terry1118

It's way too easy to take offense at the written word. So much is missing - tone of voice, context, other clues meant to lighten what we say. Take it all with a grain of salt and keep in mind that these are merely opinions from people you don't know based on what little is provided (because we don't know you). For the most part we are not medical professionals. All we can do is base our opinions on our own personal experience which may not be anything like yours. We are ALL different. And it's not all bad - we can pick and choose the information which fits our own situations. For all important questions our first source of information should ALWAYS be our own medical provider. Best of luck to all in your journey! :-)

Sorry, English descent here. Nothing good about the English except the accent and that's been bred out of me! The food is not so great and I sunburn easy, and I get sun poisoning. The Irish seem to have a lot of fun...

In addition, for the first week post op you're taking prescription pain killers which, though they help pain, can drastically affect how you feel. Most of us are in poor health BEFORE surgery and that affects how quickly you feel better, too. You just had MAJOR invasive surgery - rest as needed and follow your doctor's instructions. Give it time and you WILL feel better. :-)

Some people say the effects don't last long but it's not true for me. I started having wine again around one year after surgery, as instructed by my surgeon. I get twice as drunk, twice as fast, on half as much. 4oz - hits me hard! But it lasts the same length of time it always used to. I get so tipsy on so little that I can't drink socially without appearing like an alcoholic. When I'm out I water down my wine so it looks like I'm having what my friends are having but it's so weak that it has little effect on me. Or I have something alcohol free in a wineglass. I LIKE wine so I have my little indulgence on Saturday nights, at home. :-)

I've never had trouble eating out at any stage. Early stages I usually stuck w/some kind of Soup (eating around chunky vegetables and meat for liquid and pureed stages, chewing very well in following stages). After that I opted for softer, more moist foods - mostly seafood and ground meats. I've had pan-seared scallops, baked fish, meatloaf, meatballs, chili, burrito bowls (burrito w/o the tortilla), sushi w/brown rice, and steamed or roasted veggies. Soup is always an option almost anywhere you go. Also I've made a meal out of an appetizer - shrimp cocktail is still a favorite meal of mine. I started eating salads again around three months ago but usually order a half-salad (our favorite pizza shop makes a half size, as does Panera Bread). Some restaurants have 'add-on's'. If someone in your party orders say, scallops, then you can add-on a few extra for your meal. If you explain you have dietary restrictions for a medical reason most will be understanding and accommodating. :-) As for portion sizes, if I order my own meal when eating out, either my husband will finish it or I get the rest to go and manage another meal or two out of it.

I lost my hair by the handful between four and nine months following surgery. Then it stopped falling out and began to grow again. I now have about two inches of new growth. I'm keeping if cut short until the new growth catches up. As a happy bonus I have not had to shave my legs or underarms since last fall. :-)

I'm 54. I had RNY on 5/30/13. I had been obese for almost thirty years. I had a bmi of 47, I was on cholesterol meds, I had pain in my back, knees, and feet, and I was pre-diabetic. I was miserable, facing a bleak and unhappy future, and maybe an early death if something didn't change. Today I'm a size 6, my labs are all great so no more cholesterol meds, my pain is totally gone, and I have energy to spare. I'm enjoying life, loving shopping for clothes, and feel awesome, both mentally and physically. I'm no longer a spectator in my own life - I'm living it! :-)

Eating too much, or too fast, or too dry. Food backs up into your esophagus causing irritation, which, in turn causes your body to produce saliva to relieve the problem - and viola! You get 'foamies'! Very unpleasant, uncomfortable feeling causing extreme nausea, discomfort, and vomiting.

I don't share personal medical information w/people I'm not close to, just as I don't share any personal, private information. It's my business, not theirs. People feel they have a right to know everything about you but they don't. Share if you're comfortable with it. But make it your choice to do so, not to satisfy some busybody's prying. If anyone asks me how I'm losing weight I say I'm doing it under my doctor's supervision, eating right, eating less, and exercising - all true. If someone is in the same boat I was (obese and at wit's end) I do tell them about the surgery. My whole experience has been positive so I would recommend it to anyone who would benefit from it.

After my surgery everything tasted 'not quite right'. I'd crave something, make it, take a bite, and toss it out. It lasted about a month or so. It's actually helpful, sort of like aversion therapy. :-) I'm fourteen months out and still don't 'crave' my old foods. :-)

Just an impartial impression: If this person is sharing his problems with you then it doesn't sound like a professional relationship but a personal one. He shouldn't be taking your money. (My opinion is based on the little information provided and is just an opinion, not a criticism. Please don't take offense, as none is intended.) :-)

I don't agree that we shouldn't make life decisions immediately following surgery. I don't think anyone should EVER make a life decision in haste, without exploring all options. Some decisions are a no-brainer. A job offer that is an improvement over your current one or moving to a better location would be no-brainers. Relationship decisions, especially legally binding ones, should be well-thought out and given every opportunity for improvement before deciding whether or not to end it. Counselling sounds like a good idea if you want to give your marriage every chance, as long as there is no abuse involved. Ending an abusive relationship is in the no-brainer category. In the end, only YOU know what is best for YOU.

