Rachelena
Twoderville
Jan 19, 2011
I MADE IT! I will NEVER see a 3 at the beginning of my weight EVER again!!!Today I went to my surgeon for my 3 month post op check-up. When I walked into the office all the staff ooh'd and aaah'd at my weight loss. I was so nervous yet so excited to get on the scale. I realized that my scale has been broken for about a week now so I had no clue what I weighed. The big question was looming over my head... Had I broke the 300 mark and entered twoderville?
As I got on the scale my heart was pounding... I was preparing my self for the disappointment of still being over 300lbs as I watched the numbers... 305, 290, 300, 298, 299, 299.6, 299.5... and it stopped... I screamed!! My surgeon came running in to see what the commotion was. He opened the door and said, "Why are you yelling? What's going on?" So I screamed back at him "299!!!!!!" He laughed at me and walked out. Apparently the whole office heard me scream because as I walked out everyone asked me if I was ok. haha. I was in shock! I couldn't believe it!!
Next I had to see the surgeon... he looked over my chart and blood work and asked me how much I weighed when I first started seeing him. 364, I told him. He was very happy with my progress. Then he said... NEXT TIME I SEE YOU, I WANT TO SEE 199. I seriously thought he was joking. I asked him if I would have to wait a year for my next appointment. to which he replied... No... 6 months from now you are going to be 199.
WHAT! Let me reprocess that... 6 months from today, 180 days from now, you expect me to lose 100lbs... be in ONEDERLAND??? NO FUCKING WAY!!! Then the fear set in....
As I left the appointment and text messaged everyone I know, I kept hearing it... 6 months... 100lbs.... 6 months 100lbs.... 6 months ONEDERLAND!!! Then came the next thought... Ok what can I eat right now...
Why does this happen to me? I am successful, then I want to eat carbs and fat... I will tell you why... The thought of success scares the living daylights out of me. The thought that this surgery might actually work and I might actually be able to reach 199lbs and have a baby and get a job scares the crap out of me. So I do what any normal person does... I sabotage myself.
Thankfully, I caught myself starting to travel down this all too familiar road early on. I caught myself before I was able to get a hold on the carbs and fat I was going to use to demolish my success. I promised myself that just for today I won't sabotage and see how it feels... I am still scared. I'm not gonna lie... I'm petrified of being successful. As I'm typing, I wonder if that success is what makes some of us go crazy. But that is a whole different topic. Maybe I will hot on that tomorrow...
For now I am going to stay focused on being successful. I am going to face my fears head on and see how it feels. I have a feeling I'm gonna like it!
3 Month Surgiversary!
Jan 18, 2011
Happy Surgiversary To ME!
WOW!!!! Just Sayin.... I never really noticed the difference until I put these two pics side by side. This pic isn't even the thinnest, just the most recent full length pic I have, about a month old. I will try to take another updated picture sometime Today.
3 months post sleeve... In 3 months I have lost 64lbs! that is double what I lost in 2.5 years with the lapband! The surgiversary gods must not have favored me this morning because my scale still says 300.2. Maybe one day I will shake that .2 plus some and make it into TWODERVILLE! Then again, my brother got on the scale yesterday and said it's broken because it told him he lost 30lbs in two weeks. So I will have an official accurate weight tomorrow when I see my surgeon :-)
In 2 years and 10 months pot my first WLS I am down a total of 91lbs!! Century Card, HERE I COME!!!
My Bariatric Revision
Jan 16, 2011
Obesity Help has given me the opportunity to write for the January issue of the OH Newsletter. I was given the task of writing about my revision. I didn't want to just share my story as I have done that in many places many times before... I wanted to share with you all my view on Re-Vision.... The process not just the steps... Below you will find the article.... MY BARIATRIC RE-VISION by: Rachel Lebowitz LMSW OH Username: Rachelena I hate the number 350! I have looked at that same number on the scale day in and day out. Some days it would try to disguise itself by replacing the zero with a five or a seven or a three. Some days it would add a little dot with an extra number at the end, but for over a year there never was a difference in the first two digits. I was two years post Lap-Band surgery when I finally decided enough was enough. I had tried all the tips and tricks to break a “stall” from more water, to more protein, more exercise, to even more calories and no exercise! Nothing by itself or in combination seemed to move those dreaded numbers on the scale. Then one day the realization hit me. My band had taken me as far as it was going to. It was time for my revision.
My surgeon only performs the band. So I began my revision journey by selecting a few competent surgeons to interview for the job. I already knew I wanted the sleeve. I had done extensive research on all the major surgery types and decided the VSG was best for me. When I told my old surgeon I would be revising, he sent me over to his partner for interview #1, dubbing him as a “sleeve specialist”. This surgeon told me that I was a failure and would surely fail with the sleeve because like the band, it was purely restrictive. When I asked him how many sleeves he had performed, he told me, “Thirteen or so.” As the consultation went on, he berated me for my extensive research, as I refuted his constant attempts to persuade me into having the RNY. I didn’t appreciate his attitude and didn’t want to start my revision with a surgeon who didn’t believe in my surgery, so on I went to my next appointment. I eventually found Dr. Vohra, the man I entrusted with my band removal and sleeve surgery. Both the removal and VSG surgeries were successful, and by success I mean I’m still alive with no major complications. October 18, 2010 was just the beginning of my journey. Now comes my “re-vision.
