Tell me, then, why aren't I jumping for joy? Why am I worried? Why do I just keep thinking 'When am I going to put this weight back on?' Several reasons:
1) Every diet I've ever been on has failed. That's pretty obvious, otherwise I wouldn't have topped out at 262lbs and felt the need to have WLS. It's not that I'm waiting for the Band to fail me, or for me to fail the Band, it's just that I've not yet got my head around the fact that this time when the weight goes, it goes for good. I'm too much of a newbie-bandster for that to have sunk in. I've not had enough bandster experience yet, have I?
2) Everybody knows when you lose weight quickly it rarely stays off. Doesn't your body just go in to starvation mode so that the moment you start eating "normally" again, the weight comes back with a vengeance?
3) Being on liquids/purees/mushies isn't going to last forever (unless I keep it that way, I guess!), and when it stops and I'm in 'Bandster Hell', then surely I'll just put the weight back on. OK, maybe not all of it, but I'm guessing some of it is going to come back, and that is what is stopping me from getting overly excited about the weight I've lost so far. I don't what to sound ungrateful because, believe me, I am really pleased to have lost this weight, I guess I'm just not taking it for granted, yet.
And on to other matters, of the toilet variety (you can stop reading here, if you like!) I had a 'dumping' episode today, which makes me think that's what happened to me yesterday too. Does this make me a very bad bandster?! Surely I shouldn't be dumping already. Yikes. And the culprit was the same as yesterday - a hot chocolate with whipped cream. About an hour-and-a-half after finishing it in Starbucks my stomach started cramping up. Yet again, we were out and about (this time in Henley-on-Thames) but luckily it's only 6 miles from home so I didn't have long to wait for the comforts of our own loo.
I looked up 'dumping' in the book Catherine (http://chroniclesfrombandland.blogspot.com/ )recommended Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band by Sewell & Rohrburg. This is what is says (slightly shortened by me): the rapid addition of large volumes of water from the bloodstream into the intestine in direct response to eating a large amount of sugar or carbohydrate [or a hot chocolate with whipped cream]. Common in GB patients because the stomach normally serves as a buffer, allowing only small amounts of highly concentrated sugar or carbs to reach the intestine at any one time. Symptoms can include sudden crampy abdominal pain, nausea, bloating, diarrhoea, lightheadedness, sweating, rapid heart rate, dizziness and fatigue.
Clearly, that's what happened to me, but I don't really understand why. It says that the 'stomach normally serves as a buffer', so why is my stomach not acting as a buffer now? My stomach is still there, it's just been divided in two. Anyone else suffered from dumping? Do you have a better explanation for it?
Anyway, enough from me, hope you are all well!
While coffee has always affected my errr bathroom habits, I think you are still getting affects from the liquid/mushies diet along with fluids from surgery. I wouldn't be too concerned. You are healing and your body is coming to terms with your new band. Congrats with your loss!
ReplyDeleteDumping is common for Gastric Bypass, but not the band. I agree with Dee that it's probably all the liquids affecting you after the pain meds have worn off. Great loss!
ReplyDeletedon't worry-it is liquid in liquid out. hang one...it will change. We alll worry and worried about this thing not working. Before we can even qualify for a band we have to show a history of failed attempts (at least most U.S. insurance paid ones do). Of course we all come with baggage and fears. It is good to own the fears and face them head on but be careful you can also sabotage yourself with those fears. I have gone through bouts of it but luckily pulled my head out before It became a habit. look at this band as your opportunity to change your lifestyle in a big way..baby steps, set backs, and complications be damned! :)
ReplyDeleteTina
I agree with Tina. I too am worried that the band will fail me just like every other diet. The one thing I am hopeful for is that when I have lost all my weight the band will keep me in control and not let me overeat too much. I find my fellow bloggers inspirational and they have a lot of info to share.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't worry too much about your dumping episodes. It really is liquid in-liquid out. If it hasn't calmed down after 5-7 days, you should see your doctor. Yogourt can sometimes bung you up a bit if you have lost the bacteria in your intestines. Let us know how you are doing.
I agree with the others about the dumping. I had similar bathroom problems for about a week after surgery...once I moved on to mushy food and stopped all the liquids things got back to normal and my "urgent" need to go went away.
ReplyDeleteBandster Hell does totally suck. I have been hungry for a good solid month now. My doctor wants me to keep my diet to eating 3 times per day and between 1/4 cup to a 1/2 cup of food per meal. I am eating much closer to a cup of food per meal and I know as I get closer and closer to my sweet spot (green zone, etc) I will be less hungry and it will take less to fill me up.
I feel that I have done a good job sticking to the diet rules the best I can during Bandster Hell. I have had bad days on the scale but I really haven't gained the weight back that I took off after surgery. Most days the scale still moves in the right direction, but it takes work.