The Greater Fool

Congratulations on your surgery. I don't have much to add. Your post makes it clear you know what to do and are focused on doing it. You know what to expect. Apparently you're not focused on weight, so I can't even do my "The scale is evil, get rid of it" thing. My RNY was open and not easy so it took a good month before I felt anywhere near not horrible. So I know how you feel. As you see, it is getting better.. Good luck, Tek

Welcome to the forums. Congratulations on your success. While you have different challenges than us post-ops it all comes down to changing habits and staying on plan. It would be interesting to hear what you are doing. Almost all of us have done successful diets in the past and often the downfall is AFTER the diet when we gained the weight back. So, stay focused on your plan even after you've lost your weight. I hope you're in the 3% of successful diets for MO folks. My opinion is your surgical status doesn't matter. We are in this together. Good luck, Tek

That's rough. Gosh, it's just too bad that you got exposed to the novel corona virus around, oh lets call it November 20 when you were getting your hernia repaired. The hospital says you must now isolate for 14 days. You really want to have Thanksgiving with the family, but you just simply will not risk their health. I'll have to settle for seeing everyone at Christmas. Darn. Good luck, Tek

My Doc warned specifically not to do this. Once it's in your mouth, it's easy to accidentally swallow then you've created a problem which is no fun to get resolved, unless of course you enjoy a getting a scope down your throat after a ton of pain and wretching a fresh surgery. I'm also not sure that you should be chewing such greasy foods at all. When you hit the puree stage, eating will be tough enough without adding grease. OK, I'm not big on telling early post ops how to not follow their plan, but as you seem intent on doing it: Puree the damn things. That way, if you screw up you won't kill yourself. You can still taste and spit, or whatever. But, really, focus on following your plan. Good luck, Tek

Welcome to the forums and congratulations. I hope you succeed in your goals. Good luck Tek

Except when I was binge running protein shakes were never part of my program and aren't now. First 6 weeks post-op was puree of the same foods I would eat later: 3 meals of 3oz protein, 1oz veggies. I don't count anything but meals, no calories, carbs, or anything else. No snacks. I don't do it perfectly, but I do it consistently. You will test to see if you dump. And it will be sooner than later. It's sort of a right of passage. Weirdly, the folks that don't dump are more distressed about it than those that do. Personally, I hoped for dumping. I lucked out. Good luck Tek

My name is Tek and I dump. Even *IF* you dump, I doubt you will be able to drink enough protein initially to cause it. So watch carefully as your volume increases because it can sneak up on you. Dumping syndrome (technically a complication) affects 20-50% of RNY patients. It is not a one size fits all statistic. It varies by surgeon and how much intestine is bypassed. More bypassed = more likely to dump. It also varies by patient because not all of us start with the same or even terribly similar intestine lengths or capacity or other genetic things that can impact... well... just about everything. Sugar alcohols affect non-ops just a bit less severely than post-ops. It's why they are common in actual laxatives. I never did Slim-fast, but recently I was not eating well so my spouse decided to get me premade low calorie breakfast protein drinks. Protein drinks are not on my plan, but I drank a couple and dumped each time (not severely). I accidentally threw the rest away... oops. "Sorry dear, I didn't know!" When I was binge running my Doc had be add a protein drink or two because without them I felt like I was eating all day and still losing too much weight. When I stopped I returned to my original plan. I don't recall particular brands I used but I do know they were chocolate and started as powder. Coulda been Nestle for all I know. A lot of this stuff, drinks, foods, drugs, activities, whatever, are trial and error. We each need to find what works for us with an eye to not developing bad habits that ultimately won't work for us. Good luck, Tek

Welcome to the forums. I am not a sleever, but at your stage things are not that different as you are just working to get past surgery. This may be tough for the first few weeks. Just keep doing as well as you possibly can. Keep pushing to do just a bit more, and eventually you'll get where you need to be. Soft/Puree you will get tons of options. I pureed my favorite proteins. Thai chicken, chicken alfredo (very light on the alfredo), Mongolian BBQ. It's amazing how they still taste great pureed. Hopefully your Doc/Nut also gave you ideas and concepts of foods you should eat. Our Docs/Nuts may not agree with your Doc/Nuts, best to follow your plan. Good Luck and keep plugging away. Tek

