checking with with September surgeries

I'm glad to hear you don't do protein drinks...I was beginning to feel "weird"! I am not quite 6 weeks out and finally am starting to feel better, I am still real tired by evening though. I'm still only able to eat about 2 ounces (3 tablespoons and a bit) at a time. Hugs, Holly

Hi All, I had Lap RNY on 9/10. It has been a tough road for recovery for me because of my size. My surgery was 10 hours, I spent 2 days in ICU. I am feeling OK now. One of my sutures recently became infected and it hurts like heck. I spoke with the nurse at the doctor's office and she told me to continue with what I'm doing, but if it gets worse I will have to come in. The infection is clearing up just not as fast as I would like. My doctor refused to weigh on the 1st follow-up appointment. He said do not be concerned with a number. I'm handling the soft food diet just fine. I really miss drinking. I just want to take a big gulp of a cold drink, but I have to remember to sip, sip, sip. Prior to surgery, I had to use a walker to get around. I am now able to get out of bed without using the walker and am getting around my house without it also, so that's a big plus for me. Congrats to everyone on their surgery and I hope we all have a sucessful recovery.

Carol, You are one brave lady! I am so glad you are doing well now. My oldest son had an appendectomy a few years back and one of his incisions got infected, I remember how much he hurt. I am glad your doing well with the soft foods, I occasionally forget I can't swallow big gulps until my water is in my mouth...I hope I remember soon because it is really hard to swallow only a little bit of what is in your mouth That is so awesome that already you are seeing such huge health progress, one day soon you will be able to put the walker away forever! Hope to "talk" with you soon. Holly

Hello everyone...I had surgery on Sept 4th and today is my 4 week mark. I had no complications whatso ever surgery related to this point so far. But, I did make the mistake of not holding my stomach when i sneezed my first weekend home and I managed to rip the muscles from the incision site by the belly button and it hurt like a real ***** The pain from that was so excrutiating that I could only sleep on my right side, had to switch sides of the bed with my husband and it was hard getting in and out of my van or sitting in the stupid desks at school. Doc told me to go get a binder and once I figured out what one was my DH went and got one for me and think started healing a little better...stopped wearing it yesterday and most of the soreness is gone. Even told DH that I wanted my side of the bed back. As for food intake...I am eating alot of tilapia...bout the only thing that I can stomach besides my sf popsicles....also eating "stoups" that Rachel Ray has been making...they are pretty good....havent like one of the protein drinks that I have tried yet except for the Nectar...they are all gritting and take like S**T!!! I am getting pretty close to all my liquids in daily and the protein is getting up there and I am taking my vitamins... I have not dumped but I think that I have come close to it a couple of times because I tried to eat a piece of steak a little early and from a chicken walnut cranberry salad from south beach diet....guess i cant have those yet...lol...no loss there.... I have found that when i start feeling really nauseaus that I chew a couple of tums and the feeling starts to subside pretty quickly...invest in a big bottle of the generic ones from walmart...much worth it.... As of today I have lost 35 lbs and I am exstatic...I was at this point last year after taking diet pills for almost a year....and my pants are starting to fall off of me and I am wearing one size smaller now...could go down 2 but the next size is a little tight still... Still trying to understand what "foamies" are...so dont know if I have had that at all... Deni

Congrats on the surgery and the weight loss!! That is so awesome. You are way braver than I am, I am scared to death of getting steak stuck, so I am staying away for now (not one of my favorites anyway). I do love chicken though and have not had any problems with that. from what I understand the foamies are the mucous lining of the esophagus and if you get something stuck or eat too fast, you will start foaming from the mouth. Reminds me of dogs who foam, or at least that is what I envision! Holly

Hi, I had my RNY surgery Sept 10th in Denver, CO. I had no complications and as of today have not had any problems. No dumping or foaming. My Dr. has me on a 5 stage plan, liquids, full liquids, soft and moist, regular solids and then food I can eat in about 6 months. I am in the soft and moist stage and I am doing well. I do get hungry and I need a snack to hold me over, something small, like string cheese. I hear where some people don't have a hunger. Not me. I have lost 20lbs so far, but feel like I am stuck at that weight. I had to stop stepping on the scale everyday. I guess I was expecting at least a pound a day. I guess I am worried it won't work and everyone will think I failed once again with my weight. I finally made dinner for my poor son last night. I grilled a big steak and baked potato. After he was done there was a bite left on his plate. So I chewed the heck out of it. OMG it tasted so good. Then I spit it all out and give it to the dog. I got the satisfaction of the flavor but not the worry of it getting stuck. Plus my dog was happy, she hardly chews her food anyway. I am having a little hard time getting in enough fluids. Before my surgery I easily could do 64oz, now I have a hard time getting in 32oz. I really don't know why, just harder to do. Like you Holly I still get tired easily. I went back to work after 2 weeks and I did pretty well until the weekend and then I crashed. I was pretty worthless on Sat. and Sun it took me all day to clean my house. I was vacuuming at 8pm. I do a protein drink once in a while or I put protein powder on my oatmeal, but it makes my stomach rubble. I think I am going to get the unflavored powder or the pills. I really don't like the flavored drinks to well. I wish everyone well. Cindy

I am glad you are doing so well! Don't worry about the weight loss, it will come off. I have heard that we will all reach a stall while our body catches up with the weight loss. Good luck on the protein drinks, powders, pills...I am just glad I don't have to do them at all. Nice to meet you! Holly

Hi, Holly & Everyone, My surgery was Sept 17th My only snag was one night of bad gas pains so far and then the typical tiredness & nervousness. I was on clear liquids only for one week after surgery and am now on pureed food til my next dr visit on October 15th. I have been moving around but have not got into a real walking routine yet. I have been to the store and walked for shopping, probably an hour or more. I know shopping is not the same as walking but at least I am moving. I am supposed to be working towards 60 grams of protein and 64 oz of water each day. I am probably getting 35 - 45 grams of protein and 48 oz of water each day. Missing an Actigall dose, and one of my Calciums seems commonplace. I think I will have a better vitimin routine when I get back to my work schedule. I should be returning to work barring any complications on Tuesday, October 16th. I just hope I have the energy to make it through a workday. My work is sedentary but I have aproximately a 2 hour commute each way to work so that equates to about a 12 hour workday (thats how I figure it anyway, lol). It is nice to hear everyone's introduction. Thanks for starting this Holly! Gloria

Hi Gloria!! I am glad you are doing so well! Hopefully I will be off until the 22nd, I don't even see my surgeon until the 15th so I don't think it will be a problem. Good luck with your commute, I thought 25 minutes was bad! Holly

Hi September newbies: I had Lap RNY on 9-25 and everything has been fine. No complications; came home the next day; no problems eating my meals, drinking H20 and taking vitamins. I'm a bit tired so I'm taking it easy - letting my DH pamper me for a change! Chickita