I have gone back and forth the last 4 months whether or not I felt the complications were worth the results, and today, after blacking out in Walmart and having to sit on the floor to regroup numerous times throughout the day so I could do simple tasks like pick something up off the floor, I have officially decided I made a terrible decision. I am happy for those of you who have seen benefits of this surgery, but I am just... existing... day by day. I have lost no weight in 2 months (stalling at the same weight I did on Atkins, but with a crapload more complications). I feel awful. I could deal with an ulcer and the gallbladder and the hernia, but this low blood pressure is actually ruining my life - not to be dramatic. I have gotten lightheaded and confused at work during important meetings, I can hardly exercise without having to sit or lay down and I already paid for a trainer... I can't even lift a basket of laundry without falling on my butt. I sent a desperate email to my surgeon to try a prescription to raise my BP. I'm ending up on far more pills than I ever was pre-op. Losing 60 stupid pounds is not worth this. And I have no one I can vent to because my mother "told me" I always have problems with surgery and I'd regret this and I do. So I feel very alone. Someone please tell me this gets better....

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8 hours ago, KateBruin said:

Try scopolamine Patches. I’ve had bad complications and the patches save my ass nausea wise. Small dot behind the ear and lasts 3 days at a time.

These made me lose my vision (during my hospital stay).....meaning, my vision went blurry within about 8 hours of having it on and I could hardly see and this lasted for another day or so after I took it off. It is a well known side effect so just be careful with these.

And for gosh sakes wear gloves when you remove them, you don't need your eyes or other things irritated.

7 minutes ago, Frustr8 said:

And for gosh sakes wear gloves when you remove them, you don't need your eyes or other things irritated.

wasn't that- just basically was a reaction. I had blurry vision BEFORE I removed them. THe nurses has no idea why but the bari coordnator told me to take it off immediately when i told her. She said it usually doesn't happen so fast- I was jus tlucky

I don’t have much to add, other than I’m super sorry for what you’re experiencing. The first six months my bp was on the low side (100/60) but now that my weight loss as slowed, it’s been around 110/70.

How frequently are you eating? Have you tried carrying some snacking almonds or a protein bar to help you when you start feeling lightheaded? I only mention this, as I’m pretty sure digestion increases blood pressure.

So, kind of a derp-update on this. I've been on a medicine called Tenex for 3+ years for anxiety. It is a blood pressure medicine, but not usually prescribed for that anymore (it's old). It causes orthostatic hypotension in 1% of patients. I always have had normal BP on it, but Monday I was like... okay, screw this... it's not my hydration or my salt intake or anything else, so I am stopping Tenex. Mind you, I've always had low BP even before the Tenex, and it didn't lower it at all up until, apparently, about 3-4 weeks ago when this started.

I got a call back on Tuesday from my psychiatrist agreeing with me that I should stop it. I saw my primary care yesterday who also agreed, and they said if I don't feel better by Thursday they will send me to cardiology for a holter monitor and get me in ASAP. However, it's now Day 3 and I have rebound "high" BP from dropping the Tenex (and anxiety), but no more orthostatic hypotension. The rebound high BP will go away soon. Mind you, "high" BP for me is like... 140/90. So, not actually real hypertension. So, problem solved. Hopefully. I am not going to make a big deal about the anxiety issue for now and just see my psych at my regular appointment in April to get on something new.

Still deffo regret this surgery though. An endless pain in the a-s. I'm sure in a week or two I will develop a stricture or something. Who knows.

It's a good thing I am not an idiot and know my medicines and advocate for myself. Not a single doctor even considered it could be my Tenex. I took MYSELF off that medicine and POOF all is well. And they all were like oooo yeahhhh stop taking that. /facepalm. I am disappointed I have to stop it, because I have been on over 30 psychiatric medications and Tenex, coupled with a few others, have been the perfect combo to manage my anxiety. Back to the drawing board.

Edited March 6, 20197 yr by mousecat88

On 3/5/2019 at 1:33 PM, summerset said:

When patients have blood pressure issues the blood pressure is measured over a time span of 24 h in (IIRC) intervals of 15 to 30 min.

They were "force" the cardiologist to hook me to a holter monitor to do this for 48 hours if I was not well by Friday, but I am already doing much better.

I WAS told not to do any exercise that increases my heart rate until everything levels out. Which sucks because I am meeting my trainer for the first time tonight and I'm going to be like.... sorry, can't do anything besides the machines. They said no free weights, no cardio.

