Just 30?  Just 30!!!

Do you know what some people would do to lose 30 pounds?

It's wonderful to give others credit for what they accomplish, but give
yourself a little credit here.  You are doing great.

Thirty pounds is a huge difference.  Especially when there are other
challenges in your life.

Jo

Hi Janice.

I did have the bypass surgery. However, I lost 120 pounds prior to
getting the surgery. I knew that I would gain it all back because that
has been a repeated pattern for me in the past. So, I opted for a
permanent solution like the surgery.

I'm only about 10 weeks out from surgery and I'm still very glad that
I got it done. It is giving me a chance for a "normal" life. Normal to
me is the opportunity to go out in public without people starting,
pointing, or laughing; not having to worry if I can fit into chairs at
restaurants or other public places; not being negatively judged based
only upon looks, and other simple things like that.

I definitely do not want to become a salesperson for this surgery. I
believe it is a very personal decision that should be made based on
research and discussions with your doctors and surgeon. You'll hear
both good and bad from people who have had the surgery. Some people
encounter complications during or post surgery. Other people have no
problems. Neither makes the surgery good or bad but only shows that
the experience is going to be different for each person. Also, the
surgery isn't a guaranteed way to keep off the weight. Many people do
manage to return to their prior eating habits and defeat the surgery.
So, there is still will-power involved even after getting the surgery.
I remember going to see the surgeon one day and there was a lady in
the waiting room who was crying. She had lost near a hundred pounds
but was sliding backwards. She reported eating four brownies the prior
day. Not everyone has the same reaction to sugar and some people lose
the reaction over time. I'm hoping that I never lose my reaction to
sugar. It makes staying away from it very simple since I don't like
dry heaving for hours at a time.

A positive side benefit to the surgery for you would be the
elimination of your diabetes if you are type 2. I'm not sure of the
details (since I don't have diabetes) but the surgery does something
to the diabetes so that you don't have to take insulin. Here is a link
to an article that discusses the diabetes aspect.

http://diabetes.about.com/cs/newswire/a/blngastricb1003.htm

A positive side benefit for me personally was that it eliminated my
hiatal hernia. The hernia is still there but there is no stomach acid
to come back up. The old stomach is way down farther along the small
intestine and no food goes through it. Therefore, no stomach acid can
come back up.

You can learn a lot about the surgery and other people's experience
with it by searching on Yahoo or some other search engine. I
personally have no regrets and only wish it was available when I was a
child. My life would have been completely different.

--
Kiyoshi - The reverse side also has a reverse side.

Truth is not what you want it to be.
It is what it is and you must bend
to its power or live a lie.

-- Miyamoto Musashi in "The Book of Five Rings",
  circa 1643AD as translated by D.E. Tarver

I have a great-great grandmother who weighed over 300 pounds. My
immediate blood relations (siblings and parents) all have/had weight
problems too. I believe there is a genetic factor in all of this.
However, I'm not sure where I believe that genetic factor to enter
into the picture.

There is current research ongoing concerning a hormone that is
produced in the first six inches of the small intestine that when
given in excess to rats causes them to become obese. When deprived of
this hormone, the rats either stayed normal or became anemic. It
suggested that this hormone determines level of satisfaction when
eating. If too much of the hormone is created, you never feel
satisfied no matter how much you eat. Too little of the hormone and
you can eat very little but still get that satisfied feeling as if you
just ate a full meal.

I mention this research because the gastric bypass surgery I just had
leaves the first six inches of small intestine attached to the bottom
of the stomach they are disconnecting. The stomach is re-attached
utilizing those six inches of small intestine. However, it is much
farther along with small intestine using a Y intersection. Theory
suggests that because the hormone is being created farther down the
small intestine that it has less impact. Therefore, I experience
satisfaction even though eating smaller amounts of food.

I kind of believe this theory because before surgery I could (and did)
eat until I would throw up and still not feel satisfied and still
experience food cravings. I haven't had a real food craving since
having the surgery (well, except for water during those three weeks of
nothing by mouth). I can eat a few bite and put the rest away for
another meal. That seldom happened prior to surgery. So, there is
something going on with this feeling satisfied stuff and I figure the
current research may be the answer for me personally. If the research
pans out, people in the future may never have to get the surgery but
instead just take a pill that suppresses the hormone in question.

