DLCoggin

Sounds like you're in great hands dallas!! I truly believe that you will never regret the decision. I know I would do it again in a second.

Good for you Kelly - support is such an important part of the journey. Both of you are going to be amazed at all of the positive things that are coming your way!!

Congratulations! I'm betting you'll be surprised at how little pain there is and how fast you'll be home!

Welcome, welcome, welcome!

I think we've all been told that the surgery is a tool and it is possible to defeat the surgery without lifestyle changes. Perhaps what's most important to remember is that the surgery makes those lifestyle changes much easier. Not easy, but easier. I do every thing I possibly can to keep my focus on following the protocol and letting the weight take care of itself. In essence the protocol is the lifestyle change. It seems to me that a little worry is healthy. Most of my fears were greatly reduced or eliminated all together once I got into the post-op stage of the journey. When I look back on all the pre-op worry and anxiety I had almost all of it was completely unfounded. Unfortunately it's hard to wrap your arms around that until you experience it. My best suggestion for you is to keep reading all of the information you'll see here!

Tylenol gets the nod for pain management. Be careful to avoid anything with ibuprofen (e.g. Advil and others) or NSAIDS (e.g. Alleve) because of concerns regarding developing ulcers or other inflamation. Likely too early for Protein shakes just yet but when the time comes I like Pure Protein or Myoplex. Energy should start to return in a week or two. Congratulations on the surgery!!

That's an excellent point and my doctor said exactly the same thing!

Trust me Jen - hiccup/burp makes a lot of sense LOL! I think the only way we can get all the Water we're supposed to get is sip, sip, sip. That said, I'm 29 weeks post-op and I struggle every day with getting enough water (and usually fall short). I don't know how you schedule your eating but I sort of made up my own rule and it has worked well for me. The surgeon (and all of the material they gave me pre-op) said you should not eat less than two hours apart. I expanded on that and added not more than four hours apart. My thinking was that more than four hours would be a formula for allowing myself to get too hungry which would increase the chances of overeating. If it's been four hours, hungry or not, I eat something. I usually eat somewhere around three hours apart and it has worked well for me through 103 lost pounds. When I eat, I note the time that I finish and then make a mental note of the three hour mark. I have read that it's best to eat at the same times every day. My hat is off to anyone who can do that. I can't and I don't even try. I eat when I eat - but never less than two or more than four hours apart. If you're discouraged at one week post-op, perhaps you may have had unrealistic expectations. For what it's worth, I encourage you to relax and just focus on following the protocol. Don't weigh yourself more often than every two weeks, even less often if you can stand it. I personally am also not big on "goal weights". Follow the program as close to the letter as you can and let your weight take care of itself!! You're gonna love the new you!!

Thanks for the heads up Panda!!

I can relate to the crunchy cravings. When you get to the point that you can eat solid food again, Kashi Pita Crisps are highly recommended! Lots of flavors and you can get them on Amazon. Will satisfy your crunchy cravings and they're quite low calorie!!

I don't know anyone that has had the problem but I have read about it. Like kmiller said, transfer from one addiction (food) to another is the most commonly cited cause. Realistically, I don't think you should even think about alcohol until you're at least six months post-op. If there's no history of alcohol abuse (with yourself or your family), I really don't think you have a lot to worry about. Other types of drugs could be a whole different story and I know nothing about that.

I second berniec! Exercise is so very important. I think you'll be surprised how quickly you can increase your walking. I started with about 20 minutes on my treadmill. I'm almost 29 weeks post-op now and have been walking about 3 miles and 45 to 55 minutes, at least four times a week, for months now. No question in my mind that it has increased my weight loss and reduced the time it took. The back pain is probably from the surgery itself. I think it's pretty common when you have any kind of surgery. I don't think comfort is a major consideration for operating tables!

Options are limited 4 days post-op and everyone's taste is different but if it helps any, I really like Pure Protein 35g shakes. I drink the Frosty Chocolate, Cookies and Cream and Chocolate Mint. I drank Myoplex for quite a long time and it still is probably the best taste wise (but not by much). I switched to Pure Protein because they're about half the calories and are a little cheaper than Myoplex. Down the road, give Pure Protein bars a try. The 20g or 32g Chocolate Deluxe are really good.

I realize that not everyone is comfortable with it but my recommendation - tell anyone and everyone about your surgery. No secret = no problem. You may run into some folks that have a problem with it but that's their problem, not yours. It's a tough secret to keep long term anyway - someone is bound to notice that you've lost a LOT of weight. If you're totally upfront and open about it, the worst that can happen is that someone doesn't agree with your decision. It's not their life and not their business. You can live with that!!

Jen, I'm in So Cal as well. Would appreciate it if you would PM me the name of your hospital and the surgeion. Thanks!!

They told me that some things I liked pre-op I might not like post-op. Interesting since they don't have any idea why taste changes for some people. There apparently is no direct connection between RNY and your sense of taste. I haven't had any problems with my taste changing but I really have a hard time with most kinds of bread, tortillas, etc. They seem to hit my pouch as a big lump and just kind of sit there. White or wheat or whole grain breads - all the same. Not exactly what I would call painful but more "uncomfortable". I'm almost 29 weeks post-op and still have the same issue. Flat bread doesn't seem to be so much of a problem for whatever reason. I don't need the carbs anyway!

Good for you and it's just the beginning!!

Dehydration was a major side effect of my surgery. I wouldn't worry too much about a 2 1/2 pound gain one week post-op. Very good chance it is just Water weight after being dehydrated. I don't think it's that uncommon - they told me that there is always the possibility of a slight weight gain post-op.

Joanna, check with your doctor on the Advil. Advil contains ibuprofen. May not be a problem pre-op but they told me it was a strict no-no post-op because of concern about developing ulcers. Alleve does not contain ibuprofen and might be a better option.

I think everyone can relate to your fear but like most fears it is based more on emotion than fact. Tens of thousands of folks have had this life-changing procedure and the majority have had unparallelled success. Do everything that you can to follow your doctors instructions to the letter and you'll do just great! When all is said and done, your confidence and the elimination of your fears is going to come from results. Congratulations and welcome to the big losers club - you're gonna love the new you!!

Absolutely normal. The name of the game is sip, sip, sip and before long - chew, chew, chew!! How long it takes you to eat or drink is not nearly as important as how much you eat and drink. Especially for the first few weeks post-op. Sounds like you're doing great!!

5' 9" Used to be about a foot taller but that stuff about shrinking with age - not a rumor!

So. California - both the surgery group and the hospital are Certified Centers of Excellence. PM me if you're interested and I'd be glad to give you all the scoop.

Same story for me - type 2 (diagnosed three months prior to my decision to pursue the surgery option and one of the major factors in my deciding to have the surgery), heart disease, hypertension and high cholesterol (under control pre-op with Lipitor). I was never on insulin but was on Metformin. I'm 28 weeks post-op today and 103.5 lbs lighter. Diabetes - gone and off the Metformin within two weeks of the surgery. Hypertension - gone and off the Ramipril within two weeks of the surgery. Cholesterol - under 100 but Lipitor is such an amazing med that I will probably be on for life. Do the research. I think you'll find there is no better, more effective treatment for diabetes known to medical science than RNY. And there are a lot of other pretty great things associated with losing a hundred pounds or more!!

May 10, 2011 = 285 lbs October 20, 2011 = Surgery February 19, 2012 = 198 lbs (ONEDERLAND!!) May 3, 2012 = 181.5 lbs (28 weeks post-op today) Priceless!!