I realized why I dig this show, just as it came to an end last night. It figures. You have to understand, I don't "do" weight loss shows. Typical weight loss makeover programs make me want to throw things while I count the product placements and analyze the commercials. I can't deal, here have some Extra gum with me?
On My 600 LB Life, the weight loss surgery patients followed a similar time line as I did. I had the same surgery, in the same year. It's likely we had similar education and similar support options, aside from the whole "you're on a documentary" part.
The patients featured on the program start with much more difficult situations than I could ever imagine, but I am left wondering about them. I apparently GET IT at some level and I'm wondering way too much about their current situations...
Where are they now?
How are they? Are they okay? Are things good?
Did anyone ever tell them about their vitamins? Diet? How are you eating now?
Did they get better aftercare than we did in the same time frame?
Have things gotten better for post ops since 2004?
How's the family? Did you move out? Please say you did?
And, are they still getting support?
The show glazes over and skips integral parts of the post-op process. Any of us know that we're missing about 99% of the story here. However, the bits and pieces we do see give us a glimpse of "whys..." It would be much more responsible to show more of each patient's realistic post op experience. There's so much we don't know, don't see, and there's seven years of a few minutes of footage here.
The show feels a lot like a post op check up. Quick and not thorough enough. That said, it's already over.
I'm sure that people like me, peers, are looking way too closely at it because we have lived it. We are waiting to see details about the "whys" -- and the general viewership probably doesn't care -- according to the comments onTwitter this morning -- they just want to be jerks.
Her mother, who is overweight herself, was inexplicably cruel and teasing to Ashley, even as she appeared to be on hand to support her daughter. It was a dynamic and a relationship that was very difficult to understand, but it was very clear that her mother's cruelty hurt Ashley. It may well have helped lead her to the dark place that saw her put on so much weight in the first place.
The episode chronicled her seven-year journey toward a healthier life and body, including multiple skin removal surgeries along the way. But even at 500+ pounds, Ashley started dreaming of getting back to one of her childhood passions. As a girl, she'd played softball, until it became too physically exhausting for her to do so.
Once she'd managed to shed most of those excess pounds, she signed up to coach softball to be close to the sport that had brought her so much joy. She shared her story with the kids on her team, serving as inspiration that anything is possible and it's never too late to take the reigns of one's life. Her ultimate dream is to own a childcare facility where she can maybe reach out to those struggling kids like she was and provide a helping hand before they find themselves living their own 600 pound lives.
B12 is an essential B Vitamin that plays a role in the entire nervous system, promotes energy metabolism and supports healthy heart function. B12 is a key contributor to the body's proper use of iron. B12 becomes increasingly important with age with risk of decreased absorption which can lead to deficiencies in both B12 and Folic Acid.
The ASMBS (2010) explains that after gastric bypass surgery vitamin B12 deficiency may result in consequence of food no longer coming in contact with gastric intrinsic factor. Vitamin D and calcium absorption may also be reduced since the duodenum and proximal jejunum, which are the preferential sites of absorption, are bypassed by this procedure. Also, life long supplements of multivitamins, vitamin B12 iron and calcium are mandatory following this procedure.
I'm not a professional, I'm just a patient, but I understand it as this: The biggest problem is that gastric bypass patients no longer have the abilty to absorb the B12 from food due to the lack of acid in the new stomach pouch. Our bodies have some B12 stored away, but it can run out and leave us with a deficiency.
B12 deficiency can cause pernicious anemia. You don't want this, the effects of pernicious anemia can be life-long if you do not catch it in time.
You need to take your B12. Surgeons and nutritionists often recommend a sublingual B12 product, because it's one of the best ways to get the vitamin into your system, and sometimes post-ops need injections of B12 if the oral route is not sufficient.
B12 is also known to give you energy -- it's found in energy drinks and other products to help give you a BOOST. Or wings?