If anyone is interested in reading the research, let me know and I'll
see if I can find it again.

--
Kiyoshi - The reverse side also has a reverse side.

Truth is not what you want it to be.
It is what it is and you must bend
to its power or live a lie.

-- Miyamoto Musashi in "The Book of Five Rings",
  circa 1643AD as translated by D.E. Tarver

I use Advair twice per day and have been lucky to not have any
problems. I'm not on any antibiotics right now, so can eat yogurt once
in awhile and still enjoy it. It's just that every day stuff that gets
boring. I find now that eating yogurt once in awhile helps with those
times when I am having a sweet tooth. Of course, the yogurt I eat has
to be made with Splenda since I can't handle the sugar. That limits my
choices. But two out of three of my favorite flavors are available...
Cherry Vanilla and Peach. They didn't have Black Cherry available
though. It could just be that store. I might try a different store
next time. Thanks for the heads up on the mouth wash. I'll ask my
doctor about it next time he puts me on antibiotics.

--
Kiyoshi - The reverse side also has a reverse side.

Truth is not what you want it to be.
It is what it is and you must bend
to its power or live a lie.

-- Miyamoto Musashi in "The Book of Five Rings",
  circa 1643AD as translated by D.E. Tarver

It's called "Biotene".  I used it when I had thrush. Costs more than regular
mouthwash - around $8.  Nanny

Thank you for your kind words, Harv. So many people here offer
excellent advice and support. We all help as we can in our own way.
--
Kiyoshi - The reverse side also has a reverse side.

Truth is not what you want it to be.
It is what it is and you must bend
to its power or live a lie.

-- Miyamoto Musashi in "The Book of Five Rings",
  circa 1643AD as translated by D.E. Tarver

Just be really careful, oK.
After having a dvt, and having my mother develop two pulmonari emboli
following here thr, I have a great fear of others developing the same
thing. Are you on any blood thinners? My mom had taken coumadin post
surg, but they stopped it too soon i think. Her doctor said,, "I think
that because you walk a lot you can stop." but she was not walking
that much as this was her third surgery in the past year or so. She
herseof stopped taking the baby aspirin, but htat might have helped.

Rose
@}>-->>>
Please remove "Ima" to reply privately!

Donnah,
Did you give those pounds to me (I say maybe grinning and maybe not <g>).

m

Hi Donnah. Congratulations on your weight loss too. 'They' say that
people who lose it slowly are more apt to keep the weight off
long-term. So, keep on doing whatever you're doing as long as you feel
healthy doing it. I too kept one pair of the largest size pants I wore
as a reminder of what will happen if I screw up and revert back to
past behaviors.

Your range of motion will increase with time and exercise. Everybody
heals at their own speed. That is too bad about not being able to
drive. But at least you will still be able to make your trip to see
your new grandson. Good luck trying to get schedules to match. I know
that can require a feat of magic at times. Oh, and congratulations on
the new grandson too. <g>

--
Kiyoshi - The reverse side also has a reverse side.

Truth is not what you want it to be.
It is what it is and you must bend
to its power or live a lie.

-- Miyamoto Musashi in "The Book of Five Rings",
  circa 1643AD as translated by D.E. Tarver

Hi Rose. Thank you for the idea. I'll probably have to wait until I
get down to the more popular/common sizes, but I'm hoping that happens
before the end of the year. I've been donating all my old clothing to
an agency that helps people get jobs. They have a clothing closet for
people who need decent clothing to wear to interviews or to wear to
work upon obtaining employment. I've noticed a lot of clothing in my
size are selling on eBay for pretty good money. If I had chosen that
route, I probably could have made near five thousand based on what
I've given away and the average prices being charged on eBay. But it
sounds like a lot of work to me. At least it gives me an idea of how
much to deduct on my income taxes by knowing the average market value
of the clothing. Thank you again for the idea about the second-hand
stores. I will be visiting them just as soon as I get down to
"off-the-rack" sizes.

--
Kiyoshi - The reverse side also has a reverse side.

Truth is not what you want it to be.
It is what it is and you must bend
to its power or live a lie.

-- Miyamoto Musashi in "The Book of Five Rings",
  circa 1643AD as translated by D.E. Tarver