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Congratulations on all your hard work and success! It sounds like you are much healthier in body, mind, and spirit. Good for you!
Laura
Thanks, that's helpful. What is the name of the antibiotic that you've found helpful? I've been using pistachios as my go-to nut lately and that's worked out OK for me. It seems like RNY triggers other latent disease or event-like autoimmune disease. It makes me wonder if anyone has done any research into it?
I had surgery many many moons ago :-) I'm with you. I've been you! (more than once!) Can I give you the one piece of advice that I always come back to when I get myself in a situation where I'm feeling my life/eating/weight etc is out of hand? It's so simple, it's stupid. CHANGE ONE THING YOURE DOING AND CHANGE IT COMPLETELY, RELIGIOUSLY and DEDICATEDLY. Just one thing. And leave the rest for now. Eventually, you'll address 'all' the other things. Right now, you're just picking one.
Now… it should be a pretty important thing… not a passing thing (like, oh, I occasionally put sugar in my coffee) Often, when you get in this situation what happens is you start trying to change everything and doing that makes no difference so you get frustrated and quit. Or, you try to go back to 'perfect' and you can't achieve that, so you quit. Know what I mean?
So, pick your one thing. For example, you mentioned that you stopped exercising. Maybe that's your one thing? Start. Do it EVERY DAY. Do it like it's your religion. Forget the rest. Just exercise. Exercise until it becomes a part of you!
Or, maybe it's calories. Are you not counting and keeping to a goal? Maybe calorie counting is your one thing? Again, do it like it's the most important thing in the world. ROCK that calorie counting and calorie goal like a BOSS. Get that under control and let the rest be for now.
Eventually, usually in short order, you'll be feeling GREAT about what you're focused on and you'll be seeing progress. Then, you can start to think about one OTHER thing. One thing at a time.
I hope you'll think about it. Best of luck to you.
Best, 
Lisa C
From CT
I just wanted to reply, I have no really helpful info, but I feel your pain and anxiety in your post. I have never heard of insulinoma, or it being and sort of side effect specifically related to surgery.
Please- TAKE A DEEP BREATH and make your appointment to follow up and deal with your diagnosis. Avoiding it is only prolonging your agony, and your anxiety. Of course, they will tell you all the worst case scenario things, because ether must, but try to focus on the possibilities that they're may be a surgery and a pill that can control the situation for you, which will make life much easier for you.
I get bouts of hypoglycemia and I know how horrid they can be. Again, I however, have never heard of insulinoma. Have you been instructed that you need to eat every 2 hours 'or else'? Could you possibly make a protein shake and keep it bedside to sip on in the middle of the night a few times? Some people find that certain proteins will maintain their blood sugar better than others- maybe there's one that works better for you and you could be sure to eat that before bed?
Sorry if my thoughts are too simplistic off-point for your specific condition. The real reason I wanted to reply wasn't to provide a solution, just to tell you I hope you can find the strength to move forward and get to your follow up appointment to get treated. Letting your mind run free with the fear of the worst case or the unknown can be so much more stressful than just dealing with it head on, even though dealing with it requires a push of courage. Hang in there. You can get through this.
Best,
Lisa C
From CT
On 6/20 I will be 9 years out from RNY. I am happy to report I have maintained my weight loss and all my labs look great except for low vitamin D which is getting rechecked next week. I attribute my success to going into this surgery thinking is was my last resort (9 years ago there are not the options there are today), and that I HAD to make it work. I spent a lot of time and effort working on my personal issues as well as learning everything I could about nutrition and over the past few years growing my own organic food, buying local and making things from scratch instead of buying a things pre-boxed/bagged/pre-made etc. I do eat out and try to do so only once a week, I do allow myself treats and I do love my carbs. For me, it was all about balance.
Next month I am 1 year out from my BA/BL and arm lift... I did have to get scar revision some on the arm lift which I am 2 months out from now and healing up nicely. I am hoping to get a thigh lift next year and my journey will be "complete".
I don't feel or look anything like the person I was 9 years ago. I will never forget where I came from because I do not want to go back but do feel very disconnected from the person I was. I am so happy to have accomplished so much these past 9 years and look forward to what the future brings!
First visit to surgeon - 288 ~ bmi 45.1
2 week pre-op 252 ~ bmi 39.5
Total lost - 153 Since surgery - 117!
Goal weight - 155 (mine) 180 (surgeons)
Current weight - 135 (2020 I lost 10lbs due to dedicating myself to working out more and being in better shape)
1/14/2025 still maintaining 135 :-)
Extended TT, lipo, fat injections - 11/2011
BA/BL/Arm Lift - 7/2014
Scar revision on arms - 3/2015
HALO laser on arms/neck 9/2016
Thigh Lift 10/2020
Thigh Lift revision 10/2021
Hi Laura,
Thank you so much for your response. My surgeon said that at 1st they thought it was RH, but then he said it was this other thing. He was talking about a tumor on my Pancreas and certain meds that are out there that would be given to be my by diabetes Dr.
He then said that even if I had this tumor removed and took meds, that there's a chance that it still won't help. He then said that he's only done 6 reversals, and he "Really doesn't wanna have to do that to me". I know they have to give you worst case scenarios to cover their butts, but I didn't get much of a good case scenario with it. I'm trying so hard to turn the fright and tears into anger and fight, but I can't seem to do it. I have MS also. Therefore I have no immune system which would make it very hard for me to fight off and recover from things, and I also have panic disorder AND anxiety disorder. Everything is so magnified for me. The fright, the worry, the sadness....by nature I'm not an optimistic person. I've had a LOT of bad luck in my life and rare things happen to me. I'm just so so scared!
Melissa XO
Thanks Maria! Good for you! I actually had a bad dream about what I would look like if I kept eating the way I have been. It was horrible! I do need to journal. I use the Lose it! app and it works well for me.
I did really good for a couple of days last week then fell apart with the busy weekend. Your post will help me focus for the week again. Thank you for your support!
They have New antibiotics that can treat SIBO. They are expensive and most insurance do not want to pay for that. They helped me.
I don't have bile issues, but I have been inn rather full fat diet for a while now, so my bile is flowing.
Problem with probiotics that They can colonize small intestine.
My best (so far) way to deal with SIBO is Miralax, and making sure my guys get "flashed". - residue.
For 12-14 hrs 24 hour window i only drink non caloric drinks. Coffee, tea, water. That allows my guts get washed, clean... And helps my gut motility.... This by far helps as much as anything else. Or more.
Since I need to eat before bed ( to keeps my BS stable), I chose nuts or nut butter (higher fat -low carb nuts, like Brazil, pecans, macadamia, etc). Nuts are very complex, and They do not go bad (spoil) in higher temperatures (our body is a Petri dish). I notice there of my evening snack, then add 12 -14 hrs, and I make sure I don't eat anything in that time. Most if the time I eat as late as 9 Or 10 pm, then don't eat until lunch (noon or later).
I have adrenal issues, so I do need a way to keep my BS stable at night... That's why I eat LNS - to avoid hypoglycemia in a middle of the night.
Some call that intermittent fasting. The window of "not eating" can be 6pm - 8am (or later) the next day.
For me 9pm - 12 pm the next day works best. But I was evening eater even before RNY.
Hala. RNY 5/14/2008; Happy At Goal =HAG
"I can eat or do anything I want to - as long as I am willing to deal with the consequences"
"Failure is not falling down, It is not getting up once you fell... So pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again...."
Me too! Grazing (Mindlessly) and sugar are my enemies. I also drink while I eat. I need to stop that!
