Hello from a Fellow Post-Op

[EmiFlowers]

Hi everyone! I'm excited to join this community and connect with others on similar journeys.

I'm 15 months post-gastric bypass surgery. At age 50, I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes after watching my mother struggle with it for years - that diagnosis hit like a kick in the head. I started at 285lbs and now maintain around 180-185lbs. The wins have been incredible: I'm completely off blood pressure medication, my HbA1c dropped from 9.1% to 6.3% (my doctor is thrilled!), and this surgery has transformed not just my life, but my entire family's approach to health. My relationship with food has completely changed - I now savor every bite instead of eating for comfort.

But I'll be honest, I'm dealing with some challenges too. My weight loss has plateaued and this scares me. I'm still struggling with dumping syndrome and how it affects my daily routine. Balancing protein intake with my new stomach capacity while keeping blood sugar stable is tough, and I've had to give up coffee after lunch because the caffeine messes with my sleep, which impacts my morning blood sugar levels.

I've adapted well with meal prep and lifestyle changes like eating dinner earlier and going to bed sooner. I still love cooking and trying new foods even with my restrictions. I've been researching through podcasts and online resources, but I'm really looking forward to hearing real experiences from people who truly understand this journey.

It's hard not being able to eat what you want, but I know I've made it this far because I'm doing my best to stay healthy, educated, and on the right path. Taking it one day at a time is the only way to go. Looking forward to learning from all of you and hopefully sharing what I've learned along the way!

Thanks for having me!

 

[adamenk17]

Welcome and wow...what an inspiring journey! You've come so far and it’s amazing to hear how much your health has improved.

 

[nonyabizznez]

Welcome to the forum! Interesting read! I've wondered how the availability of GLP medications have effected gastric surgeries. We see for example TV shows like My 600lb Life not even mention GLPs when a patient is being told it's life and death... Just "go home and lose 50lbs following this 1000 calorie diet. Come back in 3 months and weigh in."

There's a resistance people outline on the forums constantly of doctors stuck in their ways not open to the idea of something newer possibly being better. My Endo (former) was dismissive and just said "you'll gain it all back" at the mention of GLP. I'm guessing bariatric surgeons are on the same list as the snack industry, gyms and the middle isles of grocery stores of unhappiness with GLPs. Conversely plastic surgeons (tuks and skin removals), clothing stores, skin care and protein food manufacturers are amongst the benefactors.

Obviously 285lbs wouldn't get you on the show... I'm sure it barely qualified you for surgery. As a type 2 (assuming insurance) you'd be eligible for Ozempic or Mounjaro. Did the doctor ask if you wanted to skip the surgery and try the GLP route on it's own?

 

[texmexpep]

Hi fellow Houstonian! First of all, congratulations on being able to get your surgery. That is a hard process to go through! And, having the surgery when I was 31, 22yrs ago, I know it takes a LOT of bravery. I started with semaglutide in October of last year after my weight finally topped over 200 and I was climbing back to my pre-surgery weight. To this day I still have dumping syndrome. There are some things I just can NOT eat or I get miserably sick. I just don't try anymore. 1 bite of creme brulee will throw me into a hypoglycemic state real quick! lol
The struggle of eating meat is still real. I learned to eat all of my yummy carbs and soft veggies first because starting with meat just ruined my meal. I wanted to eat!
I'm now on tirz (7.5mg-10mg) and I stack it with a low low dose of sema (.25mg-.5mg) to help with the mental impulse cravings. For the first time in my life I can look at food like it is a necessity and make thoughtful decisions about what I eat without feeling like I'm missing out. I wonder, is this normal?? Are there really people out there who can resist these urges and cravings so easily and NOT think about their next meal all day? If I had this tool 22 yrs ago, would I have needed to have such an extreme surgery? Most days now it's just smooth sailing and I'm feeling great in some of the clothes I've saved from 20yrs ago!

