Re: Help! Scared of relapse

[Guest guest]

I am wondering how long it takes before the urge to overeat or binge on wrong

foods comes back after surgery. Do we have a " honeymoon period " which ends

after some amount of time?

I can't think of anything I want that I can't have. I did have a few times,

very early on, where I felt frustrated by the small amount I could eat, in

that something tasted good and I wanted more. But those times were few, and

thankfully seem to have passed (for now anyway!).

This was an issue I worried about as a preop. I was afraid those old

compulsions to overeat would make me " ruin " the operation. The nutritionist

at Dr. Anthone's office, and Dr. A, both said someone would have to work very

very hard to outeat the operation, that it was really a non-issue. I don't

know how true that is, but it was a comfort at the time.

I am 14 weeks postop today. I sure hope the " honeymoon phase " lasts

longer...forever sounds good!

Dawna

[Guest guest]

if you live in a nice city--or town near a city-- with 4seasons and a

good nursing market, clue me in, okay? I am ready toresume my life

elsewhere.

>> Iowa City IA is home to the Univ.of Iowa and one of the most

prestigious teaching hospitals in the mid-west. There are 2 other

hospitals in Iowa City, and 2 others in Cedar Rapids. The 2 cities

are approximately 30 miles apart with MANY small towns along

the 'corridor' between the 2. Iowa's population is aging, so there

are MULTITUDES of nursing homes/facilities everywhere. BUT, being

that it's a university town, there are plenty of young people too. GO

HAWKEYES!!

We definitely have 4 seasons....just this passed Tues it was 97

degrees with a heat index of 107 with the humidity...but

wait....today (friday) its 73 degrees with a slight breeze, sunny and

absolutely BEAUTIFUL...my kind of weather.

I too am 6 mos. out, and seem to have the plateau then a loss thing

happening too. I'll go 3 weeks or so with no loss on the scale at

all, but my clothes continue to get looser and looser, then WHAM,

then next time I step on (i weigh only once/week) i'll have lost 7

pounds! I don't do carbs as a rule, but if the hankering strikes, I

go with it. I am adamant about this NOT being a diet. I usually

have 3 or 4 bites, and realize, I just don't want anymore. That

is...except for popcorn! I L-O-V-E the stuff still. Except now I

can only eat 1/2 bag of microwave istead of 2, like I could pre-op.

It's always nice to know that someone else is plateau-ing like I do,

and it's not necessarily because I'm doing anything 'wrong'.

Colleen - Iowa

312-226-160

1-15-01 DS

Dr.Buchwald

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/27/01 7:01:17 PM, duodenalswitch writes:

<< then WHAM,

then next time I step on (i weigh only once/week) i'll have lost 7

pounds! I don't do carbs as a rule, but if the hankering strikes, I

go with it. I am adamant about this NOT being a diet. I usually

have 3 or 4 bites, and realize, I just don't want anymore. That

is...except for popcorn! I L-O-V-E the stuff still. Except now I

can only eat 1/2 bag of microwave istead of 2, like I could pre-op.

It's always nice to know that someone else is plateau-ing like I do,

and it's not necessarily because I'm doing anything 'wrong'.

>>

Colleen: This is what I've noticed... plateaus followed by really, really

rapid (and comparatively short) weight loss periods. I do eat carbs, but

much less than I did as a pre-op. AND, they are almost always accompanied by

protein. I focus on protein with some carbs on the side and dishes where

they are combined naturally (stir fries, etc.). I'm six months out and I've

found that I pretty much eat as I did at three months out. I've always been

able to eat quite a bit and didn't experience any negative reactions with

foods. I have some days where I'm just ravenous and others where I just

can't eat anything (the humidity really contributes to this).

I love popcorn, too! It is one of my favorite' snacks'. But, I find that I

tend to go in cycles. I'll eat a meat/cheese sandwich for breakfast for

awhile. Then, switch to cheese omlettes. I'll have popcorn until I'm all

'popcorned out' and then switch to something else (it was soy nuts for awhile

LOL).

all the best,

lap ds with gallbladder removal

January 25, 2001

six months post-op and still feelin' fabu!

pre-oP: 307 lbs/bmi 45 (5'9 1/2 " )

now: 233 lbs

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/27/01 7:01:17 PM, duodenalswitch writes:

<< then WHAM,

then next time I step on (i weigh only once/week) i'll have lost 7

pounds! I don't do carbs as a rule, but if the hankering strikes, I

go with it. I am adamant about this NOT being a diet. I usually

have 3 or 4 bites, and realize, I just don't want anymore. That

is...except for popcorn! I L-O-V-E the stuff still. Except now I

can only eat 1/2 bag of microwave istead of 2, like I could pre-op.

It's always nice to know that someone else is plateau-ing like I do,

and it's not necessarily because I'm doing anything 'wrong'.

>>

Colleen: This is what I've noticed... plateaus followed by really, really

rapid (and comparatively short) weight loss periods. I do eat carbs, but

much less than I did as a pre-op. AND, they are almost always accompanied by

protein. I focus on protein with some carbs on the side and dishes where

they are combined naturally (stir fries, etc.). I'm six months out and I've

found that I pretty much eat as I did at three months out. I've always been

able to eat quite a bit and didn't experience any negative reactions with

foods. I have some days where I'm just ravenous and others where I just

can't eat anything (the humidity really contributes to this).

