Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

2-year followup... humiliating



Recommended Posts

I had my two year follow-up with my surgeon this morning. My surgery was 1/23/12... I last saw him 1/31/13. It the 14 months or so since seeing him last, I have gained nearly 30-pounds.

I am discouraged, frustrated, humiliated, and entirely to blame for all of it.

I know what I'm doing wrong - I tend to graze, I eat carbs, I drink soda... pretty much everything I did before surgery.

I just want to put this out there to say that I know I've failed myself - and my surgeon and my sleeve - but I printed out the five day pouch test and am going to try to reset things and get back on track, utilizing this (very expensive) tool to the best of my ability.

Anyone else in a similar spot and need support?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Tenshi, I feel for you. It's so easy to fall back, it is my greatest fear. Good luck to you, I wish you all the best getting back on track.

One suggestion I discovered by accident, if you go on just Protein shakes for 3 days, it helps bring back your restriction. Maybe try that to kickstart yourself?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

NMJG,

I have done that once before and found that it really did work... although I went for the gold and did liquids again for a week. I think I will do the same this time, and then go into the pouch test rules and work back up. It's the only time I've ever felt "reset".

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I know that you are going through a lot of pain and frustration with yourself and I hope that you can reset your pouch and your mind, but this is good to hear for us newbies. Just to know that you can go back to bad habits once you know how to do it is scary. I sometimes wonder why they even allow 'crackers' during the soft solid stage too. I went out to find some crackers that had low everything (carbs, cholesterol, fat, no sugar, calories, etc.) and tore that small bag apart within 3 days. That can't be good! It seems to set you up for failure early in the process. Even though I didn't gain any weight by doing that, I know what it is to begin the cycle of eating carbs is all about and I don't want that to happen to me after all that I have gone through.

Good luck and stay focused on you!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

A little regain is a fairly normal part of the process. I advise you to NOT beat yourself (that sounds like OLD destructive patterns!) and instead come up with an action plan (which you are doing) and just DO IT!

One of my eye openers over the last few years is that even skinny people have to work at weight management - especially after about age 40. You know what, they don't think they failed cuz they had a little bounce - they just do something about it!

Hang in there, think positive and stop the self loathing - you have not failed, you are simply needing a little tune up right now.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

At least you've admitted where you are and you're making steps to change what needs to be changed. Congrats on that!

Check in often so we can all witness your success!

Ginger

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks so much for the support, everyone. It means the world!

I am several hours into day one of liquids for the week. I felt pretty bad this morning when I woke up, and it has gradually gotten worse. I'm having stomach cramps and other gastrointestinal pains. I'm wondering if I'm lactose intolerant - I got skim milk for doing my shakes and things, but I had been drinking soy for years. But, I think soy makes Protein shakes taste even more "off" from real food than what they do normally, so I got a gallon of Skim.

Let's just say that my office mates are NOT going to be happy with the state of my intestines today.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×