Sunnyway

I've mentioned in other posts that I had complications post-revision surgery. I became profoundly depressed while in hospital for weeks without knowing when I would be able to leave. My Wellbutrin was bumped from 150mg XR to 225mg daily and it helped tremendously. Once I was out of rehab and back home the extra dose was discontinued. You might talk to your doctor about adding a bit more during this slide you are in.

Several companies sell protein soup mixes. Those would count as meals, but not those without protein. Count those as fluid. You don't need to be concerned about "meals" right now. Count your protein grams and your ounces of fluids. Bariatric Advantage and BariWise sell powdered protein soups and probably others. You can also add unflavored protein powder, such as Genepro, to non-protein broths and drinks.

I was wrong! Smucker's sugar-free jam is just 10 kcal per Tbsp!

I have an arthritic back and a bum knee so walking long distances is difficult for me without a rollator or cane. This is how I get my exercise when I'm not at the YMCA pool. "Alinker" walking tricycles are powered by our feet, not pedals or motor. I try to do at least a mile or more daily--on pavement, not gravel! My cat often runs with me around my neighborhood and my friend's little dog sometimes runs with her or rides in her basket. I’ve had mine for almost two years. I got mine before I started my weight loss journey even though I was well over the recommended weight limit. At first I could only go about 50 feet and my heart would be pounding and I’d be short of breath. There is a steep learning curve. In the beginning they are NOT EASY to ride. but people with Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Rheumatoid Arthritis, amputations & paralysis can use them successfully. I decided so can I! Now I can go 2 1/2 miles at one time but usually go about a mile. I tend to run rather than walk on the level but it's hard work to go up hills! I can go up moderate rises, but if the hill is steep I stand up and walk it or get off and push it. It gets easier with practice. I rode two miles today including a couple of hills. It’s a lot of fun, especially when my cat runs with me. My friend and I are planning to run a 5k next spring with the trikes. I haven't traveled with mine yet but my friend has. She rides hers right up to the jetway at airports and gate-checks it. Alinkers are mobility devices and are permitted anywhere wheelchairs can go. Unfortunately, they are expensive, about $2600 in the US, but they do have a rent-to-own and crowdfunding programs. Sometimes used ones can be found on eBay and elsewhere. A good 2-wheel bicycle is expensive, too, and electric ones are even more pricey. For more information visit the website at alinker.com and Alinker on YouTube. They have a member-only Facebook page also.

Yes, depression is not uncommon post bariatric surgery. Medication may be the way to go, at least temporarily. I have had clinical depression for at least four decades and have been taking bupropion (Wellbutrin), an NDRI, for 20 years. I have no side effects. SSRIs an SNRIs did not work for me or only worked briefly. It's important for you to work with a psychiatrist for medication. They know far more about psychotropic meds than primary care physicians. Please bear in mind that there is no one-size-fits-all psychotropic medication. To find the antidepressant that works for you is a trial and error process. It may take numerous trials. Hang in there, it does get better.

The best advice I can give is to return to your pre-surgery food plan. My clinic uses a "liver reduction" plan which is high protein, low carb, high vegetables/fiber, and occasional 30g protein drinks I am post RNY>RNY revision on 12/21/21 and losing very slowly after losing a lot (70 lbs) pre-surgery). It's frustrating. Because of complications post surgery I have no more consumption restriction than I had pre-surgery, so I have to strictly track my food intake, calories, and protein on the Baritastic app. I'm getting about 1000-1200 kcal per day now. The clinic wants me to eat 800 kcal. I can stick to the diet for meals, but struggle with craving between meals. I'm like a zombie staggering to the refrigerator at 3pm, 8pm, and bedtime. The cravings are irresistible. I want ANYTHING! While I have been choosing "good" food, like fat-free Greek yogurt or fat-free cottage cheese and fruit, I'm exceeding the calorie count they want me to maintain. I don't eat sugar, flour, white potatoes, rice, and processed foods because I am a sugar/food addict and these are "trigger foods" for me. I've recently found a few snack foods that are satisfying the craving for these things. For "bread" I've discovered low-cal, low-wheat Ak-Mak Sesame Crackers, WASA Crisp'n Light Crispbread, & WASA Light Rye Crispbread at 20 kcal per cracker. For sweets I like Smucker's Sugar-Free Jam at 25 kcal per Tbsp. A single cracker with a tablespoon of the sugar-free jam often satisfy the urge to stuff my mouth. If not, two surely will. I'm still not meeting the 800 kcal goal, but getting closer. Good luck getting back on track with eating healthy. Get exercise, too!