On 03/06/2019 at 13:38, mousecat88 said:

So, kind of a derp-update on this. I've been on a medicine called Tenex for 3+ years for anxiety. It is a blood pressure medicine, but not usually prescribed for that anymore (it's old). It causes orthostatic hypotension in 1% of patients. I always have had normal BP on it, but Monday I was like... okay, screw this... it's not my hydration or my salt intake or anything else, so I am stopping Tenex. Mind you, I've always had low BP even before the Tenex, and it didn't lower it at all up until, apparently, about 3-4 weeks ago when this started.

I got a call back on Tuesday from my psychiatrist agreeing with me that I should stop it. I saw my primary care yesterday who also agreed, and they said if I don't feel better by Thursday they will send me to cardiology for a holter monitor and get me in ASAP. However, it's now Day 3 and I have rebound "high" BP from dropping the Tenex (and anxiety), but no more orthostatic hypotension. The rebound high BP will go away soon. Mind you, "high" BP for me is like... 140/90. So, not actually real hypertension. So, problem solved. Hopefully. I am not going to make a big deal about the anxiety issue for now and just see my psych at my regular appointment in April to get on something new.

Still deffo regret this surgery though. An endless pain in the a-s. I'm sure in a week or two I will develop a stricture or something. Who knows.

It's a good thing I am not an idiot and know my medicines and advocate for myself. Not a single doctor even considered it could be my Tenex. I took MYSELF off that medicine and POOF all is well. And they all were like oooo yeahhhh stop taking that. /facepalm. I am disappointed I have to stop it, because I have been on over 30 psychiatric medications and Tenex, coupled with a few others, have been the perfect combo to manage my anxiety. Back to the drawing board.

Awesome job looking out for yourself and getting to the root of the problem! And enjoy your time with your trainer this evening. I’m sure they’ve encountered every health condition and will be able to find something that meets your needs. Continue to feel better!

I was going to ask you if you took any medications! I am glad you figured it out

A crazy thing, but my mum was having some really bad palpitations a while back and I had, by chance, read an article about eye drops causing some heart issues. She stopped them and her palpitations stopped. First line should always be to look at your current meds.

Wow, good catch! Here's hoping you find a better anti-anxiety med!

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I am so sorry you are going through this. Complications were touched on briefly during my journey, however everything I have experienced was never discussed. I went from band to sleeve to y n roux. Last year alone I had 4 surgeries, two of them I could of died...we go with the flow with our doctors advice and each procedure makes everything worse than when I started. I don’t blame, or hold any resposible but myself, but life is now very painful with constant attacks and no answers. My doctor told me “ if all surgeries went like this no one would get this done”. Not very comforting. I am young and have resigned myself to a life of chronic attacks, I am really depressed but I have no options. I feel your despair.

Edited March 7, 20197 yr by annie1000

On 03/05/2019 at 10:46, CurvyMom said:

These made me lose my vision (during my hospital stay).....meaning, my vision went blurry within about 8 hours of having it on and I could hardly see and this lasted for another day or so after I took it off. It is a well known side effect so just be careful with these.

Ya, eye issues are a side effect for some. Luckily I haven’t had any unless I’m stupid and touch the patch (usually when brushing my hair behind my ear) then touch my eye without washing my hands. It becomes dilated for hours. Freaky but it passes.

Oh my heart breaks for you. I can't tell you if it gets better or not but I sure hope it does for you. I'm so sorry.

@mousecat88 so how did it go with the trainer?

So, the original trainer I was scheduled with never showed up for either appointment and got fired. lol. The manager gave me two free sessions. I met with my NEW trainer last night and I love him. He is a 7 time State champ in powerlifting and I appreciate how serious he is about form. He was really impressed with what I can already do and that I didn't need any corrections. I'm happy about the exercise thing. I did get a pretty bad headache towards the end doing floor work; I think it's a combo of my BP being weird and me needing to learn how to breathe properly when doing some things.

I've been off the BP meds almost two weeks now. My BP is still jumping around, but slowly leveling out. No cardio yet until I get clearance. My anxiety is definitely noticeably worse, but I think I can manage until mid-April when I have my regularly scheduled psych appointment, rather than schedule an emergency appointment. I just have that constant panicky feeling in my chest... it's more annoying than anything.

The trainer and dietitian said if I am exercising they want me at 100 carbs a day and I am at about 45 right now. The trainer said to start making whole wheat pasta and eating 2 tbsp of it a day to start, but I have a huge mental block about adding in more carbs because that was my "addiction" prior to surgery. He offered to buy me a box and bring in pre-portioned baggies for me. lol. I am just really scared I don't have the control yet. My plan has me adding in complex carbs at 8 months and I am only 4.5 months, but both people agreed that since I am doing intense workouts I do need to jump the gun and up the carbs. I feel pretty nervous about it.