What you are going to discover is that it will not be as hard to not eat how you used to. The amount of time you spend thinking about what to eat, and when to eat will be spent on other good things you can do for your health and things you want to do. The guilt.....oh I do NOT miss the guilt and the disappointment in myself because I gave in to temptation. Now, if I want a cupcake at the next employee birthday party, I will have one! It's funny though....I can take a bite or 2 and I'm good. I don't even think about trying to finish it all. I could care less! THAT is something that surgery didn't fix. The feeling of fullness on GLPs is REAL. If anything, my little stomach "pouch" that I have stretched over the years isn't being abused anymore. I hope to never eat until I hurt again!
I never got skinny, stalled around 160 and maintained at 165-185 for most of the past 20yrs. That's not terrible, but not where I wanted to be and without the surgery I have no idea how much weight I would have eventually gained. (highest was 240 and I'm 5'3")
My daughter is 30, overweight like I was at that age with 3 small children. I have helped her start her journey with tirz and I'm excited to see how her life will change now. She tried to get surgery a couple of times but without the money, it's just not possible. I'm so excited for her!

I know this was long but to read your story really got me fired up and excited about my own! I look forward to hearing about your progress and how your journey continues to change not just your life but the life of your family. One thing my kids (now adults) will never forget....when I started giving them less food on their plates they would look at me with such disappointment😕 and I would hold up my fist saying "you're stomach is only this big!"✊😂 I hoped that mental image would help them but it's so much more than that. The impact that blood sugar has on our body and mind is insane! I'm so thankful that I decided to try peptides!

 

[BooneDonk]

Wow. Stories like these is why I like this forum! I wish my insurance BCBSTX would cover a dang thing. 72” tall and 360lbs with OSA and they said nope. Didn’t have a problem at all covering scripts for phentermine and topiramate. Oddly, the side effects of those made me more apprehensive than starting Reta. 🤣🤣

Glad to have you all here and looking forward to learning more at time goes on.

 

[texmexpep]

Didn’t have a problem at all covering scripts for phentermine and topiramate. Oddly, the side effects of those made me more apprehensive than starting Reta. 🤣🤣

LOL, ya, now THOSE are proven long term solutions! 🙄

 

[Solo1959]

Congratulation on taking your health into your own hands and pursuing life changing habits. Personally, I'm inspired by your fortitude to not only take on that surgery, but you clearly have recognized the most important component of this journey is the post-surgery effort of change. Changing habits and routines that your body has come to associate with pleasure or stress relief is not only a physical challenge but a huge mental challenge. These life changing habit are work and seem like never ending but as others have indicated TIME is your friend. In time they are just something you do. No longer work or effort but it has become your habit, your routine. The Bodies ability to ADAPT to change is amazing. And clearly you are rocking it.
Regarding being scared of PLATEAUS and eliminating certain comfort routines. EVERYONE, no matter what their health journey is, whether losing weight, or trying to change eating habits, grocery shopping habits, whatever, hits a plateau more than once. MY SUGGESTION IS EXPECT AND EMBRASE PLATEAUS.
The body hates change and is a survival machine. As you are developing or following your new "routine" your body ADAPTS. Initially your body recognized hey I'm not getting as many calories, and I have all this new activity and less caloric intake. It needed energy for this new lifestyle so it recruited more muscle thereby burning more energy (Calories) to facilitate this change. Took those stored calories that your body had and used it as fuel. BUT during that time your body is ADAPTING, using the least amount of energy it has too in order to do those tasks. It is adapting to Survive.
So, your feeling of a plateau is just your body indicating it has adapted to the current routine.
You've already done the hard part of recognizing the body has adapted. Know you need to keep challenging it.
It will always adapt if you continue to do the same things day in and day out.
Diet and Exercise are the fundamentals to change plateaus. Making slight changes to both exercise and diet every 8-12 weeks is EXTREMELY important to keep the body off balance. Constantly readapting to the newest change and muscle groups being worked.
Protein is key to maintaining muscle mass. Your body burns 2x the number of calories to maintain muscle mass whereas fat is none really. So even though protein is CURRENTLY hard for you to consume, it really should be what you eat first at every meal. Then eat the remaining calories for that meal however you want.
Sorry for the long-winded reply here but you've inspired me to remember these things as I have had the same mental challenges.