Question:
Is this a nasty plateau or have I disrupted?
Ok..first off I will admit I have not been the model WLS patient...I have not been exercising, I have not been taking protein supps, I get in an acceptable amount of water and I don't always pay attention to the amount of carbs, fat content, or calorie total of what I'm eating. I guess I've been allowing myself to ride the wave, I'm 9 months post op, open RNY (not transected) and I've lost 118 lbs. I'm extremely pleased with the weight loss and absolutely love how much better my life is! I've been worried for the past few months that I've allowed myself to go in the wrong direction. I think I can eat WAY too much...here's a typical day: breakfast - small raisin bran muffin, 6oz glass of OJ, medium dunkin donuts french vanilla coffee with low fat creamer and equal. mid-morning snack - nutra grain bar or hand full of pretzals. lunch - half a bologna sandwich or cup of soup, usually another hand full of pretzals. mid-afternoon snack - 1/2 cup cottage cheese or fruit cocktail. dinner - approx. 6 oz chicken, fish or meat, 1/2 cup potatoes, rice or pasta and a couple of tablespoons of some veggie. late night snack - lf ice cream sandwich. Pretzals are becoming a problem...I'm always eating them (I bought a 6lb bag from Costco a month ago..it's almost gone!) they're easy and available. At my last check-up I found out I have really low glucose levels and get the "shakes" often and was told I need to eat something when I start feeling that way...this I've used as an excuse to graze. But, back to my question...the reason I'm worried...I have not lost an ounce in 2 months! Thank God no gain! And last week after Thanksgiving, I sat down to a plate of leftovers, potatoes,stuffing, veggie casserole, turkey with gravy - a good 2 cups easy - and I ate the whole thing in about 20 minutes! I also drink while I'm eating, am I "washing" everything thru my pouch? Or am I stretching it out? As I said before, I had a check up with my surgeon last week, I told her I was terrified that I had a disruption. She said I was worrying for nothing, that nothing she saw told her there was anything to worry about, specifically I was not gaining weight. But how can she be sure if she hasn't scoped me or had an upper GI done? Am I being neurotic? Do I have anything to worry about or should I just get off my ass and start behaving myself!? It's been nice to not "diet" but obviously I've been fooling myself to think that my dieting days were over. Thank you for letting me whine and I'm ready for my forty lashes if need be...but to those of you who have been thru a disruption or a nasty plateau, any imput would be greatly appreciated! — DolcezzaVT (posted on November 29, 2001)
November 29, 2001
Hi Nicole. I have to admit that I get upset when I read about people eating
like that. I don't want to be nasty or harsh but I sit back and wonder why
people go back to basically their same old routine that got them there in
the first place? Sounds to me like you KNOW you are not doing what you are
supposed to be doing. I know that when I have my surgery that I will do
WHATEVER IT TAKES to get this excess weight off and KEEP it off. I NEVER
want to be like I am now, EVER again. January can't come soon enough for
me. I think, if I were YOU, I would ask my doctor to scope me and find out
if I had a staple line disruption or if I had stretched my pouch. I would
want to know ASAP so I could get done whatever needed done , right away.
You had this surgery for a reason and I'm sure you don't want to START
gaining all your weight back. You basically know what you are doing wrong
and only you can get yourself back on track. You have to remember this
surgery is a TOOL. NOT a MIRACLE CURE for weightloss.... Please get those
answers and get back on track. Re-read your post. Listen to what you are
saying. Good Luck! :)
— Kim B.
