Report: Visit to WLS Surgeon

Hi everyone, just popping in to share the info gleaned from my appointment last night with my WLS surgeon. It was a good visit, he spent about 1/2 hour with me rather than the usual 5 minutes. We had a good talk. He didn't dismiss my concerns about my weight gain (up 9 lbs. from last year's visit). I told him I had horrible, painful hunger almost all of the time. He had me sit on the table and chug 8 oz. of water as fast as I could. He was positive I would feel discomfort - which I didn't, not a bit. He was shocked - said that was indicative of not having any restriction at all anymore, hence the horrible hunger. He said one of two things is going on - abnormally stretched pouch, and/or abnormally dilated stoma. He does not believe in revision surgery, believes rather in "retraining" the pouch; large stoma opening is another matter, however - no retraining that.  He is scheduling an appointment to have me scoped to see what's going on. Otherwise, my iron is quite deficient so he gave me a script for that. And said he's very impressed that I'm still where I am with the weight loss. He's seeing a lot of regain this far out. So, if you want to test your pouch to see the level of restriction you have - chug as fast as you can 8 oz. of water. You should feel immediately uncomfortable. Gauge your level of discomfort to tell you how much resriction you still have. I have zero discomfort - I could have chugged another 8 oz. very easily. I am scared about the regain, and the lack of restriction. But I am hell-bent to not gain anymore. Hope all is well in your worlds. Maureen

slounds like it was a good visit.
what was the surgery you had a while ago? was that a revision of your stoma? I can not remember the different names of all that we have!
good luck with it all.
you really are doing wonderfuly.

Ok. Yeah. I can do that with my eyes closed.   Easy peasy. I mean really. Water?? pthbbb... no problemo. I can guzzle away... unless of course I ate a bunch and then drank real quick. That never goes over too well. But I can eat ALOT if I let myself. (which I dont) It use to be that when I didn't eat hardly anything for a few days...when i went to eat something my tummy shrunk a little and i felt full again... not anymore. So I know things are way a miss down there. Bigger tummy... bigger stoma.. easy enough to read. It has to be that way for me. One of these days I'll go to my surgeon so she can check. Just can't yet... can't afford it this time around after going to the doctor so much. darn 25 buck copays a shot. im' tapped. Shes helping me with everything anyway. Not much the surgeon can do really even if it is all stretched out for me unless i want to pursue the ROSE "solution" but i can't afford that either sooooss... sticking with my doc for now. I'm going to try the test anyway though. See how much I can guzzle. Thanks for the post!!!

I had a visit with my WLS yesterday as well.  I was concerned about a LBS problem and the fact I drink at least a gallon and a half of fluid a day and seem to ALWAYS be thirsty. He stated that he didn't believe it was dehydration but had to be some other issue...no answer just a statement. 
 
My LBS - he said to start having a little something to eat - peanut butter and crackers was his suggestion prior to drinking my protein.  Also to add more peanut butter to my snacks in between meals.  Since I live on Peanut butter and soy butter this is not a problem to add in a few additional tablespoons full if it will help with the LBS.

He had me redo my nutrition labs and I got a call back today that everything was normal to high normal and to keep up the good work.  No bad news but I still have questions.......

Oh yeah...I can guzzle 20 ounces at one time absolutely no problem and no discomfort - to qualify that statement.... only as long as it's been at least an hour since I last ate.  Food and drinking still do not mix at all.
Va

i can't drink 8 oz in a few minutes. if i do i sticks and it feels like i'm going to drowned. so i still sip. if i am really thirsty i can drink about 3 oz estimate quickly but i feel it for sure!
peanut butter is my friend! i have some with me alot. theres a jar in my desk at work and one in my car. sometimes with my LBS if i feel the need I just take a small amount on a spoon and slowly enjoy it. works very well. my doctors both the edo and the natural say to use it. the natural of course says dont' buy grocery store to go to health foods and get "real" pb but choosey mom's choose jiff....

OK gotta get me some more PB. I like the natural crunchy kind. The no sugar kind. "Natural Smuckers" ooo I love that stuff! :) 

as for the thirst... maybe try lowering your salt intake?? Could that be what it is per chance? Sometimes not even a lot of salt will make me soooo thirsty. (i doubt thats it for you though, its been going on too long).

I found a few things online ... I'll have to post them for you..
Diabetes
Hyperthyroidism
Weight Loss
Drug Ingestion (over the counter and presription)
Your doctor should have done CBC Metabolic testing and urin analysis testing etc... because the excessive terrible thirst is a symptom of something! Grrr... doctors make me growly sometimes! I would push the issue, I know you've been having this terrible thirst for some time now! How is your sugar? Sounds like your levels were good though... I think you should push for that  urnin analysis testing... i will get you the exact tests to check for excessive thirst... they had them listed... I love doing that to my docs... but mine is usually very open to new things and suggestions when it comes to my wls because she has so many patients that have had wls and has seen some crazy and interesting sypmptoms as a result of the surgery. She monitoring me now for the insane hunger! She's really helped me with that. Monitoring my food and what I eat... she's kicking my butt to get me intot he gym... have to start that monday then follow up... a good doc really is helpful.