James Marusek

I will pray for your success.

My surgeon recommended 30 minutes of walking each and every day. Two miles is good but did you walk two miles a day prior to surgery and if so were you exhausted then also? At 2 weeks post-op, you are at the beginning of the journey. This might be more of a question to ask if you still feel this way several months post-op. The three most important elements after RNY gastric bypass surgery are to meet your daily protein, fluid and vitamin requirements. Not meeting your daily vitamin requirement (such as B12) can cause weakness and exhaustion. Dehydration can cause exhaustion, especially during the heat of summer. During surgery, you were probably given antibiotics. Antibiotics not only kills bad bacteria but also good bacteria in the gut. Therefore it is important to reestablish the colonies of good bacteria. That is why many doctors recommend that you take probiotics after you complete taking antibiotics. Digestive system can be related to fatigue. Research shows that probiotic benefits may include relief from chronic fatigue symptoms.

Welcome and let us know if we can be of any help.

Good luck on your surgery. At your stage I would recommend three things. 1. Take a good before photograph of yourself, so that you have something to compare to after surgery. Many times we are blind to our obesity. We do not see ourselves. Therefore when the weight begins to drop off rather dramatically, we question if this is really happening. Photographs are a good visualization of our success. Many people carry a before and after photo with them, just to remind themselves of their success. 2. Walk 30 minutes each day, every day until surgery (or equivalent exercise). Walking helps the recovery process go smoothly and minimized the pain levels from surgery. 3. Wean yourself from caffeine and carbonated beverages now. After I gave up my 6 diet coke a day habit, I suffered from a week of severe withdrawal syndrome consisting of severe headaches and body aches. I was miserable. You don't want to combine the effects of caffeine withdrawal with the effects of surgery.

Good luck on your surgery and remember after surgery to Walk, Walk, Walk.

I think after surgery, I was too busy trying to follow the detailed guidelines I was given than to rethink my decision to have surgery. There were a lot of challenges that had to be overcome along the way. It wasn't until around the 6th month that all the problems seemed to dissolve away and I reached a "Happy State". So my recommendations is to give it some time. Also you may be experiencing one of the side effects from weight loss. As you lose weight, the chemicals and hormones that were stored in your fat cells are being released into your body. These will pass through your kidneys and are expelled in your urine. But they can generate a flush of hormones during the weight loss phase. They should simmer down once you transition into maintenance. It is important to meet your daily fluid requirements, because it take fluids to flush these hormones from your system.

Stalls are quite common for sleeve patients. So much so that they even coined the phrase EMBRACE THE STALL. The best advise is to just continue to follow the meal plan you were given. I had RNY gastric bypass and my weight loss leveled off at 7 months and I transitioned naturally into the Maintenance phase. Many sleeve patients do not transition to Maintenance until after 2 years.

Congratulations.

It is common for your taste buds to change after surgery. Be willing to experiment. After surgery, my taste buds changed dramatically. Even water changed. In the hospital it tasted excessively chlorinated and I could not drink it. So I experimented. Sugar free popsicles became my best friend. Some individuals find hot or cold can help with fluids. For me, I found that I could tolerate flavored water. So I began using Crystal Light. I also found a new drink "Bai" which I liked cold. In the winter, I found that I tolerate hot drinks such as piping hot cocoa. But you have to use the "No Sugar Added" variety. Also fine English teas were very good. The fluid requirement is met by a combination. It is not only the water that you drink each day. But also the water you drink when you take your vitamins and medicine. It is the milk you drink. It is the fluids content of the protein shakes. It is the water component of the soups you take. It is met by flavored water such as Crystal Light. It is met by sugar free popsicles. It is met by tea and decaf coffee. It is a combination of all the fluids that you consume during the day. The bad taste in your mouth may be because your body is in ketosis. Ketosis is a normal metabolic process. When the body does not have enough glucose for energy, it burns stored fats instead; this results in a build-up of acids called ketones within the body.

Many people find it difficult to get in the required amount of fluids right after surgery. Just keep trying to meet the requirements each day and you should get there shortly. The fluid requirement is met by a combination. It is not only the water that you drink each day. But also the water you drink when you take your vitamins and medicine. It is the milk you drink. It is the fluids content of the protein shakes. It is the water component of the soups you take. It is met by flavored water such as Crystal Light. It is met by sugar free popsicles. It is met by tea and decaf coffee. It is a combination of all the fluids that you consume during the day.

Congratulations.

It has been good. I lost a lot of weight. But what was more important was that I put a number of health issues (such as diabetes and high blood pressure) into remission.

It is normal. You will probably not have the full feeling until you reach the solid food stage.