You see, I had a realization not too long ago that I did not have a revision on October 18, 2010. I just had some surgery. It wouldn’t have mattered if it was a new band,RNY, a DS, or the VSG. It was all the same, just some surgery. Revision to me is more than just a change in my anatomy, it has become a change in my vision; a do-over of sorts. I knew that to be successful, I had to stop following the generally given rules and start writing my own. I began working on myself, and coming to terms with the reason my band relationship didn’t work out.
I started with the infamous post-op diet and my eating behaviors… re-vision number one. When I had my band, I was told no more than 800 calories, 60g of protein a day, eight cups of water etc., etc. You know the diet I am referring to. That was one of my problems, and I assume, one many of you share. We have all been dieting for years, only to “fail”, “fall off the wagon”, “cheat” or whatever you call it. This isn’t a diet my friends, this is our life, now and forever. I had to get out of this “all or nothing” diet mentality that I had grown so accustomed to.
Today, I view my eating habits as just that, HABITS. That old diet I described earlier, those are guidelines that helped mold my habits into my life. I drink my water and get in all my protein. But I also allow myself to have a bite of those “bad” foods when the occasion calls for it; holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries. I DO NOT berate myself or feel like I “fell off the wagon”. I eat without guilt or shame. For me, this re-vision entailed taking an honest look into myself and figuring out why I eat the foods I do on both a psychological and biological level. The difference now is that I no longer allow myself to eat out of fear, anxiety, anger, sadness, or loneliness. I listen to my body and know that when I am craving chips and salt, I probably need water or when I want to dive into the sweets, I need to check my emotions first.
The next thing I had to change, was my view of my surgery. (Re-vision number two!) We are all told from day one that our surgery is a tool, not a solution. It changes your body not your brain. To be honest, I went into my band telling myself, the band won’t allow me to eat more than “x” amount of food, so I will be forced to eat less and lose weight. I have heard similar rationalizations from my peers. “I malabsorb my calories so that if I eat 1500 calories a day it’s like eating 800 and I will be fine and lose weight.” “If I eat one more bite, I will throw up and those calories won’t be digested, so they don’t count.” “If I skip lunch I can have some alcohol tonight with dinner.” These are nothing but excuses and are not productive ways of thinking. Our new anatomy has to become part of who we are. When I try to cheat my pouch, I cheat myself.
Re-vision number three is probably the hardest one. For me, this entails changing the way I feel about myself. I always said that I had this surgery to get pregnant, to be a better wife, and to get the job I want. While these reasons are still valid, they have become benefits only secondary to the real reason I had my surgery. I had my surgery because I AM WORTH IT! This time around, I had the surgery for ME and only ME. I am learning that it’s ok to be selfish. If I am not my best advocate, then who is? Who will be? I deserve to feel good, to be able to walk up a flight of stairs without gasping for air, to hike, swim, or dance. I deserve the life that I want and so do you! I had to make this decision in order to be successful. I am a food addict. I can’t quit to make anyone happy or I will fail and I will resent others for “making me” quit. It’s that simple. I couldn’t do it before because I was doing it for everyone but myself.
My last re-vision made me accountable. I know I have a tendency to trick myself into believing if no one saw it, it didn’t happen. So I try to log my food every day. Every bite I put into my mouth. I tell my support group when I have been falling back into my old habits. I attend many support groups and I run one. I use a tracking device which I have set to tell Facebook and Twitter how many steps I have taken during the day and how many calories I burned. All of these things keep me accountable. My newest project has become my blog. I call it “Bariatric Revisionary”. I admit things on my blog that I have a hard time admitting to myself, but if I don’t, I won’t succeed. I am not yet strong enough to be accountable to only myself. I don’t know if I ever will be, but I am grateful for the support.
Something that I believe very strongly in is the right to self-determination. This means that you get to determine your path. I believe we are all individuals with individual needs. Maybe you are the type of person who needs rules and structure to succeed. That’s great! I applaud you for knowing that about yourself. Maybe you are the type of person who cannot cut donuts out of your life. Ok, then learn how to make them pouch friendly.
Start 2011 out by getting to know yourself; what works best for you and your individual needs. Perhaps my vision on how things should be, make you think I am a rule breaker or a naughty post-op. I am not, I have just taken the time to figure out how to live my life so I can be who and where I want to be. I am almost three months post my VSG and I have lost 63 lbs for a total of 90 lbs since I had my first surgery. I feel alive, hopeful, successful, and HAPPY. My hope for you in starting this new year, is instead of resolutions, you make re-visions! I wish you all a happy and successful New Year!
