Chronic illness and post op RNY

hi, I'm Rhiannon...new around the board.

just wondering if there is anyone else with chronic neurological conditions that has had this?

i have Epilepsy and discovered at the start of march this year my meds weren't absorbing which led me to have seizure changes. I knew there was a possibility of this but I didn't expect the emotional side that came with it. Between 2nd march and now this year I've had close to a dozen grand mal seizures both witnessed and unwitnessed and 2 have landed me in hospital with concussion.

the emotional side is I don't feel safe to leave home (plus it's winter in Australia lol) to go to the gym alone, I don't have a gym partner and I've just started back with my PT after 5mths of nothing.

ive put on about 4-5kg which is about 1kg a month roughly, ideally I'd like to get back down to what I was before the emotional stuff happened which was 94.6kg....I was 150kg before the pre surgery diet, lost 13.5kg on that over 4wks and gradually lost up to about 55.5kg over the last year.

I know that my depression and anxiety play a large role but I'm sorting things out with that but my meds make me so hungry all the time. Portion control isn't an issue I know what the amount is for me to achieve satiety but I'm struggling big time with medication side effects!!!

Beside meds have you consider a complete change of diet?

There is studies that show that pure keto diet (high fat, very low carbs, and moderate proteins) can help with a lot of neurological issues, specially seizures.

Limiting carbs should also help you with feeling less hungry, and to lose weight.

I know it is easier said than done. But Google the ketogenic diet and seizures. There is a lot of info about that on the web.

http://www.drperlmutter.com/new-study-validates-ketogenic-di et-epilepsy-treatment-adults/

The Keto diet doesn't work for me in regard to seizure control and given the dose of the medication I'm on even my GP has said it's more than likely meds.

I am sorry to hear that.

but even with medications - they affect your hunger and hormonal issues - how your body process the food.

What and how much you eat- it is up to you. when I am on the steroids - I get really hungry and I can gain a lot of weight in a very short time. I always try to adjust my eating and limit foods that not only will make me put on weights but that also have a tendency to stimulate my appetite. without steroid s- i have liberty to eat more and be less restrictive, but when my doc increases my steroids - I decrease my food intake and decrease the carbs. It is rather drastic and very difficult, but I don't want to deal with extra weight as I am dealing with other issues. You may need to decrease how much you eat- the carbs and calories, to prevent more weight gain. And if not losing- stop the regain. It is not fair - but then life is not fair.

wishing you best

I'm actually generally extremely good, I've owned the weight gain but the surrounding cir****tances of it are also major contributing factors.

due to a degree of agoraphobia caused by the seizures I've been unable to leave the house without an escort, I've been unable to go to the gym until I get results from my latest blood tests and mum is a night shift nurse so she's asleep during the day.

im going to try a pouch reset after my birthday (21st aug) and I've kicked up my protein intake to help me stay satisfied for longer. Unfortunately I become hypoglycaemic if I don't eat at least 5-6 meals during the day (breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and supper 2hrs before going to bed so I can maintain a normal BSL.

The RNY has caused me to have hypoglycaemic events so I don't really have much of a choice but to have complex carbs and anything with dextrose/glucose in it.

It doesn't matter what I eat because for me, I need to exercise as well (some people do minimum exercise but still lose weight) also idiopathic intracranial hypertension is a build up of spinal fluid around my brain causing debilitating headaches, brain fog etc and I've had 5 brain surgeries because of it for revisions of my VP shunts, so whilst I'm doing everything right post op I'm still struggling.

I haven't had seizures since I was 14 but hope you're able to stay safe.

Are injections an option?

I have MS, and will be having VSG instead of RNY because of medication absorption concerns. That being said, worst case I have injectable options.

I am sorry you are having such a hard time. How long ago did you have surgery?

End of July last year.

at this point no, there is no injectables of my meds unless I'm in hospital so all tablets