I love popcorn, too! It is one of my favorite' snacks'. But, I find that I

tend to go in cycles. I'll eat a meat/cheese sandwich for breakfast for

awhile. Then, switch to cheese omlettes. I'll have popcorn until I'm all

'popcorned out' and then switch to something else (it was soy nuts for awhile

LOL).

all the best,

lap ds with gallbladder removal

January 25, 2001

six months post-op and still feelin' fabu!

pre-oP: 307 lbs/bmi 45 (5'9 1/2 " )

now: 233 lbs

[Guest guest]

If you want a government nursing job NIH and the Navy in Bethesda land are hiring. Not sure where you want to move to?

[Guest guest]

If you want a government nursing job NIH and the Navy in Bethesda land are hiring. Not sure where you want to move to?

[Guest guest]

okay.....I identify with the rush of it all, that

shifting into overdrive. I have had that rush at

times when I have wanted comfort from food in the

old way and have been p-o'd when it didn't work

anymore, or sent me to the potty, etc., so how to

help, I have found eating the protein first has

helped moderate the carb desire, especailly if

emotionally driven, maybe some physical drive in

there too. Also, when this starts to happen for

me, I vary my diet, add in different things,

maybe the cravings are more easily launched

because of a physical triggers...

I also have found that some days, it seem si hold

more, some days I don't, eating rice, by the

nature of its " expansion " inside, helps me fill

up fast! so maybe that will detour your

" over-eating " also, I almost always use a smaller

plate now, so teh portions don't look small or

insignificant in the plate, it's a visual tactic,

a fuller looking plate goes with the choices I

make today and with the smaller stomach.

I hope somehting in here rings a bell, if not,

you have " rung a bell " with me, and I thank you!

lennyB Apr 2 BPD/DS with Dr Gagner, -76 in 13weeks

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

So sorry to hear of your complications -- hope you're doing much better and

have experienced complete physical healing. I am 11 months out and did not

really experience the relapse fear or increased eating. Sometimes I'll eat

much more for a day or two than usual -- but funny thing is that eating more

equals losing more. I'm wondering if it isn't the Celexa? I've heard it is

notorious for causing weight gain and know someone who experienced it who

never really had a weight problem before. You might want to ask your doc

about it and maybe have them prescribe a different type of anti-depressant.

Wishing you the best -

Kris G

Cincinnati, Ohio

5'7 " , 40 years old

8/22 - 283 - BMI 44.3

7/22 - 141 - BMI 22.1

Reached goal set by Dr. of 147 at 9 months/3 wks.

ciao to 142 lbs. & 149.75 inches in 11 months

Open BPD/DS 08/22/00

Bowel obstruction surgery 4/21/01

Dr. Maguire, Kettering OH

HumanaFreedom Plus Plan

iwillbefit@...

http://www.newlifeteams.org

Help! Scared of relapse

| Hello, fellow DSers. I'm worried and I need advice--either toughtalk or

reassurance, whichever is appropriate.I had lap DS late January this year,

and my weight loss from the2ndweek has always been a pattern of long

plateaus followed by suddenrapid losses over 3-4 days.I've had

complications: bacterial overgrowth,abdominal pain,ulcers,severe diarrhea,

rectal abcess and fistula from recurrentdiarrhea,even when I avoided all

trigger foods. I lost part of mysense of smell and for the first few months

NOTHING tasted good.I'm right on target weight wise--1/2 of total goal

amount (actuallythat happened a month early, but I am on a plateau since

then, whichcould be the usual 3-4 week plateau. ---Or is it the beginning of

thehard part of weight loss?) I've had depression due to all the

complications, missed work,bodychanges like falling hair and sagging skin,

etc. Also theloneliness of being stuck in a tiny town in the middle of

NOWHERE,where everybody at work knows of my surgery and no one is

closeenough to be a real friend. Many are not supportive, either, and

thewomen arebeginnig to avoid me as new " competition " . SIGGGHHH.. (I'mhere

for a job, and it's a close-knit rural area; I'll be movingsoon, I hope.) I

recently went on Celexa (antidepressant), which has suddenlyincreased my

appetite, which, until now has been no problem. I've been eating more

carbs, and suddenly realized last night that Ihad prepared myself a serving

of potatoes equal to about 2 cups! Ididn't eat it all--too full--but this

is new in terms of portionsize, carb cravings, etc. It's too close to my old

pattern of lateevening carb consumption that helped make me fat in the first

place.I am afraid that the built-in appetite suppression and portioncontrol

days are over now, and with the Celexa, I'll stop losing andstart

overeating. My stomach seems to vary considerably in how muchit will hold

comfortably. It also seems to stretch pretty fast whenIdo eat too much a

few times in a row--that mopping up your platereflex thing where you eat the

last 2-3 bites because they're there,not because you want them.Please,

folks, tell me whether you experienced this 6-month turningpoint and whether

you had to actively control/measure your diet afterthat...was it permanent,

or just a phase? Women, if you have PMScarb cravings like I do every month,

were you able to maintain weightloss even if you overdid the carbs/portions

for one week a month? If I need a wake-up call, deal it out wih no mercy. I

need honesty.Also tips on how to cope/overcome.E-mail tao11@..., or

answer here.Thanks, Nurses, if you live in a nice city--or town near a

city-- with 4seasons and a good nursing market, clue me in, okay? I am

ready toresume my life elsewhere.

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