November 29, 2001
Hi, I had a staple line disruption and I didn't gain an oz. My doctor
waited and gave me all summer to start losing again but I didn't. He did
an upper GI at 9 mos post op. I had stopped losing at 6 mos. I had a
staple line come lose at the top of the pouch and I was not transected at
the time. I could eat about twice the amount that I could at the beginning
when I was not disrupted. About a cup at a sitting. I wasn't able to ever
eat as much as you are. But I am not putting you down and I am not
lecturing you at all. I feel this is your life but there is a possibiity
that you have a disruption since you are not transected. Your doctor of
course does not like to admit a possible failure on his/her part but I
think doctors are just now realizing that transection is the only sure way
to guarantee staple lines will not disrupt down the road. IF THERE IS A
DISRUPTION,IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT! It is important that you realize that
without transection the staple line will not form scar tissue because of
the two mucous edges, it just does not happen in everyone. The emotional
trauma of a disruption and facing another surgery is enough without blaming
yourself. You do not need lashes with a whip! Hey, aren't we and haven't
we always been hard enough on ourselves? You don't need to be screamed at
especially by a preop. I hope I don't offend anyone but it really upsets
me to see a person who hasn't been through to surgery YET lecture one of
the posties. You must walk a mile in one's shoes to judge them. This
surgery is a learning experience and no one is an expert on it! Sorry.
Do not be so hard on yourself and if this continues and you start to gain,
insist on an upper Gi and find out if there is a problem. It is fixable if
there is a disruption. I am now losing again and feel great! I am 6 wks
post op from my second surgery...transected pouch. If there is no
disruption, and you are not gaining, then I think your body is requiring
the calories you are giving it. Admitedly, your calories/food intake is a
lot more than others. Listen to your body though as it is the best source
of information along with your doctor. I know this is a board set up for
support and I am trying to give that. I would never YELL at you. I have
been there and that is not what you need. You need understanding and
support. By the way,
previous poster NEVER say NEVER as you do not know what will happen after
your surgery. Let's help each other.
— Marilyn C.
November 29, 2001
Maryln....First of all I was NOT screaming. I was giving MY
opinion......just like the poster wanted. I may be a PRE OP but I have been
reading EVERY Q&A on this website for 8 months now. I'm in no way
saying that I am a know it all either. YOU need to realize that just
because someone's answer is not the same as YOURS doesn't mean it is wrong
or shouldn't be posted. You gave YOUR opinion and I gave MINE. And YES, I
will say NEVER. I NEVER want to be this heavy ever again. Maybe you should
re read my post. I suggested finding out exactly what is going on and then
doing what needs to be done. Keep your opinion about what others have to
say to yourself. OK?
— Kim B.
November 29, 2001
Hi, Nicole. First of all, congrats on your weight loss, I think it's
wonderful! I'm no expert at this (I'm about 7 months post op, have lost 111
lbs.) but I have undergone a few plateaus myself. For me, what I have found
is that the more carbs I ate, the hungrier I got. For example, the pretzels
you're eating may be making you hungrier. Carbs were ALWAYS my downfall
before WLS! I mean, give a choice of any food to eat for the rest of my
life, I could subsist solely on bagels and pasta! I find that when I focus
more on protein and less on carbs (I'm not saying do no carbs, just keep
the percentage at least half protein) I do better and I lose faster. Also,
I would recommend against drinking with your meals. It truly does wash the
food out of your pouch too quickly, which was one of the things you were
worrying about. My nutritionist recommends that you don't drink for a
half-hour before and a half-hour after you eat.
Exercise of course is a big help. I've been bad about it recently, but had
been going to the gym 2-3 days a week or at least walking around the
neighborhood.
I myself live in fear of staple disruption or stretching out my pouch (I
posted something on this only yesterday, in fact!) I think it's just a
natural fear we have that all that weight is going to come back, and that
THIS won't work any better than anything else we ever tried. But we must
keep the faith! ANd if you continue to feel that fear, I would tell your
surgeon that you truly do feel an upper GI or whatever appropriate test
there is, is needed. Push for it. My guess is it will show no problems, and
then you can start breathing easier! GOod luck. Feel free to email me if
you'd like to correspond! :-)
— Mary Ellen W.
November 29, 2001
Hi there! I can eat close to what you're eating now and I'm just over 4
months post op....it seems like alot but if you were to really work out the
calories I'd bet it's probably around 1200 or so...and that really is a
feasible amount to eat and loose weight. I did have a stapleline disruption
but I'm transected so there was no question about it...it was nasty (story
for another day) but I know I have no disruption now and can indeed eat
more than my peers. I would definately talk to your surgeon about being
scoped just to put your mind at ease. But some of us can eat more than
others and I'm working really hard not to feel guilty over it...I've spent
too many years feeling that way, and I've done the ultimate (wls) to help
me loose this weigh.unfortunately I can't eat like a bird and feel
satisified like so many other lucky posties. Sorry, I went off on a rant.
