How small is too small?

How small is too small? I am 5'2" and 108 to 109 pounds and still losing. (Trying not to.) I had RNY just under a year ago on 10.19.2010. My highest weight was 227 and my weight the day of surgery was 200. I have a very small frame and I am 50 years old. I am wearing a size 2 or smaller. I met my personal goal of 120 at 7 months but the weight just keeps coming off. My doctors didn't want me below 120, but I have been adding extra protein, nuts, juices, even desserts and the weight keeps coming off or staying about the same. I have lots of loose skin and one doctor (nurse practitioner actually) said that my actual weight is probably 100 pounds or less without all of the extra skin.My NUT says I am showing signs of malnutrition on my face at my temples and in the web of my thumbs on my hand, but all my blood work is great. I had my gallbladder out 8.9.2011 and thought it would make me gain weight but I lost weight instead. Any thoughts and comments are greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Helen

I'm sure Tazz will chime in because she is dealing with this too.  Glad your labs are good.  Here's a hug and hope things improve. 

Thanks Price! Tazz, would love your thoughts also!

I hope that all works out well.  It's difficult with too much weight loss after being overweight for a long time.

Hello Miz Ft. Worth!  My family hails from Garland and Stephenville!

Our #'s are very close and I'm small framed too.  At 8 months out the weight loss has slowed but is still consistent.  I hear very often that the body will stop losing when it finds it's comfortable spot but I can certainly understand your concern that it hasn't stopped already.

What about carbs, like pastas?  You didn't mention adding them.

Hoping Tazz will hop onboard soon cuz I don't have the answers for you.  :-(

Hello back at you from Fort Worth Ruthie! My son just moved from Garland to Plano.

I wish I had the answers.  I keep plugging away.  I think I am starting to stablize, though.  I was just checking and I have weighed 100lbs for nearly 2 weeks, although I have dipped under a few times.
I have been adding protein and other things, too.  I have a problem, though, because I dump on too much fat or carbs, as well as sugar of course.  This morning I had protein oatmeal and a banana.  I usually have half a banana but I wanted to see if I could eat a whole one.  I was able to without being too full but then I started feeling sick.  It is almost not worth it.
I am working on increasing my calories.  I have been able to get in 1600 for a few days so I am going to see if I can do 1700 or 1800.
My labs are good, too, and I feel fine.
Some of the things I have been doing is not eating anything low fat, adding butter and cheese to anything I can, adding protein powder to everything I can, eating more complex carbs like potatoes, beans and fruit, eating whole grains like quinoa, eating protein bars, anything else I can think of.  One thing I won't do is go back to eating refined carbs.  That is a slippery slope for me and I just don't want to risk it.  I have to watch that I don't over do the carbs or fats or I will dump so it's a balancing act.  
What are the signs of malnutrition on the face, temples and web of the thumbs?  I have never heard of that.

this past winter when I was at my worst and they put me on the tube feeds, they said I was totally malnurished.  I got down to 125 which is rediculously low for me, I was all skin and bones.  It hurt just to put IV's in because they would hit bone.  I don't know about the other symptoms but the main one I know that I had was low liver enzymes - ALT and AST. Mine were usually on the slightly high side = 50's and they went down to 8 or 9.

I really think you should talk to your doctor to reconsider giving you the pancrease.  They have lots of different doses - different than creon.  I took the Pancrease 4200 which is the lowest dose and took 3  with each meal and 2 with each snack.  It was alot capsules each day but they worked.  If I ever need them again, I will definitely go back on them.

Ask your surgeon or your PCP for Creon. It's a digestive enzyme and will help you absorb what you're eating. I'd add protein shakes and stay away from the carbs.

--gina

From what I understand, the fat takes awhile to redistribute around your body after you finish losing weight. Also for your height, your low point is actually 101 (18.5 BMI). But how you feel is more important and how your labs look.

The biggest problem with being in your 50's and a size 2 is there are so few options for someone our size (yes, I am a size 2 to 4 depending on brand). They make them for someone in their teens or twenties which we left some time ago. :)

Don't panic but do read what Tazz is doing.

Liz