hours or so. I didn't have the gastric bypass so I could need to lie down all the time. I envisioned being more active and having More energy as as a thinner person. If you have good energy, and you just don't like the way you look etc, Please don't have this surgery. I only recommend it for people who have immediate heart and serious medical issues due to their weight. I looked my new bariatric surgeon in the eye and told him I wouldn't mind gaining all my weight back, if it means I can have good consistent energy every day. Gastric bypass so drastically alters our anatomy. I may never have proper digestion again. I hope my story helps someone!

As I said to Jeannie in a PM...it has become increasingly clear to me that there are some people who seem to take advantage of the "distance protection" offered them by this internet form of communication, as a means to unleash their emotional reactivity, arrogance, negativity, immaturity, and general lack of manners. Let's try to remember that we are all here for support and encouragement, and be polite.

I had my yearly physical with my pcp today. Great news, I am officially going off my blood pressure medicine. He wants me to try stopping the gout medicine too but I told him I'm scared intil I'm maintainingmy weiggt and not losing anymore. We're going to check again in 2 months but it was so good to hear all my labs were perfect except potassium. I had really high c reactive protein before surgery (close to 20) and I was 3.5 today. Yay!!!

I've had a few carby things here and there and I have reactive hypoglycemia. Not sure if I am dumping or just still suffering from the hypoglycemia.

HI Ali! I am doing good! 5 days out. getting sick of eating the same crap....what shall I have for breakfast? yogurt? pudding? lol I am SUPER picky and will only eat that or the cream of mushroom soup so choosing from 3 things is rather BORING and sad! ha ha. alright my sleevesters!!!!!!!!! what else can I have? stage 2 is for 2 weeks! this sucks. ha ha. water is still an issue but Dr. Im said as long as I am peeing I am okay. ha ha. my neck is draining still but the antibiotics are helping this stupid thing looks better already! Thank god for keflex.. it's leaking plasma! ewww I am STILL waiting for neck, head, surgery to contact me. I should start saving it-I know they pay good MONEY for plasma now adays....and waiting for a disability check sucks. lmao!!!!!!!!!! :thumbup: Tina-yeah we ARE nightmares aren't we. :thumbdown:I feel ya on the panic attacks. I have them too. ohh and I have asthma and get chronic bronchitus and sinus infection like 8-10 a year! I am now alergic to EVERYTHING under the sun because of all the antibiotics I have taken. I get them soooo bad. I totally sympathize with you. You totally panic and that makes everything 1000 times worse. Well now we can grovel with eachother let me know what they do. I hear ya with all the breathing problems. I get sick SO much that I am always checking to see if I am sick. I am so nuts. lol. Everyone calls me hypo-but your not hypo when your always sick! It sucks. It's nice to know someone who has this same problem seriously!!! After I had my gallbladder taken out? They told me I was gonna die cause I had 5 clots on my lungs. I was actually diagnosed with PTS because of all the crap I went through. My hubby and I even split up at that time I went loopy! Thank god he eventually realized that was my mid-life crisis and took my crazy ass back. It was horrible. When the doctors say your not gonna make it-imagine what that does. man ohh man. anywho-so I am here if ya need someone to vent too! Medical nightmares together. :Banane20: awwww lol. BAND SUBJECT:Yeah ASH I was totally surprised when you showed me YOUR KAISER book. 1 in 6 people is a HUGE amount in people to get a revision!!!!!!!! I think it sucks that kaiser FREEMONT and KAISER RICHMOND's bariatric programs differ so much. I kinda like yours better Ash! They seem to tell you A LOT more. I was all gung-ho for the band in the begining like ash, ali, john, and I were. After doing research and hearing from other bandsters that made my decision. Even Dr. Im told me that he thought the band wasn't even a choice. I guess they have know for a while that they where phasing them out. My dad also JUST went and had his surgeon appointment. They didn't offer him the band! I just talked to him about his appointment. He had it a week ago and I asked him if the Doctor mentioned it and he said it's really not an option. I am HAPPY with my decision with the sleeve. I am SO surprised that I am recovering so QUICKLY! (knock on wood) My health isn't the greatest and I am always slow to heal ect...but 5 days out and I FEEL GREAT!!!!!!!! I HOPE THIS CONTINUES! I don't wanna JINX myself. I walk walk walk so that is proll helping greatly too. Then again it's all a personal choice! I am anxious to see what will happen! 10 POUNDS IN 5 DAYS!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!! IF SOMEONE SAYS THAT ISN'T A MIRACLE THEN THEY ARE NUTS! LOL!

