Rustycreaks

Well, after six years, and only one real bout with common flu stuff, I've wondered if the surgery actual helps prevent common flu/cold incidents.

That may be, but no one whether they have had RNY surgery or not should take NSAIDs on a daily basis. For the record, my Wife uses Voltarin ,a topical NSAID, for her knees and finds it very effective. I've used it some and don't find it as effective as she does.

I can only share my experience, and freely admit each one is different, so ultimately you'll not have answers to your questions until you personally are faced with them. So, first off: Surgeon, Surgeon, Surgeon. Inexperienced and not skillful are what you want to avoid at all costs. Secondly, and in my case only: after six years, there isn't much I can't eat. If I want a big Mac and Fries, I can eat about a 1/3 of each, with no ill effects. OTOH, sometimes I'll have something as innocuous as scrambled eggs, and have discomfort---go figure. Perhaps one of the knottiest issues is NSAID's. I have arthritis in my knees and hips--with a lot of discomfort. I try not to take NSAID's due to the common knowledge or common belief that they can cause ulceration in the pouch. My Surgeon, when asked about this, blew it off, saying he'd never seen it. So, I do take NSAID's rarely and have a deep appreciation for their analgesic properties. I gained back 50 of the 130 Iost over the last three years, so, it I'm currently dieting and having great success--so there is hope if you lose your way, understand with the right mindset, the RNY tool is very effective in shedding the pounds. No one can tell you what your trip will be like. Best of luck.

I need to inquire in regards to people's propensity to "throw up/ vomit" food that isn't agreeing with them. Now, I'm six years post op and have never thrown up. In fact, I thought it was impossible to throw up. So, I'm curious about the number of posts I've read on this board where people complain of throwing up. Are you actually tossing your Cookies, or simply (which I have experienced on a couple of occasions over the past six years) finding a bit of bile coming up to the back of your throat? Oh, and just a comment regarding dumping. When I first became post RNY, I experienced a couple of classic dumping situations. I learned to stay away from high carbo foods and high sugar foods, like Desserts with sugar. At this point, if I do have a bit too many carbs or sugar, it pretty much just puts me into a groggy state where I fall asleep for awhile. One of the habits that put me back on the road of Weight gain, was when I was having a sleepless night, I learned I could get up and have a small bowl of dry cereal--corn flakes with no sweetening-- and milk and it would work faster and better than Ambien. And, by way of closing comment, I'd share that my efforts to get back on track this time are unique in the RNY experience. I started dieting on Jan 1,sticking to 1500 calories per day, not eating, dairy, wheat, or any white foods, eating lots of veggie salads and not much fired, except the occasional fried fish. I feel better and I've lost 35 pounds. But, the point I want to share is I've changed my thinking about food. When I first when down the RNY road, I just ate less of the same stuff (with the exception of sugar which I really tried to avoid). I experienced head hunger, especially after year 3 post op. Now, eating much more "clean", I don't experience head hunger and find eating healthy much easier than it ever was previously, and I'm much happier with my food choices and NOT looking for something to more fully satisfy me. So, the point I'm trying to emphasize is with the miracle of RNY and the cessation of hunger cravings that accompanies the surgery, if a person switches their dietary emphasis to clean eating they'll find a dramatic knock down of "head hunger" thinking. So, there you go.

If you have a comfortable recliner, I'd suggest you try sleeping in it. I spent some time sleeping in mine, as opposed to the bed.

First off, check your antidepressents--they obviously aren't working. I speak from experience. Get out of your depression and things will look different.

Lol, anyone that references Baba Ram Dass gets my attention! Attendant to your discussion, I'd like to suggest people watch the video "King Corn". Netflix used to have it for free download, and now no longer offers it. Amazon Prime has it for .99 download fee. Bottom line: Sugar, sugar, sugar everywhere.

