Sunnyway

30 years post RNY, I still (rarely) get dumping syndrome from too much sugar. My upcoming revision will probably make that more likely, although I'm pretty committed to abstaining from sugar for life. If I go off the rails, I have to expect retribution! Dumping is so unpleasant that it is "good" because it teaches you what NOT to eat.

Walk, walk, walk. It helps get the gas out of your abdomen, which is causing much of the pain, The incisions will continue to hurt, but it will get better day by day. Don't be shy about asking for pain medication. Get up and walk even when you don't want to...especially when you don't want to. The more you walk the better it will be What you are feeling in your stomach is not hunger. You will need to relearn the true signs of hunger. In the meantime, SIP your water, SIP your protein shakes. Tiny sips until you can tolerate more. If you sip too fast or too much it will hurt in the area of your sternum. Follow the instructions and it will all be fine.

Your doctor may suspect that you are a sugar addict. If so, that's why he's barring sugar and carbohydrates. Of course, there are carbs in starchy vegetables (like sweet potatoes) and fruit, but your body processes them differently than bread and sweets. I've been on a high protein/low carb diet pre-surgery, and have eliminated sugar, flour, potatoes, rice, and processed foods. It's been very successful. I've learned a lot reading about sugar/food addiction and have come to the conclusion that I have this addiction. Once I've broken through the withdrawal period I don't crave these things. I have gone off the rails a few times and paid the price. It takes me about two weeks to get through withdrawal all over again. I've been working on this food plan, A Pound of Cure by Matthew Weiner, a bariatric surgeon. I intend to follow it post-surgery, possibly for life. To find out more about sugar/food addiction, all of these books are helpful.

If you have difficulty exercising due to Ehlers Danios, here is a mobility device that can get you back running again. I got one because bad knees and my weight prevented me from doing any serious walking. Another woman in my area has one too. Neither of us are actually disabled, just limited by pain. I can walk and run easily with no stress on my joints or back. We always draw a lot of curious attention wherever we ride.This past week my friend rode hers on the track at the local YMCA, and will use it to attend a dog show out of state. She is flying and will gate-check it. I won't kid you, it is expensive ($2500 US) and there is a learning curve but it's worth both the expense and the effort. There are users who run races with it. There are also crowdfunding and rent-to-own programs. It's called an Alinker, a three-wheeled walking bike. See alinker.com for videos and more information.

I think it will be a piece of cake compared to my 1990 RNY. It was open surgery. I have a scar from below my sternum to my belly button. I was in ICU 2-3 days and in hospital for a week, then off work for another 4 weeks. I was given no nutritional advice or counseling. I saw the surgeon once before surgery, on the day of surgery, and two weeks later for him to check the stitches and remove the drain tubes (3 weeks of drain tubes!). In ICU I had a nasal gastric tube and IVs--nothing by mouth. On returning to a regular room I got clear liquids for a couple of days, pureed/soft for a couple of days and, get this: I was given solid food within 7 days of surgery. I was given a one-page low calorie diet and told "don't throw up". No wonder I blamed myself for the failure of the procedure. For 30 years I assumed that I ruined the RNY because I had thrown up too often. It was not until I had an EGD that I learned that the staples dividing the pouch from the stomach gave way due to peristalsis of the stomach. My surgeon told me that around 75% of the bypasses done back then failed for this very reason. He specialized in bariatric revisions during his residency and 1/3 of his current surgery is for revisions. He's reassured me that the new laparoscopic incisions and robotic assisted protocols are far superior, that the possibility of staple failure and leaks are minimal and would be found quickly. Because of my age (73). I'll stay two nights in the hospital instead of the usual 1 night. I think I'll be in good hands and make a rapid recovery. I have every intention of driving to my 2-week follow up visit.

DarkSoul, after reading hundreds of postings on this board and others, I have come to the conclusion that some surgeons are lazy and/or greedy. VGS surgery is easier and faster than RNY surgery, but the fees are usually the same.

With which hospital are they affiliated? Where in Mexico?

You can add unflavored protein powder (such as Orgain or Genepro) to your food or drinks. You can also get protein water or Isopure protein mix to add to water. Your doctor's arbitrary stance on protein shakes may not be in your best interest. Talk to the dietitian. It's her job to find solutions for your food issues.

Those you describe (cramping, painful, and makes all sorts of noises( gurgling, sounds like growling) are not hunger signals. Hunger signals are totally different post surgery than they may have been prior to surgery. Just keep up with your protein and fluids on schedule and you'll be fine. If you have insatiable craving, have a 1/4 C of fat-free Greek yogurt. If you are consuming a brand of yogurt with fruit that contains sugar, you may be getting cravings because of the sugar. The sooner you go sugar-free fat-free the better off you will be. I'm surprised that your surgeon opted for the sleeve knowing that you have reflux. Gastric bypass usually resolves reflux and GERD.