I hope you all enjoyed reading this as much as I have enjoyed sharing this with you!
I Need Air... Especially at Night!
Jan 13, 2011
Last night was the first night I decided to try and sleep with out my CPAP. I wanted to see with the monitoring of my Fitbit, how many times I woke up...I was diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea after I fell asleep behind the wheel and almost hit an 18 wheeler.
"Obstructive sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. Several types of sleep apnea exist, but the most common type is obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs when your throat muscles intermittently relax and block your airway during sleep. The most noticeable sign of obstructive sleep apnea is snoring, although not everyone who has obstructive sleep apnea snores." ~Mayo ClinicI was 19 when I was diagnosed. I was dating my husband at the time and hated the thought of having to wear this full faced mask. I was embarrassed in front of this guy who I really liked. I didn't know if he thought I'd be a freak. The thought of never being able to fall asleep in his arms killed me. Starting this new relationship this way was just no fun. Yep I worry.... A LOT!
Luckily for me, he was super supportive! He made me wear the mask every single night. He would even put it back on when I ripped it off in my sleep. It took a lot of getting used to, but eventually it became routine. Now that we are married for over five years, I still hate the stupid mask on my face, but it has become a ritual for me and my husband. Every night when we are ready for bed my husband comes to my side, kisses me goodnight and puts the mask on for me; Just like he did when I resisted wearing it. It's become sort of a romantic gesture in our lives believe it or not. Talk about turning a negative into something beautiful!
Last night I decided to try to sleep without it... I only woke up twice without my CPAP. I am exhausted today, so I know I still need it, but I did wake up with out any of the side effects like the horrible headache that pounds every time you move and the dizzyness from not getting enough oxygen at night.This is what my sleep report looked like on my Fitbit page today! 99% sleep efficiency without the machine... Maybe there is hope that one day I will no longer need the thing.
Review: Fitbit
Jan 06, 2011
The much anticipated Fitbit review! Where to begin? I can't say enough good about the Fitbit!I first found out about the Fitbit from one of my friend's Facebook statuses. I would see her statuses daily proclaiming the number of steps and miles she walked that day and the number of calories she had burned based on her Fitbit. So I started my research....
The Fitbit is not your every day pedometer. A $0.99 pedometer generally tracks your steps and that's it.
The Fitbit on the other hand, tracks sooo much more. Let me show you...
First, the fit bit, like all other pedometers tracks your steps. Most pedometers are not accurate. Just shake em around a bit and magically you have walked an extra 20 steps. Not with the Fitbit! I have jumped with the Fitbit on, shook it around and still the step count did not move. I have also tested the Fitbit by counting my steps up to 100 and the steps were accurately recorded.
Not only does the Fitbit monitor your steps, it also monitors your distance! Again, I of course tested for accuracy. Two nights ago I took my Fitbit for a spin on the treadmill. One hour on the Treadmill I walked 2.16 miles. I had walked 0.5 miles the rest of the day to and from the fridge and around the house to my car and to the treadmill and just under a quarter of a mile after the gym. Super awesome!
The next view on the Fitbit is a pretty flower... it doesn't always look this big. The flower grows as you get active. The more active you are the bigger your flower gets. While this is not the most exciting feature it is meant to be a motivator. The Fitbit will remember how active you are and over time it will get harder and hard and you will have to do more activity to make it grow. Are you up for the challenge?
Lastly, my favorite feature! The Fitbit tracks the amount of calories you have burned throughout the day. I usually burn 2500 calories a day. This is an amazing feature because you can gauge your weight loss each day. In case you don't know, 1 pound is 3500 calories. So if the average bariatric patient takes in 800 calories and you are burning 2500, you should be losing 1 pound every 2 days, obviously more if you are malabsorbing your calories. If you are wondering how I burn so many calories... well, realize this thing monitors not only the calories burned when I am working out but the calories burned when I'm sitting on my butt writing this blog and when I'm sleeping! so 2500 calories a day!
The Fitbit comes with a wristband that you wear to sleep with a pocket for the Fitbit, a clip for your belt that holds the Fitbit, and the base station.
Another perk of the Fitbit is the online program that it comes with. It's free and it monitors all the stats your Fitbit picks up on. Your stats are displayed in numbers, charts and graphs. Part of the program also allows you to track your food and exercise. There is also an online forum for use and a WLS group!
You can also link your Fitbit account with Facebook and Twitter to update your friends and family daily of your results. There will be a status posted that looks like this.
"I walked 6,752 steps and 2.9 miles and burned 3,001 calories via my fitbit http://www.fitbit.com/user/22BRX6" ~ My actual stats from yesterday posted to Facebook
Breakdown of the Fitbit:
Pros:
- Small and easy to conceal
- Accurate
- Tracks sleep, calories burned over a 24 hour period, steps taken, and miles traveled
- Wirelessly syncs with the base station anytime you walk within 15 feet
- Holds 7 days worth of data
- Battery lasts about a week. I charge it whenever I am in the shower.
