Prayers for your niece, you and your other family members who've had problems after trying to become fitter and healthier. Can't figure out what CFIDS stands for, but I wish you well. At this point my wanting to get the gastric sleeve is all about trying to save my back, hips, knees and feet; looking nicer (as I'm sure I will, broad shoulders/narrow hips and all--that's what I've got, so that will be good) will just be icing on the cake. Blessings.

I drive over 10 miles to get to my pool and it's all worth it.

Thank you for sharing. I was put on iron and a b-complex as well. I was hoping that eventually I will be able to end these. Now I know I won't....

Thank you so much for sharing this. It's something I'm going to check on myself now.

Ann

Thank you sharing your experience and thankfully you and your doctor our on the same page! After reading your story it on makes me more determine to continue to take my vitamins as I believe they have been helpful with me feeling healthier throughout my journey.

I wasn't trying to discourage folks who need this and are willing to take the chance. I was simply taking off the rose colored glasses and keeping it real. This stuff does happen, rarely, but it does....

Thank you for your very honest post. I'm truly sorry for your troubles and *hope* that no respectable bariatric surgeon in the US would perform a sleeve on someone with no health issues. That said, I was sleeved in October with 90-100 lbs to lose. I did have uncontrolled "asthma" and high bp controlled on three different meds. Aside from the medical issues, I now understand I was depressed before. Three years since my divorce, I'd pretty much become a semi-hermit. I have to work, and buy groceries and occasionally would meet up with a few close friends, but did not relish the opportunity to "get out" and would spend my time playing video games or watching TV. I was not comfortable in my own skin. I didn't like that version of me.

Fast forward 3 months and yes, I am off my medications, 50lbs down and enjoy an hour on my elliptical, walking the dogs and doing yoga several times per week. But probably the most dramatic change has been in my confidence. I'm more confident at work and on track for a promotion now. I have jumped back into the dating pool, (ya think three years, four with the separation, is long enough)? I am enjoying the attention and socialization opportunities. I seek out more time with my friends and family. I SMILE now. Vanity? Maybe, but you can't put a price on emotional well being. I'd take the risk again in a heartbeat.

I still have 40-50 lbs to go, but I feel amazing now and intend to enjoy the rest of my weight loss journey and my life as a healthy person, both medically and emotionally.

I wish I read this before my surgery. I only had 50 pounds to lose, but had diabetes. Tried 35 years to lose weight and nothing worked. I remember relatives having body parts cut off and losing their eyesight. My endocrinologist said to do this instead of the lapband. I had a hiatal hernia repaired, and it irritated the vagus nerve. My neck and head and shoulders hurt, I feel a little shaky. I hope this doesn't happen to me, and I pray that you may recover. Any advice would be appreciated

Hi Grace, sorry I missed this a couple of weeks ago. So sorry to hear of your troubles, but so lovely to see you. Healing thoughts your way, my friend.

Grace, welcome back. I'm so sorry about your challenges but I'm glad you are taking care of yourself and getting the help you need.

Originally Posted by teresaloves2trvl

Grace I went back and read your blog from 5-28-13. You and I both have been in the small percentage of patients who have serious side effects. I was tested for gastroperesis a few months ago but it was ruled out. Luckily I am able to eat better now than I was but I ended up with malnutrition induced neuropathy which appears to be permanent. I still suffer from dizziness when standing and walking due to low BP-I used to have high BP. I have just applied for SSDI and have professionals helping me with that-a benefit from my former employer. I consider myself lucky to be alive after all I went through. Glad you seem to be doing better. I am sure getting that gallbladder out had to be a good thing. I had to go back under the knife and have mine out 2 months after my sleeve was done.

Sending you hugs Teresa - if I can be of any help or just a friend, my email is peace_harmony@live.com. Bear in mind it may take me a day to get back to you if it's a bad crash day with my ME/CFS. I'm glad you are seeing the right doctors!

Originally Posted by tootsibelle

Tell us about it, Grace. What happened? How long was it until you began gaining weight? Did you gain a little or a lot? What can we do to help? This can happen to anyone. Maybe if we can share together we will find that this is a normal part of the process. Glad to hear from you.

