The honeymoon is over

Good morning to all!.

We always talk about or hear about the "honeymoon" phase of our weight loss and I'm sad to say that I believe that for me, the honeymoon is over.  I got down to 166 and am back up to 170 (due to constipation, I'm sure at least partially).  But it seems like I would hit a plateau and then drop 10 pounds and then hit another plateau, drop 8 etc. But this is a plateau that I can't seem to get passed.

I saw the surgeon yesterday and I am going to have my hernia repair done next Monday.  Due to a problem I'm having with malabsorbtion and my pain meds, he will not do the tummy tuck, only the hernia repair.  I was considered a "light-weight" in the beginning and I am not experiencing any rashes or anything to make the tummy tuck medically necessary.  He wants me to get the pain in my neck taken care of before he would do it because of the pain meds.  I don't know the name of the procedure but my surgeon was well acquianted with it.  They go into your neck with needles and numb the nerve endings.  If it works, they go back in and actually cauterize the nerves.  The procedure is done in the doctor's office.  The cauterization lasts anywhere from 6 months to a year.  My options are to repeatedly have this procedure done or fight to get pain meds for the rest of my life.  My WLS said the tummy tuck would hurt quite a bit more than the RNY and that he was concerned that I would have a problem keeping my pain under control. He is giving me Lortrab liquid for this justg as he did with RNY.  Currently, I'm taking 2 Percocet twice a day and chewing them so they will absorb  more quickly.  The surgeon was not very happy when he heard that.  I guess I'm going to make an appointment to have that procedure done, asap.  I can't take the pain and the prescription drugs are just too much trouble any more.  I really think that this has been the hardest part of having WLS.  Trying to get my medications at a proper dosage and work with and around the malabsorbtion issues. 

My husband got hurt about a month ago during his vacation and has not been back to work since.  He goes to see the doctor this afternoon.  I love him to death but he's driving me crazy.  He has been cooking and baking for the last 4 days and my kitchen is trashed.  He was trying to keep up with the dishes but he doesn't get them  clean and I have to go back and redo them,.  Thank goodness I'm almost caught up and he doesn't have any plans for the day, at least as far as I know.  

Well I guess I should quit rambling on and get to work.

Hugs to all!

Colleen 

Take a deep breath!  You will be fine!  Just remember that you are on a road to a healthier YOU regardless of what that scale says.  Sounds as if you may be under a hell of alot of stress.  Stress makes things fluctuate in itself.  Just follow the rules you were given and allow your TOOL to help you.

Just wondering about what is going on with your neck.  Sounds painful.  I have herniated discs in my neck and they are killing me.  However, surgery will be a last resort.  I get real stiff neck and its painful to turn it.  Causes tension headaches which leads into migraines.  I hate taking meds and I hate be judged as someone who is drug seeking.  So I have not said anything to my current PCP at all about this.  I think I will be mentioning it when I go in for my next visit. 

I wish you well with your hernia surgery and getting this pain under control.

Colleen, I am glad to see you back to posting.  Ramblings, grumblings or rumblings, we are here for you. 

Here's to speedy relief of your discomfort .  Sounds like your MD has things planned for you.  Do what is necessary.  The hernia and neck pain sound like a pain in the neck. (So sorry, pun intended.) 

I had Dennis around for almost 3 months a year ago, during a layoff from work.  Understand what you are going through with a hubby at home daily.  I am not ready for him to be retired, I was glad when work picked up and he was recalled.  He was happy too.  Hope your hubby is getting better and returning to usual activities.

I am sad today, Patrece left for her return trip to home.  The week flew by so quickly.  Seemed to be just a few hours and she was getting ready to return to her family.  I teased her family that she was going to stay here indefinitely.  They did not seem to go with the idea.  She misses her family and grandbabies soo.  So we hugged so long for now and I saw her off.  The house seems so much emptier this afternoon.

You have done well with the weight loss.  being under 200# is so much healthier for your body and mind. 

Are you keeping busy with any crafting?  I am getting my craft space this fall.  Dennis and I have been talking of changing the garage from a single stall to a double stall with a loft workspace.  Last week the old but still usable single stall garage left here on a trailer for a new home in the country.  Tuesday, the concrete crew was here to demolish the old slab and install the slab and blocks for the new garage.  They were finished with the work by wednesday noon.  I am thrilled with the size of the garage space.  Now the concrete is curing over the weekend and I anticipate the start of the actual construction of the building.  I will have the loft space as my quilt studio.  Planning south and east windows for plenty of light, and a wall with built in shelves/closets for storage of supplies.  I have a crew oming to construct the shell and finish the outside.  I plan to do the insulation and interior finishing myself.  Let the fun begin, I can't wait.  There will be photos coming one of these days.  Learning to use the camera yet.

Hugs to everyone.

Colleen, the procedure on your neck you are referring to: I cannot for the life of me recall the name of it, but my husband JUST had that done Saturday morning. They injected 1% lidocain into a pressure point 'nerve' (into several areas of it.)  He is actually feeling some relief from it, so we are thankful for that. His doctor says that It doesn't work for everyone, but was hopeful, and it did thankfully. It can take a day or two to feel the effectiveness. He said there are no promises on if it works or for how long.. So tried it in this one area Saturday and said if there was some relief he would repeat it in several of his other areas that are affected. The first day he had Paul put ice packs on the area, then switch to heat packs. I will keep you in my proayers for this to be effective for you. It is effective for most, but not all.

I hope too that your husband is recovering well and will soon be back off to work. These changes really do have a significant impact on our lives. It's just not life as normal. I hope his pain is improving as well.

The honeymoon does end for sure. BUT take heart.. you still have the power to work with your surgical tool to make the best of it all. I am 2 years and 3 months out and still manage to loose a pound here and there. Also, know that a weight fluctuation is normal after the rapid loss period. Some of it is water weight, some can be consitpation, and some can just be a normal slight weight fluctuation. Try to set a cap on how high you will allow the fluctuation to go. If it exceeds that, get your nose to the grindstone so the weight doesn't start creeping back up on you. I allow myself a window of 3 to 4 lbs fluctuation. If it goes over that I am on a STRICT diet for 3 full days, to decarb and get my exercise back where it needs to be and to resume proper hydration, if any of these things may be going on.

Take good care! Great to hear from you.