The Greater Fool

I hate when that happens. I've never gotten decent information form a dietician. Dietitians are about creating menus. Nutritionists are about, well, nutrition. They are typically better educated and better informed. Sounds like you are doing well with your post-op life. It also sounds like you've done research into your situation, which I tend to value more that general knowledge a dietician might have. As long as not going doesn't impact your insurance coverage, you sound like you are in good hands (your own, if that wasn't clear). With all this support I'm giving you, I think 'Tek' would make a good name, don't you? Good Luck, Tek

First, you dropped my entire post except what she did wrong. That is an interesting choice. It tells me that you, at least, have an issue with an honest appraisal of our actions. You apparently prefer the "oh, there there, you poor thing" approach. You dropped the action items she could take to actually help. I saw the picture, and it appeared to be a mostly eaten thing. We each have different approaches to life. This is a message board where one of the main functions is to explore those different perceptions and approaches. Honestly, how do YOU know she learned a lesson? And what lesson do you suppose she learned? You don't know. I don't know. She may not know. She certainly didn't indicate what she learned. Nothing indicating how this might affect her future. Sure, she felt terrible. I heard regret that she got sick. I didn't read regret about breaking the rules. I didn't see a plan for not repeating the same 'mistake.' Telling her to talk frankly to her Doc is not out of place, I'm heartily rejoicing that she plans to do just that. Suggesting mental health help is by no means out of line. I'm shocked that you so boldly declare such as not helpful. That is pure and simple amazing of you. Telling her to get back on plan and stay on plan, well, you're right. It's pure and simple evil of me to even suggest this. When I made greater and lesser errors, they weren't things I needed sympathy for as if it happened to me. I didn't except nor want people making excuses for me. I expected honesty. They were things I screwed up, things I did to me all by myself. Things for which I had to take responsibility. I enjoyed your giving me your honest perceptions. Interestingly, why don't I deserve the whole compassion and empathy thing? It's OK, I know why. Keep up the good work, Tek

Wow, I'm shocked you would be able to eat (or more likely) drink the sugar necessary. I love learning new stuff.

I remember going to my 1 month follow-up. I was still my my 6 weeks of pureed food. The morning of the appointment, I was a little rushed so I took a bite of a banana, chewed thoroughly, and everything went swimmingly. In fact, I was so proud that I told my doc. I don't remember the exact words of the lecture I received. It as a scathing rebuke of me thinking I knew more about his surgery than he did. He explored my deficits both moral and intellectual. He made it clear that MY decisions got me to needing surgery. What in the blue hell made me think my opinion about the plan was the way to go at this point. That if I can't follow simple rules I will fail both fantastically and completely. As I said, I don't remember the words, but I got the message loud and clear. Follow the damn rules. Darned if it didn't turn out Doc was right. So, let's look at the rules the OP not only broke but demolished: 1) During puree stage, EATING a breakfast sandwich. Why not puree it first? Then you would at least be within that rule; 2) Were the actual foods on your plan? 2 slices of bread? Really? 3) Taking 2 hours to eat it. This is not eating a meal this is like climbing Everest. You were set on conquering this breakfast sandwich regardless of cost. This is the fast track to not losing weight, and in fact, gaining it back quickly; Tell the Doc about this post. Maybe he can include it in future documentation on "How not to do it." It's STILL not too late. *IF* you take the following steps: 1) Talk to your Doc about this 'achievement'; 2) Get thee to a mental health professional. Get help. 3) Get back to and stay on plan. Good luck, Tek

It's mostly about washing food through allowing you to eat more. There is a lot of the same rules with RNY. Food and drink volume restrictions are about stretching. So stick with your Doc's rules on volume. While the times when to stop and when to start vary with Docs, as you indicate, they work to achieve the same thing. Some Doc's overcompensate, some give the minimum reasonable. Doc's also learn what to say based on what past patients have done. OH, also remember that Doc's don't do the same surgery in the exact same ways, so there is variation. So rules may be different between Docs for very good reasons. Just a thought to ponder. So, for 6 months give your Doc the benefit of the doubt. After all, you trusted him to move your insides about. As you get MUCH further out, as a natural course of things, you will test what happens if you shorten or lengthen the times. You may even... horror of horrors... test drinking with meals. But, knowing WHY and WHAT the Doc is working to achieve with your rules, stick to them in some way that honors the intent.

