Airstream88

It's not like you can't ever have sweets again, you just won't be able to eat the high sugar content treats you are used to eating. There are lots of recipes for Bariatric friendly Desserts and such - bariatriceating.com has many interesting ones that substitute real sugar with Stevia and Truvia. I plan on making one of them this week to try them out. theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com is another with dessert recipes. I had a friend who had a dumping episode while at my house (years before I had surgery). She spent many hours locked in the bathroom during a party. So far nothing with sugar is worth experiencing that for me - especially while out in public.

What are you eating? Can you tell us what you eat in a day? Start adding in more healthy fats - nuts, avocado, etc. Eat full-fat cheese instead of low-fat. Use Fairlife 2% or Full-fat milk to make your Protein shakes - adds 13g of protein. Add some multigrain crackers with the cheese - they don't cause the same feeling of fullness that protein does.

I don't count carbs or fat, just follow the program my NUT gave to me. 64 oz Water, 70-90g Protein, 5 meals a day - every 3 - 4 hours. All meals contain protein, and green veggies (if room), 2 meals can include a multigrain serving and 2 meals can contain a fruit serving (if there is room after protein). Can have 3 healthy fats a day, including 1 oz nuts, 1 tsp olive oil

My husband can wrap his arms around me! I also had to adjust my car seat forward. My winter coats are hanging off of me but I refuse to buy any others because they won't fit next year. And I no longer need to squish my earlobes between the front and back of my hoop earrings.

My surgeon felt it was the better option due to my starting weight. Also I decided that I wanted one surgery - didn't want to have to have a revision later on if the sleeve didn't work out.

My Nutritionist told us to eat every 3-4 hours, 4 - 5 times a day. Meals are to include at least 3 oz of Protein (eventually) with 1 serving of whole grain at two meals and 1 serving of fruit at two meals (if there is room after the protein). After spending the first 6 weeks not hungry at all, I now do get hungry around the 3 - 1/2 hour mark. I actually like it because it reminds me to eat. Prior to surgery it took a lot of food to make me feel full. Now two ounces of dense protein does that.

37 pounds

A co-worker had the gastric sleeve done there last March and has lost over 100 pounds. She looks great!

I also preach from the book of moderation. Maybe it's because I was never successful at strict dieting. My problem before WLS was that I never felt full. That's definitely not an issue now! My eating plan given to me by my NUT (who is associated with a Bariatric Center of Excellence) has me eating 5 times a day - every 3 to 4 hours without snacking in between. Four meals consist of Protein (always first), a multigrain or fruit serving (which for right now is a couple of crackers or grapes) and one meal is a Protein shake. When I get up to 3 oz of protein at each meal, I will stop the shakes because I just really don't care for them. Interestingly enough, my sister, who did not have surgery is pretty much on the same plan. Her Dr. told her 5 meals a day - protein the size of the palm of your hand - 300 calories max each meal. She has lost over 25 pounds since September. Slow yes, but it's working for her (she's in her late sixties). I also follow the 30-30-30 drinking rule - stop drinking 30 mins prior to eating, don't drink while eating or 30 minutes after.

My surgeon took mine out at the same time. I had never had issues with it but the ultrasound showed some gallstones so out it came. He also repaired an umbilical hernia I didn't know I had. My surgeon not only does WLS but also does other laparoscopic surgeries so maybe he feels more confident in doing them at the same time.

I wasn't interested in anything much either the first week. I ate, drank, slept. I tried to watch movies, etc but would fall asleep. Your body is trying to recover from major surgery and sleeping is good.

I would drink some Smooth Move tea and consider taking a stool softener, especially if you are not meeting your Fluid goals (mine was 48 oz the first couple of weeks). It's no fun when things get impacted due to lack of moisture

That's pretty much normal. I bought a recliner prior to surgery because I knew I was going to have trouble sleeping since I'm a side sleeper. Even taking my pain meds, I'd only sleep a few hours at a time. Everyday it gets better. The first week is the hardest. Hang in there!

I was cleared for lettuce at 5 weeks but haven't tried it yet.

The first month I never felt hungry. Now I get hungry just about the time I'm supposed to eat - the 3 - 4 hour mark from the last meal depending on how dense the Protein was at the meal before.

