Weight Loss Surgery 50 and Over

Jean M.’s Posts

Jean M.
on 12/28/11 11:29 pm

Topic: RE: Is there a link between obesity & fibromyalgia? (X-post)

In 2009 and 2010, researchers published the findings of three studies performed at the University of Utah and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology that found a link between obesity and fibromyalgia. As someone recovering from obesity and suffering from fibromyalgia, I’m glad when data comes to light that might help explain, treat, or prevent these conditions. A link that might reveal a common cause sounded promising to me.

The public in general and FM sufferers in particular heard something else in those reports, thanks to eager journalists who jumped on the studies’ findings and mined them for their shiniest nuggets. The studies included mostly female subjects, so a distorted message was broadcast: FM is a fat woman’s disease, and if those lazy gals would just exert enough willpower to diet, exercise, and lose weight, their FM symptoms would lessen or even disappear.

I recently wrote an article about the obesity-fibro link for Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain LIFE magazine. In researching the article, I learned a lot about the possible causes of both obesity and fibromyalgia, things I’d never heard before at all. Sufferers of both obesity and/or fibromyalgia often hear that their problem is all in their minds, but it turns out there’s a whole lot more going on than the patient’s conscious behavior…that the problem is caused or at least affected by biological and other factors over which we have no conscious control. If you’d like to read more about it, go to http://fmcpaware.org/ and click on the image of the magazine cover on the left side of the page (it’s a woman wearing a red jacket, holding a globe).

Jean

Jean McMillan c.2009-2013 - Always a bandster at heart
author of Bandwagon (TM), Strategies for Success with the Adjustable Gastric Band & Bandwagon Cookery. Bandwagon for Kindle now available on Amazon. Read my blog at: jean-onthebandwagon.blogspot.com

Jean M.
on 8/29/10 10:23 am

Topic: RE: What's eating us and what are we eating?

Yes, it's me, the prodigal bandster. I took a few months off OH to recover from my mom's and my MIL's deaths, a band complication (a flipped, inaccessible port), work demands, and a non-WLS health problem (eventually diagnosed as fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome). During all of that, I regained 20 lbs, and recently have lost 10 lbs. Now that things are settling down, I'm finding that daily OH participation helps me more than I realized before.

When I first joined OH, our dear Linda used to post a "What's eating us and what are we eating?" post each day. Has anyone been doing something like that recently? If not, I'd like to volunteer to do that, because accountability helps me at least as much as it helps you. So I will start by saying:

I had a fill in July that brought me up to a level I haven't seen in over 2 years. At first I had lots of problems adjusting to it...felt like I forgot all my eating skills...but now everything has settled in and I'm baffled to discover that I'm rarely physically hungry. Also, on my work days I'm allowed only one 15-minute break, and I cannot possibly eat anything in that short time, not even pureed food. I'm too tense, feeling too hurried, too distracted by coworkers coming and going...real food is just not gonna happen. So, thanks to an accountability partner who was looking for me to give her advice, I'm doing protein shakes during the day and solid food at night. I have preached endlessly about liquid calories being useless and only solid food working with the band, but I'm eating my words now!

My food plan today was:

B: Click protein shake (1 scoop each Click mocha & EAS vanilla + 1/2 c. FF milk + 1/2 c. water)
S:  iced skinny latte (20 oz)
S: 1/4 c. granola bar crumbles (I tried to make granola bars but they won't stick together!)
L:   2 bites of pureed edamame and shrimp salad (for some reason, that just didn't work - no puking, nothing stuck, but it felt bad - blech!)
S:   1 oz havarti cheese (that didn't feel great either)
D:   2 oz rib eye steak with 1 tbl hoisin mustard sauce, 1/4 c. mixed veggies
S:   Weigh****cher's ice cream bar

I know, I know, how can a pureed lunch not work but a steak dinner is OK?! All I can say is, I have to respect my band. I'm rarely physically hungry now, and my post-op policy is to always respect my body's signals.

So, what's up (or down) with you today?

Thanks,
Jean

Jean M.
on 7/6/10 10:31 am

Topic: RE: I think I'm going deaf - what do you know about hearing aids?

Thanks, Bev. All those details are very helpful!

Jean M.
on 7/6/10 12:44 am

Topic: RE: I think I'm going deaf - what do you know about hearing aids?