You need to have a frank discussion with your Doc about your current nicotine based habits. If you wait until day of surgery and the Doc just happens to find out, he may cancel on general principle. If you deal with it beforehand, it doesn't look like you are trying to get over on the doc and then the Doc may have a solution of which you haven't considered. Heck, Doc may just say "screw it" and not worry about it. Doc may simply have you discontinue the nicotine product for a period of time. Frank and honest are almost always the best path forward. Good luck, Tek

I don't recall them doing an urinalysis. You might talk to your Doc beforehand expressing your unusual anxiety. Perhaps the anesthesiologist if the Doc doesn't pan out. Try some relaxation techniques.. If you're worried about vitamin D or Iron go to the local pharmacy and get a supplement. Slow-FE works well for me, still. Unless you have extraordinarily low iron I can't see it being an issue. D even less so. You're finding stuff to worry about which is not unusual. Hang in there, address whatever you can if it will relieve your anxiety. Post op, if you're looking for something to read, I recommend "How to Make Yourself Miserable" (Dan Greenburg, 1976). I found it quite enlightening and entertaining. Good Luck, Tek

Just noticed, you have the sleeve? Just to be clear 'dumping' will be extremely difficult to manage. RNY is where 'dumping' is an issue. I'm sure you know this, but just want to be clear for the audience at home. Though, my non-op spouse managed to dump once. Now she understands better. Good luck Tek

First, let me say I agree with the whole 'don't break the rules, stay on plan' thing. If I were to look back on my posts here, I suspect I might find a post or two saying just that. Over and over. Could you expand on the alcohol and the idea it is a life and death decision? I've never heard this, and obviously, never heard medical support for it. In my personal situation, I had and have liver issues which for me mean: Alcohol and many drugs that may be hard on the liver I have to stay away from. But this is because I have specific medical concerns. DS: I don't remember the ins and outs of DS well enough to make any claims. Sleeve, Band: For surgeries that leave the pyloric valve in tact food/drink digestion works pretty much as pre-op. The restrictive nature reduces volume and things related to volume. RNY: the 'bypass' part causes anything one eats or drinks to dump directly into the intestines. As such, any alcohol consumed forces the body to work on it all now. This can be overwhelming to the liver. You can hit alcohol poisoning on much less alcohol. Drink often enough and cirrhosis can become an issue quicker. In the weeks can take for your innards to heal completely after surgery I've never heard that alcohol poses any sort of unique life and death threat. A good choice: definitely no. A life and death choice: I'd like to see the math. I do so enjoy learning new things. Thanks, Tek

There is no rule that says you have to take all your pills at or even near the same time. Spread them out more. I didn't have many pills back when I was early post-op. I'm 17 years post-op, I take a fair chunk of pills morning and night. About 1/2 the time when I take them I sneeze which is a sure sign I am 'full'. Early post-op is the most difficult period. You just can't eat because you had surgery recently. Your pouch and surgery points are swollen and angry, so getting any food or drink near it is tough. You're also learning how to eat again. Just go slow and you'll get through it. Keep trying. Good luck, Tek

I get late dumping. It typically involves sweats, palpatations, lethargy, gastric distress with as a big finish: diarrhea. I don't recall exactly when and why I dumped over the years, but it would probably started at 6 or so months. I was feeling pretty confident about things by then. Probably something innocuous, like a glass of OJ, or some equally stupid choice. How do I get through it? Not really anything that can be done. I bought the ticket I have to finish the ride. Good luck, Tek

Welcome to the forums. You don't indicate which WLS you've had which can change how such could impact pregnancy. I don't have experience with Kaiser. Nor do I have experience with pregnancy after WLS. I'm just here to keep you company while you are waiting for the informative replies that are soon to show up shortly. In the meantime... how about a little chit-chat? I can completely understand insurance wanting to ensure you are supported if you've had any of the malabsorption surgeries (RNY, DS). It's important that everyone involved understand this aspect of surgeries and how you will have to compensate for the health of your fetus. If you've had a restrictive surgery (RNY, sleeve, most current varieties of DS [I'm told]), then it is a matter of getting all the standard and special nutrients that are hard to achieve when one is eating small volumes of food. Effectively, you will have to figure out how to eat around your surgery now through a couple years post-pregnancy without continuing it when you don't want to. So, speaking with a dietician, though I would go for a nutritionist, would be a monthly meeting well worth going forward with even if you keep all your benefits if you opt-out. Once the meetings get repetitive and you are not getting anything out of them then you might consider opting out. Be careful if they say it's OK to opt-out. Be sure you clarify that an order of 'opt-out is up to you' does not come with a side of 'we won't cover pregnancy costs we think are related to WLS." Good luck, Tek

