Too thin and can't gain weight - a problem I NEVER thought I would have...

[toddsinusa]

I was 81kgs (178.6 pounds) with a REALLY high cholesterol, back problems (I needed back surgery asap but couldn't because of my weight) and heart problems in our family put me at a high risk - In Australia the BMI for the op is 35 and mine was 32 but with issues/risks they will operate a BMI of 32. I am now 44kgs (97lbs) with a BMI of 17.5 - and that is not the lowest I have been - at one point I was 42kgs (92.5lbs).

I had my surgery in April 2016 and had a few usual problems - dry heaving (can sleeve patients not vomit? as I just get the heaving and no fluid or sometime my spit turns to water and that just pours out my mouth.) This mostly happened if I drank too soon after eating. And then lost too much weight. I had a Dilation done in Sydney before I move to NoCal. When I got to the States my weight continued to drop so I had another dilation here.

My weight has been averaging 45-46kgs but about a week ago I started dropping and am now sitting at 44kgs and am having terrible dizzy spells and blackouts. I eat (along with healthy food) pizza, drink coke, chips, eat chocolate (which I am not a fan of but my nutritionist has said I must go for my life to get my calories up). Nothing is helping. I have cream on my cereal and I make an ensure milk shake with cream - YUCK - just to try and get the calories but still my weight won't go up.

I saw a Biatric Surgeon here and he said I may need to get a feeding tube installed if I can't get my weight up but then goes on to say that it is sore and there is risk of infections and complications etc... He also said he could do a bypass BUT given this op has not been good for me I don't want to risk it any further - and of course he gave me a long list of complications and risks - well you can keep it thank you.

My bloods keep testing perfect. So on paper I am healthy but on the scale and if you look at me I look like a skeleton. I am so scared my organs will start packing up. Is there anyone going through this? It seems like once you have had the surgery and you are "out of the care period" (which is 12 month is OZ) then you are pretty much on your own and there is nothing they can do to help you. Once you are sleeved that is pretty much it. I keep speaking to the Biatric's nutritionist who is so lovely but she just repeats herself "You need to get your calories up" - if I could do that I wouldn't be in this position.

Anyone going through this? Any advise and please don't tell me to eat more because I would if I could! (I also asked if stretching my sleeve was an option but apparently it is not)

Thanking you for any tips/help in advance.

[Petunia3]

I'm sorry, I don't have any tips for you but to keep trying. Thinking of you and hoping things get better for you soon.

[Ukshrinking]

I'm sorry no help but a bypass stops you absorbing nutrients.. why would that help

[SteelerChick]

I have no advice but whatever you do, don't give up. Eat as much as you possibly can, snack all the time on whatever tastes good to you. I know the pouch only holds so much and you must have time to digest so maybe eat something every 2 hours.

[azladyrider]

Eating all the time or grazing as I like to call it has the opposite impact on me at least. I had gained a little and had to go back to the basics after 5 years. I now eat all the time and I mean constantly snack snack pick pick and I lost the 8 pounds I had gained and lost another 6. I literally was afraid of getting on the scale for the last month thinking the crap I ate and the amount had caused a gain (I rarely leave the house anymore since I am busy with work so I don't feel it in the jeans and such) and I was shocked to see I had been 113 a month ago and this morning after eating like a pig for a month I was 107

All I can advise is upping the calories and carbs since you obviously cannot up the volume of food or risk getting sick.

[toddsinusa]

Wow 5 days post op - how are you feeling?

[Dutchie]

My first thought is that you should be working with a nutriconist which specializes in high caloric food for medical issues.
You need the most nutricious food possible in small quantities.
This is a Dutch site, sorry, but you'll get the idea: https://www.nutriciamedischevoeding....pact%20Protein
I am sure you can find something simular in the US, and probably a lot more.
This food is designed for oncology patients.

[Stacey03]

I agree with dutch, you need absolute medical input on this. I would insist and book yourself in with a specialist, good luck

[toddsinusa]

My exact same question! And why would I risk another massive procedure and if that goes wrong too then where to from there?

[toddsinusa]

Every Nutritionist I have seen (and I have seen 6 already) says I need to increase my calories. (Ya think?) They all just suggest I have those protein milkshakes. The problem I have found is that I can't tolerate sweet or milky things since the op. I get a terrible upset stomach with dairy things and if I have a shake I am so full I can't eat the rest of the day. They also said to have things like fruit Juice and basically anything I feel like (Donuts, chips etc... "whatever it takes to get your calories up").

[toddsinusa]

So an update. I had another endoscope and the specialist who did it (who I really like and he turns every stone over)... said that everything in my stomach looks normal and as it should be. There are no more narrowings from scarring (after two repairs I had done). He said on the inside everything is good and all my test results are perfect! He did say he could see precancerous cells in my stomach but this is common when taking reflux medication and as a result I need to get another endoscope in two years time. BUT my chances of it being anything sinister is 1%. (SHEW)

I started taking a digestive probiotic and notice my stomach has settled right down. I don't even take reflux medication anymore! Also my weight has stabalized around 44.8kgs - 45kgs. (Which is massive for me to have gone from 42kgs) I am not going up anymore but I have stopped losing which is great. Obviously I can always go up some more but for now I am happy I have stabalised in the upper 44kgs and not losing anymore. I think for me now is to concentrate on keeping my weight stable (or getting it up) and being healthy about it.

Sam

[Christie13]

Glad to hear you have managed to gain a little weight. I know it is not much but it is something.

[Heather1979]

I had the same problem , my weight went too low and I looked like I had some kind of eating disorder. I drank protein shakes and ate fatty foods but nothing worked. All of a sudden though around my second year I started putting weight on and now I need to loose a little. Don't get used to eating all the sugary and fatty food because it's so much harder to give up .

[AnnieG]

So an update. I had another endoscope and the specialist who did it (who I really like and he turns every stone over)... said that everything in my stomach looks normal and as it should be. There are no more narrowings from scarring (after two repairs I had done). He said on the inside everything is good and all my test results are perfect! He did say he could see precancerous cells in my stomach but this is common when taking reflux medication and as a result I need to get another endoscope in two years time. BUT my chances of it being anything sinister is 1%. (SHEW)

I started taking a digestive probiotic and notice my stomach has settled right down. I don't even take reflux medication anymore! Also my weight has stabalized around 44.8kgs - 45kgs. (Which is massive for me to have gone from 42kgs) I am not going up anymore but I have stopped losing which is great. Obviously I can always go up some more but for now I am happy I have stabalised in the upper 44kgs and not losing anymore. I think for me now is to concentrate on keeping my weight stable (or getting it up) and being healthy about it.

Sam

What a better bit of news! It is frightening when you feel like you are out of control and the fixes are "can't do" -- I have issues with the spitty toad froth, and it is sometimes "spontaneous", an unattractive social skill for sure.

As to getting calories up, I find I can tolerate peanut butter (which I'm not fond of) -- but have a simple protein no bake recipe that uses oatmeal, peanut butter, sugar free chocolate chips and coconut mixed....it seems to help.

As to the sugar, having been diabetic I keep hard candy (like a butterscotch, or peppermint chocolate) handy -- they aren't high for calories, but stop the blackout feeling.

Please continue to let us know how you are!

[Dutchie]

How does that work Annie?
That oatmeal thing?
Do you have a recipe?