terry1118

I bought appetizer forks, spoons, bowls and plates. I had my RNY over a year ago and still use them. Practicing helps but after surgery you might be very surprised at how little you feel like eating. Also, for me, food tasted bad the first month or two following surgery. I became a picky eater and still am. If you do eat to fast, too much, too dry, or don't chew well your body will punish you for it. It is a miserable feeling to have food get stuck, have the 'foamies', or throw it all back up. Once that happens it's a very good motivator to be more careful. Anything you do now to prepare yourself both physically and mentally will help you to be successful after. :-)

Common sense. I did all my own research by reading everything I could find on the internet, watching videos, talking to the few I knew who had WLS (one lap band, 2 RNY's), talking to my endocrinologist and my PCP, then attending the informational seminar. I made my decision to do RNY based on my particular needs.
This site was invaluable for those little tips from people a few months ahead of me in my progress that were not covered in my own research or program education workshops. Just talking to a peer group who understood everything I was experiencing was comforting, too. I like sharing personal experiences, getting encouragement and sometimes sympathy (and giving it). And where else can you find someone who understands the joy you felt when you could finally paint your own toes? :-)

Common sense. I did all my own research by reading everything I could find on the internet, watching videos, talking to the few I knew who had WLS (one lap band, 2 RNY's), talking to my endocrinologist and my PCP, then attending the informational seminar. I made my decision to do RNY based on my particular needs.
This site was invaluable for those little tips from people a few months ahead of me in my progress that were not covered in my own research or program education workshops. Just talking to a peer group who understood everything I was experiencing was comforting, too. I like sharing personal experiences, getting encouragement and sometimes sympathy (and giving it). And where else can you find someone who understands the joy you felt when you could finally paint your own toes? :-)

Common sense. I did all my own research by reading everything I could find on the internet, watching videos, talking to the few I knew who had WLS (one lap band, 2 RNY's), talking to my endocrinologist and my PCP, then attending the informational seminar. I made my decision to do RNY based on my particular needs.
This site was invaluable for those little tips from people a few months ahead of me in my progress that were not covered in my own research or program education workshops. Just talking to a peer group who understood everything I was experiencing was comforting, too. I like sharing personal experiences, getting encouragement and sometimes sympathy (and giving it). And where else can you find someone who understands the joy you felt when you could finally paint your own toes? :-)

You all crack me up!
Here is the rant I tried to post last night:
Please people, read the research papers that abound on this crazy thing called the internet about WLS. You know the vitriolic, name calling arguments that ya'll have been having over carbs, band vs vsg, vsg vs RnY? There are recent and good scientific studies about the pluses and minuses. (Good, meaning not funded by a medical company and peer reviewed, etc) And those questions and statements that vsg is mostly restrictive (it's not, actually)? A couple of new studies have shown it's mostly metabolic...
I could go on and on with examples but you get the idea. Why do I care, you ask? Here's why:
When one understands fully how and why each procedure works, you can make proper choices.
If you understand that vsg is mostly metabolic and you basically get a reset then you can make choices to keep that reset. If you read that new studies show the size of sleeve (ie 34 to 40 ish) makes no difference in weight loss but does in reflux...you can have a serious conversation with your doc. How much supplementation do you .really. need if you have had RnY? It's in a study...
It's your body and health. Don't count on a surgeon you see occasionally (or nut. Or strangers on the internet) to know it all. Know it all for yourself.
There is a lot of research happening with WLS these days because the results are phenomenal. Drug companies and institutions are performing basic research because they are looking for new drugs to produce. That's good news for us!
One last note: some of the studies are dense and even with a science background I can't follow the details. However, I can follow the basic argument and conclusions. I can decide if it's a well designed study. So don't let the 20 character long molecule names stop you!
Get reading people!
Rant over.
And now you can proceed to tell me why I'm wrong (isn't that what comes next with strangers on the internet?)

I agree with Terry - just do what your doctor tells you to do. We all see such variation in diets on this website - it gets confusing. I was way more restricted than some other people - but I just complied with my own Doc/NUT and I've been successful.
Interesting tip about alcohol - I've heard about the addiction transfer too! I'd like to become addicted to exercise instead

I chose my surgeon's group because of it's experience, national rating, and results. My PCP and endocrinologist both recommended him. Since I chose him, I also chose to follow his program as closely as possible, regardless of what other people say or do. The education I have received has been extensive. They clearly explain what I need to do, why I need to do it, and what can happen if I don't. In addition to classroom education, I have a thick binder w/highly detailed information on every aspect of WLS including possible problems, staying healthy, and food lists. They have provided all the information I need for short term and long term success.
A lot of my team's program are generally accepted practices proven to be successful with RNY surgeries over the years. Some of their program includes things they've learned through personal long term experience over the years. Each doctor may have slightly different experiences that may account for different instructions.
For example: My team says no alcohol for the first year. They say this for two reasons. One is transfer addiction - a common problem for WLS patients who have a food addiction. While learning to deal with the removal of one addiction, many quickly substitute another one. The other is liver failure - less common but potentially deadly. Your liver is working very hard to process toxins that are being released quickly from stored fat as you experience fast weight loss. Drinking alcohol during the early months of fast fat-burning can overload your liver and cause liver failure. They had a patient die from this not long ago so that is why they stress abstaining from drinking alcohol.
I'm just using this as an example of how my team's personal experience has affected their instructions. I'm not telling you to do as I do. Your own doctor probably has his own rules based on his/her own personal experience that may differ from mine. If you trust your doctor, follow his instructions.

