Weight Loss Pills and surgery

[johnsons13 359]

I was just curious if anyone struggling after surgery added an OTC weight loss pill or even a prescribed pill and what were the results?

[Hop_Scotch 1,634]

Some people seem to have had success with Saxenda (its a daily inection though and can be expensive if your insurance won't cover it).

I am not sure about OTC weight loss pills...fine print usually says to use inconjuction with a calorie controlled diet and exercise....it would seem to me that its the calorie controlled diet and exercise that gives results and not the pills.

There are the more extreme weight loss drugs but I thought they would need a prescription, though that may vary from country to country.

[Healthy_life 1,437]

2 hours ago, johnsons13 said:

I was just curious if anyone struggling after surgery added an OTC weight loss pill or even a prescribed pill and what were the results?

I'm not a fan of weight loss pills. OTC never worked on any of my previous weight loss attempts. Prescriptions are a bandaid. Once your prescription is over, You will be right back dealing with hunger and weight loss again.

Also depends on what you are struggling with.

• Counseling may help If old habits are coming back.
• Finding ways to deal with hunger
• Dealing with less sleeve surgery restriction
• staying consistent.

[GradyCat 3,697]

I wondered that myself, but OTC weight-loss pills never worked for me because they're appetite suppressants and I don't eat out of hunger, I was a stress-eater who never ate food and only ate Cookies. So I'm counting on surgery as a tool and then lifelong better eating habits to solve my problems.

[Frustr8 7,886]

Boredom,stress and thinking it was necessary to eat THAT before it spoiled and turned bad, that's My trifecta of Weight Gain. The refridgerator and cupboards stayed empty, but neither told me how much they were grateful, did they? LOL through my tears!💦

[johnsons13 359]

I've been seeing a therapist and going to the gym about 3 times a week. Which is as much as I can go with having kids under 13 24/7. I've been stuck for about 5 months or so and I know that I'm the cause of it. I know I have an unhealthy relationship with food. I do good for a few days then slip. Once I slip it's hard to get back on path. I read an article that my gym put out about weight loss surgery patients sometimes needing appetite suppressants added because of something to do with a lowering of basal metabolic rate and increasing hunger. Something to do with the decrease of leptin. I was wondering if that was what was happening with me. I go to my dr this Thursday and thought about asking him about that. My insurance doesn't cover prescription appetite suppressants like phintermene (not sure if I spelled that wrong). So that's why I was also wondering about OTC meds.

[johnsons13 359]

14 hours ago, Healthy_life said:

I'm not a fan of weight loss pills. OTC never worked on any of my previous weight loss attempts. Prescriptions are a bandaid. Once your prescription is over, You will be right back dealing with hunger and weight loss again.

Also depends on what you are struggling with.

• Counseling may help If old habits are coming back.
• Finding ways to deal with hunger
• Dealing with less sleeve surgery restriction
• staying consistent.

To me, the surgery is also a band aid. I've pretty much been able to eat what and when I wanted after surgery without restrictions except the first month. If I don't eat the 500 calories I"m supposed to, I stand still and gain weight even if it's added 200 calories. The otc never worked before for me either, but I"ve realized that medicine that never worked before reacts different now. Like melatonin never made me sleepy and now the smallest amount will make me tired. Tylenol never helped headaches or anything else and the smallest dose will help what is bothering me. So, I didn't know if there was a difference with others now. I struggle with the unhealthy relationship with food, but like I said the only restriction I have is what the dr tells me, not my body. I feel hungry when I drink the 80 oz of fluids and eat 500 calories. I thought it was head hunger and dehydration, but I've made sure to get my fluids plus extra and I still feel super hungry, stomach growling when I eat 500 calories. I'm supposed to stay on 500 calories no more than 700 until I reach goal weight. But that seems impossible.

[Healthy_life 1,437]

13 minutes ago, johnsons13 said:

I'm supposed to stay on 500 calories no more than 700 until I reach goal weight. But that seems impossible.

I'm sure you are beyond distraught and frustrated. I'm sure my posts have not been helpful. But I'm worried about you. 500 to 700 calories lifelong is setting you up to fail. (only my opinion) You are the first patient that I have ever seen that has this calories zone with the sleeve.

@bratcad had the same surgeon. Do you both have the same instructions of 500 to 700 life long? Is there a medical reason that he has you on that low of calories?

When your body is starving it's easy to swing into old behaviors

I am going to do a blanket post to see if anyone has the same surgeon and instructions. I think they will be a better help to you .

[johnsons13 359]

This isn't lifelong for the 5-700 calorie, it's only until I get to maintenance weight, then I can go up to 1000. Sorry if I made you think it was lifelong. If that was the case I don't think I would have had the surgery. I have no other health issues other than diabetes which my a1c is coming down since surgery.

1 minute ago, Healthy_life said:

I'm sure you are beyond distraught and frustrated. I'm sure my posts have not been helpful. But I'm worried about you. 500 to 700 calories lifelong is setting you up to fail. (only my opinion) You are the first patient that I have ever seen that has this calories zone with the sleeve.

@bratcad had the same surgeon. Do you both have the same instructions of 500 to 700 life long? Is there a medical reason that he has you on that low of calories?

When your body is starving it's easy to swing into old behaviors

I am going to do a blanket post to see if anyone has the same surgeon and instructions. I think they will be a better help to you .

[bratcad 12]

3 minutes ago, Healthy_life said:

@bratcad had the same surgeon. Do you both have the same instructions of 500 to 700 life long? Is there a medical reason that he has you on that low of calories?

Yes, we do have the same instructions, and I agree it's too little to sustain for a long period, imo. Now that I'm working out quite a bit, I'm definitely increasing my caloric intake.

Edited February 2, 2019 by bratcad

[johnsons13 359]

1 minute ago, bratcad said:

Yes, we do have the same instructions, and I agree it's too little to sustain for a long period, imo. Now that I'm working out quite a bit, I'm definitely increasing my caloric intake.

I just sent you a pm with my phone number.

I was also told I can't eat fruits but I can use them to infuse in my Water.

[Healthy_life 1,437]

7 minutes ago, johnsons13 said:

This isn't lifelong for the 5-700 calorie, it's only until I get to maintenance weight, then I can go up to 1000. Sorry if I made you think it was lifelong. If that was the case I don't think I would have had the surgery. I have no other health issues other than diabetes which my a1c is coming down since surgery.

I'm still worried. 1000 calories is still weight loss calories, Not maintaining calories.

@bratcad Do you have your printed instructions from Dr. Dryer for real food stage and maintaining ?

Edited February 2, 2019 by Healthy_life

[johnsons13 359]

Just now, Healthy_life said:

I'm still worried. 1000 calories is still weight loss calories, Not maintaining calories.

It always amazes me the different instructions by different dr's. I remember when I was seeing my primary they said if I stuck to a diabetic diet of 2000 calories I'd lose weight, of course I didn't, but I thought with 500 I would starve and at times that is what it feels like, then I get moody. I end up eating very bad foods. But when I eat about 1000 in healthy foods I don't get "hungry or angry". But 500 literally I don't feel full.

[Healthy_life 1,437]

15 minutes ago, johnsons13 said:

But 500 literally I don't feel full.

Yep, all surgeons instructions are different.

I absolutly would be starving at 500-700 until maintenance.Literally.... Did you get with @bratcad ?

[johnsons13 359]

7 minutes ago, Healthy_life said:

Yep, all surgeons instructions are different.

I absolutly would be starving at 500-700 until maintenance.Literally.... Did you get with @bratcad ?

Yes I did, thank you.

What calories were you told?