The surgeon's guidelines will vary between doctors and also in time. I had RNY gastric bypass surgery 4 years ago, and my direction was Full Liquids for first 4 weeks, Pureed Foods the next four weeks and only on week 9 was I permitted Solids. Your stomach needs adequate time to heal. Transitioning to harder foods can be hard. There is no need to rush things. Many individuals experience a strong desire to eat certain foods right after surgery. Someone coined the phrase Head Hunger to describe the condition. Integrated into each individual is a strong desire to chew. It is part of the digestive process. So after surgery when one is on liquids, that need is not being met.

I have taken the Calcium Citrate petites primarily because they were on sale at the time. But you have to take around 7 or 8 of them throughout the day. It just seems like the bigger ones are better because there are fewer and less hassle. But at the beginning when swallowing large pills is a problem, the mini's may be a solution.

Make sure you take a good before photograph. And after surgery when you are in the hospital remember Walk, Walk, Walk.

I am 4 years post-op RNY gastric bypass surgery and have not experienced any problems with my immune system. In general, most individuals that I talked with who have had weight loss surgery tend to be more resistant to the flu and other sicknesses. I suspect this is due to the vitamin load that we take. If you have problems sleeping that might be the cause of a lack of energy during the daytime. Prior to my surgery, I had sleep apnea. During the day, I found it hard to keep my eyes open and would sometimes doze off when I was with family. Those problems went away after surgery.

The three most important elements after RNY gastric bypass surgery are to meet your daily protein, fluid and vitamin requirements. Food is secondary because your body is converting your stored fat into the energy that drives your body. Thus you lose weight. I am concerned that you are not meeting your fluid and probably protein requirements. You did not indicate if you had any problems meeting your daily vitamin requirements. It is common for your taste buds to change after surgery. Be willing to experiment. After surgery, my taste buds changed dramatically. Even water changed. In the hospital it tasted excessively chlorinated and I could not drink it. So I experimented. Sugar free popsicles became my best friend. Some individuals find hot or cold can help with fluids. For me, I found that I could tolerate flavored water. So I began using Crystal Light. I also found a new drink Bai which I liked cold. In the winter, I found that I tolerate hot drinks such as piping hot cocoa. But you have to use the "No Sugar Added" variety. Also fine English teas were very good. The fluid requirement is met by a combination. It is not only the water that you drink each day. But also the water you drink when you take your vitamins and medicine. It is the milk you drink. It is the fluids content of the protein shakes. It is the water component of the soups you take. It is met by flavored water such as Crystal Light. It is met by sugar free popsicles. It is met by tea and decaf coffee. It is a combination of all the fluids that you consume during the day. If you are 30 days out and struggling with fluids there is a problem that needs to be run to ground. According to the internet: Nausea and vomiting are the most common complaints after bariatric surgery, and they are typically associated with inappropriate diet and noncompliance with a gastroplasty diet (ie, eat undisturbed, chew meticulously, never drink with meals, and wait 2 hours before drinking after solid food is consumed). If these symptoms are associated with epigastric pain, significant dehydration, or not explained by dietary indiscretions, an alternative diagnosis must be explored. One of the most common complications causing nausea and vomiting in gastric bypass patients is anastomotic ulcers, with and without stomal stenosis. Ulceration or stenosis at the gastrojejunostomy of the gastric bypass has a reported incidence of 3% to 20%. Although no unifying explanation for the etiology of anastomotic ulcers exists, most experts agree that the pathogenesis is likely multifactorial. These ulcers are thought to be due to a combination of preserved acid secretion in the pouch, tension from the Roux limb, ischemia from the operation, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use, and perhaps Helicobacter pylori infection. Evidence suggests that little acid is secreted in the gastric bypass pouch; however, staple line dehiscence may lead to excessive acid bathing of the anastomosis. Treatment for both marginal ulcers and stomal ulcers should include avoidance of NSAIDs, antisecretory therapy with proton-pump inhibitors, and/or sucralfate. In addition, H pylori infection should be identified and treated, if present. So the general advice from above if I am interpreting it properly is to eat undisturbed, chew meticulously, never drink with meals, and wait 2 hours before drinking after solid food is consumed. Also avoid NSAIDs (such as Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Naproxen, Meloxicam, Celecoxib, Indomethacin, Ketorolac, Ketoprofen, Nimesulide, Piroxicam, Etoricoxib, Mefenamic acid, Carprofen, Aspirin/paracetamol/caffeine, Etodolac, Loxoprofen, Nabumetone, Flurbiprofen, Salicylic acid, Aceclofenac, Sulindac, Phenylbutazone, Dexketoprofen, Lornoxicam, Tenoxicam, Diflunisal, Diclofenac/Misoprostol, Flunixin, Benzydamine, Valdecoxib, Oxaprozin, Nepafenac, Etofenamate, Ethenzamide, Naproxen sodium, Dexibuprofen, Diclofenac sodium, Bromfenac, Diclofenac potassium, Fenoprofen, Tolfenamic acid, Tolmetin, Tiaprofenic acid, Lumiracoxib, Phenazone, Salsalate, Felbinac, Hydrocodone/ibuprofen, Fenbufen]. Most forms of Excedrin contains aspirin. Use proton pump inhibitors [Omeprazole, Pantoprazole, Esomeprazole, Lansoprazole, Rabeprazole, Dexlansoprazole, Rabeprazole sodium, Pantoprazole sodium, Esomeprazole magnesium, Omeprazole magnesium, Naproxen/Esomeprazole, Esomeprazole sodium, Omeprazole/Bicarbonate ion] and/or sucralfate [Carafate] antacid. And have yourself tested for Helicobacter pylori infection.

