SuzeMuze

As with just about everything else pertaining to WLS, the "how long" questions can have a lot of variables between doctors, labs & hospitals. For what it's worth, I had my endoscopy done on a Monday and was certified "Passed" 2 days later. If you had yours done last Wednesday, there could be the Thanksgiving holiday to factor in why you haven't heard yet. Good luck to you!

My advice is that these are questions for your primary care physician. Too low of blood sugar can be as dangerous as too high, as you're starting to experience. Mine dropped immediately after surgery, and hover around 80-90, with one reading at 61. (which was just this afternoon & I could definitely tell a difference in how I was feeling)

There's plenty of documentation out there that supports an increase in fertility in women who lose weight- overweight women tend to be less fertile than those who are of average weight. (which is part of the reason we're so cautioned against pregnancy in the first couple of years after WLS- our bodies are going through enough as it is, plus the plumbing seems to get kick started;)) I've had the Mirena implant for years, and in just the 5 weeks since my RNY, have seen definite changes in my cycle- I'm attributing it to the weight loss.

....and the purpose of shrinking your liver is primarily two-fold. First, it's beneficial to try and reduce the fat around your belly and liver prior to surgery. Your liver is located very near to your stomach, and a too large and/or fatty liver can cause your surgery to be delayed, or possibly be performed as an open procedure, which has a higher complication rate. Also your liver and spleen are surrounded by little things called triglycerides, and by reducing them prior to surgery, you're also potentially reducing the likelihood of complications and recovery issues. With that being said, I'm not a doctor... nor do I play one on TV. But I did read a whole lot before my WLS, and I ask a ton of questions

Ahhh, shakes and vitamins! One of the many topics that will vary from surgeon to surgeon. I'll toss my 2 cents in, for what it's worth . I personally use Premier Protein shakes that I can pick up at costco for much less than in a grocery store. The chocolate actually tastes like chocolate, and the Vanilla (to me) is a dead ringer for a frosted sugar cookie or yellow cake! As far as the Vitamins go, liquid or chewable is the way to go at least for the foreseeable future. In fact, my surgeon's office recommends that you remain on liquid/chewable vitamins permanently, as your new stomach simply can't break down the pill form ones adequately enough. A typical day looks like this: Breakfast: Chewable multivitamin (100%) Mid-Morning: 500 mg Calcium (must be calcium citrate- best absorption/not the best to find in chewable form for me) Lunch: 500 mg Calcium Mid-Afternoon: 500 mg Calcium Dinner: sublingual B12 & Protonix (for 6 months after surgery) & a Biotin capsule (because I'm terrified of anything happening to my hair) Evening: Chewable multivitamin (100%) I don't have to take an Iron supplement, but if I did, it would be tossed in there too, at least 2 hours away from taking any calcium. I looked into Bariatric Advantage, but I can find comparable vitamins at drugstores/WalMart- I look for the BOGO sales and I'm set for much less money. What's helped me too is using the GNC Whey Isolate unflavored Protein Powder when I cook- no matter how good a shake is, it does wear on you after a while. There are tons of good recipes out there! Good luck to you!

By day 3 post-op for me, I decided to give it a go with no pain medication. I was very bloated too, and what really seemed to help was walking. As much as I didn't want to do it, I made myself get up and go out into the neighborhood and just walk around. It really helped- within just a couple of days, the bloating and "after-pains" were completely gone. Everyone's different though.

