[Queenofthenile]

Hi all,

You all said to ask questions so here I go...... I am required to lose 10% of my body weight before the surgery. I am using medifast( 5 shakes a day) to lose the 10% but it gives me diarrhea. Is this normal and when does it stop? Do you ever get used to drinking these nasty shakes to the point where you don't feel hunger pangs? I also have vericose veins, should I be concerned about blood clots? I did mention this to my surgeon but I don't remember if she had addressed this in my myriad of questions or not. I also have implanon (a birth control device similar to Norplant) implanted in my arm. Do I have to have this removed preop? I asked the nurse but she said it wasn't necessary. Why is it necessary to stop birth control but not remove my implant? Finally is exercising o.k. when on this restrictive diet? I consume about 450 daily. I am afraid that with such a low calorie intake and having diabetes I might go into hypoglycemia. I was previously working out at the gym 6 days a week ,1-2hrs daily but now I have completely stopped working out because 1. Iwas gaining too much weight and it was making exercise difficult and 2. I started this liquid diet which made me question exercising all together. Are you sorry you told me to ask questions now lol ? Esha

[clancythecamper]

LOL - NO, WE'RE GLAD YOU ARE - AND THESE ARE REALLY GOOD QUESTIONS!!

RE: BLOT CLOTS - THEY PUT THE PRESSURE THINGIES ON MY LEGS TIL I WAS UP AND MOVING TO HELP WITH THAT. IT'S A GOOD QUESTION FOR YOUR PRE-OP VISIT THOUGH, THEY MAY USE MEDS TO COMBAT CLOTS TOO.

RE: BIRTH CONTROL - I DONT THINK THEY WANT YOU TO STOP USING BIRTH CONTROL, IF ANY THING USE SEVERAL METHODS AT ONCE. THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT AS WE LOSE WEIGHT THE ESTROGEN STORED IN THE FAT IS RELEASED AND PEOPLE TEND TO BECOME ULTRA FERTILE AT A TIME THAT IS BEST NOT TO BECOME PREGNANT.

RE: BLOOD SUGARS - DO YOU CK THEM? I'D MONITOR THEM TO SEE HOW YOU'RE DOING AND CALL YOUR DOC IF THERE'S AN ISSUE.

I'M SURE OTHERS WILL BE ON SHORTLY TO GIVE YOU MORE INFO. ALSO DOC IS SUPER WITH THESE TYPES OF QUESTIONS

[Queenofthenile]

Clancey,
Thanks for the insight......you didn't address the diarrhea issue though. Is that a slight hint that it might not go away? I did talk to the nurse about my blood sugar dropping, it has dropped to 84 which is when I start getting symptoms of hypoglycemia. She said to eat a cheese stick..let's all party now, I get to eat a stupid cheese stick!!! My blood sugar dropped without exercising so I am afraid that it will drop quickly during exercise.

[greensgirl19]

Hi Esha, I'm on medifast too and I never got diarrhea. Sometimes I have the urge at night to have loose yet controllable stools and if I just wait until the morning, I go normally (not loose) before work in the morning.
Wow, you have symptoms of hypoglycemia at 84?!!! Normal is 70-110 (but Doc will have a more accurate answer since this is her specialty).
Gosh, I WISH I could justify having a cheese stick, but then again, it may make things worse. I love my treat of some chicken broth every night and that really helps.
I am using the Mirena IUD for birth control and I hope it's as effective as they say because I got pregnant with my son on the very first try when I wasn't this heavy and I not only shouldn't have another baby now, I couldn't handle one! But I don't think they want you to stop any method of birth control since it will be so easy to get pregnant - you should double up. But if the method is high in progesterone, it can cause clotting easier. My Mirena uses progesterone and the doctor just said he might send me home on lovenox (blood thinner) shots Sub Q to avoid the clotting problem.
I've been on medifast since 12-19-07 and I have 4 more days to go of it and if I can survive, ANYONE can!!!!!!! ANymore questions? Keep 'em coming!

[greensgirl19]

Oh, and I never got hunger pangs with medifast. I hated it from the begining and at first it made me nauseous and not even want the 5 I HAD to drink. Now I have the formula just right and I can stomach the chocolate, but the other day I had to drink a vanilla because I ran out of chocolate and I almost puked. I always figured they must have something in them to stop hunger because I'm not hungry. Water fills me up too.

[DocSanae]

1) Yes, liquid diets cause the runs in some people.
2) Have you ever had blood clots? You may need to have some tests done on how easily your blood clots. Tell your surgeon your concern, and I'm sure he'll address that issue.
3) Hormonal birth control will be ineffective during the rapid losing phase, due to the estrogen released from your melting fat *overriding* hormonal birth controls. For birth control, you'll need to explore other options, so talk this over with your gyn/ob. Incidentally, one of the side effects of hormonal birth control is blood clots, so, if you are afraid of clots during surgery, you could have the implant removed. However, removing it isn't a must. The only glitch is that you aren't going to be able to depend on it to do what it should do.
4) If you are taking meds/insulin for your diabetes, you need to adjust the medication in accordance with the reduction in your diet and the drop of your glucose level. Talk this over with your endocrinologist or whoever is taking care of your diabetes. It's okay to exercise, so long as you don't get hypoglycemic, though.

[Queenofthenile]

Thank you for answering my questions. It really did help. I did exercise today and it didn't seem to bother me. The cheese stick does send me into more cravings. Actually when I ate the cheese stick, that is when I ended up eating a meal. What is a "normal" weight loss on Medifast weekly. I seem to be losing 1 lb. daily.

[greensgirl19]

That's about right. I lost 10 lbs the first week, 5 the next, 6 each of the next 2 weeks and then only 3 this week (total 30). I was a little upset because I'm eating 450 cals a day and 3 lbs just doesn't seem right But anyways, 3 more days of medifast and then we'll see what happens. It's not easy, but before you kow it it'll be over. I didn't believe it in the begining but here I am on the count down. You can do it!

[LadyLisa]

I am still in awe over the differences in Drs. I only have to lose 18 lbs before surgery and that is deff not 10% of my weight..lol.. And I only have to do a four day liquid diet before surgery. And I also am aloud to have SF carnation instant breakfast and or slimfast optima and things in those catagories for my four day diet. You did not say when your surgery is and how long you have to lose this weight. I don't think its good to be on a liquid diet for a extended period of time say a month or more? Maybe something like benefiber would help with the runs but ask the dr first. Keep us updated..

[greensgirl19]

I don't think it's bad to be on the liquid diet for over a month if you're getting all of your nutritional needs. I have been on it since 12-19-07 and have 3 more days to go. I've lost 30 lbs, met the 5% weight loss requirement from my ins, the 10% requirement from my doc, shrunk my liver, got my body ready for surgery and what's to come after and I have a running head start at my weight loss! I don't think liquid diets in and of themselves work, but since it's immediately pre-op, it's ok. If I were to all of a sudden eat food without the surgery, we all know I'd gain 50-60 lbs! It's medically supervised (we go once a week to the doctors office) and they've been doing this for over 20 years, so I feel safe. Plus I thought I would feel physically whipped with only 450 cals, but I feel GREAT! I can't wait until my surgery and get the rest of my journey started!