Yes, that's what my internist said - don't go to Beltone, all they want is to sell you a hearing aid. I made an appt. with an audiologist.

Thanks

Jean M.
on 7/4/10 5:33 am

Topic: RE: I think I'm going deaf - what do you know about hearing aids?

Thanks so much!

Jean M.
on 7/3/10 11:08 am

Topic: RE: I think I'm going deaf - what do you know about hearing aids?

Thanks, Barbara. Would you say that your hearing aids are better than no hearing aids? In other words, they don't make hearing too loud. confusing, or uncomfortable?

Jean

Jean M.
on 7/2/10 5:26 am

Topic: RE: I think I'm going deaf - what do you know about hearing aids?

Even though I'm 56, I just cannot get used to thinking of myself as "old", and I'm having a hard time accepting the signs of aging, like bad eyesight (my eye doctor says I have cataracts that will eventually need surgery, but "so do most people your age"). One of those signs is bad hearing. I've always been extremely sensitive to noise, but apparently I'm not so sensitive any more. For several years now, I've found myself asking people to repeat themselves because I can't understand what they're saying. It's gotten worse in the past 6 or so months, especially because I work in a retail store with canned music, PA announcements, and a lot of background noise - people talking (especially customers who are constantly on their cell phones), babies crying, children screeching. It's gotten to the point where I think I'm losing my mind because even when I stand close to someone and watch their face for clues, I can't make out what they're saying. I can hear them speaking, but they might as well be speaking in Martian. This is complicated by the fact that I'm a Yankee living amongst southerners, but you'd think that after living here for 12 years I'd be used to deciphering the local accent.

I've had no ear infections for at least 20 years. Having my ears candled made no difference. I did finally persuade my store manager to turn off the loudspeaker that blares into my department (I can still hear the music and announcements from nearby speakers, but it's a relief not to have it going on right above my head all day long). I asked my internist about it and since he couldn't see anything wrong in my ear canals, he referred me to a hearing clinic, but the soonest appointment I could get is in late July.

I'd be willing to use a hearing aid if it doesn't distort sound. Do any of you have any experience with hearing aids and any suggestions about what to look for or what to avoid?

Thanks,
Jean

Jean M.
on 6/24/10 10:43 am

Topic: RE: Eyes

Well, I didn't have RNY, but I have noticed a difference in my vision in the past year. I finally went to the eye doctor (a new one, because the previous one moved away) and he said, "How long has it been since you had new glasses?"

Duh.

So the good news is that my new glasses are a big help. The bad news is that my vision is still out of whack, and the eye doctor says that's extremely common in people my age (56). He also told me that I have minor cataracts that may be affecting my vision...and that, too is extremely common in people my age.

Jean

Jean M.
on 4/14/10 9:52 am

Topic: RE: Surgery and the Post-Menopausal Woman

Well, I have no uterus, or anything reproductive at all, but thanks. It turned out to be UTI after all.

Jean

Jean M.
on 4/11/10 1:07 am

Topic: RE: Any word from Linda S?

Thanks, Connie. I miss Linda too!

Jean

Jean M.
on 4/10/10 9:31 am, edited 4/11/10 1:11 am

Topic: RE: Surgery and the Post-Menopausal Woman

On Wednesday, I had my long-awaited port repair surgery - simple enough, just re-positioning my original port which had somehow gotten flipped over and inaccessible for fills.

Came home Wednesday night....everything OK especially since I had some good pain meds...extremely thirsty...gained 5 pounds overnight (IV fluids?)...next day was OK....not so thirsty...next day I had gained another 5 pounds (what?)...Every day is a little bit better, I really can't complain...but since this morning, I've been seeing blood spots on my undies. What's that all about?

I haven't had a period in at least 15 years, and I had a hysterectomy about 5 years ago - so this is kind of startling. I thought maybe it was blood in my urine, but my urine is clear. There are no signs of infection at my incision site (it looks like I was beaten with a baseball bat, but no swelling, no redness, no oozing). No symptoms of a UTI, no fever. And naturally this happens on a weekend!

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Jean

Edited at 10 am Sunday to add: no more blood spots for about 10 hours now. I'm going to call my doctor first thing tomorrow morning and will let you know what she says.

Jean M.
on 4/10/10 9:23 am

Topic: RE: Any word from Linda S?

Does anybody know if Linda is OK?

