Update from MoodyBlueEyes

Hello dearies, its been such a long time. Although many of you are new since I used to be active on this list, I do see a few familiar faces, so I thought I would post an update, since I met with Dr Kerstyn Zalesin, the medical director of the bariatric program at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, MI yesterday. She has been my surgical follow-up Doc since I left Maine and the docs at EMMC. As you know, I have struggled since the beginning with what seemed like less restriction than many of you had. I actually brought that up at my 6 week check up with Dr Huang and he was willing to take a look to see the pouch size, but I was on my way to Michigan and did not see the point.

For those of you who do not know me, I had my surgery on Aug 11 2008. During the months preop I had lost 25 pounds so on surgery day I was 303 down from 328. The lowest I ever got before first maintaining and then regaining was 255. At one point I was up as high as 282, but yesterday weighed in at 269. I have been doing weigh****chers, but it has been very very slow. About 1/2 pound a week.

My blood work is all good as is my blodd pressure and my blood sugars. All normal. My cholesterol is slightly eleveated again, but that is likely do to the weight gain. The only discomfort I have felt thru this whole process is some GERD and after two small ulcers were found (EGD) because of a surgical wire that didn't dissolve and imbedded across my pouch, I have been taking omeprazole and that works well, Was just told yesterday that I would always have to take that.

That same EGD showed my pouch was double the size it should be, but who knows whther it was made that way or stretched since I can overeat easily. Moot point. It is what it is.

I also had a resting metabolic Rate test and it showed that my RMR is about 1800 calories so that is why I am losing so slow on Weigh****chers. If I exercised that would bump it up of course, but that is where I have failed to comply all along. I have also renewed some other bad presurgical habits such as drinking with meals and drinking diet coke when I am out. Still stick to the Crystal Light at home.


I tried meridian, but the cost was prohibitive and didn't help me much. Time release doesn't work well with RNY patients and my hardest time is in the evening. So I am back to having to restrict calories, which means sometimes I do it well and sometimes I do not. My tool has long gone.

Dr Zalesin has recommended I meat with her surgeon about doing a revision with a lap band. I am not sure I want to do that, but I am going to research it and see if folks have had luck with that after an RNY. There is a woman in my congregation who has had great success with the lapband. Had it at the same time I had my surgey and though her loss was significantly slower, she is still losing today. I know Cheryl has not had great success and she is an avid exerciser so I am unconvinced at this point.Any thoughts/advice you have will be welcome.

In other news, my ministry is going well and I look forward to spedning a couple weeks on Damariscotta Lake in Nobleboro during the last two weeks in August. if any of you would like to take a field trip one day you would be welcome. Unfortunately both Saturdays and Sundays that I am there are already booked, so it would have to be mid-week sometime.

Hope you are all well and uber-successful! I miss Maine terribly and that includes many of you!

xxoo

Miss you around here Terri!  Sounds like you've been through quite a bit!  Hope it all works out for you!  Please keep us posted!

We are trying to get a summer get together scheduled.  I know your weekends are booked, but keep us in mind if things fall through! 


Take care and keep us posted!

Keep on keeping on. You have had a long journey. Keep faith and good luck.