Obesity Surgery WP Blog

Hello all,
I need some support/advice from the group. Sandra called it a butt kicking and
maybe I need that too. I am 7 months post op and have lost about 70 pounds to
date. A little slow for me, but I’d never have lost the 70 with out the surgery,
so I’m happy.
The problem is my old ways are returning with vengeance. I’ve started to drink
Diet Coke again, eat sweets, and snack between meals. Now I can’t eat as much as
before surgery, but this is really scaring me and my weight loss has slowed to
almost none. I’ve read all the info regarding getting all the water in, eating
protein first, exercising etc. I know what I need to do, but I also knew before
surgery and didn’t do it. How do I do this now? I was hoping this surgery would
keep this from happening. What do I do??? This group is my only support as I
don’t have a local group. My doctor left the state when I was 4 months post op
and no other doc in the area wanted to take me on. My PCP did the lab work, but
is not able to give me the support I need for further weight loss. HELP anyone.
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I am scheduled for surgery on Jan. 11th and am wanting to color my
hair prior to surgery. Does anyone know a reason why I should wait
until after surgery? Thanks.

… Share Common Brain Characteristics”
(this from the October 2001 National Institute on Drug Abuse’s _NIDA Notes_
and the original article can be found in the _Lancet_ 357 [9253]: 354-357,
2001 and the author’s of the article are G-J Wang, N.D. Volkow; et al. The
article in _Lancet_ was entitled “Brain dopamine and obesity.”)
This article was incredibly interesting since I have long held the belief
that morbid obesity (at least mine) was a biochemical glitch in the
brain. Otherwise, how could Phen-Fen have worked so well without my having
one iota of a problem eating correctly and exercising the way I was meant
to… until the moment it was removed from my system. My brain just needed
the right chemicals coursing about it.
“Reduced brain activity of dopamine, a naturally occurring substance that
modulates feelings of pleasure, may contribute to obesity as well as drug
addiction, a NIDA-funded study suggests. The study found that the brains
of obese individuals have relatively few of the nerve cell components
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I have some pictures of Sarah and I during our trip to Disney World a
couple weeks ago if anyone is interested.
Please PRIVATELY send me your email and I will send them.
Barbara Herrera
San Diego, CA - 40 years old
Open RNY April 5, 2001
Dr. Julie Ellner, Alvarado Hospital, San Diego, CA
4/5/01: 344# BMI: 63
8/24/01: 244# BMI: 45 (minus 100 pounds!)
12/18/01: 198# BMI: 36.2
(LOST: Diabetes, GERD, IBS, Stress Incontinence, Sleep Apnea, Snoring,
PCOS, Joint Pain, Immobility, Insatiable Hunger/Thirst, & A Premature Death
Sentence. FOUND: LIFE!!!)

Well…it’s official….I finally have my surgery date…………January 18th
(less than 4 weeks away). I got the notice today from the Dr’s office. I am so
relieved that it’s finally here….but I’m also getting more nervous. I can’t
wait to see what a mess I’ll be on the 18th.
Joni Shelton
Pre-Op weight - 417

Hi friends,
I would rather sleep late than get up and cook breakfast. (This will
not change so please don’t write back suggesting that I get up
earlier…I need help not criticism please.)
I need help on preparing quick, protein rich breakfast foods. I have
a microwave at work and a refrigerator. I eat cottage cheese and milk
and cereal but can’t think of anything else that will give me protein
and requires little or no preparation. I can eat most anything.
Please help. I am missing breakfast because I don’t know what to eat!
Sorry to throw this in with the subject of food…but I also would
like the answer to this question. Does anybody know what that clear,
mucus-like stuff is that some of us seem to (please excuse me here)
vomit up?
Thanks dear, dear friends.
Make your holidays be healthy and happy.
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Does anyone know if you are predisposed to dumping if you have diabetes prior
to surgery?
Shelley

Greetings Everyone. For the second time in my life I am considering
wls. I joined your list to hear from those who know the real deal;
who can answer questions that doctors never consider or for those a
doctor wouldn’t have a legitimate answer. I am a 39 yr old Black
female who weighs approx 200 more than what standard weight charts
say is the ideal for a woman who is 5′8″ tall. I have searched
for “personal experience” websites for information about post-surgery
experiences. There are many out there but none that seem to give the
info I specifically seek: like what I can and can’t eat, how much
dieting and exercise is required post surgery, how to cope with
relatively rapid weight loss (the emotional and the physical–sagging
skin and the like)and what reasonable health improvements to expect.
I don’t know, guess I’m just full of questions. I’m sure this is
typical. Don’t expect you all to answer them for me. I more expect
to get “the gist” as I read current and past posts. I do want to
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Tammy,
I agree with you. I don’t see that “Rhibarb”;-) needs a butt kicking. It
doesn’t sound to me like she’s getting into “bad habits” or reverting back to
old ways.
Personally, one of my biggest problems is that I feel I have to be perfect.
This causes me to set myself up and fail. When I fail, I get depressed and
figure “what the hell”. If I allow myself to be imperfect, I do much better.
You’ll get back into the exercise girl… just take it a little at a time and
don’t beat yourself up too much.
IMHO
liz
Lap RNY 2/15/01
304

Hi all! Just wanted to let you all know that I have broken my 1st
plateau, was at -75 pounds for almost a month and now I am at -80. I
am so excited about it.
Also, I will be heading up a BTC support group in Lansing, MI for
all who are interested. It will be the 4th Saturday of each month, e-
mail me for info.
Have beautiful holiday season,
Patricia
open rny 6-26
then 336
now 256