Help please/ More questions: dark circles, lines, back pain still, balance prob and protein...

Hi guys, Sorry not to have written sooner. Life is just so full for us all isn't it? Well, I had blood work done and wonderful news! All of my results are right in line (ex. good cholesterol and bad, thyroid etc.) However, I am having a malabsorption problem of protein. I have lost 126 lbs. as of today and have been on a plateau for about 3-4 weeks. But, today it changed. Thank the Lord. But back to the protein loss. I have very dark circles under my eyes and am still in alot of pain in my back but my GP didn't really know what to do or say about that. Argh. I have been using Estee Lauder creams for my face to try and keep it as elastic as possible cuz my face has shrunk so much. But, you know how expensive EL is! Yikes! Is there any other cream for our faces and necks to keep them moisturized really well? I also wondered if my iron was low... but it never showed up in the blood results. Sorry about the random thoughts. But here are the subjects in question:1) Dark circles under my eyes.2)Wrinkled face needing moisture and lifting. 3)Protein loss: Most important of all, I know: Brk: consists of 2 eggs/ Lunch: consists of 4-5 oz. of deli meat/ Supper:consists of 4-6 oz. of fish, shrimp or chicken, with 2 tbls of 2 veggis./ I was getting around 60 grams of protein a day, but my nurse wants me to get now, a minimum of 80 - 100 grams. I can't stuff all that meat into me at one sitting. I have snuck in a protein shake( Advant Edge- that they gave me after surgery to bring up the protein), but my surgeon wants me to get the protein from the meat if at all possible.4)Balance problems and Eyes trouble focusing: Very blurry. 5)Terrible back Pain esp. at night when I sleep or rather not being able to sleep becuz of pain. I guess that's enough to keep you wonderful researchers' hats on for the night. Sorry to load all of this onto you but maybe just one question answered would help me so much. I haven't wanted to bother anyone with all of this, but I have no one here in Jackson that can help me. So, I really need you guys. Oct. 9th is my 8th month anniversary, but I need my body to be in better condition... at least I think so. Maybe some of this is NORMAL... I don't know, cuz everyone is so different. I thank you for your patience in this novel, but I really need your positive support and wisdom without compromising my doctor's orders. If one person could just take one question and maybe suggest an answer, then no one individual would be bombarded with too much research. I don't want to give you guys a headache! Thank you so much for even reading this. I really do need you guys and I will try and reciprocate the gift later. Please know that I am not complaining, I'm just very concerned . I have been blessed! God Bless You! Luv, kath : fairy:

hi kath: sounds as though you're doing really, really well. i wish i was that disciplined. not sure i can be of much help but, here goes. the dark circles under your eyes are from your lack of sleep, i'm thinking. have you talked to your dr about the back pain keeping you awake? the thing about your face shrinking made me smile. i have much the same concern about mine, too, so i'm using lotions and creams - mostly collagen - since i've read that it's most effective. my dr suggests highly that i get my protein in via food, too. i do my best to get my protein in but i fall really short unless i use the supplements available. and i try to remind myself that it's better than not getting the protein in at all. i'm glad you decided to share with us, kath. hope you get lots of helpful answers. take care dorthe

Thank you Dorthe! I think you're right on the dark circles. I don't know why that didn't occur to me... DUH!The back pain really feels skeletal or muscle like and I think my excercising could improve that. It doesn't feel as though it's kidney or gall bladder pain. It really feels like musc. and skeletal. I have a number bed but something is't just working out right. I live in Jackson Tn. which is "known" for it's terrible humidity and high barometric pressure. I went to NY city last weekend and hardly had any pain! I am taking on occasion, celebrex and darvocet when I just can't stand the pain) so...And, I know that all of this weight loss which is so rapid, is probably shaking up my skeletal sys. quite a bit and it probably has to get re-adjusted. So, all in all i just needed to know if I was sort of normal. You're a gem! Thanks so much Hope you're doing fine. If you need any help, and if I can, I'll be there for you dear! Luv, kath xoxoxo

