HELP! 7 YR POST OP WASTING BAD LABS HOW TO RECOVER?

[Violet P 8]

Bad labs, no appetite, hard to get Protein Shakes in...does Ensure, Boost Help? Lost too much weight and still losing. No energy, insomnia, horrible memory!! Live by myself, don't cook, too tired to shop much less cook. Would be bedridden if hadn't done so much hard Water exercise last summer and most of my life, even when obese. Was only obese for 15 years. Always had compulsive behaviours, now I'm fighting anorexia. Just tried to eat a frozen Atkins meal, got 4 bites down before I thought I would gag and threw it in the trash. Can get Protein shakes down. Using Premium Protein. Just realized, I'm not getting any fat In my diet. Added 2 tbsp. Safflower oil to Protein Shake. Trying to do 4 of them a day - very expensive!! Alternating between them and protein powder...almost too tired to make them Thought maybe I should make them with whole milk instead of 30 calorie Almond Milk. I literally need fattened up. Gone from 22 to a 2. Smalls are getting kind of big. I try to eat a couple of tbsp. whole fat cottage cheese a day. So trained to buy everything low fat, low calorie, etc. Never experience dumping, so I can tolerate sugar in protein shakes. Just don't do sweets - donuts, stuff like that. Don't even want. I really need help. Need to move from big house, big yard, pool. Can't even get focused enough to call Estate Planner Don't need advice on how to do these type things...know how, just need to know basic diet to recover from wasting. Once I can recover from this, I know how to do all these things.

[Frustr8 7,886]

Any pretty much of the regular Ensure Family will have a high enough calorie count to help. The last time I had Boost I thought it left a greasy coating on my mouth. Since Abbott Labs, the makers of Ensure,are headquartered in Columbus Ohio I pride myself on being very literate about their products. Since I am still actively losing weight Ensure High Protein Max in 🍓 is my chosen Protein Shake after trying many other brands , it honestly tastes like strawberry Quik.
But back when my blood sugars would plummet, working as a STNA, I have drank much Ensure and Boost. My favorite flavor was Butter Pecan, not sure if it's still on their product list.
How about eating ice cream or drinking regular milkshakes , they were my caloric downfall in the Fat Old Days!

[Violet P 8]

Thanks so much for your reply. I've been thinking in old "maintain weight" rules. I'm down to a size 2 and losing . No appetite whatsoever. Nothing tastes good...almost anorexic. Wish I could do reversal, but don't know if it's possible. I revised from VBG because of severe acid reflux. Told could only do Bypass. Now, I feel as I may literally die eariy if I don't get rid of this. I don't cook, so that's out. Frozen meals if Im lucky can do 8 to 10 bites. And that's a 340 calorie total meal. Im probably absorbing about 600 to 700 calories a day if I'm lucky. I think I'm getting anorexic. I have a total revulsion to food. Nothing tastes good! Don't have the energy to even drive to buy milkshakes every day. Can barely get to hematologist. On Vit B12 injections for past 4 weeks, had first Iron infusion last week, getting another next Tuesday. Also taking double dose of strong 8 wk Vit D therapy. Labs are getting much better, but still feel like hell. Super anxiety, memory loss, I am totally overwhelmed. Crying as I'm writing this. God, I wish I had done intensive therapy before I started all of this. It IS the answer for so many, but not for me now at 67. My health is more important. Even though I was obese for 15 years, I had no chronic health conditions. But fearing I would, I chose weight loss surgery. Now, I'm fearing Im going to die early from this. IF a reversal is possible, not even sure I would be a good candidate for surgery until I can get stronger.

[Lynnlovesthebeach 625]

What does your primary care doc think? Have you checked in with your bariatric group lately? Maybe a visit with the dietician would be a good place to start. Sorry this is happening to you.

