need some advice from all those before me

hi everyone. I had surgery on june 23. I lost 15 pounds in the first 2 weeks and the scale has been at a stand still since july 7th. I am getting very frustrated with myself. I am finding it very hard to get my fluids in because of the type of work I do I can't carry around a bottle of water with me so in an 8 hr day I might get in 20 oz of fluid. I went to the ER last monday night thinking I was dehydrated, I had not gone to the bathroom all day, my mouth was very dry, my urine was dark, so when I told the er physician about my surgery and asked for fluids he told me that wasn't the best way to hydrate myself and that I needed to go home and drink more water. I was so mad and upset when I left the hospital after 3 hours and no fluids I couldn't even cry because there were no tears. The dr's advice was to go home and drink more fluids. I mean dddduuuuuhhhhhhh I knew that before I went in. So now I will get an enormous er bill for them telling me to go home and drink more water. I am sorry I am whining but I am just really frustrated with everything right now. I have been doing better with my fluids since monday but I still don't think I am at 64 ozs a day and I am a month out from surgery. I am also having a lot of heartburn. I finished my protonix so does anyone know if it is ok for me to take prolesec otc.  If anyone has been in the same boat as I have been please give me some advice. I have not been exercising because I don't have the energy to. I don't think I am getting enough protein in so I would just like to know about how much protein I should be getting in at this stage of my recovery. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

thanks to all

christy

Are you anywhere near your surgeon that did your WLS?  I would go to the hospital ER that they use as they would be more familiar with WLS patients.  That is awful that they would not hydrate you.  I had a very difficult time getting in my liquids for the first two months.  I likewise had a job that was not condusive to drinking a lot during the day.  What I had to do was really focus on it before work, before lunch, and after work.  I would have a really hard time sipping so I enjoyed a lot of SF popsicles to get more fluid in.  I also found that if I put my waters in the freezer and made them slushy that I could get them down easier.  Some tummys hate cold and some like mine love it.  Whatever you have to do you have to get your water in.  It is vital and you will not lose if you don't get it in.  It has to be your number one priority in the beginning and really always.  It's hard at first but you will develop the habit.  I am 7 months out now and can just now drink almost normally.  Good luck to you!!!  Hang in there...it gets better and trust me the weight will come off.  Sip sip sip!!!!

Ahh, Christy!  I am sorry you are having such a hard time.  Yes, you were probably dehyrdated (maybe still are.)  Next time, or even today if you still feel bad, call the nurses station at Weight Wise.  They will contact the doc on call and he will call you back.  It would almost certainly be cheaper to drive to Edmond than go to the local ER and get sent home.  I can't believe the ER doc did that!  Did he even bother callign Weight Wise?

Why can't you drink during the work day?  That is dangerous in this heat!  There are many types of water bottles you can buy to keep water with you during the day.  You are just going to have to figure out a way to get in fluids.

You are having the 3rd- 4th week stall that is very common.  Yes, Ruth, the body is readjusting but it is still a stall!

How much protein are you getting each day?  I have found that my getting my protein up to 90- 100 grams per day I started losing better.

Denise

I didn't even think of the stall thing - actually I would make a bigger assumption that the weight loss is stalled because it is using everything it is getting to keep her hydrated right now and it won't release anything else because it is in trauma from the dehydration.

But your point is noted, I am off my soapbox about stalls.  I know when I am beating a dead horse...and there is a lot of bodies somewhere!!  :-)

Christy:

Yes, you can take OTC stuff for your heartburn.  However, due to the other issues you have noted, please take a few minutes to call the hospital (FBH) and cross-check the information.  Also, there are a few things you are going to HAVE to do for yourself and for your health:  1.  You HAVE to have fluids more often than you are having them - speak to your employer and explain it, if you need a doctors permission for it, call WW and have them fax it to you.  This heat is NOTHING to screw with and it will not be pleasant fixing it.  2.  Since you are hours away from WW, be sure before you go to the ER that you contact FBH and have them call instructions in to your local hospital with specific instructions for a bariatric patient.  Carry the WW and FBH information with you everywhere you go so that anyone treating you can directly contact the doctors.  You can get Dr B & Dr W direct contact information from your patient advocate - they will even give you their direct personal cell information just for this specific need!  Use it!   3.  Contact your dietitian at WW about the protein issue - there are some guidelines but they like for us to set our own goals to enable us to make the best choices for ourselves. 

I will post the symptoms for dehydration again for the entire forum since it is information that all of us need to have with us and those around us also need to be aware of.  When you become dehydrated you don't have a sense of normalcy and you may not be able to detect the condition or be able to make the decisions you need for your care.  It is IMPERATIVE that you and those around you have the information!

Please take the time to update your doctor and the facility of the issues you are having.  That is what they are they for!!!  Anyone at the nurses desk can be your helping hand (and most of them have been where you are!) and usually within a short few minutes one of the doctors is on the line with you checking on your issues.  Take advantage of this service!!  This is why the get the big bucks!!!

Hang in there.  It truly does get better and better.  My initials thoughts are the ER there are a bunch of dweebs and have no clue about health, but we need to get you empowered to assist them in learning about how to care for you!   Also engage your PCP so that they can help you in the event you need it!!

Let us know what else we can do to help you!   Don't ever feel alone there!!  We are here for you!!   ((((HUGS))))   R

I don't know about the weight loss stall, but I do know firsthand about dehydration.  I started feeling very weak Monday and began having tightness in my chest when I would walk.  I called Dr. W and he recommended some diluted Gatorade to help me with the energy.  By Friday, I was terrible.  I could barely walk from my truck to my office without feeling like I was going to pass out.  My urine was dark and my back was starting to ache.  I called my GP first and then I decided to call Dr. B.  He told me to go straight to the ER.  Just when I got to the ER, my GP called and told me to drink lots of fluids (duh.... no kidding).  That really hacked me off as I had been trying to get my 64 oz. in daily.  I went ahead and was seen in the ER but gave them Dr. B's cell phone.  After a multitude of tests and two bags of fluids, I am a new woman. 

I don't know your health history, but I'm telling you I don't think you are going to bounce bac****il you get some serious fluids.  I think what Dr. B said is true.  Once you get behind, it is impossible to catch up.  I would call them and get yourself in for some fluids.  You will be SO glad you did it.  The tightness in my chest is gone and I finally have energy.

Good luck.

i'm so sorry you are having such a bad time and i hope everything gets better. i'm also sorry that you were treated that way at the er. hopefully you can talk to your employer and explain the situation to them and they will make arrangements for you to be able to drink all day long. surely they would rather see you with a bottle of water all day than to see you out on sick leave. good luck my surgery-sister!!

Girl, You have to have your fluids even if you have to strap them to you.There is just no way around that. You can take prilosec, one in the morning and one in the evening is what Dr. Walton had me take. They don't tell us how much protein to have. The main thing is to eat your protein first and if nothing else will fit then that is just the way it is, Protein first!! It will get better but I can't stress enough that you have to drink. Best of Luck.

Rita

The only thing I can add here would be that I was struggling to get fluids in (granted it was winter time) but Dr. Walton told me to aim for 45 and build up to the 64. I had to use hot tea first thing in the morning due to nausea.

Can you wear a fanny pack that has packets of Crystal Light to go and that might hold 2 water bottles or 1 bottle you could refill? I worry about you in this heat.