Recent Posts
Hello to all the amazing, fantastic people in this forum! My name's Mike and I just wanted to take a moment and introduce myself.
I had Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass surgery on February 7th, 2004. At my start weight I was over 400 pounds. After surgery, I got to my lowest (which was scary - I had lots of complications, developed struggles with food and got down to under 150 pounds, and at 5'11 with a large frame, I looked like a walking skeleton (I am posting photos in my photo gallery). Then, things finally got better, and I began to gain weight. I finally got to and maintained a very healthy 185 pounds and managed extremely well... until a couple of years ago.
Suddenly, my dumping syndrome (which never went away really) got even worse - I now have what the doctors call "surgically induced hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia", where if I eat too many carbs - even healthy ones like whole grains or even fresh strawberries, I get a severe blood sugar reaction. My pancreas pumps out too much insulin as a reaction, and forces my blood sugar too low and I black out. This has even happened once while driving back from a business lunch, where I made the HUGE mistake of eating a small roll on the side of my Chicken Caesar salad. Go figure - how DARE I do that! LOL hehehehe.... Ugh.
So, I began to eat around whatever I could - my dietary intake is a lot fattier than before, and I have even tried just pure Atkins-type eating. Yet now I struggle, very hard, to maintain my current weight which is 242 as of this morning. I feel miserable, I have no energy, and everything hurts - all as a result of carrying this extra weight after not having that issue for so many years.
Now - everything is not doom and gloom - if I had to do it all over again, I would! Surely, by now if I had not had the original surgery I would be long gone and 6-feet under. I am very thankful. I did have some follow up procedures from complications, and a few hospitalizations, but everything was managed great early on. Now, I just struggle every day with food choices, eating from emotions and stress (I work out of the house and have a very technologically challenging job as a Director of Information Technology for a large nationwide company, and I am ALWAYS working it seems) - and at times of very high stress I eat too much, or just not the right thing.... Or - (here's the kicker!) - already fully KNOWING how sick I will be, and that I might black out, I eat carbs that I know will just kill me (lol), and when I feel a blackout/dizzy spell coming on, I just run to the bed and lie down. This is so stupid. I am frustrated and I am disappointed in myself, that after all I have gone through, food still has such a huge control over me.
At any rate, I am so excited to start participating in this forum. From what I have been reading, everyone is so supportive and people here are truly terrific!
Currently, I am 57 (birthday is in May - a Taurus so very bull-headed LOL), I live with my partner in Little Rock Arkansas, I have three amazing dogs (two Chihuahuas and one Basset Hound), and I have two beautiful amazing 33-year old twin step daughters who I am blessed to have a terrific relationship with. I am an open book so ask any questions you like, and I look forward to participating in this group and also in hopefully getting some support, and an outlet for when I am struggling with turning to food. My goal? To get back down below 200 so that I feel better. Thanks so much everyone - I appreciate all of you - have a beautiful day!
Mike
On top of that the doctor told me that some problems may occur, I don't know what he meant but now I'm even more nervous.
For me this would be good, I have been looking for a long time who I could communicate with while waiting for the surgery, for me this is very stressful and now I am very scared.
Last week 196.2
This week 197
Running behind so just dashing this off before going to work
Weights pretty stable so no complaints there. Glad for Tennessee over Alabama in the best game of the season. Also I respect Saban but tired of seeing Alabama get all the glory.
I'm dreading the imminent winter misery also. Leaves are starting to drop now which looks amazing in New England but it comes with a price, raking them later.
My cholesterol is low but I have to take the statins anyway as I still have plaque build up. The meds supposedly keep the plaque from breaking loose.
Last Week 240.3
This Week 238.4
Trees are changing color, and they are starting to fall. Crisp cool weather is here. It is nice, but I dread the cold cloudy days and shoveling snow. Weight moved in the right direction, which I hope continues. Bloodwork a few weeks ago was great for vitamins, but cholesterol has high, and doc said if I don't have it better by December, I will go back on meds for it. Going to give it my best shoy.
Good week to all!
Last week: 193.2
This week: 193.2
Had local fall festival yesterday and there was a mechanical bull there. Challenged my guys to ride it and I'd pay. Only one took me up on my offer. Neither one of us had John Travolta like skills and we sure did not look like a young Debra Winger in a chilled room dancing on top of the thing, but the message was sent. Sarge may getting old but he still has some balls. No, I would sure not have done it prior to 2008!
Congrats to Tennessee for beating Alabama by a FG. Going to get fined by the NCAA for the youthful exuberance post win but 18 years since they last beat Alabama - here's the check. Down side M-State after loosing to Kentuckey will be in Tuscaloosa next Saturday night. We also had to play them after they lost to A&M last year. It wasn't pretty nor was the outcome in our favor.
Have a Great Week, Gentlemen!! 
Never, and I mean NEVER, trust a fart!! 
to be fair Don, that's a very small weight gain for such an adventurous road trip.
:)