The bottom line is you're probably on a platue. Despite the apparent volumn
you can eat, I'd bet it's way less then you could pre-op. Hope my ramblings
have helped...congrats on the lose, and good luck! -Kim
— KimBo36
November 29, 2001
First things first - Kim, you seem to have some anger issues that I hope
you work through. It is very true that you cannot say how you will behave
after surgery - no matter how you "think" you will behave. To
say you will NEVER get off course is unrealistic. You'll be the same
person after surgery as you are before - you won't wake up from surgery
with iron will and total resolve. You'll still be your human self only
tons more motivated and armed with a wonderful tool. Now on to the
important stuff. Nicole I went to your profile and let me say you are
BEAUTIFUL!! I think you've had amazing success. My surgeon told me that
he never wanted me to diet again. He wanted me to have this surgery in
order to be normal. I read carefully what you are eating and I can say
that I'm eating about the exact same amount. I'm 15 pounds from what
MetLife says I should weigh. I really don't care if I lose another ounce.
Sometimes I think our bodies find a comfort zone and that's where they're
going to stay. I think my body said "Hey, I like weighing 139!!"
I haven't lost anything in a month. I think age can be a factor (I don't
know how old you are) because at 40 I don't think I'll ever weigh what I
might have weighed at 20 or 25. If you are only 30 pounds from goal you
might also consider that some of that weight is excess skin - my plastic
surgeon says I can expect to lose from 7 to 14 pounds after abdominoplasty.
You might also want to consider that it is a MEDICAL FACT (not a myth)
that our bones bulk up when we're morbidly obese but they don't shrink when
we lose weight. The only thing that can be an issue is grazing. But even
then, none of us are perfect and we all screw up from time to time. WLS
changes our bodies but we wake up from surgery with the same brain we went
to sleep with so sometimes nasty old habits rear their heads. If you're
happy and healthy and not gaining weight then I'd say don't worry about it.
If you're truly convinced you have a disruption just discuss it with your
surgeon and request the test. I'm really proud of you and think you're
doing great.
— [Anonymous]
November 29, 2001
I have been reading all the posts here and sounds to me like everyone wants
to be right. I agree with everyone here. And Yes, even with Kim B. Everyone
seems to be picking on her just because of her opinion. We are all here to
help each other, not play nasty cat fight games. Yes, it could be a
disruption, yes it could be over eating. Just because someone is post op
and someone is pre op doesn't mean that the pre ops can't answer questions.
Sometimes people DO need a "tongue lashing" to bring things into
focus. I know I have had a few and they have opened my eyes. And yes, even
helped me. You can't always say "oh it's ok, you are doing fine"
and sugar coat everything. There are lots of people who don't do fine.
There are post ops who don't take their protein supps or other vitamin
supps who know they are supposed to. There are people who do over eat after
surgery and end up gaining all their weight back, only to end up having a
revision. It could be one little word that someone says to someone else
that might save them from having to go thru the surgery all over again. Why
don't we all just quit nit picking on each other here and respect each
other opinions? It's not right to disrespect a persons opinion just because
it may sound harsh or not match up to what you may think. If it were some
off the wall dangerous medical advice someone were giving to someone else
then that's a different story. Let's all support each other whether it be
through opinions or suggestions.
— [Anonymous]
November 29, 2001
Before I had the Open RNY I KNEW I was going to do EXACTLY what I was
SUPPOSED to! No doubt in my mind. However I was to be on a liquid diet for
the first week which I did with no problems and no real temptation. However
the next several weeks were to be pureed food. I just could'nt do it.
I was eating solid food from day 8 on although I was very careful to chew
to liquid. I love to walk and hardley have since May 8th as I have no
energy. I keep getting people who appear to be nasty (local people- no one
here on this site) who just say, "get up and walk! It will give you
energy". But you have to have some energy to get up! I don't have it.
