Question:
I am losing weight verly slowly
I need help I am frustrated.I had surgery in nov 03 I have only lost 60lbs.I started at 281 lbs. the surgeon told me I am considered a failure because if the weight is not lost in the first 6-12months the window of opportunity is closed. I try to get my protein in but it feels so heavy so I have switched to soups,cream of wheat and milk. My protein level is 7.2 according to my bloodwork and I have been having dizziness and headaches that gatorade helps.My b-12 is good it was 1500. I would appreciate any help I dont want to see the surgeon again because my weight has still not budged and I am always very tired. When does the weight loss officially end. — D J. (posted on August 4, 2004)
August 4, 2004
Dear D.
I started out 5'3" 230. Only got down to 160 and I'm almost 2 years
out. However, I feel good. Please consult another doctor, perhaps an
internist, endocrinologist or other bariatric surgeon. You should not be
feeling dizzy. This is not normal. In addition, that doctor who called
you a failure should rot in hell. I don't blame you for not going back to
him. He sounds like a jerk. Your window of opporunity to lose weight is
never over. It just will take more effort. The South Beach Diet got me
losing again. I'm just concerned that you don't feel well. Best of luck.
Hang in there. Hang on to the fact that your -60 and I'm sure that feels
better than pre-op.
— [Deactivated Member]
August 4, 2004
D, at 3 years post-op, I can still lose weight if I put my mind to it.
While it's true that you will never lose weight faster than the first year
or two, you can still use your tool to lose after that point. Have you
read the pouch rules? It mentions in there that if your stoma is too
small, it's difficult to eat solid food, and people will eat soft foods
which will not help them stay full, and that will damage their weight loss.
I think that may be what is happening to you. You need your protein. I
would find someone to do a scope and see what the diameter of your stoma
is. Your surgeon should be helping you with this! Don't let him
intimidate you. Here's the address for the pouch rules if you'd like to
check them out:
http://www.mehtabariatriccenter.com/pouch_rules_for_dummies.htm
— mom2jtx3
August 4, 2004
I would think there may be something wrong w/ your mechanics. Are you able
to eat too much at one sitting? You should not be able to eat much if your
pouch was made correctly and your stoma is not stretched out. <p>The
surgeon amazes me in that he doesn't at least have you checked to find out
if there are any mechanical problems w/the surgery. Perhaps he is afraid to
find out he may have botched the surgery and doesn't want to know, and more
importantly--doesn't want YOU to know. If he can make you believe its your
fault, then the heat is off him.<p>So, first things first--get your
mechanics checked. Secondly, after mechanical failure is ruled out, ask
yourself if you are eating correctly. It sounds like you have resorted to
high-calorie liquid foods rather than dense proteins, veggies and fruit.
Are you grazing all day? <p>If you are doing everything right, then
perhaps you should look into getting a revision. If you want maximum weight
loss and maximum long-term loss results, look into a DS revision. There are
some very skilled DS surgeons who are doing revisions from failed RNYs here
in the states as well as overseas. I wish you the best.
— artistmama
August 4, 2004
I wouldn't worry about the weight as much as the health. The weightloss
ends when you want it to. If you are exercising daily, drinking your water
and getting in your protein, you can be 5 years out and still lose.
I have stopped losing because I developed anemia, which made me tired and I
didn't want to workout. But I know I have to get back to working out if I
want to lose the rest of this weight. I need to lose at least another 50
lbs.
— mrsmyranow
August 4, 2004
Oh my gosh! Finally I don't feel alone. I too had surgery on November 3 and
I too have only lost 60 lbs. I feel so different than most after this
surgery. What a strange thing that we both have the same surgery date and
pounds lost.
— Diane S.