- The food tracking systems doesn't have such an extensive food list but you can add foods to the list.
Cost: $99.00 ($90 if bought from 24 hour fitness no tax or shipping)
Coupon: AFPRM50101210 (Valid until Jan 31, 2011) This coupon is good on 10% off any purchase of $50 or more.
The Main question people have asked me is... Why a Fitbit and not a BodyBugg?
For me there were a few reasons.
a. COST... The Fitbit was $90 while the cheapest Bodybugg is double that price. Also, the tracking program is free for the Fitbit while you have to pay a monthly subscription of $10 for the bodybugg program.
b. SIZE... I do not want to that big thing on my arm. It is nobody's business if I wear a pedometer. I don't need anyone to know I workout or I'm trying to lose weight. I wear my Fitbit on my bra and no one but me (and now you) knows it's there.
c. FITBIT TRACKS MORE.... I like that the Fitbit tracks my sleep. I have sleep apnea and my sleep is really important to me. The Fitbit tells me how many times I woke up at night and how much time I actually spent sleeping. This helps me monitor when it's time for a CPap adjustment. The Bodybugg does not do this.
If you have any questions feel free to leave it in the comments!
Review: Successful Weight Loss with the Gastric Sleeve
Jan 05, 2011
The VSG or Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy has become increasing popular in 2010 with the rise in insurance company approval. For those of you who don't know what the Sleeve is..."The Gastric Sleeve is a restrictive surgical procedure done through laparoscopy in which a percentage of the stomach is taken out. Depending on the surgeon, this resection may be between 60-80% of the stomach." ~Alvarez, 2010, p14
In the book, Successful Weight Loss with the Gastric Sleeve, Dr. Guillermo Alvarez takes the reader on a basic journey of the VSG surgery and educates his audience on many of the questions we may have.
I remember hearing the buzz on the Obesity Help VSG board that the "Mexico surgeon" was writing a book on the Sleeve. I started doing some research on this "Mexico Doctor" who I now know to be Doctor Alvarez, and learned that he is one of the leading surgeons on this continent to be performing the sleeve. A few days later, I messaged Dr. Alvarez and learned he was going to be selling his book at the Houston, TX Obesity HelpConference 2010.
Funny story... I had the privilege and the pleasure of meeting Dr. Alvarez at the Houston, TX, Obesity Helpconference this past November. I was all excited to head over to theEndobariatric booth and buy my copy of his book. I walked up and introduced myself to Dr. Alvarez and explained to him I was the one who messaged him the previous week to ask if his book would be for sale at the conference. It seemed he remembered me. He signed the book for me and gave it to me. When I went to pay him he told me it was a gift. I tried again to pay for the book and he refused. For the next 2 hours or so, I was so excited that this awesome surgeon, who everyone raves about gave me his book for FREE!!! Then I found out, Dr Alvarez was gifting his book to everyone at the conference! Oh well... I thought I was special. lol.
The point of that story, other than a small chuckle at my naive expense, is to show you one of the things I respect most about Dr. Alvarez. He could have made a few hundred dollars at that conference. But it's clear to me, that this surgeon really and truly cares about not only his patients, but the bariatric community as a whole. For those of you who know him as "the Mexico Surgeon" take the time to get to know him. He makes himself so accessible to our community via Facebook and Twitter.
"Dr. Guillermo Alvarez is a highly skilled Mexico bariatric surgery practitioner who specializes in numerous forms of laparoscopic bariatric surgery, including gastric sleeve surgery and Lap Band in Mexico. Dr. Alvarez started his bariatric surgery specialization early in his general surgery residency. He worked in several hospitals in the United States, France and Mexico during his residency and has subsequently dedicated his life to helping obese patients." ~ Endobariatric.comThe beginning of his book, Successful Weight Loss with the Gastric Sleeve,Alvarez starts off with a brief definition of obesity and the current "epidemic" our country is facing. Next an explanation of each of the popular surgical weight loss procedures that are available. The book also provides a basic image of what each finished surgery looks like. The writer goes on to to explain the Gastric Sleeve in greater detail, which includes providing a recent history of the surgery.
The bulk of this short educational book is information about life as a VSG post-op. Dr. Alvarez covers both pre-op and post-op diet, common risks, complications and complaints as well as vitamins and supplements and tips and guidelines for success.
One of my favorite parts of the book was the "Frequently Asked Questions" section. Dr. Alvarez took the time to answer over 50 frequently asked questions about the sleeve. Not only did he include this vital section in his book, he broke down these questions by Pre-op Questions, Hospital Stay Questions and Post-op Questions. Dr. Alvarez shyed away from nothing! He discussed, resuming sex after surgery, when you can drink again and even the infamous "Is my stomach going to burst!?" myth.