I had revision at age 73, 30 years after my RNY. I was on the bariatric clinic’s program for eight months prior to the revision surgery. I lost 70 pounds pre-surgery by cutting out all sugar, flour, white potatoes, rice, and processed foods. I’ve lost a total of 106 pounds to date. There were complications from the revision surgery so it did not result in any consumption restrictions. The additional weight loss is due to sticking with the plan above. I encourage you to do some reading about sugar and food addiction. I recommend the following books. Food junkies: recovery from food addiction, by Vera Tarman Why Diets Fail (because you’re addicted to sugar), by Nicole Avena & John Talbot Weight loss surgery does not treat food addiction, by Connie Stapleton

DTMFA

I lost 70 lbs pre-surgery by cutting out all sugar, flour, white potatoes, rice, and processed food. If dieting has been difficult for you, I encourage you to read about "food addiction". Here are some of the books that helped me.

I had "delayed dumping syndrome" after eating Culver's batter fried cod (which was delicious). 24 hours later I had severe abdominal pain that kept me up all night and in discomfort for several days. I never suspected dumping syndrome. I feared a bowel torsion and called the surgeon's office after the first night and went in the following day. I did have bowel movements so I was reassured that it was not torsion but rather delayed dumping syndrome. It happened again 2 weeks later when I ate smoked whitefish. Excessive fat is what triggered the attacks, and I learned a convincing lesson about avoiding fried foods and fats. I don't eat things with sugar, so have never had that kind of dumping syndrome.

Avoid OJ and other fruit juices because they are practically liquid sugar. Whole fruit has fiber which helps the body metabolize the natural carbohydrates, whereas fruit juices do not. Diet 5 Cranberry juice contains no sugar so it is an exception. V-8 and tomato juice should be fine, but see how you react to them.

I had RNY in 1990 and regained all I lost. I always blamed myself but now know that the surgery failed due to a fistula between pouch and stomach. I didn't know that revision was even possible until 2020, just before the pandemic struck. I started the bariatric program in early 2021. I discovered that I am a food addict with trigger foods: sugar, wheat flour, rice, white potatoes, and processed food. I cut out those foods and the result was fantastic! I lost 70 lbs prior to surgery. Despite this success, I went ahead with laparoscopic revision surgery on 12/21/21 at age 73. I weighed 247 at the time of surgery, down from 317. Unfortunately, I fell in that very tiny group of bariatric surgical patients that develop serious complications. Ten days after my revision surgery, I was airlifted back to the hospital with peritonitis and sepsis, caused by a rupture of the jejunum below the anastomosis. I was hospitalized for 7 weeks and underwent three endoscopic procedures and two open surgeries before they finally found and corrected a residual abscess. I left the hospital with a 15-cm long open surgical wound, which took 8 more weeks to fully close. I am now fully recovered and am back to exercising daily. The endoscopic procedures stretched the new anastomosis so I have no more restriction than I had pre-surgery, so I still have to be very careful about what I consume. I typically go through month-long stalls and then drop a few pounds. I do lose inches during the stalls. I've dropped from size 32/4X to size 20/XL and now weigh 214 lbs., just past the 100 lb loss mark. After being on a restricted diet for over 16 months I struggle with near-irresistible cravings in the afternoon and evenings. The clinic wants me to limit intake to 800 calories. 😱 It is daunting because I know I will never be able to go on a "maintenance" diet and must continue to avoid my trigger foods forever. Even when I choose protein snacks in response to cravings, each snack adds 100 or more calories to the daily total so my daily calorie count is between 900-1200 calories. (I will gain weight at 1500 calories.) I've done a trial of weight loss drug CONTRAVE but had to discontinue due to side effects. This is a horror story, but don't let it dissuade you from your revision. Complications are extremely rare.

Interesting...I've often drunk room-temperature pre-made shakes. Most people prefer them chilled. Whey-based powders tend clump if the drinks are heated. Plant-based powders can be more successfully heated in the microwave. I fixed an Orgain, "Peppermint Hot Chocolate" shake for breakfast, added a teaspoon of espresso powder, mixed well, and nuked for 1 minute in the microwave.

Sip, sip, sip! You cannot "drink" yet, you must sip.