[Frustr8 7,886]

Look on the postings today, there is another lady who posted a year ago, her pen'--name was RonnysGal, she went through it with success. It is not easy to secure, takes extra skill on your surgeon's part, not many willing to attempt it, and, sad to say, your age may work against it. The old saying is dead wrong, YOU CAN BE TOO THIN! Hoping you do find an answer, don't want to lose a new friend like you to anorexia if there is some way of interceding.

[FluffyChix 17,409]

You need to get help from a therapist and RD. You may need some home health. I'm so sorry you are going through this. But safflower oil is a terrible kind of fat to add to your drinks. It really damages your heart long term. Ask your PCP for help.

If you are dealing with anorexia, the cure is way more complicated than simply "upping" your cals or drinking Boost. It constitutes a near medical emergency IMHO. ((hugs))

[Violet P 8]

My pcp doesn't have a clue! Also, hematologist treats bypass patients, but still not familiar with this situation. I'm literally too tired to go chasing around to doctors. It's hard to even make the phone calls. I live alone, have a huge house, huge yard, pool, 3 dogs - I know I need to get rid of all, but can't even get focused enough to do it. I need a specialist in long term revision/revision for best recommendations. I had a hard time finding surgeon to do revision from VBG to Bypass. I know I wouldn't be a good candidate for any surgery at this point. Last surgery, had to get bood transfusion before surgery. I've gotten worse since then. I think this is going to possibly literally kill me eventually. It scared the hell out of me when I saw a 73 yr old had the bypass. What are these surgeons thinking? As an older adult, you usually start eating less naturally. IF, and I say if, she lives to 90, who's going to be responsible for making sure she's getting proper diet for bypass patient? Assisted living certainly doesn't know. My pcp who is experienced internist doesn't know a damned thing about a bypass patient. I called surgeon's office, they only do followup for one year. Never done revision from vbg/bypass/revision. I think I'm up a creek. At this point, trying to find someone my age, revision/revision with bad labs, etc. on best diet to correct situation, especially since I have no desire to eat. I don't have time for intensive therapy...that's what I should have done before any of these surgeries!

[FluffyChix 17,409]

You call your surgeon's office back and ask for a referral to their bariatric dietition (RD) and to a bariatric counselor. That's ALL you need at this point except you might need some home health care to help you!!! And you MUST make yourself eat. But anorexia is an underlying mental illness and must be treated in several modalities to be effective. Some of those include hospitalization.

[Violet P 8]

Oh, just remembered. was told by experienced bariatric surgeon that did my revision to keep my Protein uptake at 60 grams daily, low sugar to prevent dumping. I tolerate sugar fine, only one episode years ago, ate way too much at Christmas. I'm drinking Premier Protein shakes, can get them down and they taste okay to me. Wonder if I should add a glass of full fat milk daily, I might could get it down, if I split it up. I try to eat a few bites of full fat cottage cheese. I can't even get down a small frozen meal, such as Atkins, etc. Tried this morning, ate about 4 bites and spit it out. I know I need therapy, my husband died in 2014 from cancer, then my only son who was heroin addict in 2015, committed suicide 2015. I am overwhelmed with unresolved grief...but that can take years to solve I need help with getting the best nutrition to be focused enough and well enough to even drive to therapy. Get my drift? I need a registered dietician in bypass patients who are experiencing my specific condition, and take my health issues/age, and the fact I live alone, and find it even hard to get to store, etc. I'm overwhelmed to say the least. Just wanting first step. Getting medical care, but she really doesn't know best core diet to recover from this.

[FluffyChix 17,409]

First step is to start eating. You need at least 80g-100g per day in your situation but 60g is a good but inadequate start. You will need Protein yes, but you will also need to get in more calories than your mind will allow you to consume right now. But I'm not a licensed anything, just a shmo on the internet. You are still consuming too few calories. I think at this point you need to be hospitalized and refed. You may need a feeding tube to get you where you need to be for gain.

Go to the ER. Get admitted there.

