Pseudotumor Cerebri Support Group

Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) is a neurological disorder that is characterized by increased intracranial pressure, in the absence of a tumor or other diseases affecting the brain or its lining. Diagnosis requires brain scans and lumbar puncture. Characteristic symptoms are headache, transient visual obscurations or transient visual loss in one or both eyes usually lasting...

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Meal Replacement Diets??

abra
abra
My neuro-ophthalmologist wants me to lose weight like yesterday. He referred me to a Weight Control Center at a hospital near me. They use meal replacements, and are multidisciplinary. There are dieticians, exercise physiologist, you go to group lead by a psychologists and of course, doctors. The average weight loss is 47 pounds in 20 weeks. They can adjust the diets to fit you but first you try complete meal replacements, five shakes a day for 20 weeks. My GP said its perfectly fine and a good program but has anyone tried something like this?? I need to get this weight off and frankly, I am tired of my doctors blaming all of my pains/symptoms on my weight. Also, I have already lost most of my peripheral vision and am just now begging to drive again. Any feedback is great! Thanks you guys!!
deleted_user
deleted_user
Hey Abra,

I think I was on the same program years ago at my local hospital. Is it called Optifast? If it is, it is a great program, medically safe and it was the healthiest I ever was-so many vitamins and nutrients. After the 1st week I never felt hungry.

I was 24 when I went through the program (37 now) and I lost 92 lbs in 9 months. I kept the weight off (within a 10lb range) until last year when I got an infection that kept me bedridden for a year.
Long story, due to another disease, but as soon as I have some money, I will go through the program again,

It was simple, safe, I loved the group therapy...and it was so effective, I never cheated once-not even on Christmas!

Best of luck...keep us posted!
abra
abra
Thank you so much LuLu 1586. I haven't been able to talk to anyone that has actually been through a similar program. I was very concerned about being hungry! I appreciate the feed back!
SeaSprite
SeaSprite
I was on optifast about 10 years ago. I wasn't hungry either, and didn't cheat once. But I didn't lose anywhere near the weight that was promised. My body shut down, sort of. I was freezing cold and shivered uncontrollably, had a hard time staying awake, a bunch of my hair fell out, I passed out during mild exercise, and I developed an ulcer. After 4 months the doctor took me off the diet. I had lost about 22 lbs. Not all my hair grew back, and I've had stomach problems ever since. I developed gall stones and had to have my gall bladder removed. I'm pretty much the poster child for not going on this diet. I'm not saying don't do it. I AM saying understand all the risks. Read the materials and ask lots of questions. Know in advance that you may get gallstones during weight loss and that may mean surgery.

I wouldn't let any of this stop you from trying the diet. Other people in my class tolerated it just fine, and lost lots of weight. The shakes are actually yummy when you're allowed to add flavor extracts to them. My favorites were plain old almond and rum. Yum!

Good luck!