Updates Info and Questions

Okay. I have been working so I haven't been able to read or post. I went to the Doctor and by happen stance the Nurse Practitioner has had a gastric bypass. I discussed everything with her and left a copy of Cigna's requirements with her and she said we will tackle this together!! She has my writing down EVERYTHING from intake to exercise. I am excited!!!

Okay Question time:

How long will it take to eat "normal" food with a Gastric bypass?

Did anyone miss eating what the rest of your family was eating?

I know when I crave red meat that my Iron is low and my B vitamins are diminshed what will I do after WLS? I usually get a B-12 injection every two weeks now. Will that change?

Is the protein expensive? How long do you have to consume it?

After the WLS and looking back do you have any regrets?

Love,
SuperME

First congratulations on starting this journey.

Eating normal food depends on what you call "normal".  Every doctor has different guidelines about when you can start the different stages.  I used Dr. Scott in Rome and I started puree when I left the hospital and stayed on pureed foods for the first month.  Months two and three I am on soft foods, no raw vegetables or red meat.  The Nutritionists did ok Wendy's chili because it only has a little beef and I have eaten that since week 1(pureed).  You have to chew, chew, chew your food.  I don't plan on ever eating the way I used to call "Normal."

I have not missed food the way I thought I would.  My DH ate Pizza and alot of other stuff while I was in the hospital and it didn't even bother me.  The smells and taste of food are more intense now than they use to be.  Sure I have a craving every now and then, but it is nothing like it was before the surgery.  I pretty much eat what my family eats only in smaller portions and have changed my cooking style so we are all eating better.  That may come back, I am almost 3 months out.  I have to eat and drink on a time schedule because I'm still not hungry, but I know I have to eat and drink to stay healthy.

I do the sublingual B12 every day.  I was told 3 times per week, but I actually feel better when I do it every day.  My doctors office also gives the injections.

I don't do protein drinks.  My doctor and nutritionists want us to get our protein from food.  Every doctor is different here also.  Some really prefer the protein drinks and some don't.   I bought alot of them before I had surgery and they are in the closet.  I may eventually start doing these ocassionally, but I don't now.

Regrets?  No way!!  It has been the best decision I have ever made for myself.  I think you have to be ready and I had been studying this for about 4 - 5 years.  Had actually gone to a lap-band seminar and completed the paper work for this.  I changed doctors and read alot and we agreed RNY was best for me.  Best decision ever.  I am off my diabetes and cholesterol medicines.  My CPAP pressure has been lowered twice.

Take your time, read and study alot, pick the right doctor for you.  You can go to several seminars and consultations.  I have UHC-HRA and they paid both the consultations I went to.

Good Luck.  PM me if you have more questions, I'll be glad to try and answer them.
Linda

First of all Congrats!!  It is an exciting process to say the least!!  

As far as NORMAL.  well I wouldn't say that we ever eat NORMAL meaning piles and piles of food on your plate  Is what I always thought was normal before.. LOL   Your perception of NORMAL will change well mine did!  .   You will be able to eat regular food in only a few weeks but will have to go through different stages depending on your doctors diet.  After a couple of months you should be able to eat resturant foods and join in any festivities with out feeling like everyone knows your not eatting. I know this was a fear of mine too.   It will just appear that you are watching your intake.  
 
It never bothered me to NOT be eating what my family ate as they eat what I eat now.  LOL   After all I'm the cook. :-)     When I was doing puree foods and shakes I really didn't miss it then either.  It was a full time job for the first few weeks making sure I was getting all the things I needed in a day.  I was just satisfied with what I had after getting past the taste of the protein shakes I was fine.  I learned very quickly to doctor up the shakes to make them decent and found creative ways to get in my protein.  For me that was the biggest challenge but it was well worth the few weeks of trying to be creative!!   I was never hungry at that stage so as long as I was getting in my protein I was fine.  
The Protein can be expensive but goes very far as your only taking in a little at a time.  I used the unflavored unjury and vanilla and added it to everything from fruit to soups and even blended in some frozen sugar free Popsicles to give it a little icy crunch taste.   

I have no idea how your B12 thing will go I would guess that it would continue along with your other vitamins you would need to take according to your Dr. 

Regrets??  HELL NO!!  NOT ONE!!!!  I feel amazing and if I may quote someone on this board not sure who it was... THIN FEELS SO MUCH BETTER than and FOOD TASTE!!!    Getting in my fluids has been a challenge for me and have to be very conscience of getting in my water but everything else has been a walk in the park!!  

Wishing you all the best on your journey!~~

Hugs.
G

I did not have a rny, so I can't advise you on what the diet is like. For me, I can stil eat a pretty normal sized meal at 3 months out, but our surgeries are vastly different.  I can also eat any type of food, though chicken is more challenging to get down. steak, pork chops, fish, scallops, shrimp are no problem.  I also enjoy sweets and carbs in moderation.   The  flexibility of the diet and normal portion sizes was one of the reasons I chose the DS.

I eat whatever my family eats, and I can eat a pretty normal sized meal, so it's not that noticeable I've had any surgery. I just don't get seconds now.  Here is what I ate yesterday:

b: 2 mcdonalds egg mcmuffins w/ just 1 of the muffins and large unsweet tea
s: yogurt w/ granola
l: 3 blackjack tacos from taco bell
s: bag of microwave popcorn w/ extra butter (DS malabsorbs fat) had almost a whole bag
s: a few sugar free jelly bely sours
s: regular roast beef from Arby's w/ 1/2 of the bread and lots of mayo.
(worked til 7:00, so I did a lot of snacking)
d: 8 hotwings from walmart deli and a few spoons of potato salad
s: yogurt and small plum

Exercise:  Does waking back and forth to the fridge count?  I need to work on this!

Wow I eat a lot of snacks: I am hungry all the time w/ this DS. I think Dr. Houston put a tape worm in me!  As long as I'm still losing I won't complain.  I also still eat out a lot. A habit that is not helped by my demanding work schedule.


As far as regrets. I am still a newbie. I have some sort of moment where I seriously regret this most every day.  That is balanced with my happy moments, like a stranger in Wendy's telling me I look sexy yesterday, and seeing 255 on the scale this morning, compared to 330 a few months ago.   

I am also loving fitting into 16-18 clothes.  I admit some 18's are a tight squeeze, but I will wrestle to get my butt into an 18 before I put on a 22 again any day!   Shopping for new clothes has been fun, but is a serious budget buster even at discount stores.


So, would I do this again????

MAYBE?