I wish I did. So although I had the best of intentions I could'nt live up
to everything I had hoped to follow to the letter. But I refuse to feel
guilty because I have done the best I could and I continue to
"strive" to do better. I don't need the guilt. Nether do you! If
you have energy, then walk (or whatever activity you like to do). You don't
have to walk several miles, just go a quarter of a mile and increase it
little by little. Please do try hard to cut your portions down. Personally
it sounds like you are eating to much. But who am I to say... I hardly get
hungry! The only time I feel like eating like crazy is when I eat alot a
carbohydrates which triger hunger like no tomarrow. A couple days ago I ate
one little packet of blueberry oatmeal for breakfast. My God I ate ALL day
and could'nt stop the hunger! I even ate when I was already full as it was
like I was drugged and someone had taken control of my body. So today I ate
two egg whites and about 1.5 slices of buttered toast and I have'nt been
hungry in these last 7 hours. So whatever it is that triggers your hunger,
"recongnise it" and "change your behavor". You don't
have to make big changes, just make some small ones everyday. You probally
won't really feel deprived with "small changes" and they really
do add up. But please start now. You don't want the surgery to be for
naught.
— Danmark
November 29, 2001
What's with the overabundance of Kim's on this site? :-) Anyway, in the
immortal words of Rodney King..."Can't we all just get along?"
Sheesh...I'm with Kim 1 on part of this -- even if she is a pre op. When I
was pre-op I used to read these types of posts and just really wonder what
the heck these people were doing and on the outside looking in I'd wonder
why they'd mess up their "last chance". Now as a 5 month post op
I can't say that my thoughts have changed that much. I certainly have a
better understanding on why you would worry about a stretched pouch. Who
wants to feel like they caused their surgery to fail? Anyway, I digress --
girlfriend, you know good full and well (that's what my mom always says)
what you are doing wrong. Assuming you don't have a disruption, you're
breaking every "rule" of WLS. You asked for 40 lashes and I can
appreciate your wanting them. Most people post looking for wishy washy
sympathy/empathy but don't want that obligatory kick in the a** that might
just be necessary to jump start them in the right direction. And no I
don't care if anyone gets angry at what I have to say. Anger spurs action
so don't waste it on me. Anyway like another poster said, the carbs are
what are killing you. Take those out for 7 days (start today) and watch
that scale start to move. Watch your appetite change and go away (you will
notice less of a need to snack). Cut out the drinking with eating. You've
gotten into some bad habits that aren't too hard to break. Do it a little
at a time. For instance, for the next 2 days don't drink with dinner.
Wait for an hour after eating to drink anything. Then try lunch and so on.
And last but not least, if you don't want to gain this weight back 5 years
from now then get the molasses out of your butt (something my dad used to
say :-) and start exercising! go to a support group meeting and
"confess your sins" then plead for a partner who will get with it
with you! I wish I were in your town cause I'd be the first one standing
up to help you! I want us all to succeed and I think we all can! Good
luck, God bless and if you want to email me and yell, please feel free to
do so.
— Kimberly L.
November 29, 2001
The important thing is that we're all here for support. And, in my
opinion, unless someone else has had the same experience as another, they
can't compare experiences. You can sympathize, but not empathize, even
offer your opinion - but no pre-op knows what it's like to be a post-op
until they wake up in recovery. And it's quite different being a long-term
post-op. Every surgeon is different with their opinions on surgery types
and post-op guidelines. I ate solid food before leaving the hospital at my
surgeon's directions. So let's respect the diversity on this board. That
being said, have you told your surgeon the way you eat? Is it acceptable?
Discuss what's going on, maybe change your eating habits to increase
protein and water, decrease carbs, and exercise. I've had some nasty
plateaus...one lasted 3 months. If that breaks the plateau, you've
probably just been off-track. If not, then I'd suggest discussing an
endoscopy with your surgeon. Good luck!
— [Deactivated Member]
November 29, 2001
Kim Bisson,, You are pre-op...as far as I am concerned you have no
credibility in regards as to what you will NEVER do postop...sorry no
offense but speak when you are about 7 months postop..that is the only way
you have credibiltiy..by walking a mile in the postop's shoes. Until then,
wear the shoe that fits...the one preop. I am sure you will be less angry
after some weight loss...you will feel soo happy that you will have a lot
more compassion. Weight loss works wonders on the attitude! Sincerely,
— Carolyn G.