August 4, 2004
I was 238 when I had surgery on 09/25/04. I am currently at 156. Still
have about 12 pounds to go to reach my revised goal but over the last few
days, I have found it is VERY easy to eat fruit rather than make myself
stick with the protein. I've always been a fast eater and I find that I can
eat fruit and veggies very quickly and get on with my life. Eating dense
protein takes longer and it doesn't take very much for it to feel VERY
heavy in my tummy. I don't think there is a thing wrong with me
mechanically, just think it's easier for me to leave off the protein and go
with the softer, faster stuff. I've been at the same weight for about a
month so today, I started recording everything I eat and I'm going to make
sure I take the time to sit down and slowly eat the protein. I know I'd
never lose or maintain on soups, cream of wheat, milk, etc. unless they had
protein mixed into them. They go down too fast and I'll be hungry, or
think I am anyway, in less than an hour. I would agree that the doctor is
a jerk for telling you you're a failure. I'd have jumped right on him if
he said that to me because, if I'm paying, he's my employee, I don't care
how arrogant he/she is. He's probably not going to be too much help to you
even if you choose to go back to him though as long as you're not getting
your protein, water and exercise in. The key, as I know you've heard, is
protein, water, exercise and the right supplements. Headaches and
dizziness that are relieved by gatorade sounds like it could be from
dehydration or maybe a potassium deficiency. Good luck to you in getting to
feel better. You should not always be tired if all your levels are correct.
— scbabe
August 4, 2004
You need to eat less or exercise more. I would recomend both to pick up
the weight loss. I have only been out for 8 wks so I don't know what to
tell you other than eat less & exercise more...Good luck.
— juju524
August 4, 2004
I am also a slow loser. I had surgery septemmber 25, 2002 I started out at
373 and now I qm at 290. I know I do not exercise like I should. But of
course I had other issues too like a open sore on bottom of foot (even
before surery) and I broke my ankle. And I know I graze a litle too much
trying to get protein in. So you are not alone
— missturtle
August 4, 2004
I have a big problem with that doctor calling you a failure! We are made
to feel bad about ourselves most of our lives because of our weight and now
you have a person who is suppose to be on "our side", calling you
a failure? Where does it end? If he had a little more compassion for your
situation and less worried about the statistics, then maybe he could have
worked with you on other ways to lose more weight...oh my goodness, what an
inconsiderate idiot! You have lost 60 lbs - be happy and now go back to
the basics and lose some more - until YOU are happy with what you have
lost! We are on your side!! Danette
— Danette C.
August 5, 2004
I might sound a little harsher than the other posts, but it sounds like you
are not giving much info to work with. How is your iron? Are you
anemic?<br><br>
This is a big one though: "soups, cream of wheat, milk."
<br><br>
Frankly, at over six months post-op, this is not the best way to be eating.
These three items alone have a lot of milk/sugar, and you aren't getting
enough protein for your buck. If you don't like the protein you have, get
some samples. From one supplier (vitalady.com) I just got 10 different
kinds of vanilla alone. There are dozens of brands, and you can try them
one at a time. And there are so many food sources that are not filled with
milk sugar where you can get some protein.<br><br>
Gatorade has kind of a lot of sugar in it too. If that is breaking your
dizziness, you need to figure out WHY. What is in it that makes you feel
better? Are your blood sugars bottoming out, or is it the hydration?
<br><br>
Does your surgeon have a nutritionist? I would start with keeping a
two-week food journal, and an exercise journal. Then get to a nutritionist
and see if you can develop a better plan. <br><br>
If nothing else, you should read "The Pouch Rules For Dummies",
which gives some really sound advice.<br><br>
As someone who was on a 6-month plateau at 18 months post-op, weight loss
doesn't HAVE to end, ever. It can be as simple as finding a balance between
when you input (food) and what you output (exercise).<br><br>
I wish you well.
— kultgirl
August 9, 2004
I do not agree that should not ingest cream of wheat and soups, and I do
agree that you are NOT a failure. Some people lose slow, which my doctor
predicted might happen to me. Therefore a full Thyroid function work up
was done and I was put on Synthroid (this has to be given in small doses
until they find the does that is right for you). If this hormone is not
the "culprit" then go to a endocrinologist, they are usually good
at figuring out what and how your metobolic rate is working or not working.
And POOH on your doctor - sorry
— Anna M.
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