Could the headache be related to caffeine withdrawal? I remember my pre-op diet having no allowable caffeinated drinks, and I had quite a headache for a few days, myself. Hope it resolves itself quickly for you! :/

Ewww... for me, trying to drink flat diet soda would be enough of a craving killer right there

Hi, Fabsab and welcome (back) to the forum! I don't have any experience with surgery other than bypass last month, but it can definitely be quite a learning curve with a whole new stomach to get acquainted with! One of the hardest things for me has been the "Trial and Error" aspect of it- you never know what you'll be able to tolerate until you actually try it. And what a disappointment it is to try a nibble of something you really like, only to find yourself miserable for it. I wish I could offer you some hard and fast rules of how to learn to eat again, but RNY is such an individual experience, none of us seem to be exactly the same. One thing that is important though, regardless of the specifics from your surgeon is to get that Protein in every day! It'll keep you from losing muscle mass vs. fat and can help stop the hair loss as well, since your body seems to be switching into "starvation" mode because of your new eating habits. Coming to this forum is a great choice though- you'll find all kinds of opinions and advice from folks in every stage of WLS- we'll always be here to help

I agree that obesity itself is a health issue that very often leads to those other complications that so many of us ventured into before we had WLS. I'm also of the opinion though, that if snacking is what's at the heart of your weight problem, that no surgery will "fix" that for you. Weight loss surgery isn't a "fix" or guarantee of anything. It's a tool that with a lifelong commitment to making major changes in your attitude about and relationship with food can assist with losing weight. It's very possible to have a full bypass and still stretch your new stomach to hold more food than it was intended...couple that with poor food choices, and the weight can come right back on.

No, I had RNY- the bypass, and it was done October 23. Not a "sleever", but still a neighbor

I'm with you, ready2B! I didn't puree anything either because the thought of eating "normal" food that was made into the consistency of paste made me wrinkle my nose. I chose the route of just chewing the daylights out of anything that wasn't naturally the consistency of yogurt, and I was ok.

My surgeon's office arranged a "dummy date"- a time when both the surgeon was available and operating room were held for me in advance of my insurance approval. Once I got my clearances, submitted to the insurance company & got approval back (about a week to hear from them after the paperwork was submitted) my date was already reserved for surgery. Took a lot of stress off, knowing when my surgery would be all along.

Because it's an initial consultation, there isn't much that actually "happens". In fact, my initial consult didn't even involve my surgeons. I spent most of the time with the office staff, then with the nutritionist. My visit involved going over fees, insurance procedures, medical clearances, a discussion of why I was interested in bariatric surgery, and finally an overview of the lifelong dietary changes that I'd be signing up for. At an initial consult, I'd try not to worry too much about being "rejected" if you've done your homework first about a couple of things. Meaning... 1. Insurance coverage. Insurance policies vary widely, but from what I've learned, it seems as though most of them have a minimum BMI to cover a bariatric procedure- usually 40 with no comorbidities, or 35 with the presence of one or more comorbid conditions like Type II Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, etc. As well, it seems many insurance policies (in addition to a doctor-supervised weight loss program prior to considering WLS) require a sort of "laundry list" of other weight loss interventions (Weight Watchers, Herbalife, etc...), complete with approximate dates, and amount of weight lost. 2. Expectations for the procedure. Though you may go through a formal psychological exam as part of your preoperative clearances, both the surgical office manager and the nutritionist had a dialogue with me about what brought me to the office in the first place. How you'll fare with WLS surgery depends on a lot of factors, one of which is how realistic your expectations are for results. **How far from consult to surgery? Honestly, that's a question with no definitive answer. For me it was almost exactly 3 months. But.....it depends on (among other things) your clearance tests, how quickly your insurance company approves your procedure (if you're going that route) and what the availability is for your surgeon/hospital to schedule your procedure. One of the best things about my consult visit was my "Bible Binder". My surgeon's office had a fantastic binder assembled that outlined the whole WLS surgery process. Every. Single. Step. That consult appointment is an information overload, and to have everything written out for me was wonderful. I remember how excited I was at that initial appointment- it was all starting to become "real" finally! I wish you the best of luck- keep us posted on your progress

@loveablelady36: I help Jonathan out as a guest blogger on his site. The link is in my signature for you- hope it works out!