Ok so just here to rant about doctors and how ridiculous it is to have to wait so long to see them...It's taken me 7 weeks to just make an appointment with them and now...I don't see them for another 2 full months. Just to see an endocrinologist! My thyroid is out of whack(but is in the normal range, still too high) and I'm not going to lose a single pound for another 2 months...it's already been 6 months since I've seen the scale move... I give up. I'm adjusting my own meds. I know that's dangerous but if there were to be an increase in my meds a doc would do it by 25 mcg and that's all I'm adding. Seriously I'm not losing, my hair is brittle and falling out, my mood swings are bad, sleeping 12 hours and still exhausted, I hate being HYPO!!!! (My regular physcian is a physcian's assistant and quote "Doesn't know what other kind of medicine there is or what kind of dose to do"...the guy hadn't heard of "PCOS" before either...I hate doctors as well...

I just need to vent a little, as I have had a setback in the middle of my pre-op two weeks (diet and the surgery itself) I am a little bummed, Friday night an asthma flare went downhill, so I ended up at Urgent Care at 1 am, and from there, I was sent by ambulance to hospital to be admitted... because I had been started on 5 days of prednisone(steroid) on Thursday morning and had gotten worse instead of better after two days of treatment... Long story short, the two treatments at Urgent Care, and the oxygen in the ambulance must have started to work about the time they loaded me into the ER treatment room... and I ended up being able to leave there at 5 a.m... but then I was home, and trying to sleep, and got a call from the hospital to come back in as a radiologist did not like something on my chest x-ray so they wanted to evaluate me further... I went in, had a CT scan with contrast (Radiologist thought they saw "enlarged veins" around the cardiopulmonary connections apparently, so a lot went through my head while waiting for the scan and the report of NO ABNORMALITIES from the scan with contrast... my thoughts were, was it FenPhen that did this and so on and so forth... But now I am afraid the gain from the steroids (mostly Fluid retention) and the restricted pre-op diet (could this be too severe for someone who is so sick), and will the Surgeon push back my date... I was so afraid of this all winter, as they would not give me a date, would not give me a date, in spite of insurance approval very early on - since the later it gets in Spring, the more likelihood of asthma (this has been a problem for the past year)... I will not know anything, until I have the pre-op eval. with the anesthesiology team at the new pre-op work-up clinic they have. I see the surgeon after that. He will weigh me again, and there there will be all of this flurry of medical activity this weekend for me, to consider. But at least I know my heart, lungs, aorta, etc all looked normal on the CT scan. Anyway, my lungs are still pretty reactive, and I have a feeling my surgery is going to be pushed back at least a week or two... :laugh:

Great to hear of the success of Hypo patients having success with this procedure. I have Hashi's and my thyroid hardly works. I also have Celiac, which from what I hear goes hand in hand. I am worried that my weightloss will be slower, but this is a change, and I want to make sure it sticks!

I am hypo and my doc said as long as my thyroid levels are within normal range there is no reason u will no lose.

mine isn't chronic, but I was experiencing occasional reactive hypoglycemia (RH) when I got to be about two years out (it'd hit me about two hours or so after eating - not all the time, but enough that i knew something was going on and had a complete work-up). My PCP recommended eating something about every three hours - preferably a protein - and if I DID eat a carb, to be sure to pair it with a protein. Seems to have helped - I rarely have that issue anymore. btw - if yours is due to RH, that's not unheard of with bypass (not sure about the mini version of bypass, though...)

