Question:
I had surgery in March 2002. Started at 306, and only down 74 lbs
I had surgery in March 2002. Started at 306, and to date am down to 230, am 5'8. That's only 74 lbs. I can eat some sugared food but not much, probably too many carbs. I don't always eat what I should. Sometimes I think I eat too much, other times I eat less than one cup. Is it just my diet or should I call the doctor because maybe something has gone array? Feel free to email me at [email protected]. Judy — Judith H. (posted on August 20, 2003)
August 20, 2003
I would be pretty concerned, to tell you the truth. My real question is..
where has the follow up been? Your doctor should have KNOWN this was an
issue for you MONTHS ago. You state that you don't eat the right things..
you eat sugary foods and high carb foods. You said that sometimes you can
"barely eat a cup of food" like a cup isn't very much. A cup is 8
ounces, which I would consider a lot of food. You didn't mention exercise.
I know that everyone loses at a different pace, but your starting weight
was high enough that I personally think you should have seen a greater loss
by now. I am 6 months post op. I started at 304 and I now weigh 188. I am
not saying that you should have seen my results, but I am concerned that
you either didn't have follow up or you didn't go. My follow up schedule is
like this: 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 6 months, 1 yr and
2 yr. If your doctor had a schedule just like mine he would have been able
to see that your loss was slowed. When did it slow down? Can you pinpoint
what you were doing when it slowed?
— SarahC
August 20, 2003
I had my surgery in March 2202 also and have lost 155 pounds. I started at
275 and am down to 120. i would talk to your doctor. I know that people
lose differently but that doesn't sound right. God Bless..
— Tammy B.
August 20, 2003
I had surgery on Feb 5th and have lost 82 lbs (at the 6 month mark I was
down 75). My doctor is not concerned with the rate of my loss (I was, but
he told me not to worry). It keeps coming off. Slow but steady. I
started at 282 the day of surgery, but was 325 before one last diet attempt
for my insurance company. I do exercise at least 3 times a week for an
hour or more. So as long as you are doing what you need to be doing you
will be ok!
Here is a site for MGB that has a more realistic look at weight loss after
surgery. http://clos.net/predict-wt-loss.htm I like to go to it because on
that chart I am right on track! Hang in there, you will be ok!!
— Haziefrog
August 20, 2003
Oooops sorry I did not see the 2002, I thought 2003. I would see if your
doctor would do a upper GI and see what is going on???
— Haziefrog
August 20, 2003
Do you exercise regularly?<br>
What are you eating?<br>
Do you have a protein drink each day?<br><br>To be honest, you
should
talk to your doctor, what's happened to that? Do you go for
followup appointments? This surgery is, as everyone alsys says, just a
tool.
Yes, you should have your mechanics checked, but it sure sounds like
you're not really conscious of what you eat -- you might over eat,
you're not sure, maybe you eat sugared food (what does that mean?) or
probably
too many carbs? I'm guessing that you need to work your tool some -- lots
of lean
protein, few simple carbs (like sugar), eat some veggies and get some good
heart pumping cardio exercise several times a week. Good luck! I keep
track of my
food each day on fitday.com.. I recommend it.
— Lisa C.
August 20, 2003
I would definately call the doc as the other posters stated. It also sounds
you have gotten way off track and and are eating too much of the wrong
things. You don't say what kind of surgery you had but unless you have had
the DS, a cup of food is way too much for our little pouches. I may be
wrong but I have never heard of anyone with rny holding that much food.
Were you transected? If not you could have a staple line disruption but if
its only because your eating has gooten off track that is easy to fix. You
have to take control now. Good luck.
— Delores S.
