Question:
HELP, I've gained 50 pounds!!!
Okay, I need a swift kick upside the head!! I went to the GYN recently and got the whole lecture on how I had been gaining weight. However, he didn't know the whole picture as to what I had really gained. I almost died when I stepped on his scale and had gained 50 pounds ... FIFTY!! I took my children to the doctor and the nurse there has been following my progress. I told her I had gained 50 pounds in a year. She informed me "people don't gain 50 pounds in a year". HELLO, apparently they do. I was at 235 when I went in for a tummy tuck a year ago May. When I got on the scale at the GYN, I was at 285. I am freaking! I have really been trying to watch my snacking (I know that is my biggest problem) and carb intake for the last three weeks. I have managed to lose about 7 pounds (I also had a breast reduction in that time so that is part of the loss.) The thought of a revision frightens me. It is all I can do to get in one or two protein shakes a day. The thought of having to be attached to five or more a day to keep from malnutrition ... I don't know. Yes, I know I need to exercise ... it is hard with a hip that needs to be replaced. What frightens me the most is if I can put on 50 pounds in a year WITH the malabsorbtion ... now what? Is it possible my stoma is wide open? Could my Celexa have something to do with the gain? I am trying to remember when I chanced from Wellbutrin to Celexa. I am thinking it was right before my tummy tuck ... which was when I started gaining. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you! — Lindsey G. (posted on September 3, 2003)
September 3, 2003
Go back to the pouch rules and follow them religiously. ONLY protein,
veggies, a little fruit if it doesn't kick off cravings. Do the water
loading. If you HAVE to have a snack, make it a protein shake, no milk.
There was a story on the original pouch rules of someone who had gained all
their weight back, but when returning to the rules, lost it all again.
Here's the link... read and follow :) Good luck!!
http://www.mehtabariatriccenter.com/pouch_rules_for_dummies.htm
— mom2jtx3
September 3, 2003
Hi Lindsey: You're not alone. I agained 41 pounds in a year starting from
about a year post op until just over the second year. It was only a 2 to 4
pound gain each month, so it was easy to do. It can really add up fast
though. I've gotten serious and have taken 16 pounds back off, but it
wasn't easy. You can get yours back off too if you really try, but don't
do what I did at first and try some days and not others because that didn't
work. I had to really dig my heals in and do it. It's unfortunate that
you can't do exercise because of you hip, but if you really lower your
calories, that alone will do it. I won't fool you, it won't be fun, but
it's worth it. I'll be thinking of you and hope we both get rid of our
regain. Best wishes, Sherry
— sherry hedgecock
September 3, 2003
Lindsey, listen to Linda... and grab hold of yourself and control
yourself!! You are the one who puts food in your mouth... you know what to
eat and what not to and what is too much. Back off and start over... The
Celexa might be making you hungry, but your head controls your hunger if
you get your carbs out of your system!! Go back to clear liquids for three
days then go through the stages every three days (I've a list of stages on
my second profile) and get yourself back on track!! Don't blow this!! You
CAN lose that weight again and keep it off!! Don't give up!! You CAN do
it!!! Hugs
— Sharon m. B.
September 3, 2003
I know I started gaining when I was put on Celexa. I had been on Meridia
and changed to Celexa. It was head hunger that had me devouring carbs. I
think you can work at overcoming it but I would also talk to the doctor
that prescribed the Celexa and see if something else would be more
beneficial. Good luck.
— ssundlee
September 3, 2003
Lindsay - I am sorry you are having difficulties. Does your surgeon
continue care with you this far post? Are there support groups you can
attend? For exercise, are you able to swim? The good thing about the
surgery is that we have this tool for life - reread the rules of the pouch
and hopefully this will work out for you. I did quickly review your profile
- do you need counseling to help with the reasons for why you eat what you
do? I wish you the best.
— Yolanda J.
September 3, 2003
Dear Lindsley, Oh, I can imagine the frustration you are feeling!
Blessings as you work out this step in your life. I hope I am not being
insensitive; If I may ask, what kind of RNY did you have, proximal or
distal? Do you know how many inches of small intestine the surgeon left in
use?
— sissie S.
September 3, 2003
Before you start blaming yourself too much, I think you should get things
checked out to mske sure there is no mechanical failure. You could have a
staple line disruption, a stretched stoma or pouch... any of those things
can cause weight gain. It may be the food and meds, but you need to make
sure. Get scoped and find out. Good luck and let us know! hugs,
Ann rny 9/10/99 260/124
— [Deactivated Member]
September 3, 2003
Lindsay, wasn't there a point somewhere during the 50 pound gain when
clothes at 50 pounds lighter stopped fitting? I find it hard to understand
how you can gain 50 and not know its happening. It is scary that if we
don't watch it, the weight can come piling back on, isn't it? Ok, so first
things first, you have to make up your mind to get rid of the excess 50,
and since you took the first step and asked us, I can assume that your
determined to do so. No secrets here-back to the basic pouch rules, small
frequent meals, protein based foods, no drinking with or right after meals,
and get rid of the junk food. And EXERCISE is so important, can you do
something with your hip, like swimming perhaps? I know all this sounds
like alot, perhaps overwhelming, but you can do it. Try tackling a small
bite at a time, first get rid of the junk food, and when you have conquered
that, try 5 minutes a day of exercise, then build on that, until your up to
30 minutes a day. Add a protein shake or two a day and watch the calories.
