Ashlegal

yes - I have to take it for the first six months.

Did you have G.E.R.D. or any heartburn before surgery?

When your spine is slowly breaking down and your hips need to be replaced, you need support, support and more support. I have in the last ten years bought some outrageously expensive mattresses, custom built mattresses, sleep number mattresses, top-rated mattresses, doctor recommended mattresses and can tell you that none compare to the Tempurpedic I am currently using.

I have bought more mattresses (and given away or sold) than my parents, my siblings and an aunt combined. It is not something I am proud of but it is the reality of being diseased.

I get a great night sleep, plenty of support, plenty of comfort and everyone who lays on my bed says "oh, God is this is so amazingly comfortable, supportive and can I please take a nap?" on my Tempurpedic Tempur Flex-Elite. Worth every penny.

It was worth every penny.

I had been taking 40 mg's of generic prilosec along with 150 mg's of Zantac daily for years prior to Bypass. My GERD was the cause of a loose esophageal sphincter and am unsure if having Bypass will make that problem go away. I doubt it but you never know. Anyone know?

I have been taking 20 mg's of the same medicine since surgery and was told at three months I could stop. Did you take a similar medicine after surgery? For how long?

I'm also assuming that if Bypass doesn't change the issues with my esophageal sphincter I'll have to continue with medicine forever. Bummer.

At just shy two months post-op, I don't count carbs because my focus is on Proteins first. I drink plenty of milk, eat yogurts, puddings and Nut Thins, Wheat Thins, 34 Degree crackers and the occasional Protein bar. My carb count in the very least is 40-50 grams a day. I lose weight every week and meet my protein/fluid and Vitamin goals daily.

Dr. Sprunger told me not worry about counting carbs or calories or measuring or weighing for at least the first six months. Focus on Proteins, fluids and eat until full. Small bites, chew well and stay hydrated.

@ Mine was similar. @@citygirl1962 My appointment lasted maybe 30 minutes, which surprised me but I feel part of that was how prepared I was for the meeting, the surgery, my decision, the research I had done, the questions I needed answers to and my overall attitude towards the process.

54 pounds in two months is awesome. I have lost 47 in the same time frame and have always been capable of getting in all my fluids/proteins. Granted I am not required 90 grams of Protein daily but I meet my requirement(s) no problem.

I was at a support meeting this afternoon and there are a few girls who had surgery within a couple of days of me; one has lost close to 60 pounds the other only about 35. All three of us are on the same post-op plan, everybody is different.

Obviously you should try to get in all your proteins/fluids/vitamins in daily but getting 90 versus 70 may not make you lose any faster OR it might.

Your doctor isn't making you go back to work, she is simply not writing you a note to keep you from having to go back. It is your job that is not allowing you to take the time off that you feel you need. Another surgeon isn't going to keep you from going back to work. The other option would be talking to your PCP about writing you a medical note giving you more time.

That doesn't make much sense.


I thought our doctors were are advocates, right ?

Seems like you would have a greater span of control of your return dates. "No...you must work.....you should have 2 jobs by now". Smacks of communism.



On the flip side....perhaps the doctor feels that a nudge in right direction will be helpful for you at this point......getting back to routine living.....moving around.....back in the flow of things. Doc may want to get you moving in order to add in some more calories to fire up your metabolism.

I know if left to my own devices.....I'd have stayed in that hospital bed for much longer than they allowed me to. Doc wouldn't allow it and had the weightlifter male nurse in there 3 hours after surgery to "persuade" me to get the hell up and go walking. I knew it was coming and I knew it was in my best interest......but the hernia repair & newly ventilated abdomen with 9 fresh new holes protested like a beast. Turns out that those walks were key to my healing.

Sometimes the docs push us harder than we'd push ourselves.....and it winds up getting us on track and progressing better.



All you can do is evaluate the situation and think hard about your's and other's safety. Is it safe for you to proceed with the doc's instruction ? If so....then maybe it's worth a bit of a struggle.