I haven't had VSG but you are welcome to jump in here and share your thoughts. It's just like chatting, but with long delays. Glad you made it home. Good luck Tek

OK... I just checked and 10k steps a day = 5 miles. You may have burned 500 calories. Woot! However, spread over the day I suspect you are not getting into an aerobic zone, so maybe not 500 calories. My sense is that a 5 mile walk would do more for you than 10k steps. Your plan should tell you how many whats you should consume. It's not up to us. For instance, my plan is specific that I eat 3 meals a day, 3oz protein, 1oz veggies. I count meals, not calories, carbs, grams, whatever. As always, it's not easy. You need to follow your plan religiously. Good luck, Tek

If it's not safe, they won't let you in. You should take every precaution to insure YOU do what you need to so that you don't become the danger. Good luck, Tek

Congratulations? When I had my RNY I had a hernia. I think they claimed I had GERD, but I honestly don't remember. They also took out my gaul bladder. Everything went swimmingly. Other than they couldn't get to all my gaul bladder, so I had to have a drain for a week or so. I understand the fear of complications. I won't share my litany of horror stories here. You'll be fine. Tek

It was my last 'real' meal. Haha, look how I talk, like I'm not eating real meals now. Tek

Congratulations. Success breeds success. Stay on plan and your mind will associate your plan with your success. Good Luck, Tek

Your second paragraph pretty much sums it up. People either give up or think they can do it without surgery. Your first paragraph I don't think is true. I don't think most people have an easy time of surgery. I know I didn't. Further, it's a fair bit of work to get approved. Honestly, insurance creates as many obstacles and work as they can because it will cause a certain percentage to quit. Others are scared of surgery, doctors, hospitals. Some rightly so. I hated going to doctors when I had a problem because it was always my weight. Further, as you say people are judged for being MO, so it's hard to go though a program to admit you need help. In many of our minds we BELIEVE it is a character flaw to be fat. And, again, giving up all that food. OMG, A 16oz Prime Rib, loaded baked potato, mushrooms, a good wine, that I will NEVER have as much as I want again! is a tough row to hoe for some people. Don't forget all the dieting competition. WLS is the enemy product, so it is villainized. WLS horror stories, I know I read many and had to accept it could happen to me. Many can't. Boy, I can go on an on, can't I Tek

I'm always a nudge on this, but what does your plan say about snacks? Especially at 6 weeks, all of our plans are different. For example, my plan does not include snacks at all. My Doc believed it was a bad habit to develop. Other plans insist on snacks. But, every plan I've seen than includes snacks has a concept of what they should be. So... what does your plan say? Once we know this, folks can come up with options that would work within your plan. Unless, of course, you've opted to go off plan, then... nevermind. Tek

I expected just such a reply. Good luck, you'll need it. Tek

I would contact my Doc pretty quickly. While you may be correct about it being your GB, it could also be referred pain of a heart issue, GERD, Hernia, or who knows what. I am not a Doc, but I watched HOUSE recently, so I can say this for sure: It's never lupus. Good Luck Tek

Welcome to the forums. About the only advice to offer is to get back on your plan. Religiously. It worked before, it can work again. If you aren't active or even exercising, perhaps do some of that. 1,000-1,200 calories may or may not be appropriate, it depends how those calories are made up. 1k of carbs <> 1k of protein. Good Luck, Tek

What is your plan at this point? What others eat is beside the point because we are not on your plan. Knowing your plan, I'm sure folks can come up with good suggestions. Tek

Definitely a Doc question. Tek

Welcome to the forums. Good luck on your preparations and surgery. Tek

Congratulations on making it through surgery. I don't recall feeling particularly chipper on day 3, of course I was still in the hospital. For context, my surgery was open and other things were also being done. By about day 4 I was afraid I was going to die. By day 6 I was afraid I wouldn't. Then it got better tolerably well. Effectively not eating for 3 days after a difficult surgery it would be amazing if you didn't feel like crap. Just focus on getting protein (drinks?) and fluids. Do the absolute best you can. It's all you can do. You will do better quickly. Don't expect to feel less that yucky for several days yet, but each day you should marginally improve. Keep plugging away. Tek

If it's on their website, it's their current policy.

I looked this up for you: https://www.azcompletehealth.com/content/dam/centene/policies/clinical-policies/CP.MP.37.pdf Tek