Window of Opportunity and other things...

[Guest guest]

<<I've heard over

and over again about this " window " of time we have to

take weight off. I have not really tried to lose any

more weight although I would like to lose that last 25

lbs. However, my question is this: Is this " window of

opportunity " true? Is it not possible to lose any more

weight after a certain " timeframe " .>>

I don't believe it, Sandi. I started the police academy 22 months out,

finished 20 lbs above my goal, lost down to my goal at 2 1/2 years out. At

about 6-8 years out, I started losing again, and got 10 lbs below goal

(without trying). I then regained back up to weight, and have stayed there

for 12 years. I recently wanted to lose a little more weight, and took off

another 5 lbs, with little or no effort. I upped the protein, cut the carbs,

and stressed out when my husband got activated to active duty on alert to go

to the middle east... That part wasn't exactly in my plan.

Jac

mailto:jholdaway@...

before and after pictures at:

http://hometown.aol.com/jrandjrholdaway

http://www.pictureitdigitaldesigns.com/

http://members.cox.net/xxxfarmpaints

[Guest guest]

<<I've heard over

and over again about this " window " of time we have to

take weight off. I have not really tried to lose any

more weight although I would like to lose that last 25

lbs. However, my question is this: Is this " window of

opportunity " true? Is it not possible to lose any more

weight after a certain " timeframe " .>>

I don't believe it, Sandi. I started the police academy 22 months out,

finished 20 lbs above my goal, lost down to my goal at 2 1/2 years out. At

about 6-8 years out, I started losing again, and got 10 lbs below goal

(without trying). I then regained back up to weight, and have stayed there

for 12 years. I recently wanted to lose a little more weight, and took off

another 5 lbs, with little or no effort. I upped the protein, cut the carbs,

and stressed out when my husband got activated to active duty on alert to go

to the middle east... That part wasn't exactly in my plan.

Jac

mailto:jholdaway@...

before and after pictures at:

http://hometown.aol.com/jrandjrholdaway

http://www.pictureitdigitaldesigns.com/

http://members.cox.net/xxxfarmpaints

[Guest guest]

> Is this " window of

> opportunity " true?

***No, it's just the timeframe when the pounds usually fall off with

little or no effort.

> as time has moved on, I find my " appetite "

> returning, and my ability to eat a heck of a lot more

> food. Enough, so that it's scaring me! I'm beginning

> to wonder if something is wrong? How would I know if I

> had a staple line disruption?

***Sounds pretty normal to me, but if you think you might have a SLD,

go have an upper GI. Some have symptoms, some can just eat a lot

more, but at a couple of years out, we can all usually eat more.

> The few times I've needed to call my surgeon, the response I

> get is consistently to " contact my PCP " . It seems that since I'm

this far post-op, that there is absolutely no interest or support

from him or anybody else associated with his office. Anybody else

find this to be true and how did you handle it?>

***Unfortumately, many PCP's are clueless when it comes to WLS, but

there's no excuse for your surgeon's response. If you stick around

here, you can usually get a pretty good idea of what's to be

expected. Hopefully, you're remain healthy enough not to need more

than routine health care.

in NJ

[Guest guest]

> Is this " window of

> opportunity " true?

***No, it's just the timeframe when the pounds usually fall off with

little or no effort.

> as time has moved on, I find my " appetite "

> returning, and my ability to eat a heck of a lot more

> food. Enough, so that it's scaring me! I'm beginning

> to wonder if something is wrong? How would I know if I

> had a staple line disruption?

***Sounds pretty normal to me, but if you think you might have a SLD,

go have an upper GI. Some have symptoms, some can just eat a lot

more, but at a couple of years out, we can all usually eat more.

> The few times I've needed to call my surgeon, the response I

> get is consistently to " contact my PCP " . It seems that since I'm

this far post-op, that there is absolutely no interest or support

from him or anybody else associated with his office. Anybody else

find this to be true and how did you handle it?>

***Unfortumately, many PCP's are clueless when it comes to WLS, but

there's no excuse for your surgeon's response. If you stick around

here, you can usually get a pretty good idea of what's to be

expected. Hopefully, you're remain healthy enough not to need more

than routine health care.

in NJ

[Guest guest]

Sandi,

Jac answered you well about the window of opportunity.

As to everything going down so easily without having to chew, chew,

chew as well as being able to eat much larger quantities, two

possible reasons: (1) your anastomosis (slit from your pouch to your

intestine) may have enlarged, allowing lots of food to flow through

unobstructed and turning the first few inches (or foot) of intestine

into a pseudo-stomach, or (2) the staples around your pouch could

nave dislodged (staple line disruption), allowing food to go through

the pouch into the stomach, just as in pre-op days. The only way to

tell for sure is to be " scoped " (EGD procedure--swallow a fiber-optic

tube and camera).

--Steve

(who, having had the DS rather than the RnY, may not know what the

Heck he is talking about!)

[Guest guest]

Sandi,

Jac answered you well about the window of opportunity.

As to everything going down so easily without having to chew, chew,

chew as well as being able to eat much larger quantities, two

possible reasons: (1) your anastomosis (slit from your pouch to your

intestine) may have enlarged, allowing lots of food to flow through

unobstructed and turning the first few inches (or foot) of intestine

into a pseudo-stomach, or (2) the staples around your pouch could

nave dislodged (staple line disruption), allowing food to go through

the pouch into the stomach, just as in pre-op days. The only way to

tell for sure is to be " scoped " (EGD procedure--swallow a fiber-optic

tube and camera).

--Steve

(who, having had the DS rather than the RnY, may not know what the

Heck he is talking about!)

[Guest guest]

I believe it is more commonly referred to as the " honeymoon period "

rather than the " window of opportunity. " This generally refers to the

time right after surgery where it is physically impossible for most to

eat and absorb enough to keep from losing weight. Ultimately, the new

digestive system becomes more efficient at absorption and the gastric

pouch stretches to allow more food to be eaten in a single meal. That

is when the " honeymoon period " is over. From there on, it becomes a

matter of using the gastric pouch as a tool. Just like with any other

tool, if it is used correctly, it will do the job for which it was

intended. If not used correctly, it will not. Early weight loss

stoppage or regain is caused by not putting the gastric pouch to its

best use. Two instructive discussions on post op pouch usage can be

found at http://www.digitalhorsewoman.com/pouchrules.htm and at

http://www.waynesmith.net/lapband/faq/pouch_management.htm They are

very similar in content, but the second is more technical. The

information in there might help you with that last 25 lbs.

Ray Hooks

For WLS nutrition info, visit

http://www.bariatricsupplementsystem.com

--

[Guest guest]

I believe it is more commonly referred to as the " honeymoon period "

rather than the " window of opportunity. " This generally refers to the

time right after surgery where it is physically impossible for most to

eat and absorb enough to keep from losing weight. Ultimately, the new

digestive system becomes more efficient at absorption and the gastric

pouch stretches to allow more food to be eaten in a single meal. That

is when the " honeymoon period " is over. From there on, it becomes a

matter of using the gastric pouch as a tool. Just like with any other

tool, if it is used correctly, it will do the job for which it was

intended. If not used correctly, it will not. Early weight loss

stoppage or regain is caused by not putting the gastric pouch to its

best use. Two instructive discussions on post op pouch usage can be

found at http://www.digitalhorsewoman.com/pouchrules.htm and at

http://www.waynesmith.net/lapband/faq/pouch_management.htm They are

very similar in content, but the second is more technical. The

information in there might help you with that last 25 lbs.

Ray Hooks

For WLS nutrition info, visit

http://www.bariatricsupplementsystem.com

--