I sympathize and understand about work being antsy. I've taken 3 weeks out of my schedule....to allow the umbilical hernia repair to heal and stop hurting......but I worry that's not how they will see it....."He's had some radical weight loss surgery and is laying out of work......all he needed to do is lay off the biscuits and pizza". I know they really aren't thinking like this.....but I've had the "no trusting" wall up so long that it's my often initial reaction.



Are you safe to return?

thanks for your response.
And yes, Dr made it clear that I needed to get back in the groove of things which will help with the recovery.

It has been my goal to be back in the swing of things. Unfortunately bc of the govt job that I have I cannot return to work until I can perform 100%.

Mainly my question/concern is can she force me back to work--not allow me the leave I need just because it's her way???

I honestly felt like she is not being my advocate, and pushing me out to work when I am not physically ready to perform. I let her know every time I had an appointment and she made me feel like it was my fault that I had so much nausea, dizziness, and fatigue.

I'm currently looking for another bariatric surgeon.

At this time I am safe to return, but I haven't returned bc I have a new health issue that has come up.

While I understand your frustration, I think being weak/tired and vomiting a couple of times is not a good enough reason to be off of work.

I know people have said "I needed the whole six weeks off after surgery" or "I wish I would have taken more time off after surgery"; I just can't help but wonder, why?

I know people who have had major back surgery, sliced open, in the hospital for 3-4 days that don't need more than a couple of weeks off from surgery. I have known a couple of people who have had brain surgery that didn't take an entire month off from work; it is hard for me to understand why needing more than 2-3 weeks after WLS is needed. *shrug*

Being weak is part of the process, it gets better and you have to dedicate yourself to getting in enough fluids, Protein and a full night's rest or you'll always be weak/sleepy/sick to your stomach. It won't ever go away. You have to take on the mindset of "the only way I am going to feel better is if I am up walking, getting in my fluids, getting in my Protein, taking my Vitamins, overcoming my discomfort and getting back into routine." This by no means should be translated as "push yourself harder" no, it means "work through the minor complications to keep yourself from running into major ones."

@@4MRB4PHOTO

I know a good lawyer.

I work with a woman who had Sleeve surgery eighteen months ago. I would have never known she has had WLS as she is a large woman who eats whatever she wants, whenever she wants and takes no caution to her diet.

During a luncheon last week she commented on my plate of food. A small piece of chicken, a few cubes of cheese, and some olives. A tiny toddler sized portion of food, especially compared to the loaded plates of those around me.

She said and I quote "I'm glad your surgery is working for you, mine failed me and I am thinking about suing the surgeon."

As she stuffed food into her mouth.

I was so annoyed, I excused myself and went to my desk to finish eating my plate.

It annoys me because this type of "behavior" spreads the misinformation already ignorantly discussed in our culture about WLS.

Instead of her failing herself, her tool and her decision; her surgery is marked as the failure.

Have you had other cheeses?

Outside of a few exceptions, most cheeses will be tolerated the same. If you can eat one, you can eat most. If you can handle a slice of sharp cheddar, you can probably tolerate provolone.

Is the reason you ask these questions out of fear? You think if ten people say, "oh, yeah that was just fine for me, I'd eat it!" that you won't dump or have a bad reaction?

I used to love, love, love Aquafina Water. It was the only bottled Water I would buy outside of using my filter at home. The day after surgery in the car road home I was given a bottle and yuck! It tasted like dirty water and left weird taste in my mouth. I thought maybe it was due to all the fluids, anti-biotics, pain meds and gas they pumped into me, so I thought I would try again in a couple of days. Nope, still gross. The same thing happened with Smart Water, Dasani and Arrowhead.

Only bottled water I can drink now is Fiji and Evian.

Weird.

@@sarahbethemails

I started eating the antipasto mix about three weeks post-op. When I first started eating it, I picked around the peppers, the salami and the really big green olives. I focused the cheese, the little black olives and the really tender mushrooms.

Now at two months post op, I put the little container on my desk, with a crab fork and eat everything in there throughout the day. Yum!

