Gaining Weight & Stress

Thanks Linda

I am dealing with the same type of problem.  Last year I was sick for 3 months and had to take some medication that caused me to gain back 30 lbs and then in January I had to have rotator cuff surgery, all I could do was sit in a recliner day and night.  Slept in it for almost 2 months.  Gained 15 lbs and have no bariatric doctor so am hoping to get in with a new one and see if I can't get back on track. I am only 2 years out, only lost about 80 lbs and had much more to lose before I ran into this barrier.  I am not lazy, I mow over 2 acres of grass a week, pretty much do all my own trim work, my own house work and anything else that needs doing around the house.  Heck I torn my rotator cuff hanging sheet rock.  I have major problems with my hips, esp. the left one so walking is about out of the question although I do try.  Good luck and if you get back on track please let me know how.  Oh, I also suffer from depression and my doctor increased my meds last week in hopes I could start losing again.  

You need to forgive yourself for your problems and make up your mind to do better. Start off by keeping a food journal and noting everything you eat and drink. Concentrate on getting your protein in and eliminate anything white like  bread, potatoes, rice etc.

Even if you can only get active for 15 minutes at a time, DO THAT! Do that each and every day until you can do 15 minutes twice a day. Then work on getting more active over all.

Love yourself, put yourself first!

It's not totally uncommon to see post-ops start gaining between year 2 and 3.  Your malabsorption is basically gone when it relates to food intake but NOT vitamin and mineral intake (this malabsorption is for LIFE).

Just a few things to ask yourself.....

Am I taking my supplements like I should?

What is my daily liquid intake?

Am I waiting at least 30 minutes after a meal to drink?

Does my eating focus primarily on protein?  Protein should ALWAYS be your primary intake.

Exercise is limited because of your other health issues BUT what can you do? 

I'm not one that does a routine exercise program, but I'm not one to sit and do nothing.  For instance, this weekend I moved furniture in my living room and computer room and cleaned baseboards and painted.  It took some muscle use and physical motions to get this done.  Today I am entirely emptying out my master closet and will wipe down walls, vacuum and reorganize.  I'm sure I'll find clothes in there I haven't worn in a while so I'll decide to keep them or donate them.  I also am on the run with my boys activities....I rarely sit and watch TV unless it's something I've TVIO'd.

Can you give us ideas of what your typical day of eating looks like?

Just wanted to chime in and say I am sorry you are going through all of this.  I know about those hernias...I have had 6 ventral hernias all with laparoscopic repairs. The last one my intestine was wrapped around my native stomach 3 times but thank god it was not strangulated or dead bowel, but it was close to getting there.  Anyway, from experience, I just had to make myself get up and move right away after surgery I wanted to sit in the recliner and take my pain pills, but I had to get up and work through the pain....it gets better with a little activity every day.  I think you have a good start with the walking every morning, it starts with little changes.

Hang in there :)

Thanks to everyone for all your suggestions I'm going to start getting back on track. I also lost my mother in law May 2, so that hasn't helped , But  I am defiantly going to start eating right,I have been eating to much bread & fast food because I haven't been cooking with the amount of stress we have been under w/the loss of my hubby's Mom. it has been so stressful my b/p went up so high that my nose started bleeding so bad I had to go to ER because it would not stop They packed it  it had to stay in there for 3 days. This is not a excuse just wanted to add that .

Thanks,  My  surgery was open. I appreciate the help

If after 2 moths you still feel tired - it may be time to do a detailed blood work. Sometimes surgery will mess up some of our minerals - vitamins levels and it may take a while before the body repairs itself.  

i.e. iron - ferritin - may drop due to surgery and since you are 3 years post op - this is the time some of us see ferritin drop. 

Also low B12 - and Vit D, also proteins amy make you leave tired and slow to heal. 

make sure you have DETAILED blood work done. Including iron, ferritin, B12, D, proteins, etc, to make sure all is were it needs to be. 

Don't relay on the doc telling you "all is fine" get your own copy and check the numbers. i.e. ferritin - the doc s call it normal when it is > 10 ... while some of us get really tired with ferritin below 50. Same with B12 - I feel my best with my B12 >800, and may feel tired when that is lower.