In need of some support...please

I hope some of you remember me. I had RNY back in Oct of '06. Things have been going all right I guess in that area. No wait, that's not entirely true. I'm struggling bad.  I'd been averaging a weight loss of about 10 pounds a month. Now I've stalled and I know exactly why. I've found out that I don't dump most of the time. So you can probably guess the reason as well. Please don't yell at me. I'm very ashamed of the decisions I've been making in my eating habits and I don't think I can handle any harsh criticism. I know I'm screwing up, but I'm having a difficult time getting back on track and would like help....please. I've been an emotional wreck lately and I've been using food as a comfort--wrong thing to do I know. I found out today that my 16 year-old sister, whom I have custody of, is probably diabetic. This terrifies me on several levels. I want to set a good example for her, but I'm struggling. Also I'm having a lot of difficulty with my meds/vitamins. Calcium makes me sick, light-headed, almost like a low-blood sugar thing. Also multi-vitamins do as well; and one of my meds, but I've not figured out which one yet. I've taken them with a little food, one at a time, on an empty pouch--you name it I've tried it. They always do the same thing. Artificial sweeteners make me sick--do you have any suggestions about what to do when I'm craving something sweet? I have an apt. with Dr. Hornbostel at the end of next month; so maybe he can help. I wanted to make it to the Circle of Friends group this month, but our finances wouldn't allow it. Maybe next month. Please be gentle if you choose to post. I'm so ashamed of myself for going off track, it's taken me more than a month to talk myself into posting. Thanks for listening. Take care, Nettie

Hi Nettie....Why have you waited so long to get with your doctor about having trouble with your vitamins and calcium? There may be something they can do to help you out with that part... I don't think any one is going to yell at you sweetie...I know you can't be the first on the board to have problems. Does the sweetners bother you all together or can you cook with them or use products with it in them???? Are you far enough out to have fruit??? Dosen't Dr.H have someone you can call about food situations...They could probably give you guidance on how to get back off of the sweets..... I know sometimes it's not easy to muster up the will power we need...BUT....look how far you have come and how good you have done so far....Remember the times you stepped on the scales and how good it felt to see another 10 or 20 pounds gone!!!!????  And your right with your sister getting dibeties so young she is going to need guidence to change her ways as well...maybe that will be encouragement if yall work on it together....Maybe you can even go to the library and see about checking out some cook books for dibetics or sugar-free cooking... I am sure there will be others to post to you about this and they may have better ideals for you...I am only aprox 3 1/2 weeks out and have not had to deal with as much as some of the others yet....but I will definitly be praying for you....I wish you all the luck in getting things back in order for you as well as for your sister....God Bless you both....HUGS.....Tammy H

Nettie... You need to see back and re-evaluate things a bit.  You have done a VERY good thing (for starters) by recognizing the fact that you are in trouble and struggling.  Write each and every one of your issues down on a piece of paper in their order of importance and then start plugging in things that will "fix" them. Your sister and her possible diabetes is a biggie...  talk with her dr. and get a plan of action on that ASAP as her health is at stake.  Also your issues with vitamins.  Honey we have to supplement vitamins in order to stay healthy ourselves.  So that is the next priority.  When was the last time that you had labwork drawn?  Did you know that you do not have to wait to go back to your WLS in order to do that?   I do not go back to my WLS primarily because my insurance will not cover it.  I go twice a year to my PCP and I get a VERY extensive bloodwork panel drawn (she knows that I have had WLS as well) and she checks everything over with a fine toothed comb.  That would be a start.  Also tell your PCP that you are having some major issues with the sugar replacements.   Unfortunately that is not uncommon.  They can cause some pretty uncomfortable and severe side effects for some.  I'm sorry that you are dealing with them...  Have you tried using Stevia?  It is a little more forgiving in not causing the super upsets that some of the other replacements cause...and you can even cook with it.  Google it and you will find out more info. on it. You also stated that you are struggling food wise.  For me my triggers are stress normally...  so I make a conscious effort to redirect those feelings and plug in something healthier when I am facing "issues".. with working 3 jobs (plus my main job in itself is stressful enough) this is something that I am always dealing with.  You are just going to have to get tough WITH YOURSELF and start indentifying the things that make you want to reach for food...  even if it is just babysteps my dear.  Everytime that you redirect yourself you also need to make sure that you give yourself a mental HIGHFIVE and acknowledge what you have just done.  You have already done the hardest thing by acknowledging your issues.  SO HIGH FIVE GIRL !!!! I hear you on the traveling thing to the COF meeting.  I am so flipping busy and money is so tight (trying to pay bills, hence working 3 jobs) that I either don't have the time OR don't have the money to get there..   so we will just hang together then...*g*... Know that you are NOT alone and that we are all here pulling for you.....  come on the board and post away...  we all have issues to deal with ...and we might as well just deal with em' together.... Hang in there babes!! Elizabeth----->