LosingItForMe2011

Head hunger is the toughest thing to work on but, you really have to work on it in order to keep the weight off. I know I have to work on it all the the time. Also...I've found that often when I "think" I'm hungry my body is actually thirsty. So I drink more Water and if the hunger goes away, that's what it was.

I found I had that as well around 3 months. It does get better but, you have to make sure you're getting in enough liquids. Dehydration can cause lots of issues. I found getting enough rest, drinking enough liquids and doing my best to get my Protein in helped with it. Definitely call your surgeon, you don't want to let it go too long especially if you're doing all of the above!

Hello BrianneP - I too was on full liquids when I left the hospital so that I could get my Protein via Protein Shakes. This is the first time I've heard someone as being on clear liquids for such a long time. How are you suppose to get your protein in with clear liquids? Although I will say my surgeon told me it's more important the first 2 weeks to get fluids in versus keeping my protein level up. She said if I can only do one, do Water so I'm hydrated. Every bariatric group is different though. I would highly recommend calling your bariatric center's nutritionist. They can help more than the surgeon in most cases, when it comes to eating/drinking. Good luck!

Hello Tmorgan...glad you're on the mend. How far out from surgery are you? Full liquids, if you're taking in Protein Shakes they will get you enough Protein until you can eat solids. I hope you feel 100% soon! Thinking of you!

Hmm at two months out I was moved to solids but, could only take in about 2.5 ounces at a time for me anyway. Chewing well is very important and keeping food moist.

Has your nutritionist given you a list you can follow? If not ask your doc/bariatric center they should supply you with a list of foods they recommend.

Welcome tnnorton and congrats on your surgery date. I'm a lapband to rny revision as well. Even though the lapband was removed, it's still considered revision.

Posting here is the best start to intro yourself as far as what's next.....Hope on into other posts on the boards, do lots of reading and ask questions.

Welcome to the boards!

Congrats to you. I guess I'm lucky in that, I'm actually friendly with my ex. He is an even better dad to our son after our divorce. It's been a while for us actually...11 years divorced but, we get along good. Much better than we did living together. We were young too when we got married.....I was picker 2nd time around

Hello firstplace,

I don't think the infection would cause your pouch to rumble. Is it your pouch that is rumbling or your stomach that detached? I find my "extra" stomach rumbles quite a bit and it feels funny and is loud. I know it's not my pouch because of how loud it is and i can tell it's not my intestines just because of the location. My surgeon said the extra stomach (not sure what else to call it) still produces enzymes/acids that we need so it's still working away in there. I'm assuming it gets full and has to release it and that's when I hear that noise as it churns. It doesn't hurt but, it sure is loud and I have it more so in the mornings but, it has happened in the evening with my husband asking me what that noise was. hahaha.

As far as only getting in 20 oz of Fluid.....your shakes count as part of your Fluid as well. If you have an infection it's REALLY important for you to get your Protein level up. I had a wound infection that was really deep. My doc told me to up my Protein intake up to 75 (I was on 50 per their instructions after surgery) and when I did get in the 70-75 I could see and feel a difference in the healing of the wound. My wound had to be packed daily by a visiting nurse and I was on an antibiotic as well. Big horse pill ones..yuck. Anyway...do what you can to up your fluid and protein intake. It will help you heal up quicker

Joy...Happy birthday and THANK YOU for telling your story. My deepest sympathy on the loss of your son. I can't even imagine what you had to go through. You're on track and telling your story, I believe will not only help others here but, also help you in that we're here to support you and work on our journies together. Congrats on your weight loss thus far and I wish you the best and offer my support in your journey in losing the rest. YOU CAN DO IT GIRL!