The drinking 64oz of liquid shouldn't worry you over much. There are a variety of explanations for why this might happen. As long as you did not push past more than mild resistance and pain you didn't do anything wrong. As for the food, you need to ensure you are not breaking the rule about not drinking during meals, as this would wash the food out of your new pouch into your intestines allowing you too eat more. You would also want to be sure your not taking overly long to eat. It's a bad habit you'd be learning. If you're doing the eating thing correctly, then most of the variety of reasons why you were able to drink would apply to why your are able to eat. Since you're having a better time eating and drinking early on than most you need to focus on not exceeding what your plan calls for. If your plan calls for specific protein, carbs, calories, fats, etc. then you need to be sure it just so. Good luck Tek

I called them vowel movements until I was about 12. Took me back. I find a couple turns on the legs tighten those stools right up. Early post-op it's difficult to predict much with any accuracy. Things will settle eventually. Good luck, Tek

Welcome to the forums. I don't have an answer for you but didn't want you to feel lonely, so I thought I sit down and join you while you wait. Good luck, Tek

A stall is not something that requires 'breaking' The lesson to learn from Loridee11 is that it's better to not now about stalls early on. Scales lie. Stalls happen. They don't mean you are doing anything wrong, or that anything needs fixing. Just keep doing your plan. The scale will catch up, then it will vex you again. Don't give the scale the power to cause you to muck up your program. Tek

Would so many sips have affected you pre-op? The sleeve wouldn't necessarily cause alcohol to have a different than normal impact on you post-op as pre op. You still have a pyloric valve, which is the gatekeeper between your stomach and your (normal) intestines. Early post op since you aren't eating as much alcohol might have a slightly greater than normal impact, just as if you were drinking on a nearly empty stomach. The sleeve creates restriction on what you can eat. It really doesn't change digestion. Good luck, Tek

Continue on your plan, assuming you are sticking to plan. Tek

I've been scared and embarrassed before. When you talk to your Doc, take responsibility and be honest about what went right and what went wrong. You're not the first to be where you are, and things usually work out. Good luck, Tek

Welcome to the forums. 10 days ago you had surgery which means 10 days ago your surgeon did surgical insult to your stomach. He poked, he prodded, he moved things about, he created the sleeve. So far so good. All those things that were poked, prodded, moved, and changed are still very swollen, very angry, and very sensitive. Some folks, even when they do everything right, have the issues you are having now. It's worse for some people than others. Whatever you drink do very small sips and leave a bit of time between sips. If/when you get to food, it's very small bites, chew well, then chew some more. Again, leave time between bites. Back to current. You and your sleeve are already learning new behaviors. The fact that you gag BEFORE you try means your sleeve has already learned how to tell you what it doesn't like... over sweet stuff. This will help in the future. Hang in there, keep trying different things. Eventually your sleeve will heal enough or you will hit a product that works well enough. Good luck, Tek

Welcome to the forums. You had surgery just over a week ago. Your band area has been abused terribly and is angry and swollen. This means that any food or drink that goes near it is going to cause what you feel. Remember to drink only sips and slowly. If/when you start food, small bites, chew thoroughly, then chew more. Hang in there. Remember that the first weeks are the worst it will probably be. Good luck, Tek

Do you have any closets with a little space and a lock on the outside? Just a thought. Good Luck, Tek

Thanks for answering my prying questions. You have a unique experience going on. It's terribly interesting. Thanks again, Tek

Didn't expect that you'd do it all night. Interesting. 6 weeks indicates they want your surgery well healed before they let anything going through. At least you won't have to cope with surgical pain while you try to learn to eat, that is a positive feature. Are you allowed to drink on your own? Tek

I have a couple few many questions, since I don't recall ever having a feeding tube. Is it always in? Is there a hole in you somewhere to accommodate the feeding tube? Do you pump or push the food in somehow? How big is the tube? Do they provide the food they want you to use, or do you do your own food? Sorry for all the questions, but I'm interested in the mechanics of this. How long do they expect you to have it? Thanks for your time and expertise in answering these questions. Tek