My friend did this. Every female in her family had breast cancer so she was at high risk for it also. If I remember right, her insurance paid for it due to her high risk. Talk to your doctor...

I chose my surgeon's group because of it's experience, national rating, and results. My PCP and endocrinologist both recommended him. Since I chose him, I also chose to follow his program as closely as possible, regardless of what other people say or do. The education I have received has been extensive. They clearly explain what I need to do, why I need to do it, and what can happen if I don't. In addition to classroom education, I have a thick binder w/highly detailed information on every aspect of WLS including possible problems, staying healthy, and food lists. They have provided all the information I need for short term and long term success.
A lot of my team's program are generally accepted practices proven to be successful with RNY surgeries over the years. Some of their program includes things they've learned through personal long term experience over the years. Each doctor may have slightly different experiences that may account for different instructions.
For example: My team says no alcohol for the first year. They say this for two reasons. One is transfer addiction - a common problem for WLS patients who have a food addiction. While learning to deal with the removal of one addiction, many quickly substitute another one. The other is liver failure - less common but potentially deadly. Your liver is working very hard to process toxins that are being released quickly from stored fat as you experience fast weight loss. Drinking alcohol during the early months of fast fat-burning can overload your liver and cause liver failure. They had a patient die from this not long ago so that is why they stress abstaining from drinking alcohol.
I'm just using this as an example of how my team's personal experience has affected their instructions. I'm not telling you to do as I do. Your own doctor probably has his own rules based on his/her own personal experience that may differ from mine. If you trust your doctor, follow his instructions.

Terry, that's a great link. Thank you!

Here is one of the explanations I found. Much of the info I found when researching this was pretty much the same.
www.drdkim.net/ask-the-dietician/understanding-hair-loss-after-bariatric-surgery/

In addition, for the first week post op you're taking prescription pain killers which, though they help pain, can drastically affect how you feel. Most of us are in poor health BEFORE surgery and that affects how quickly you feel better, too. You just had MAJOR invasive surgery - rest as needed and follow your doctor's instructions. Give it time and you WILL feel better. :-)

Yes, I would do it again. I had RNY and never regretted it, not for a second. It was way more successful than I expected. I went from a 2X/22-24W to a sz6/small! I never dared to dream I could get that small! At best I was hoping for a size 14. :-)

Terry, of course, you're right -- there are multiple reasons for hair loss.
Here's the source I was quoting (which also cites pregnancy, etc.):
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/09/03/21-reasons-why-youre-losing-your-hair/

This has got to be hard to top! :-)

This has got to be hard to top! :-)

These are awesome!
This morning I wrapped a bath towel around myself. And it covered me. All of me, with an inch to spare. I had to just stare at myself in the mirror.

Nothing too funny for me, but funny for many others.... Apparently upon waking from surgery I had a FaceTime conversation with my sister. I sure don't remember but she said it was quite entertaining. Then my belly was so swollen she took pictures and sent them out telling everyone I got knocked up in TJ. And the creme de la creme.... I got C. diff from a dental procedure 1 1/2 months postop. This caused severe, uncontrollable diarrhea. One day at work ( I'm a vet tech) the " feeling" hit me and there was no time to get to the bathroom. I just grabbed a litter box from the cupboard and squatted. NOT a nice scene, yet highly entertaining to my work partner and anyone who heard the story ( which is most everyone in this small town). Some people still say "meow" when they see me.

It WILL grow back! It's only hair. :-)

It WILL grow back! It's only hair. :-)

I understand your frustration and sometimes 'bowing out' of a thread is all you can do if it heads in a direction that you find disturbing or uncomfortable. But I've always found your input thought-provoking and considerate. It is very hard to communicate with the written word because there is no tone of voice or facial expressions to soften or accentuate what we are trying to say. Things are easily misunderstood or taken out of context... and sometimes they unintentionally hit a sensitive spot in someone's life causing an unexpected reaction. We don't actually know each other and we all have these sensitive spots that trigger defensive responses. We need to keep things in perspective. :-)

I noticed only yesterday that my posture is better - without all the weight pulling you down you can stand and sit straighter, effortlessly, without consciously trying to. :-)

I think it's just appearances. I'm actually an inch shorter but I have mild scoliosis (curved spine) and carrying all that weight around for years made the curvature a little worse. My back was in constant pain while overweight but now I'm pain-free. :-)

I understand your frustration and sometimes 'bowing out' of a thread is all you can do if it heads in a direction that you find disturbing or uncomfortable. But I've always found your input thought-provoking and considerate. It is very hard to communicate with the written word because there is no tone of voice or facial expressions to soften or accentuate what we are trying to say. Things are easily misunderstood or taken out of context... and sometimes they unintentionally hit a sensitive spot in someone's life causing an unexpected reaction. We don't actually know each other and we all have these sensitive spots that trigger defensive responses. We need to keep things in perspective. :-)

I noticed only yesterday that my posture is better - without all the weight pulling you down you can stand and sit straighter, effortlessly, without consciously trying to. :-)