Hi!I had my open surgery on Oct. 30, 03 I am down from 315 to 235... I was losing at a rate of 23.3 lbs per month but this month I slowed down a lot and it's averaging only 20 lbs per month. However, please remember that sometimes the #s don't move but other things do. Our bodies at times will redistribute the weight and then it will start all over again. Drink lots of liquid.... If you can't get in water cuz it's too cold, doesn't taste good etc. go for hot decaf tea with a little fake sweetner, bump up your protien. I personally think that protien drinks taste like crap but can disguise 22 grams in the powder by taking a container of yougart (8 grams protien) a banana, handful of fresh frozen strawberries and 1/2 cup milk 4grams protien and blending it up. More ice is optional: it's a quick total of 34 grams of protien which is all we can take in at a time. Also boost the calcium too. I also go to the YMCA for swimming at least once a week for an hour or more. I am not really checking out what the scale says right now because I know when it's ready to move it will take off again. SO LONG AS YOU'RE DOING WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO YOUR BODY WILL DO WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO. also keep an eye on your clothing. I dropped one size without moving a pound on the scale in the last 2 weeks. I started at a size 28 in October and now a 16 this week. Don't forget to take your vitamins too. Good luck and YES, IT'S NORMAL TO SLOW DOWN TO THE RATE THAT YOU HAVE!!! ANGIE

Sure, I would love to help. 1. What was your weight before you had surgery? 276 pounds 2. How much weight did you lose in 3 months? 6 months? 9 months? 12 months? 18 months? In 3 months I lost 57 pounds 3. What was your weight after surgery? 4. What is your weight loss goal for yourself? 155 pounds 5. Before you had the WLS did you try other Diets to help you lose weight? Yes 6. What kinds of diets did you try? I took Slim Fast, Xenical, and I did a low fat/carb diet. I lost about 57 pounds with the low carb/fat diet. However, after I lost the 57 pounds, I could not lose anymore weight, which is why I pursued the Gastric Bypass surgery. 7. Did you have any health problems before your surgery? If yes, please list. Diabetes and Sleep Apnea. 8. How many pills where you taking a day? Has that changed and how many? I was taking 2, 1000 mg of Glucophage for Diabetes, I was taking 2 pills for water retention, and I was taking hypertension medication (1) to protect my kidneys as a result of the diabetes. So, I guess I was taking about 5 pills a day. Currently, I'm not on any medication. I only take a multivitamin and b12 daily. 9. Are you glad you had the surgery? Very glad. 10. Did the surgery improve your health? Yes, tremendously. 11.Was it hard for you to change your eating habits? Which one is the hardest? Yes, it was hard. The hardest thing is the cravings for bad foods and portions. 12.Now at your stage of WLS is your food measurements at 3 oz, 4 oz or 6oz? I am now 4 months post-op and I can eat about 6 oz on an empty stomach. However, most of the time, I eat about 3-4 oz due to the fact that I do "water loading" between meals. 13. How many calories do you consume a day? I consume about 600 calories, but I am trying to increase my intake to 900 at the doctor's request. 14. Does your new pouch have a nickname? No 15. If you had to do over, would you have the surgery again? Yes, yes, yes. 16. If you have children that were obese, would you let them take the surgery? It would depend on their age and comorbities. Would you tell them the pain you went through? definitely. Optional: Name:_C. Brown________ State:_TX_____________________ Date of Surgery:_10/20/03_______ Good luck. Cherry 276/210

Davina, I'm sorry you feel so bad. It sounds like you are having a hormonal or chemical imbalance going on. You need to make sure you tell your doctor that sometimes you feel like hurting yourself and are afraid you might hurt your son. If he/she doesn't do anything about it tell another doctor. Nobody needs to live like that. I am in the same time frame as you with my surgery. Is there something specific making you angry and depressed, or does it just happen out of the blue? Although it doesn't happen to me, I have several friends who deal with this. Karen

For the last couple of weeks I have been feeling very angry and depressed. I am snapping at my husband and my son and have become a horrible monster ***** to everyone. I feel like I could hurt myself (I wouldn't ever but I feel like it). I had to take my son (2 1/2)to stay with a friend the other night because I was afraid I might hurt him and would never take that risk. I want to cry or get in a big fight. If i could eat a large pepperoni pizza and a 1/2 gallon of tin roof sundae ice cream I would feel all better...but of course that isn't an option any more. I am going to see my doctor tomorrow and I need to see a therapist when I can get in to see one. Any body else going through this?

Sheri, I hope you have gotten whatever answer you wanted by now. I can't imagine what I would do!!!! Jackie -65