I was on pureed for two weeks after being released from hospital, then graduated to soft/mechanical soft for weeks 2 -4 and at day 31, was allowed to start real food slowly after I attended my NUT's post-op class. I'm pretty much allowed anything I can tolerate except for sesame seeds, celery, bread, Pasta, rice. I seem to do better with cheese, pork, beef tenderloin and shrimp than I do with chicken and fish. I did make meatballs from a Bariatric recipe and they were tolerated as well. I can have toasted multi-grain bread or wheat crackers. My plan is 5 meals a day - 2 meals can have 1 serving multigrain (if there is room after the protein) and 2 meals can have fruit. Also can have 3 good fats - (1oz nuts, 1 tsp olive oil) Currently I drink a Protein shake in the morning (~24g protein), try to have 2 oz of meat (or cheese) at the 3 middle meals and have a glass of fairlife milk before going to bed (13g protein). I try not to eat anything out that I haven't tried at home first. I don't want to be vomiting or dumping out in public.

The reality is that after WLS you still have to be obsessed with food, except in a different way. The emphasis is getting in your Protein and Fluid. So it requires constant planning to figure out how to make that protein goal each and every day. It can be challenging. Check out the following blogs: "The World According to Eggface" and "Bariatric Foodie". These are two women who have risen up to the challenge of life after WLS and still like to cook, just in a Bariatric friendly way. Also BariatricEating.com has some really wonderful recipes that look just as good as any pre-WLS recipes. As far as eating out, well it's a mixed bag. You can't eat that much (at 8 weeks I can eat almost 2 oz of meat and I'm done) so you take a lot of food home if you order a regular meal. Recently at a Mexican restaurant I ordered tortilla Soup (w/o tortilla strips) and shared guacamole (no chips) with my friend. I ate 1/3rd of the soup and a few tablespoons of guac. You just have to plan ahead by looking at the menu and figuring out what has the least fat and sugar (to avoid dumping if you have Gastric Bypass). I do not regret this surgery in the least.

Add a protein shake - that will give you around 160 calories or so and much needed protein.

BariatricEating.com, "The World According to Eggface" blog, "Bariatric Foodie" blog are three that I find very helpful. But if you could find a Nutritionist in your area that specializes in Bariatric patients, it would probably benefit you the most to have a visit or two with one.

I also have problems with anesthesia and narcotic pain meds. If you ever have surgery again, let the surgeon and the anesthesiologist know and they will give you a nausea patch and medicines in your IV to help. After my first surgery for a broken wrist, I have not experienced any nausea related to surgery or narcotics.

I'm 8 weeks out and I get about 700 - 750 calories. My NUT has us eating 5 times a day - every 3 - 4 hours. I have a Protein shake in the morning on the way to work, then at least 3 meals with 2 oz protein (all I can eat right now) and maybe a multigrain or veggie serving at two of those meals and then a glass of Fairlife milk (13g protein) to end my day.

I had to get a refill of my pain meds. I just called the surgeon's office and my husband had to go pick up the Rx because it was a narcotic.

We have comfort height toilets as well but the weight of my lower stomach pulled on the biggest incision causing that burning feeling. The extra inches helped reduce that pulling.

I was 371lbs and I found getting on and off the toilet to be particularly painful. So I had my sister bring me the toilet riser I used when I had my Achilles Tendon repaired and couldn't put my foot down. Its just molded plastic that gives you another 3-5" of height so its easier to get up and down. My right incision felt like it was tearing every time I got up and down and I had to have my husband help me up prior to getting the riser.

Ana Kim - I think you have to look at the sum of everyone's experiences, not just the few answering your post. There are several people that have successfully lived with RNY for more than 10 years. Check out "The World According to Eggface", "Miles to Go", "Bariatric Foodie" and "The Bariatric Girl" blogs. These are all long term RNYers who have been successful. This surgery requires a commitment to following the Vitamin regimen every single day for life. And to take the best bariatric formulated Vitamins out there - for example I take Nutrametrix vitamins and Calcium which are Isotonic, which means once mixed with Water they are like the liquids given in IVs and they are 95% absorbed. Normal vitamins found in stores are only 25% absorbed so you have to take 3-4x the amount. If you are going to go the Mexico route I highly suggest you find a Bariatric Nutritionist in your area and consult with them on the vitamin and post-op eating regimen. That way you will know exactly what is necessary to remain healthy after surgery.