Follow your doctor's instructions. There are reasons for the eating phases and their time frames.

I'm 14 months post-op. I still can't eat chicken or tuna. I can eat ground chicken, though. Maybe try that? I make chili, burgers, and meatballs with it. Eat very slowly, small bites, and chew, chew, chew! I use appetizer forks and spoons for my utensils.

There is no 'normal'. There are way too many variables.

My team said no caffeinated beverages for the first three months. The used to say never but caffeine has been proven to help w/constipation, which is a common problem for WLS patients. My chronic painful constipation problem was eliminated in April when I switched to a high protein coffee that has two espresso shots in it. Now both I and my bowels wake up and function better in the morning! Lol

Talk to your doctor. Maybe there are alternative medications you can take that would be acceptable? I was pretty concerned about not being able to take nsaids also. For years I used them on a daily basis for back, knee, and foot pain. I never found Tylenol effective. After the first few months following my RNY my pain gradually disappeared. Losing 120 pounds totally eliminated my pain and the need for any type of pain reliever. I literally have not taken so much as a single Tylenol in a year! Maybe losing weight will help reduce your pain level to the point that a milder medication like Tylenol will help you?

For the first year I was an 'eat by the book' RNYer. Around one year I started getting lax, testing my dietary boundaries, resulting in my first dumping experiences. So I'm back to following the rules religiously. I'm thankful for the dumping experiences nipping my bad choices in the bud. In my past bad food choices snowball into disaster very quickly. Each one of us has to make choices based on their own weaknesses, strengths, needs, and lifestyles. I am a person who needs very strict rules to keep me on track. It works for me but may not be good for someone else. We all need to find our own way to eat that helps us to be successful long term. :-)

Losing a beloved pet is a loss only other pet owners understand. My Basset Hound was my constant companion and best friend. As a stay-at-home-mom and housewife in the country I had limited contact with other people. I always had to be strong for my husband (w/depression) and children. My Basset Moe was my therapy dog - I told him everything and he was very sympathetic and loving. He was always by my side and so obviously adored me. He could always make me smile even when smiling was the last thing I wanted to do. HE gave me the strength and comfort I needed to be there when others needed ME. I was devastated when he died after 12yrs together. I cried often and was depressed for months. Sometimes a pet is so much MORE than just family. I have two other dogs now, and I love them... but there will never be another quite like my Moe.

Make a healthy substitute. While it's rare for me to have a 'craving', sometimes I just want to have something similar to what others are having. At home I make a healthy alternative for myself. Example: when I make pizza for my husband, I will make pizza-stuffed zucchini for myself. Or when I make him lasagna I will make a little ricotta bake for myself. Sometimes my husband prefers my version of dinner to his... Lol

My first dumping experience was at 12 months, from maple baked Beans. I didn't read the label first to see that the sugar content was too high. It happened at work - thank goodness my coworkers covered for me for the miserable hour I spent in the ladies room. Afterwards I was weak and shaky for a while. My second experience was last weekend at 14 months - on an BJ's all-beef hotdog (no bun). I think the fat content was too high. That experience was worse because I was not at home and had to scramble fast to use a public restroom before I soiled myself. I'm pretty sure I cleared out the bathroom with the sounds and smells I created. Stop&Shop may have needed a hazmat team to clean it up. Both times it happened approx. an hour after eating the offending food. It began with nausea and intestinal noises, quickly escalating to cramping, cold sweats, extreme nausea, lightheadedness, severe explosive diarrhea for 30-60 mins, followed by weakness and shaking for about another hour.

This pain is exactly what my gallbladder attack felt like. I spent six hours in an emergency room until it passed, unable to stand upright or get relief.

LMAO! :-)

I also choose to stay away from old trigger foods and that is one of mine. White breads, Pasta, rice, and white flours make me sick. Also, I've had my first dumping experiences recently at 14 months out - one from higher sugar content on baked Beans and one from a fatty hotdog. I don't care to repeat them. I'm afraid to try any bread that may make me dump. I've read that some people make pizza on low carb wraps, whole grain flat breads, and even on wonton wrappers. There is a recipe somewhere here for a cauliflower pizza crust that gets a lot of attention, though I never tried it. I make pizza stuffed zucchini that is delicious. That recipe is also from someone on this site.

Bruising is common following any invasive procedure. I had severe bruising on my lower belly after my RNY surgery. It lasted about 2 1/2 weeks before fading away. I also had bruising about my chest and right arm following rotator cuff surgery, but not w/my gallbladder surgery. Bruising with pain and/or swelling could be an indication of complications. Always inform your medical team of any concerns you have so they can advise you. :-)