AAAHHH...AAAAHHHHH!!!!

I weighed myself this morning and I'm up to 196lbs!!! I've had a 25 pound weight gain in the last two years. I am three years out and am supposed to have my yearly checkup with my surgeon and I don't want to go. I am ashamed of myself. I've GOT to turn this around or that size 10 wetsuit isn't going to fit me for my dive vacation this month. -=db=-

Have you had a full set of labs done recently?  It'd be like 4 pages?  11 tubes? Might help to know where else to look besides "behavior",  since that isn't always it. 

4 pages?  11 Tubes??  Do you have a list of all the tests that they should do on us?  If you could forward that or post it that would be great! Debbie

I can cut 'n paste if you want,  but if you email me privately, I can send it in a Word doc.  So much tidier.  [email protected] altho regain is common, sometimes there's an easily fixed reason for it.  Most programs do not cover all the nutitional bases, which leaves us responding to unreasonable cravings.

Lots of tests...not all of them are done by my physician...this is good stuff.  I have appt with hemotologist in May I wonder if she will run them for me?

It will be another 10 years before some of those tests are routine for WLS ppl, sadly.  And another 10 before they realize that simply "WINL" (within normal limits) may not be where we find optimum health. Hema probably won't care about the calcium family, (calcium, PTH, vit D), nor any of the vites, really, except B12 (which behaves like iron).  My PCP just basically runs whatever  I want.  As much as I want to TEACH him why we run them and how to fix them, he just shakes his head and smiles, "You know more about this stuff than I do."  Well, ok, true now.  CAN WE FIX THAT?  LOL Actually, there are a few more I'd LIKE to run, but don't want to push my luck any farther!

The hemo is looking at my low white count as being a vitamin deficiency....We think its in B family but not sure which one.....know its not b-12....I have too much of that.  I am going to give it a try with her...if not then go to my primary and see what she can do.  Thanks for the list.  Its a big help. Debbie

Michelle:  I'm interested to know what else it could be other than behavior.  I'm transected, so I know it's not SLD.  (I have also gained 25 pounds in the last 2 years).  Are you saying that weight gain could be related to vitamin deficiencies?  I'm far from a model patient - I eat sugar and carbs, much more than I should, and I don't exercise as regularly as I should either.  I have been attributing my weight gain to these things.  Can you give me a better excuse?  LOL Carlita

Some deficiencies give you cravings you simply cannot resist.  Most everyone knows about PICA, which is the desire to crunch ice or other odd things (clay, potting soil, laundry soap).  It's quite genuine and is a valid sign of iron anemia.  But other desires indicate other things.  For example., you could leave me in a room with M&M's or hard candies, count them now, count them in an hour.    But do NOT leave me in a room with Camp Fire mints or buttercream frosting!  My naturaopath says, "Ooooooooooo, creamy things, pituitary insufficiency".  I mean, sounded pretty hokey to me, but they treated the pituitary and voila, I still THINK I want those things, but I have seen several birthday cakes some and go, WITH all their frosting intact!  LOL So, that's why I asked about FULL labs.  And I don't know them all, but unmitigating desire for sweets may show low protein.  Not low enough to make you sick, just lower than optimum for YOU.  I use protein (supplement) to ward off those sugar cravings.  Sometimes textures still call me, but I have a rule about drinking a protein drink before I can have the _______ .  And generally that has kept me ok. If you have let sugar be in charge, sadly, there's only one way to get clean and that's cold turkey.  When I had to do it last, I went to 8 protein drinks/day (yes, 240g) for a few days and FINALLY, it let go of me. Whew. Of course, every time I  think I can eat on lousy little cookie at the bank or some place, I'm back being owned by sugar. If sugar is the only problem, then yeah, you'll  have to address it another way.  If you can eat way too much or are hungry shortly after meals (as in HUNGRY, grrr) and you are not drinking with meals, then you might check your mechanics.

Michelle:  Thank you so much for the response.  After reading what you wrote there, it just "hit me" that it's most likely low protein.  I still can't eat much at one time, but I constantly crave sugar and carbs.  I also know that I'm probably not getting enough protein and should be supplementing on a regular basis.  I can't eat much dense protein at one time, at least not as much as we need.  And I haven't been using protein drinks lately, although I have in the past.

When you did your "detox" with the 8 protein drinks a day, were you eating anything else?  Veggies, fruit?  I know for as much as I'm addicted, I may have to go this route myself.

Also, I would really appreciate seeing the list of FULL labs that you discussed.  Could you possibly email this list to me?   As always, thanks for your input here.  Glad to see you posting. Carlita