I'm BAAAAACK!
Hey "LOSERS"!!!! 
Just wanted to let ya'll know I'm still alive! I read this board everyday still thru my email, but am soooo busy. We are getting the keys to our new house tomorrow and between that, work, and hubby's softball I've not had time to just sit and chill on the PC. (it's quarter to 4 am right now and I can't sleep!!!) 
I'm doin "okay" on my weight loss. I seem to weigh MUCH less in the evenings than in the morning which is very unusual for me. I weigh myself daily but only "count" it once a week. I'm down 23 lbs so far. I'll take it! I know some of ya'll missed the "question of the day" as do I but am so glad some of ya'll got in the spirit of it and started adding your own. I'm gonna try real hard to be a more active participant, but wish me luck. I think I'll still be missing in action while we continue to move and w/ the holiday and all. I wanted to let everyone know what my doctor has said about some of the issues that some of you are having. Instead of answering each email I figured I'd just throw it all on this one. Keep in mind my surgeon has performed this surgery on 5 of my family members and I'm number 6. Not that he is GOD or what he says is written in stone, but none of us have died. (poor taste in humor....sorry) These are the guidelines for RNY patients LAP or OPEN.
Birth Control:
OBG AND Surgeon said that they don't know the effectiveness of the pill due to our decreased amount of absorption. WHO WANTS TO TAKE THAT RISK? We ourselves are malnourished. I know I certainly couldn't eat enough right now to sustain a growing baby inside me. The fear of neuro defects ect. is great enough to keep me using CONDOMS! We are told by our surgeon that we should wait at least 18 months before conceiving at which point we should be able to consume enough for both us and our babies. Which leads me to the next question.....
SEX:
My doc said don't bust a gut!! 
We resumed at 2 weeks out. As long as nothing hurts then go for it.
Sugar & Carbs:
The guidelines for me are SOLIDS=10g of SUGAR or less LIQUIDS=25g of CARBS or less. No dumping yet for me. So that DOES include Gatorade. I drink it at hubby's softball games and it tastes great.
In addition to that I wanted to list the other key things the doc told us.
MULTIVITAMIN:
2 children's chewable w/ iron per day up to 6wks post op.
After 6 wks 1 adult chewable or regular tablet when tolerated.
B12:
500 micrograms of B12 daily @ 6 wks post op
Calcium:
1500-1800mg/day for Post menopausal women who do not take estrogen, young adults under age 28 yrs (still establishing bone density) and pregnant women
1200-1500 mg/day women in child-bearing yrs or post-menopausal w/ estrogen replacement.
1200 mg/day men over age 28
Iron:
One 325 mg (65mg of elemental iron) tablet Ferrous Sulfate per day recommended for pre-menopausal women 4-6 wks after surgery. Drinking it w/ vitamin C (orange juice) can enhance the absorption and DO NOT take w/ calcium as they "fight" for absorption.
I am also taking Urso which helps prevent gallstones. When you rapidly lose a large amount of weight in a short period of time the chance of gallstones is great. This pill dramatically decreases the chance. I take 2/day now, and soon (dunno how soon) I'll be able to just take one/day up until 6 months out at which point I can discontinue all together
Also because our "pouches" are so sensitive and new, I have to take 2 Pepcid AC a day. (I don't remember for how long-gotta find the paperwork on that one too!)
As far as eating is concerned:
First 2 days post op was CLEAR LIQUIDS ONLY
Full liquids only until day 11
Thin pureed, blenderized foods day 11-27
Then solids
Solids:
First and foremost CHEW CHEW CHEW!
Avoid white breads
Protein FIRST
Women need 60-80 g /day
Men need 70-90 g/day
Do NOT drink during your meals
Wait 30-45 min. after a meal to start drinking
1000-1200 calories /day
6-8 cups fluid /day
All of this has been part of the program for my surgeon, but any of this that is different that you are questioning, ASK YOUR DOCTOR. I am NOT a nurse and each surgery type has different requirements. Feel free to ask me questions, BUT ASK YOUR SURGEON FIRST. I don't need some dumb law suit cuz someone screwed up cuz "CHERYL SAID TO DO THIS". I'm just letting ya'll know what my program is all about.
So it's about 4:30 now, still not tired, and DON'T WANNA PACK ANYMORE! I'm off today and think I'm gonna go lay out by the pool ALL DARN DAY AND DO NOTHING!!! Good luck in each of your journeys and keep up the great work.......you "LOSERS"!