My journey began around 3 years ago. I was under the treatment of a number of specialists most recently Endocrinologists. I received a diagnosis of Hypo-Pituitary and Hypo-Thyroid. I could not pursue weight loss surgery until I had a release from my endo. I received that approval in December 2010 and began my journey with Atlanta Bariatric and Dr. Christopher Hart. My insurance is Aetna and the approval I sought required 6 months weight loss consultations. I met with a primary care and a nutritionist. I was approved in August and my surgery to place on August 31, 2011. My highest weight was 567 with my endo and my weight before surgery was 479. I am sensitive to wheat and gluten, corn and potatoes. I was well aware of what I could not eat. I needed those six months to get a good idea and what I could eat and lose weight eating. In my teens and 20’s I had experienced some events in my life which caused me to want to alter my appearance. Believing that if I made myself unattractive I could keep myself out of harms way. In my 30’s I got the help that I needed and I realized that I myself was putting myself into harms way. But I struggled with ending this cycle of self-abuse. In my late 30’s I was married and lost my appetite with my second pregnancy. It never fully returned and I thought nothing of eating once a day. If I got hungry I knew the pain would eventually subside. So fast forward into my 40’s I commit to do a better job caring for myself, but my body refuses to respond. I start to get recurrent infections, my weight loss efforts plateau soon after diets start, and I just literally feel like I am slipping away. Maybe I waited too long. The weight loss Doctor told me that I needed to see a specialist because there was something going on internally that diet and exercise alone could not address. I went to Progressive Medical and they referred me to my first Endocronologist and after extensive testing I received my diagnosis Hypo-Pituitary and Hypo-Thyroid. You know when you receive medications that help in one area but can make you ill in others? Well that was my experience. We stopped the infections and lessened the fatigue. The trade off was weight gain and becoming Insulin resistant due to the medication. That was not an acceptable trade off for me. I changed Endo’s and was freed from the medication. My body was responding positively to the positive food choices and I was infection free. So here I am it is a new day and a new chapter in my life. I have learned so much about listening to my body and I have experienced so much love and support. I look forward to being apart of a community who happen to be headed in the same direction, Health and Joy and Peace.

Since you haven't given any specifics regarding whether you are pre or post-op; what food stage you're in, what your eating habits are, and even if you're male or female, it's kind of hard to answer! Generally speaking, the body is constantly adjusting to it's environment and reevaluating what it needs to do biochemically to adapt. So if you're losing weight in "patches" (as most of us do), it's because your body is reacting to fewer calories, changing food amount/type intake, hormonal shifts, exercise (or lack of), etc. You are not a static human being that is identical all the time, so your body needs time to "catch up" to the current situation. By the time it does, you've moved on and are introducing whole new set of variables. As long as you stick to your plan (be it pre-op, post-op or whatever), consistency will get you to your goals. This journey is a marathon, not a sprint. Use this time to build up your new good habits, work through frustrations with a balanced approach and try not to be reactive to the scale. Better yet, measure your progress in other ways (fitness level, clothing fit, body measurements, stamina, quality of sleep or energy levels, etc.). The scale can be deceptive and demotivating at the best of times.

The fact that the lymphs are high and not the neutrophils, usually means that it's not a bacterial infection. Lymphs tend to indicate viral, but that's just a generalization. The same thing with the C-Reactive Protein and the sed rate. Both of them mean that there is something inflammatory going on, but it's pretty minor, if you're only at the high end of normal. Many people who aren't sick are walking around with high C-reactive Proteins. The combination of results, I think, merits the trip to the hematologist. I still doubt that it will be anything at all, it all seems very non-specific. I hope you can schedule an appt. soon. I hate sitting around and waiting on these things. It just makes you crazy. Cindy

I had an unfill last Friday... I went in on Thursday for a checkup/fill. I got .5 cc's put in (previously 5.6cc's, thought I could use a little more). It made me swollen so that I couldn't even swallow my spit!! I woke up choking on my saliva in the middle of the night, couldn't even keep down Water. When I went in on Friday they took out 1.6cc's, and even as of today, Wednesday, I still feel restricted. I think stress or something is making me more reactive to my band. I feel ok.. just must have been something going on. I am so happy someone was there to take out some!! I think it is normal though.. up and down depending on what is going on inside... I'm sure i'll get a fill again next month. Rather be safe than sorry!!

