3 Questions 4U

Hello, gentlemen.

I've been lurking here for a while, but decided to jump in and actively participate. After all, my RNY is tomorrow (12/21/10), and I'm eagerly anticipating the surgery and the life after WLS.

Along the way, I've come up with three questions that I haven't been able to get answered. Perhaps you'd like to "weigh in" with some feedback:

1. When you're well into post-op, and am into the regular diet stage, and you do home projects (build a deck, put in a retaining wall, carry retaining wall blocks from point A to point B, etc..) or exercise, on a hot summer's day, can you / or how do you / get enough water? I'm told we need to sip water throughout the day. But when I get hot and sweaty, I have previously gulped large quantities of ice water because I get so thirsty doing outdoor projects or working out. Advice?

2. How has weight loss surgery affected your sex life, if at all? I'm talking mechanics here, not frequency. Just curious if there is any impact.

3. I'm concerned about how to handle throwing up - at work, at a restaurant, at a concert, walking through an art gallery.... How can you prepare for this? Is it advisable to constantly have a plastic bag in your pocket or something?

I thank you in advance.

MinnesotaDude

M'Dude,

1.  Initially it is sip, sip, sip.  When you get further out you can drink more "normally".  However even 2.5+ years out if I drink too much too fast - I know it!

2.  YEAH BUDDY!!!  Without the stomach in the way more positions etc.  It will appear that your junk gets bigger too but not the inch for every thirty, thirty-five pounds you hear advertised.  That happens for the first 30-35 pounds your lose.  After that your mileage will vary. 

3.  You should have enough warning before you toss your cookies.  That's if you even toss your cookies.  I've only barfed twice and both times it was on dry, tough chicken too early out.  Most of my pouch problems with food went further south and would result in "E. D." Explosive Diarrhea!  Hence the warning below!

Good luck with the surgery tomorrow. You will likely be very surprised how fast your life will change.

I agree with Don on the water issue. At 7 months out, I find that I have become far more "normal" in how much I can drink. But again, don't overdo or you will know it. Part of the problem with gulping is the ingestion of too much air, so just be careful.

I've found that my sex drive is higher after the surgery, and that I enjoy it more. You will find that you are more flexible and can enjoy positions you could only fantasize about in the past.

Most people do not throw up. My surgeon has stressed that vomiting is not normal; however I have never been normal. So, I have vomited more than a few times and still do when I eat too much or too fast (not chewing thoroughly). Even when I had the stricture issues, I always knew it was coming in enough time to get somewhere more private to ralph. I would have to admit that I have actually stopped my car a couple of times to throw up on the side of the road, but again I had lots of forewarning to prepare.

First off, congratulations on your pre-surgery weight loss.  It really is going to make your surgery and recovery much easier on you. 

1)  I also used to get really hot and sweaty working around the house.  I had to drink about a gallon an hour to stay even.  Seriously!  Now that I've lost 70 pounds, I find that I don't get nearly as hot and sweaty as before, so I don't need to drink nearly as much.  Nor do I need / crave the "ice cold" water - room temperature is just fine (and I can drink it more easily without "pouch problems").  However, it is even MORE important to stay hydrated, and I have to almost force myself to drink a little bit after each task, so I keep up with it.  (I also find my endurance is about 3X what it was before, but I do have to stop every 2 1/2 to 3 hours and eat something with protein, or I feel pretty wiped out the rest of the day!)

2)  Ditto what Don said.

3)  I'm 2 months out, and haven't thrown up yet.  Nor have I experienced "dumping" syndrome.  Of course, I'm avoiding sugar like the plague, and I try really hard to follow the eating rules.  I came close to puking once, when I "forgot" and drank something right after eating.  This was 'old habits' coming back to haunt me.  I used to drink 3-4 glasses of iced tea at lunch...  Now I set the glass down FAR away from me, so I don't accidently pick it up out of habit...  Amazing how much "food-related autopilot" us fat folks have!

Don, Ken, and Jim:

Awesome responses! Thank you! It's great to hear how things are going for you guys after the surgery, it's very helpful.

Anybody else have any responses to my questions? They'll be much appreciated!

Dude

1) Like everyone has said the SIP SIP is initially and everyone heals at a different rate.  By 2 months out I found that I could drink more normally.  As you lose the weight you will prbably find that you get cold more than you do hot.  Yo will need to make sure that as you do physical activities you need to be drinking and can't wait until you need to drink. All it takes is one good chug for your body to tell you that you drank to much to fast.  I look at drinking like a bucket with a hole in the bottom.  If you dump in to much to fast it will over flow, but you can find the right flow where you maintain a level of intake that mtches what you lose through the hole.

2) Sex life is umm FUN!!!!  more things become possible.  You probably won't get tired as fast meaning you can go multiple rounds.  Yes a better sex life is a very positive result.

