.Anita R.

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Hey there old and new friends...I cannot believe it's been 9 years since my surgery...I'm still holding my weight after all these years. However, I did have a complication 2 months ago in mid November 2012 and almost died from an abdominal hernia and twisted, crimped intestines and a blood clot!  

I had not been feeling like myself for several months. Depression, severe hair loss, gas and bloating and a terrible stiff neck for a month that I had been going to physical therapy for 3 times a week. They told me that I was probably compensating for pain elsewhere that caused my neck pain...

I had gone to the ER 4 mos prior with chest and lung pain...They kept me for 3 days and ran all kinds of tests on my heart and lungs...but found that I was one very healthy woman!  Obviously they missed the hernia on the cat scan. But I was borderline anemic (as I always seem to be)...They released me...

Then that awful evening...I couldn't sleep and I laid on my stomach (knees drawn under me) while my husband rubbed my back for me...And as he did, I began to have pain in the pit of my gut. The pain grew...I thought for sure I was having a gallbladder attack (my dietician told me she hoped I had my gallbladder out because it's awful to have an attack and very common for gastric bypassers) and the internet said that a gallstone usually passes in two hours...So I waited...2 hours! At this point the pain had become sharpening waves of contraction-like intense pain...and my husband said it was time to call 911...but at that point the pain was bigger than life and I knew I was going to die. I just knew....I didn't want to wait for an ambulance...I could barely walk to the car. Child birth contractions were like a walk in the park in comparison.

The ER doc got me on an IV and morphine immediately...But it only helped take the edge off and within 10 minutes I needed more, more...more...I began to throw up when I had to stand up to get on the cat scan table...And as you know, there is nothing in the pouch to throw up..And it felt like I was turning my pouch inside out! It was just awful on top of all the pain...and they would not let me have anything to drink.  Doc told me that blood tests suggested I had a blood clot and gave me blood thinners to dissolve it... I had two cat scans that showed hernia in my small intestines...The ER doc came in and took my hand...He told me that I was his most interesting case in a very long time, and that the good news was that I got to the ER just in time...but the bad news was that they could not perform the surgery without a bariatric surgeon or in that hospital!!!!...My surgeon was out of town ( I had not seen him since my surgery 9 years ago, to be honest)...but they found three to do my surgery (on a holiday weekend) at another hospital 20 minutes away. The surgeons all met at the hospital and set up the operating room until my arrival by ambulance...on a holiday weekend...in Wash DC traffic!!!!!

On the way...I watched the traffic come back together after spreading out of the way (from the back of the ambulance) The traffic was not moving...but we were! Then suddenly I felt air and heard a woman screaming at the ambulance driver ...She said, "Your tire is wobbly, you need to pull over and check it out"....The guy in the back with me panicked a bit and that made me panic! But the driver was determined to get me to my surgery and he decided to finish the drive on a wobbly tire. When I got to the hospital...I went straight to the OR...They introduced me to my team of surgeons and within minutes I was in emergency surgery!

2 and a half hours later...Doc tells my family that I made it in just in time...and that my hernia and twisted intestines were a direct complication of gastric bypass surgery. I was told that my intestines were a mess and very twisted and badly crimped. I was shown pictures of the mess!  UGH!!! Yuck. They also told me my pouch was still very nice and small! YAY!  Healing took a month and a half. It's been just over two months now and I am almost back to normal now...I can still feel a little pain now and then...and I'm more sensitive to eating again...Similar to how it was post op 9 years ago!  I lost 5 pounds after the surgery and my stomach looks amazing!  I had a weird bulge on one side for many years. I had the hernia for a very long time and never knew...until that final twist that almost took my life...I was lucky that my intestines turned pink after they untangled me and I didn't lose any to lack of oxygen (strangulation)...

Pay attention...9 years after surgery,... you become complacent and when you have little aches and pains or other hair loss type, minor symptoms... you tend to ignore them...DON'T!!!!!! See your surgeon now and then...Even 9 years later!  I would never have believed that this would happen to me...I had a very uneventful 9 years...except for some vitamin deficiencies and chronic anemia.  But it can happen and if you aren't near a hospital that can handle bariatric complications and there isn't one near you...LEARN where there is one that you can get to...I was just hours from death when I got to the ER...