The following are some of the common abbreviations used on this message board: ACL = Anterior cruciate ligament AMRAP = As Many Rounds As Possible (crossfit) BB = belly button bc = because BCBS = Blue Cross/Blue Shield BED = Binge Eating Disorder bf = best friend BM = bowel movement BMI = Body Mass Index bp = blood pressure BPD = Borderline Personality Disorder or Biliopancreatic Diversion (Scopinaro procedure) bs = blood sugar btw = by the way CBT = cognitive-behavioral therapy CC = common channel c diff = clostridium difficile cos or cuz = because CPAP = continuous positive airway pressure CRNP = certified registered nurse practitioners cw = current weight CXR = Chest X-Ray Dr. = doctor DS = Dumping Syndrome or Duodenal Switch EGD = Esophagogastroduodenoscopy EKG = Electrocardiography ff = fat free GERD = gastroesophageal reflux disease GI = gastrointestinal GNC = General Nutrition Corporation store GP = general practitioner or family doctor HBP = high blood pressure hr = heart rate hw = highest weight ICU = Intensive Care Unit Idk = I don’t know IMHO = in my humble (honest) opinion IMO = in my opinion IUI = Intrauterine insemination LAP Band = Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band lol = laughing out loud LSG = Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy med = medicine msg = message NASH = Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis nf = non fat NG = Nasogastric NP = nurse practitioner NSAIDS = Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug NSV = non-scale victory (“scale” means “weight scale”) NUT = nutritionist OA = Overeaters Anonymous Onederland = a magical place or destination for those trying to lose weight. It might correspond to attaining a weight in the hundreds or losing a hundred pounds. op = operation OSA = Obstructive sleep Apnea Oz = Australia PB = Productive Burps PCOS = Polycystic Ovary Syndrome PCP = Primary Care Physician PM = private message (email) PMS = premenstrual syndrome POSE = Primary Obesity Surgery Endolumenal postop or post–op = post-operation or post-surgery PPI = Proton Pump Inhibitors ppl = people preop or pre-op = pre-operation or pre-surgery PTSD = Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder PVC = Premature ventricular contractions RA = Rheumatoid arthritis RH = reactive hypoglycemia RN = registered nurse RNY = Roux-en-Y RTD = ready to drink SADI-S = single anastomosis duodeno–ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy s/f or sf = sugar free SIPS = stomach intestinal pylorus-sparing surgery smh = shaking my head, scratching my head SO = significant other SOB = shortness of breath sw = weight at surgery tmi = too much information TPN = total parenteral nutrition TT = tummy tuck TTC = trying to conceive u = You UGI = Upper Gastrointestinal VSG = Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Vit = Vitamin wks = weeks WLS = Weight Loss Surgery WOD = Workout of the Day w/o = without wt = weight : ) or :-) = = smiley face : ( or :-( = = sad face

It might be reactive hypoglycemia. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/expert-answers/reactive-hypoglycemia/faq-20057778

Thanks for all the support everyone! And my surgeon is Dr. Chu. The process for me was a little different than others. I started this journey last year February I attended 2 seminars and then met with the nutritionist and surgeon. But after that I wasn't too sure if I wanted to get the surgery so I decided to try one more time on my own but failed! So by November I decided this is the best thing for me and I called Bariatrics but had to get my referral reactivated witch took about a day or 2. Then they called me once they got the referral to set up an appointment over the phone with my surgeon. I had the over the phone appointment and next had to lose 5 pounds to be within 5 pounds of my surgery weight to see the psychiatrist and do blood work. I saw the psychiatrist and she said she was going to give all my paper work over to my surgeon and in a week I got a surprising phone call that I was all good to go and my surgery date is February 6th and pre-op is January 25th.

I just set my date for surgery and got some blood work back showing a really high c-reative level. I emailed Dr. Alvarez's office to ask if I might not be able to have the surgery.... I was hoping for a " well of course you can still have the surgery!" email back and I didn't... I need to wait to hear what the dr says.. soo nervous now.. anyone else with high levels before surgery?

I went from Hyper thyroid to Hypo thyroid now. Last year I was diagnosed with Graves disease, was severely Hyper thyroid. Yes, my WLS surgeon and his endocrinologist picked up on it. My WLS had to be put on hold. Had Radioactive Iodine last August 2015, went Hypo thyroid December 2015. On Thyroxine since January 2016. At least it is only one tiny tablet per day, versus 16-20 I had to take daily, when I was Hyper thyroid! Both Hyper and Hypo suck! I am also concerned re: slower weight loss now. I am 24 days post op, so too early to see re my weight loss. I know, it is no good to compare myself with other people. I am glad that I can connect with other Thyroid members

I will order my powders and stop the Pure Protein. I have severe asthma as well as severe shellfish allergy. I am now concerned my recent increase with wheezing and shortness of breath instead of weather reactive could be due to the protein drink I have as meal replacement. I read on everything due to a reaction I had to a medication that had edible ink (squid ink). I contacted the manufacture and they stated it was such a small amount they were not concerned to list "if allergic to fish or shellfish do not use". I keep an epipen with me every where I go. Thanks for making your post!!!!!"

Fessie, I am hypo-thyroid also and I definitely feel your pain in how slow our weight loss can be. I have lost abt the same amount as you and am 8 weeks post op. I am just thankful to finally be losing weight. What was getting me was seeing people post 25-35 pds lost that were banded around the same time as myself. These same people were posting about eating oreo Cookies and pizza, while I was staying strictly to the band diet, portion sizes and excersing. Even in the early stages on a liquid diet I lost very little. I am over being bothered by that now and will just be thankful for my pound here and there. I started a post last week for hypothyroid bandsters you should read. Shirley54 had some very encouraging things to say and shared her slow weight loss as well.