Wellesse's Sublingual B-12 comes in a 2 ounce bottle, with 60 doses of 1000 mcgs of B-12, or 16,667% of the good stuff. The extra 16,567% is for good measure.
The product label -
I shook up the bottle, peeled off the outerwrapping, and sucked out a dose of the B12 with the attached dropper. For the purposes of the review, I played with the product first, because that's what I do. I sniff, play and take photos. The liquid is bright red, clear and has a touch of thickness to it. While the cover was off, I sniffed the product, which smells like a berry based fruit punch.
Perfect. Unless you do what I just did to it. "Mama, can I paint wis your vitamins now?"
Product - Wellesse B-12 Fast Absorbing Sublingual Liquid
Pros - So. easy. to. take. The taste is magic. Minty-fresh. Mr. MM says "They're like those after dinner mints use you'd get at the restaurant, you know, those ones in baby colors?" I say, no. They're a little pepperminty-er than THAT and not as sweet, of course, there is no sugar in them.
Cons -
Info from Bariatric Advantage - Deficiencies of B12 and folate have been demonstrated with virtually all bariatric surgery procedures. Our B12 was designed to meet the vitamin B12 needs of individuals who have undergone weight loss surgery. Each tablet provides 1000 micrograms of B12. This product is a 100 percent lactose-free formula that can be placed under the tongue or between cheek and gum and allowed to dissolve over a period of several minutes. This tablet also contains 200mcg of folic acid. B12 with Folic Acid. Vitamin B12 and folic acid are synergistic nutrients in the body, supporting many of each other’s functions. The 200 mcg of folic acid in this tablet also means that patients who are or wish to become pregnant can get a full milligram (1000 mcg) of folic acid when they take this product together with any of our multivitamins.
100 Percent Lactose Free. Some percentage of patients who have undergone weight loss surgery such as gastric bypass or duodenal switch develop lactose intolerance. Others have heard about this potential problem and avoid lactose-containing foods and products without a confirmed problem. The vast majority of B12 products contain lactose for one of two reasons: 1) the tablet itself contains lactose or 2) the B12 is titrated in lactose. The latter may not show in the ingredient listing, and may cause symptoms for unidentifiable reasons. Our B12 is 100 percent lactose free. There is no lactose in the base and the B12 ingredient is titrated in calcium. Thus, this is the best choice formula for those who may need to avoid lactose.
Great Taste. We consistently get feedback from customers on the great taste of our products, especially our B12. Great taste fosters compliance, and makes the process of taking daily vitamins more pleasant for patients.
Rating - Wicked (deal with it, I'm in Massachusetts
Many post weight loss surgical patients deal with blood sugar fluctuations, particularly those of us whom have had roux en y gastric bypass. Aside from dumping, we often have a blood sugar reaction after dumping -- and sometimes without -- called reactive hypoglycemia.
Nutrition for Reactive Hypoglycemia -
Reactive hypoglycemia can occur when blood glucose falls, stores of glucose from the liver are exhausted and an individual chooses not to eat. The body gradually adjusts to this situation by using muscle protein to feed glucose to brain cells and fat to fuel the other body cells, but before this adjustment takes place, an individual may experience symptoms of glucose deprivation to the brain. Symptoms such as: anxiety, hunger, dizziness, confusion, sleepiness, weakness, shaking muscles and racing heart may result. Most of these symptoms diminish five to ten minutes after eating a source of carbohydrate. Because these symptoms are common to many conditions, a health care provider should be consulted to assess an individual’s specific symptoms and concerns.
Reactive hypoglycemia occurs in about 2-3 out of every 10 young women - more often in obese women and less often in people over age 45. While most people experience low blood glucose levels at times, if the symptoms are severe or ongoing it is important to learn to eat a balanced meal or snack promptly. Reactive hypoglycemia does not lead to more severe conditions.
How can I control reactive hypoglycemia?
Reactive hypoglycemia can be managed with:
Nutritionally balanced meals
Frequent meals and snacks
Regular exercise
Smoking cessation
Weight management
Medical supervision, if indicated
Regular blood sugar checks, if advised
How can reactive hypoglycemia be controlled with nutritionally balanced meals?
