Not doing well.

This has been my longest time in between dr's visits, 4 weeks, and I was hoping to go back and have lost around 20 pounds. Give or take 5 pounds. I went on Tuesday and they said I lost 1 pound. 1! I was so depressed and they were none too happy either. They wanted to know what I had been eating for my 2nd month after surgery and for the most part I eat cottage cheese with some sort of fruit (usually smashed bananas or watermelon) for breakfast and dinner and for lunch I usually have a slice of tomato with tuna salad on it. This was working fine for me and then it just stopped. I'd only be able to eat a few bites one time and a few the next. My dr believes in 3 meals a day and no snacks, but I wasn't eating good at meal times and sometimes was throwing up. So I'd eat more meals and smaller amounts. Swallowing liquids was bad too, so I stopped drinking a lot and went down to 20-30 oz per day. I'd throw up on just liquids sometimes. If I had to throw up I would see if I could get away with just bringing up the mucus, but sometimes I had to toss everything. Sorry this is so graphic. They said I shouldn't be eating the tomato and that they were surprised that other things like salmon and ground hamburger were giving me a problem. They said I might be developing a stricture and wanted to know if someone was with me so they could schedule it for that day. I said no and went home and waited for them to call. I needed to see my own PHP because my blood pressure was high and they had taken me off the HCTZ during the operation. So they got me in on Thursday and they did a gastroscopy and balloon catheterization to open the stricture. This new dr said he stretched it much farther than he thought he could and that I might get away with only needing one more stretching. ONE MORE! I thought this was a one time thing. Oh man. So I got to my PHP today and he said that I have a very severe UTI which needs to be treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics always cause me a doozy of a yeast infection, but guess what? I already have a doozy of a yeast infection too! Lucky, lucky me. I also got weighed at his office, which I do on my weeks off from my WLS dr's office due to the fact I have no scale. This was very depressing because I went up 4 pounds since last week on his scale. I don't know if this is all related to the bacterial issues I have going on or the procedure from yesterday or, I'm praying, I might be ready for that time of the month. I haven't been drinking hardly anything until today. Like 20-30 oz. but so far today I've gotten in 40 oz and still have a few hours to go. I don't know why I am rambling on and on. I feel like I am emotionally dumping. Which is better than physical dumping, and I can attest to that! Next Dr's visit is September 27th and the next Stricture stretching is September 29th. By the way, the new dr asked me to stop the Protonix for the 4 weeks and try Prevacid, under the tongue kind, instead. I don't have an acid problem, so I don't know why he wanted to change that, but he did. Laura

Hi Laura, So sorry to hear about your situation. I don't understand why a stricture would make you not lose weight...but then again I am new to this. My only advice is that I find it very odd that in your situation, with the problems going on, that your Doctor said he would see you Sept. 27th and not before. To me that sounds very unusual; I would think he would see you the following week. It worries me that you have a full month to go and yet you seem to be in an unstable situation medically. If it were me I would request a weekly follow-up until things got better. Please keep me posted. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. -Karen

Hi Karen, I should have prefaced that my dr's office expects the stretching to solve all of my eating issues and wants me to call back this week if I still have issues and they'll have me come in. I guess in all of my whining I forgot to put that part in. Ooops! Thanks for your encouragement. Laura

Laura: It does not suprise me in the least you haven't lost weight, your starving and dehydrated! (*and probably feel like crap!) Strictures happen in up to 9-10% patients after RNY, their body just seems to heal more and scar on that stoma, yes scope/stretching usually takes more than once, 1-6x or so actually, so be patient as you can knowing that it is NORMAL and nothing you or anyone else did/didn't do to cause this. The risk is stretching it too much this is why they do a conservative stretch and may need to repeat! A enlarged stoma is just as bad as a too small one ok! I AGREE W/ NOT GETTING INTO GRAZING (A LITTLE HERE AND THERE EATING) *opps sorry cap lock!, I would keep from carbs as well (fruit/tomatoes) and stick w/ protein, so you rev up metabolism, give your body fuel so it does not break down your muslces/organs for that and you are not wasting lean muscle mass! Do you use whey protein shakes? Just a thought to consider! The water/fluids are needed to keep your kidneys healthy and liver to process the broken down fats it is trying to do! Also w/ a UTI fluids are the best u can do! Now to avoid dehydration right now I'd say if you have to choose between food/fluid, fluid should win out. Setup a system of making sure each hr you get in 4 oz (make a game of it, develop a mini notebook w/ each hour in left column and check off in right? or take a 2 L bottle and fill it with water each time in same amount you drink so you have a visualization of how far you have to go, make sure 1/2 is full by mid day so yiu dont run short as early on and w a stricture there is no catching up! Now as for the prevacid the issue is keeping ulcers away esp w/ the stricture and stretching (my best guess) many wls keep pts on this type of med preventatively for 6-12 months! Better safe than sorry ya know! Know your wt loss stall is due to the dehydration and starvation and maybe carbs a little.... You can reverse this w/ exercise (revs metabolism), getting in at least 64 oz PURE water preferably (try warmer may soothe better w/ a squeeze of lemon and a packet of splenda? or warm broth!), I rec. proetin shakes for fluid and protein to avoid that loss of lean muslce mass that will lower your metabolism and slow wt loss more, focus on that and I bet u get a suprise at the scale! PLUS the infection can reak havoc w your scale also. This is my advice it isn't about the numbers on the scale ultimately it is about being healthy, focus on those habits and the numbers change when yiour body allows! You can only influence wt so much, right now your influencing a stall.gain.. You can reverse it. Hope this makes sense and you feel better emotionally/physically soon! Take Care, Jamie Lap RNY 10/9/02 Dr. Singh 320/163 5'9'' (lost 45# before surgery) Plastics 6/9/04 & 11/11/2005 Dr. King http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=c1132518510 "Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!"

Laura i am so sorry you are having troubles. I will say a prayer that things get better for you really soon. Hang in there! LisaMarie

hi Laura, I am sorry to hear you have having such a hard time. I know how it feels. Hopefully they can stretch you so can be good to go this time. I have heard that sometimes strictures can take a few stretches before they are taken care of. I know it stinks to have trouble eating and you just feel like giving in but be strong and keep your head up! I promise this will all be in the passed before you know it! Take care and feel better soon! xoxo

HEY LAURA! HANG in there it will get better. SORRY your going thru these frustrating times. (((HUGS)))) take care be well and keep us posted ! lisa

Thank you all, ladies! I am feeling much better today. I have been on antibiotics for 1 1/2 days and 1 treatment for the yeast infection. I also have gotten in 60 oz of water so far today and I still have a few hours before bed. You have all been so kind. Jamie with her medical advice and Tavia just giving encouragement after all that she has gone through. Thank you all so much. Sincerely, Laura