Doing well, but have a few questions...

Hi Everyone! I'm new to this site, and I want to tell all of you I am so glad I came across it on the web. I feel a sense of kinship with all of you "October '03" folks... On October 13th I checked into Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis weighing 332 lbs. at 5'6" tall. I felt utterly terrible. Now, 5 months post-op, I have lost 92 lbs. (240 lbs. current weight). I have so much energy, and I feel as though I'm back in the game! I have a couple of questions: Dr. Drew gave me a 150 cm. "limb". What does that mean? The PA I've been seeing was surprised by that. He thought I'd have a 75 cm. limb. Sometimes I cannot eat 3/4 cup at a meal, and sometimes I feel I could eat much more. I try to stay at 3/4 cup to 1 cup... is it normal to vary from meal to meal? Finally, what about diet soda? The bubbles don't seem to bother me. Is it okay to drink it? How often? Thanks! cj

Hi, and welcome. I don't know what you are talking about with the limb thing. I can eat about the same as you. My amount varies too. It seems I can eat more in the evening than I can in the morning. Maybe it's just in my head though. I feel a kinship with the Oct. people too. Karen

Hi Karen, and thank you! It's affirming to know that we are eating the same amounts, and your eating varies as well. I love meeting new friends who are 5 months post-op right along with me. Today I'm off to work, then going on a bus trip to Mpls./St. Paul to attend a state tournament basketball game. This is out of my normal routine, and I have to pack a lunch. Sort of stresses me out... I think I'll take half a Subway Wrap. What do you usually take when you have to pack a lunch? I'm always afraid I'll get sick! Sometimes I drink water and just skip the meal... cj

Hi. You already left for you trip, I assume. Hope it was fun. I bet you fit on the bus seat better than you did before. I started college classes a few weeks ago and was so happy that I fit in the desks now. When I pack a lunch I usually take proven things like yogurt, cheese sticks, crackers, bananas. I have been craving fruit so much lately. I love mandarine oranges. I am so lucky/blessed that I can eat almost anything. Nothing really disagrees with me. I hope that isn't bad for me in the end and I regain weight. One of my sisters who had it done has been gaining back some weight. She needed to though. She got to a size 6 and it was baggy. She has gained back 15 pounds. Karen

Catherine, At 150 cm, you had a proximal RNY. Many surgeons do only 75 cm which is fine if you don't have much to lose, but for us "over 300" gals, it's not what we need to get to our goal, which should be a BMI under 30. That being said, some surgeons measure differently than others - backwards - so when they say you had a 75 cm bypass, it's actually closer to 125 cm. The real problem is there is no accepted definition of proximal, medial, and distal. The most important thing to know is how much of a common channel you have. That is where any digestion that CAN take place, does take place. A distal will have 60" or so. If you want to be careful that you stay in a good losing program, don't eat more than 1/2 cup at a time. It won't hurt you if you have another bite or too, so don't worry. The most prominent bariatric surgeons in the country subscribe to the 1/2 cup rule. Just because you CAN eat more doesn't mean you should. Diet soda has no place in our diet after WLS. The issue of carbonation is debated as to how much the gas expands our pouch...no definitive study as yet. More importantly, diet soda is incidious. One today soon leads to six next week. You have very little room to get in all the water you need. Don't replace what's necessary to your health with something that does you no good whatsoever. Additionally, brown liquids like diet Coke and Pepsi, are common culprits in kidney stone problems down the line. A sip or two once in a while won't do you any harm, but don't go backwards and develop a habit that can become a problem. I had an open RNY 10/17/03 and have been completely successful. All co-morbidities are gone and I'm down 100 lbs as of Tuesday. Yeah! Sandra

Catherine, Congratulations on your loss. When I talked to my surgeon about the limb size, she said that a lot of the measurement debate is centered around insurance companies. Measurements greater than 150 cm are considered "investigational" by many insurance companies. So, the doctors are creative with their measurement techniques. As for the carbonation issue. You will have to go with what your doctor says. Mine says that it's fine after 6 months. I was on a chat with a doctor from Arizona and he says that the carbonation stretching a pouch is nuts... his justification is that the doctor didn't do anything with our burping abilities. As for me, I'm looking foward to my 6 month anniversary! Though I can't decide between a Diet Mug Rootbeer or a Diet Vanilla Pepsi. Lastly, on your quantity question. It is perfectly normal for the amount that you can eat to vary from meal to meal. Your overall quantity will vary depending on your pouch size. My doc gave me a 1 oz pouch. Some docs leave a 3 oz pouch... everyone is different. I can eat a 4oz container of yogurt with no trouble. As for soup... I'd say about a cup if it's tomato or broccoli cheese, but closer to 3/4 for vegetable or 1/2 for chili. I don't eat much soup though. Keep up the good work! Jackie