[Frustr8 7,886]

That would be me, I have my son(40) still living with me, the last. hospitalization I had, after having both kinds of pneumonia immunizations, I still caught a variety. At that point, they brought me Crystal lite, the,non- caffeine variety. pureed carrots, very small dish of pureed turkey with fat-free gravy in an adjoining small bowl , sugar-free strawberry Jello and a 4 oz juice glass of skim milk. For Breakfast I got cream of rice, skim milk and Crystal lite. Surely if my inept local hospital ( called derisively by Columbus Hospitals "the Band-Aid Station") had a dietician who could figure it out, I am sure LTF (long term facilities) could keep me from starving. Eventually my local will be adding Bariatric Clinic and Surgery,basically VSG, in Spring- Summer 2020, but I couldn't wait on them with my weight 365 pounds and rising, trying to lose on my own for over 3 years, and Phenteramine made me GAIN 30 pounds in a month, I was to the point of Surgery or not making it to 75 alive. Oh it was not a flippant decision I made, but I realized I feared major surgery less than merely continuing to exist. And there is No One Else my age current on here,most have given up and died. I am my surgeon's Oldest Patient so it behooves Me to Heal as well as possible to prove the Nay-Sayers wrong.
Lost 140 since highest weight, 93 ( I weighed myself today) since surgery 8 months ago tomorrow, my clinic forecasts I will break into Onderland ( under 200) on or slightly after my 1st Anniversary and that is despite 3 months of Total Parentel Feedings through my Upper left arm's PUCC line, without the artifially high calorie count (1403 calories daily) I might have made it there already. Never count me out, the REST of my days will be the BEST of my days.

[Violet P 8]

I tried that....said labs weren't bad enough to get admitted. I think I need a Registered Bariatric DIetician, who is familiar with long term bypass patients with my specific issues. My surgeon's office only has RD that does postop patients one year out trying to lose weight!! Has no clue about one like me losing too much and my age. She handles those who are regaining. They consider me a great success story!! Well, I am at losing the weight and keeping it off. I'd like to be a success story at regaining my health in the most realistic way I can right now. What food's should I try to eat...will liquids work until I can get an appetite back? I had this happen one time before, but was going out to eat a lot, so was getting many more calories, even though small amounts. Since I don't cook have been buying frozen foods but yuck! And they contain so few calories. They are great for someone trying to lose weight.

[Frustr8 7,886]

And my Bariatric Clinic, based in an University Teaching Hospital commits to Each patient life-long management including Dietary. Never realized how lucky I was until I heard others stories on here.

[FluffyChix 17,409]

Google bariatric dietician in your area and start there. When you find one, talk on the phone for initial interview. If they can't help ask for a referral to someone specialized in this. But get a counselor!!!

I don't know where you need to start with food. You could seriously injure yourself with refeeding too quickly in the wrong way. Depends on just how badly you've been restricting food.

[Violet P 8]

thanks everyone for your input, I think I'm getting info to help. Will look for experienced bariatric RD that treats long term post op patients. I know I need therapy, but that's the second and long term solution. I can't even get to the therapy right now. I'm so unfocused and anxious, wouldn't even be able to listen. Scientific research and physicians shows Transendental Medititation works (even my hematologist does it herself) for Type A hypercreative personalities, like me, and is great for anxiety, depression, ADHD, etc. I plan to take the 2 day TM course, as soon as I get to feeling better and can get to the school downtown and stay focused enough to do it twice daily 20 mins a day. As my hematologist told me I am intelligent, analytical, logical, but hypercreative. My underlying health issues are magnifying all of these great qualities, turning them into negative right now. She's the best free therapist I've ever seen, and yes I have been to therapy many times. She said especially when I m in a hypercreative state, mimics many other mental illnesses, which she definitely says I am not. Even my psychiatrist told me I was the sanest person he had ever treated, and he loved talking to me for at least 30 mins...about himself. He spent about 5 mins with his other patients because he hated treating crazy people. I got to the root cause, his Indian father made him go into that specialty, thought he could make the most money...sad.