VSG Maintenance Group
FRUSTRATED
I AM SO VERY FRUSTRATED RIGHT NOW..I FEEL THAT I HAVE RUINED MY PRECIOUS NEW GIFT WHICH IS MY VGS.. I WAS SLEEVED IN DEC OF 2009 AND BY MY 1 YEAR SURGERVERSARY I HAD LOST 110 POUNDS(240-130)..I WAS SO VERY PROUD OF MYSELF AND I WAS DOIN REALLY GOOD BUT IN MARCH OF 2011..ONLY 15 MONTHS OUT) I STARTED HAVING SOME STRANGE HEALTH ISSUES..I WAS HAVING BAD HEADACHES, TERRIBLE DIZZINESS AND AWFUL RINGING IN MY EARS..IT WAS SO BAD THAT I WAS PUT ON MEDICAL LEAVE..I HAVE BEEN ON MEDICAL LEAVE SINCE THEN AND STILL NOT MUCH SUCCESS ON A DIAGNOSIS..WELL I HAVE PUT ON 30 POUNDS SINCE I HAVE BEEN OFF WORK..GRANTED I DO TAKE ALOT OF MEDICATION AND 2 ARE STEROIDS AND I TRY TO FOOL MYSELF INTO THINKING THATS WHY THE WEIGHT GAIN BUT I KNOW THE TRUTH..ITS ME AND ONLY ME..I SIT HERE AT HOME ALONE..MY HUSBAND WORKS FROM 3PM-1AM..IM DEPRESSED OVER ALL OF THIS AND I EAT NOT ALOT BUT THE WRONG THINGS..MY BIGGEST IS CRACKERS..I CAN EAT A BOX OF CRACKERS THE ONES WITH 4 BAGS INSIDE IN 1 WHOLE DAY BUT NOTHING ELSE..I KNOW I NEED TO GET BACK ON TRACK..THATS WHY I AM HERE..I NEED TO BE HELD MORE ACCOUNTABLE..IM JUST NOT TOO SURE ON WHAT TO DO AS EXERCISE BECAUSE OF MY DIZZINESS AND BALANCE ISSUES...PLEASE ANY ADVICE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED..THANKS FOR LISTENING..HAVE A GREAT NIGHT
Hey sweetie,
You have come to the right place. I also had a regain of 29lbs and some medical issues, thyroid and anemia, that certainly contributed to my cookie/cracker cravings. For me, I taped a paper on the fridge that said "Protein, vitamins, water" , I got back on shakes 3x a day, got one of those old lady pill boxes and took my vitamins everyday, and it took me 5 months to lose the weight and the anemia got better too, I even have normal blood iron levels.
I am sure that more experienced people will jump in here, good luck and keep us updated. (( hugs))
You have come to the right place. I also had a regain of 29lbs and some medical issues, thyroid and anemia, that certainly contributed to my cookie/cracker cravings. For me, I taped a paper on the fridge that said "Protein, vitamins, water" , I got back on shakes 3x a day, got one of those old lady pill boxes and took my vitamins everyday, and it took me 5 months to lose the weight and the anemia got better too, I even have normal blood iron levels.
I am sure that more experienced people will jump in here, good luck and keep us updated. (( hugs))
I wish I could help you more. Can only suggest that you keep challenging your doctors to get a diagnosis. Taking steroids can cause weight gain and cravings for carbs and thats pretty well documented. Maybe you need an appointment with dietician to find out ways to combat the appetite changes that the steroids cause. And see about antidepressants which can be used for a shorter time if needed. Are there exercises you can do sitting in a chair?
Let us know how you are doing. There has to be an answer out there. Diane
Let us know how you are doing. There has to be an answer out there. Diane
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Hi ButterflyGirl67 -
First I want to say how sorry I am to hear how you have been feeling... the situation you are describing sounds really painful and challenging. Reading your post made me think of the following things:
1) First and foremost, I know it's a huge bummer to acknowledge your weight gain after you have had such great success, and even saying "huge bummer" may be an understatement to the emotions you're experiencing. And now for the "but": But I'd almost recommend you try to table that and set those feelings aside at the moment, because it seems like the weight gain is really secondary - think of it like this. You've developed a health situation which has really affected your life to the point of preventing you from being able to work, and this started over a year ago! That's a really really long time to not have traction. I know the uncertainity of what's going on with you can be high, and I would advocate pushing and pushing and pushing until you were able to find the doctors or get the tests run needed so you and your medical team can understand why this has been happening to you. If you can get some effective treatment, get back to work, get physical and mental relief, you may find that you'll lose that gained weight 'automatically'. Over a year without diagnosis is a loooooooong time - try to be the best advocate you can forself and try different doctors (not saying that you haven't - just trying to encourage you in a tough situation).