I'm an RNY in Frederick County...not too far away

For me, the answer is two-fold...the combination of a busy life and a life of convenience. I don't think I've ever really been "thin", but the worst of my weight struggles started when I finished college. I got a job in my field and threw myself into my work with all I had. Being single, I had no reason to slow down for anything or anyone, so it became much easier to grab a quick "something" instead of sitting down to a proper/healthy meal. Now, years later, I found myself still doing that. As I advanced career-wise, I found I had even less time to take for a meal & often ate/eat lunch in the car, driving from one appointment to another. Granted, I cook dinner every night, but not being a "starving artist" anymore enabled me to experiment with rich foods, savory tastes and a penchant for anything decadent tasting. I basically exchanged one problem for another- I went from eating cheap junk food because I was "too busy" to eat right, to learning how to be a pretty good cook- just cooking ultra rich things.

The folks who make the 5 hour energy drinks also manufacture a whey Protein shot- I believe it's about 42 grams of protein in a 3-4 ounce "tube". In my first week or so post-op when I didn't want to drink much of anything, I was able to get down one shake and one of these protein shot tubes in a day. They're not a bad price, especially if you can get them from a place like Wal-Mart, but I'd be remiss if I didn't comment about the taste. Be careful not to let the juicy looking fruits on the packaging lure you into thinking that's what they'll actually taste like. IMO, they were dreadful- very syrupy and sour- I have no idea how anyone could knock a full tube back like an actual shot.

I love to bake with Protein powder- the unflavored kind can be added to just about anything! Muffins, breads, pancakes- yum!

Same here. I'm another Marylander who had to show only 3 months, and that was with a VERY recent change from no requirement at all.

Wow Naomi, what a courageous chapter of your life you've been living and will be embarking upon with your surgery! Your story is incredibly inspirational- I have no doubt others will be comforted and motivated by your determination to make a better life for yourself. These forums are a great source for advice, opinions, support and venting about anything & everything related to bariatric surgery- type on! We're all in your corner as you work your way toward surgery

Nope, it won't stay that way. It took me a good week to retrain myself to not gulp my water- your body will tell you if you're drinking too fast. I'm just shy of a month out, and can take about 3 normal sized swallows at a time- I'm good with that. For me, it's much harder to not drink anything with my meals. Premier Protein has 30 grams of protein @ 180 calories & 1 gram of sugar. Isopure Clear has 40 grams of protein (don't remember the calorie count) and no sugar. Those can easily be split up to last you throughout the day.

I wanna wear pantyhose and not hear that "shh, shh, shh" sound when I walk! Woohoo!

Hmmm... I learned & am thankful that I like me no matter what size! I didn't go through WLS to prance around in a bikini- I did it for health reasons and while it sure is nice to see the pounds coming off, I don't feel like I "like myself" more just because I'm losing weight. I'm pretty cool (and modest.. ahem) at any size... <giggles>

Ooooo, pick me, pick me! 1. DON'T CHEAT. Yes, your stomach is smaller, yes, you're not absorbing the calories as well, but eating garbage and/or too often just might be what was the problem in the first place-and it still will be. 2. I am not you. You are not me. It's really hard, but try not to compare yourself and your progress with others on this site. Everyone's journey with WLS is different. 3. Move it, Move it! Even if you're tired, even if you're not in the mood, even if the weather stinks. Getting up and moving around (even just slow paced walking) will help you digest, trim inches & get that heart rate up. What? It's raining? Time for laps around the kitchen! 4. Patience is a virtue. We didn't get to the size we are in 2 weeks... we're not going to lose it all in 2 weeks. You'll stall out. You might be hungry. You might hurt. Who knows? Keep your eyes on the prize and the great decision you made for a healthier life. 2-3 weeks on mushy food might be maddening (not to mention the 50 bazillion Protein shakes you'll experiment with), but it's all temporary. You'll get back to regular food soon enough. 5. There are no stupid Questions. This is a huge procedure- there's no way you could ask too many questions about it, and this is a great place to do it!