any ideas?????

Hello everyone~ I haven't been online since last week, I am sorry to fall behind on you all!! I usually try to read and post at least everyother day. I am having some really big problems with my B-12. I just had some lab work done and my level is at 69. Pretty bad considering it needs to be at 240 and higher~! I am really starting to feel the effects of it. I am physically exhausted. My Dr. tells me we can fix it but it will take quite a bit of time. Biggest issue for me is ...................I have not lost a pound since January 20th. It is freaking me out! I do not have enough energy to exercise on a daily basis right now and have been advised not to. I am eating almost ONLY protein. What the heck can I do to lose weight???? I wanted so terribly badly to be under 200 lbs by my birthday which is Saturday and I am now wondering if I could even make it by Mothers day. I have lost a few inches during the last couple months but even that is now starting to drop off. I am so mad..........I eat right, I can't exercise but I walk as much as I can through out the day and I am getting no results. I have had low blood sugar 4 times in the last week, or at least I am guessing that is what it is. I get the shakes real bad and get very week. It usually last for a hour or so. My husband is diabetic so I checked my blood sugar the other day in the middle of one of these episodes and I had already had a snack and my blood sugar was 80, so I don't think it was to low to begin with. Could that have something to do with my B-12 problem??? And could that cause my weight loss to slow down??? And what about all the time without losing anything??? Is anyone else having problems like this???

Grace- I am so sorry that you are not feeling well. Unfortunately, I don't know too much about B deficiencies, so I can only offer you and hope you get better soon. Are their foods you can focus on (spinach maybe?) that are high in B-12? Post snack blood sugar of 80 is VERY LOW-- Have an apple or an orange if you start to feel that again. In terms of the weight loss, it has been very slow for me too. I actually hovered around 176-178 for five weeks, and I was do everything right. I just think it slows down for us. I finally lost weight this week. I hope you feel better soon and please let us know how you are doing. Hugs, Andrea

Andrea~ Thank you so much!! I am working on the snacks! Got me a box of Clementines at Costco today. Gonna keep them with me! You are such a sweetie! Thanks for thinking of me!!!_ xoxoxo~ Grace

Grace, There are many reasons why your B12 levels might be low. Not all are related to your Protein intake. Vegans tend to have lower levels of B12 because of food issues, but in someone like yourself who I presume is not vegan it can be caused by many other things.. I suggest that you talk to your Doctor again and try to determine what exactly is causing the levels to be so low. How do you supplement your B12 now? I do it by injection once a month. I am interested to find out how you are getting your B12 other than by food. On the weight loss I think this is happening to quite a few of us.. it's moving slowly.. Maybe by switching a few things up.. try a protein shake with some fruit it in for breakfast. If you are able to eat a whole portion of someting or dinner or lunch try eating half of that portion size for a week or so. snack on baby carrots, shrimp, a half a container of yogurt.. it's important to remember to eat as if we are thin already. To incorporate thin peoples eating habits as our own. As we move further along in this journey we cannot depend on the weight falling of like it once did.. Yes, we wil always malabsorb fewer calories due to our new digestive make-up.. but nothing is a given. We have to watch our food like any one else. because farther along we will are startng to be able to eat more and more without discomfort. I know I am. Grace I think the first and most important thing you must do is sit down with a health care person, be it a Doctor, Bariatric Nurse, or Nutritionist and get a handle on your B12 and what is causing it to have dropped like this. most likley once you have that problem under control the weight loss will pick up.. I am thinking of you honey.. peace Mo

Mo~ You are such a wise lady! Thank you!! I read your post earlier today and did call the Dr. They are thinking my B 12 was low before surgery and was just not caught! He said sometimes low B 12 can be genetic. My mom is pretty low but she is also a cancer survivor so can't really tell anything there! I am taking a sublingual b 12 right now. When they first found it low 2 months ago my level was only 170......240 is low so I got one injection and then went to the sub's. Today the dr's are discussing if they want to do weekly injections. I just want to get it fixed! The dr told me today it might be a long road to fixing it so not to get in a hurry about it! He said these things take time! Thanks for the advice on eating. I have never looked at it that way. That is very helpful. Mo, you are a peach!!! love to ya! Grace

Babe, Well......This sucks!!!!!! What is your Dr. doing for the B-12 issue? Shots? Have you tried the B-12 nasal spray? There is ad for it that pops up every few minutes on the banner at the top of this page. I don't know much about the B-12 thing and I don't want to give you mis-information so I guess the standard....."consult your Dr." will have to work for now. Sorry....no pearls of wisdom from me today!!! Love you though!!! C

Thanks C! There is more wisdom in what you said than you know! You know.............you da bomb baby! I have an appointment with my pcp tomorrow to see what he and my surgon have decided! I will keep you posted! xoxoxox~ Grace

I'm really sorry that you've been feeling so cruddy lately ... I hope that you and your doctor work on something to get your B-12 levels up!! I dont know much about the B-12 deficiency either, so like Andrea, all I can do is and send you a hug. I hope you feel better soon and take good care of yourself. Honestly, I think right now you should not be so worried about the weightloss (easier said than done, I know) but rather make sure you are healthy again and feeling good!! Thinking of you ...

Thanks Marlize! I feel better just letting my concerns out to you all and feeling the love in return! You are the single best bunch of people I know!!! I am really trying not to worry about the weight loss but like you said........eaiser said then done! I want so badly to be under 200 lbs!!!! I would give my right arm to be there...........hey I might almost make it if I gave up that arm!! lol lol lol lol Thanks again! xoxoxox~ Grace

What did the doc say? Curious! HUGS Kimberly