Other than that..I'm great!  :)

6 years PO and more now than ever, I want to eat and be healthy.  I have a strong desire to keep my lifestyle changes true and with conviction....That means eating REAL FOOD...I lost my weight by eating healthier portions, but I also noticed that what we eat isn't always even food!  It's sodium, preservatives and who knows how to pronounce some of those "other ingredients"...let alone have a clue what they are! 

So my newest kick is to boycott fake-non food, foods as much as I can! (It's HARDER than you think!)  If I can't buy the ingredient in the spice section, it's probably NOT something I want to ingest...One of my troubles is sugar and sugar substitutes....I dump with sugar...but can handle a good amt before I dump...Still, I want to avoid eating high glycemic foods, especially sugar!  I also learned I dump on sugar alcohols and many sugar substitutes....Stevia has been a great substitute for me...but the commercial brands have some "other ingredients"...as does some seemingly "real foods" ....

I knew bacon had a lot of preservatives and stuff, but lunchmeats are loaded with nitrates and other unwanted "stuff"...SO...My newest favorite product is Hormel Natural Choice...with no preservatives, nitrates, artificial ingredients, MSG, Gluten, Sat or Trans fats....It's 100% natural!  I LOVE THAT!!!!!  Tastes good too!  And you can find so many more all natural products at their website   www.hormelnatural.com

The other product I like is  Organic Raw Blue Agave as a sweetener.  It is not calorie free or sugar free, however it is a low gylgemic sugar  (is absorbed slowly and doesn't spike blood sugar) and doesn't make me dump!  It is 1-1/4 times sweeter than sugar and has a slight molassas flavor. A little goes a long way...I don't need sweetener often, so for me this is a nice alternative to fake food!  www.wholesomesweeteners.com  

Happy Journey!

Anita

This is my newest favorite product that I love so much I had to share it!  I mix up a giant 32 oz  glass of iced green tea daily...You can add lemon or lime as well and some of your favorite sweetener...I love stevia with this and  a lime packet as well...I have also mottled some mint leaves in for a nice fresh summer flavor...or even SF raspberry syrup! 



"Stash Tea introduces a unique Powdered Iced Green Tea made from whole green tea leaves. We start with premium Japanese Sencha Green tea leaves and then grind them into a fine powder. Just add to cold water and stir, no brewing needed. Since the entire tea leaf is consumed, you get more of green tea's healthy antioxidants. Plus, you can add the powder to cold bottled water for a convenient and good- for-you beverage. Each box contains 12 foil-wrapped packets and makes 12 servings, 16 oz. each. Note: Since this product is made from powdered green tea leaves and is not instant, some green tea may be present in the bottom of the glass. Stir well or shake before serving. Nutrition Information.

Recipes: Green Tea and Berry Smoothie, White Chocolate Green Tea Ice Cream "


This one is good as well, but I prefer the plain green tea powder above!














Mix with True Lemon (comes in Lime and Orange too!)

2003 ---Pre Op--- 315 lbs  At the beach...I was miserable from the heat in this photo! Diabetic, GERD, Hiatal Hernia, High Cholesterol, Hypothyroidism, Arthritis in knees, chronic swollen legs and hands and no energy at all...I walked with a cane in so much pain...


2005 1.5 ish  years post op...Still had a flap for a belly       Early 2007 ...Toned and no more belly flap

3 Years Post OP....Swimming as my exercise for 2 years tightened much of my loose skin and toned my muscles, but I weighed the same 165 lbs...I had an initial gain of 8 pounds and never lost it...I was 158 at lowest weight and which also was the exact amount of pounds I lost as well! I settled in for the long haul at 165 lbs average with 150 lbs total lost and kept off!

