MsCook

Your foot doctor is truly doing you a favor by recommending this for you. I am only 2 weeks post-op and, with my pre-op liquid diet, have lost about 32 pounds. Even that relatively small amound has made a huge difference in my energy levels and my comfort in mobility. It will for you too!

I am also a tummy sleeper, but I found that I could at least sleep on my side/front if I wedged a soft pillow under my tummy area. Sometimes had to move that setup from side to side, but it beats sleeping flat on your back which I really cannot do.

There are no calories that can seep through the TV, I promise! I, too, love to watch Food Network, but have cut my viewing of that WAY back because it really does make me hungry... at least in my head. LOL!

You could try hummus or really mashed egg salad.

If you haven't already, try Chef Paul Prudhomme's "Seafood Magic" seasoning on broiled or baked fish, scallops, shrimp, almost any seafood. Available in most grocery stores' spice area. YUMMY!

I've lost a total of 30# in 30 days (17 days pre-op and 13-days post-op). I had lost 17 before surgery and the balance after (that is, after losing the fluid weight and then beginning to lose further). I have heard that it is realistic to lose a pound a day for the first 0 - 90 days. I'm hoping that works for me to day 90+. :-)

Awesome! Good for you. Can't wait to be right there too and able to say I have lost 70#!

I haven't felt nauseated but agree with a "yucky" not-feeling-well (tummy ache, not nausea) sensation when I begin to get empty/hungry.

Jade, I noticed the same thing! You really can tell where it is and where it's going! Weird yes, but what a great feeling of control over what's happening with your body. If you're empty, eat and feel satisfied with just a little. If you're full or over full, relax and let it work its way through the system.

Congratulations! Give yourself time to heal and recover. You'll do great!

Good one! Seafood is naturally low fat and yummy!

Hi all. Sorry I've been away for a couple of days---back to work! So, here are my suggestions for you: Pre-Op: Hang in there! You can do this! It's a long haul during the liquid diet, but it truly is for your benefit. Get all your last minute questions ready for the surgeon. Hospital: Wear something very comfy for surgery day and plan to wear the same thing home from the hospital if you can. (less to keep track of while you're there). The hospital should have most everything you need but you might want small items of your own toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, etc) as the hospital ones are, well, medicinal and pretty generic. Remember your phone and charger. You won't need alot else besides possibly a magazine or book to read--more while you're waiting and less after surgery. While recovering, you'll be busy walking, being checked by nurses, and sleeping. You'll NEED the recovery time in the hospital just to rest. Chapstick would be a good thing to bring along and also don't forget any feminine or incontinence products you might need as the hospital's are AWFUL if you have to get one from them. If you get nervous or anxious with medical procedures, ask your surgeon to prescribe something (like Xanax) for you to help with this. Most gladly will. Post-Op: Give yourself at least a week of doing nothing but resting and being at home. Plan to have someone there to help you for at least the first few days. Know that you will leave the hospital at least 5 - 10 pounds HEAVIER than when you went in. Don't worry! It's all Water and Fluid retention and will be gone very quickly. Also, don't be surprised if you have itching across your abdomen as you heal. It can be crazy itchy. Some are helped by Cortaid Anti-Itch spray and others are helped more by Benedryl Anti-Itch spray. The one that helps you most will depend upon the cause of the itching. If it's just healing itch, the Cortaid will help. If there's a bit of an allergy/histimine reaction (to either the sutures, the Steri-strips, or the bandage adhesive) then the Benedryl will work better. Speaking of bandages, when you have bandage residue on your skin (and you will!), use a cotton pad with baby oil or olive oil to remove the last of the stick stuff. Those are the things top of mind for me. I'm sure others will have input to add. To those of you going in for surgery in the next few days, best of luck to you! You'll be fine.

I've heard all of the above about the carbonation causing stretching, as well as the very real part about caffeine in general. My surgeon says you can have diet soda if you must but sip slowly and letting it go flat first would be even better. It seems it's not so much that it would stretch your pouch but the carbonation takes up valuable real-estate in your little pouch and could prevent you from consuming the healthy things you need for nutrition. But since water or one of the many, many sugar-free flavoring options are so readily available and quite tasty, why go back to soda?

