Tabatha W.
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CarolineAnnMartin 20 years, 8 months ago
Hi again Tabatha, I am really glad to hear that you are following up with your surgeon about your concerns :) It would mean a lot to me if you could keep me posted as to what he says and if anything can be done about it (not because I'm being nosy, but as I said before, I have the same concerns for myself). Hang in there, and I'm keeping you in my thoughts hoping all goes well for you!
CarolineAnnMartin 20 years, 8 months ago
Hi again Tabatha, I am writing a 3rd time (both in your surgery support page and the message board) in response to your questions because perhaps you aren't seeing my responses? In your profile, you say "I've been reading about a large stoma and I'm positive I have one. 2 or 3 bites doesnt make me really full. I could eat as much as I wanted if I let myself." First and foremost, 2 or 3 bites is NOT going to make everyone full - not even just out of surgery. And just because it doesn't doesn't mean that you have a large stoma. You will not experience full the way you used to before surgery. As I mentioned in previous posts, I had the same concerns as you early out and am still doing just fine losing weight. Infact, you are ahead of me when I was at your stage of being post-op. And I had considerably more weight to lose starting out. As I asked previously, have you met with your surgeon to tell him of your concerns? What has he said and what are his recommendations? I don't know about you, but I came out of my surgery expecting the weight to just fall off me without much effort. I expected that 1 or 2 bites and I would be full, and I expected that I would never be hungry (at least not for awhile). None of this was true for me. I woke from surgery literally famished. In fact, my first thought was "cool, I'm up, my stomach is growling and what can I have for breakfast?" Then I realized I was in the hospital just coming out of surgery and boy was I dissappointed. I continued to be hungry for over 2 1/2 weeks (yes, physically hungry) and I was able to eat (a lot) right from the beginning without getting sick. I even had a near 3 week plateau that began when I was only 2 weeks post-op. With the exception of my first 2 weeks post-op and the last 2 weeks, most weeks, I only lost a lb or two per week. There were a few weeks where I lost nothing and in mid-August, I even had a week where the scale went up 3 or 4 lbs. And yes, at only 4 months out, I can eat a lot - 4 to 5 ounces of steak plus an entire hotdog for dinner on labor day - just an example. Most meals, I am able to eat about 6 to 7 oz of food (the size of a small Lean Cuisine). I have no idea if I could really "eat as much as I want" because outside of labor day, I am not allowing myself to eat all I want. Also, when I've gone to lunch or dinner with other post-ops, I find that they are eating about the same as me. So perhaps my expectations were a little off all along? Again, please follow up with your surgeon rg your concerns. I DO understand your fears and all, but the ONLY person who can really answer your question is your surgeon. Why assume you have a large stoma and set yourself up for failure via negative thinking, when you don't even know for sure what is going on? Wishing you the best... Caroline (-84 lbs since 5/2/03)
Sharon Neva 20 years, 8 months ago
TABATHA~ Light In The Storm ~When the storms of life are raging...and the clouds are all around....and you think your all alone.... just take a look around.....When there is no one there to talk to and you're feeling sad and blue. and you think no one will listen.... I'll be the light in the storm for you......Even though we've never met,.or seen each other's smiles....Our friendship is from the heart, not sight....And it can span the miles......We all are one winged angels....alone it is impossible to fly....But if we embrace each other....we can span the sky....The next time your feeling lonely, and the storms are beating you down.... just come online and find me and I will take away your frown. I'M ONLY AN EMAIL AWAY
CarolineAnnMartin 20 years, 9 months ago
Hi Tabatha, Please, please, PLEASE, see my post to your surgery support page on 8/10 as well as my profile. You will see that my experience has been very close to yours. I was down 51 lbs at 9 weeks post op - only a couple lbs more than you, but I started out at 70 lbs more than you too. Today, a little over 4 months out, I am now down 84 lbs. I can STILL eat quite a bit - more than I'd ever thought possible, but the weight is still coming off just fine... PLEASE think positive, and if you really think that your stoma is too big, check with your surgeon. They can do a barium swallow test to see exactly what is happening. But my guess from reading your profile is that you are doing great and like myself may have had some unrealistic expectations going into surgery. Hang in there and keep up the great work. You ARE doing great!
Naes Wls J. 20 years, 9 months ago
<b>~*~I SAID A PRAYER FOR YOU TODAY~*~ I said a prayer for you today And know God must have heard- I felt the answer in my heart Although He spoke no word I didn't ask for wealth or fame, I knew you wouldn't mind, I asked Him to send treasures Of a far more lasting kind, I asked that He'd be near you At the start of each new day, To grant you health and blessings And friends to share your way. I asked for happiness for you In all things great and small, But it was for His loving care I prayed the most of all.~*~Hugs~*~</b>
Jamie M. 20 years, 9 months ago
Tabatha, your new picture WOW> If it weren't for your old pic in the corner I would NOT have recognised you. Good going girl!....Jamie
CarolineAnnMartin 20 years, 9 months ago
Hi Tabatha :) Hope it is ok that I am posting on your surgery page as well as the message boards! Wanted to make sure you get my message :) Rg the question of having a large stoma, I have had this same fear. I started out at 367 on 5/2/03 and following surgery experienced intense physical hunger for the first 3 weeks or so. I was also able to eat things like 1/2 of a Smart Ones pizza 1 week out (I know, I know, NOT the thing to do). I have always been able to eat 1/2 to 3/4 cup of food (even solid food) since surgery. There was a while where my tolerance for foods changed drastically and I was vomiting quite bad, and I even had a barium swallow test to rule out a stricture which showed normal. Needless to say, while I am doing well in my weight loss (70 lbs gone since May 2nd), I really have to watch what and how much I eat. And I DO have that fear of having a large stoma and wonder if this is the case, how it will affect me in the long term. I am hoping that my fears turn out to be not backed up.... Have you spoken with your surgeon about thinking you have a large stoma? What does he/she say? This past Tuesday, I did get to meet a woman who had her surgery (RNY) in 1998, lost 30 lbs and no more, then gained the weight back plus some. She started out at around 300 lbs, possibly a little bit more. She DID have too large of a stoma, and she said that right from the beginning, she could eat without restriction. But for us, unless we are told there is a problem by our surgeons, perhaps the best thing we can do for ourselves is just assume we are ok, and that this WILL act as a tool for us in the long run... We certainly don't want to be sabatoging ourselves with negative thinking... Sending smiles, Caroline
Tammy M. 20 years, 10 months ago
Tab!!! we are losers!! I read your update sorry to hear you had complications so did my friend. I am so happy now and walking two miles a day and I have lost a total of 42lbs and counting. Went back to work on Monday. Hope you are doing well email me real soon take care
Rachel T. 20 years, 11 months ago
Tabitha, I keep looking to see if you've posted any new updates. How are you doing?