I am new here too - 9 years post op.

[Mooleen]

I am a 61 year old female and my bypass surgery was 4/4/2005. I lost 105 lbs. initially. Over the years I gained some, but over the last year I lost 20 pounds (mostly from stress while dealing with a breast cancer hiccup) and am now at my lowest weight down 112 pounds. I do not need to lose any more. I have been a model patient of the process. I still crave foods, but I physically cannot eat much and some things make me nauseous. I have no regrets. I do have severe gastric problems and live on Gas X. I have bouts of severe cramping and diarrhea. I was just wondering if others have had this experience? I never went to a support group, but am now considering it. Thanks

 

[Bigtallsis]

Mooleen HI& WELCOME TO THIS SITE, YOU DID GOOD TO HAVE HAD THE SURGERY SO LONG AGO, I HOPE YOU ARE COMPLETE HEALTHY NOW SINCE THE CANCER BOUT? SORRY TO HEAR YOU ARE STILL HAVING TO DEAL WITH NASESOUS AND CRAMPING, I HAD MINE 4 MONTHS AGO AND I TOO AM THANKFUL THAT I HAD IT DONE, FOR IT'S GIVEN ME A NEW LEASE ON LIFE. I BOUGHT GAS X BUT I HAVEN'T TAKEN MUCH OF IT, I HAVE TO DEAL WITH GAS AFTER EATING BUT GOTTEN USED TO IT. YES I THINK WE ALL STILL CRAVE FOODS, I WISH THOSE CRAVINGS WOULD GO AWAY AND NEVER COME BACK. SOMEDAYS I DO REALLY GOOD AND DON'T TOUCH THE "FORBIDDEN FOOD" OTHERS WELL NOT SO PROUD OF MY BEHAVIOR. DOES THE DR SAY WHY YOU ARE STILL HAVING CRAMPS AND OTHER BOWEL ISSUES??? I HAD THOSE ISSUES WHEN I FIRST CAME HOME FROM HOSPITAL BUT OVER TIME THAT PROBLEM TOOK CARE OF ITSELF. YOU ARE STILL ONLY ABLE TO EAT SMALL AMOUNT? DO YOU DRINK PROTEIN SHAKES AT ALL? I FIND IT HARD TO GET 60 OR MORE GRAMS OF PROTEIN IN MY BODY ON ANY GIVEN DAY. I LOVE EGGS, LIKE CHICKEN AND LOVE VEGETABLES BUT THEY SAY GET THE PROTEIN IN FIRST. YIKES............. WELCOME TO THIS ROOM AND I HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO COME BACK AND SHARE YOUR JOURNEY FOR WE ALL CAN LEARN FROM EACH OTHERS EXPERIENCES. HOPE YOU HAVE A NICE EVENING. DONNA

 

[Mooleen]

Thank you Donna. I had a mastectomy, but need no further treatment so I consider myself lucky. I have never taken protein drinks. I try to eat protein. I do have to have B12 shots every month, and I take gummy vitamins, gummy calcium, Vitamin D, Magnesium, and potassium. I have my blood checked every year and other than the B12, all my levels are good. It has been so long since my surgery that I don't really know who to ask about my stomach problems. My primary physician is a female specialist, but doesn't know that much about bypass. I live in Montana so I am limited. I also have fibromyalgia, so might just be having irritable bowel syndrome related to that, being magnified because of the bypass. My symptoms have gotten worse over the past few years. The nausea is a good thing for me because it prevents me from over eating. When I do over eat, I am nauseous for about a half hour. It is really difficult to remember to stop eating before you feel full. It took my several years to get that. The cravings will never go away. I believe it is a disease like drug addiction and alcoholism. I had lost a lot of weight before and always gained it back plus more, as I know we all have. I am happy to share my journey with you all. By the way, my surgery was in 2004, not 2005.