Well, I've been rather down-hearted the past few days.  

Went to Utica for my one month check-up on Monday Feb 11th.  Everyone was shocked to find that the scales showed I had lost the sum total of POINT FOUR pounds.  Yup - not even a pound.   We all kept looking at the read-out and then trying to see if there was something wrong with the scale.  I wondered if the wheels of my walker were somehow leaning on the scale - but no - and another weigh-in later with the same results .. it looks like the scale was reflecting reality.

My face, shoulders, chest and belly are smaller.  Everyone notices.

However, since going back on foods two weeks before, my edema had come back.  I get bad swelling in my lower legs, ankles and feet.  Before surgery I was on HCTZ (a water pill) that helped me to pee out the excess fluid.  I wasn't allowed to take HCTZ after surgery because of the fear of dehydration.

I was completely surprised to find that I had absolutely no problem with the edema after surgery.  I kept expecting the problem to reoccur - but it never happened.  False sense of security.

As soon as I started my cottage cheese, yogourt etc, ... day by day, my lower limbs started filling up.

The day I went to Graber's office they were so painfully full it made walking difficult - and my arthritis was in full flare-up mode because of the tightness in the joints due to the excessive fluid.

I should have mentally prepared myself for this ... I just never thought that the water weight would have taken up so much.  The staff at Graber's office had never seen this before - someone who hadn't posted a loss after one month from surgery.

After going through how I was eating and drinking, and a review of the meds and supplements I was on, Graber and Buschman consulted each other and decided that I should go back on the HCTZ now to help with the edema.  They've also put me on a 'scrip for some potassium to make sure I don't deplete my potassium resources.  

I didn't see much of a change with the edema for a couple of weeks after starting back on the HCTZ.  Usually with the introduction of HCTZ, I see relief (i.e. I start peeing a lot) that same day.  Not so this time.   The only side-effect I have at the moment is diarrhea from the frigging potassium.

My word - I was shattered that there was no evidence of change on the scale.  Intellectually I understand it's because of the water weight, but man ... after all this, to not see the scale reflect a change is ...  I dunno what the word is.  You know that fear that each up us gets ...?  That we will be THE ONE that the weight loss surgery won't work?  That's how I felt.... in spades.  I had found a way where going through all this made nerry a change in my health.

So, if any of you have edema pre-surgery and notice it coming back post-surgery, start getting your head around it before you go in for your check up.


They think the edema has something to do with the introduction of the protein back into the diet.  Not a lot of information on this.


Graber's office called me about 3 or 4 days after I returned back from my check up. He wanted to know how I was doing and if there was any change.  It was nice to have him follow-up.  I hope to report back to them soon that this situation has improved.  

I can't wait to see the scale go down