The book ends on a motivational note with several of Dr. Alvarez's sleeve patient testimonials and before and after pics! The book is written in lay language with very minimal medical jargon. All jargon is explained.
I have to say this is a great book! It was an easy and interesting read. I read the book cover to cover in one 70 minute sitting!
Where to Buy:
This book can only be purchased directly from Endobariatric
Cost: $13.95 plus shipping
What people are saying:
"He [Dr. Alvarez] is a rockstar in the bariatric world, yet he takes the time to answer questions no matter how small." ~Waning Woman, fellow Blogger and sleeve sister
"I received my autographed copy in the mail this weekend. I was the monthly OH newsletter winner last month! I've already finished it. Loved it!!!" Chelle, sleeve sister I hope you have enjoyed reading this review as much as I have enjoyed writing it!
Dr. Alvarez, thank you for all of your advice, encouragement and overall awesomeness!
Review: WLS Vitagarten Lab Tracker Workbook
Jan 03, 2011
When it comes to information about our blood, vitamins and nutrients, many post ops put their trust in their doctors. We read words like Microcytic Hypochromic, Thiamin, Ferratin, see all these acronyms like PLT, ALT, WBC, RBC and our eyes glaze over, our brain shuts down and we say, "Ok Doc. Am I normal?" But what happens when our surgeon, that heavenly medicine man that we allowed to rearrange our innards, just doesn't know?As Dr. Garth Davis, of TLC's Big Medicine has told us, doctors only have one hour of nutrition class in school. My first surgeon told me flat out, "My job is to cut you open, place a Lap-Band and close you back up. After that, I know nothing."
The time has come my friends for us to take charge of our bodies. That is where the Lab Tracker Workbook comes in.
I will be the first one to admit, prior to this workbook, I knew nothing and I mean NOTHING about my blood work. I didn't know my B6 from by B12 or my Iron from my A1C. I picked up a copy of this workbook at Houston Obesity Help conference. To be honest, I never had much intention in opening this workbook for my own personal use until I came to find I had a problem with my Vitamin D. I was under the impression, the very wrong impression, that VSGers don't need to take vitamins and we are just like the Banders and I will be fine. I bought the workbook for two reasons; To be supportive to my dear friend who wrote the workbook, and because I am a support group leader and I thought it would be a good resource for my RNY members.
Once I began exploring the Lab Tracker Workbook, I came to find a wealth of information, relevant to my life as a post-op. The writer begins with a diagram showing what nutrients are absorbed in which part of our Digestive Tracks. It really puts things into perspective for those who who have an intestinal bypass. You can now see exactly which nutrients you may have a hard time absorbing.
She goes on to give a detailed breakdown of the vitamin intake recommendation standards for each of the 4 predominant bariatric surgeries (Lap-Band, RNY, VSG, DS). Another thing relevant to my post-op life, I just never knew.
As the pages of workbook are turned, the reader will find a well of knowledge and be able to draw on it. Included in the workbook are the recommended blood tests to be done at 3mo, 6mo, 12mos and yearly thereafter. Also included you will find Common post-op deficiencies with brief, yet complete explanations as well as a glossary and reference list.
The bulk of this workbook is dedicated to the actual lab defining and tracking. The writer takes a full page for each lab test and explains the basics of the test. Then she breaks down the conditions of the test (fasting or not fasting), what the normal range is and what high or low levels may indicate. At the bottom of this breakdown you are given a blank graph chart that you can use to track your own personal lab score. Below you will find an example image. This is what each page looks like.
"The workbook comes to you in a hard cover, 3-ring binder to make it easy to add pages and inserts as desired. I’ve supplied some of the basic “bones” but I encourage you to make this workbook as much YOURS as you need it to be so you’ll actually use it." ~Andrea, Author of the Lab Tracker WorkbookIt is my opinion, this workbook is an essential for every post-op, support group leader and professional working with the bariatric community!! I am sure some of you are wondering by now who this amazing author is, where she is located and if she takes your health insurance. Well, I hate to burst your bubble. Andrea S. Ullberg is not a professional. She is however someone who has suffered from a doctor's lack of knowledge. Andrea , is a 6.5 year, RNY post-op. She is the owner of the very informative blog WLS Vitagarten. , an active leader in the Bariatric Bad Girls Club and a friend and gadfly to many. She is someone who I respect very much. She has chosen to educate herself about her body and how/why it works. I have been blown away by Andrea's wealth of information. Example? When I received copies of my labs I was going over them with Andrea and she said to me, "Rachel, you're not drinking enough." Just so you can understand this... Andrea and I have seen each other in person twice in our lives. She lives hundreds of miles away from me so she would have no clue that I don't drink enough. She knew that, from me reading off my lab results to her over the phone! I have always had an issue with fluid intake and no doctor/surgeon/nutritionist/nurse/PA etc. has ever been able to look at my labs and say that. I can Andrea my Vitamin Guru. I ask her all my questions and she always has answers that are filled with facts. Researchable facts! I learn from her constantly. My breakdown of the workbook... Pros:
- Structurally easy to follow
- Lay language that anyone with half a brain can understand
- Binder allows me to hole punch my labs and keep them in there
- Binder allows me to reorganize the book if needed/desired and really make it MINE
- A lot of relevant information with no fluff to sift through
- Extra blank lab tracker sheets included that can be photocopied as needed!
