A very long update and rant.

Begin update: Well, here I am posting my 1 month update. Of course, it's been over a month. I had surgery August 31. (1 month, 8 days, I think). I'm down 50 pounds, exactly. I used to be a typical pear shape, smaller top, smaller waist, huge butt, thick thighs, fat ankles, and big feet. Now, as I'm dropping weight I'm losing my butt (yay) but still have a LONG way to go. Interestingly, I'm not losing in my waist. Isn't that funny? So, my weight is redistributing. Also, I'm not trying to say that I'm small *anywhere*. In fact, I'm kind of just fat all over. Just more of a pear shape than an apple shape. Last night, I found a collarbone. My clothes are big in the butt and thighs, but still fit nicely in the waist. My tops went down a size, but with 50 lbs gone, I would have expected a lot more gone. Of course, I'm kind of just fat all over, so I'm losing all over, too. Overall, I'm very happy with my surgery. I love the fact that I don't even desire food. People can eat *anything* right in front of me, and I'm not jealous or feeling like I'm missing out on anything. I have the ongoing, and incredible support of my wonderful family and this board. My surgeon does offer a support group, but it's on Tuesday nights, and I work Tuesday nights. Now for the bad. I am following my doctors order to the letter with one minor exception. (I took communion one day without thinking but didn't have any bad side effects). On my program, I have water and broth on days 1 - 11. Then, I can add egg and cottage cheese 11-21. Then, after that, I can add string cheese and moist deli meats and the like. Well, on day 21, I had some turkey. Everything went fine. Day 22, I had some turkey and hell hath no fury like a pouchie scorned. I threw that turkey up and have not been able to keep anything down bu****er and broth since then. I throw everything up. Protein, eggs, cottage cheese, turkey, whatever, it just comes back up. All I can have is Water, broth, water, broth. Now, I'm not hungry, and broth holds the same appeal for me as a steak does, for instance (although I haven't had steak). But the idea is that I don't desire food. So, it doesn't bother me that all I eat is water and broth. But, I'm not getting my protein in, and that scares me. End update. Begin Rant. However, my problem is that my surgeon's office doesn't really seem to care. I used to call them every day and say, Hey! I'm throwing up again. And they just act like it's the BIGGEST deal that I'm bothering them when it's all my fault that I haven't followed the program. It got so bad that I really don't even bother calling anymore. I have two watchdogs that devote their entire day to ensure that I am following the program and helping me with the littlest things to the biggest challenges. But regardless, I can't get my protein in, because I throw it up. I can't get any food in, because I throw it up. I'm not losing hair and feel healthy (except for the sinus junk that's been going around). I get all my water in, and the nurses just seem to think that I'm dehydrated or something. My only saving grace is that I go see my surgeon on Monday and I'll be sure to fill him in. I love him, I think he's really great. But, his staff leaves a lot to be desired (in my opinion). Other people love these doctors' office and their staff, so I'm sure that this is an isolated case. Anyway, that is my rant. I'm steaming mad. My husband did cancel his surgery because of all the stuff he's seen me go with the surgeon's office. He's very upset because of the lack of support the surgeons office gives me. But, despite all the garbage, I'd go through all this again (even putting up with the rude people at the surgeons office). I'm happy and love my weight loss thus far. End rant. Have a great day! Kay

Kay, you need to get to the dr this week, ASAP.,...not wait til next week. You could have something SERIOUS going on that needs immediate attention. A stricture especially comes to mind considering how far out you are and that you can't tolerate food of any kind. You didn't take the big step to have this surgery to jeopardize you health now, did you.? Call your dr, and keep calling until they agree to see you today or tomorrow! Good luck, and CONGRATS on the weight loss!!

Kay I agree with Tracie about seeking help, but if your office is like my surgeon's he specifically stated that he is a surgeon, not a gastric bypass specialist, his follow up is very limited so we are pretty much left to our own to follow diet etc. If you are able to ge****er down just until you can get medical help have you tried drinking protein shakes, actually what gets me through bouts of where my stomach won't let me eat even if I'm hungry I drink carnation instant breakfast the one with 0 carbs on the box. Or even just drinking some milk. Also if you have sinus infection that will affect your stomach as well. I know that when I had infection I couldn't and didn't want anything because all that stuff draining in there. Good luck and get checked out ASAP.

Leslea, This is what really makes me angry about some of the surgeons. So many very qualified surgeons are jumping on the gastric bypass "wagon" and do a good job with the actual surgery but they are not willing to go the whole way & provide the aftercare that we need. My gosh, he has performed surgery that has changed you for the rest of your life. Your whole way of eating is now different & you have to figure it out for yourself. Thats crazy! I think this is just one reason we have to do our homework before surgery & before committing to a surgeon. My surgeon told me the first time I saw him that I would be seeing him for the rest of my life, that followup care is that important. He is willing to see his patients at any time if they are having problems. I called him a few days after my surgey because I was having a lot of pain & the medication just wasn't cutting it. He had me go to the emergency room (it was Sunday) & he saw me there and it was football season! I'm glad I did my homework & chose a bariatric specialist who cares about us instead of just the almighty dollar. Dixie

Hi Kay, First of all Congrats on your weight loss...that's awesome! I agree with the girls GET AHOLD OF YOUR SURGEON NOW!!!!!!! Now if this was me & the office was acting this way I would call the hospital RIGHT NOW & have him paged & talk to him personally. Don't wait around to see him you need to do this now. Nothing to mess with my dear. Keep us posted on how you are doing. Carolyn

Kay, Congrats on the loss so far. You will continue to enjoy watching your clothes sizes go down and down and down. About the food and throwing up - double check some things first - what is it you are throwing up? Is it cottage cheese? lunch meats? The cheeses usually go down better than meats, so it may be that your little tummy is not ready for the meat yet. Also, you can try things like refried beans with cheese - nice and mushy and full of protein! How fast are you eating? Are you taking your time and not drinking before, during or after meals? If you are taking your time, notice how well you are chewing. Are you chewing your food well? It is really important, especially at first when your tummy is healing. If you are doing all of those things and still having probs, I would call your surgeon's office again. Hang in there and update us to let us know how you are doing. God bless, Andrea

Wow, tons of replies. Since I promise only one long post a year (and I already had it, I'll try to answer everyone's post in one short post. First, thanks for all the concerns! This is exactly why I love this board. No matter what, I know that you all are here for support and good advice. Second, I throw everything up bu****er and thin broth. Eggs come up, Yougurt comes up, cheese comes up, cottage cheese comes up, Heck, sometimes even spit comes up (sorry for being gross). Water and broth come up, also, but not all the time. If I'm drinking water, then sometimes I have water within my half hour before and after water. If I drink broth, then I don't have water either before or after. I'm probably eating slow enough. However, if I had to diagnose my own problem, I'd say that I'm not "burping", or that I'm getting too much air in when I eat. I say this because when I give a good healthy burp, I don't throw up my water or my broth. I really don't think it's anything that I'm doing. I have the support book memorized by now, and could tell you my surgeon's program probably better than he can. Anyway, I'm taking everyone's advice, and have an appointment on Monday with surgeon at 10:45. I'm pretty excited. I imagine it's just a matter of a quick scope and maybe the balloon thing, but I'm not a doctor, so I couldn't tell you. Thanks, again, to everyone. See you around soon!!!! I'll let you know how it goes. God bless everyone!