Hi. I'm new and have some questions!

Hi. I am scheduled to have surgery Dec 17th and while, all this time I really thought I wanted the lap-band, I am now very much on the fence and find myself leaning towards rny. I was hoping some of you would be able to provide me with some honest answers to the things I worry about most! First off, the gas. From what I've read, horrid smelling, uncontrollable gas seems to be a common side effect. Is this the case with everyone? I know there are things to take that will help but I'd love to hear some first hand accounts. Also, how are your vitamin levels? I'm so nervous about hypoglycemia and anemia and the neurological issues I'm reading about. I just wonder if these are things that happen to people who don't do what they should post-op (vitamins,etc) or if you just have to pray you'll be lucky enough to avoid those complications. Thank you for any and all input you can give me. This is such a tough decision!

First of all... CONGRATS on your upcoming surgery.

To answer your question on the gas, I had the RNY 20 months ago (tomorrow), and I really haven't had horrible gas issues.  That being said, there are some things that I eat on occassion that DO give me the most horrid gas I have ever smelt  LOL  One of those things is SOY... I like Glenny's Soy Crisps from time to time.  The other big culprit are sugar alcohols (I found some SF peeps pumpkins after halloween).

That being said, these are things that can be avoided if they cause you trouble.  It's all about finding out what YOU can tolerate.

If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask!

~wendy

Oh, no! I'm a vegetarian. I love all things SOY! lol. Hopefully my body is used to it by now and I won't have the same problem. :-(

Cool!  I'm a vegetarian too.  My surgery date is 12-22 (hopefully).  I'm anxious over finding enough things to fill the protein requirement without all the soy products (I'm told they're too dry)

Yay! Another veggie :-) We'll be going in around the same time. My date is Dec 17th. That's awesome that we'll have someone to keep track with!

if you go to www.netrition.com you'll be able to find lots of protein products (drinks and shakes) that are soy based. However, unless you are strict vegans can't you drink a protein shake that is whey based? The majority of protein drinks are made with Whey protein or whey protein isolate which are milk components. I'm interested in your answer as I'm a Bariatric Coordinator and I've had patients who have told me they are vegetarian and therefore won't drink the protein drinks.

Kathryn

Hi Kathy.  I do drink Whey Protein shakes. In all the researching I've done, I've found that it does indeed come from a vegetarian source. I'm lacto/ovo meaning I eat milk & egg products so I don't have any issues with it. It's definitely not vegan but I don't see what problems a vegetarian would have with them.

Hi, and congratulations to you both!  I am a semi-vegetarian.  I don't eat red meat or poultry, but I do eat fish, eggs, milk products.  I eat lots of soy products, tofu, you name it.  Veggie burgers, Quorn, Morningstar Farms...it all works for me.  I have the band with one tiny fill (1.5 cc) and do have restriction.  I had my surgery June 17 and have had no problems whatsoever with gas, although I do sometimes have huge burps!  I eat plenty of cheese, although if the cheese has been melted and hardened, it gives me problems.  With eating so slowly, it's impossible to finish a meal while it's still hot, LOL!

I'm happy to answer any other questions you have.  Even yesterday I ate peppers, onions, broccoli and zucchini at one meal.  No nasty gas.

I answered about gas below (above?), but forgot about vitamin levels.  My doctor is pretty careful about checking that stuff, so you do need to get bloodwork done periodically.  Last time they checked, my vitamin D was a little low, so I added a D supplement.  I take a Centrum chewable plus 2 500 mcg sublingual dots in the morning.  Lunch I take a D pill and a couple of Citracal, and the same in the evening.  You will have to be pretty vigilant about taking your vitamins, but I think if you do that, and keep up on the post-op followup with your doctor and bloodwork, you'll be fine.

I can't make your decision for you and I have not had both surgeries, but I do love my band.

morning to you

protein is so important -- not just because of the surgery -- but life in general -- it keeps your hair and nails growing (that is the part you CAN see) -- it's responsible for muscle growth (what you CAN'T see) -- it helps with healing -- there is so much to it

you can get all your protein from food after your post surgery stages -- you will not be on shakes and suppliments forever :)

Vitamins -- take they daily!! do not get lazy!! if you become vitamin deficient you could risk muscle breakdown -- by the time a dr catches it, it may be in the late stages -- so take those vitamins -- make it habit

i'll be 2 yrs out next week -- never had a problem -- take my vitamins daily -- eat protein first, fiber second and 99% of the time i dont' have room for carbs

i eat carbs as a snack -- dry cereal, pringle sticks, potato chips

gas -- yup -- terrible -- but not 24/7

biggest reason i chose rny over lapband - insurance -- what would happen if i ever lost my insurance and i had to pay for a fill and didn't have the money -- would i get lazy with my appointments? and the fact that i would still be able to eat anything without repercussions-- but the biggest reason was insurance

people always post the bad because that is what they are going through and need answers -- no one needs an answer when things are great -- that is why the bad seems overwhelming here -- but both my husband and i had textbook perfect surgeries and recoveries and now lifestyles :) would do it all again with the same surgical team in a heartbeat!!

good luck

roberta