waterwoman

I had my RNY conversion from lap band 5 years ago. I was 65 at the time. No pain. Best thing I have ever done for my health. I am now 69 and healthier and stronger than I have ever been in my life. I still have to consciously eat well every day. Take advantage of the honeymoon period to learn good eating habits. Best wishes on this exciting journey.

I, too, love the protein drinks. It would be easy for me to live on them. My only real concern is the effect on my kidneys from too much protein. Any info on that?

Welcome! I’m in the greater Seattle area and used Franciscan Hospital in Federal Way. Was very impressed! Who are you planning to use?

Yes, I had exactly same issue. Went to my gastroenterologist and she pressed very hard with her thumb, almost like acupressure on the spot while “folding” me up and there was immediate relief with no return. Maybe a nerve was spasming?

I went to Kaiser website. They had good info on vitamins and supplements. Not good at links or I would include here.

Sounds like you are concerned about being judged by your children for your decision to care for yourself. Do they judge you for being overweight? One of our jobs as parents is to teach/model good decision making. Would you be willing to explain why you believe this is a good decision for you?

I gained about 14 pounds and am having really tough time dropping them. I did start a good exercise regime though so heavier, but maybe healthier. Now to keep up exercise and drop extra pounds.

The opening at the bottom of the pouch

Sorry, not stomach, stoma

i wish I had a better understanding of my stomach and how to care for it. Ask your surgeon!

Like you, my energy did not increase after surgery. I gave never been a high energy person and was really hoping for a boost. I did notice that over the course of the first year my stamina increased, so I was grateful for that. Now, 4 years later, at the age of 68, my energy has improved slightly. Blood work has always been spot on, so I just accept this as part of who I am, and decide to be grateful for what I have.

I had surgery alone as well. My daughter lives out of town. All I needed was a ride there and a ride home. There really wasn't anything for another person to do, other than sit there. You will be fine. The kind of care you will need in the hospital will be provided by the professional staff. I think it might be more important to have someone available when you get home.

My daughter told me to go to R E I and buy whatever they told me. So glad I followed her advice. They were careful to hear my concerns and question me about my feet and expected activity. If you have a store nearby it might be worthwhile getting their recommendation.

Why not just tell the truth, I’m on a low carb high protein diet.

Remember change is scary and people of all genders aren’t always at their best when they are afraid. In times of significant change, it’s usually worth giving the other person the benefit of the doubt. Loving and caring for yourself doesn’t exclude loving and caring for him.

I tried to think of feeding my pouch as if I were feeding a baby. Starting with liquid then moving to purée is like moving from the bottle to baby food. Be gentle on yourself.

There is value in measuring and tracking what we can control, but no value in measuring what we can’t control. Why not track food and exercise? And celebrate the days you stay on track.

Why not take the week you have and hope for the best. If you’re not up to returning at the time, maybe your supervisor will allow you to come back part time or take a few days leave without pay. Sign up for FMLA.

You are absolutely normal to be nervous. With wls there is a sense in which you have changed “tribes.” You have left the “tribe” of overeaters and joined the “tribe” of healthy eaters. The party is a gathering of the over eaters, where you belong at the family level, but don’t share the same eating activity. Of course you are going to be nervous. Will they still love you if you don’t eat like than? By choosing to be healthy you are taking a stand that may separate you from your family. That is scary. It is also scary for them. Choosing to respond to fear with love takes courage and maturity. It’s not easy, but it’s worth the effort.

Sideeye - I too get depressed in the summer. So glad to finally meet another Summer SAD. Are you able to go someplace cooler, or do you just tough it out?

Check out the Verteran's Forum Thread "Is there Anything you still can't eat?"

I'm 4 years out and I still have to be careful with chicken. Once you've identified a food that is giving you problems, wait a couple of weeks, then try a small amount. Another suggestion is to try it in a soup first since it will be much moister. It was 2 years before I could eat asparagus. Now I can if I consciously chew and only eat the tips.

I had RNY 4 years ago and have tried a variety of supplements since. At one point I was diagnosed with very low iron and Dr. just suggested taking iron tables. I recently found attached from Kaiser which I thought was well laid out and, as current supplements were running low, decided to follow this plan. So far, so good. Bariatric Supplements - Kaiser.pdf

Unlike others, I had almost no pain after surgery. This was true when I had the lap band installed, had the lap band removed and then had the RNY. I was offered pain meds and really didn't need them.

I had taken Cymbalta for several years before my surgery. I missed one dose day of surgery, then, because capsule was too big to swallow, nurses suggested I empty capsule into jello, mix and eat. Tasted terrible!! But it worked and I avoided mental health issues.