Many bariatric doctors recommend implants or IUDs. Until then, use condoms in addition to your BC pills.

Try Premier, Equate, Pure Protein, Orgain, Fairlife. Lots of people swear by the Fairllife shakes. They are lactose free. There are a dozen or more protein shake and powder brands in a multitude of flavors. I prefer the plant-based over the whey-based shakes. Some people get bloated from artificial sweeteners. They all contain them, so you may do better with making your own protein shakes. There are recipes online. Try Pinterest and Google Search.

Hi Karen, I had RNY Gastric Bypass in 1990, which failed after 6 months. I had lost about 75 lbs when I stopped losing. I regained it over the next 7-8 years, returning to my high set point of around 315 lbs, where I stayed for over 20 years despite frequent diets. I did not know that a revision was possible until just before the pandemic hit. My revision will include reducing the size of the pouch and anastomosis, separating the stomach (which was not done 30 years ago), and removing most of the fundus of the remnant stomach. The protocols and techniques have much improved over the years. I've been in my bariatric clinic's program for 7 months and am scheduled for revision surgery on December 21. In the meantime I've been on a high protein/low carb liver reduction diet, cutting out all sugar, flour, rice, potatoes, and processed food. it's been very successful, but I'm going ahead with the revision because I'm still over 100 lbs overweight. I don't expect to achieve a "normal" BMI, but should get out of the morbid obese category. My surgeon thinks I can lose another 60 lbs. (I'm hoping for more.) I had never heard of a "minimizer ring". but it looks sort of like a "lap band" technique which is rarely done in the US anymore. I don't think the minimizer ring is used by surgeons here. Have you had an EGD yet to determine the state of your pouch and anastomosis? That would determine if you are a candidate for that procedure.

The insurance company must tell you in writing why they are denying coverage for the WLS. Your BMI is high enough, so there must be another reason. You can (and should) challenge denials, up to and including "peer to peer" reviews during which your surgeon talks to a high level person at the insurance company. Every appeal takes it up a notch to someone with more knowledge and authority. You have alternatives if appeals fail. One is to complain to your state's Commissioner of Insurance.

Yes, you must consume your protein drinks and other fluids on schedule. Stick to the guidelines whether or not you lack a feeling of hunger. Part of our readjustment is to rely less upon feelings of hunger or fullness. You may not feel hunger for months. You need your protein and fluids so don't skip anything.

Throwing up is unlikely to have caused your pain. Could you have cracked a rib somehow? Follow up is usually covered by the surgical fee, not an additional charge, so do call your surgeon's office and tell them about this.

Make sure you are fully hydrated, drinking at least 48-64 oz of fluids daily.

My clinic warned of this possibility because of hormonal changes due to the surgery. They recommended reaching out to one's therapist or primary care physician. One should definitely let your surgeon/dietitian know about your emotional upheaval.

Yes, you can email and print reports and food logs.

My RNY to RNY revision surgery will be December 21, assuming COVID doesn't throw a monkey wrench into the plans. I've been on a high protein/low carb Liver Reduction Diet for 7 months. I started with a two week full liquid diet to see if I could do it. The joke is on me: this clinic doesn't prescribe it. I will have to do two days of clear liquids for two days prior to surgery,1 day post-surgery, then full liquids for7 days, followed by 2-3 weeks of soft food, then gradually introducing "real" food.

I've been using the Baritastic app for 8 months. it is free and very comprehensive. Among other things, it can figure out the calorie/nutrition data per serving if you input a recipe You can track your mood, feelings of hunger, number of bowel movements, journalling, timers for a variety of things, all in addition to daily food and vitamin intake. If you plan meals ahead, you can input them into future dates. You can also copy items from one day and insert them into the current or future date. I almost always have it open on my phone and use more often than any other app. I intend to keep using it

What kind of meds are they having you start prior to surgery? No one has said anything to me about starting anything new.

It is encouraging that you have been making progress despite these pesky addictions. So have I, but it's been difficult. I dread facing the rest of my lifetime abstaining from my trigger foods (sugar, flour, rice, potatoes, processed food). I've found that if I succumb even once, the withdrawal starts all over again. Have you read any of these books?

My surgery is jut 13 days away and all of the hospitals within 150+ miles are full of COVID patients and turning away transfer patients. 88% of of those hospitalized with COVID were not vaccinated or not fully vaccinated. (I am vaccinated and have received the booster.) My surgeon is reevaluating the schedule week by week.. As of today, my surgery is still on, but I recognize that it could get postponed.

Bacon is very fatty so it could trigger dumping syndrome. If you cook it until hard, you might be able to tolerate it. You would not want to eat 3-4 oz of bacon, though!

Have you tried using the timer on the Baritastic App? You can use it for times to drink, for length of time to eat a meal, and duration of chewing. (Those are not the titles for each timer, but you can use them that way.)