New doc...I've got questions for you

I've got a new surgeon. My original surgeon is back in Delaware. Thought it would be good to get a surgeon here and get some questions answered.

Things he should know:

I started at 250lbs, I got down to 170lbs, then popped up to 205lbs and recently lost 15lbs down to 190lbs
My general doc and psychiatrist think its my med that are keeping me from losing or at least slowing the process/
I can fit about 1 to 1.5 cups in my pouch. Of course dense food sits at about 1 cup
I no longer drink alcohol...at all
I'm guilty of drinking with meals
I haven't found a support group in Denver yet, but regularly contribute on OH

Things I want to know:

Online resources say:
     to eat more solid foods
     finish eating quickly
     drink to quash hunger
     drink a lot of water 15 mins before a meal
     avoid snacking
     minimize snacking
     minimize caloric liquids and soft foods (does that mean protein shakes and/or yogurt?)
Would getting a metabolic breathing rate be helpful?
It doesn't make sense to get an endoscopy right?

What else should I be asking?

Looking for any and all contributions

Thanks

My surgeons office has a Facebook group and a monthly support meeting.  We also got a guidance book from the surgeon.  See it there is something similar there.  Looks like you have been brainstorming :)

In addition to a support group, our surgeon also is in cahoots with a nurse and nutritionist. You could see if you new doc has a support team as well.

Have you had blood work done recently? Does this surgeon do it? Or have you had it done by your PCP? If you haven't had it for a while, I'd get it checked.

For me (VSG, 6 months post-op, work out intensly 4x/week): My NUT says to avoid drinking protein now. I do it now and then if I don't feel like eating and need more protein, but I've made a concerted effort to eat solid food (that includes yogurt, cottage cheese, smoked salmon and cream cheese, chicken salad, tuna salad, etc). She just means to avoid the protein shakes and protein bars and start eating 'real' food. It's what our bodies want, right?

If you share your food log, maybe we can help. Maybe it's what you are eating, how you are combining foods, etc. At this low weight, it matters more and more what we are choosing to eat.

What meds do they think are causing your non-weight-loss?

And how much do you exercise? With so little weight to lose, I've really had to step it up. A huge mental challenge, but I'm hanging in there.

How many calories are you eating? I'm at 1200 because I work out so much. I was overwhelmed trying to concoct "meals" for myself because I was eating mostly protein and protein shakes, thankfully my NUT figured out meals for me. I can send you what she gave me if you want. It's very helpful. Combines good carbs, good fats and proteins properly throughout the day. Not a generic template of what to do, but real snacks, b-fast, dinners and lunches using the foods I eat (I'd sent her my MFP log). It's awesome. I'm not losing weight as fast as I did before, and have been sort of stalled for a while, but I'm ignoring that and just keep on keeping on. I have so little weight to lose any more that I'm really concentrating on my Body Fat %. You can get a body fat test (do it in a water tank) and re-do it in a few months and see where you are at. It's motivating.

Anyhow, hope some of this helps. Keep us informed :)

I'm going to put answers in my next posting for everyone to read. I hope you'll comment.

Hey Datachick,

I'd love to see the recommended meal ideas from your NUT.

My email: [email protected]

Sounds like you have been giving this a lot of thought.  After you talk to him maybe you can let us know what he says.