Cheryl 
315/293/165 ish
Just wanted to let ya'll know I'm still alive! I read this board everyday still thru my email, but am soooo busy. We are getting the keys to our new house tomorrow and between that, work, and hubby's softball I've not had time to just sit and chill on the PC. (it's quarter to 4 am right now and I can't sleep!!!) I'm doin "okay" on my weight loss. I seem to weigh MUCH less in the evenings than in the morning which is very unusual for me. I weigh myself daily but only "count" it once a week. I'm down 23 lbs so far. I'll take it! I know some of ya'll missed the "question of the day" as do I but am so glad some of ya'll got in the spirit of it and started adding your own. I'm gonna try real hard to be a more active participant, but wish me luck. I think I'll still be missing in action while we continue to move and w/ the holiday and all. I wanted to let everyone know what my doctor has said about some of the issues that some of you are having. Instead of answering each email I figured I'd just throw it all on this one. Keep in mind my surgeon has performed this surgery on 5 of my family members and I'm number 6. Not that he is GOD or what he says is written in stone, but none of us have died. (poor taste in humor....sorry) These are the guidelines for RNY patients LAP or OPEN.
Birth Control:
OBG AND Surgeon said that they don't know the effectiveness of the pill due to our decreased amount of absorption. WHO WANTS TO TAKE THAT RISK? We ourselves are malnourished. I know I certainly couldn't eat enough right now to sustain a growing baby inside me. The fear of neuro defects ect. is great enough to keep me using CONDOMS! We are told by our surgeon that we should wait at least 18 months before conceiving at which point we should be able to consume enough for both us and our babies. Which leads me to the next question.....
SEX:
My doc said don't bust a gut!! We resumed at 2 weeks out. As long as nothing hurts then go for it.
Sugar & Carbs:
The guidelines for me are SOLIDS=10g of SUGAR or less LIQUIDS=25g of CARBS or less. No dumping yet for me. So that DOES include Gatorade. I drink it at hubby's softball games and it tastes great.
In addition to that I wanted to list the other key things the doc told us.
MULTIVITAMIN:
2 children's chewable w/ iron per day up to 6wks post op.
After 6 wks 1 adult chewable or regular tablet when tolerated.
B12:
500 micrograms of B12 daily @ 6 wks post op
Calcium:
1500-1800mg/day for Post menopausal women who do not take estrogen, young adults under age 28 yrs (still establishing bone density) and pregnant women
1200-1500 mg/day women in child-bearing yrs or post-menopausal w/ estrogen replacement.
1200 mg/day men over age 28
Iron:
One 325 mg (65mg of elemental iron) tablet Ferrous Sulfate per day recommended for pre-menopausal women 4-6 wks after surgery. Drinking it w/ vitamin C (orange juice) can enhance the absorption and DO NOT take w/ calcium as they "fight" for absorption.
I am also taking Urso which helps prevent gallstones. When you rapidly lose a large amount of weight in a short period of time the chance of gallstones is great. This pill dramatically decreases the chance. I take 2/day now, and soon (dunno how soon) I'll be able to just take one/day up until 6 months out at which point I can discontinue all together
Also because our "pouches" are so sensitive and new, I have to take 2 Pepcid AC a day. (I don't remember for how long-gotta find the paperwork on that one too!)
As far as eating is concerned:
First 2 days post op was CLEAR LIQUIDS ONLY
Full liquids only until day 11
Thin pureed, blenderized foods day 11-27
Then solids
Solids:
First and foremost CHEW CHEW CHEW!
Avoid white breads
Protein FIRST
Women need 60-80 g /day
Men need 70-90 g/day
Do NOT drink during your meals
Wait 30-45 min. after a meal to start drinking
1000-1200 calories /day
6-8 cups fluid /day
All of this has been part of the program for my surgeon, but any of this that is different that you are questioning, ASK YOUR DOCTOR. I am NOT a nurse and each surgery type has different requirements. Feel free to ask me questions, BUT ASK YOUR SURGEON FIRST. I don't need some dumb law suit cuz someone screwed up cuz "CHERYL SAID TO DO THIS". I'm just letting ya'll know what my program is all about.
So it's about 4:30 now, still not tired, and DON'T WANNA PACK ANYMORE! I'm off today and think I'm gonna go lay out by the pool ALL DARN DAY AND DO NOTHING!!! Good luck in each of your journeys and keep up the great work.......you "LOSERS"!
Cheryl
315/293/165 ish 
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