Losing too much weight.

I was hoping to perhaps find someone who is in the same boat as me so to speak. I had surgery 8/19/2003. I have now lost 136 lbs. The problem is that I am now weighing in at 117lbs. My last appt. with the surgeon was a couple of months ago. At that time he stated he wanted me between 133lbs-140lbs. At the time I was 135lbs. He said more then likely I would not lose any more weight and if I did I would only lose about 1/2 lb a month. Well I am still losing. My Dr. told me to only eat 3 meals a day. They have been very specific about that. They do not want post-op patients to get into the habit of snacking. Do I ignore this advice and add 1-2 snacks to slow down the weight loss or do I just wait and see what happens? I looked up a BMI calculator and I am not considered to be underweight unless I weigh less then 109lbs. However I am getting quite thin and my husband told me if I lose any more weight my head will begin to look bigger then my body. I even have a coworker that thinks I am anorexic which I know I am not. Any ideas? TIA Jennifer

Hi Jennifer, congrats, I would eat 5 little meals a day or just add more carbs to your diet so you dont keep losing weight. My doctor also told me 3 meals a day only but I find myself eating little at my meals so I eat healthy things in between. You definitely dont want to lose more weight...You're doing awesome I have lost 120, surgery date was 8/18/03, I still have 33 more to go Take care, Gerri

I've been told that to stop losing you reverse the rules - drink with your meals, add a couple of snacks a day (make them healthy). I truly believe that many of us are obsessive-compulsive - so we work something to death - whether it's overeating or losing weight. It will not hurt for you to try snacking a little in order to stop the weight loss. Anorexia is nothing to play around with - I've been there and done that. It sneaks up on you without you realizing it. So break the damn rules - start drinking with your meals which will flush out your pouch faster to allow you to snack a couple of times a day. Best wishes, Ro

I had the same problem... I felt I was loosing too much weight and I started to eat at meal time a little more (to purposely stretch my pouch). I can eat two taco bell crunchy tacos now instead of one. I have been able to maintain my weight now... not loosing or gaining. I am happy with where I am. My doc would like to see me loose about 14 more pounds, so I need to exercise a little more - I have lots of loose skin that if I lost it, I would be at his goal. Anyway, try to eat a little more at meal time and if that doesn't help, then yes, do toss in a snack mid afternoon and see if that helps... it did for me. take care! Pam

am just wondering about the lap band. I had open RNY surgery in 1997,revision for stapleline failure in 2000,another revision for stapleline failure Aug 2003 where the dr actually seperated my pouch and stomach so no more stapleline,not to mention the fact that when my dr had me open he accidentally cut the left lobe of my liver,had to have emergency surgery since he sewed me up(knowing he cut my liver,have medical records as proof) I was bleeding internally. Then was sent home after 2 weeks w/drain tubes,which he took out a week later,got major infection back to the hospital again! Then found out(because I insisted on upper gi & i was throwing up all the food I put in my mouth and even some liquids) that I had an esophogeal fistula. The gastroenterologist told me he had never seen anything like it in all his yrs practicing,it is a hole right where the esophagu****s my pouch,and if you know anything about anatomy the left lobe of the liver(remember which my surgeon cut!!) sits right next to where the hole is. I asked the gastro dr could the hole have been caused by suregeon cutting left lobe of liver and maybe also piercing esophagus in the process.....he said he couldn't say yes or no to that question,but could be likely(these 2 dr's are colleagues after all,ya know!) Was put back into the hospital for 2 weeks and left w/feeding tube in me which I had to put liquid crap(food/formula like stuff) and it had to pump all day and all night(not to mention I pulled around an iv pole behind me, that's where the bag of crap hung from). Did I mention I couldn't work during all of this,actually was off work for a little over 8 months!!!! I couldn't have anything by mouth for about 3 months,just the crap thru feeding tube. Also, did I mention when I came out of the hospital,the day before Christmas(only because I begged my dr,told him really I was going to be home for x-mas not in some hospital) not only did I go home with the feeding tube but I now had a lovely hole in the center of my chest which was an actual tunnel all the way down to the hole(esophogeal fistula) in my esophagus/top of my pouch!! Once he had me off the feding tube and back on liquids/food everything I put in my mouth came oozing,sometimes gurgling/shooting out of this hole in my chest!!! Oh yeah,also if the food/liquid doesn't come out the hole,no worry I throw it up instead...and I mean everything I put in my mouth comes out one way or the other!!(I throw up usually 8 or 9 times a day,on a good day!!) Now,on July 7,2004 went in for my dr to try,& I do say try,to fix the esophogeal fistula. He and gastro dr i mentioned earlier,gastro dr with an EGD scope,and surgeon from the outside thru my lovely chest hole and went in & they each shot this stuff kinda like glue(not really glue but a fibrous tissue made from human and cows,forgot real name of it)...so that each shot this stuff into the fistula,or what I like to refer to as my tunnel. I had nothing by mouth from 7/7/04 until 7/10/04 when my surgeon decided to have me try clear liquids(which aren't really all clear??)anyway and see how I tolerated them,if I could get them down and keep down he would send me home! Yeah on 7/10/04 that morning got my tray of chicken broth,orange jello,grape popsicle and tea. I drank half the broth and 2 bites of popsicle and jello. When my dr came in to discharge me & change my dressing over my hole,low and behold the dressing had purple and orange liquid and was pretty soaked!! He said looks like it didn't work Sherry,but at least we tried!! So here I sit @ 128 lbs and still losing(unfortunately) very depressed and I have no energy most of the time. I try to eat but everything comes up or out the hole!! I totally regret ever having this surgery!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would rather be 313lbs anyday than to be where I am now,and no quality of life!!! My dr can't figure out why I keep throwing up and can't fix my hole either,so..hum...where does that leave me? Needless to say when off all that time from work I tried to find/get another dr but none will take me because of what has already been done to me and that l am a "liability" now. Funny isn't it,sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for!! The real kicker is that I didn't have any health problems at all back when my journey started in 1997 other than just being fat,and no insurance so I paid for surgery out of my pocket(3 yrs worth of payments..pd off surgery just 2 months before 1st stapleline failure)...go figure,huh!

I feel like I am in the same boat as you. I have lost my 100 lbs and don't want to lose anymore. I am thin too. I am not complaining but it concerns me. There are people that think I am anorexic too. I am weighing 140 lbs but I am a size 4-6. So it isn't the weight number. My ideal range is between 130-135. I don't want to see 130. I will be a size 2. My Dr has me taking Pancrease to slow down the weight loss. I take it in my shakes and am mixing it in my food. I have been told that after we lose it and stabilize we will start to gain some back. That is what I am counting on. I will be happy with 10 lbs back or no more lost. I don't want to look like a bobble head either.