2) Also, don't sell short the effect of taking steroids - very, very typical that they increase hunger. I took them briefly and even with my sleeve I really noticed the hunger increase! So don't blame yourself too much for eating, especially if you're on two!
3) You're on medical leave which probably means you're at home more or spending too much time at home, and I don't know about you, but I know that means I'm likely to snack more too - especially times alone, like when you mentioned your husband at work. Can you do things to get out of the house and be active, that would help break this?
4) Can you keep yourself from buying these foods that you're finding it easy to eat too much of? Are you able to not buy the Ritz crackers and keep them out of the house?
I know in your post you can in saying you need to be held more accountable - and don't get me wrong, I like to engage people in being more accountable to themselves, but I honestly think you have to make allowances for the situation you're in. Getting "back on track" may have less to do with dealing with food triggers than getting back to the healthier and successful point you were at before you had these strange health issues. While I don't like hearing you eating a whole box of crackers a day, I don't like you beating yourself up for it when you're stuck on medical leave and having to take hunger-inducing steriods.
I really wish you a lot of luck.
First I want to say how sorry I am to hear how you have been feeling... the situation you are describing sounds really painful and challenging. Reading your post made me think of the following things:
1) First and foremost, I know it's a huge bummer to acknowledge your weight gain after you have had such great success, and even saying "huge bummer" may be an understatement to the emotions you're experiencing. And now for the "but": But I'd almost recommend you try to table that and set those feelings aside at the moment, because it seems like the weight gain is really secondary - think of it like this. You've developed a health situation which has really affected your life to the point of preventing you from being able to work, and this started over a year ago! That's a really really long time to not have traction. I know the uncertainity of what's going on with you can be high, and I would advocate pushing and pushing and pushing until you were able to find the doctors or get the tests run needed so you and your medical team can understand why this has been happening to you. If you can get some effective treatment, get back to work, get physical and mental relief, you may find that you'll lose that gained weight 'automatically'. Over a year without diagnosis is a loooooooong time - try to be the best advocate you can forself and try different doctors (not saying that you haven't - just trying to encourage you in a tough situation).
2) Also, don't sell short the effect of taking steroids - very, very typical that they increase hunger. I took them briefly and even with my sleeve I really noticed the hunger increase! So don't blame yourself too much for eating, especially if you're on two!
3) You're on medical leave which probably means you're at home more or spending too much time at home, and I don't know about you, but I know that means I'm likely to snack more too - especially times alone, like when you mentioned your husband at work. Can you do things to get out of the house and be active, that would help break this?
4) Can you keep yourself from buying these foods that you're finding it easy to eat too much of? Are you able to not buy the Ritz crackers and keep them out of the house?
I know in your post you can in saying you need to be held more accountable - and don't get me wrong, I like to engage people in being more accountable to themselves, but I honestly think you have to make allowances for the situation you're in. Getting "back on track" may have less to do with dealing with food triggers than getting back to the healthier and successful point you were at before you had these strange health issues. While I don't like hearing you eating a whole box of crackers a day, I don't like you beating yourself up for it when you're stuck on medical leave and having to take hunger-inducing steriods.
I really wish you a lot of luck.
Heaviest weight: 310 pounds (Male, 5'10")
thank u all for your responses..ireally appreciate them all. Ruggie u are right about not buying the crackers, i know i shouldnt but i have these awful craving for them..i am scheduled to have a surgery on the 14th on my left ear to see if they can correct some of my dizziness and balance issues. so im am really hoping this will help. i realize i should be more focused on my health but i just cant help wanting to be the way i was..health included..thanks for listening and again i really appreciate all the advice
Yeah, this is tough stuff. I have to avoid my own trigger foods too. My friends go into a frozen yogurt shop - I just stand outside and wait.
But good luck on that surgery - I hope it's effective and brings you peace. Things were working out for you before the complication, and if you can get it fixed, it probably will again. Maybe all see if you can reduce to stop the steroids? They just help to turn you into a little hunger monster. Don't lose hope though. Hang in there and stay with us.
Good luck!
But good luck on that surgery - I hope it's effective and brings you peace. Things were working out for you before the complication, and if you can get it fixed, it probably will again. Maybe all see if you can reduce to stop the steroids? They just help to turn you into a little hunger monster. Don't lose hope though. Hang in there and stay with us.
Good luck!
Heaviest weight: 310 pounds (Male, 5'10")
