DLCoggin

I had no pain meds at all the day of the surgery. Tylenol with codeine (which worked perfectly) twice the day after surgery. Not so much as an aspirn since. They told me pre-op that the pain is minimal as well - THEY WERE RIGHT!!

Definitely talk to your doctor. There are lots of options for getting your protein where it needs to be and your doctor can help you with the depression as well. Now might be the perfect time to explore some of those life-style changes that you probably heard about pre-op but may not have experimented with yet. For example, after living for years on more fast food than I care to think about, my wife and I now prepare all kinds of healthy foods in large batches on the weekends, and then freeze them for meals during the week. "Making dinner" consists of taking things out of the freezer and heating it up. We have a vacuum sealer for for freezing veggies, turkey, chicken and fish of all kinds. We buy the plastic food storage containers from the store (tons of the 1 and 2 cup sizes) and then make things like turkey chili, turkey shepherd's pie, vegetable lasagna, shrimp, soups, etc. We then divide the big batches up into individual servings and freeze them. We even bought a new freezer and put it in the garage for more storage space. Breakfast, lunch or dinner is a 10 minute process (and hubby can do his own). At eight weeks post-op you may not be able to eat some of these things but again - talk to your doctor. There are always options. Perseverance, along with absolute belief, can never be defeated!!

I think some degree of fear prior to any surgery is a natural and healthy thing. I'd be more worried if you weren't a little afraid! That said, I can tell you that I was absolutely astounded at how they have perfected this procedure. I was walking four hours after my surgery and had very little pain. I had Tylenol with codeine twice the day AFTER my surgery and haven't had so much as an aspirin since. When I look back at the anxiety and anticipation and fear that I had pre-op, it is almost laughable. I'm 28 weeks post-op and 103.5 pounds lighter today and I can say to you with all sincerity - it is the most amazing, life-changing decision of my life and I would do it again with absolutely no hesitation. How about some of you other post-op folks? Barbiedoll needs to hear from you! Were you afraid? Would you do it again? Let's help this lady out!

Get ready to joing the big losers!!

I'm 28 weeks post-op today and have lost 103.5 lbs. And let me second what others have said - WALK. I started pre-op on my treadmill and changed to walking in a park near my home after my surgery. I started with about 15-20 minutes and worked my way up from there. I bought a pedometer and have been walking 3+ miles a day (about 45 - 55 minutes) for several months now. Absolutely no question in my mind that it has increased my total weight loss and shortened the time it would have taken to lose the same weight if I had not been walking. I walk a minimum of four days a week, more if "life" allows. My record so far is sixteen days straight. It is perhaps important to note that I walk "quickly". I don't saunter. The information they gave me pre-op said if you're not working up a sweat you're not getting the benefit you could. I do not jog or run but I do walk at a fast pace. It's a great way to help you with your Water intake (you're thirsty after your walk) and exercise of any kind is a great appetite suppresant. Could not recommend it more highly!!

The worst is behind you Jen! I don't think I have ever in my life been as dehydrated as I was after my RNY. It's all downhill from here. Congratulations!!

OK, your aunt has used the adjective "easy". Here are some others she might want to consider: intelligent, effective, life-changing, long term, amazingly beneficial health wise - the single most effective treatment for (or prevention of) type 2 diabetes that medical science presently has to offer, reduced risk of hypertension, some types of cancer, heart disease, sleep apnea, liver and kidney problems, and the list goes on and on and on, cost effective (when considered in terms of long term health care costs), and there really are no words to describe what it does for your confidence and self-esteem. Easy? I don't think most of us that have "been there, done that" would describe it as "easy". But for the sake of discussion, let's give her that. Let's agree with her - it's "easy". You're right Ms. Aunt, "easy". One question for you. With all of the truly astounding benefits that this procedure offers, benefits that are well documented, supported by medical science, and right there for anyone to see - are you seriously suggesting that as a thoughtful, intelligent, well-informed person I should ignore all of that because it's just too darn EASY? The only worthwhile solutions in life are the really HARD ones? There aren't many who can walk that talk.