HI Sara, I had issues the four weeks or so. My new pouch would ache (not really hurt but, was uncomfortable) and make me feel as if I would get sick. But knowing i'd become dehydrated if I didn't drink or sip I forced myself to do it anyway. I did find that after a while it ached less and was more accepting. You will have to push yourself to keep drinking. If mashed potatoes aren't agreeing with you then maybe your body isn't ready for something so thick. You should trying thinning them out a bit or switch to something with more moisture like pureed Soups. Every doctors eating instructions seem to be different and you'll see that here for sure. I wasn't allowed mashed potatoes until my 5th/6th week. I had two weeks of liquids only....protein shakes, non-sugared drinks, and Water. After that it was Protein drinks, pureed foods such as Soups that fell into the less than 6 grams of fat, less than 14 grams of sugar catagory etc. Maybe mash potatoes at this point are too much for you. Everyone is so different for sure!

Another thing that helped me was testing different temperatures of what I took in. I swear each week a different temperature worked. It does get better...keep trying your best to get the liquids and Proteins in.

Vitamins.....for some it does make them feel sick but, try a different time of day. If first thing in the morning doesn't work...try at lunch or dinner time. It's really important to get them in especially if you can't get in much nutrients. There are lots of different chewables out there. I've had to try a few to get the flavors and sizes that agreed with me.

Good luck and I hope you feel better soon!

You will definitely lose and the best advice as far as knowing when you're full....eat slowly, chew well and do NOTHING else while you're eating or drinking your meal in the case of Protein shakes or Meal Replacements. You will definitely know when you've had enough. Remember to stop when you're "wondering" if the next bite or sip will be too much because it will be. Remember you can always finish that meal later on when you're not so full or there is room. You can do this!

I asked my doctor the success rate for losing weight with this surgery because I too have tried so many diets and failed...she told me, she has never seen someone not lose weight if they followed the eating and exercising rules given to them by her and the other bariatric team members. You know what.......she was right. I was so afraid I wouldn't lose and that this would fail but, I'm following her rules and it's coming off. It may be coming off slower than some but, it's my journey, my pace and it's coming off so I'm happy! It will come off for you to!

Welcome Lapband. I had a revision from band to RNY as well. Welcome to the boards!

I've worked with a therapist for this same purpose because it was a big decision to have this surgery and I didnt' want to replace the emotional eating with another bad habit.Meditation helps me as well as Reiki music and practicing Reiki. I also surf the net, play in here and Pinterest. On weekends I tend to clean house, read find things that will keep me busy. Crafting is another good busy thing to do and it gets my Christmas gifts going

No pre-op diet was given to me, I was just told to lose 10% of my bodyweight so that my liver would be in the best shape because it's the first to lose fat. Other than that no diet given...I pretty much put myself on a liquid diet a few days before because I figured it was best.

Well depending on WHO it is you can always walk away. If it's your immediate family that you live with well.....that's harder. Let me just say that when I started this journey I made it a point to keep reminding myself that this is MY journey and no one elses. Not my husband's, son's, co-workers' or neighbors. That I was going to have to live with my decision and other peoples food choices. That's right...their food choices because if they are eating around me, I can't make them stop eating the foods they love or help with their food issues. With that said, it was fortunate that the surgery helped me barely want to eat let alone crave foods that weren't good for me. I was so thankful for that! Later on, as I could eat more and moved through the food stages, it got to me sometimes what people around me were eating and I couldn't or was too afraid to because I felt it had too much sugar or fat in it. There were times I got mad...not at the person eating but, at the lack of being able to eat myself because the choices available were all bad or I was sick of salads! ON a recent trip to Disney, being 3 months out from surgery...it was tough trying to find foods that worked and were healthy. I managed and when I started getting aggrevated with hubby's choices I just reminded myself again that I chose this for myself and I can do this for me and for the reasons I had the surgery. It helped me alot. So while he ate his Burger King at the airport, I walked away to find something healthier for me.

It's not easy, and at times you'll have to walk away too...but you can do it YOU'RE WORTH IT!

It's good that you talked to him but, hold him to it! DO NOT let him drive your car especially if you can't afford to replace your car should he wreck it. No license then no insurance will cover you if they find out you allowed him to drive it. Definitely hold him to helping around the house if he's home all day. There is no excuse for NOT helping you out there. With kids houses won't be spotless but, the dishes can be done and things picked up and heck..dinner on the table or at least started. Resentment can build up and override any love that's in your heart so if you feel you love him but, this stuff is buggin' ya...definite say something and hold em to it.

