I joined this site because I am wondering if anyone is in the same boat as me...I am pre-surgery, it is in a couple months. I am having a Roux En Y because my stomach doesn't work-it doesn't empty and I regurge everything I eat for about 5-6 hours after. Two surgeries (in an attempt to fix the problem) later and the symptoms are all back, so my surgeon has resorted to this procedure. I am starting to become anxious about the after surgery stuff-learning to eat again, how long are you on a liquid diet for? How to make sure I get the proper nutrients/vitamins. How long will the recovery be? They are doing an open procedure so how big will the incision be?

Any insight or suggestions, whether you're in the same situation as me or not, would be appreciated!

Thanks!

Most surgeons have an extensive training program. You'll likely take classes to learn about the diet you'll have to follow, meet with a counselor, and get detailed information about how you should eat from now on.

I personally went to two educational seminars, one pre-op nutritional class, one counseling session, and two post-op nutritional classes. I could tell you what my diet plan has been like, but every doctor is different, so yours may be different. There's lots of info on this site, though. Poke around and ask questions, and you'll do fine, I'm sure.

How long are you on a liquid diet for?

Program requirements may vary. I had RNY [Roux En Y] 4 years ago and I was on full liquids for the first 4 weeks, then pureed foods for the next 4 and finally in week 9, I transitions to solids.

How to make sure I get the proper nutrients/vitamins?

The three most important elements after RNY gastric bypass surgery are to meet your daily protein, fluid and vitamin requirements. Food is secondary because your body is converting your stored fat into the energy that drives your body. Thus you lose weight.

Weight loss is achieved after surgery through meal volume control. You begin at 2 ounces (1/4 cup) per meal and gradually over the next year and a half increase the volume to 1 cup per meal. With this minuscule amount of food, it is next to impossible to meet your protein daily requirements by food alone, so therefore you need to rely on supplements such as protein shakes.

So you will be taking vitamins for the rest of your life. In the beginning after surgery, you will need to take protein supplements in the form of protein shakes. After several months when your stomach heals, you can transition to protein bars. If you concentrate on consuming high protein meals, as your meal volume increases, you can begin offloading your protein supplements.

How long will the recovery be? They are doing an open procedure so how big will the incision be?

I had minimally invasive surgery for my RNY. For me it was fairly painless. I took no pain medicine after I left the operating room. In the past I had open surgery for other conditions. In open surgery the pain is greater and the recovery time was longer. After my RNY surgery, I walked back from the recovery room and I was up and walking every 2 hours thereafter while I was in the hospital.

It wasn't clear whether you purely need the surgery for the stomach or whether weight loss is also a goal.

Either way, the healing period is the same. 8-9 weeks for diet and exercise to return to "normal". You'll start with clear fluids and frequent short walks, and progress to normal foods (small portions), and unlimited exercise.

One question I would feel comfortable asking is why the open procedure? If your surgeon is not a typical bariatric surgeon (that specializes in the weight loss procedures exclusively), he/she may not be as skilled in laproscopic procedures.

Find out if it is surgeon skill, or your own anatomy that creates the need for that type of procedure. (Maybe get a second opinion from a bariatric specialist).

Thanks for all the input and advice! I appreciate it! The surgery is not for weight loss-it is a last resort for my ongoing regurgitation problems. They are doing open technique opposed to laparoscopic because I have already had several laparoscopic surgeries to try and correct this issue, there is too much scar tissue to do another one.

Ah, I see scar tissue is probably a PITA for surgeons.

I bet the bypass will fix you right up since the food can just drip right out of your pouch into the intestine.

Be prepared to lose quite a bit of weight at first, even though you don't want to. It really can't be helped. But you can gain it back later.

Be prepared for a change in tastes. Sweets and fried foods are frequently not tolerated. New lactose intolerance happens frequently as well.

Has your surgeon mentioned "dumping"? If you eat sugar or fried food, it can make you feel really sick (but ultimately isn't actually harmful). Dumping decreases over the first few years and usually stops completely.

You are going to find eating/drinking is a full time job for the first couple months. Long term, you'll be eating around 6 times a day. Each time is only a handful of food.

Getting a digital kitchen scale will help you learn to eyeball your portions. (Overeating hurts, and overfilling your plate is frustrating).