Hi Kath, You really have lost allot of weight. Good job! As for the dark circles which I can sympathize with having them, it could be lack of iron or anemia. I am experiencing this long before surgery and of course I am not absorbing iron in my pouch from food. I am seeing an oncology/hemology dr. who checks me once a month. I am taking 1000mcg of B12 daily, B12 shot once month (1000mg) and iron daily 2 times a day (36mg) along with all my vit, minerals, omegas, coq10, L-carnitine, green food supplements and biotin (2000 mcg) all daily in maximum levels and still my iron is very low and have dark circles. I know well about skincare lines (skincare has been my lifes work) and only one I use at this present time is Clientele which makes firming serums as well as uses nothing but the best of ingredients in all moisturizer. Check them out their Clientelebeauty website, Norstroms or QVC which has some great kits with the serums. I agree with Dorthe collagen is important, however we start loosing it at 25 so adding it is important especially for me at 56 (ouch can't believe when I sese it in print LOL). If you are spending for EL you may want to try Clientele, prices are not less but you may like the ingredients. Okay on to back pain...had it before surgery and still have it. Same place same intensity. My PCP told me prior to surgery a breast reduction should help the pain and I let him believe himself...I had 2 reductions in the past and my weight was 112 both times and reduction did nothing to help those ruptured disks. I didn't get them from weight gain (had them since I was 17)since that only consumed llast 4 yrs of my life. However its a good reason to have a breast reduction/lift now that I have lost weight along with a tummy tuck. Now that might be a reason for worseing back pain, carrying the extra skin on your belly. For the past 4 years I have been using a pilates which helps me relax the muscle and stretch them every day. Take me 20 min but I always pu**** so I do it 20 min 2 x a day. Was hoping it would stretch my spine and give me back the inch I lost getting older, didn't but it does help me with pain. I take nothing for the pain and its very bad but I know I will become dependent if I ever found something I could tolerate so I say no. It sometimes debilitates me that I can't go anywhere and it wakes me every night. I just take the lord I don't have to go to work every day. Hope you feel better...let me know if I can help you with something.

I use Mary Kay (I also sell it) They have what is called the Miracle set and they have an eye cream. You can go to my website marykay.com/JaniceRidgeway. As mentioned by others dark circles can be caused by lack of sleep, anemia and vit.K defeciency. I drink 2 double scoop protein shakes a day to get in my required protein, there is no way I could eat that much protein. Your back pain could be exactly what you mentioned (probably without realizing it) it may be out of adjustment. You have been carrying the weight for so long your body is not used to the change in weight and the distribution of the weight so you might want to go to a chiropracter for a course of treatments.The blurry eyes balance and trouble focusing: have you been tested for diabetes and how is your blood pressure? You mentioned your face sagging a lot, I have an aquaintance in my support group who's eye lids were actually sagging in such a way that they caused problems with her vision. The surgeons were able to get insurance approval for an eye lift because it affected her vision so greatly. (just a thought). My husband had a slipped disc and the surgeon recommended a back swing ( a table type thing you lay on and lock your ankles in place and raise your arms slowly over your head making the table swing to a position where you are hanging upside down or at an angle if you can't handle upside down) He got one and used it daily for months maybe even a year or more and ended up not having to have surgery. We got ours at Relax the Back Store. Last but not least don't ever be afraid to ask questions ,vent, unload or jump for joy cry in shame or pity. Whatever you need to do most likely someone here has been there and might be able to help even if it's to just encourage you and tell you how incredibly great you are doing.Which by the way you are. That is an amazing weight loss! Janice 258/166/160 goal

Kath, you are doing great. As far as the back have you considered seeing a chriopractor? I was having a lot of problems with my back and someone here on the sight suggested that and I did see one and I found out a lot of my problem was muscle. I saw a pain doctor also and he did an epidural in the muscle that was causing the problem it was causing my siatic nerve to act up so far it is really helping. I also use a tens unit, which helps greatly. From what I have been reading lots of us have back problems for some reason. I had my surgery on Feb 9th. 296/200/? Hope you are able to get some sleep that will help with the dark circles. Cheryl