DLCoggin

Me too and I'll be a year post-op tomorrow. I used to love bread and now I have trouble eating half a slice. Just one more great benefit of this surgery!!

According to a July 31, 2012 report from Healthgrades, the complication rate for U.S. RNY patients is 5.87%. They analyzed the number of procedures, procedure types, and complication rates from bariatric procedures performed at 478 hospitals in 19 states from 2008 to 2010. There were 201,821 bariatric surgeries performed over that three year period. Based on the report cited above (and there are many others with very similar results), approximately one person in 20 has some complication. No responsible person can deny that there are risks. There are no guarantees. There simply are no absolutes. Do the research but choose your sources carefully - there is a lot of hype and utter nonsense out there. And then make your decision. More than 200,000 folks made the decision that the odds were overwhelmingly in their favor of having a successful, life changing surgery that was free of complications. I'm just one of them but I have to tell you, I love the new me.

I love coffee and like jenneliza, I just use the regular flavored creamers (my one 35 calorie indulgence) and Splenda. I not only enjoy coffee, it absolutely has and continues to help me satisfy the occasional hunger pangs and cravings. And on top of that, it's good for you. Loaded with antioxidants and there is preliminary research indicating that it may be beneficial in preventing some types of cancer. I have two and sometimes three cups in a day and I ain't ever giving it up!

I can't say that I ever suffered from depression so not a lot I can offer there. But... Type 2 diabetes - gone High blood pressure - gone Cholesterol - normal Back and knee pain - gone sleep apnea - gone Weight loss - 125 lbs Is it everything I thought it would be? That and more. Truly life changing in every way imaginable. Am I happy? I Celebrate my new life every single day. Am I off the meds I was on pre-op? Absolutely. You're gonna love the new you!!

I'll just add my voice to everyone else's - my doc says no carbonated anything - for life. For all of the reasons listed above. She also said no alcohol until six months post-op. Alcohol can be an invitation to an ulcer until the surgery is completely healed. I enjoy a glass of wine before dinner but I didn't touch alcohol until I was six months out. You're gonna love the new you!!

Absolutely fabulous idea!! Thanks so much for sharing!!

Huge congratulations Dave!! Haven't heard from you in a while, you must be pretty busy!

Congratulations BigDaddy and Ms. BigDaddy and welcome to the forum!! Great job!!

You're most welcome! Before you know it, this will all be a distant memory and you'll be celebrating the new you every day! Love your commitment!!

I do, yes. And just about anything else that is "liquid"! Lol. One of the biggest challenges I've had is getting anywhere even close to 64oz of "fluids" a day. I've never had a dehydration problem but two (occasionally three) cups of decaf coffee a day has been an important part of that. My surgeons PA told me that Protein shakes count as well and to this day I have one every morning. Water is undeniably the best option health wise but for folks (like me) who really struggle with two quarts of water a day, I think you have to find fluids that you enjoy and do your best to use those substitutes. I also try to "eat" a daily serving of water in the form of fruits and/or melons which are 95% water. And you get lots of Fiber as an added bonus!

I agree with cjoyce - drinking helps a lot. For me it was (and is) coffee but if you're more comfortable with Crystal Lite or any number of other choices that's fine. It is amazing how filling fluids are post-op and they have the added bonus of getting you closer to that 64oz of fluids a day. Hang in there and it will pass. You're gonna love the new you!!

Absolutely and it just keeps getting better and better. Congratulations!!

Five hours of exercise a week would not normally be considered excessive. Are you getting all of your daily protein? Carbs are king when it comes to energy but when you're on a low carb diet, your body will use protein for energy in place of the carbs. You might try increasing your protein to 100g a day for a while and see if it helps bring you out of the doldrums. Dehydration can also zap your energy so you may want to keep an eye on your fluid intake and get as close to 64oz a day as possible. And there's certainly nothing that says you can't reduce your exercise a little for a week or so and see if that helps as well. If none of those things work after a week or two, you probably will want to talk to your doctor. Blood work would likely help them to zero in on what's up. I'm sure you'll be back in high gear in no time!!

The blood work should tell the story. In the mean time, your symptoms definitely fit dehydration so you may want to give some serious attention to getting 64oz of water (or at least fluids) in a day. Not easy or fun but easier and more fun than landing back in the hospital and dehydration can do that in a heartbeat. Like bbdoodle said, sip, sip, sip, sip, sip...

Glad to hear that you're doing better and good for you for getting help quickly. Ulcers can often be controlled with diet so no cheating on the diet your doctor gave you! The sooner you get better the sooner you can get back to a regular diet!!

We all know how hard it is guys but be patient. Your body is going through a lot of changes and a lot of healing all at the same time. Relax a little and instead of wasting all of that energy on worry, focus it on following the protocol, getting ALL of you daily protein, coming as close as you possibly can to 64oz of water (or at least fluids) a day, and stay active. Trust the process. Give your body a little time to find its own way. You're gonna love the new you!!

Everyone is different so it's difficult to put a timeline on it but yes, I think you'll find that it will become less of a problem with time. I wrote a post a while back titled "Managing Hunger". You might find some helpful ideas - http://www.rnytalk.com/topic/1493-managing-hunger/page__fromsearch__1 .

Practically anything is normal in the early going. Lol. Your body is going through a lot of changes and everyone's experience is a little different. Relax, trust the process, and give your body some time to find its own way. It will get there in its own time. That's when the really fun stuff starts!. You're gonna love the new you!!

You're certainly welcome Milan. Stay committed to getting active and you'll find a way! I walk in a park near my home and I see folks walking with little people all the time - usually the little guys are in something with wheels. Lol. Have a great day!

Stalls are all part of the process. Perfectly normal and nothing to worry about. Stay focused on following the protocol, stay active and stay away from the scales for at least a week and two would be even better if you can stand it. You're gonna love the new you!!

I think the most important thing is to not set the bar too high. That can be different for everyone so I'm hesitant to put a number on it. If you're enjoying your walking and you're comfortable with your speed and distance, then you're doing exactly what you should be doing. When you do that, your exercise is sustainable and it becomes a litestyle change. If you're simply trying to hit some number given to you by a member of your team, the risk of getting frustrated with the process and abandoning it is much higher. Do what you can comfortably maintain four to five times a week and you'll be amazed how much it speeds up your weight loss! Two and a half miles a day at 10 days post-up - fabulous!!

I assume I probably had one during the surgery but never had it when I was conscious.

Have you discussed your pain with your doctor? Severe pain at two weeks out is not unheard of but I definitely would run it by your surgeon. They can rule out any problems and if nothing else, give you something for the pain until it subsides. Feel better soon!!

Congratulations Jeff!!