November 29, 2001
Funny, I probably would agree and stand behind my twin sister too
Carolyn....and Marilyn. Just for the record, I do not have any anger
issues. I will continue to post both questions and answers on this site
whether I am a PRE OP or a POST OP. If I feel I can contribute, then I
will, no matter who agrees or disagrees with me. That is what this board is
for. NO ONE's word or opinion is gold here. Not mine and not yours. I also
want to thank everyone for all the supportive emails I recieved regarding
this "situation". Nicole, the poster, I wish you luck and hope
you find out what the problem is, if it even is a problem. Good Luck :)
— Kim B.
November 30, 2001
KIM BISSON - Lighten up! You're certainly free to express your opinion,
pre-op or post-op, but lose the nasty attitude! I challenge you to return
to this post at 6 months post-op when you have an experience to stand
behind.
— [Anonymous]
November 30, 2001
I am a 17 month post-op (down 150lbs). That being said, I find I appreciate
the diverse answers from both pre- and post-ops. Some of the pre-op
answers remind me of my journey to get here & how motivated I was. I
find the more time that goes by the harder time I am having sticking to a
healthy diet. I had a candy addiction prior to wls & it has come back
full force. I haven't lost any weight in 4 mos. It could be my body's at
goal or it could be my eating habits. Frankly I think the loss was almost
too easy in the beginning & didn't reinforce better eating habits. I
don't eat as much as Nicole but I still make unwise choices. Let's not
criticize other posters. All answers should be welcomed. I know when I
post a question I appreciate all points of view in response. GOOD LUCK
Nicole!
— Lori_B
November 30, 2001
Kim, I don't know how this got of hand but I didn't say you had anger
issues for the record. I agree this board is for everyone but I was only
trying to give Nicole some support. I have been where she is and I felt
suicidal because I felt like a failure! If it wasn't for the support of
Michelle Curran and a few others who were postop, I probably would not have
known my problem was fixable. For their support I am extremely grateful.
I, like you, had done tons of research on WLS and still do, but believe me,
you don't know the whole story until you are post op. I admire your
confidence though! I wish you and Nicole best of luck and would love to
know what the final outcome is for you, Nicole. In the meantime, I agree
all answers are welcome and necessary here! BUT Kim, you told me not to
give my opinion because it was not like yours. The very same advice you
stressed for yourself! I respect yours and all others opinions. When I
was preop, I would have never answered questions here. I asked a lot and
learned from the experts....those who had been there/done that. Hope your
surgery is successful and you stay on your post op diet 100%. If you do,
you will be the first to do it 100% correct from day one. Most of us learn
by trial and error....including and mostly, ME!
— Marilyn C.
November 30, 2001
I post anonymously for fear of getting the 80 lashes that Kim got.: )
Looking at these posts from a male's point of view I wonder if you guys are
all PMSing? Everyone is entitled to their opinion no matter what it is.
Even pre ops such as Kim. And so do some of the other posters who stuck
with answering the post. Now here is my opinion....Yes there are times when
it is extremely difficult staying on track. I don't think there is one
single post op out there who hasn't struggled one way or another. HOWEVER,
with that said, I don't know how you "ladies" can possibly say to
Nicole that it's ok and that she is doing fine. Maybe she WAS doing fine
because in 7 months she lost a little over 100lbs. That's great! But now
she says that she has not lost any in 2 months. How can you tell her it's
ok when she posts that she has eaten a 6 pound bag of pretzels in a month,
she grazes, drinks with her meals, and eats a very large meal in 20
minutes?? I think that is a little more than just a mere falling off track.
If she is at goal and maintaining her weight then that's another story. But
from what I gather, she isn't at goal. I also agree with the last poster.
Pre ops can contribute very much to this site. They can remind us how WE
felt pre op and maybe wake us up and get us motivated again. To even
suggest that their opinions don't have value is just not so. Everyone's
opinion on this site counts. I would have an attitude and get angry too if
I had to defend my right to express my opinion. Remember, we were all pre
ops at one time.
— [Anonymous]
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