Congratulations Katie on losing 39 pounds so far.

Congratulations.

Just take your time with the food transitions. There is no need to rush. The three most important elements after weight loss surgery are to meet your daily protein, fluid and vitamin requirements. Food is secondary because your body is converting your stored fat into the energy that drives your body. Thus you lose weight.

After RNY surgery, you are required to take many vitamins for the rest of your life. This is because you body no longer synthesizes vitamins from food. That part of your stomach has been cut away, so this daily requirement is extremely important. Vitamin chemistry is important for absorption. Calcium supplements should be calcium citrate. There are also different chemistries of B12. I use the sublingual B12 and was told to use methylcobalamin. You cannot use a time-release version of B12. If you are taking iron supplements, it should be ferrous sulfate for the best absorption. Gummy vitamins are not absorbed properly and should be avoided. It is important to put a 2 hour separation between the vitamins that contain iron and those that contain calcium. So in my case I found that what works best for me is to take the iron supplements just before bedtime. I put my vitamins in a weekly pill container. I have one container for the morning and one for the night. And I use a very small glass bowl for my calcium supplements. I put my calciums in the bowl in the morning and take them throughout the day. If I am up and about I put my calciums in a ziplock bag and carry them with me. Taking your calcium and iron supplements at the same time can prevent your body from absorbing the iron. That is why the 2 hour separation. In your case, I would take the 3 irons just before bedtime and take the calciums spread out throughout the day. [By the way that seems like a lot of iron] In general do not take more than 2 calciums at one time. The calciums need to be spread out throughout the day. I saw no mention of vitamin B12. That is very important. It is not something that a multivitamin will give you. It should be a separate vitamin. One thing that caused me some confusion in the beginning was the dosage of Calcium. I took Citracal's. These are large horse pill size. The dosage rate is given on the back as 2 tablets equals 630 mg. So when I first started taking these, all I saw was the 630 mg. It wasn't until I met with my nutricianist that I discovered that the dosage rate was based on 2 tablets. So for the first month after surgery, I was only taking half the dosage I was suppose to be taking. So I needed to take 5 of these per day.

If you have severe acid reflux (GERD), gastric bypass is better than sleeve because sleeve will only make the condition worse. Too many people who had lap band surgery had to have a revision due to problems. The band will sometimes erode into the stomach wall over time and this can become a life threatening condition. As a result many doctors have discontinues performing this type of surgery.

After surgery, you will not be able to drive. So you must rely on someone to get you home and to take you to the pharmacy to pick up the prescription medicines you will need. I took no pain medicine after I left the operating room. As a result I was able to drive much sooner than most. But it was still several days after surgery before I drove anyplace.

I am over 4 years post-op RNY gastric bypass surgery. My project during my 2nd and 3rd year post-op was to build an underground shelter. This year my wife wanted me to build a playhouse for the grandkids. I wasn't too keen on the idea. But on giving the matter some thought I decided to go ahead under 2 conditions. First - that is was a log cabin playhouse. I never built a log cabin, so it would be a new experience. Second - that the grandkids get involved in the construction. Building something from scratch is very valuable experience that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. They are rather young (11, 9, and 5) but its the process that matters. I must admit that I had to exert a lot of patients since it seem like it took them 200 strikes to drive in a nail when I could easily do it in 5. But that is the learning process. Then we started to work on the roof. My wife had a bad dream which scared her a lot. She visualize me falling to my death. I am approach age 70. It is only a playhouse and I still retain a strong sense of balance. Had to work through that. But this was the final result. I still need to ***** the logs (apply a special caulk to fill in the gap between the logs), but I have to wait 30 days for the stain on the logs to dry adequately.