Questions, comments, reflections, etc., fairly long - ok very long!

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

At six months postop, I almost feel as if I am beginning a new phase of my

wls experience, and feel somewhat unprepared and am beginning to have more

questions pertaining to the next six months.

First, a little history, which most of you already know. I had a failed

stomach stapling nearly 20 years prior to my DS. I lost less than 40 pounds,

and then regained and continued to gain from there. Twenty years later, I

was at a point where I felt I had nothing to lose by trying wls again, and

honestly felt I had a very limited future without it. At 324 pounds, my

weight was impacting every part of my life. Simply getting from point A to

point B was almost more than I could handle on most days. I had my DS with

Dr. Anthone on 04/20/01. The surgery took nearly 5 hours, because of

adhesions and revision of the previous stomach surgery. For the first eight

weeks, I felt pretty much like I'd been hit by a bus. For someone who has

undergone several surgeries, and heals faster than anyone ever expects, it

was quite a challenge. This surgery and recovery were much harder than

anything I had ever experienced. However, once I got past that magic 8 week

point, things began to look up.

My experience has been different than most. Rather than the runs that most

people experience, I've gone the other direction, and fight the constipation

monster. This seems to be getting slightly better at this point, for which I

am truly grateful! I had nausea at first, but after 10-12 weeks that was

history. I really can eat whatever I want. I can also eat however much fat

I want. It really doesn't seem to impact anything at all. I can eat fast.

I can eat beyond comfortably full. I never throw up. I do still get

heartburn, especially if I eat too much.

Today I ate:

1/2 cheeseburger and a few sips of diet coke from Mcs

about 10 mini crackers

toast with melted cheese (ate about 3/4)

about 1/3 of a restaurant portion of veal parmesan

3/4 of a boneless chicken breast half

toast with peanut butter (ate about 4/5)

This is about twice as much as I could eat two months ago.

I still have trouble getting liquids down. At this point, I can drink decaf

coffee and tea, and occasionally watered down hot chocolate. Warm drinks go

down much better than anything cold. I try to drink a glass of milk almost

every day. Anything else fills me up after a few sips, or makes my stomach

feel " gurgly " (like those scientific terms?), or makes me gag. I can't drink

crystal light or my beloved diet snapple, even if I water them down.

I exercise 3-5 times per week. I try for something aerobic, either water

aerobics or the exercise bike, five days per week. I do strength training 3

days per week. I am also trying to get more activity in during my daily

activities. Walking at the mall, walking the dog, anything I can think of to

just be a little more active.

I am seriously looking into returning to school. I am so bored with what I

do, and have felt trapped for years. All of a sudden, I don't feel so

trapped. Before surgery, I could not have possibly worked and cared for my

children AND gone to school full time. Not a chance! But now, I really

think I can do it. It is so incredible to have options again! For all you

nurses out there, any advice, info, etc., on the nursing profession and the

RN program, I would love any advice or info you would be willing to share.

The plan is to complete the RN program, then work in nursing while pursuing a

degree in social work.

I have lost 105 lb since surgery. I feel so good! I can walk. I can even

run a bit. I can tie my shoes. I can do...anything. That is the best part.

I can do anything. Everything in my life, pre-surgery, was filtered through

the " weight " issue. Could I fit? Could I physically do it? Would the chair

break? Would I fall? Everything. Now, I am FREE. I can do whatever I need

to do, WITHOUT having to run it through that filter.

I have gone from a size 30/32 to a 1X and in some things even an XL or 18 in

the " regular " sizes. My jeans are still a 22 though. I think the tummy is

here to stay, unfortunately. I have a hernia, and will eventually get a

tummy tuck, which I hope will help.

Okay, that was the long update, mostly for those preops and new postops who

are curious. I know I always want to hear how it really is for others.

Now, on to the questions:

I feel like I am entering a new stage here. It appears to me that alot of

people have a real reduction in weight loss after six months, and that

several have stopped losing altogether at nine months. For those of you who

are one to two years (and more) postop, how did this work for you? I have

already had weeks where I maintain and even a few where I have gained a few

pounds. I think sodium intake and the constipation thing may have a bit to

do with that, in my case. I certainly know we are all different, but I would

love to have other people's experinces to compare.

Also, for those few of us with the constipation issue rather than the

reverse....are we really malabsorbing? Dr. A says I am malabsorbing, but he

is simply going by my weight loss. However, until recently, I really was

eating very little, so I think it may reflect that more than any

malabsorption going on. If everything I eat is sitting there for a week,

wouldn't more of it be being absorbed?

I think that because of my previous wls experience, I have fears that it

" won't work " . I can't imagine re-gaining weight, or stopping losing. That

really would be too horrible to contemplate. Luckily, I feel that I am

exercising well, and really am trying to eat well, so hopefully even if it

somehow didn't work any more, maybe I wouldn't gain so much. Not sure about

that though!

One of the nicest things I am hearing lately is that I look so much younger.

I am not sure if that comes from losing weight or just being happier! It is

hard to smile and be happy when everything hurts all the time and you can

barely drag yourself through the day.

I am grateful, every day, for this surgery.

Dawna