August 20, 2003
I agree with the others on taling to the doctor but I disagree on the
quantities. I started with a 1/2 ounce pouch and can eat 3-6 ounces just
fine, mostly 4-5. My surgeon said that at maintenance that we will eat 1
to 1-1/2 cups of food, depending on the weight and density of it. Many
people are eating was more than this within a few months, which blows my
mind. Some of the post-op plans just shock me. I'm guessing that you have
exceeded what you should be eating and it has slowed the weight loss but
probably the choices of food is the bigger issue. If you stayed on plan of
mostly protein then some veggies, fruit and then other carbs, you would not
be able to eat large quantities. Protein fills you up and sticks with you.
If you are eating too many carbs and refined carbs then that is likely the
issue. It is important to make sure there isn't anything physically that
is wrong and then go back to square one and force your body back into
ketosis and work the plan. It will be harder to cut the food way back but
if you want to lose more weight you won't have a choice. I started at 442
and in a little over 6 months I am at 292 and do not see a problem getting
to 200 lbs within 12-18 months. It will take me continuing to eat right
and it will take increasing my exercise but that's not so bad in order to
lose 92 more lbs. You may need to do some soul searching and figure out
why you have not complied etc. This is assuming there is nothing physical
involved. You can do it, but you need to dig down and find that person who
made the decision to have WLS in the first place and what was her
motivation. Then kick yourself in the butt and get back on track!
— zoedogcbr
August 20, 2003
Judith, I have to totally disagree with those who say that 1 cup of food at
1.5 years post-op is too much. Not at all. In fact, by 1.5 years post we
should be able to eat anywhere from a cup to a cup and a half depending on
the consistency of the food, so it does not sound like amount is the
problem. I do agree with the others that you should have lost more than 74
and from reading your profile, you had lost 70 last September and only 4
pounds in a year? I'm assuming you know the pouch rules? I would first
try the pouch rules and if those do not work and you still cannot drop
weight, then see the doctor to ensure that the mechanics of the surgery are
in tact. The rules: No drinking with or right after meals, protein first
at every meal, at least 64 oz of water a day, low carb and sugar, and
EXERCISE (frequent, regular, heart pumping, cardio, calorie burning type).
Its still a game of calories in = calories out and if you are taking in
more than the body is burning you will not lose and may even gain. I'd
suggest eating something protein based, just a few ounces every few hours
round the clock, up the water, ensure the exercise is consistent, keep
track of calories for a while, and see if you can jump start the loss
again.
— Cindy R.
August 20, 2003
First let me say what you already know: Dont feel that you're a failure
simply because your body is different and the weight isnt falling off as
fast as many WLS patients. I will say you've gone further than I have in
five years--and I'm still working on it! I can appreciate your honesty
because I believe a lot more people have slow weight loss than are telling.
I am not in a place to give advise but I can tell you what I would do
differently if I was only 1.5yrs post op:
A)I'd pay my doctor a visit and completely share my concern asap -
regardless of how often I've followed up in the past, I can't change that.
I will learn from it and keep my appointments from here forward. If I may
have a problem now then, NOW is the time to call.
B) Exercise, Exercise, EXERCISE!
C) I would've read every low carb book, figured out what worked for me, and
ran with it. Low Carb is part of the WLS magic, (I believe).
D) My metabolism is almost non existant but since I started walking almost
daily, I've started to see the weight loss again. People always assume it's
what you are eating, but it's possible it's what you're NOT eating. You may
not be eating enough! If your metabolism is 'efficient' like mine, you're
body has already adapted to your eating patterns so maybe it's time to up
the ante. How????
E)EXERCISE! Can't stress it enough! :-)
You'll be okay, Judy, but you definitely gotta go see your Dr...
— Ms S.
August 21, 2003
I think all answers to this question must come back to your own statements:
were you honestly prepared to be compliant after this major surgery, this
major change in life? Protein, protein, more protein. Water Water Water.
Fresh produce. A little bit of carbohydrates. Almost no sugar. That's
it. Call your dietician and go back and lay it all out, be totally honest,
and then really determine to start again. This is IT. This is NOT a dress
rehearsal. Go to it!!!
— Deborah M.
Click Here to Return