questions from 10/06 post-op

Hi All, I am three months behind you and was hoping you could answer a couple questions for me. First, I'd thought the big weight loss would continue for the first three months. Especially because I am only 5' and I started with a very high BMI. That's what I'd been told and what I expected. Well, the first month, I lost 40 lbs, but the second month, I only lost 16 I didn't expect that sort of slowdown till month four! Did any of you slow down and then pick up speed again? How is the weight loss going at this point? Second, anyone having luck now eating foods that made them sick a few months back? Like cheese? Melted cheese? Any cheese?? My French ancestors might have forgiven me giving up the wine for a year or more and the bread, but they did a collective rollover in their graves over me not being able to keep cheese down! Are you able to eat salad yet? At what point did that work for you? Do you find that exercise really has increased your weight loss? Significantly? How's the excess skin thing going? Has exercise helped with that? Anyone with diabetes T2...are your blood sugars still normal? Anyone with sciatica...is it getting any easier? Thanks much in advance for any input! Lisa

I did slow down a little bit at about the 3rd month, but when I did, I'd notice I'd be loosing inches, and would start to fit in the next size down. For me the weight loss went from 5-7lbs a week to 2-3 after my gallbladder surgery in Novemeber that was 4 months post op from WLS. That's OK with me, I'm still loosing and happy! Are you able to eat salad yet? Yes, and I love it! At what point did that work for you? I started at 3 months out, slowly ... even to this day I don't eat much and I try not to eat it before my meal or I get full. Do you find that exercise really has increased your weight loss? I'm bad in that I don't excersise much, I do go to water aerobics and walk when I can, it seems to help. Significantly? How's the excess skin thing going? My boobs hang almost to my belly button ...lol! It doesn't bother me that much though. I know when I'm done I will have a tummy tuck and breast reduction. I've always been very large in that area. The one spot that bothers me the most is under my chin. I've lost all the weight I carried in my face and now sag under the chin, I'll get that fixed at some point too. Has exercise helped with that? not sure Anyone with diabetes T2...are your blood sugars still normal? I stopped all meds for diabetes the day before surgery, my blood sugar is almost always below 100 now. In fact I have to watch that it doesn't go too low. Anyone with sciatica...is it getting any easier? Sorry don't have that. Hope this helps you. Jan

Jan, thanks for your helpful response! It's funny, but I have never in my life craved salad like I've been since not being able to eat it! Lisa

Hi Lisa First of all, I had a DS, so there are some questions I am not going to be very helpful with. And I am a slow loser. My "big" weight loss stopped after the first 2 months, but I have been steadily losing 8-12 pounds a month since then. It is not as fast as I would have liked, but it makes a big difference over time. And it MAY be that slower weight loss helps with the excess skin issues. I am nowhere near goal yet, but I don't have skin issues to speak of so far. On eating foods that I could not eat earlier . . . I find that what I can tolerate varies quite a bit. I have no problem with cheese and never had . . . but I've heard that people sometimes become lactose intolerant after surgery, and you may want to try something to help with that. Some foods that taste great and go down fine one day make me feel very yucky another; I have to pay attention to the first bite. Any hint that it doesn't taste or feel right, I stop eating it, or I know I will end up paying for it big time. A strange example is chicken, which is something I have always loved. Sometimes it tastes and feels great, other times a bite makes me feel nauseated. Salad has worked fine for me since about 4 months out. I can't eat Chinese food at all right now. But roast beef? Had that over the holidays, and it was WONDERFUL! So . . . yes, your ability to eat things you can't tolerate right now will change over time. Hang in there, Lisa, and take care of yourself! Jezia

Thanks, Jezia! I seem to be able to eat real food about every other day now...if I eat what I am supposed to eat one day, I can't get much at all down the next! I ***SO*** hope I have not become lactose intolerant! Lisa

Lisa- Hi there! I'll try to give you my personal experiences and see if it helps answer some of your questions (you can also read some of the profiles...that may help too). First, the weight loss for me was fairly consistent until the 4th month when I noticed it slowing down...but also during that month the inches were falling off ****pt looking for body parts in my bed...they had to be going somewhere!). The weight started coming off again in month 5...and seems to be fairly consistent again although at a slightly slower pace. I had alot to lose, so my weight has been coming off pretty fast (at least in my own mind) and I'm happy with my progress...on track to get to goal in the time my surgeon suggests. Second, foods....it's totally trial and error. I had days where I could eat an egg one day and the next it made me . There are only 2 things I refuse to try again at this point....American Cheese slices and Rice. Everything else I've at least tried again if it made me sick and most of the time I'm ok if I follow the other "rules" (eating slower, chew well, don't drink with meals, etc). Other than the American Cheese slices all other cheeses have been my best friend. In fact I ate so much of it the first few months that I hardly eat it now (although slowly making a return to my diet). Salads are my best friend at lunchtime. I normally have a protein-rich salad for lunch everyday at work...it's basically the only bariatric-friendly item my work cafeteria serves that I enjoy. I was "cleared" to try salads at 8-weeks out (but follow your surgeon's suggestion). It took a few weeks before they stayed down comfortably. Exercise...since I started at a really high weight, I'm just now starting to try to consistently exercise. I had a brief week or two in month four that I exercised, but honestly I'm not sure significantly helped or not....I'm sure it helped some, but significantly?! BUT, now that I'm at the 6 month mark (soon) I'm told that things may start to slow down a bit and exercise will become a more key component. That's ok by me...it's easier now (since I've lost some weight) and my husband is ready to get going on that too, so I have a buddy (which helps me). Excess skin...yep...I've got some already. So far it's been easy to hide and it's in places that most people won't notice (bat wing arms and the tummy area). It's not as bad as I thought it would be...but after I have some babies I'm gonna want some plastics done...especially on those thighs, tummy, breasts and arms. Full body?! I don't know if exercise would have helped or not....I think it can help a little, but with the amount of skin I had stretched around my fat and for how long....I'm not sure "toning" will help much. Didn't and don't have diabetes or sciatica so I can't offer any input there. Sorry. Hope that helps and best wishes to you on your journey! Christina S

