Phentermine?

My story in a nut-shell: I had weight loss surgery a few years ago and while it helped- it has not been “the answer" as I’d hoped. Some who have had WLS claim to lose their appetite post-op, others undoubtedly are good dieters and have more “will power" than me. Whatever the reason, the fact is that I find myself feeling almost as desperate as I did pre-op. Sure, being 240ish is better than 330+ but 240 still prevents me from feeling normal, free, light, and healthy. I want more from life than this.

 

In the past I used Phentermine, (and other diet pills prescribed by a doctor) to lose weight and I’m considering taking it again while I save money for a revision, (which will likely be several years away.) In my heart I know phentermine is just a band-aid, and a complicated one at that. It has side effects that are not great, and unhealthy. But are the side effects more or less healthy than obesity? Who knows.

I feel that desperate feeling inside of me like the side effects may be a fair trade off for the weight loss. I am sad to be in the same place I was in 10 years ago when I first started taking diet pills- and I’m nearly the exact same weight. Phentermine worked before- temporarily. I know I could find a doctor to prescribe it.

 

Has anyone taken it before?

 

Even 10 years later I can remember the way it made me feel- it did something inside of me that I’ve never been able to replicate- it literally lifted my appetite. I know, duh, that’s what it’s supposed to do. But for someone like me that’s a HUGE thing. My appetite is fierce and something I’ve never been able to control. I can’t follow a diet for even 1 day. I don’t even try anymore. I marvel at the thought that there is a little tiny pill that can take away my desire to eat. Even though I know it’s only a band-aid I flirt with the idea of taking it again for awhile. Just long enough to lose a little weight, so I can gain it back…and then lose it again.

 

I wonder if Phentermine in conjunction with the DS will work very well, at least for a while.

I guess I have to decide if a temporary fix is better than no fix at all.

I am currently taking Phentermine.  I lost the first four months after my surgery but nothing after that.  I was doing 1000-1200 calories and couldn't lose.  I'm able to do about 700-800 calories with the Phentermine and now have lost about 5 lbs in the last month, it's not much but it's better than nothing.  I think my metabolism must be really screwed up. 

Ninety pounds is a good amount to lose, did you lose more and gain some back or did you stop losing once you got to 240?  What kind of revision can you do with a DS?  I wonder if I will end up having a revision but I don't know what kind it would be with a sleeve, I wonder if it could be made smaller.

I too have not lost my hunger with the surgery but the pills have helped with doing the lower calories.  I really don't think I have much restriction either but I measure everything so I don't over eat.  I haven't had any bad side effects from the pills, I actually feel like I have more energy but not wired.

I am so amazed by people who can eat such low calories and still do not lose. I'm so sorry you are going through this.  If I ate 1200 calories I'd lose weight like crazy. Heck, I think if I ate 2500 calories I'd lose weight like crazy (because of the DS). But I eat way more than that most days. I lost down to 220 and last I checked I weighed 237. That was in May. I don't weigh myself because it's too depressing for me. I think I've gained more. The weight gain is slow but steady.

Unlike other surgeries the DS varies greatly from surgeon to surgeon. ( In fact, my surgeon is the person who told me that. ) I would like a DS-DS revision. (shorter common channel and smaller sleeve). My boyfriend had a much more drastic DS than me and I see daily how much different his experience has been because his surgeon was more aggressive.

 

The revision you could have would be to add the bypass (making your sleeve into a full DS) You could also have your sleeve re-done and made smaller. That is, of course, a personal decision only you can make.

 

The reason phentermine gives you more energy is because it’s an amphetamine, (speeds you up.) It did the same thing for me. How long have you been on it? For me the side effects were gradual and got worse over time. I was more agitated. I experienced short term memory loss. I had low back pain that only occurred on phentermine. And it seemed to make my thinking very rigid. For example, I’d walk through the grocery store for hours and leave with almost nothing- because no food looked good to me. I would go into a starbucks fully intending to order something and literally walk out 20 mins later with nothing, and in tears because of the frustration. It’s weird- I know. Not to mention I was both physically and emotionally dependant on the drug. As soon as I stopped taking it I’d gain weight at a rapid pace.

