Concerned

My Doctor isn't REAL thorough, I'm not sure if I'm doing things right. I noticed I get very tired every afternoon. I actually take a couple hour nap. I thought I should be getting more energy as time goes on. I had my surgery Dec. 20,2008. I lost 35lbs until today I gain 1 of those lbs back. That scares me. I hope I'm not starting to eat too much. I worry about that constantly.
I do 1 to 2 protein drinks a day, try to take 2 children's vit. a day, vit b12 and1 calcium.

 My Doctor is great but I don't think I take the time to ask him enough questions. Only saw him once since surgery. It's time for another appointment but haven't made it yet. Been busy just with life and trying to balance my day and food etc... I showed him my vitamins I take he said they were okay. But sometimes I think he's not paying real close attention. Don't get me wrong, he is a excellent Doctor. If anything it's my fault for being in a hurry when I see him.
I joined the gym, swimming aerobics or just walk on the treadmill or ride the bike but it's very little, I'm starting slow.
I haven't had a blood test since my surgery. I know that will be in the near future.  I'm trying to keep the Doctor's bills to a minimum. Just don't want to do test that's not necessary of course until I know I need to.
Today is just a worry day because of the 1lb I gained and noticed I was sleeping every afternoon. Sometimes I worry for nothing. I have had a Little depression because of marriage problems, but that is my fault to. I stopped my cymbalta which is for depression. After my surgery I was able to stop my diabetics meds, high blood pressure meds, so I thought I'd stop the depression meds too. I never really been depressed until lately and I didn't feel like those pills were doing anything because at the time I really didn't need them. Now I'm thinking it wouldn't hurt to start taking them again.
I know most of you will tell me to consult my Doctor, but I just needed to vent. Maybe someone has any little suggestion that may help me in some area.
Thanks for taking the time to listen,
njo

Not that I am one to be giving advice on problems at this moment given my own, but I have always been good at helping others more than myself..LOL

First of all YOU are in charge of your schedule, so you need to make an APPOINTMENT and not be in such a rush to get out of it..  Ask the questions you need answered.. I learned yesterday how important it is to be on top of things, and I would hate to see you go down a path you wish you hadn't.  Write down a list of all the questions you need to ask him so it is easy to do.. (and that way you won't forget) and don't leave till you have the answers you need..

As for only seeing him ONCE since surgery, I think you should really see him again soon.. I know all to well how hard it can be to juggle so many things at once, but learned quickly yesterday that I am in charge of me, and if I don't take care of myself, where will my family be if something horrible happens to me.. I know that you are trying to keep medical bills down, but this is your health, and you don't want to end up with a problem you could have fixed early on by doing your lab tests, and going to your follow up appointments..

As for the one pound weight gain.. I go up and down every day.. Sometime by 2-5 pounds. I try not to let the scale bother me. Just keep up the exercise..

I am suffering from some depression and think that is something you should talk to your Dr. about.. Taking yourself off may not have been the best thing at this time.. See what he has to say and then you will feel much better about you decision should he agree that you should stay off, and you can get yourself back on should he say that is what you need as well.. Basically you will get the answers you need to feel better..   

I am tired all the time.. I am more tired now then I was before my surgery, so bring that up to him as well..

I hope this helped at least a little..  And if you need to talk, I will be here for you..

Hugs and Lots of Luck to you..  I hope things get much better for you soon,
Jenn

Thanks for your comments, I really appreciate any feed back, and sometimes I just need to hear it from someone else. By the way you happen to have the same Doctor as I am going to.
Would like to meet you some day when it's convenient for both of us. I go to Monterey quite often.
njo

Hey Hun,

Glad I could be there for ya..

Any time you want to come out feel free.. There are a few Monterey People getting together this Saturday for coffee in Carmel Valley at the little coffee shop. I think the name is Carmel Valley Roasting Co..  Let me know if you are interested, and I can get the directions or address for you..