- There is an SI version so no conversion tools needed for our Canadian and European friends!
- Personally, I would have like to see some of the symptoms one may exhibit with each vitamin deficiency. Just as a little more meat in each of the breakdowns.
The Importance of Support
Jan 01, 2011
For those of you who don't know me or may not have read my blog until today, let me take a brief moment and introduce myself. My name is Rachel aka Rachelena aka Sleeve Pixie, depending on where you know me from. I am an almost 3 year post op and a revision patient which I guess makes me only a 2.5 month post-op yet again. I am a wife, a daughter, a sister, an aunt and a Social Worker. I have run a small tight knit bariatric support group for almost two years now and I love every moment of it. I am a strong believer in support.
We always here the term "support" in the WLS community and how important it is, but NO ONE ever takes the time to define what support actually means. According to dictionary.com...
SUPPORT –verb (used with object);
1.
to undergo or endure, esp. with patience or submission. 2.
to sustain (a person, the mind, spirits, courage, etc.) under trial or affliction: 3.
to maintain (a person, family, establishment, institution, etc.) by supplying with things necessary to existence; provide for. 4. to uphold (a person, cause, policy, etc.) by aid. This is what we are supposed to do, right? To undergo with patience; to help sustain a person mentally or physically when they are down and to help a person maintain by providing education, ideas, love, support, friendship mutual aid etc... I define a support group as a group of people that share a similar experience or situation. These people are able to motivate each other through the hard times and laugh with them through the good times. They do not judge them for the things they do that may not equate with the cultural norms and by culture I mean the group culture, in our case WLS. This system will generally share similar values and ideals about their situation. This is my idea of what a support group SHOULD be. There are 4 support groups I am active in. One, the one I run, Post-Ops Supporting Each other on Long Island. POSE is a live support group that meets every other week. We share about our victories both on the scale and off and discuss our perceived failures. The group has a strong bond and trust one another enough to be able to motivate each other and confront each other when needed. While this is not by any means an educational group, it does serve its purpose to the members. The second group I participate in more of a social group. We are a bunch of people who get together for dinner once a month and enjoy the comfort of food in the presence of others who get it. The third group I participate in is my surgeons support group. While I have only been going a short time, and I don't really appreciate surgeon run support groups, I believe it is important to give back. We have many pre-ops in this meeting and they look to us for advice. Lastly, the BBGC or Bariatric Bad Girls Club is an online support group with hundreds of people. The reason I cal myself a proud member of this group is because we share very similar values. Values I have not found anywhere else. The BBGC believes in reality. In the idea that THIS is now our life. Not some permanent diet we have to be on for the next 60 years. Yes you will notice our symbol involves a cupcake, the ultimate bad food... sugar, carbs and fat all rolled into one miniature cake. This does not symbolize a "badness" it symbolizes an awareness. An awareness of our food addiction, of what it took to get us here, of the reality that we all must live with on a daily basis. Some not nearly as rosy as mine or yours. The BBGC has been getting a lot of flack lately from all different sources because we believe its ok to eat a cupcake once in a blue or whatever your issue is with us. But for us, this is working. This lifestyle is what keeps us from being a suicide statistic or from regaining our weight. Many people don't believe its ok to make bariatric friendly "bad" food like donuts for example... but this is what keeps me away from the Dunkin Donuts drive through so WHY THE HELL NOT? So if this is not for you, thats ok! Go find a group that is... and if there isn't one... do what I did and START ONE! There is plenty of room for all of us. There are many support groups in my local area and online that I do not and could not call myself a member of. Why? Because I cannot stand for the things they do or believe in or the message they put out as a group. Does that make them horrible... not necessarily. It makes them different. It makes them not for me. But maybe, for someone else, that is EXACTLY what they need. I hope in the year 2K11 you find yourself a group that meets your needs and that we can all start realizing that each post-op is an individual with individual needs and we need to stop prescribing a general condition for the needs of ALL bariatric patients on an emotional level.
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We always here the term "support" in the WLS community and how important it is, but NO ONE ever takes the time to define what support actually means. According to dictionary.com...