This is the first time I've visited this forum. I was looking for a place to share my story with other RNY patients, and here is where I landed. So, first off, the basics. I had bypass surgery 6 years ago at the U of W Hospital. The surgery was straight forward and I suffered no complications.My pre surgery weight was 355. During the first year post op I shrank to 217 (which contrary to all obesity tables was thin for my build). I was 60 at the time of the surgery. During the first year, I ate whatever I could tolerate, and drank no alcohol at all. I was pretty gruntled over the results. I tossed by CPAP, as the decrease in fat around my neck cured me of the obstructive aspect of my apnea. I was on a low dose of blood pressure meds, and I no longer needed to continue that med, as my BP dropped with my weight loss. I never could tolerate sugar after the surgery and found I really needed to limit any carbs a couple of hours prior to doing physical activity to prevent lightheadedness--although, I continued to eat a lot of high carbo foods. After the first year and the highly satisfactory weight loss, I started reintroducing alcohol. I had, for over twenty years, been a daily drinker-- usually a couple of cocktails in the evening with friends. I found that alcohol after surgery was different. I got drunk much faster, sobered up much quicker and never suffered a hangover, no matter how much I consumed. This was great fun, as I'm by nature a happy drunk, pleased to make people laugh and enjoy the company of friends and alcohol together. This behavior went on and I started to gain weight. I wasn't overly alarmed by either my alcohol use or my weight gain, as I had been told that studies indicate that RNY patients suffered a 10% weight regain after reaching their highest weight loss. Well, pressures of life mounted, I daily traded in the Stock Market, and found with the advent of the Fed's QE programs and the advent of ALGO trading, my trading strategies suffered considerably. Over the course of the next 3 years I lost $10s of Thousands of dollars in the Market. So, I sat at the computer 14 hours a day watching the evaporation of my money as it went to money heaven. It was disturbing and depressing--to say the least. My alcohol consumption increased, as my activity level decreased. In fact, I started adding a daily bottle of good red wine with dinner to enjoy and make me feel better. This escalated over the months. On top of my own Market disasters, our Family suffered some terrible tragedies and losses in the course of an 8 month period in 2014. My Wife, of 46 years marriage, had suffered clinical depression bouts and hospitalization a number of years ago. With the family loss, I constantly worried about her mental health, and as she increased her wine intake (she is on Wellbutrin), I viewed it as not a bad thing, as it helped her cope with the immediate pain and depression. My weight gain continued. I found myself back on my BP meds. and, back on the CPAP machine--which I hate with a passion. Finally, towards the end of 2015 we had a discussion about our health and what to do about it. On Jan. 1 we both stopped drinking and started dieting. At that point I had ballooned up to 278! I was embarrassed by my weight gain and felt I had failed myself and my Wife in my presurgery promise to get healthier in order to have longer and happier life together. So, on Jan 1. I got the Fitbit App and went on a 1500 cal. a day eating plan. I cut out alcohol, all starchy foods, most meat and very little fried food prep. I take a couple of Premier Protein drinks a day and eat a lot of raw veggie salads. I have to say, I couldn't be happier. Since Jan. I've lost 32 pounds and have a goal to drop another 30 pounds before Fall, I've put away my CPAP machine, I sleep better and have less aches and pains in my joints. My wife has also lost weight, although only 8 pounds, which is very visible on her, as she wasn't overly sized to begin with. I have to admit that I have an easier time with the diet, as I don't experience hunger pains, and often view eating as necessary rather than desired. My activity level has markedly increased. I've started woodworking again (just finishing up a stunning dining room table of solid black walnut) --I had stopped for about 6 years. And I am currently building a deck on the south side of the house that I had been putting off for the last twenty years! I wanted to share this with others in the hope that it might inspire anyone that fallen into a similar situation and despaired of regaining their health and happiness. So, my first recommendation is the Fitbit App to monitor and track your food intake. And, to be honest, the first week of big change like this is a bit of a hurdle, but, put your head down and power through this period and you'll find it will be easier going forward. Life will get better. Best wishes to all.

The most apt and simplest comment I ever heard: "The longer a balloon stays inflated the more wrinkled it gets when you let the air out".

Poop is always an issue. Senna has proved to be very effective for dramatic and fairly quick relief. Going forward, I'd recommend a glass of sugarless Metamucil daily in the morning. I drink mine slightly warm, and pretty much gulp down a glass a quickly as possible so I don't have to deal with congealed material at the bottom of the glass. Here's a tip that may or may not work for you as you progress with the weight loss and are dealing with reluctant evacuation. I don't know what percentage of people this will work for, but it does for me and others. What I do when faced with the inability to create a BM (and the aching need to do so). And, I found this to work after a considerable weight loss, which I attribute to less padding in the butt... Anyway, I find that when sitting on the WC seat, I can facilitate a blocked BM by rolling over on my left cheek, raising up my right cheek of the seat and using my right hand and pushing on the side of my right cheek and lowering my right cheek back down on the seat with my hand still exerting pressure against the side of my cheek. Not to be indelicate, my hand is not near the evacuation point, but rather, firmly planted against the side of my butt cheek. This works remarkably well, as it seems to realign things.

6 years post op and I sleep around 5 hours a night. That works for me.

ISS, Thank you for the welcome and encouragement.

I just joined this Forum a few minutes ago. Take a look at my Post under "my story" section where I discuss my use of alcohol. It might be instructive.