Hugs,
Jenn

I have Dr. Vierra as my pre-op and post op----- I love him---- he is very serious about this surgery---- I just had an appt. on Wednes---- I had one giant question before hand---I wrote it on the little homework list the office gives you on arrival.  He answered it thoroughly. I KNOW that if I had more questions--he would have taken more time..... He reviewed the problems I had last month---- double checking that all was okay with that ( they are).   I really feel like no matter how brilliant the Dr.----- we need to advocate for ourselves----make that appt.----- and start a list of questions---- no matter how trivial they may seem---- they are important to your well-being and health--and he will gladly answer them!   Really--- he will take the time----- his patients ( us) are important to him.
     Please also try to come to the support group at chomp---- second thursday of the month---6:30 pm.  THe nutritionists are the facilitators---and can answer a lot of questions.
   Also---- if you can get down here tomorow---we  are having a little coffee gettogether----PM me and I'll give you the details...... our little coffee visits seem to perk us all up!
take care of yourself,
~~~~~Lori
    

Hello,
I would like to try to make it to your coffee visit. If you can give me the time and address I'll do my best to make it. That sounds like just what I need.
Thanks for the invite,
njo (nancy)

Mark,

It's good to vent... Marriage issues stink, I know.  My advise for that, seek counseling, at least for yourself.  Dealing with the Mental Health, while losing the weight is vital to your success.   Trust me, I've been down that road.  I didn't think that I needed it, or rather, my husband didn't think I needed it, and now we are dealing with a much bigger set of problems. 

Vent all you want, but you MUST take care of yourself.  "To thine own self be true."  Your health is most important, and your doctor is your team mate.  I urge you to get in to see him.  Take you labs religiously, they will tell if something is going wrong, or you are not getting the nutrients you need.  You, or anyone else, can not do this without them.  There are too many things that can happen, and the damage can be irreversible.

We only have one body, and we have already done enough damage.  Now it is up to us to do DAMAGE CONTROL. 

Hang in there. 
Respectfully,
Joy

Sorry you're going thru a rough spot, it happens though...life after WLS has it's ups and downs.

A few things...

Depression - I went thru a spell of depression about 6-8 months after surgery. It was like a case of really extreme PMS actually.  My cycles were irregular, and I noticed that I was really sad and anti-social...I knew I was not feeling like myself.  After I talked to my doc and my surgeon I went on BC and it corrected the problem within a month.

  Because of the rapid weight-loss after WLS, almost all women experience dips and spikes in their hormone levels....(estrogen is sored in our fat cells). My surgeon told me that almost all of his female patients experienced something like what I did.

So unless your doctor has told you NOT to take your depression meds, I'd continue taking them. 

Your Doctor - I think it's important that you recognize your contribution to the problem communicating with your doctor. Sometimes I feel so rushed when I get to see my doctor that I usually end up forgetting to ask her something.  Before my appointment I write a list with all my issues and their related questions.  Sometimes I even write down her answers because I know I may forget. 

It really is important to  BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE. No one else will look out for you like you will. Your doctor, surgeon, spouse, family will do so much.....but it's important to take responsibilty for yourself.  When you see your doctor, that is YOUR TIME. You pay for you office visit and his attention if he's not giving you the time and focus that you need...fire him, or ask for what you need. 

At this point, I would not worry about small fluctuations in your weight. The scale will pause, go up a bit, and then drop again....keep on doing what you can.  It's great that you're exercising....continue to challenge yourself. If your regular workout becomes comfortable it's time to step up the difficulty.

You're doing great, take care of you! :)

 

I am a patient of Dr. V also;  he is a great guy, but you need to write down what you want to know so you don't forget to ask him.

You are still recovering from the surgery;  it's OK to take a nap! 

You might want to have your bloodwork done to check B12 levels, etc., because you'd be surprised at how the lack of the proper vitamins and minerals can affect your health and mental outlook.

Don't sweat the weight;  it will fluctuate and even stall, and then drop. 

Good luck!

First, off I would sy go back on your antidepressants.
Second, I don't think ou are getting enough calcuim.
One pound weight gain is nothing to worry about it could be water retention.
Take the time to talk to our Dr. Like Jenn said make notes to remind yourself what you want to ask him.

Good Luck
HUGS
JOY