Plateau Anyone?

Weeelll, I am seriously STUCK on a plateau. Big time. My surgeon wont call me back with my lab test results and I am still severely dizzy. I havent lost anything really in a very long time. Maybe a couple of pounds. I feel like I am not going to loose anymore weight or something and I have a looong ways to go!! I have been exercising my butt off and watching what I eat...Protein 1st and vitamins and supplements and on a good caloric intake. I dont know what the darn problem is. I am furious over my surgeon. I understand they are moving but its been a week now and I havent heard anything from them regarding my results and what I need to do about this dizziness. I have almost fallen a few times from it and am going to call my PCP today if I do not hear back from my surgeon. This has really upset me because they are usually very good about things. There shouldnt be this sort of inconveinience for the patients and "danger" to the patients because of their move. The phones should've been shut off LAST not FIRST if it was going to take them a few days!!! I have been taking my iron and it hasnt helped. well I have complained enough here Just needed to vent and see if anyone else is on a NASTY plateau!!!! Elizabeth M

Hi Elizabeth, Im so sorry your not feeling well, I would find a way to get into your pcp if your surgeon's office is "out"! They should always leave a number available for their patients to call no matter if their moving or not! Now, as for the dizziness, your not alone on this, I have noticed the few days I wasn't getting in all my water I would become so dizzy I almost fell over after bending over to reach for something, It's crazy right! So try to drink more water, also when I am done working out I would also become a lil dizzy, so keep your water close by, it helps! Now as for the nasty Plauteau!!!! I am going through one also, It has been 3 weeks since I felt like I was losing anything, I wont know for sure till I get weighed in at the next dr's visit in Sept. This is the first one for me so I know your fustration but hang in their hunny, The important thing is it is comming off and no matter how fast or slow it will come off!!! I would hunt that Dr's office down and make sure you get into see a Dr. A.S.A.P! Take care and try to up your fluids today and see if it helps! Hugz Mary

Elizabeth, I have just come off a long 2-3 week plateau. I upped my protein and things started to move again. I didnt increase my exercise at all because I have said all along that I wont kill myslef trying to do this and that I will only exercise with what I can keep up with for the rest of my life. I exercise in some form (walking, biking, running, or pilates) 5-6 days a week and that is all I have time for. About the dizziness, I was at a postop support group meeting last week and quite a few people at the group complained about dizziness. The dieticina said it is the most usual complaint and that it is usually found that is is low blood sugars. Because our bodies process food so different as time goes along many of us cant tolerate any carbs, especially the simple ones, pasta, breads, sugars, etc. Although we may not think of it as dumping because we dont feel sick other than the dizziness it is actually a part of dumping. She suggested that the people experiencing it eat literally no carbs for 3 days, make sure you get enough liquids, and see if things dont get better. It all made sense to me. Maybe that is what is going on here. When mine gets low I get dizzy, hot flashes, and feel *****ly. The exact same things I get when I dump (plus diarehha and wanting to vomit) The longer out I have gotten the more I dump on things and the more severe the feeling is. Hope this helps. Janelle Dont hesitate to call your PCP if it isnt better VERY soon, better to be safe than sorry!

Hi Elizabeth, If you know where you're surgeon is moving to and when they are opening up shop there, I would "camp out" at their office until you get your answer. Calling your PCP is a good idea if you can't get the surgeon. Either way, take care of yourself. As far as the plateau - the only thing you didn't mention is how much water you are drinking. Make sure you get enough. That could cause dizziness and a plateau. mgm

I lost nothing for over 2.5 weeks (close to 3) then all the sudden lost 9 lbs in 5 days. I'm now back to being on a plateau.

Liz, I was on a plateau for 2 weeks, stuck at 85 lbs, I cut back on the carbs and the amount of food I was eating. I don't count calories, never have, but uped the protien & water, and lost 5 more lbs this week. I am now at 90 lbs 10 from my first 100, only 100 to go to goal./ Hang in there, cut out some of your carbs, that should help with the dizziness as well. Marilyn, the bearlady Bullhead City, Az (90 lbs 3/15/04)

Elizabeth, I have also experienced dizzyness most of the time is while I am taking a hot shower, I have almost passed out twice. I'm not sure what causes it but It was so bad the first time I had to call into work because I felt sick for about 2 hours afterward. I have also experience plateaus from hell along the way. I the first one lasted for over a month and that started 1/2 way through month one. I just got off one that was 2.5 weeks long. I upped my calories and that seemed to do the trick. Of course my nutritionist only has me taking in between 300-500 calories per day, so it was not hard to up the calories a little. Good luck getting a hold of your Dr and getting off the plateau. Leslie

What kind of nutritionist tells people to live on 300-500 calories per day! That is INSANE!

TO break a plateau, the best thing to do is go to a protein only diet for a week, then the second week add veggies, and the third week add fruit. It kicks your body into ketosis. The first day, do protein shakes only as your protein source and drink 64-132 oz of fluid. The next day, add in soft proteins, like eggs ... You should be drinking 3-4 proteins shakes a day and also eating meat every single day for the rest of your life. It is impossible to eat 100 grams of protein daily as a post-op. Make sure you get in 100 grams of protein while you are losing weight. If the weight drops too rapidly for you, then cut the protein intake down to 60-75 grams a day. The national protein guideline calls for 40 grams of protein for "normal" folk. Because of malabsorption, we need to aim for 60-100. VAL

Ive been on one for at least a month it seems like.