Year 4 Halloween to New Years UGH!  Bad year! ....Battled a weight gain of 10 lbs and WON!  Back to 165 and holding! Also suffered anemia and malnutrition. I had to get back on track and stop eating any sugar...I began journaling my food and weighing everything to get my visual portions back in control so I was sure I was not over eating...which I was...So I now know again what 4 oz of meat looks like without the scale! But I keep it handy just in case!  I don't eat from bags...I measure out my portions...If 16 almonds is one ounce serving...Then I count out 16 almonds!  It's usually exactly enough! It's so simple when you don't WANT to cheat yourself...Being on OH and involving myself with people who know the struggled of food addiction...keeps me so motivated too...


Here I am holding 165lbs just 2 months shy of 5 Years Post OP. So far all vit deficiencies under control!  We'll see! GET YEARLY LABS!!!! DON'T stop taking your vitamins!  DON'T ignore symptoms. Be your own health care advocate!  Get copies of your labs! Know how your body works....

I am forever grateful for a second chance at life... I am proof that we can do this and succeed...Your maintenance diet is NOT the same as your first year. I still aim for protein, butI eat all things from nature... I don't count carbs... I just make sure my carbs are complex... and I aim without fail for 5 DIFFERENT fruits and /or veggies a day and include nuts and seeds in my diet as well!  80-90 % of the time, my food either swam in the ocean, grew out of the dirt, fell from a tree or had a mama.... (With the exception of dairy and a few other moderately processed things). NO, I am not perfect and yes I allow myself to eat regular food in moderation without beating myself up... I eat like a REGULAR small person, only probably much more healthy.  Sugary and fried foods are my enemy. I steer clear...And usually manage to stay away with no real love loss! But I've made peace and found "stevia" is wonderful as a natural sweetener with no carbs or calories... and olive oil is my new butter/ fat. 

I stay active and choose active hobbies to stay fit because me and the gym are NOT buddies! I hate going to the gym!  I'd rather take a walk and breathe fresh air than stare at a wall on a treadmill or bike! But that is just me! I don't allow myself excuses anymore... and if I won't go to the gym, then I finda way to get in exercise because I deserve this!  So do you! It doesn't take that much time to just MOVE your body! Well that's a quick five years... I'm hoping for many many more! And for you all as well! 
 

This is the first few courses...Started with Baked Ricotta(2 % Fat) and Red Roasted Pepper With an olive and pine nut balsmic vinegarette...YUM!   Then moved on to an Anti Pasta salad with salami, ricotta insalata cheese, raw spinach and baby greens, roast artichokes, and various other tidbits...Served with an oil and vinegar ....Brie Baked into bread with cranberry apple sauce.....Grilled asparagus with sprinkled parm cheese and not pictured the main meal of broiled Lollipop lamb chops with a Greek yogurt ,cucumber,garlic dip  ...Also a 4 cheese platter and Italian bread! I ate the end of the Italian bread...and pealed the bread off the brie and cranberries for a tiny sliver hours later!  It was my dessert .  Wish I had a pic of the lamb chops...That's what I chowed down on for sure!!  Delish!  My plate was the only one with food left on it!  Yay!!! for me!

http://www.quickfiles.net/368006

OMG!!!  I LOVE these... 4 fat/18 carbs/1 fiber/4 protein ...130 calories per ounce...Delicious! Unusual....crunchie and addictive...

http://www.bluediamond.com/retail/breeze/index.cfm

Great alternative to milk or soy...if you are looking to cut calories this is a great tasting "milk"  The SF one you can add your own sweetener to and use for LF lattes and coffee drinks!

Here is the famous 60 minutes video link on the effects of RNY surgery on the remission of Type II diabetes.  Must watch this!!! It aired on television on 4-17-08

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=4029652n

Because it's not just about weight loss. It's about LIFE and living healthy...Malabsorption is real and shows up with minor symptoms that are usually ignored. If you aren't taking vitamins and supplements and getting yearly labs...YOU are not maintaining your WLS.  This is a whole package journey folks!  You MUST take time daily to take the right vitamins and YOU must DEMAND the right labs from your doctor yearly or more if you are not feeling perfect. This is why:  Please read...

Topic: Nutritional deficiencies after Roux-en-Y...