Your help..please

kaat · 08-26-2008, 10:24 AM

Hi. I need some help from y'all. First a little about me. I am 33 years old and morbidly obese with diabetes, hypertension, sleep apena, depression, reflux disease, and PCOS (Boy, sounds like I'm a basket case, huh?) I just recently started the Insulite Program and have problems with stomach cramping and not really feeling any increase in energy. I'm desperate to lose weight and I really want to feel better. I stay tired and moody and depressed most of the time. Of course, some days are better than others but some days I don't even want to get out of bed. I just can't go on this way. I have thought of Gastric Bypass to help with the weight. My GYN is really pushing for me to go through with the surgery b/c she says weight loss will help all my many medical conditions. I'm a little scared of the surgery though and I'm still not quite sure about it.

So, my questions (finally):
1. Have any of you ever had any type of Weight Loss Surgery? If so, did it help? If not, what are your feelings about it?

2. I have seriously thought of going to a Naturopath. It is the one avenue that I have not tried yet. What are your feelings on seeing one? What should I look for and expect? This is a link to one near me that I'm thinking about http://www.creativehealthsc.net/. Does this look like a good place.

Thanks a million. I've been a member of this site for quite some time and I really value all your opinions and appreciate the help I've go so far.

Take care!

~*Ashley*~ · 08-26-2008, 04:31 PM

Hello Kaat! I just wanted to let you know that there is a thread ~*~WLS DIVAS*August thread*WHEW baby it's HOT outside!~*~ I also know that on OH.com there is a section for PCOS women on there. I hope this helps you out a little.

Ashley

kaat · 08-27-2008, 10:14 AM

Thanks Ashely!! I just finished checking out this thread.

LaTejanaFria · 08-29-2008, 02:05 AM

Kaat,
I'm a fellow Insulite cyster, so I understand your interest in finding an alternate way of addressing your PCOS. I'm starting my fifth month on Insulite and I'm really pleased with the results I've gotten.

You asked about working with a naturopath. I've been seeing one since I started Insulite and I think that this piece is crucial to the progress that I've made. I looked at the website for the naturopathic practice that you're considering. It looks like a good practice to me. I especially liked that all of the doctors have formal training and are certified.

One thing that would make a huge difference to me would be that the naturopath that I'm working with has experience working with women with PCOS. While I'm certain that these doctors are more than qualified to address the other health issues that you're concerned about, we all know that PCOS is a different issue altogether. This would make the difference for me between going to this practice and going to another.

One thing that I need to caution you of (which you probably already know but I need to say it just in case): the alternative route takes a long time. As my naturopath told me when I started, it's taken me almost twenty years to get where I am today, so it's going to take a bit of time to get me to healthy. This route is not for a person who wants instant results. You have to be patient.

With that said, I think that you might find that this route very satisfying overall. My naturopath started me with a baseline blood panel to see where I was. At the two month mark and four month mark, I had other blood panels that showed me where I was as well as allowed my naturopath to make adjustments to the regimen I was following. She started me out with a no sugar (esp. high fructose corn syrup), no artificial sweetener eating plan that's a lot like a low GI plan.

I won't lie. It was really hard at the start, but after seeing how good my results were at the two month mark, I was all about sticking with the new plan. The four month blood panel was even better.

Finally, a lot of women who complain of stomach cramping are not drinking enough water with the pills, especially after taking the GlucX dosage. Be certain that you drink a full 8 oz. glass. This might help you. Another thing you might try to is to build up to the full dosage so your body can get used to the pills.

I didn't start feeling the full effects of the regimen until I was doing the whole program for a month and a half. I had a thyroid problem as well (a blood panel would show if this is why you're experiencing lack of energy), so my naturopath put me on a supplement in addition to the Insulite. I have also noticed that I really start dragging after a carb-heavy meal, so this might also be contributing to this.

I know this is really hard, but if you hang with it, you might find that this is a change that you can achieve without the surgery, it will just take longer. I make no judgments, as you know what is best for your body, but I hope that you give this a chance. PM me if you have any questions about the Insulite or working with a naturopath.

Good luck!
Nancy

TheGigglingFrog · 08-29-2008, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaat

So, my questions (finally):
1. Have any of you ever had any type of Weight Loss Surgery? If so, did it help? If not, what are your feelings about it?

Hi Kaat!

I haven't had WLS, but have recently been around a lot of people who have. They say that it is really difficult to learn the new way to eat and takes a huge amount of discipline. A few have totally thought it was great and a few wish they hadn't done it. The question they posed back to me is to really ask myself honestly, deep down inside, have I committed to a healthy diet and exercise? They said to really be honest with myself, no shame or blaming, just ask... because the WLS forces you to commit, there is no turning back! It isn't always successful either, look at Al Roker for example (I think that's his name... Today show guy who does the celebrity Family Fued) I have a friends mother who lost a ton of weight after the surgery and within five years put it all back on with a little extra

My OB/GYN suggested WLS. It startled me because I didn't think I was that obese. When I asked myself honestly about food & excercise, I realized that I have so many psychological issues about it that I needed some help. I have the discipline, but my issues keep getting in the way, and until I work through my feelings about food and exercise I'm not going to get very far. It is difficult, but I personally decided that before I completely alter my body I need to do everything I can to heal myself first. If I can't heal those issues, then the surgery isn't going to work because I'm going to end up repeating. I see WLS as a way for me to skip over the difficult task of examining issues around food and physically force me into a way of being. Right now, I'm doing Atkins and have never felt better (6 pounds lost and 134 pounds to go)... I'm working through my issues and it takes the same discipline that sticking to the WLS will take, but this is my experience and yours might be completely different!