I'm Back - Again

Hi everyone, Long time, no post. I found that sitting at the computer wasn't in my gameplan for a while after my surgery. I've been back at work for over a month now and by the time I get home, I have no desire to sit at a desk. I don't remember the other knee being this painful for this long - but then, that was almost three years ago and I was three years younger - or maybe my memory is just faulty. Anyway, I am slowly but surely recovering from the knee replacement. I know that it won't be long til I'm back up to par and I'm so looking forward to it. I fell into some bad eating habits after surgery - the food in the hospital was sooooooooooooo good - and I assure you it wasn't low cal either. They encouraged me to eat more than I should have because of needing all the nutrients and enefty I could muster to get through the therapy. I just had to have a hospital with a gorumet kitchen. Anyway, the first time I weighed after I got home (it was a while because I couldn't put weight on the operative leg), I had gained back all the weight I had lost in the six months before my surgery. I was devastated - I had struggled so hard to lose that 10 or 11 pounds and there it was right back on. I know part of it was fluid because the leg was badly swollen but I don't know how much was food and how much was fluid. Our wonderful Val told me about a supplement she has started taking called Relacore - it's an all natural supplement to control anxiety and stress and the production of cortisol which is supposed to cause the gain and retention of belly fat. I bought some last week at WalMart and started it Saturday morning. I have lost 10 pounds since last Satuday and my energy levels have soared. I've been able to cut back on the pain meds, which pleases my surgeon greatly, too. The wonderful part is that after eating, I feel like I did as a new post-op - stuffed. For example, I just had a one egg omelet with fresh spinach and I could only eat about half of it. Two weeks ago, I could eat a three egg omelet with no problem. I'm eating between 800 and 1000 calories a day and have to struggle to get it in. I've gone back on protein supplements twice a day to make sure I'm getting adequate protein because I just don't want to eat much. Lunch is usually a very small salad or some celery stuffed with Light Laughing Cow Cheese (my new love). Sometimes I splurge and have 3 or 4 Triscuits with my Laughing Cow. Well, it's a gorgeous day in North Texas and I'm taking my trusty walker and heading out to do something - I really don't have any set plans but I'm getting out of the house. I might to the the Ikea sore and look around. That will give me some exercise. I explored our new Super WalMart (just around the corner from me) last night so now it's on to bigger and better things. Hope you all have a terrific weekend. Patty

Please do let me/us know how well the Relacore works long term. I'm most interested...and welcome back! Glad you're 'ok'.

i've missed you as well tho i haven't been on this board in a long while- i am glad that you are healing- and so glad that you are getting out and going! i would be intertested in the longer term info about the relacore- i may have to hunt it up--

Glad you are doing well....I have missed your posts. Please keep us posted on the relacore. Where did you buy it...how big are pills and how often do you take? I would really like to get back to 800 calories a day...maybe I can knock off more than a pound every few weeks. Enjoy the weekend and take a stroll with that new knee! Debbie

Debbie, I got the Relacore at WalMart - $18.99 for 120 capsules. They aren't really small but I have no problem swallowing them. You take 2, 3 times a day. I just hope they continue to work as well as they are now. I went with my son to CiCi's Pizza tonight - had a salad and the topping off two small pieces of spinach pizza and I'm absolutely stuffed. I am loving this - it is so much like the first six months post-op. Patty

Hi Patty ... ouch ... knee replacement doesn't sound fun (my knee hurts just thinking about it) ... and I've been advised that's in my pretty near future too. Sounds like you're back on track and you're doing well. Congrats! Karyn

Karyn, The knee replacement isn't a lot of fun and the pain sure isn't but it's so worth it in the long run. I know that in aout 3 months I'll look back on all this and wonder what the big deal was. Don't be afriad of it - just remember that the pain will go away and you will feel so much better for it. Patty

3 times a day like in brek lunch dinner of a non wls person? patty- are you encountering any effect toward sleeping or not sleeping by taking three times a day? sorry- shorthand-i don't want to put any block to my sleeping at nite but sure can use energy in the daytime- am heading to wally's today to try some--

I have found that I'm sleeping much better since starting it. My overall sense of wellbeing is so great and I relax much easier - once the pain in my knee is relieved. Yes, I take it when I first get up, at lunch time and then about 6 PM, Patty

Patty, After my battles with the steroids again, as you know, 20lbs of my weight came back on real fast, and have tried hard to get it off, the relacore really relaxes me, and does make me feel like I am about 6 months out, don't know if I will lose more weight or not, but am sticking with the Relacore, for the way it makes me feel, am sure when the snow is off the ground and the days start getting longer, and I can go out and play in the gardens, that will be a big help too. Have also noticed with the Relacore, that my drinking habits have changed big time, I am back to at least 100 oz of 4C green tea with honey and lemon in it, have dropped the diet cokes, and am down to about 2-3 cups of coffee a day... so something is clicking with this. Will know in a couple of more weeks once I am off the steroids again, if this really does work or not... Glad I told you about it, and so glad you are feeling much better..... Love you too.... Me