How are you doing Angela?

How are you doing Sweetie? Did you get back your results of your blood work yet? Of course your doctor doe not really need a blood test to tell of you are anemic. There are several signs and symptoms that will lead him in the direction to tell if you are anemic. Blood work will only give him exact numbers.

To be honest I think it was about 6 months before I really started to feel human again. It seems to me Deb was the same way. Just tie a knot and hold on. It does get a lot better.:)

Hi

Thanks for your concern!  I had blood work done last week and even checked a few extra boxes off the slip as he didnt have iron, calcium, B12 or cholesterol checked, I told him I did it today, he was ok with it.  He said the results were all ok.  I asked for a copy as I really want to understand my body and whats going on with it...so here are the results...any comments are welcome, I dont understand some of them

Blood Pressure  136/94
albium 40   (ranges 32-48)
calcium 2.39  (ranges 2.10-2.56)
glucose fasting 5.5   (ranges 3.5-6.0)
iron 9   (ranges 6-29)
TIBC 65   (ranges 41-77)
saturation 0.14   (ranges 0.15-0.50)
phosphate 1.09   (ranges 0.85-1.52)
total protein 79   (ranges 64-83)
B12 level 574   (ranges 117)
creatine 61  (ranges 55-105)
eGFR 60
sodium 142   (ranges 136-145)
potassium 3.9   (ranges 3.5-5.1)
chloride 101   (ranges 96-112)
urea 3.4  (ranges 1.7-8.3)
cholesterol 5.64   (ranges 3.80-5.20)
triglycerides 2.33   (ranges 0.60-2.25)
HDL cholesterol 1.0   (ranges 1.29-2.50)
LDL cholesterol 3.58   (ranges 2.0-3.40)
cholesterol HDL ratio 5.6

Here is an email I sent to 2 different dieticians I deal with in Montreal....

I have decided to see a personal trainer who helps with meal planning etc.  I was hoping you could advise me on how many grams of protein, calcium, fat, carbs, fibre etc that I should be getting each day as well as how many calories each day at this point, its been a little over a month now since surgery.  I had blood work done last week and have a doctor appt tomorrow to see what is going on as I am very tired.
 
Thanks
Angela Keefe


Answer #1

You should have a total of about 1200 cal per day. Prioritise proteins at each meal(meat, fish,egg,mik and dairy,tofu,etc), then vegetables and fruits.Eat complex carbohydrates such as whole wheat bread,cereals,pasta and whole grain crackers.It is not recommanded to eat food made from white flour like white bread,pasta and rice.You should have a total of 70 to 100 gm of proteins every day.For the other groups, you can follow the Canadian food guide with the above recommandations specific to gastric bypass.

Answer #2

I think having lost abouy 40 pounds before surgery and now a month after surgery losing 20 pounds is great.    You should make sure your food intake till 6 weeks is still semi solid and at about 1/3 cup.  I would say the calories depend on what you can eat.  If you think you are full do not push the limits.  Stop before you are full.  You want to keep your stomach as small as possible for as long as possible.  Your hunger should be your guide. 

Begin eating the protein food ( milk, cheese chicken fish meat )  first and then move to veggies and fruit.  Applesauce consistency.    Stay away from starch foods.  Send me what you are eating and amounts and I will be able to help you.  It is hard as I have never seen you.



I am very frustrated as I feel lost at this point, I know I cant be getting enough food in me yet the scale hasnt moved any amount in almost a couple weeks...any advise is appreciated

Thanks
Angela

No matter what you do or which surgery you have (with the possible exception of a DS) the scale will get stuck every once in a while no matter how good you are. Be patient, it will move and when it does it will move daily for a while then stop again. It is just the way it is. So don't lose heart.

I think DS is the same as rny as ar as weight loss goes. When I was last up to se Dr. B I talked to Rinette. She sees a few people who have had DS and she says they get stalled and some of them do regain too. i was surprised to hear this but she says it's true and I suppode she is the one who sees local DS people. I personally have not met a DSer. But it makes sense. Npo matter which wls you have, you really can eat past it if you try hard enough. Rinette says their diet is basically same as a RNYer just more fats. Still can't eat sweets and carbs.

Angela, Sweetie, you are in such a rush. In 6 weeks you have lost 20 pounds and in the month or so before that you lost 40!! Holy snapping blue arseholes girl!!!   When was the last time in your life you lost 60 pounds in 3 months knowing that you were going to keep it off?? I ask you?

Now calm yourself. Suck back and reload. Listen, you will hit stalls. You will hit a LOT of stalls. That is perfectly normal. Perfectly normal. Some of these stalls will last months. Months. All perfectly normal. You will hit  spots too where you will not lose an ounce but will start to lose inches and will see your pants getting too big but you have not lost an ounce in ages. Your body needs time to adjust and redistrubite the fat. It wil hold on to the weight but will redistribute the fats that are still there. Don't worry. It is normal.

If you feel concerned, watch the scale. Is it going up more than the normal 3 to 5 pounds? Have your bowels moved in the last day or so? Did you eat something salty or too sweet and are folding fluid?

I see your b/p is a little high. Not a great deal high but a bit. I wonder if you are holding fluid? 

Your list stated iron levels are a wee bit low. Not abnormally low just a bit. That is to be expected following surgery such a short time ago.    You need to get some good organ meats or/and dark green leafy veggies. It is always better to meet your mineral need by food whenever possible as opposed to pills.  


And it has only been 6 weeks. I did not even feel human ubtil 6 months ater my RNY. I  wasn't really sick, just tired and not quite myself.  

You are doing fantastic. Really. I am dying to see your posts at 6 month and 9 month post op. You will feel so much different and so well.

Angela- as the two wise women who posted prior to me said - You are doing fantastic! All in good time my dear. And if the non-moving of the scale ticks you off too much - put it away out of sight - in the trunk of your car - at a friends house - whatever works. We are such slaves to scales. Stick to your program - don't get too caught up in all the numbers- by that I mean - grams of this, calories etc etc. Right now - at 6 weeks post-op - it should still be all about adequate liquids and protein. At least for me it was. I ate so little in the way of carbs early out - unless it was in a  very high form of protein such as Kaishi Go Lean Cereal, or a very high protein bar. Still eat very little carbs really - they are such empty calories for me. Example -for supper I had about 3 oz bbq strip loin steak - all visible fat trimmed off - and I'd say 3 forkfuls of macaroni salad. That's it. And I am full and satisfied with that. COULD I eat more - sure - but I have found that just when I feel I want one or two more bites - I don't - because that pushes me beyond to an overfull feeling. Which is not pleasant. And it still takes me 20-30 mins to eat a meal. Trust me - I soon got used to eating my food at less than piping hot temps. Tonight - for a snack - if I have one - and really still only eat because I need to - I'll probably have a string cheese- low fat - and 4 or 5 whole wheat flax crackers. Maybe a piece of dill pickle or something. To this day - I still NEVER feel hungry - EVER. To me that is the miracle of this surgery. Take heart Angela and stick to your plan and you will do just fine - in your own way - and in your own time frame. Look how far you've come already! Chin up and Bravo!