Hi
I'll give you the cliff's notes version. (well, my kind of cliff notes)
I did great until a year out. Weight loss stopped at 10 months but I had dropped 117 lbs in less than a year so that didn't bother me as I felt after a rest it would start up again. Then a few things happened. I developed sweats, shakes, a tremor. I had a major life change a bit before and was at loose ends so I presumed this was my anxiety kicking up. (hubby and I are fine, this was something else) While dealing with that, at just after a year out I had gallbladder attacks that kept me up all night and had me doubled over with heat packs most of the day. I was told by my gastro to stop eating fats and did. Makes it a bit harder to stick to a high protein diet, but I tried smoothies and mush. This didn't help. It seemed like my body was rebelling against protein. I got anemic, malnourished but was bloated and had to go up a size at the same weight. Now, that stinks. Then there was a different type of belly pain, more central, a burning. Long story short, it took me 7 months of every test they could do before I let them do an EGD (I was scared with the sleeve) and they diagnosed chronic gastritis. The very next day I had a "hida scan" and they decided, finally, my gallbladder was full of sludge and had to go (the dye wouldn't go through). Gallbladder out in March, but the gastritis continues to this day. The stress on my body from the year of undereating and the other issues kicked me into a full blown reoccurance of my myalgic encephalomyelitis (aka Chronic fatigue). The tremor was diagnosed as essential tremor at first, then I saw my pcp and ultimately my endocrinologist and was finally tested for and diagnosed with post bariatric post prandial hypoglycemia ( elsewhere on this blog ). Now I know the tremor is my body reacting to my sugar being low.
So, why I gained weight. Couple of reasons.
1. I just couldnt stick to the plan with that much stomach pain. I cried the first few times I ate the pudding my gastro recommended, with protein powder mixed in (my idea) because I simply can't have sugar free and I knew the sugar would kick up my sugar addiction and it did. So I'm still battling that, especially during stressful times. Being brutally honest.
2. I stopped being able to exercise. I had been swimming ( the only one I can do ) at the pool near my mother in laws house but when she passed on I had no reason to drive the 2 hrs there anymore and to be honest I was and still am in way too much pain to do it now. My metabolism is very low, bp is low (105/60 avg) and my pulse rate hovers around 55. My naturopath says it's adrenal insufficiency and is helping with herbals.
3. depression. Being here was my outlet for over a year. Then I was here but was not losing weight, and was sick, and the others of my "sleeve class" were doing so well. I was really in the dumps and feeling like a failure. I hated my body, it was droopy, I felt (feel) really unsexy and had stopped wanting to be intimate at all. I gave up. I'd put in for SSDI with the help of a lawyer and money was tight. I ate. No excuses really. I just ate. It was like everything I'd denied myself for nearly 2 yrs was calling me and I just went for it and gained 15 lbs in literally one month.
4. What's changed. I received my SSDI, just last week. That was a relief financially but also a source of pain as it's so permanent, to be labeled disabled is hard. My gastritis remains, but I seem to know what I can and cannot eat and have all the meds with me at all times. My ME/CFS is still kicking my butt, however I've accepted this is my life now. We put our house on the market to move closer to my kids and to the pool (hasn't sold but just getting ready helps emotionally). I cut some people out of my life who were toxic. I read a great book "how to be sick" that changed my view on who I am and is teaching me to accept little failures as teaching moments and to accept the love of those around me as genuine. Hubby and I are back in the sack as they say as much as I can be, and doing well.
Things aren't perfect. Perhaps I'll never be a size 16 like I wanted. But I'd like to get back to my lowest post sleeve weight and learn to stay there if possible. Sometimes this journey can be far different than you picture, so it's better not to picture and just go with it....
(fyi, this took me 3 hrs to type up, with resting in between)

Grace I went back and read your blog from 5-28-13. You and I both have been in the small percentage of patients who have serious side effects. I was tested for gastroperesis a few months ago but it was ruled out. Luckily I am able to eat better now than I was but I ended up with malnutrition induced neuropathy which appears to be permanent. I still suffer from dizziness when standing and walking due to low BP-I used to have high BP. I have just applied for SSDI and have professionals helping me with that-a benefit from my former employer. I consider myself lucky to be alive after all I went through. Glad you seem to be doing better. I am sure getting that gallbladder out had to be a good thing. I had to go back under the knife and have mine out 2 months after my sleeve was done.

