Ulcer update

Went to Greenville yesterday for my endoscopy with Dr. MacDonald. It seems like the medicine is working to heal things up. He is concerned because of the portion of the stomach that can't be seen so I need to stay on the meds for at least the next 3 months.

He did tell me that the stomach looks like it should at nearly 3 years out. Nothing is stretched out of size or no other visible problems. That's good to know. It means I still have my tool and have to really work it now that the honeymoon phase is becoming a more and more distant memory.

We were able to talk about the effects of stress - ulcers, teeth grinding, weight gain, fatigue. hmmmmm...I'm a poster child for all of these. It can make weight loss a slow process but if I can properly manage my stress it's a positive.

I hate needles. I always have and I always will. Well guess who was dehydrated yesterday and had to have 4 different people try and put my IV in????? I look like a voo doo doll. That was really the only downside.

All in all I came away feeling much better about things. Time to get serious about my mental & physical health. Wish me luck.

- Iris

Iris,

I'm so glad to hear that you seem to be recovering well from your ulcer. I'm also glad to hear that all look good as it relates to the condition of your tool. I know that you have commented in the past that you were disappointed that you didn't get as far along the road as  you had originally hoped and that you are also disappointed that you've experienced some regain. That said, you have been very successful in losing your initial weight and having done so myself, I'm here to tell you that while the honeymoon may be over, I personally found that losing weight with the aid of my tool made it a completely different proposition than it was before I had my WLS. I guess I want you to know that while you no longer have the 'advantage' of the malabsorption propelling you forward, I found that I didn't have to diet to get the regained weight off either. I did have to take a critical look at my behaviors and then use my tool. For me, that means that when I want to lose I need to log because it helps me with personal awareness and accountability. I also need to be sure that I'm following the rules of the pouch, meaning that I don't drink before, during or after meals, that I lead with 3 to 5 ounces of protein and that I following that with complex carbs. Simple carbs are not OUT when I'm trying to lose, because I personally don't do so well with deprivation... I turn into a rebellious 3 yr old ;-)... but it does mean that I make sure to take care of business first. I found that the weight really did come off relatively easily, not like it did with the malabsorption, but it wasn't painful either.

Wishing you all the best my friend!

Thanks Barb - I needed to hear some encouraging words.

I've had to really check my attitude and behaviors that should be geared toward a healthy lifestyle - I seem to be an all or nothing sorta gal. Either completely on board and compliant or a polar opposite and behaving like the rebellious teenager. (Teenagers are much craftier than 3 year olds and can justify any given behavior). I think once I saw an initial regain I sorta freaked out for a little while and behaved like my world had ended.

I saw myself as a weight loss failure. Forget the huge amount of weight that I'd lost and kept off. I couldn't see beyond the grain of sand. I'm working with a counselor for some coping strategies that I need to rely on. I am an emotional eater. Getting to the bottom of that is not and has not been easy (not that I've got it all figured out yet). I am not one to open up and share my feeling  - I will do anything to avoid confrontation.

Just like the surgery rearranged my digestive tract - counseling is slowly restructuring my emotional insides. I only wish there was a way to do that part as quickly as the laproscopic bypass. hmmmmmm..... But considering it's taken 43+ years to create my emotional train wreck I can understand it taking a while to clear out the wreckage that's left behind.

I've spent some time downloading some "good" music to my mp3 player so that I'm ready for a walk this evening. The rain here has been sporadic today so hopefully it will continue that way until I can get at least 30 minutes in.

thanks again for the encouragement.