3) Again everyone is different, but if you follow the rules the likleyhood that you will throw-up is pretty remote.  I threw up once on mashed potatos and it was simply because I ate to fast.

I will share my thoughts...Haven't read what the other guys wrote (sometimes it is easier not to...just answer without looking).
1. Yes you are sip sip sipping throughout the day.  You may not be able to get in all your water (or protein) the first few months...most people don't.  Just do your best and you should be fine.  The pouch rules when it comes to eating or drinking...  Even thought you may know that in your head...IT IS TRUE!!!  If you try and cheat it...it will let you know.  Also you really need to know the signs of dehydration.  Not just early on, but through out the year.  Dehydration is the # 1 reason for reentry into the hospital.  Know the signs.  If you mouth and lips are dry...Stop, take a break.  When you get to the puree stage add a small amount of salt to your diet...I would put some salt on some frozen spinach that I would microwave.  You may want to add a small (very small) amount of these foods to your diet...High in potassium; oranges, tomatoes, spinach, bananas, yogurt, broccoli.
2.  Here is what happened to me...Other guys will vary.  No sex for a few weeks...allow for the cuts to hear...as per doctor.  Your thing does not get longer...it may get alittle skinnier, loss of fat (very small amount).  You lose weight (fat), at the base of your thing (if I wrote pen*is they may block that word) so it feels longer.  Since you have lost weight there is better blood flow everywhere.  For about 10 years (before WLS) I stopped waking up with a hard on in the mornings...like my teenage years.  After RNY they came back!!  I kid you not!!!  My heart was pumping better...because of the weightloss and exercise.  Before my heart was pumping out (ejection/fraction rate) at 35%...very bad.  After RNY it was pumping out at 59%...above average.  Now it's at 50%...Normal range.
3.  The first few weeks you will be at home, so there should be no problem.  When I needed to throw up I couldn't, for the first month or two...I tried and tried but couldn't.  After awhile I was able to.  It feels and looks like "baby spit up" the first few years.  Others have also described it that way.  A few times of dumping or eating too fast will cure you of the problem.  You just learn to retrain yourself in the eating area.  You'll learn to read lables.  You'll learn soon that things like cream soups (with tons of butter), pork, chinese foods, are not your friend...I can have small amounts after a year or so...but many things will not settle well with your pouch.  NEVER TRY ANY NEW FOOD ANYWHERE BUT AT HOME!! 
Boy I gave you alot of info...But if you are reading this at home...Climbing the walls with bordom...This may help.  Brian 

Paul and Brian,

Thanks for the wonderful information. I learned some new things from all the responses to my question, even though I've been investigating this whole wls thing for six months.

I welcome any other contributors to join in the discussion!

 Hey Dude!  First - welcome!  I hope and pray all goes well with your surgery.  Do what the Drs and team tell you...follow their advice...don't be afraid to take the pain meds if you need them...no need to be a hero...take the needed time to heal and adjust to your new anatomy...come back here often to update us on how you are doing...get advice...and ask you questions...now my $0.02 on you Qs...

#1 - like the others said, sip, sip, sip at first.  As you heal and over time, you will get used it.  I was a gulper in the past and that just don't work for us RNYers...If you are going to be outside, where it is hot, keep a bottle, or a couple of bottles of water with you...I usually have a bottle or two in my cars, I carry on in my computer bag, have a couple in my desk at work...you get the picture.  It is something you get used to...you go to leave and it's part of the check list....walle****ch, water...

#2 - uh, yea...IT's BETTER!!!  I was all gut and now I have room to maneuver!  Just to be sure, in response to your Q, I did check with my wife...she said, ""...nuf said...

#3 - I did have some issues with throwing up...it was always related to eating too much, too fast, and not chewing enough.  I have always been a high volume, FAST eater...with the pouch, that was the biggest behavioral thing I had to learn.  Slow down, smaller bites, and chew, chew, chew...Now, the thing about throwing up, it's not like the good ole days when after a good drunk you hurled and hurled...it is like a baby up chuck.  There really isn't that much in there and it was mostly mucus when I did throw up.  I always had plenty of time to get to the BR...uh...one exception, we had gone out to eat, I had tried to eat too much, too fast, and did not chew right...I had something "blocking" my pouch...you will know when this happens...it hurts...we were driving home and the mucus built up and I knew I had to throw up...I just pulled the car over, got out, walked behind it, and "cleared" my pouch...yea my wife was a little mortified as we had some other people in the car...oh well...no Question #2 that night.  Bottom-line...take your time, eat slowly, small bites, and chew, chew, chew...when you start to 'feel" full, stop...

Again, Good Luck...hope and pray all goes well...welcome to the Loser's Bench...you're in great company!  Mike

Thanks, Mike, for your words of encouragement.

I'm off to the hospital! It's the big day. After all the hoops they make you jump through (with good reason), I'm ready to do this thing.

Dude