Hi! It's always great to hear from you! I'm sure you'll be back on track in no time! Be gentle with yourself!

Tell us about it, Grace. What happened? How long was it until you began gaining weight? Did you gain a little or a lot? What can we do to help? This can happen to anyone. Maybe if we can share together we will find that this is a normal part of the process. Glad to hear from you.

welcome back Grace!

Glad to hear that it is not the staples!!

I am metal sensitive, can only wear gold or titanium in piercings. Have multiple staples with no problem, but if I even wear surgical steel earrings for a few hours they start to get red and swollen and then if I dont take them out (or forget) I will start to get body aches and chills.

Good luck with your recovery!!

Thanks for the info! So glad to hear you are healing! Hope those smiles get more frequent every day!

Hi Grace, glad you are smiling again

Hi sleeve folks!
Wanted to be honest and come back and say I had nickel testing and I am only slightly allergic to it (at least according to a patch test), therefore it's not the staples giving me trouble.
After that, I saw a specialist gastroenterologist who deals with bariatric patients. He says that chronic gastritis is quite common in people with already sensitive stomachs who have bariatric surgery/ had excess acid to begin with and then have gallbladder troubles. He's given me a food plan to follow and says it's his largest focus right now to try to get bariatric programs to either take the gallbladder out during surgery, or to at least prescribe actigall every time for a year after surgery to avoid gallbladder issues for folks who lose weight quickly. He also said this is far more common with the sleeve than the rny as we have more acid build up than they do. Note he did say he has seen at least 3 cases a month of this in the last 2 yrs, so if you have gallbladder issues and your stomach still hurts after removal, it's likely this is you as well.
My stomach is healing now finally after 13 months of hell. I caught myself smiling the other day for the first time in a long time.
If you even think you have gallbladder issues, please discuss actigall or a similar drug with your doc if they won't just take it out during surgery or if you don't want them to... It took 8 long horrid months of testing for me to be able to get mine out and then another 5 months of healing to get back to something like normal. And it was totally unnecessary.
public service announcement
I see my bariatric team this week. I've gained weight (27 lbs) trying to deal with getting food down over the past year and honestly don't care at this point. Maybe I will in a few months when I'm all healed up. Right now I just want them to understand that their decision to not offer actigall or to take out my gb at surgery even though I already has stones was not a good one, perhaps it will change their minds going forward for others. At the very least, a discussion of gallbladder issues should be part of the program so that patients know to ask their PCPs about it.
hugs to all of you! Hope the newbies are all doing well and maybe now that I don't hate, hate, hate my poor beleaguered stomach so much I'll be able to come back more often.

I am very happy to see that you have found a solution to your situation and 3 pounds!! Great job!! I hope WW is very successful for you and Lifetime is in your future!!

Glad you're feeling a little bit better!

Hiya Grace. Glad to hear you're finding a way to feel a bit more in control again, after all you've been through. Good and healing thoughts coming your way from Blighty.

Great to hear you are doing better and that you have found a locution that works for you.
Wishing you the best

Glad to hear you're feeling a little better! Congrats on the new weight loss and peace! Keep us posted on your testing. wishing you all the best as your health improves!

Grace I knew you said you weren't feeling well - I am sorry you having a rough time... I hope you are sorted out soon...
thanks for sharing about the Nickel which worries me as I am unable to wear anything with Nickel in it. I hope that my sleeve staples are going to be ok.. I will just cross that bridge when I come to it.. take care and hope you will be better asap
keep me posted take care - thinking of you Hev

I missed it too- thanks for bumping this pack89! Grace - sorry to hear all this is happening for you. Always glad to hear from you - miss you as always.

Sorry I missed this post last month. Hopefully you have more answers by now and are on your way to recovery! (((HUGS!!)))

Grace! So happy to hear from you again!! I'm so sorry things aren't going as you had planned, but I'm happy to see that things are starting to come around for you again. We're still here pulling for you! (((HUGS)))

Hugs back Grace, healing thoughts your way