geronimo

Just wanted to check in with my fellow August'ers. How is everyone doing in terms of complications, weight loss, health, social, etc.? I had my RNY August 25th, and never had any pain or complications. I'm a little over 9 weeks out and have only lost around 45 pounds. I dropped a great deal when on liquids, but as soon as I hit soft foods, I slowed down considerably, and now, since getting into solid foods, I've hit a couple short plateaus. Granted, I'm down 3 jeans sizes, 2 shirt sizes, and looking and feeling much better, but I can't but help feel like my weight loss is moving at a glacial pace. So, I'm curious how everyone else from August is coming along. (And hoping everyone is doing very well!)

For the first week or so after surgery it's advised that we wear loose fitting clothing. I could just get stretchy sweatpants, but I was hoping for something a little more... stylish? Anyone have any ideas or suggestions for loose fitting pants/shirt other than sweatpants?

I'm 4 weeks out as well, and I was told similarly as was Djmohr. My NUT wants me to get 80g+ Protein and 64oz+ of fluids each day. And while she did give an estimated calorie count (600-900), she said not to count calories at all. That if I'm getting my 80g+ of protein, then the calories will fall in line on their own. The two big things to focus on are protein and fluids.

I'll be 4 weeks out tomorrow, and I'm in my Soft Foods phase. I would stay away from the pizza for two reasons: 1) huge amount of carbs and not enough Protein to make up for it, 2) melted cheese. For the latter, my surgeon told me that someone recently scraped off the toppings from a pizza (to avoid the carbs of the dough) and ate that, but the melted cheese, even though she chewed it, balled up in her stomach and caused a blockage. She had to be operated on to get it out. You'll be able to eat pizza down the road, but I'd stay away for now. For meats, I think a burger (without the bun) should be fine. I've been eating meat (chicken, pot roast, ground beef, eggs, etc.) and I've handled them all fine. My NUT suggested though that it's better to eat wet meats - for example, if you want ground beef, then make a beef heavy chili.

Only a 3 month pre-op diet - you're lucky! I had to do mine for 6 months. My NUT essentially put me on the Atkins diet, with the main factor just keeping carbs below 20g/day, and eat mostly Protein. She told me not to track other nutritional stats other than the carbs since that is what shrinks the liver. And, like you, I was told that while they wanted to see me lose about 15lbs, as long as I didn't gain weight from my initial weigh-in I was good. I did Inspire whey protein (favorites being Peanut Butter chocolate, Double Chocolate, and the latte one). After that, I just simply at steak, chicken, seafood, etc. Good luck with the diet and the approval!

Do your research - the three types of WLS and why and why not to get each of them as well as the pros and cons, the surgeons, the hospital where you'll have surgery at, your insurance, the requirements, each phase of your journey from first meeting to post-op diet. Get to know everything about this intimately - this is a big decision and you should learn everything you can about it.

Welcome to the family! 5 days away - good luck with the surgery!

I took off for 2 weeks for my RNY, but within a week I was driving and easily out and about. I'd consult with your surgeon to be on the safe side, and make sure you adhere to the no-lifting of >15lbs for 6 weeks, but beyond that, other than a little soreness, you should be fine after a week. The caveat to that though is the case where some other issue arises - very rare, but could happen nonetheless. Just need to be prepared for that if it happens.

This doctor is pushing the sleeve on everyone? That raises a red flag for me. The Bypass is the golden standard in WLS, so if this guy is trying to push the sleeve on everyone instead of the RNY, that seems a bit odd to me. It immediately makes me wonder how many sleeve and RNY operations he has performed, and the success rates of both. It would also bring into question for me his confidence level of performing the RNY. If he has a low confidence level in RNY and that is causing him to push the sleeve, I would definitely seek out another surgeon. Many people have GERD, or history of it, or the potential for it. I, for example, have terrible GERD and Barrett's, so after a few tests my bariatric surgeon and my thoracic surgeon (I also had a hiatal hernia) both said straight out that I was not a candidate for the sleeve. Many people who have never had GERD wind up getting it post-op, so if your family has a history of it, I would highly recommend researching on the net why the sleeve is so bad for people with GERD, and I would also highly recommend RNY instead. You can always get the sleeve now and get a revision to RNY later on if GERD becomes a problem, but why do two surgeries when you can just do one to take care of it all? I guess first I would just talk to your prospective surgeon(s) to hear what their thoughts are, and then move forward from there.

I really like this woman's site and blog - she has come up with some marvelous recipes that I look forward to trying: http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/ Here are two I found there: 1) Shelly's Dill & Onion Tuna Salad 1 can (5 oz.) Albacore Tuna 2-3 Tablespoon Greek Yogurt, plain several dashes of Dried Dill dash of Oregano 2 Green Onions, diced fine Salt & Pepper to taste Mix till well blended. 2) http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2009/10/terrific-tuna-salad.html

Okay, I decided to track myself today in MyFitnessPal - I knew I would be cutting back on the protein, and I wanted to see what it all would result in. Turns out it was a 391 calorie day, 79g protein, and all 64oz water (Powerade Zero). So, pretty good day, I think.