Gosh, writing down my past experience with it in detail makes me see how crazy it is to consider trying it again.
Thank goodness you are not experiencing the same side effects.

I started taking it about a month ago.  I try not to take it on the weekends because I want to try and do it without the pill but it is hard.  I don't know how people do such low calories either, it's a struggle for me to do the 700-800 with the pill but not as hard as it is to do 1200 without the pill.  There are people over a year out that say they are only doing 600 calories and I don't see how that is possilble. 

I don't think my sleeve is as small as other peoples.  I tried to see if I could make myself sick with cottage cheese once (I was able to eat 6oz in about 10 minutes, and it didn't phase me so I stopped because I didn't want to find out how much I could eat) but nothing happened, I've never gotten sick. 

I thought that after the surgery I could eat like a normal person but I still have to diet and I don't understand that.

First of all you have lost almost 100 lbs!!!  That really is fabulous!  How much weight would you need to lose to be happy with your weight?  Would 40 lbs. be enough?  Have you seriously considered just eating a little less food and exercising just a little more? 

Finally after dieting most of my life, I realized this in April 2009.  I was back up to 235 lbs.  I was 200 lbs when I had my RNY to put that into perspective.  Since then I am eating a lot because when I eat too little I get so over hungry I eat too much and I end up gaining weight.  I realized I burn about 10 calories per pound of me.  If I eat 2000 calories I level off at 200 lbs.  If I eat 1200 calories I would probably level off at 120 lbs.  The problem is I can't eat less than 1600 calories for any reasonable amount of days.  I finally told myself I will eat 1600 calories a day and be happy at 160 or 170 lbs.  I will never be the "super patient"  like I expected to be.  i will never be normal BMI...so what!  Some days I lose control and eat too much but normally I can live on 1600 calories.  Could you seriously count calories and stop at 1990 calories?  After about a year you would be in onederland and have learned good (ok maybe not good but better) eating habits.

I took phenteramine and it does work but only for a few months then it does nothing.  In the end you have to find an amount of food you can live with for the rest of your life and get to a happy weight. 

I also thought a RNY would give me extra control but it simply didn't work.  I never lost my appetite after a couple weeks out.  I have no limitations from the surgery (long story short).  I DO have normal A1Cs though which is fabulous because a long ago it was 14.6 (that is horrible in diabetes terms).  I am not on insulin anymore.  I can still enjoy food.  I was at a party and a friend of mine had a RNY that is very restrictive.  She dumps all the time.  Rather than appreciating the control her surgery gave her, she took a dessert and ate the whole thing over the evening.  That piece of cake had to be 1000 calories.  She was literally eating around her surgery.  Meanwhile I took a bite of my husband's and then had some of my low calorie chocolate zucchini cake.  Funny but he can't eat wheat so he just ate some frosting and we left the rest.   Quite frankly the first bite tastes the best anyways.

Personally I considered Phenteramine but my doctor wouldn't give it to me after a RNY.  I knew it was only a short term solution but thought it might jump start me.  In the end I think just eating a little less everyday and being honest with myself is working better for me.

I hope you can figure out where you want to get to and then find a way to do it.

Daisy

 

I just had my lapband removed and I'm taking it.  I will do anything not to gain the weight back.   I am so upset after only having my band 28 months.  It has been such a let down.  I never got to goal but I do not want to gain the 60 pounds back that I lost.  I know it is coming though because I really ate near nothing for the 28 months I had the band so no matter what I eat it will be more than I have been eating.   I just feel so ..... I can't even explain it. :(