Thanks,
Jean

Jean M.
on 4/10/10 9:22 am

Topic: RE: ot venting

Sue,

When I was 17 and living in the UK, working for a garden center there, one of my jobs was the "*****ing out" of seedlings. The seeds got started in big shallow flats, and when they came up and had at least 3 leaves, someone would have to coax each plant out of the soil and carefully plant it into its own little pot. I had small hands, you might have thought I'd do well at that, but it was a scene of mass destruction.

Jean

Jean M.
on 2/23/10 10:03 am

Topic: RE: Unusual? Phenomenon?

Wanda,

Anything is possible.

For example: I thought I had been well educated about diabetes after I was diagnosed with type 2. A 6-week course at the hospital, several meetings with a dietician, lots of my own research, many phone consults with diabetes management nurses/dieticians at BC/BS. Recently one of those pros suggested I check out dlife.com, and on the forums there I discovered that my blood sugar can react to something I ate 12 hours ago! TWELVE hours! And that's just food. Who knows how long medications stay in the system?

Another story: my husband took Celebrex for years and thought it was helping. But when hwe stopped taking it (long story), he actually felt better.

Jean

Jean M.
on 1/15/10 12:14 am

Topic: RE: Linda S

Terri,

Please PM me your address - I want to make a card for Linda.

I've been off the board for a few months and was wondering how she's doing. What's been happening with her? Last I heard she was going to rehab to recover from knee surgery.

Thanks,
Jean

Jean M.
on 1/4/10 12:32 am

Topic: RE: Sending up the white flag, throwing in the towel. It's time to ask for help

Susan,

You say you've spoken to your doctor at length about this, but have you had any bloodwork lately? Are your hormone levels OK (especially thyroid)? No vitamin deficiencies?

Maybe it's just time to change things up - try a different exercise routine, a different mix of foods - if you've been eating 40% of your calories in protein, 20% carbs, 20% fats, for example, switch to 35% protein, 35% carbs, 30% fats, or whatever.

Jean

Jean M.
on 12/5/09 10:15 am

Topic: RE: Thanks for your sympathy

Recently I posted that my mom had passed away. Even though I had been absent from OH for 2+ months (long story, just ask if you want to hear it), I received dozens of wonderful, comforting responses. Today I just want to say thank you. Yesterday we had a memorial service for Mom, and although I wept through much of it, I feel better now. It seems that every day I think of something I want to tell Mom, or I remember something funny or profound that she told me. She not only gave me life, she gave me a treasure chest of wisdom and memories.

I'm hoping that soon I'll be able to return to OH on a daily basis and give you all the (dubious) benefit of my own wisdom and memories. In the meantime, take good care of yourselves and your moms.

Jean

Jean M.
on 11/27/09 11:08 am

Topic: RE: My mom passed away today

I've been absent from OH for 2 months - new job - medical problems (chronic pain) - other issues - and I apologize for that, but I'm hurting today and wanted to tell you why.

My mom (age 90, advanced Alzheimers) passed away this morning (heart attack). I had just seen her yesterday. She ate 2 bites of the chocolate cookie I brought her (she'd rather have one bite of chocolate than an entire pumpkin pie). She was miserable (couldn't find the words to explain her thoughts and feelings) and crying, but I hugged and kissed her and told her I love her.

I think Mom was ready to go, but apparently I am not ready to let go of her. I'm 56 years old, but I feel like a 6 year-old who lost her mommy.

To add to the stress of losing Mom...the nursing home ignored my instructions to call the NY funeral home where she'd pre-paid her funeral expenses and sent her to a local funeral home that has already embalmed her...but she wanted to be cremated...I understand that the local funeral home can't keep dead bodies around for long, but they couldn't call the NY funeral home, or put her in the fridge for a few hours? Now I have to pay for the embalming...

And, I still have to call Mom's sister, and her best friend, and I can't locate my pastor, and I have to work tomorrow 7:45 am to 4:45 pm...aargh!

Thanks for listening,
Jean

Jean M.
on 9/28/09 10:58 am

Topic: RE: Too Old to Exercise?

When I was obese, my PCP (who is obese) would tell me I needed to exercise more, to help reduce my weight and control my diabetes and high cholesterol. I just hated to hear that, because I hated to exercise. But my bariatric surgeon made me promise to exercise at least 30 minutes a day, so I did it. Five minutes at first, then ten, then twenty, and so on.

