Anybody out there who never met goal??

Hi,

This is long and I hope not to boring. I sort of need to vent and hope this is the right place to post. I sort of lurk around the OSSG Grads boards and have participated in a few of the local Yahoo groups here in Georgia. But I have fallen out of the habit of online support groups.  Actually I have never even realized these boards were here until recently so forgive me if this is not the right board per se, but I am not quite sure where I fit these days.  

 I had my RNY  5  soon to be 6 years ago. I had it at Emory.  And during the surgery had a bleed out due to what I would call negligence but that is a ship that's sailed. At that time legally, it was hard for me to make a case against them.  To make a long story short, I bled out due to the trocar breaking my artery. Ended up with a bad hematoma and some infections.  So much for a lap recovery.

Well fast forward a bit, I stopped losing at 9 months out.  Didn't budge and this past year have gained a 20lbs.  I'm sort of mad at myself b/c I know I've become lax, but during this time there has been an annual visit to Emory as a grad of this surgery and my complaints about constant tummy pains b/c I have experienced these as well go rebuffed. All they ever do is CT scans which come up normal.  But the turnover at that office is so high, each time you end up seeing someone different. Aftercare needs some work in my opinion.   They couldn't even tell me what really happened during the surgery, but oh well it could have been worse I guess.

After my weight loss stabilized,  I had plastic surgery. My plastic surgeon fixed several hernia that were at incision sites that resulted from the under fascia (sp?) not being sewn up properly. Then a year later had to have several more hernia sites repaired as well as a tumor removed.

Anyway, I've been feeling really tired, very fatigued, have been experiencing a lot of leg cramps. I have tried playing with vitamins a little more and I am noticing a slight difference.  I've increased magnesium, calcium, B-12 and iron.  Aside from all the stress of this year it's become very hard to just stick with the Protein First, Veggies Second and if any room left carb regimen.  
Do any of you have trouble with this? All of the other support boards seem to address newer issues as opposed to those of us who have been through the "honeymoon period" as it's called.   Is there anyone else out there who never hit their goal and stopped losing at the 9 month window?  How have you coped?   Also if you can eat more food but still get a little food, are you hungry shortly thereafter?  Also grazing and snacking is my problem too, but with the stress and this unpredictable contract work I do lately it seems unavoidable and I need some tips on how to control it.  I do try to keep healthy snacks but man the slider foods like crackers and pretzel call my name?

Even when I was in the beginning losing was always slower for me than the rest it seemed.  I did work out daily and stick to the rules of eating but the weight never melted off me like it did for some it would seem.

Anyway, if any of you have knowledge of where a WLS little lamb who's lost her way can get back to things and some help and ideas as to what I can do please let me know.  I've been lurking around the revision boards but I'm not so sure I can go through another surgery.   Between this surgery, law school loans and plastic surgery and hernia debt I'm tapped out.  So the long hard road of diet and exercise may be my only option, not to mention I am technically self-employed with crappy self pay insurance.

I need some basics guidance.   I've tried the pouch test but it's really hard to commit too.  I do think my tummy has stretched out but usually I know it's full when it's to late and I have to undo my pants after I have eaten a bite or to much.   This has always been the way since I don't have a lot of feeling down there with the slip up from my first surgery.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Desiree Novajosky
Apr 7, 2003
Emory
296/195 for a week I think.....now 219/220 teetering.  Wishing for 175 

 

Desiree,

Yes, you are on the right board and Welcome!  We're a very positive board that supports each other in the challenge of maintaining our loss.

No you're not the only one who didn't make goal.  I didn't as well.  I lost 100 lbs in the first year, then gained back 15.  I've basically maintained that  (within 5 lbs) for the last 18 months.  Although I am up a bit now, stress and holiday's don't help.

A good way to get back on track and "de-carb" is the 5 Day Pouch Test.  I'll be doing it starting 1/5, I know it's pointless to do it before then.  I'm too much of a carboholic!

www.5daypouchtest.com

Your fatigue and cramps sound like vitamin deficiencies.  Have you had labs done lately? 

What about journaling and measuring your food?  Both are important.  I like the Daily Plate.

www.thedailyplate.com


Yes, you can get back under control and lose what you've gained.  Many have done it before us, but it takes work and commitment.  Did some one say that WLS was the easy way out?  :)

Michele

Michele,

Thank you so much for your reply.  I do know about the 5 day pouch test.  I intend to try that after the holidays.  I didn't know about the Dailyplate.com.  Is that like Fitday?  I'll check that out definitely.

I am going in for a check-up after the holidays.  I have had anemia in the past. But I think it's back.

Thanks again!

Desiree

Even though I am a success I never reached my surgeons goal of 155 or even my personal goal of 180. after 5 years & with ALOT of dieting and exercise I managed to hit 189 on my 5 year anniversary but usually teeter between 190 & 194. I was 360 pounds to start and am 191 this morning so I am not complaining. I can imaging doing anything more than I do so I am sure this is where I belong.  I use to say God liked me fat because as 350 pounds I ran RAN 4 miles every single morning and 5 years later I run every morning Diet every day  and stay at 190 ish  so I guess God likes me at 190 ish ;-)

try to get a positive look.  its hard work  but well worth not having to worry about breaking chairs !!!

Good luck

Diana
RNY 9/17/03
360/191/forever aiming at 180

If you will look at the DS, RNY and Lapband boards, you will find many people who do not reach their goal. There are many reasons, some just don't want to do the work, but for some, their goal may be too low to begin with. Or their bodies just reach a weight and levels off. This is what happens for most of us, we hit a weight and seem to stick there, some at or near goal, and many above it.
I have seen that many people who were close to 300 pounds, end up around 200. I am 3 years and 5 months out and didn't have a goal. I just wanted to be well, and feel better. I am maintaining a loss of 140+ pounds so far.
I know that most of us have a hard way to go to stick with eating plans. The carbs are what does it, and all weight loss surgeries need low carbs to work.
I see from your post you know what to do, but have a hard time doing it. I think that's the key here. I don't have an answer. I am sure someone will tell you to revise to a DS. Maybe you should check it out. For myself, I can't go back to the size I was, no matter what it takes. I was too sick, and unhappy with my life.
I wish you good luck.

Regarding the leg cramps.  I also have them and never has any of my lab work come back abnormal.  So I thought maybe it had to do with B vitamins.  I ended up with B6 toxicity which mimics ALS or MS.  So just be VERY careful with the B vitamins.  Most of them won't hurt you but B6 can. 

Since I backed off the B complex, I'm feeling much better.  Still have the leg cramps on occasion, but overall, I feel better. 

Now if I can just get the carb monster under control and lose the 20 pounds I've gained, I'll be a happy camper.  And no, I never got to goal.  I was within 3.5 pounds for about 5 seconds. 

Hi,

Thanks for the info.  I've tried supplementing magnesium since I posted this, and it's seems to be helping with the leg cramps and the neuropathy.  I've missed three or four days due to the holidays and being out of town and I notice the difference already. 

And I wish I could say I was 3.5 pounds to goal but I'm still about 50lbs away.  Guess I'll just have to start loving myself as is and worry about a 1lb a week and suffer in mega no carb lifestyle.

Desiree

HAPPY NEW YEAR!