SUPPORT –verb (used with object);
1.
to undergo or endure, esp. with patience or submission. 2.
to sustain (a person, the mind, spirits, courage, etc.) under trial or affliction: 3.
to maintain (a person, family, establishment, institution, etc.) by supplying with things necessary to existence; provide for. 4. to uphold (a person, cause, policy, etc.) by aid. This is what we are supposed to do, right? To undergo with patience; to help sustain a person mentally or physically when they are down and to help a person maintain by providing education, ideas, love, support, friendship mutual aid etc... I define a support group as a group of people that share a similar experience or situation. These people are able to motivate each other through the hard times and laugh with them through the good times. They do not judge them for the things they do that may not equate with the cultural norms and by culture I mean the group culture, in our case WLS. This system will generally share similar values and ideals about their situation. This is my idea of what a support group SHOULD be. There are 4 support groups I am active in. One, the one I run, Post-Ops Supporting Each other on Long Island. POSE is a live support group that meets every other week. We share about our victories both on the scale and off and discuss our perceived failures. The group has a strong bond and trust one another enough to be able to motivate each other and confront each other when needed. While this is not by any means an educational group, it does serve its purpose to the members. The second group I participate in more of a social group. We are a bunch of people who get together for dinner once a month and enjoy the comfort of food in the presence of others who get it. The third group I participate in is my surgeons support group. While I have only been going a short time, and I don't really appreciate surgeon run support groups, I believe it is important to give back. We have many pre-ops in this meeting and they look to us for advice. Lastly, the BBGC or Bariatric Bad Girls Club is an online support group with hundreds of people. The reason I cal myself a proud member of this group is because we share very similar values. Values I have not found anywhere else. The BBGC believes in reality. In the idea that THIS is now our life. Not some permanent diet we have to be on for the next 60 years. Yes you will notice our symbol involves a cupcake, the ultimate bad food... sugar, carbs and fat all rolled into one miniature cake. This does not symbolize a "badness" it symbolizes an awareness. An awareness of our food addiction, of what it took to get us here, of the reality that we all must live with on a daily basis. Some not nearly as rosy as mine or yours. The BBGC has been getting a lot of flack lately from all different sources because we believe its ok to eat a cupcake once in a blue or whatever your issue is with us. But for us, this is working. This lifestyle is what keeps us from being a suicide statistic or from regaining our weight. Many people don't believe its ok to make bariatric friendly "bad" food like donuts for example... but this is what keeps me away from the Dunkin Donuts drive through so WHY THE HELL NOT? So if this is not for you, thats ok! Go find a group that is... and if there isn't one... do what I did and START ONE! There is plenty of room for all of us. There are many support groups in my local area and online that I do not and could not call myself a member of. Why? Because I cannot stand for the things they do or believe in or the message they put out as a group. Does that make them horrible... not necessarily. It makes them different. It makes them not for me. But maybe, for someone else, that is EXACTLY what they need. I hope in the year 2K11 you find yourself a group that meets your needs and that we can all start realizing that each post-op is an individual with individual needs and we need to stop prescribing a general condition for the needs of ALL bariatric patients on an emotional level.
Dumping: A Reality of the Gastric Sleeve
Dec 31, 2010
I AM A DUMPER!!! In fact, I am dumping as I type this blog entry. I feel gross.... So I am going to keep this short and sweet and go lie down.
The Mayo Clinic defines dumping syndrome as....
...a group of symptoms most likely to develop if you've had surgery to remove all or part of your stomach, or if your stomach has been surgically bypassed to help lose weight. occurs when the undigested contents of your stomach are transported or "dumped" into your small intestine too rapidly.Generally we hear amongst the WLS community that sugar, carbs and fat will cause this to happen. For me this is true. I ate way too many carby audervs took 3 sips of alcohol and topped it all off with pudding pie for dessert. I know, I know not the greatest choices but I am of the belief that this is not a diet but my life so if I want to eat pudding pie with my family on New Years Eve, then I am gonna do it! I am also going to accept that I will have to pay the piper for my actions. Believe me, I am not bitching. I am just telling you this happens.
The Symptoms of dumping may include all or some of the following:
1. Cramping or pain
2. Nausea
3. Diarrhea
4. Vomiting
5. Sweating
6. Fast Heart Rate
7. Tiredness
From the things I hear from my bypass friends... everyone experiences it differently. I get nausea, fast heart rate and tiredness.
Many surgeon's websites etc will tell you us sleevers don't dump because our Pylorus is preserved which is supposed to hold the food in our bananas but I have heard of many sleevers experience dumping. Last I checked it's about 3%. But that statistic is word of mouth and I have yet to find a study to verify that.
There is nothing, that I know of, you can do to stop the dumping episode once it's starts. You just have to wait it out and it will eventually pass. It is the worst feeling EVER!!!
I just wanted to throw that out there. It is NOT just bypassers!!! It is now 3 to midnight and I must go kiss my hubby for New Years.
Happy New Year!
What is Your New Years Resolution?
Dec 30, 2010
What is your New Years Resolution?