I feel for you. I know how desperate it feels. I can tell you that if you ever have the opportunity, check out the surgery I had- (duodunal switch) it is very powerful. Even though I only lost about 60 percent of my weight- it seems most people do way better with it than I did. Plus the degree of sucess has lot has to do with how drastic the surgeon is... i,e, how small the sleeve is made and how short of a bypass is done. I eat whatever I want (and I want a LOT) and I still managed to lose 100 pounds. And I've kept all but 15 of it off thus far.
Reguardless of what the next step is in your road to weight loss, I wish you well. I know how hard this is. I have another 80-90 pounds I'd like to lose, put at this point I'd be thrilled with 50!
I'm thinking seriously of trying phentermine again. Maybe there is a way to counteract the side effects.... who knows. *sigh*

Jenn

I have the pouch of RNY and the short common channel of a DS, a little longer really at 200cm.
I lost weight well, and maintain pretty well. I have eventually gained 10 pounds ( it was 5) that I fight constantly to lose and then regain it. I might would even accept as much as 20, IF it stopped there.
I eat much more now than the first 2-3 years. I am now 5 years out, 54 years old and menopausal. Some weight gain may be inevitable at my stage of life.
 I believe I would use whatever aid I needed in order to remain at a lower weight. I am never going back, and I am willing to work at food and exercise , but would not rule out drugs.
I think most drugs would need to be used  on a few days then off 2-3, in order not to become tollerant and need a higher dose.
Also eating lower, then higher calories switching every few days may help with a screwed up metabolism. Continual low calories may slow your metabolism even more.
I truly believe carbs are the DEVIL, and my enemy. I try to remain on meat and veggies, but can never completely leave carbs alone for more than a few days.
Good luck with your journey!

Unfortunately, I would not have my families support for another WLS.  After 6 days in the hospital and 3 days in the ER before that, they have been put through the ringer and would probably have me committed if WLS even came out of my mouth!  LOL

Also, I don't believe my insurance will pay for another weight loss surgery until I am obese again and I think the lapband and gastric bypass is all they will pay for right now.   

I still owe the hospital 2700 for having the lapband put in and no telling what my part of all the bills will come to for having it taken out.  

For all those reasons AND MORE, I desperately want to maintain where I am at (even if it is 30 pounds higher than I should be)  I would be so happy to just stay right here.  It is going to take some work and determination on my part.   I don't know if I have it in me most days.  I just keep keeping on and taking one day at a time.  

Being able to come here and vent is certainly one of the biggest helps I get!

 Gosh I know where U are Sisters .....  I dieted and exercised like Mad trying to get ready fora stoopid fashion show last Friday ....and woke up on Monday  ( after NO binge , no fatty restaurant food and a walk and /or swim every day 12  !!! lbs heavier ....    .  


What the HECK have i done to deserve this darn body ?!!!  I DO think diabetes /metabolic disorder has a lot to do with it ..but still.  My AICs no longer indicate diabetes bu that does not mean i dont crave carbs like mad nor that my body doesnt hold onto every calorie .

That said, I will freely admit i eat FAR FAR more than most of the tiny posters on the liteweights board who live on protein drinks and a few snacks .  

Frankly , i have the belly capacity for eating a MEAL .  My friend had RNY ten years ago and I can eat twice as much quantity wise as him . Luckily i prefer lowfat  usually ( but dint take me to a buffet ) 

Ok here area few lil tips U can try .....  HOODIA  does take away the appetite very effectively .   Switching from coffee to tea really helps .... and using isopure protein shakes as the creamer ( zero carbs ,one gram fat for 50 grams protein and 200 calories )  really helps keep ya full .  

Wellbutrin ( a fast acting antidepressant  very cheap and covered by most insurance ) really helps U exercise ( take when U go out )   - 75 mg dose works best , once a day when Ure about to work out .  Just  makes U go twice as long , twice as easily .  Ginseng also helps give ya energy .

Switching from coffee to tea takes off and keeps off ten to fifteen pounds on the average person  because tea speeds up Ur metabolism where coffee slows it and helps promote insulin resistance .

All these things work ..... of course theyre not ENOUGH for me .... GRRRR.   Has anyone tried Topamax ( a migraine drug ) plus wellbutrin ?  this is what im thinking of trying .   Thanks !!