Getting-used-to-new-me

Can you explain to us newbies what caused the vomiting and feeling? Im vegetarian and have a feeling eating salads and raw veggies is in my future....is the problem the raw? Is this a "at first" thing or are raw veggies something to cross off all together? Thank you! For me, pouch pain, vomiting, and foamies are all caused by the same things--swallowing food chunks that are too big, and eating too fast. Some sources say "chew for 22" meaning chew your bites of food 22 times before swallowing. Others say chew thirty times. For me, I have to start with a bite no larger than a teaspoon for solids like steak, and no more than a tablespoon size for soft foods like oatmeal. And I have to chew each bite until it's the consistency of pudding. Then I swallow it. Yes, steak "pudding"! As you might expect, this means I eat smaller amounts, and take a longer time doing it, than I used to before surgery. I believe that's how the gastric bypass surgery has helped me the most--the pouch pain, vomiting, and foamies have forced me to eat the way I was always supposed to. Small bites, chewed to "pudding" consistency. Oh, and always eating the Protein part of the meal first.

I agree with you Smiley

That's definitely one of what I call "the panics of bariatric surgery". Each of us has to face at least a few of those "panics" before, during, AND after surgery. ANY cause for concern should be handled with your health care team. Specifically, "not being able to STOP losing weight" usually doesn't last. It's usually our body and mind making yet another adjustment to that great and terrible thing we each had done to ourselves. Usually. I can't overstate the need to address this and ANY other concern with your health care team. After all, you hired them to make this right. Right?

I really like that, "It's a journey; not just a step on the scale!" I hope that's not copywrited, cuz I wanna use it!

As you probably already know, the bottom line is that any natural anti-inflammatory may be easier on your new guts, but won't act as fast as the latest medicines your PCP and bariatric surgeons group would prescribe. I'd recommend you stick with what they prescribe. That said, here are a couple of links to better-than-normal internet articles on natural anti-inflammatories: http://rheumatoidarthritisdiagnosis.org/rheumatoid-arthritis-treatments/the-best-natural-anti-inflammatory-supplements/ http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/anti-inflammatory-diet-road-to-good-health I hope that helps. I don't like seeing or hearing about anyone in pain.

It's hard to go wrong with 1/2 cup meals!

I agree with the dehydration, especially when you're still less than a year out from surgery. It helped me to chew my VERY small bites of food until it was like pudding consistency, before I swallowed it. But even now, at 16 months out, I still have to hydrate. Even at this stage in my progress, I've found two things about it. First, I ride my bicycles A LOT, now that I can again. I especially like riding long distances, like half-Century (50-mile) and Century (100-mile) rides. I like to train for them by riding those distances everywhere it's reasonably safe to do so, like the Spokane River Centennial Trail. I like "touring" more than racing. I find that I can ride literally all day, if I go at a steady, slower pace. (My arthritic knees complain LOUDLY if I don't!) What I've noticed is that after about a half hour of riding, if I forget to hydrate, I get close to passing out! So I make sure I have my hydration pack and extra water bottles with me. I even have the drinking fountains and other water sources as planned out as possible. And I use Protein shakes to hydrate with as well. Second, if I forget and eat more than a half cup of solid food at a time, I still get the hiccups until I get a little water down. This is even though I chew it until it's like pudding before I swallow. Our NUT and the Nurse Practitioner recently told us at our support group that if we've missed our water doses, we should eat a little of the softest food on our plate before we eat the protein. I hope this helps!

You're welcome Beni, but it wasn't original with me. I hope it helps everyone who goes through these trials!

I heard of this website. http://obesitycoverage.com/weight-loss-surgeries/gastric-bypass/how-much-can-i-expect-to-lose Here's another link to the same calculator: http://obesitycoverage.com/how-much-will-you-weigh-after-surgery/ The calculator does results for RNY, sleeve, and lap band patients. I might have heard of it on this very thread. Many thanks to whomever mentioned it. It's been very helpful to me and my wife. I had an RNY. She had the sleeve. I say the closer you are to the weight calculated by this website, or if you lose even more, you should pat yourself on the back, and count it as a MAJOR victory. I do! And definitely pat yourself on the back for all the health improvements you get!

For what it's worth, at our latest support group, our nutritionist told us we have to change routines every eight weeks. Our metabolism optimizes at eight weeks. So what was successful isn't anymore. The important thing she said is to stay active, keep our vitamins and calcium and activities up, but to change them slightly every eight weeks. Protein sources change. Aerobic exercise changes. And strength training changes. Every eight weeks.

You're so right Joankrie! We do have similar stories. I came from 290 on a 6' 1" frame. My friends, family and co-workers told me I didn't need to lose the weight--I looked fine, etc. But I knew. High blood pressure, C-PAP (for obstructive sleep apnea), diabetes, osteoarthritis in my knees and hips and hands, high cholesterol, skin cancer, and I even had a TIA ("mini" stroke). One doctor visit, I casually asked about bariatric surgery and his response was an immediate and emphatic "YES!" I got my approval letter a week later. The surgery was a rough experience for me--heart problems and lots of pain kept me hospitalized longer than usual. I still can't recommend this for anyone unless it's medically necessary and they're willing to do the hard work each of us has had to do and are continuing to do. But it's worth it. Everything completely resolved or at least reduced. I'm living a different life now. A better one.

