Re: weight?

February 8, 2000

Well just the opposite here. When we first moved here 5 years ago I was 108

at 5ft2 1/2 inches tall. I now weigh between 89 and 92 pounds on a good day.

When one of the Chiari Symptoms is Disphagia (swallowing dysfunciton) and its

Severe enough as has been in my case and some others I personaly know, then

weight loss would make more sense I feel, the hernia and reflux and Diaphragm

paraylisis doenst help of course. God how I pray I can put on some weight,

its just as frustrating for those of us who are way under-weight as is for

those overweight, only everyone just thinks we look like some damn Anorexics.

I get so sick and tired of comments on my weight, perfect strangers say stuff

all the time, every sindle week I get a comment, I can hjsut be standing

there ordering my own food and someone will say (woman) " Boy you sure dont

show what you eat " or man you can eat anything, or the all time was last

week, 2 women(one sales woman) satdning at the GAP sotre, I was looking

around beacsue they do carry some really small sizes, anyways they were both

laughing about how anyone!!!!! could possibly wear a size 1 or 0.

Well naturally I chimed in and said " HEY! I waer those, do you have a problem

with that, and by the way I can barley eat, so please keep your comments to

yourself, I understand them, but I sure dont need to hear your " Freebie "

Jokes, man did they shut up quickly.. Geeeez Im the first one to alguh at

myself, but I dont need the general population assuming its any right of

theres to say those things in front of someone who is a customer of theirs

and has to wear those sizes.

Well Ill get off my high horse here, but thats a real touchy one for me, its

ALAWAYS in my face, and I am ALWAYS reminded how thin I am, Id be happy to

get up to 100 even at this point, 98 even. ***** But I alawys have

compassion for those on the other end of things who are sick and on top of

it, are overweight, its hard either way.

LOL Dawn in Colorado

February 8, 2000

I have had trouble with losing too much weight too quickly. I don't know if

it's Chiari related or not. I went from a size 8-10 to a size 4 in less than

three months and for no apparent reason. At 5 feet and 8.5 inches I became a

little frightened.

If I'd been dieting or exercising it would be different. But I feel very out

of control (harsh on a control-freak!). No docs seem to have the answer.

The weight loss has slowed down a bit.

Sheree

February 8, 2000

I know I have always been a "big" girl, but when I started having increasing symptoms 2 1/2 years after my first decompression the weight piled on like crazy.

I wondered if it were lack of exercise cause I felt to crummy to do anything.

I know I tend to be a nervous eater and with having been told so many times that it could be low blood surgar, I'd feel bad - I'd eat something, I'd still feel bad - I'd eat some more.

I also feel that I have a real problem with realising when I'm full. In don't know if there is something messed in my brain, but some times I can surprise myself at how much I can eat and not feel full.

I usually know when I have over stepped the line, cause I'll start coughing from too much food in the tummy affecting the lungs.

Gets really frustrating and I know as I age it is only going to be more difficult to loose the weight.

I don't want to grow up and be one of those people you see on the nightly news where they have had to cut a hole in the wall to bring in the wench to get them out of the house and to the doctor. LOL

Pat in IndianaACM I, SM, SB, Cervical Stenosis,Decompressed 6/88, 1/99VP Shunt 7/99, waiting on bladder tests

Breeder of beautiful French Angora rabbits"Never give up -- Never surrender!"

February 8, 2000

You Go Girl!!!!!!!!!

LOL Dawn

February 8, 2000

weight?

> To; and all, I don't know if there is any conection with Chiari and

> weight or not. But I do know that when I get very sick and have all the

> Chiari symptoms I always gain weight. When I am not having to many

ailments

> I can lose weight. Lately I gained 21 lbs. in 3 monthes. I am 5ft. tall.

> And I weigh too much. It is hard to lose. Shirley

>

One suggestion I can make that helps most people lose weight at any time is

to drink more water. Drink at LEAST 6 large glasses of it per day. Dont

expect immediate results or even to notice much of a weight loss at all. I

did it before knowing about Chiari in order to try and do something about my

weight for my sleep apnea symptoms. I cant say that it affected THOSE

symptoms at all but then when I was a teenager and so thin I had to run

around in the shower to get wet (back then, pictures of me show that I would

make today's waiflike models look FAT and all due to having a dangerously

overactive thyroid), I still had sleep apnea. However, knowing I really

COULD lose weight, small amount though it be, is like achieving an

impossible goal as you all probably know personally. The only drawback I had

doing this is that I had to plan the even because I didnt want to be going

out or drinking that much just before going to bed because I was always up

and down to the dunny! ;-}

chows@... Australia

Chow Addiction Society Founder and Lifetime Member #1

Are you OLD when you enjoy a good headbanger song with others over 40?

February 8, 2000

With all this talk of weight I'd like to share with you all what I've been

doing and it's success to date.

I am 5'5 " and was fluctuating between 170 and 175. All this weight started

piling on slowly after the birth of my 1st child 12 years ago

(coincidentally the same time my symptoms began although I don't think there

was a connection with the weight). Each child I gained more and lost less.

I tried Craig 3X, counting calories, diet pills, Weight Watchers, diet

drinks and not eating. Nothing worked ..ever!

In November, the day after I met with Dr. Batzdorf for the 1st time and was

told I needed surgery I made the decision that I wanted to start my " new

life " after surgery as healthy as possible. That meant losing at least 30

lbs... 6 weeks later I'm almost 1/2 way there!

Here's how: The day after I learned about the surgery I met with my local

gp and told him my plan to lose weight. He suggested the high Protein/ low

carb diet. He said unlike the Adkins diet he wanted me to keep the fat to a

minimum (on Atkins you can pile on the fat as long as you have it with

Protein and no carbs.) I figured I could never do this, but it was easier

than I thought it would be. I was addicted to Pepsi. I stopped cold and

haven't had a craving since day 3 of my diet. I eat eggs, turkey sausage or

bacon for breakfast (so much for the fat huh?), right now I'm eating left

over salmon and a salad for lunch, and I have some kind of meat and a salad

for dinner. I use my regular poppy seed dressing, but only enough to taste

it. The protein fills you up so you're not hungry and when the carbs are

out of your body you don't crave.

Last night I felt I deserved a desert while my kids ate ice cream so I had a

sugar free jello. It actually tasted too sweet! I carry a water bottle

wherever I go. I found I drink more water when it's in a water bottle

(don't know why?) The 1st two weeks I didn't think about fruits having

carbs so I was eating a ton of fruit, but I still lost 6 lbs. I do still

drink my coffee in the morning with cream and sugar but I don't see that

it's hurting.

As for exercise, I am on physical therapy 3X a week, but there are several

people at my church doing this plan and not exercising and they're still

loosing weight. Also, take a muti-vitamin and check with your doctor!

Any questions please ask. I plan to be half bald this May, but thin!

Connie

ACM 1 13mm & FMS

surgery date: 5/19/00

February 8, 2000

Boy did I get my dates wrong! I found out about the Chiari in November but

surgery was suggested in January. It's 13 lbs in 6 weeks is good for me!

Connie

Re: Weight?