Stay with us, Lindsey! You can do this! Just the fact that you have set yourself on this path shows that you have hope for the future and that you are a strong person who is taking charge of her life. Perhaps in addition to all of the other great suggestions here about using this time to ready yourself, you might want to spend some serious self-reflection time around what you want out of life, where you see yourself after you lose the weight, and establish a plan to get there. I know it sounds cliche, but really it is as simple as planning the work and then working the plan to get where you want to be. Lean on all your resources during this difficult time and let everyone--family, friends, and everyone here--help you. It's a big life change and you deserve the wonderful outcome on the other side of this. Stay the course! God bless!

Cheri, I'm happy to offer any suggestions that would help you. In general, I would say continue to be hopeful and patient. Is there any area in particular you are looking for advice on? Hospital? Pre-op? Post-op? Recovery? ...

Aww! So sorry that you are by yourself--at least physically. We're all here for you on RNY Talk. I know it's not the same, though. Wishing you and your husband speedy recoveries in order to be back with your little one soon.

Believe me, it will go by SO fast! Good luck on your journey.

I take four things daily and my doctor had me resume taking the pills by mouth on the day I got home from the hospital. I haven't had any issues at all with it and one of my pills is fairly large--not a horse pill... maybe just a pony pill.

Wow! You'd think that a doctor's office that specializes in this kind of surgery would have the sense to provide large enough gowns for their patients! We're not doing this because we're already a size 4, right?! Hang in there. All the poking, prodding, and obstacles will be so worth it in the end.

Go get 'em, LoveAlways! You can do this! We all can... and we WILL!

You're never too old to do this, KristiKay. In the very first informational meeting that I went to, there was an 80-something woman who was one of my surgeon's patients and she had it done about 10 years prior. So, don't rush into something that you are not sure of. That said, you could enjoy many, many more years of svelt, active life and do a LOT of things you probably can't or don't now because of weight. That's the way I looked at it. Not to mention, it's a good way to head off those sure-to-come health problems that result from the obesity. If you need a recharge of motivation, I suggest 2 things: 1. Go onto YouTube and search for Gastric Bypass Success Stories. There are many there and seeing their stories is motivational. 2. Go to www.obesityhelp.com and look at all of the before/after photos on their home page. They change them regularly and there are LOTS to look at. Every one of them is impressive and many are truly inspiring. Hang in there!

You bet, KristiKay. I will continue to share my experiences for that very reason. I was in your shoes not so very long ago and this site was very helpful to me in letting me know what to expect. And now, it helps me to see what others are experiencing. Sharing what I am doing, feeling, and accomplishing is the way that cycle continues. Best to you on your journey and in your decision-making process. I'm only a week post-op but I truly believe this will have been the best thing I've ever done for MYSELF. Feels great!

Good luck to you! It will be so worth it. Try not to get your hopes overly extended until you know exactly what is required to get insurance to cover it. Then, once you know, just power through each of the requirements one by one and it WILL happen. You'll find yourself where I was last week, saying "Wow! The last 6 months have gone by so FAST and I can't believe surgery is really this week!"

She's right... it does get better day by day at home. I am a week post-op and it gets a little better every day. For so many of us this seems to slow down our busy lifestyles and makes us feel like things have come to a screeching halt. Really, it will get better with each day. Just rest, walk, sip, and rest some more. At a week post-op, I feel good but still tire easily and need to rest occasionally. Hang in there! And don't be surprised at your weight being UP when you get home. I was up 7# when I got home (as I've also heard others say) due to all the IV fluids. But it only takes a couple of days to go away and then you're losing again! Woohoo!

Yes, Jade, it's definitely the fluids. I had RNY on Friday 8/10 and was up 7 pounds when I got home on Sunday. I know it's startling, but it goes away very quickly. By Tuesday I had lost back to the pre-surgery weight plus 1.5#. So, don't worry! BerlyAnn, you could try "Little Tummies" simethecone drops. It's basically anti-gas for babies and about 2 dropperfuls helps a lot.