Once my paperwork was submitted it took about five business days. I have UHC and they handled everything with efficiency. I was super impressed! Be patient or you'll drive yourself crazy!

I am slightly torn between being happy I have not dumped and being irritated that it doesn't happen.

I have had many things (small bites, small pieces, nothing extreme) that would have caused dumping and didn't.

Does that mean it will never happen? No. Does it mean I can eat anything I want? Just because I can doesn't mean I should.

It also always amazing to me what has made people dump and what others have no reaction to at all.

@sarahbethemails

I buy a quarter pound of an antipasto mixture from the olive bar at the Whole Foods near my house at least twice a week. I can eat everything in the mixture; green olives, black olives, feta cheese, salami chunks, small pieces of artichoke hearts, diced red peppers, button mushrooms, mozzarella chunks and the "marinade" or "dressing" is always yummy! I have tried to make it at home but it wasn't quite the same. Just remember to chew well and take small bites.

I started eating turkey sausage patties 12 days post-op. I usually have one or two a week with my eggs.

***UPDATE***

After meeting with my PM and then again with my PCP, it has been decided that as with many malabsorption issues related to having Gastric Bypass surgery, oral pain medications are no longer an option.

I bring this to the attention of others because, I don't want anyone to suffer the way I have. I thought I was going crazy, my doctors looked at me as if I had gone crazy and I was scared. I was scared that my pain would always be the center of my existence and no one would understand.

If you are experiencing issues related to chronic pain and the lack of relief you are getting from your prescribed pain meds, don't be afraid to bring it to your doctor's attention! There is a wealth of information online, in medical journals and in case studies that support evidence that suggests Gastric Bypass patients have issues with oral pain medications managing their chronic pain.

No one deserves to be miserable, especially when you are trying to support a healthier, more active, more confident life.

I didn't have to take that medicine, ever. Are you just now after surgery taking something to ward off infection?

I could have taken as long as I wanted and planned to do so. But, after about eight days I was going stir crazy and went back with no issues.

Everyone is different and some people still months after surgery feel weak, sick and not ready.

You can't have your cake and eat it too, literally and figuratively.

You either want and are committed to one person or you don't.

It is okay if you don't and it is okay if you want multiple partners.

However, it is not okay to hurt others or to break the hearts of those that care.

At some point or another, you'll be on the other end of the cheater/cheatee relationship; it is just a matter of time.

You reap what you sow.

I grilled using my indoor stove top grill some pork medallions marinated in Walden Farms Italian dressing. Yum! Yum!

I will be doing a few whole chickens this weekend in my smoker. I am having a party for my sister! It should be fun.

@@sarahbethemails If you have a chance you should really try any of these products for your needs. They come HIGHLY recommended and take the fuss out of knowing what *may* trigger dumping.

https://www.waldenfarms.com/index.html

I make my own ketchup and have for a really long time. I have two go-to recipes and one requires a small amount of sugar, the other none at all. It took some getting used to as for many people the "sweetness" of ketchup is familiar and without it, it tends to feel a little "flat." The great thing about making your own ketchup is you can add or take away from it however you prefer.

Quiche is something I made several times a month as it freezes well and transports nicely. I don't make quiche at this stage in post-op but I do make frittatas. Frittatas is basically a crust-less quiche. They are super versatile, easy to make, packed with Protein, low-carb and I imagine you could put all the ketchup you wanted on them.

I cannot do bread even almost burnt at two months out. I am not allowed lettuce until three months out and I recently shared a horrible story about tomatoes. What does that leave? Bacon. I have had bacon, both turkey and pork with my eggs, my burgers and even just by itself.

I would advise anyone with RNY not to attempt un-toasted bread any time in the first three months. Obviously some plans okay it but nothing has ever made me feel as miserable as a bite of whole wheat bread. Ugh.

My surgeon said the same. He said "somethings you eat will take four bites and others seven, don't worry about the number, just eat until full."

@@sarahbethemails

I'll try tomatoes in the future. I'll probably try canned tomatoes as they have been peeled and see how those work.