I don't know how many you may have tried but there are a ton of Protein Shakes out there so you may want to experiment a little. I'm not crazy about some of them either but Pure Protein's are pretty good as are Myoplex. I prefer Pure Protein because they are almost half the calories of Myoplex but as far as taste goes, Myoplex still gets the nod (but not by much). You might check Amazon for unflavored protein powder. Congratulations on having the surgery behind you! Now comes the really amazing part as you watch the pounds drop off!!

Thanks so much! It's been quite a ride!!

Hi Bernie and a BIG congratulations on the surgery! I was just blown away by how good I felt following the surgery. After worrying about it and anticipating it for months it was practically a non-event. Heck I've felt worse from the flu. The all liquid diet for the first week or two post-op is a little challenging but it's all downhill from there. Congratulations again!!

Hey Jessica! If you're anything like me, you've struggled with your weight for a very long time. If you look at it from that perspective, two months is nothing! I love canned white albacore tuna packed in Water with the light Miracle Whip. I add a little sweet pickle to mine and practically live on it. Shrimp is another great one - very high in Protein. Any kind of fish, chicken and turkey are hard to beat when it comes to low fat, low calorie and high protein. I'm 27 weeks post-op and here are a couple of suggestions you might want to consider for getting in the post-op zone. Start reading food labels. Calories are important but PROTEIN is the biggie. I discovered early on that I really didn't understand much of the information that is on food labels. If you Google it you can be up to speed quickly. From what I've read, the recommended diet is 40/30/30 meaning 40% of calories from carbs, 30% from fat and 30% from protein. RNY folks need 100g of protein a day so you should exceed the protein requirement just about every single day. But the other two numbers are a good reference point. My biggest challenge was always portion control. Buy a food scale and use it. Remember that all of the information on food labels is based on the "serving size" that is shown on every label. If you don't weigh or measure your servings, it is an absolute certainty that you are eating more than you think you are. But after a few months of using your scale, you get much better at eyeballing servings. Get an app for your phone to track your food intake. I use Tap and Track from Apple's store and I love it. My Fitness Pal is highly recommended by everyone that uses it so you may want to check that one out as well. In my experience, maintaining a log of what you eat is one of the most powerful tools that you can possibly imagine. Very, very important. Remember that controlling your diet is going to be MUCH easier post-op than it will be pre-op. Don't try to be a hero and don't get discouraged when you're struggling to hit the numbers. Just do the best you can with an eye on losing whatever pre-op weight loss goal your doctor gives you. You're on your way to a new life and a new you!!

Hi right back at you Amanda! If your experience is anything like mine, the next year is going to be a total blur. If you have any questions on anything at all, don't hesitate to ask me here or send me a PM if you're more comfortable with that. I don't consider myself an expert but I've travelled a little further down the same road you're on. It is truly an amazing, life-changing experience!

I know there are a lot of folks that use My Fitness Pal and highly recommend. I didn't know about it when I went looking and started using Tap and Track from Apple's store. It's easy to use and does everything I want it to do. Can't compare it since I've never used My Fitness Pal. I'm sure there are other good options as well. I know some folks just maintain a handwritten journal. Whatever you use, I think keeping some kind of log is an absolute must. It's an incredibly important tool for managing your weight loss journey.

AmyRae I'm at about the same point post-op that you are. I adoped a rule right after my surgery that I have followed religiously all along. I never eat less than two or more than four hours apart. The pre-op information that I got said that you should never eat less than two hours apart. I added the four hour rule to avoid getting overly hungry and creating a situation where I would be more likely to over eat. The result has been that I eat at least four and sometimes five times a day. To be sure, those are not all large meals. But if it's been four hours, I eat something whether I'm hungry or not. I also drink two to three cups of coffee a day (at least 30 minutes after eating and usually an hour or more) which I have found to be extremely valuable in keeping me from getting overly hungry. I keep the pantry well stocked with healthy options for light meals - nuts of all kinds, fruit, vegetables, protein bars, protein shakes, light cheese, turkey jerky, low cal/low carb crackers (I love crunchy) and I'm always looking for new options when I'm at the store. And last but not least, I have an app on my phone that I use to log everything I eat. Regardless of when I might get hungry, I know exactly where I'm at calorie/protein/carb and time wise at any point in the day. I think getting hungry is a natural, healthy thing. As long as you have lots of options for addressing it, it's nothing to fear.

