Can anyone help me with a few questions?

Hello:

I have surgery on Monday, August 11 and have a few questions.  I have already discussed this with my surgeon but it's nice to get advise from people who had the surgery themselves. 

1.   I feel as though I am not getting enough liquids in.  I am having a problem with nausea and have been prescriped a medication.  I can not do the protein shakes at all or broths.  I am drinking water and Crystal Light but very slowly.  Forget about the chewable vitiams they are making me sick too.   Have any of you experienced this?

2.   My main concern, and this may be psychological, I have not felt hungery since the operation but I do crave food!  Is this normal?  I feel like I will never be able to eat again. 

3.  Next, I feel no different weight wise and I know it has only been a week.  I was 394 on the day of surgery and have my next appointment with my surgeon on 08/29/2008.  I feel I am giving up so much I just hope I see the results.

I know this post may seem silly to some but I am only being honest.

Hey Jonelle.  Congratulations on your surgery!  What kind did you have?

As far as your questions:
1.  Hydration is the most important thing the first two weeks.  You will only be able to sip on your liquids because your stomach is so swollen from surgery.  The protein shake, or whatever your doctor recommends, will come in 2 ounce increments and make you feel full.  I was so surprised when I didn't want anything else after drinking such a small little cup.  You need to concentrate on sipping water and walking though, because they are your primary concern during the first couple of weeks.  Once that stage passes, you can try chewable vitamins and such, but don't sweat them, you might have to wait til your pouch can tolerate it.  The good news is that with most of us RNYers, our tastes changed alot during that first month - six weeks and stuff that we couldn't tolerate one day, we could the next.  You will find that as you reintroduce food it's very much trial and error as to what you can tolerate and what you can't.  For example, I couldn't eat chicken until I was over a year out, others have eaten it almost immediately, it just varies person to person.

2.  What you describe is what we like to call "Head Hunger".  Your body absolutely cannot eat more that two ounces, you would hurt if you tried.  However, your head doesn't know that yet.  It takes a little time for your head to realize what your body already knows.  It will come in time, but the first few weeks, you are adjusting mentally to the new volume of food.  It took me nearly three weeks, but now, I don't struggle anymore with that.  It will come, give your head time to adjust.

3.  Again, with the weight, you feeling it will take time.  You probably won't see it either, most of us don't at first.  As with head hunger, our brains can't wrap themselves around the changes we are going through.  Rest assured that with time, you will begin to see the new you.  Now at a year and a half out, I don't remember what I looked like obese.  I remember what it felt like, but not what it looked like.  You will get there.

Take care of yourself and keep sipping and walking.  Feel free to ask questions, we that have been there done that are happy to answer what we can.

Ellen

I had surgery on Aug 13 and am doing fine with the exception of trying to get in the proteins required per day. I just can't seem to choke another shake down. I literally gag when trying to drink one. The unjury broth was tolerable. It seems like sweets are my enemy right now, I prefer something more salty. The vitamins  and meds are all going ok at this point, it's just the amount of fluids/liquids per day is what's hurting me. I just can't seem to get near the 48-64 oz requirement of liquids or the 60g of protein! Will this get better?

Cutty - I am having the same problem with getting in liquids.. I was banded on 8-14-08 and am on full liquids and thin soups.  Getting more water in today is my goal.  I have barely gotten 30 oz. of water in...

Can you do egg drop soup - that might help the salty taste - with a dash of soy sauce.

Shelia

Thanks! I got an email from the nurse and she suggested ice chips first thing in the morning, which I can do for now. I just purchased some unjury chicken broth, and am able to get that down without any problems- for now! I just never thought I'd see the day to where I didn't want something sweet!!! Go figure!

1. do the best you can, you want to keep sip sip sipping as much as possible, over time it will get easier.

2. its called 'head hunger' you need to address the psychological side since the surgeon addressed the phsyical side - its not an easy thing to overcome but you can do it as long as you put the work in. Trust me that you will be able to eat again - I am over 2 years out and eat 6 times a day for 1400-1800 calories - its a lot of food!

3. it took time to put the weight on, it takes time to get off - dont become a slave to the scale - worry about the important things - protein, vits/supps, exercise, mental issues and the weightloss will follow.