4 months out

Hi all. I had Gastric Bypass OPEN here in Maine February 17th. I am four months out now and down 56 pounds! I only had 100 pounds to loose but because of my health I had to have it done. I'm feeling much better and am enjoying the smaller size of me. If anyone has any questions please feel free to ask. I had Dr. Clough at EMMC in Bangor Maine. They have a GREAT WLS program and staff. I am so grateful to all of them for their expertise and help. The dieticians are fantastic too! The support groups are great too and they make sure you are well informed before surgery including a big notebook with alot of before and after surgery help in it. Coming to OH was reccomended by my friend paula who had laporscopic Gastric Bypass a year ago. I truly want to thank her too for all the help and pointing me to this wonderful site. I just reccomended this OH site to a friend way out in the state of WA. Please pray for her too. Her name is Sherrie. I pray she finds the help she is seeking here at OH to help guide her to the right decision for WLS. Good luck to everyone on here that has not made that decision yet or has and is waiting for approval or is waiting for the actual surgery date. God Bless LONI

Hi Loni- I've just started the process--went to the educational meeting and support group on the 14th. Found out then that Dr. Clough will be my doctor too and I also will be having Open RNY. I found this website a couple of months ago, but I just registered yesterday. My testing is scheduled to start in August. Did it take long for you to get approved? Karen

Hi Loni, I'm glad you're doing well. I do have a couple of questions for you. I will also be having Dr Clough. How long was your hospital stay? Have you had any problems? I hope you continue doing so well, and I also hope Sherrie finds the same level of care and support I have received here. Take care. Ann

Hi Ann, I just came home last monday. I was operated on the previous friday. I had a 3 day stay. I feel wonderful!!!! I have more energy. I can walk without my knee brace!! I can't believe the difference so quickly. I am not sorry that I had this done. Good luck to you. I had Dr. Susan O'Connor.

I went in on a Friday early morning and went home on a Monday late afternoon. I have had no problems at all. I did have an OPEN which is a very evasive surgery compared to a laporscopic. My diet was a soft food diet for first month. I did drink Carnation INstant Breakfast with a spoonful or so of powdered milk stirred in for added protein and SF jello between meals. My first month home was real tough but I would not trade this experience for anything. I'm glad I did it and I'm feeling great. I love being able to help others now with their decisions and help to abate their fears in this WLS journey. I like the new me that is emerging and my new found energy. Dr. Clough did an excellent job! Good luck and God BLess! LONI in Milo , ME

Hi Loni, congratulations of your nice recovery and positive results. What were your discharge orders? Did you have to stay on a liquid diet for a period of time? A former co-worker had Dr Toder perform her surgery, has had fantastic results. She had to follow a liquid diet for 2 weeks before advancing to a soft diet. I thought I heard that Dr Clough did not require that. Lori

Hi LoriL Glad to hear from you. My discharge orders were to NOT lift anything and stay on a soft food diet that was included in the NoteBook from the EMMC WLS orientation. Also a Dietician came in my second and third day both and talked to me and gave me copies of Dr.s Cloughs diet requirements. I follwed this for over a month and gradually broke myself in on other easy, soft foods per the Dieticians suggestions. I also as suggested by the Dietician; drank Carnation Instant Breakfast with extra 1-2 spoonfuls of powdered Skim Milk stirred in for added protein. Also had alot of SF jello between meals as well. The CIB and jello were for between meals. Now I use the CIB for my breakfast sometimes when I just don't feel like eating anything. I mix in a fruit, 1% milk and ice and a chocolate or other flavor of SF Carnation INstant Breakfast. It makes it real thic and I can make it last a long long time. (I use 4-6 oz of 1% milk at a serving) God Bless Loni