I had RNY to RNY revision surgery on 12/21/21. I thought I was fine, slowly recovering, until 10 days later when I started coughing up blood. I was airlifted back to the surgical hospital with a perforated jejunum at the anastomosis and SEPSIS. I had emergency surgery and was close to death for several days. I was in the hospital for 7 weeks and in a rehab facility for 3 weeks. I was discharged with a 15 cm long open surgical wound which is still not entirely healed 3 months later (but getting close). I resumed normal activities after returning home and have no pain from the open surgical wound. I have volunteer nurses who come to my home to do dressing changes, now every other day. Because of three necessary endoscopic procedures looking for leaks or abscesses my anastomosis is stretched and I have no more restriction than I had before the revision surgery. I had lost 70 lbs prior to surgery by cutting out all sugar, flour, rice, white potatoes, processed food. I've lost 25 more since the revision. I've been told to get 90 mg protein daily and to limit my calories to 800--which is VERY difficult. To add insult to injury I'm starting to lose my hair, too. I'm really struggling with cravings in the afternoon and night. We are now considering a prescription for CONTRAVE. Do I have regrets for having the revision surgery? Of course! I wish I had left it alone. I wish my surgeon had aborted the revision when he found I had dense adhesions. However, I'm well now and am approaching a 100 lb weight loss.

Call your doctor's office. They may want to examine you. An abscess could develop in that area.

Try cutting out all foods containing sugar, flour, rice, white potatoes, and processed food (which is anything in a bag or box on the inner aisles of your supermarket).

Try plant-based protein drinks, such as Equate and Orgain. You may like them better than whey-based. Also try fruit flavored powder like Isopure and bottled Protein20.

I came to the conclusion that I am a food addict after reading several books These books also tell one how to deal with the addiction. Boiled down to the basics: one must avoid trigger foods just as an alcoholic must abstain from alcohol. The usual trigger foods are are sugar, flour. white potatoes, rice, and processed food. "Processed food" is anything in a bag or box in the center aisles of the supermarket. Shop the exterior aisles where one finds fresh produce, meats, poultry, dairy, and frozen vegetables. There is a withdrawal period that is uncomfortable, but after a couple of weeks the cravings for the trigger foods diminish. Unless one of the trigger foods is sitting right In front of me, I no longer have difficulty avoiding them. I have lost 93 lbs by cutting out these things, 70 lbs prior to RNy revision surgery and another 23 lbs to date post surgery, I recommend these books Food Junkies: Recovery from Food Addiction by Vera Tarman Weight Loss Surgery Does Not Treat Food Addiction by Connie Stapleton Why Diets Fail (Because you're Addicted to Sugar) by Nicole Avena & John Talbott

I have bad knees, one of which was replaced but still hurts two years later. As a result, I cannot walk long distances even if I use a cane or rollator. Instead, I do aquatic exercise and use fins and a kick-board to swim laps at the local YMCA pool. I started using the pool before I had total knee replacement in a "Hip & Knee Class" recommended by my orthopedic surgeon. I liked it so much that I continued in the class for a year after surgery. Then COVID struck and everything shut down. A year later, in April 2021, I was so discouraged by being at home all the time and not getting exercise, I called three people who had been in the "Hip & Knee" class and suggested that we return to the pool. The YMCA was not yet holding classes, but the pool was open again. We knew the routine down pat. We started going for an hour each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. In September, the YMCA started offering aquatic classes again. The four of us signed up for the "Senior Stretch & Tone" aquatic class AND the "Knee & Hip" class back to back! Yikes! The class meets only on Mondays and Wednesdays, but we go on Fridays, too, so we get five hours of exercise weekly Since the Senior Stretch and Tone class uses some of the same exercises that the original Hip & Knee class used, we started using the second hour of class to develop strength by swimming laps using kick-boards and flippers. The fins make us work harder, kicking from the hips instead of the knees, and we are getting a good aerobic workout, By increasing the number of laps by two each time, I finally swam 1/2 mile or 18 laps last Friday. I'm going to try to increase by two more laps each time I go. I want to be able to do a mile (36 laps) by summer. I'll have to take a break after my upcoming revision surgery, but I've been told that as soon as the incisions are healed I can go back to the pool. Maybe by spring I'll have lost enough fat that I will no longer float like a beachball, and will be able to actually SWIM rather than kicking.

Dash salt substitute, formerly called “Mrs Dash”

I think you are doing the right thing by adapting but you should discuss with your dietitian.