LIL BIT

I had to evacuate for a hurricane about 3 weeks post-op. I ate tiny pieces of chicken chewed very very well, and scrambled eggs. I tried to make sure we went to places that had Breakfast all day. Honestly at that stage, you will only be able to eat 2 maybe 3 bites of food. If your husband insist you order something to keep up appearances, do the fish, some mashed potatoes, just fiddle around with it on your plate after you are done. If you are dining with people, they will notice. To this day people still feel the need to comment on me 'eating like a bird'.

The hardest thing for me after having this surgery was the depression because EVERYTHING revolves around food. I live in South Louisiana and we LOVE food. We use food as a reason to socialize, food as a way to love people. We have festivals just to celebrate food. EVERYTHING. I really got depressed. Hold on to the thought that you will be able to go back to eating almost everything you enjoyed before. You will just have less.

I think what everyone can and can't tolerate after surgery is different. Things I can't eat (don't agree with me) Pork - I will eat it on occasion but it is hard to digest. I can feel it stuck for a few hours after surgery. Probably need to chew it better. Sometimes It will not go down at all and I end up having to throw it up. Milk & ice cream - This is a weird one I did not develop this until about 4 years post op. I remember vividly eating Sonic banana split blasts almost every night while I was pregnant for my son, 3 years post op. I also ate Cereal daily while I was pregnant. I thought being pregnant did it, but my dr assured me it is most likely from the surgery. I can eat cheese with no problem. Sweets are hit and miss - I am still trying to figure out what makes me feel bad eating some types and not others. I think this mostly has to do with maintaining blood sugar levels. I never had a problem with this until after the surgery. Sometimes, not all the time if I eat something sweet about an hour later, I will start feeling bad, get really hungry, sweat, shakey. I have to eat something sweet again, but a better choice or just a couple bites. The first thing spikes my blood sugar then it drops too low. You get a feel of what and how much you can tolerate of certain things. If I really want ice cream or cereal, I know I can have a few bites, I eat them slowly and pay attention to my body. My advice, don't be afraid of everything. Try one new thing at a time and a small amount. Sometimes eat the same thing 6 times and be fine, that 7th time your body says NOOOOO. I think it may have to do with overall diet, times of day etc.

I had my gastric bypass surgery in August of 2005. I do not remember exactly when I started taking Advil and Aleve again. I know I was taking it at 2 years post surgery. I also take 2 time release medicines. I have never had any complications. I see a regular family doctor who knows I have had gastric bypass surgery. Every time she tells me to take something or prescribes me something I remind her of the surgery and ask if it is ok. I take Advil and Aleve a lot, a few times a month. If Tylenol is not working for you ask your doctor, try something else.

You look great. You look much smaller. I am 10 years post surgery, 120 pounds and I still look in the mirror sometimes and believe I am still fat, that is your mind. I had been the fat girl from the ages of 9 - 24 sometimes you brain holds on to that. I think of it as the same way an anorexic person will look in the mirror and see fat when she is nothing but bones. Your mental image of yourself is hard to change. Other days I look in the mirror and really see myself as I really am. I love those days. Also you are probably not used to hearing genuine complements especially about your body. Even if you doubt them when you hear them, smile and say thank you. Don't do the 'thank you but' thing. Losing the weight after surgery is easy, having your mind let go of who you were and accepting who you are now is a bit trickier and takes longer. Enjoy the compliments!

10 years and one month out. I drink coffee daily. Usually one cup with splenda and flavored creamer. I saw a few people concerned about caffeine. I was a bad diet soda junky up until about 4 months ago. I have now switched to mostly tea and Water. There is very little that I can't eat or drink now that I used to eat or drink before surgery. I just eat a lot less.