Roostertail2

Lexie - I am just right at 6 weeks post op. I went through the same thoughts as you did! I had several "last" dinners and "last" cupcakes! It didn't matter that people here were telling me that I would eat again - I felt like I would not! Well, I believe in being honest so here goes.....I am not really hungry so eating is NOT the same as it was before. Each phase I have had to go through has been somewhat of a chore because of gag reflex and other issues, but I made it through them all. Now that I am at the stage where I could eat anything I wanted to ( as long as I am willing to suffer the consequences of course) I find that I have more of a hard time just finding something that looks good, smells good and tastes good to my pouch. The same foods that once were my downfalls, now don't really even appeal to me. Its crazy - and I know that as time passes things will probably change again as I heal and get accustomed to my pouch - and I am sure that the loss of hunger is only a temporary thing too so soon it will all be will power that has to keep me from the bad stuff - but I can only take each step and do what I can do..It sucks going through all the diets you have to go through - but it is a journey you have to take in order to make it to the other side of things. Your going to miss crunching things in your mouth, your going to miss taking a big bite of something and only chewing 4 or 5 times, your going to miss mixing potatoes with your corn ( cause you have to eat your Protein first and nothing else will fit). Your going to miss bread and chips and so many other things....BUT if you can make it through the cravings - which by the way your stomach wont let you eat those things anyway) you will soon find that you miss those things less and less and before you know it you can start adding some of them back into your diet (only healthy versions) I have wanted something crunchy since all this started on August 5th - but even though I was cleared days ago for solids - I have yet to rush out and buy pretzels or other crunchy items! Just go into this knowing that things will change - lots of things to learn -lots of things you will still have questions about no matter how much reading you do! But keep thinking about the person you want to be in a year and you will do it!!!

Having same issues with energy! Normally I was fine all day at work - lot of energy - now I just want to fall asleep at my desk! At home I have stairs and it honestly takes everything out of me to make it up the stairs without feeling like I ran a marathon! I am not a person who has ever really had mobility issues, Ive always been a chunky girl - but was not what you would call totally out of shape - so not having ANY energy is really sucking! Synthroid is medication for hypothyroidism ( I am also taking it and have for years) it doesn't do anything like give you energy - it just helps your thyroid work like it should... Hope that everyone is right and we all get our energy levels up in next month or so. My family will really appreciate it! I did this to have a better life - one that I can enjoy with my kids..but for now I am more of a hermit than I was before! Once loved to shop but heck I don't have energy to walk around the store!! BUMMER

My Dr suggests Dulcolax and Miralax. I drink a very small amount of the Miralax in my coffee each morning - then on Friday at bedtime I take a dulcolax. It seems to be working pretty well. I am someone who has always had an issue with this though so a week is not a major concern for me! lol

Sending Quest bars back for refund! lol ...so glad they have 100% satisfaction guarantee!!..Well didn't have stricture, Dr prescribed liquid reflux meds to coat my stomach to see if that helps. Doing much better past few days! I found Atkins frozen dinners have now become my new favorite things! Packed with Protein so I am ALMOST able to meet my goal each day without force feeding shakes down my own throat! scale has also moved - weigh in this morning and I have lost a total of 26 lbs since surgery!!! YEAH!!!! Only 85 more to go! I may get to the end of this journey as a starving, bald headed, dehydrated, constipated, saggy ass and boobs shell of a woman - but I am going to make it! lol

I'm in villa rica...down 20 past douglasville

Problem is I DID have RNY! They prescribed me some liquid reflux medicine to coat my stomach. Last night I had a really hard time. I threw up once and then dry heaved for almost 2 hours non stop. At one point I was heaving so bad I couldn't catch my breath! Normally I just regurgitate so this was the first time things actually came up from stomach! Only had a few small bites of soft food so not sure what happened. It was the first time I really questioned doing this whole thing! I am back to my senses today so don't feel that way now. I know there will be days that I don't feel good so I need to be prepared for them. My family was wanting to take me to the emergency room but I told them no - I am not wasting money just to have them tell me I am dehydrated and give me fluids and a nausea shot! I already knew I am dehydrated I cant get in the liquids like I am supposed to and it is catching up with me...So today my best friend who also works with me is being a water demon and making me drink a glass of water every 1-2 hours!

