New Comer Question

Hi,  I am brand new to this site.  I actually just joined a few minutes ago.  However, my best friend has been on this site for quite some time and has been bugging me to join.  So here I am.

That being said, I just want to run something by those that are a bit farther out then me (I had my surgery on 4/30/07). 

I have found that I did everything "right" and followed all the "rules" for about 5 months after surgery.  Then it all went down hill.  I started getting very sick from all different types of foods (including foods that I had just eaten days prior with no problems).  This sickness included SEVERE abdominal pain and often the end result was vomitting.  My surgeon could not figure it out and neither could all of the tests that I went through.  For the following 3 to 4 months  I attempted to follow the rules as my food options decreased rapidly (somehow after spending hours in pain and throwing up a food--you just don't ever want to see it again).  So that puts me at about 9 months post-op.  That is when I stopped caring to some degree. 

Since then my diet has completely been trashed.  I eat no meat, no vegetables, no fruit, no bread and limited pasta (all because of sick episodes due to these foods).  Mostly I live on cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, oatmeal, granola bars, and chips (<--see I told you it was bad).  I can eat lettuce but  that is the only "vegetable".  My family/friends/coworkers think I am insane.  My doctor has given up on figuring it out and has said you are going to have "to learn to live with it".   (that was the last time I saw him, I haven't been back-->its been about 5 months). 

I feel fine.  I have maintained the same weight for about a year.  I do take my vitamins pretty regularly ****asionally I will miss a "dose" bc of my crazy work schedule). 

So my question is--> If I feel fine and I am maintaining my weight then is my diet ok.  I realize I need yearly bloodwork and I am not referring to "levels" so much.  I am more asking about weight gain/etc.  I mean if I eat crappy foods (although, in my defense, "everyone" thinks I eat super healthy--it just wouldnt' be considered healthy by other/for WLS patients) but I feel ok and am maintaining my weight then does it matter?

I am interested in hearing your thoughts as I don't know anyone who has had WLS. 

Anna

Welcome to our group. I am much newer post op, but the thought of you not getting your protein in does not sound good. I too am having a very hard time eating. I am actually on a feeding tube though. Can you tolerate at least drinking protein shakes if nothing else. Jeannine is the nurse that takes care of me. She won't let the feeding tube come out until I can hold down food. I wish I had more answers. It sounds like you are doing the best you know how to with the situation. Keep us posted. We have lots of veterans out here, so hopefully they will post to you.

Welcome Anna!

I am new to my WLS so I can't offer any advice on your issues.  I am only two weeks out from surgery myself.  But, welcome!

Welcome!  It sure sounds like you have had a challenging time of things!  I just want to offer my support to you, but unfortnuately I have no idea of the answer for your question.  My logical mind says that you are probably missing out on a great deal of protein by not having any meats in your diet.  Do you still supplement with shakes or something else other than what you get from the cheese, cottage cheese and yogurt?  As for vegetables, I hate to admit this, but they are like a nothing food to me.  I can't eat enough to benefit from them, so I just take a bite of two with my protein/meat and call it good.

I wish you the best of luck!

I'm a guy, but I'm in Col Hts too and a Dr. Hutcher RNYer from Sep 06 (2 yrs 5 months out).  If you wanna get together to talk and compare notes or whatever, I'd be glad to be any help I can for you.  Newly elected to City Council and in the phone book on Walnut Ave.  PM me or use my yahoo; [email protected].  Brook O attended a couple of our WLS Support Group meetings I facilitated before we disbanded.

Joe

Anna,

I am also a fello Dr. Hutcher patient.  I can tell you that I have suffered from some of these same symptoms.  As a result when I find something I can tolerate I tend to have it for every meal or for several days in a row until I do get sick from it.  I would advise to retry things.  Just give it some time and it may sit diferently. 

As for what you eat...you have said it all when you said you know you are not eating right.  Simply put...if you do not get in enough protein then you can maintain weight but your body begins to feed off of itself and eats the muscles.  Well, your heart is a muscle and you can not regrow or rebuild muscles.  You are doing unrepairable damage to your body.  At the very least...drink protein supplements with whey protein.  Yes, you are getting some with the cheeses but not nearly enough to sustain you.  Even now for me at almost 4 years post op I still drink 2-3 shakes a day to get my protein in.  This is in addition to my meals and snacks.

I am in Richmond and would be more than happy to speak with you, meet you or provide support in any way I can.  Let me know if you are interested.  Sorry for the late reply...my husband and daughter were in an auto accident on Tuesday and I have not been on here much.