Enter December, the month for gift giving and receiving, for joy and charity and family. For some its a month filled with weight gain, drunk stupidity and/or relationship drama. It is also known as the Month when people start to think about their "failures" for the year and make resolutions to fix their real or perceived inferiorities in the year to come.Making a resolution in my opinion, accomplishes one of two things. One, its is a just a way to shut your guilt up. If you feel guilty for not going to the gym enough, you say on December 30th... "SELF, in 2011, we are going to go to the gym 4 times every week!" Then you tell all your friends about your resolution and they nod and smile and some may even be honest enough to say, "Oh I wish I could do that too... but... I can't commit to so many times a week," but in all of their heads they are thinking... BULL SHIT! That Bish aint gonna last more than 2 weeks!
Two. It's a way to rationalize your behavior over the holidays. If you want to eat your piece of cake over the holidays, you will rationalize every bite with the stupid New Years Resolution. "Oh, I can totally eat the double chocolate fudge cake because I'm gonna go to the gym in 4x a week in 2011." "I can totally get wasted every night between Xmas and New Years Day because, well, obviously calories consumed during holiday season don't count. Besides, I made that resolution to hit the gym and burn off one drink per hour 4x a week in 2011."
Now let's get real! You and I both know... if going to the gym was THAT important to you you wouldn't wait til you were hungover on January 1st to go, you would go NOW! If you wanted to quit smoking, join weight watchers, the gym, have surgery finally, get that fill in your band etc etc etc you would do it NOW! Stop using your BS Resolution as your get out of jail free card.
A New years resolution is like starting your diet on Monday... Did you know there are 52 Mondays in a year? You are setting yourself up to fail ad feel horrible about yourself for not sticking to your resolution.
Instead of resolutions this year how bout we do something different. How bout we say to ourselves... This year, It is ok to gain 10lbs in the month of December. I will allow myself 3 bites of anything I want or a whole friggen piece of whatever I want and it wont mean I am a failure in life, WLS, weight watchers etc...
For 2011 lets set goals. Go right now and get a pen and paper..... I'm waiting.....
Got it?
GREAT!
Now write on the top my 2011 Goals.
Did you write it?
Good!
Now make a list of 3 goals you would like to accomplish this year. JUST 3!
Start each goal with the words... I WOULD BE SO HAPPY IF...
Make sure to skip a few line between each goal.
Here are mine....
1. I would be so happy if I weight less than 300lbs
2. I would be so happy if I was more active
3. I would be so happy if I got a social work job working for a bariatric surgeon/program
We started by saying "I would be so happy if..." because that doesn't commit us to anything, doesn't berate us if we don't follow through, doesn't allow us to use it as an excuse or make a promise to ourself. Its just a simple statement of this is what would make me happy. Maybe, just maybe, your happiness will be a motivator.
Now go back to goal 1. Under your goal write... I can (insert goal here) if I (insert 2 activities here).
Do this for all three goals.
1. I would be so happy if I weight less than 300lbs I can weigh less than 300lbs if I measure my food daily and log my calories, carbs and protein daily. 2. I would be so happy if I was more active I can be more active if I walk the dogs with my husband and get a gym buddy. 3. I would be so happy if I got a social work job working for a bariatric surgeon/program
I can get a social work job in a bariatric program if I get my resume together and send it out.
Now what you have done is implemented a reasonable plan to attain your goals. One more step... Go back to goal 1 and on the next line under your plan write.... If I don't (insert goal here) then (insert feeling, reaction here).
1. I would be so happy if I weight less than 300lbs I can weigh less than 300lbs if I measure my food daily and log my calories, carbs and protein daily. If I don't weight less than 300lbs then I will feel like a failure at surgery part 2 and resent my surgery. 2. I would be so happy if I was more active I can be more active if I walk the dogs with my husband and get a gym buddy. If I don't become more active, it is likely that I will not reach my first goal. 3. I would be so happy if I got a social work job working for a bariatric surgeon/program
I can get a social work job in a bariatric program if I get my resume together and send it out. If I don't get a job in a bariatric setting then I will get a job somewhere else. Now you have a goal, a plan to implement the goal and a motivator because you know you don't want to feel xyz or have reaction abc happen. For me. I have 5lbs to lose til I'm in twoderville so I know/assume goal 1 will happen eventually. I know if I don't get more active it is likely I wont reach goal, wont feel good about myself etc etc... If I don't land my dream job right now, which is possible I wont because most surgeons wont hire me til I reach goal, then I will have to settle for another job. These are my motivators. This is what I want to accomplish in 2011. I hope you find this helpful to having a more meaningful 2011. Happy New Years! Rachel, LMSW!!!! PS.... For those of you who don't know, I have been MIA for the last 2 weeks studying 8-10 hours a day for my Licensing exam. I passed my licensing exam and I am now a Licensed Social Worker! What a great ending to 2010!!!
About Me
Hicksville, NY
Location
32.2
BMI
Surgery
10/18/2010
Surgery Date
Nov 06, 2007
Member Since
