wendy4energyrenewal

I've thought a lot about this recently, for various reasons. I think my overall answer would be "yes, I would do it again." I had a roux en y, almost 2 years ago. I've had many challenges post-op, some directly related to the surgery and others only indirectly related. But, if I sit and really weigh the challenges with the benefits, benefits outweigh the other. I had health challenges before the surgery, and would likely have continued with those and added more had I continued on my pre-op path. People who have had a difficult life often have physical challenges, even though from emotional stress. The challenges I have post-op are manageable. I have lost 183 pounds. I'm comfortably wearing a clothes size that would never have been achieved with traditional methods of weight loss. I can say I eat whatever I want, because with the surgical changes, and the natural results that now happen from eating a large amount, eating too much sugar or fat, or getting dehydrated, I want to primarily eat natural foods in moderate amounts. It was like defibrillating my brain, leading to a natural and immediate shift of all my physiology to a new way of working. My frequent go-to prior to surgery was candy, in very large amounts. I had my surgery in the month of April. As the year continued, I was worried about Halloween. Not a problem; no cravings or needs. Thanksgiving; the same. Christmas; not a thought. That lack of the intense desire for food to comfort has shifted, which for me has made all the difference in the world.

I love hearing about all the successes!

I love not being hungry anymore! I do feel it every now and then, but the quality of the hunger is so different. Sooo much more tolerable. I don't have to plan my day on "what if I get hungry" when running errands. I have a general idea of around what time the meals should be, and I can be flexible as long as I get food in me. No more gas station fill ups, and I don't mean gasoline. I have such a different relationship with food now. It's pretty nice!

Hi, Mspretty86. I love that you reached out. I forget about this forum. My surgery was April 16, and I have lost 71 pounds. I lose in chunks and then remain plateaued for weeks. Very strange, yet the scale shows a trending down line. My body feels weird. My skin is losing firmness as the fat cells diminish. I feel like I may have something else going on though. I do have more energy and less pain, which is huge for me. I'm curious how others are doing?

Try not to be too discouraged at your "stalled weight loss." Your body has undergone a lot of change and just needs time to catch up and adjust. If you're following the recommendations, I'm guessing the stall will only be for a week or so. That was my experience. I am 7 weeks out from my RNY, and I had a "stall" as well, which lasted about 5 days. Since that point, I have had a pattern of staying the same weight or even increasing a pound or two for 3-4 days of the week, and then having a 2-3 pound per day drop for the other days in the week. As long as I am trending down, I don't care how I get there. Also, I'm curious about your not tolerating foods past soft. I had immediate trouble when I tried to advance to meats, and had testing done which revealed a surgical stricture. My body had reacted to the surgery site by closing down too much. I had an endoscopy with dilation and am doing better. I do still have to really focus when I eat to not eat too fast or too much. When my pouch gets too full, I get chest pain, which is just me feeling that stretch of the pouch. We all will experience differences in our bodies. I think it's really important that we all listen to our bodies and learn our new subtle signals in order to have success.

Hi, all. I am just over a month out and losing okay. I've lost 27 pounds. I'm having trouble advancing to the soft foods, in particular meats. I must have a repeat upper GI and possible endoscopy to see what could be going on. My doctor said he's worried about either an esophageal stricture at the stomach or an ulceration. Fun times. I'm sooo tired of protein shakes! I guess that shakes in some quantity will be a part of my life for a while though. I'm so glad to hear that you, Pamela and Lorna Nicole are doing well.

Congrats, LeighAnn! I also had back pains and it ended up being the gas from the surgery. It dissipated after about 4 days, and I felt much better. Remember to drink REALLY slowly and the nausea hopefully will lessen as well. I had some nausea just because at this point, I am SO tired of protein shakes! I still have a little trouble 12 days out, but trying different flavors helped some as well as the slow-paced drinking.

Hi gang! I had my RNY surgery on Tuesday, 04/16 and it went awesomely! I was super sore initially as well as swollen. Now at day 3, I have deflated greatly, and my pain is being managed pretty well. I don't think it could have been any better. One night in the hospital. I have a friend staying with me because my surgeon said now bending, lifting >10 pounds, and no driving while on narcotics. I have cats and can't feed them with those restrictions.

@summerseeker, that's a bit discouraging to hear that your Fibromyalgia did not change with the weight loss. One of my doctors said he has a couple of patients, and their Fibro was reversed, which is what I'm hoping for (but not banking on!). I hope I'm able to take my medicine. I've run out before, and Fibro pain without meds was not fun!

@RossMom, for my days doing the liver shrinking diet, the first 2 to 2 1/2 days were pretty rough, as I was hungry and nauseated from hunger, as strange as that sounds. But since then, it's been easy-breezy. I start my 2 days of clears tomorrow....oh so close!

I'm 52 years old and am scheduled for a RNY in 4 days. I am super nervous about post-op pain. It is so helpful to hear and read about all of these successful results. I have a hefty case of fibromyalgia, which intensifies the pain response. Do any of you have this complication as well?

Lorna Nicole & Elizabeth21again, congrats on your post-op status! So glad to hear everything went well. I have only 4 days until my surgery. It's so helpful hearing of all the successful surgeries!! I'll update you post-op as well...

Thank you, BlueParis & Tomo for your responses!

That sounds very disappointing, leese13! I'm so sorry.

Thank you, ShoppGirl & jennyBeez

Thank you for your reply, ms.sss

Thank you, longhaul68! I read about hair loss and was hoping it was a rare side effect. It sounds like it does get better when nutrition picks up?? Did you tell everybody you had weight loss surgery? My friends know, as they are my support system. I have not told anyone at work. I told my boss I'm having surgery. I told my families (I work with kids) that I'm going to be out for 2 weeks (BTW is 2 weeks enough??). It's not that I'm ashamed of the surgery, I don't think. I'm not sure why I haven't told everyone in my life. They'll think I'm sick when I start the weight loss! What have others said to people?

leese13 & ChelsRae33, I wish you two a smooth ride as well!

Radzi, hey surgery date buddy! 12 days out. Are you nervous? I am actually getting less nervous as the date gets closer. I think this is because I had been wavering back and forth about if I am doing the right thing, and am now convinced that I am.

Thank you so much for the replies!

I hate saying "good luck" because that implies luck has a lot to do with it. So, I will say I hope your day is successful and smooth. My date is 04/16. I'd love to hear how it went, afterward.

I was at a support group meeting in which someone mentioned that topics discussed at other meetings could include "what to take to the hospital." That wasn't the topic for the meeting I was attending. Are there certain things that should be included? Should I take things like my own meds, fluids, pillow, etc? I just don't know

Thank you so much for sharing this video summerset! I am pre-op and it was extremely helpful to see

Hello! I am scheduled for a RNY on April 16, 2024, and would love to be part of this support gang. I'm 52 and in moderate health. I'm a bit worried I'll be a "slow loser" after the procedure. Hell, I am just worried in general. I have fibromyalgia, which can intensify pain responses, and I can be a wimp. It's been good getting on here and reading all of the successes! I wish us all a smooth surgery and recovery