@@Sherri You got it! Thanks!

I just wanna say thanks to everyone who posts their daily meal plans! They give an old dog like me some new tricks to try!

For what it's worth, most folks who have RNY eventually have to "power through" the nausea from fatty or too sweet or too dry foods. They eat even smaller portions, and rely on protein shakes, etc. One other reason we progress through stages after surgery is so we can go back to one or more of those and know we'll still get some nourishment. Stay with it. Keep doing the program. Stay in touch with your surgeons group and us, and you'll succeed!

If I may add to this thread, I agree. When in doubt, have a little protein. It can't hurt.

@@dc0520, and everyone else I want you all to know how happy i am that bariatric pal is available. I need this support. I attend my local bariatric support group here each month. But once a month isn't enough. I know too that 99.9% of the responders here are women. And I'm a guy. But the help here is mostly gender-neutral. I've been talking about the value of this online support a lot with my wife. She agrees. BTW, I had an RNY on 12/10/13, yes thirteen months ago. My wife had a sleeve surgery the day before last thanksgiving. So, I want to say to you, dc, that yes it might be a little depression. Or it might be something needing a more medical response. Either way, please see your PCP ASAP. I wouldn't want to miss your or anyone else's posts.

Even though not many of us seem to be following this thread, I hope we're all active in the other threads on bariatric pal, and with in-person bariatric support in our communities. What say you all?

The most I've lost since my surgery on 12/10/2013 was 95 pounds. I met that goal after about eight months from surgery. Since then my weight has been around 195 to 205. I've noticed it go up when I have liquids with my meals. And it goes down when I'm more strict about not having liquids with my meals. That makes sense since I always eat less, because I get full faster, when I don't drink liquids with meals. And that's what my surgeon's group recommends too. I have to NOT fall back into old habits of eating like everyone else does, and how I used to. I HAVE to eat the new way that goes with this surgery. Eating for me is such a socially, ingrained, programmed thing. It's hard again now, to maintain or lose weight. But it's not as hard as it was before surgery. And I'm confident I can maintain, and maybe even lose a little more if I continue the recommended habits I learned from my surgeon's group.

I'm glad you've survived! I hope you're blessed with real loved ones who care enough to ask, and then really listen when you respond.

I've had similar experiences with co-workers and long-time friends and family. Some have out-in-public challenged me on my weight loss. Some have taken me aside, in a confidential way. But others are nice. The out-in-public challenges go like this, and these are direct quotes: "Are you sure you're supposed to lose as much as you've done already?" "You remind me of Karen Carpenter!" That second one's a direct charge of anorexia, because I'm a guy! I believe these people may not have my best interests in mind, and may just want to make a weird, bad joke or something at my expense. I admit I'm still getting used to the new me, because the guy I see in the mirror everyday is different from the one I see in recent photos. But my health care team are pleased with my success and improved health. So I must be doing alright. Others have taken me aside and asked "confidentially" if it's the "big C" meaning cancer, that has caused the weight loss. I try to make sure they know the weight loss is intentional and TO IMPROVE MY HEALTH! They are genuinely happy when they hear it's not cancer and it is intentional on my part. They usually congratulate me. Others just say something like "you look great!" In response I usually say something like "Thanks! So do you!" And they usually see that their comment registered with me and we're still on friendly terms with each other.

@@Janice1968, Tell him this guy says experience is the best teacher!

@@dc0520 Thanks for such a sweet and sincere message!

@Luna222: I don't know, so I'm asking. Would it help your bf to read all the stuff about this on bariatricpal? For example, I had my RNY in December last year. My wife saw what I went through. The worst of it was: Dumping syndrome, where all I can do is endure the EXTREME NAUSEA, cold sweats, and thinking I'm going to have MAJOR DIARRHEA OR VOMITING OR BOTH! And the UNBELIEVABLE POUCH PAIN from eating just a tiny bit more than 1/4 cup. NOTHING can save you from that PAIN! And if you make the mistake of drinking Water, to help the food pass, like I have, all that does is make the pain WORSE, because now you have the pressure of the quarter cup of food AND the water you foolishly drank! Then I tried to vomit up the quarter cup of food and the water, and all that comes up is about a teaspoon of saliva! I end up having to endure the pain until it passes. Talk about hating life! So my wife could only watch and wonder at my suffering. (Regardless what others think, this is definitely NOT the easy way to lose weight!) But I turned her on to bariatric pal, to help her understand that it wasn't only me going through this stuff. And partly because she was going to have bariatric surgery too. Last month, just before Thanksgiving, she had gastric sleeve surgery. While she still can't relate to the pouch pain of an RNY patient, she's already had dumping syndrome! And there's no better teacher than experience! Anyway, I hope at least some of this helps you with your boyfriend.

Thank you ladies! I think most men prefer to keep their positive visuals of women!

Doesn't the saying for your guy go something like, "HEY! I'M UP HERE!!!"