SO TOTALLY IDENTIFY!!!!!!!! HERE'S MY PROBLEM

Hi Friends, I know I can call you friends because we have all at one time or another been on the same page! Here is my page: I am just over 7 months post op RNY. I have lost a total of 94 lbs since Dec 06, surgery was Feb 07. Now my WL has been coming into stall's; and hitting plateaus. I feel hungry quite a bit but I don't feel I eat badly or over eat. I have trouble getting in my water, and protein. Liquids I feel are difficult to get enough in. I have also had vitamin deficency issues, B-1, B-12, D, and calcium. Found B-1 deficency was so dangerous it could have cause permenant nerve damage or heart failure! Now giving myself injections of B-1 per Dr orders; and taking my other vitamins religiously. My ? is when is your so called honeymoon period over? Are there different sizes of pouches, can you stretch them, about how much is bypass in our intestines; how does all this come into play. I never expected this to be easy; nothing has ever been easy for me. If I get there it is because I have earned it. Are there things I can do or eat to get more productive on my WL? And what can I do to keep from being hungry? I appreciate any advise from you seasoned vetrans of the WL wars I can get. I will say my health has already improved dramtically; no more diabetes, no more CP machine, a whole lot less meds, no more high blood pressure! I can do so much more with my family and friends; and my DH says he feels like he has his wife back. I am in this journey for the long hall; and don't regret it for a minute!!! I just wish I could gain a little more confidence that I will reach the golden hoop! I fear failure in the worst way.. Sincerely, Judy R

Hi Judy, I had my surgery on Dec 6th and my honeymoon period is over. It is certainly a lot harder to lose weight now, but not impossible. I would say that at 8 months it the honeymoon is over, but you can still lose weight up to 15 months or so. Yes, you can certainly stretch your pouch. That is why it is so important that you stop eating when you feel comfortable, not when you feel full. Also, surgeons do make different size pouches. My sugeon makes them a little smaller than most. You should be able to eat only about a 1/2 cup at this point, at if it is something more like meat it may even be less. What are you doing for protein? Do you try protein shakes to help and how much water do you take in a day. You need to get in about 65oz of water a day. It seems like a lot, but if you can find a water you like it is easier. I drink dasani grape or strawberry and love them. You have done an excellant job losing weight, 94 is excellent!!! I bet you are feeling a lot better. I have never had to use a cp machine, but they do not look comfortable at all! Congrats on finding your way to better health!! This link will show you how much bypass is in your intestines..if I understand your question correctly. http://www.obesityhelp.com/content/wlsurgery.html#RNY Fear of failing is huge especially at this point. We finally have our life back and do not want to go back to where we were. Thanks for coming to this forum, we are happy to see you here!! Terisa

Hi! Love to have you back on the board! It's a bit LONELY here without you! Ro

Judy, Congratulations on ridding your life of all the horrible co-morbidities, Lady! You made a BIG decision with WLS; the good news is that you have a new digestive system that makes success the rule; not the exception. Just follow the guidelines and it will be fine... I believe that the pouches are measured to be 1 oz or the size of an egg. The surgeons use a device to measure the new stomach, as it is standard to the procedure. There can be different lengths of intestine, as the surgeon chooses which will best suit the operation / patient. The new stomach first heals (soft food stage) and "stretches" so that the body can get enough nourishment. I've heard that the typical amount that the pouch will stretch is 1 - 1.5 cup capacity. That's fine with me. To be more productive with WL, I eat a variety of protein sources, including rice & beans, to fed my body the essential amino acids that it needs to make the compounds that it needs to function. I drink about 64 oz daily now, which feels good. I take my Biotin in the AM and my B12 in the PM, as they compete with eachother. I take my Caltrate 600 Plus w/ D with food, but not with other pills. Food helps the calcium float around in the intestine a bit longer so you get a bit more absorption. I use a pill cutter to divide my multivitamins, Vit C (1/4s), and potassium and take them with food during the day & night. Absorption again. Eating protein first (alone) then eating other foods helps with the "full" feeling. I recently read that the honeymoon period is months 1-6, when weight seems to drop-off the easiest. The person said that many people don't take this time to exercise too so they are later disappointed by stalls, etc. Drinking water can be a pain, but I've had luck with room temperature water, cold water with Wyler's lemonade, soups, and Fudgsicles. I also like the Tropical flavored ice pops. All count as liquids toward your water intake. Hope this helps. Talk to you later. Ro