Hi Lisa. Glad that you chose to come and visit with us. Don't worry about your weight loss stalling. The numbers will cease to move on you at some point, but be assured you are loosing fat mass and gaining muscle mass (which is heavier). During those times, check your measurements and try on a smaller size. I have been pleasantly surprized that I am now looking for stalls!!! I usually 'beef' up the protein in the stall times. Food issues-you know, my pouch is finicky. One day it can take anything I give it, and the next day, it won't like the leftovers. I can't say that cheese was an issue for me, in fact, I am the Queen of Cottage Cheese. I eat it sweetened with splenda and cinnamon, savory with spices, and with fruit added. Salads are great, just try to find some darker lettuce. Don't bother with iceburg. It has no nutritional value for us and is pretty boring compared to leaf lettuce. I was about three and a half months before someone told me that. No wonder I couldn't keep iceburg down, it wasn't good for me. Exercise-significantly increased scale and inch loss when I added working out on weight lifting machines at the gym. The more muscle you have, the higher your metabolism is. More muscle is a great thing. Skin hanging-I have lost around 80-85 pounds since 7/25 and have probably that much to loose yet. Skin lost all elasticity during second pregnancy, so yep, lots hanging in the c-section area, and also in the batwings. What I love now is seeing muscle in my legs tho. I can look at my thighs all day long, ha ha ha. Diabetes-yep, mine was uncontrollable on meds. In fact, if my normal 210 readings didn't improve, insulin injections were already ordered. My last med was the day before surgery. Three month A1C was 6.4, down from 8.7 preop. I do have to watch that bg doesn't get too low tho. I actually carry peanutbutter crackers in my purse, and have had to use them. Sciatica-I had two low back surgeries at the same level due to two sepearate trauma accidents. I suffered every day and took Celebrex just to get out of bed and then took painkillers to boot. The day before surgery was the last day I took either on a consistent basis. I quit both "cold turkey". I had withdrawal symptoms from the lack of narcotics postop; classical symptoms, but I didn't allow myself back on those. I take Tylenol, at bedtime Tylenol PM, and only when really bad do I allow myself Celebrex. My doc said it was the best choice if an anti inflammatory had to be taken. I get by with taking 400 mg for about 2 days and then all is better. Hope my experience so far helps to show things get better. Come back and visit anytime you would like. ~Diana~

Hi Lisa, Congrats on what you have lost so far! My weight loss has been slow but I am plugging away! I can tolerate any food but I choose to not have rice, pasta, bread since I know it takes up a lot of room and doesn't provide much nutritional value. I have a little salad just because I have always loved it. My diabetes is all gone and I am off high blood pressure medicine which is wonderful. My next goal is to be off the c-pap machine. Take it step by step. Try to not think of the pounds. Try to think of all the things you are doing right and thenew life style you are starting to lead. Good luck! Julie

Thank you all so much for your responses! I really appreciate the input! Lisa

Hi Lisa, You are doing great!!! Just keep plugging away. I began to slow down my weight loss at about 4 months. I really got slow in my 5th month and had to really beef up my protein. I have been on a stall for over a month now, that just was broken this morning. I was doing much better when I exercised, and I felt better as well. Though the scale is not moving as fast, I noticed my clothing size changing even during the plateaus. So something was happening that the scale wasn't telling. I haven't had a problem with cheese, in fact it is my best friend. I do very well with cheese and seafood (shrimp, tuna, fish, crab). I never go wrong with those unless I eat too much or too fast. I can eat more seafood than any other food. I also do well with chilli. Great source of protein and doesn't have a problem staying down. As far as salads. Lettuce didn't do me well in the early stages, so I still stay away from it today. I love to eat salad without the lettuce. I cut up tomatoes, cucumbers, mushrooms and add crumbled cheese. I tolerate that very well. I don't tend to return to foods that have bothered me before, i.e, rice, any chineese food. I stay away from bread, pasta and sugar simply because I don't want to get used to eating them again. I am a carb addict. I love saltine crackers though. But I have to watch it. Chicken and turkey are tempormental. (I try to stay away from beef and pork) One day I'll do okay, but the the next day my pouch is not liking it. I don't do well with leftovers at all. I eat lots of cottage cheese and light yogurt for breakfast. Did I say cheese was my friend. I had type 2 diabetes, but I was taken off all meds when I was discharged from the hospital. My blood sugars have been normal ever since. I have to watch that they don't go too low. I was on my way to insulin with fasting sugars of over 200. I was taken off of blood pressure medicine 2 weeks after surgery. I was getting dizzy because my blood pressure was dropping too low. I can't speak on sciatica.