I walk as often as I can and on average four days a week. Started with about a mile and have been doing 2.5 to 3 miles for quite some time now. I don't jog but I don't saunter either. Guess I'd call it a fast walk. Didn't do any weight training until this week. I lost some muscle mass in my upper arms so I'm trying to get some of that back. But I have to say that I feel absolutely great and look forward to walking. I started walking on my treadmill but soon changed to walking in a park near my home. I enjoy the park more and so does my black lab. I'm 27 weeks post-op and it took several months but at this point I'm really quite addicted to walking. There is absolutely no question in my mind that walking has helped me enormously with the weight loss. I also feel better, physically and mentally, when I walk. I have noticed that I get tense and irritable when I don't walk for two or three days. Can't explain it but it definitely happens.

It was roughly six weeks for me as well. I had a "schedule" of foods to add at specific intervals over a period of two or three months. The first couple of weeks of all liquids is by far the toughest. It gets much, much easier after that!

My surgeon had me on "clear" protein when I was still in the hospital but I have heard others say that they were on clear liquids with no protein for the first week. Obviously there is more than one school of thought. I think you just have to trust your surgeon to do what he/she thinks is best and go with it. You will be amazed at how fast the next six months are going to fly by!!

They told me from day one to expect a 2-3 day hospital stay and mine was two days. I would be very cautious about any surgeon that suggested RNY can be done on an outpatient basis.

I'm not so sure there is an effective way for dealing with ignorant and/or prejudiced people. Anyone who believes that diet and exercise is the solution for a worldwide epidemic of overweight and obese folks numbering in the hundreds of millions is, at best, ignorant. Might be best to just smile and nod.

I'm 27 weeks post-op and I have never heard of anyone that did not lose weight following RNY. There will be times when the pounds come off pretty fast. And times when they come off pretty slow. And times when they don't come off at all (for a while). Focus your mind and your energy on doing exactly what your team tells you to do and the weight will take care of itself. You and your fiance are going to love the new you!!

I was 285 on May 10th of last year. 250 on the day of my surgery - Oct 20th. 182 as of three days ago. So I lost 35 pre-op, 68 post-op which will be 27 weeks tomorrow, for a total of 103 (so far) in just under a year. Diabetes - gone. Hypertension - gone. Cholesterol - perfect. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat!!! Do exactly what your team tells you to do. Get plenty of exercise. Stay laser focused on eating and drinking healthy and let the weight take care of itself. You're gonna love the new you!

Guys, I'm 27 weeks post-op and have lost 103 lbs since May 10th of last year. I know exactly how you feel waiting for the big day but take it from someone who has been there, the anticipation of the surgery is a lot more traumatic than the surgery itself. I was totally shocked by the minimal amount of pain and discomfort that followed the surgery. I'm betting that when you look back on it you'll be thinking that you wasted a lot of worry and anticipation for nothing! It is amazing and you'll never regret the decision!

If you Google "dumping syndrome" you can get all the information you need (and then some). Dumping is one of those "sometimes" things. I'll be 27 weeks post-op tomorrow and have never had any dumping. On the other hand, I know some folks that are more than 10 years post-op and still have an occasional bout with dumping. The cause is food passing too quickly into the small intestine and is usually the result of eating sweets or certain carbs. If you have any trouble with it at all, you'll quickly learn the foods that bring it on and then you just avoid those foods. From what I've heard from folks that have experienced it, although it isn't very pleasant, it's easy to avoid and/or reduce the problem to a minimum.