Two Months

PatientB · March 9, 2015

Hello everyone!

I want to be completely honest and say it's now quite yet two months, March 13th 2015 will be the two month anniversary! For those who are thinking or about to get the surgery, I'll answer questions. For those who have had the surgery, I hope my post inspires you to work smarter not harder! After all, eating right and exercising is a lot easier than waiting for the weight to drop!

Let me start off by saying, there will be days that it absolutely sucks. You'll wake up in the morning and not feel hungry. You'll end up going the whole day without eating or drinking without a constant reminder. This isn't healthy! So make sure you add post-its, or something.

I had my surgery January 13, 2015 at a little past 9 in the morning. First person to be on the table! When I came to, I jolted. The nurses had been talking to me and I fell asleep on them, so my body jump started. Now, at this point, I recommend you relax. When I was wiggling around, trying to find the nurses who were in surgery with me, I got extreme heartburn. It was my body's way of saying, "Stop! I hurt!" I ended up being put under from pain medication~ Not exactly under, I could hear and respond. My eyes just didn't want to open the first day. That was until the bathroom break came a long! It took over 45 minutes just to tinkle and since I moved (standing up, sitting down, etc) it caused motion sickness. So dry heaving isn't fun! Trust me.

When they began to introduce liquids to me while in the hospital, I only could manage a tablespoon of popsicle juice three times a day. The rest of my fluids came from the IV - so naturally my body couldn't take anything else. At this point, it'll suck more! You'll be asked to walk around, or at least my night nurse asked me. We'd walk around the nurses station! Instead of letting me suffer in silence, she looked around my room and saw that I liked comics. She kept me entertained by asking me about the new Avengers movie that was coming out, what I was doing this summer, etc. So, a good conversation with someone other than family is nice! Your nurses are there for you and it doesn't hurt to strike up a conversation.

Liquids were easy at first, I got in one shake a day (my mother upped my Protein in the shakes to about 30g) with 4 glasses of tall Water. It wasn't until the soft foods came into play (which has been just recently) that I started having eating issues. I've read that some women develop eating disorders after surgery, which I've been talking to my doctor about. I cannot stand the sight, smell, or taste of anything cooked or that has touched something with oil.

Fast food is automatically out of the question, its hard! I took a bite of McDonalds bacon from my little sister's plate. Ended up throwing up from a nibble. So my doctor suggested going to less fattening alternatives. So I eat mostly fruits, about: A Fuji apple, 2 strawberries, about 10 rasberries&Blueberries&Blackberries, a plum, and a small cube (from the cube cheese bag) of cheese a day. Then you add about a 16 oz glass of water, 4 oz of apple juice, and about 2 oz of unsweetened tea.

It's hard to eat or drink without feeling sick to my stomach. This might seem negative, but it helps put into light of what I use to eat and drink in a day. I'm eating healthier, although not as much as my doctor would like (he ended up giving me more Vitamins and weekly checkups with a vegetarian/vegan food counselor), however I'm proud of my process. I've dropped so much weight that my clothes are baggy. Clothes that were tight in areas~ I might be more tired due to my diet, but when I'm at the gym, I feel alive. I'm not sluggish, I feel great.

This surgery isn't for everyone. It sucks on most days, but for the years to come its worth it.

Now some advice for my younger ladies (I'm turning 21 soon) or women who are still having their period. This is going to suck the most. You'll bleed longer, or more, etc. It'll change your cycle completely. Just remember to take your vitamins and possibly some advil for your new found cramps.

Taneé · March 10, 2015

I am also turning 21 soon . Just started the process. Meet with the psychologist on the 20th . So glad to have found someone my age !

octavia16 · March 12, 2015

Thanks i needed to read this I'm waiting on my date I'm scared

laneydasilva · March 19, 2015

I'm 51 looking for support I'm from London Ontario Canada anyone else?

dawnl2015 · March 25, 2015

Hi I'm 51 and two weeks ago had a rny bypass. Things have been going well. Very different but very freeing in many ways too. I feel like I'm in control of the food and the food is not controlling me. Kinda weird but good. I was very apprehensive about having the surgery but that was good as long as you do what you need to do. Move, take pain meds appropriately, use incentive spirometer to make sure your lungs keep healthy. Move, walk, walk, walk.