catwoman7

have they done labs before? I had them done at the start of my program (about six months before surgery) and then again as we got closer. I do remember my vit D was crazy low on the first set of labs, so they put me on prescription vit D to bring it up. I would think if they've already done labs on you, then maybe your levels weren't low enough that they'd cause issues with the surgery (otherwise, I'm sure they would have had you do something to boost them up to a safe level) I didn't have a urinalysis the day of surgery - in fact, I don't think my surgeon ever ordered one at all. I don't think I had a blood test the day of, either - although some surgeons test you for nicotine (I was tested for nicotine, too - but not the day of surgery - may have been like a month before) you'll have an IV and a heart monitor. And the anesthesiologist will give you a sedative if you're really anxious - just ask (or they may ask YOU first....)

yea it varies somewhat. Until I got onto solid food, I was told not to drink 30 mins before and 30 mins after. Once I was eating solid food, they said I could drink up until the time I ate, but then to wait an HOUR after. They may have changed it for us once the consistency of the food changed (to solid) because I would imagine pureed food goes through you pretty quickly, so it might be all/mostly gone after 30 minutes. Meanwhile a piece of meat can sit there for awhile. They may have had us extend the time afterward just so it could sit there a good long while... (at least, this is why I figured they gave our group these particular rules) anyway, yes - it varies between surgeons. But the one I most commonly hear is 30 mins before/30 mins after.

I didn't think sleeve patients got it either, but who knows. Maybe some do but it's just not that common? Or it may not even have anything to do with your sleeve - I think even non-WLS people can get reactive hypoglycemia.

although you may not lose any (not everyone does), you're still pretty early out. I didn't start losing hair until I was about five months out.

late dumping syndrome is reactive hypoglycemia (also known as postprandial hypoglycemia). It's not that uncommon in RNY patients - I don't know about sleeve patients. It seems to start when you're a couple years out.

RNY here but I'm out about the same amount of time (5 years for me). My maintenance calorie range is about the same as yours.

had a complete work up by my PCP. Plus she looked back at my records to see if I seemed to have low glucose levels on my labs in the past - and I did. No, it doesn't result in diabetes - or at least not to my knowledge. They just tell you to eat something every 3-4 hours and if you have a carb, to pair it with a protein. And also to limit your sugar intake.

it's when you have a reaction to sugar about an hour or two after you eat it. Your glucose level drops so much that you experience things like dizziness, brain fog, blurred vision, heart palpitations, sweating, and shaking. My PCP told me to eat something every 3-4 hours, and if I eat a carb, to always pair it with a protein. Seems to have solved the problem...

I've heard once you're off pain meds for a day or two you should be OK. I never took the pain meds once I got home, though, because I wasn't in any pain. I think I drove the first time when I was about a week out (but there was no need to leave because my husband took the week off to be with me - so he did whatever needed to be done - otherwise, I would have probably driven sooner)

that part of it might be more the surgery. I had no interest in food the first few weeks. It wasn't appealing; it was a chore to eat. I ate only because I was supposed to eat. Who would have guessed I'd ever feel that way about food? Too bad it didn't last. I feel bad for the OP re: the feeding tube, though.

LOL! Not from a story - although I do remember this story! But I'm a (retired) librarian - and a cat fanatic!

I didn't go through therapy (although everyone had to have one meeting with the health psychologist at my clinic as part of the spiel), but I know a lot of WLS patients who have. I'd look for a psychologist or health psychologist who either specializes or has had a lot of experience working with eating disorders. Once you know a few names, check them out and see if you "click" with any of them, since that's really important, too. I agree you probably don't need a psychiatrist since you don't need meds.