I'm down 20lbs so far which is ok I guess.. I just don't know how to get in everything I supposed to. Never been a big drinker so even water is an issue. Most days I'm lucky just to get in 20oz. Then I'm supposed to eat 3 small meals and 2 snacks while trying to down at least 60g of protein! Not able to do any of it so far! Lucky to get down 30g - 40g of protein and that's thanks to the quest bars. Snacks are out of the question since after eating my "meal" which is about 5 bites I am so full I could go rest of day without eating! I know I have got to get on a schedule it's just such a daunting task!!

No stricture in esophagus but have reflux.. Wth - thought I didn't have to worry about that anymore???!!!

So now that I am on regular foods I figured I could go to the big boys of protein make up for all that I have missed the past 4 weeks. Guess what - Cant tolerate Salmon, tuna or eggs!!! SOOOOOO upset over that! Salmon and eggs have always been 2 of my favorite foods. I ate grilled salmon at least 3 times a week..and there was never a bad way to cook an egg in my book. Well they all just come right back up! I am scheduled for an upper GI tomorrow so hopefully the cause is a stricture ( have had regurgitation issues for past couple of weeks even when it is just liquids) and not just my body saying heck no to these! If that is the case I am screwed! Oh - and the quest bars that everyone was raving about...they taste like lightly seasoned cardboard! lol. I have 3 cases I have to get down - so I am making myself eat 2 a day...

Just so you know - Nicotine stays in urine for up to 5 days. I investigated all of this because I also had to quit before my surgery! I smoked up til the week before my preop and didn't go back until after the surgery 2 weeks later. YES I am one of those people who quit and went back! Don't need to hear all the blah blah blah about it. I thought about smoking all day every day and just couldn't handle being a non smoker! I enjoy smoking for the most part and missed it so I started back up! Anyway - as long as you quite 1 week before any urine or blood tests you will be just fine. Hell I quit because I was told my Dr wouldn't touch you if you had nicotine in your system - but they didn't even test me!!!!

I have had issues with Protein because I cant handle the shakes! Today I made the decision to go against my NUTS advice and started eating Quest bars - I have had 2 today and that gave me 40g of protein - that is 30 more than I normally get in a whole day! I have not had an issue with the bars so far so I am hoping this will resolve the problem because I feel the lack of protein is my problem with energy as well. Most days I can barely climb the stairs when I get home from work to get up to my bedroom! I am tired all day but am able to make it through because I have a fast paced job - but the minute I get in my car to drive home it is as if all the energy just drains out of me! I just pray that I didn't have too much damage by not getting in any protein for past 4 weeks!

Kyrick - I have a great NUT who is on call anytime I need her - so if you have any questions your more than welcome to ask and if you don't get the answer on here that you need I will call her and ask for you! The thing is NUTS are soooo different from one person to another. It really is amazing how different our diet requirements/limitations are considering we all had same surgery! I understand if start weight or medical conditions warrant a variance of dietary needs, but you would think the basics would be the same? Yet some people move to the next level weeks before others..I have found that even after talking and meeting with my NUT several times that really she hasn't told me anything that wasn't common sense - things like eating Protein first, veggies next and then starch if you have room - or stay away from cupcakes! lol I also think that no matter what they tell you - YOU know your body better than anyone does, so if you feel you are ready for the next food stage (within reasonable amount of healing time) then try it. One of 2 things will happen - either your pouch will thank you or it will make you regret ever looking at that meal! lol

I am scheduled for the Upper GI Tuesday so we shall see! I just hate the thought of wasting money and time for it to be nothing. I have tried to pay attention to make sure its not me eating too fast or not chewing good enough...

I am 4 weeks post op so can only tell you what I know thus far. I had robotics RNY on 8/5. Was scared going in but as soon as they gave me the happy shot doing remember even going to sleep! Woke up and was very sick to my stomach - but that always happens every time I have ever had surgery. Once I got past that stage and was taken to my room I slept a little bit. Woke up and was AMAZED that I wasn't in very much pain. I got up and walked as soon as I could and continued to walk every hour I was awake. Never had gas pains and I thinks that is why. Didn't eat any of the "broth" but felt like the popsicles were a god send! Was sore but again not really in what you would call pain - so didn't have to ask for anything more than what they were giving me and didn't even ask for anything the following day. Was released on the 6th. For the first couple of days I was so afraid to put anything in my mouth but I forced a few shakes down (have not been able to drink them since first week! YUCK) and sipped on broth a couple of times a day. Have not really had any hunger - just eat because I know I have to. Issues that I have had have all revolved around not being able to tolerate the shakes. I have tried so many different kinds in so many different ways but my gag reflex just says no. I have also had an issue with regurgitation of my food about 1/2 the time. Think I may have stricture and have put off going to Dr but finally called them yesterday to see about an upper GI cause I am tired of dealing with it! I am tired a LOT but think that is also because of the lack of Protein - hope that will clear up once I am cleared on 9/11 for regular food! Other than those few small things I am amazed at just how easy this whole process was. My stomach doesn't feel like it was cut on - it’s just I don't hear from it like I used to! I am 20lbs down so far! I understand being scared about surgery - but I can tell you I have had 3 other abdominal surgeries and this was bar far the easiest of them all! Take the bull by the horns and ride the ride!