I started out with walking and joined Curves. Eventually that wasn't challenging enough, so I joined a regular health club with weight machines, free weights, cardio machines, and dozens of classes. In the past 17 months, I have varied my use of those facilities in order to prevent boredom. I do 3 classes (step aerobics, interval training, regular aerobics, plyometrics, Pilates, etc.) a week. On the other 3 days, I do a combination of cardio training (walking/running intervals on the treadmill) plus strength training on the weight machines. I am not doing this because I suddenly love exercise. I am doing this because it makes me feel so much better, physically and emotionally. I would have to say that the greatest benefit I've had from exercise is that it helps my depression. And I've discovered how empowering it is to gain physical strength - how fantastic it is to feel that I am a STRONG WOMAN.

But...in the past 2 years, I've had a lot of physical pain, and almost every doctor I've consulted has said, "You exercise too much" and/or (much, much worse), "After all, you're 56 years old - this much exercise is too much for you."

To which, I can only say: WTF?

If I were an Olympic athlete, or a 6-yr-old child, with this much physical pain, I think the medical establishment would devote more effort to diagnosing and treating my pain. But because I'm an old broad with (only) a 30+yr life expectancy, they're telling me to sit back in my recliner and deal with the pain.

My response to that is: I hope that one day you are a 95-yr-old, helpless man in a wheelchair begging for attention from a 56-yr-old woman who is supposedly too old to endure 30 minutes of exercise but otherwise qualified to help a 200-lb feeble man onto the toilet to take a dump, then wipe his ass for him.

Jean

Jean M.
on 9/9/09 6:08 am

Topic: RE: My friend Flicka

I remember Sky King! Hadn't thought about that one in a long time...

Jean M.
on 9/8/09 11:20 am

Topic: RE: My friend Flicka

On the lap-band forum today, a member posted that her scars (from before and after WLS) seem more noticeable now, and I answered that I don't think my old scars are more noticeable now, but I do think I examine my body a lot more closely now (before I lost weight, I pretty much ignored the old bag-o-bones-n-fat), and as a result, the scar on my right leg from a fall I took while jumping over a wood fence and pretending to be My Friend Flicka looks a lot worse now.

And the My Friend Flicka reference fell flat.

So maybe it's an age thing. Do you remember My Friend Flicka?

I wasn't ever a horsey girl the way some of my friends were, but My Friend Flicka was so cool...

Please tell me I'm not a dinosaur...

Jean

Jean M.
on 9/8/09 11:06 am

Topic: RE: Question about caffeine

I was told no caffeine because it can be a gastric irritant (and a diuretic, and lots of other evil things). I abstained for about 9 months, and since then, I've had 1 cup of coffee a day. I haven't noticed any side effects other than mood improvement! But you're so newly post-op, I can only advise you to be conservative...I know it sucks, but just think of all those tender places inside you that have been cut and sutured...take care of them like a newborn babe.

Jean

Jean M.
on 9/8/09 11:02 am

Topic: RE: Is Linda OK?

I've been out of it for a few days because we had a storm that damaged our ISP's towers. Is Linda S. OK?

Thanks,
Jean

Jean M.
on 9/3/09 10:36 pm

Topic: RE: What are you eating today and what's eating you....

Good morning, Pat. I love the banana bread WC oatmeal with PB2 in it, and sometimes chopped banana. But right now I'm on a cottage cheese & fruit kick.

B: cottage cheese w/ blueberries & honeydew melon
S: iced skinny latte
L: coconut ginger chicken thigh, tomato
S: apple with PB2 dip
D: Gyro style meatballs, apple & jicama salad
S: frozen cherries

Jean

Jean M.
on 9/2/09 3:15 am

Topic: RE: What we are eating and what's eating us.Wednesday.

Linda,

I think you're going to have to force yourself to get some nutrition in, to keep your strength up (as my grandmother the nurse used to say).

I'm going back to the acupuncturist this afternoon. The sciatica hasn't come back but I have this stabbing pain on the left side of my back (have had it on and off for months) that I'm hoping he can treat.

B: cottage cheese, yogurt, figs & blueberries
S: iced skinny latte
L: baked crab rangoon
S: apple with PB2 dip
D: peanut tofu, eggplant, tomatoes
S: frozen cherries

Jean

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