I just mix things into plain Greek yogurt - like a packet of ranch dressing mix, for example.

that's true while you're in weight loss mode, but you'll be able to enjoy most - if not all - of your favorite foods once you hit maintenance. The only thing I really can't handle anymore are really fatty meals. For example, my husband and I used to love going to Friday night fish fries before I had surgery. These usually consisted of two or three battered or breaded deep-fried fish filets, with tartar sauce and a side of French fries, cole slaw made with mayo, and usually a roll with butter. I'd be throwing up if i tried to eat that now. I could maybe eat half a fried fish filet - anything else with that would have to be non-fried. you WILL, however, have to eat smaller portions of your favorites once you can have them again (and having a smaller stomach makes that easier). We used to order large pizzas sometimes and we'd each eat half of it. Now I can manage one or two pieces. But when you think about it, that's what a lot of never-been-obese women eat. My mother certainly never ate half a large pizza - she'd always have one or two pieces. Same with a lot of my female friends. So... as far as anxiety goes, that's very common. I've been nervous before every surgery I've had. But this is a very safe and routine surgery. I'm sure you'll do just fine!

I think I'd weigh 300 lbs again if it weren't for Crystal Light and sugar free Jello! I know they have calories, but not many. They're a better choice than some of the other things we have around here....

I think most people do the pre-op diet while working. as for time off work, I took three weeks off (post-surgery), but i could have gone back after two. I had a desk job, though (librarian).

do a search on the three week stall. Happens to almost everyone. There are literally like 15,000 posts about it here on BP. Just stick to your plan and stay off the scale if you have to - and know that it WILL break. It usually lasts 1-2 weeks.

it was like that in the US when I was a kid (I'm 60 years old). We never went out to eat unless we were traveling (and that was true of A LOT of people). About once a month, my father would bring home something like McDonald's or a bucket of chicken from KFC - it was a huge treat. I don't know when things changed and people started going out to eat a lot - maybe 30 or so years ago?

I'm not surprised - Norway is supposed to be the most expensive country to live in, I think - even more than Japan!

surgeons' plans are all over the place. The only thing they seem to have in common is to prioritize protein and fluids. Some plans are low-carb or ultra-low-carb (mine was not - they didn't mention carbs at all). I've never counted fats. Early on, it was such a challenge to get all my protein grams in that I really didn't need to worry much about fats - or carbs, really. I had to eat mostly protein to get those grams in. Once I was several months out and started counting calories, as long as something fit into my daily calorie range (and was nutritionally dense), it was fine. There are some programs that limit fats, but I don't hear about many that do. Low carb seems to be the thing now (well, when it IS a "thing" - some programs don't really limit carbs, either)

you may not even need that much. They'll have you in a hospital gown and those non-slip socks. I just brought my phone and charger. I wore baggy clothes to the hospital and then wore them home, too...

almost everyone has their first major stall within the first 4-6 weeks after surgery. Just stick to your plan and stay off the scale if you have to. Your weight loss WILL start up again!

I quit smoking 26 years ago, but everyone in my program had to have a nicotine test. It's one of the blood tests they order when they do your labs (usually once you're in the program - and sometimes right before surgery, too)

yep - sounds like the three week stall (which can really happen any time within the first 4-6 weeks after surgery). It happens to almost everyone. I wish clinics would warn their patients about this because it's EXTREMELY common, and people freak out about it when it happens if they aren't aware of this phenomenon beforehand. Just stick to your plan, stay off the scale for a few days, and know that it will end and you'll start losing weight again.

I didn't have a binder with RNY. I did with plastic surgery, but that obviously wasn't laproscopic - I had HUGE incisions with that. things I used a lot: blender, kitchen scale, ramekins (although your measuring cups will work for this. I used my ramekins so I'd know how much I was eating. You can get them in different sizes like 4 oz, 8 oz, etc - but your measuring cups will work for this, too). A baby spoon (I still use one at five years out because I love it!). I also bought individual packets of various protein powders so I wouldn't waste money on huge tubs of powder that I ended up hating. Before surgery, I liked the chocolate and vanilla ones, but after surgery, I found those too sweet (at least for the first few weeks or months). I preferred the fruity ones after surgery - and/or savory ones, like chicken soup-flavored. So get a variety of flavors...