December post ops

[Getting-used-to-new-me 119]

Nothing because my dr is 2 hrs away from here and I cannot go to meetings.

Then it's great to have bariatric pal, isn't it? Have you checked out starting a bariatric pal local chapter?

[Greenize42 62]

Yes and it would be great to have it in my area but I don't have time to host it! I work three part time jobs!

[Getting-used-to-new-me 119]

Yes and it would be great to have it in my area but I don't have time to host it! I work three part time jobs!

I'm sorry you have to work so much. I'm sorry you're two hours away from your surgery support group. I hope you're getting some support from these forums.

Even though I'm able to attend my surgery group's support groups in person. They're only once a month. And I need these forums for daily support. I need you're input and others' every day. I also get support from the DailyStrength online support group for bariatric patients.

One of the things I was told at my last doctor's visit last month was that those of us who had surgery last December are still "babies" in this journey. That was their word--"babies". I was told we don't really get into a new normal until we're 18 months to two years post surgery. They also added that with my complications, my case was set back one month from the normal progression.

I think it's important to remember that we're still "babies" right now. And as such maybe we should keep babying ourselves, at least a little. Be more forgiving about our current progress, etc. Like DLCoggin said in one of his past posts: it gets better, and then it gets even better, and after that it even gets better!

[Greenize42 62]

One of my fears is that I will be able to eat things and get big again. I don't want that! Yes I do get a lot out of this forum but I would like to be able to attend meetings I think it would be a great help.

[Getting-used-to-new-me 119]

One of my fears is that I will be able to eat things and get big again. I don't want that! Yes I do get a lot out of this forum but I would like to be able to attend meetings I think it would be a great help.

I have that fear too. Maybe we all do. And the in-person group meetings ARE a great help, even though almost all the participants are women. Being a guy, it'd be nice to have more guys show up to our groups. I know they're out there, though in less numbers than the women who get this surgery. Just using my co-workers as a sample of the women to men ratio means there should be about a third of the attendees that are men. Most meetings it's just me and two other guys attending with about forty women. We guys tend to sit together, with our backs against a wall!

Back to that fear: For me, the other side of that fear of gaining back all the weight, is that with the drastically reduced nutrient absorption that moving our pouch outlet down our small intestine causes, I'm afraid that I might be in a situation that I can't get enough nutrients and food in. When will my weight loss stabilize? Will I end up skin and bones?

There's no way to know these things until I live them, or live something else. And the best way to manage these fears is to get all the good data on this subject that I can, to attend my appointments with my doctor, to stay current here in this online group, etc., etc. And to get all that info on a daily basis.

I hope this helps you.

[Greenize42 62]

You mention withering away and I guess I don't have that fear. My fear I think comes from the fact that I CAN eat a small amount of sweets AND carbs!

[Christi.85 12]

You mention withering away and I guess I don't have that fear. My fear I think comes from the fact that I CAN eat a small amount of sweets AND carbs!

I can too. I just have to tell myself that's why I am the size I am. I find that if I just 'taste' something with sugar or lots of carbs I start craving it so I steer clear.

[Greenize42 62]

I have really been ok with the sweets except I had a coconut snowcone two days in a row and I have to say it was heavenly but I felt like pooh after! will I have another this summer prolly but it weigh everyday so if I do gain I will know!!!! I still have 90 lbs before I am where I want my ultimate goal!

[Getting-used-to-new-me 119]

You mention withering away and I guess I don't have that fear. My fear I think comes from the fact that I CAN eat a small amount of sweets AND carbs!

Fear is a great motivator isn't it?

Hopefully our motivations will move from fear to health, and mobility, and happiness, and long life, and on and on.

[Getting-used-to-new-me 119]

I don't know about you all, but my surgery group, surgeon and his staff, have always cautioned me to NOT count calories. Instead they want me to focus on Protein, supplements, feeding times, food in small amounts, pouch pain, dumping syndrome, aerobic exercise, and strength exercise.

They very occasionally have patients journal their daily eating. But they haven't had me do it yet. I think it's for those who lose too fast or too slow.

Instead they have me focus on other things. They have me giving blood samples at regular intervals, (one month, three months, six months, and one year, then annually after that), which they check for nutrient levels and cholesterol and fat, etc. They also have me meeting with the surgeon or his ARNP and dietician at those intervals as well. At those doctor visits, they look at me for weight loss, my vital signs, my mental health, (most of us grieve about our former selves and the drastic surgery we've allowed to be done to ourselves), how I'm healing, (my surgery scars, etc.), and what they found out from my blood samples.

What do you do?

[Greenize42 62]

Yes I have to go to the dr at those intervals but he is all I see. I have to make appts with our nutritionist! I do focus on Protein Water Vitamins etc

[AmyC123 24]

Hey guys!! Long time no talk...just wanted to share some excitement. I pulled out my "fat" jeans from November and put them on top of the ones I had to finally break down and buy.....so excited!! I promise they were matched on the other side. I'm still not confident enough to let people see how wide my "skinny" jeans still are.

[ATTACH]43368[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]43368[/ATTACH]

[AmyC123 24]

Oh and my friend sent me a pic of this....looks like its at Walmart...anyone ever try it? I'm on the hunt for it tomorrow! !

[ATTACH]43369[/ATTACH]

[Cherryhair 88]

I have really been ok with the sweets except I had a coconut snowcone two days in a row and I have to say it was heavenly but I felt like pooh after! will I have another this summer prolly but it weigh everyday so if I do gain I will know!!!! I still have 90 lbs before I am where I want my ultimate goal!

I was thinking about how bad I feel physically when I eat something now post-op-eating sweets and carbs would make me feel good before surgery now I feel like crap every time (are you hearing me head-so stop doing it!!!) :-)

My body is still looking for that old "high".

Edited April 13, 2014 by Cherryhair

[Greenize42 62]

Same here!!!