And weigh yourself daily. I'm 18 mo post-op and pretty much thru losing.
I bounce back and forth now with 2 pounds but weigh daily and if I go over
that 2 pounds, its cutting down on snacks (which I hate to do!)or
increasing the exercise (which I also hate to do) until the 2 pounds are
gone. I cant relax because if I do, I remember how easy it was to gain
10-20 or more before you knew it. You can do this...
— Cindy R.
September 3, 2003
hi hon, im not gonna lecture you because i cant stand getting lectured
myself...however, i will tell you that if i were in your situation, first i
would have my tummy checked to make sure there isnt any problems with it,
then i would follow the pouch rules, also although we are told not to weigh
ourselves every day I DO, well I weigh about every other day to every day
if that scale goes up to even a 3 pnds gain i jump right back on track
because i came too far and worked to hard to get to where i am today to
give that all up and yes the weight can creep up on you this is why i weigh
myself often is to keep track of my weight so i dont have to go through
what you are going through today i wish you much success in losing again i
know you can do it so good luck to you ok deanna..
— Deanna Wise
September 3, 2003
Hi, are you transected? If not it could be SLD and the only thing you can
do is get it fixed. I did and would do it again if I had to. Once
transected, sld is not a problem but fistulas could be. ....always
something. good luck to you!
— Mylou52
September 3, 2003
Hi, are you transected? If not it could be SLD and the only thing you can
do is get it fixed. I did and would do it again if I had to. Once
transected, sld is not a problem but fistulas could be. ....always
something. good luck to you!
— Mylou52
September 3, 2003
I would check w/ doctor about a staple line disruption and ask him what
exercises you can do with a bad hip. I am only 2 months post-op and I
don't lose w/o exercising.
— mrsmyranow
September 3, 2003
Everybody has had great ideas. One other idea would be to track your food
on fitday.com. It really can be an eye opener and will help you make
better choices once you see what you are actually doing, assuming there is
nothing mechanically wrong with your pouch or plumbing.
<p>I've been on Celexa for about 4 years and it did not cause me to
gain nor slow down my loss. However, I vaguely remember a person or two in
the past indicating that Celexa did cause weight gain. Or it might be that
the Wellbutrin was curbing your appetite and then you went back to normal
on the Celexa. Can you go back on the Wellbutrin? I know the two can be
taken together because I added Wellbutrin for a while last year to try and
help with weight. So maybe if you are doing good on the Celexa mental
health wise you could take the Wellbutrin to curb the appetite some. I
also used to be on Wellbutrin for depression and for me the Celexa controls
it so much better, but every one is different.
<p>This is a difficult time for you and it will take all the strength
you have to get back on the protein wagon and kickstart the weight loss but
you can do it. Like some others said, swimming may be your best bet. That
and weight training as it bumps the metabolism and makes the body more
efficient as a fuel burner. Even slow walking on a treadmill is better
than no walking. How about an exercise bike? The stress on the hip would
be a lot less than in a weight bearing situation. I hope you are able to
find some form of exercise. Maybe to make this work long term for you, you
need to go ahead and get the hip replaced so you can get on with your new
healthy life. I am seeing a neurosurgeon next Monday to determine if it's
time for back surgery for the same reasons. I do not want that pain and
numbness to prevent me from enjoying my body that can do so much more.
Check everything out with the WL surgeon and then proceed accordingly.
Good Luck!
— zoedogcbr
September 5, 2003
Everyone I know in my area who had WLS gained ALL, MOST, or MORE of their
weight back. NO ONE KEPT WEIGHT OFF AFTER WLS. This is why I cringe
everytime someone on this site says XXX amount of pounds gone forever. It
is NOT gone forever. I would be nice if it was true but it is'nt. Personaly
I weigh every day. Sometimes I forget but not often. I gained 5 pounds
after going on an ice cream binge. Let me tell you, I watch my weight and
get right on it! I don't want to be like everyone in my area who NEVER, NOT
ONE of them successful. I can't get to goal, but I don't want to gain any
weight back! I don't see how you could gain 50 lbs and not know it ether. I
would'nt be surprised though if the scales at GYN might be off, hoping you
will buy some of their suppliments (if they sell them). I thought you were
talking about GNC, so I'm not sure what GYN is. In any case, 50 lbs and not
know it??? Hmmmm. When I put 5-10 pounds of water weight on (as I don't
usually remember my water pills I desparatly need) I certainly feel my
jeans cutting of my circulation. ;)
— Danmark
September 6, 2003
**giggle** Dan...GYN=gynecologist.
— Kelly B.
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