Good luck!

I was going to say 3 weeks is way too soon for solid foods like that unless your surgeon/bariatric center said it was ok. The last thing you want to do at this time is have to throw up. You want to make sure your stitches, staples, incisions are healing up ok inside before taking on the solids. Blending foods will help make them into the mushy stage that you're probably on. I can't tell by your post if you just threw up today or not but, don't be surprised if it's harder to eat for a few days. Throwing up sometimes will make your pouch swell and feel as if it can't take in as much. I know that happened to me when I threw something up. I had to switch back to liquids/protein shakes for a few days after. Good luck and I hope you're feeling better.

Is the prior hospital far from you? If it's not I'd call them up or visit them, sign the necessary release papers and tell them you're going to pick up those records yourself on such a such a date. You'll get those records faster if you say you're going to pick them up. Then you can take them to your surgeon. It's faster to get copies yourself than to have them make copies and then mail them to your surgeon. You have a right to get your own records and within a reasonable time.

Jami...what info are you looking for? You'll always hear horror stories from people and you'll even read some here on the boards but, you'll also read how wonderful everyone is doing and what they've accomplished. The best thing to do is research on your own, read plenty of books (I recommend Weight loss surgery for dummies - very informative and an easy read) It's normal to be nervous and to have 2nd thoughts - if you didn't you should then worry why not LOL. Know that the best thing you can do for yourself is to follow the instructions given to you by your surgeon/bariatric center. If you follow those then that's the biggest step in staying healthy. Rethink about all the reasons why you chose this path...what brought you to this place and time of this decision to have WLS etc. Concentrate of getting the items you'll need for your recovery...protein shakes, trying them to make sure which ones you like or don't, get your Vitamins that you'll need, find a program you like to log your food....get shaker bottles, Water bottles, soft foods etc. Keep busy taking care of YOU and what you'll need and the time will fly by. Congrats on your surgery date and it will be here before you know it!

OH and stress will play a BIG part in how your pouch feels. I know all too well what stress does to eating and drinking. I have been practicing Reiki, meditation and playing soothing music while at work. They all tend to help me relax. You need to find what works for you and take the time to do it. It's not easy, I know that first hand...but I've been trying to put myself and health first for the first time in my life. Work will always be work.....as I've once read.....On your deathbed you won't be saying Gee if I only worked harder and longer, you're going to say....I wish I took the time to (insert).

One day at a time, one issue at a time and remember to take time for you

hey stephanie - at 5 weeks it was rough for me as well. I can tell you that getting fluids in is tough and my pouch hurt as well when I drank the Water. But I kept drinking anyway...you just have to. Eventually your pouch will give in and you will be able to drink with no issues or pain. It's very important to make sure you get in as much as you can. I can't say I got in all 64 ounces myself and still can't get all that in all the time but, I do sip all day long. It really does help you feel better too. As far as eating.....it's actually harder to eat too if you're dehydrated. It all revolves around staying hydrated. I highly recommend trying different temperatures of your fluids, sometimes that's what it takes. I also had to try different flavorings etc, until I found what would sit right. Keep pushing yourself to drink, you can do it and it will get better

Thinking of you

it will be here soon! Congrats and keep up the great work!

Things do happen for a reason whether we understand those reasons or not, it will come to us later. Take the time to research further, get to understand what you'll be going through later etc. that will help the time pass for sure. It will be here before you know it!

turkey chili....hormel makes a good one. You can put cheese on it and melt it.

Nows the time to prepare your home, your family and your mind for whats to come. Get all the Vitamins, Protein powders, Water etc that you're going to need after the surgery. Read some good RNY books (suggest Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies book - it was great), do more research, try lots of shakes and Protein foods, get a nice blender etc. it will help you pass the time and get you prepared.

Good luck and congrats!