It works out to be something like 860cal if I follow the prescribed diet, but I'm finding I'm not able to get it all in, so calories are probably more like 600-700. They're fine with that, they just want me to focus on the 64oz hydrating fluids first, and then fit in protein if I can. For the hydrating fluids they said Powerade Zero was best for me, even better than water.

No reason, the imitation crab legs are soft, a good source of Protein and Omega 3 and 1 or 2 sticks goes down easy enough. Also, inexpensive. I haven't tried shrimp yet but a few shrimp could also go a long way provided they go down. Ahh okay, gotcha - thanks!

I don't know any other background info on you or your surgeon, so it's hard to assess, but if I were in that position, it would raise a bit of a flag for me, as RNY is considered the "golden standard" of WLS procedures, and it's usually the other way around, where the surgeon would prefer the patient get the RNY instead of the Sleeve for various reasons. I would immediately dig into the surgeon's background to find out her confidence level in performing RNY's versus Sleeves - how many RNY's vs Sleeves has she performed, how many issues resulted from each type, etc. If you want the RNY and she doesn't have a high confidence level in performing them, then you might want to find another surgeon.

Congrats!!

Topping off my first week out here, soft/mushy foods for me next so some of this I'll have to wait on, but great list - really appreciate you putting it together. Makes for good ideas of stuff to try out as I can. I noticed you mentioned imitation crab - why not the real thing?

Great tip - thanks! Just ordered the original and the Garlic & Herb versions.

It could be a number of things, but I'm going to hazard a guess and say it's the gas they pumped you full of to do the surgery. It'll take a bout a week for it all to dissipate, but it's common for it to cause achiness in your chest and shoulders. It affects people to different degrees. Best things to do are to keep walking, use a heating pad for your shoulders, and take GasX. Other than that you just have to wait it out.

Lol - I didn't have anything like this pre-op, but I'm 5 days out now, and last night I had a similar dream. I was out at a football party with a large food buffet, and I was so caught up in the party and football game that I just reached out and grabbed a big ole beef burrito. Made it halfway through the it before I realized what I was doing and freaked out, which woke me up. Whew! I think those sorts of anxiety dreams are normal for us facing a surgery and lifestyle changes as large as we're facing.

I'm only 5 days out and still on the liquid diet, so not tracking right now, but when I advance to soft foods I'll begin tracking at that point. For me it'll be a must,to keep me from slipping or forgetting,and to keep me on track and on schedule.

What kind/brand are you using? Have you contacted your NUT?

Which other app?

Yes - I just had surgery and gained about 8lbs while in the hospital. Now, at home, and finally shedding those pounds.

Wow, I can't believe your Weight Loss Surgery team would give you the surgery and then release you without telling you what your post-op diet should be. That seems pretty terrible of the surgical staff and NUT. I just had surgery on the 25th, so we're in a similar boat. If it helps, I can tell you what my NUT ordered for me: Stage 2 Diet Protein Shakes & Calorie-Free Liquids Daily diet will be ~900 calories, and 100+ grams of protein. Primary goal is to drink 48-64oz (or more) of Water and other calorie free and non-caffeinated fluids every day. Other goal is to drink 2oz of protein supplement every hour for a total of ~32oz per day (approx. 4 protein shakes). For protein shakes, use egg white, soy, or milk isolate (do not use a blend or concentrate). Be sure to mix with 1% lactose free milk or unsweetened soy milk (do not mix with water). Examples of the 64oz of hydrating fluids: Water, Crystal Light, Powerade Zero, sugar-free Koolaid, Decaf coffee, chicken and Beef broth, Pho Broth, Unsweetened, decaffeinated herbal or black tea, etc. Examples of liquids to AVOID: yogurt, tomato soup, cream soup, pudding, Jell-O, V-8, juicing your own juice or pureed items. Example schedule of daily intake (2oz liquid Protein supplement every hour for 16 hours per day = 32oz per day): 8am - 2oz protein 8:15am-9am - 4-6+oz hydrating fluids 9am - 2oz protein 9:15am-10am - 4-6+oz hydrating fluids 10am - 2oz protein 10:15am-11am - 4-6+oz hydrating ... etc. Hope this helps, but please reach out to your personal NUT and demand they tell you what your post-op diet should be!

The two things I did for discharge and ride home were to wear very stretchy and comfy clothes (I bought elastic waist band track pants with a tie that were slightly big for me) and a comfy pillow that I held firmly to my stomach to cushion the ride home. Both worked extremely well. Once home, elevated is advisable, and though I remained upright throughout the day, I did sleep flat (with two stacked pillows) and all was fine. By the second night home I was feeling good enough that I could sleep on my side. Personally, I'd stay away from the recliner. I might be nice, but it'd only be for a couple days - not worth the cost. Plus, the extra walking up and down the steps is exactly what you (all of us) need at that point.