Support Group & Scared

Hi my name is Cindy,

I have not posted to this board in several years.  I feel that I need to get back on board.

I had RNY July 5th 2005.  In the past year I have gained back 33 lbs.  I am so frustrated with myself.  The first 2 yrs. of the surgery I did nothing but throw up.  Had a stricture that was dialated 3X, gallbladder removed, numerous hospitalizations due to dehydration and pancreatitis.  Got to the point that the dietician told me to eat whatever would stay down.  I never learned to eat properly with the surgery because of this.  I'm addicted to diet pop, sunflower seeds, chips, and lifesavers

I also have developed hypoglycemia, which Dr. Ikrammudin says all gastric bypass patients have.  I don't know about that but I have had my blood sugar drop to 32 after eating carbohydrates.  Now I am facing the possibility of radiation cystitis due to the radiation treatments I had in 2003 for uterine cancer. 

I want to try the 5 day pouch test.

I live in New Brighton.  Are there any support groups around here?

Hi Cindy, welcome back!

I'm really sorry to hear you're having so much trouble.  Have you seen your surgeon or dietician lately?  Maybe one of them could give you a plan to start with.  Maybe start with the post-op diet and go from there.  I'm only about 10 days post-op, so I probably don't have much good advice.  I know a group from here meets in Maple Grove every Saturday for coffee.  HealthEast has a support group the 4th Thursday of the month at St. Joe's.

Good luck!

Just a quick correction, the Maple Grove coffee group meets EVERY OTHER Saturday, not every week. 

This Saturday IS a MG coffee date!  (Some of us will be going to Stillwater instead, and you'd be MORE than welcome to join us there!  PM me if you want details!)

Cindy,

While we've never met, I wanted to respond to your note.  I have been attending meetings in Burnsville and Eagan and I have found the people to be very supportive.   You have to find a local group to go to, you may have to drive a bit.  But that's all it takes, is a little initiative and commitment to show up on a Saturday morning. 

Some Friday nights I wrestle with whether or not to go,  but after I leave the meeting the next morning, I go skipping to my car.  The people are so positive and energizing. They aren't blind with glee, but positive in the sense that they all can empathize with your situation---all of our situations.  Like the surgery, the group meetings aren't a solution, but a tool to help you achieve your goal.

Get into a group this weekend, somewhere--anywhere, and see the success of those around you and find out what you are going to do to change things for your betterment.  You can't change it all at once, change one thing today.  Showing up on Saturday is one thing. 

We can't make you cross the finish line, because we're having to run hard to carry ourselves up this long hill too;  yet, we will cheer you on along the way, if you keep running.

Continued good luck from the sidelines. 

Hi Cindy - I'm a new post op and wanted to thank you for coming back.  I can't imagine being in your shoes with all of the road blocks you have had to face but GOOD FOR YOU for seeking support and here we are to cheer you on.
If you go to the search bar up top - type in 5 day pouch test or five day pouch test and you will find all of the posts about this from the whole site to gain info on it.
I haven't made it to a Saturday coffee yet but Maple Grove has one that is growing by leeps and bounds.
I wish you the best of luck hun and you have NOT failed girl because by posting today you have just stepped back on the wagon!
Go Get Um!
Sal

Cindy,

It sounds like you have certainly faced more than your fair share of struggles.  I applaud you for coming back here and keeping your WLS a priority! 

The only advice I can give you is to re-acquaint yourself with the rules.  Try to cut out the pop.  Make protein your FIRST choice whenever you eat something.  Don't drink with meals, yada yada yada - you know the drill.

My one suggestion with regard to blood sugar is that if/when you eat carbs, be SURE you eat a protein with it - the protein helps to regulate the release of sugar into the blood stream, it helps to curb the radical highs and lows with blood sugar.

Definitely come to a Maple Grove coffee!  8:30-ish at the Caribou inside Byerly's on Elm Creek Boulevard!

Hello Cindy,

Thanks for posting and coming forward.  I'll be three years out next month and I've gained back almost 20.  It's so frustrating and I do realize I've gone back to my old habits.  Right now, I'm totally into the self-loathing stage and still dabbling in the denial stage.  I'm also very self destructive with my food.  But that's just me blowing off steam, it's really not going to help you, except to let you know...you're not alone.

I wanted to try to the 5 day pouch test, and then decided, after reading about it and talking it over with friends....that what I need to do is break the old habits, and get back to protein first!  It's hard, but try to take one day...no, one meal...at a time.  I'm trying to make a plan...to log what I eat, regardless of what it is.

There is a small contingency of WLS friends who meet at the Caribou coffee across from HarMar Mall every other Saturday morning.  It normally would be this weekend, but like Darla said...some of us are heading to Stillwater.  We usually remember to post as Roseville coffee the Thursday prior to meeting.  I hope you'll be able to join us some day.  We're a smaller group and in various stages of our journey.

Best wishes to you Cindy.

Hugs,
Edi


p.s.  please my dear friends....do NOT tell me "it'll be okay", do NOT enable in any way shape or form.  Some of the hand holding for behavior on this board is driving me to insanity.  I've had enough enabling as a child and most of the time, it was with food.  Do not think that food is going to solve problems...if you eat it...it will bite you in the butt...so don't do it, or accept the consequenses...whether it's weight gain or self loathing.  I lost the desire and drive I had at the beginning of the journey...do NOT lose sight of your reasons...that's just a warning.  Push the limits and it'll shove you right back!  Okay, I'll climb off my soap box (the high was making me dizzy anyway).

Unity Hospital in Fridley has some great support groups. One called Images and there is a grad group and I think there's a group relating to people who have lost their way. Go to their website to the bariatric area and they are all listed there. There's also a coffee group that meets on Saturday mornings at Barnes and Noble on Hwy 10 in Northtown Commons. I think support is crucial to success in the beginning and as importantly, when we're further out.
Jean B.

Hey Cindy! Glad to have you here. You are taking the right step for your health... that's for certain!