No VSG, RNY here I come...

After painstakingly long process and 2 denials for VSG, my doctor and I have decided to go for the RNY.

A few questions:

Dumping syndrome:  do tell-TMI doesn't bother me.
What/where do you get protein drinks.

ANy other info you can share would be great :)

As far as protein goes, it took me forever to find a protein powder I could tolerate. I will tell you and so will so many others, that everyone is different, and your tastes change alot over time. At this time, I use Unjury and I like it the best by far. Most companies these days have sample size you can purchase so you would be able to try something before investing a ton of money into it.

Dumping.........UGH!

It is horrible. This is what happens to me. ......

I feel lightheaded, and flushed. My stomach starts cramping up and hurting so bad all I want to do is lay in the fetal position. And then I get sweaty. REAL sweaty and clammy and it's gross.

So guess what..........that feeling keeps me from eating anything I am not supposed to! (for the most part****asionally I will dump on something odd or something I didn't think I would. But that is rare anymore.

Moral of this...........DUMPING SUCKS!

I guess the word DUMPING is just such a word.  Do you get diarrhea?  need to run to the restroom?  How long does it last?

Sometimes it involves puking, sometimes diarrhea. It depends on my pissy pouch and what I am dumping on. It's NO FUN! LOL

I hope you'll be pleased with the RNY even tho you had your heart set on VSG. The first months following RNY are the toughest with dumping, foamies and experimenting with what does and does not work for you.

Foamies are when food gets 'stuck' going down and causes you to create a ton of saliva and start yakking that up and having some pain until the food passes thru. To this day (I'm about a year and a month out) I do not eat french fries, doughy bread, heavy pasta or tough meat or anything like that that could possibly get stuck.

Dumping is (for me) like THE worst dose of the flu you can imagine and yes, I end up in a fetal position until it passes - usually a few hours, and then you're just wiped out from it. I know I dump on sugar so I don't eat it - I haven't really been tempted by fried fatty foods but would probably dump on those as well. I have dumped on fresh fruit at times - mostly melons or pineapple, so I don't eat much of that, either.

As for protein drinks don't rush out and try them now and stock up because chances are after surgery your tastes are going to change drastically and what you like pre you may hate post. Its all a learning process.

But, all that being said I do not regret my RNY for one second - it is the best thing I have ever done for myself and my health, and even those I've dumped and had foamies and all I would do it all over again. Now I pretty much know what I can and cannot tolerate - I do not feel deprived over the few things I can't eat because there's usually a good, healthy alternative that I can have.

You'll get a ton of great advice and info here - welcome to the PA Boards and good luck on your RNY!

Kathy

I agree with Kathy. I am SO happy with my RNY. I have had great success and I am by no means a model patient. But I try.

the dumping is just something I realize is to keep me from things that I should not have. I can't have sugar.....so I don't eat it. I am lactose intolerant and certain milk products make me dump so I avoid regular milk. No big deal. You are supposed to avoid sugar and fried foods anyways, so it's just an extra incentive to avoid it. LOL

I can eat bread, pasta, steak, and certain fried foods. But ONLY in limitation. I'd rather have the meat or veggies anyways. And I will only eat fried foods at home when I may make something. I find whatever "commercial" oil restaurants use will make me sick instantly.

Hello! It depends on what stupid thing I eat that makes me dump as to how I dump.

I accidentally had sugar once (didn't realize someone made something with splenda blend - which is 1/2 sugar) and I was in the fetal position in the bathtub because I couldn't get enough energy to sit up but couldn't stop throwing up / dry heaving. This happened ONCE and never again! The vomiting lasted about 45 minutes the wiped out feeling can last 24-48 hours. And I was gentle on my pouch then - soft foods, protein shakes etc

I have dumped on fat - that is what leads to the diarrhea. I can eat a few french fries, a few potato chips and be OK. I am 2+ years out.

I do eat bread, crackers etc - they are my vice.

I have used slim fast, the chcolate max protein from GNC is excellent. I really don't do too many shakes, I prefer pudding, ricotta cheese, etc.

I had my RNY on 1/30/07 and haven't regretted it for one millisecond! This is by far the best decision of my life and has impacted every nook and cranny of my life from work to family and everything in between.

ANY questions don't heistate to ask - there isn't anything I won'y share - TMI or not! lol

Liz

Best advice is to hit support group before ou have your surgery.  Make sure that you understand what you are undertaking and that it is what you want.  Do you want the lifelong committment of bypassing your stomach as well as the fats, sugars, high carb foods, etc?  If the answer turns out to be "yes", then welcome aboard.  I can say that for the majority of the last 3 1/2 years I have indeed been a model patient.  I took my 120 pounds off and and doing very well.  I will dump on voume and fats, but have no idea if I will dump on sugar as I was told not to try it.  I mistakenly ate soomething with a fat content that was too high and paid the price for about 90 minutes.  I am one of the the unlucky ones who cannot throw up if my pouch doesn't like something, so I get to got through the sickness without being able to get rid of any of it via vomitting.  For me, dumping syndrome is a BLESSING.  I don't do what I'm not supposed to do and my life as absolutely worth living now.  I still know exactly what I need to eat to meet my protein goals for the day and know when I need to replenish the "protein stores" within my home to keep me on track (internet purchases, GNC, The Vitamin Shoppe, Walmart, RiteAid, the grocery store, etc). It takes planning and dedication (I am a vegetarian who is allergic to all soy and whey protein shakes and bars except for one!!), but after a couple of months it becomes second nature if you're ready for the task.  I have an entire commuity who supports me and whom I support on a daily basis.  That community is your for the taking if you decide that the surgery is right fo you.  It's also mandatory that you treat your body as a temple like I do.  I wish for you that you make a wise and safe, educated decision. 

Shauna

Protein powders....know that you won't have to use them for the rest of your life.  Just to hit protein goals.

My (pre made) is the EAS lite.  I only like the strawberry and vanilla, though.

I like a few of the vanilla protein powders but of course forget the name of them.  Very early post op I LOVED Unjury chicken broth flavored protein powder.  Now - I can't stand the stuff.

Chike! is also a decent flavor protein powder.  I had to add more milk than required because it was to sweet.

Profect and New Whey make protein "shots" that are 3 ounces.  One brand has 25 gm in 3 ounces and the other brand has 50gm in 3 ounces.  They taste terrible in my opinion.  But the name of the game is not liking it at first.  It is tolerating it as much as humanly possible.  And it's *only* 3 ounces so I took it as "medicine"  Three swigs and I was done.

Dumping.....I haven't dumped hard core but when I have it's not fun and enough for me.  i get all hot and shaky and sweaty and my heart beats out of my chest.

Now I am one of the people who after surgery has not once vomited.  I have sat over the bowl and dry heaved, FORCEFULLY even painfully for hours on end to no avail.  I have stuck my finger down my throat to try to get myself to throw up I have been so miserable.  But once it goes down me it is never to see the light of day again.  That includes when things get stuck if I don't chew well enough.  That, I'm sad to say, has happened with some frequency.  Part of it is because of dumping (I dry heave for hours on end with that, too) and some of it is just being stupid.

If I eat something I shouldn't have but not enough to cause "true" dumping, I find that I am just incredibly weak and nauscious and my breathing pattern changes and I MUST lay down for 15 minutes.  I find during these episodes chewing a piece of mint gum or sucking on a mint candy helps.

Hope this helps and hope I wasn't to repetitive from what others have said.  I didn't read all the responses before I posted mine.

Pam

wow, thanks everyone.  Very helpful info.
It's great to get first hand info and support from those who have taken this journey.