Sorry to hear about your issues Pion! You have it way worse than me! My scars are going pretty good - only have 1 that is kinds red around the incision - and have 1 that had a stitch sticking through it..cut it off as best I could but still feel a little of it! They had to use Glue for the incisions on me because am allergic to sterastrips. I hope you heal real soon..

I am also a patient of Dr hart!

I am 4 weeks post op and am trying most foods if I feel they won't irritate my pouch. I never was able to tolerate shakes and because I am a big texture person purée was disgusting! I stayed on soups and such for 3 weeks then HAD to move on to things that have more protein. Still only getting in about 30g a day but I've run out of options and spent too much on shakes I can't drink. I have 3 cases of quest bars waiting for when my nut clears me on 9/11. Can't eat salmon or tuna or eggs - 3 of my once favorite things! They all come right back up. So though I really want to follow nuts orders I have had to find foods I can tolerate in order to get something down. So now my 4 or 5 bites are just chewed until they are mushy! In fact I have found that all the chewing has taken away the actual taste of the food! Lol. Can't complain though as I am down 20lbs so far!!!

Hunger is one of the strangest parts so far. If I feel "hungry" it usually is also only after smelling or seeing something. But if I go into my pantry or try to think of something to make - absolutely nothing sounds good to actually eat! I am usually making myself take the 4-5 bits of food because I HAVE to not normally because I need to due to hunger. I think that is what the "Head Hunger" you hear people talking about is. Our minds are in the habit of us eating much more and more often than our new bodies will allow us to - so it thinks there is no possible way those 3 bites are enough! One of my main problems right now is just keeping down the few bites I do take! I tend to regurgitate half the time! Don't think its from not chewing enough cause how much mushier can you get yogurt or water?

I have not eaten the bars- just have them ready so when nut clears me. I have tried the unflavored powder and it's not unflavored. It makes everything taste and smell like baby formula.. Just can't do that stuff. Hopefully my body will last for another 10 days until I am cleared for solids. I am taking vitamins like I was directed..

It's everything! My gag reflex has always been bad.. I have now been 2 weeks without a shake.. My nut said I would be cleared for solids on 9/11 so I have already invested in several boxes of quest bars- will get protein in with them. Just have to make it to the 11th without losing my hair! Lol. Also have been really sick with flue for past 3 days so energy is non existent!

I will call to schedule something next week. I know it's not the amounts as I measure everything and rarely am able to eat even 1/4 cup.

Just weighed and scale finally moved! Down 5 more lbs!! Though I have not eaten in 2 days cause I have been sick..

Doesn't a stricture cause issues with everything though? That's what I don't really understand - is it a all or nothing kind of thing? Just don't want to waste people's time or my money running to Dr everytime something happens..

So I am 3 weeks post op and overall feel pretty decent. Problem I have had since coming home is this regurgitation crap. I don't always do it but it happens at least every other day. Varies in what I am eating as well. I am on soft food so nothing I am eating should be blocking anything. basically my diet has consisted of soups! Anyway - I get the pain in the middle of my chest almost like a trapped burp - then I just "throw up" for the next 20-30 minutes. It doesn't feel like its coming from my actual stomach - more like it never made it down my throat. I had a few days of this last week and ended up calling my Dr who wanted me to go in for an upper GI to check for stricture - but by the time the day arrived to do it ( was 3 days later) I hadn't had an episode so I cancelled it. Well the very next day it started again. As I said its not every time I eat and the real weird thing is I can eat something/same amount one time and nothing happens - eat exact same thing/amount the next day and I am bending over a toilet! Anybody have any input? Again I want to say that its not an actual throwing up situation its more like when you burp and foods comes back up your throat - only Im not burping...Gross I know but I don't want to call the Dr back and bug him about every little issue if others deal with same thing!

So sorry to hear about all your issues...Scary to know it happened 3 months in! I am interested in how you do from here so please keep us informed!