When blood glucose falls, eating carbohydrate foods can bring blood glucose levels back up; a meal or a snack must be eaten. Some people believe the obvious solution is to eat a candy bar or drink a cola beverage. Such a meal or snack is very high in carbohydrate, and consists mostly of simple sugar. It may cause your blood level to rise quickly and then fall quickly. Some people then experience the symptoms of rebound hypoglycemia.
A more helpful choice is to eat food with complex carbohydrates (higher fiber whole grain crackers, bagels, breads or cereal). Complex carbohydrate foods deliver glucose over a longer period of time, eliciting less of a rise and fall in blood glucose. A cracker or other grain food with cheese or another protein/fat is the best choice. The protein/fat slows down the digestion of the carbohydrate and keeps blood sugar more stable.
Some snack and meal suggestions that meet the goal of including a complex carbohydrate, a protein source or a fat include:
Meat or cheese sandwich on whole wheat bread
Yogurt and fruit
Cottage cheese and whole grain crackers
Turkey, cheese slices and veggies on a salad
Salad with beans or nuts added
Peanut butter and whole grain crackers
Cheese and whole grain crackers
Bean soup and whole grain crackers or bread
Cheese on baked potato with skin
Whole grain bagel and cream cheese
Nutrition tips to manage hypoglycemia
Eat a small meal or snack about every 2-3 hours. Skipping meals can make symptoms worse.
Choose high fiber foods at each meal and snack. Fiber helps stabilize blood sugar. Increase fluid intake when you increase fiber intake.
Eat a source of protein and or a source of fat with carbohydrate at each meal or snack. Protein and fat eaten with carbohydrates will help slow glucose release and absorption.
Limit simple sugars. (candy, soda, fruit juice, sweets). Simple sugar intake can make hypoglycemia symptoms worse. Moderate your intake.
Limit alcohol and caffeine (coffee, tea, soda, chocolate).
Eat a meal or snack 1-3 hours before exercise. Extra carbohydrates may be needed before exercise to compensate for energy used.
Tomorrow is marked with the most exciting of several tests in an attempt to narrow down my year of abdominal pain. This test could show the presence of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth -- which is somewhat common in those who've got lower gut issues and also in those who have had gastric bypass or who have had abdominal surgeries.
Bascially -- I breathe into a bag every so many minutes for a few hours. The samples are collected and tested for the presence of excess gases. 'urp. Reading about these tests, and watching test videos and the excessive use of the word METHANE only brings to mind ... cows.
If I get a positive result on this test -- I am starting a post bariatric energy company. There are far too many of us with broken guts who could probably power up our own houses with malabsorptive misfirings.
The hydrogen breath test is used to identify lactose or fructose intolerance, or an abnormal growth of bacteria in the intestine. It is used to diagnose a lactose or fructose intolerance, which is the inability of the body to digest and or absorb lactose, the sugar found in dairy or fructose, the sugar found in a number of foods (fruit, vegetables, soda, etc.). Hydrogen breath testing can also be used to diagnose intestinal bacterial overgrowth. A breath sample will be collected and tested for the presence of hydrogen. To obtain the sample, you will be asked to blow up a balloon-type bag. Normally, very little hydrogen is detected in the breath. You will then be given a lactose, fructose, or lactulose solution to drink. Breath samples are collected every 15 minutes for 2 hours to detect any increase in hydrogen in the breath as the solution is digested. Increased hydrogen breath levels indicate improper digestion. The testing procedure lasts about 3 hours.
Super-fun, but likely the easiest of the tests because nothing goes inside me. See?
Next, is the capsule endoscopy. Then, the colonscopy for the holiday.
Dear Santa, I thought I'd been good...
PS. I'm currently sitting in various Like-A-Pretzel-Hold-The-Broken poses. Today is a bad day.
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