1 Week Post-Op RNY Questions

Hi. I had RNY last Tuesday, and I have some questions. My belly really itches as do the incisions. I know it is a sign of healing, but is there anything I can put on them or my belly to help? I took the tape off of the incisions and they are all closed, but I also put big bandaids over them just so they don't get irritated. Is that right? Dr never said what to do and the nurse just said that it was ok if the tape came off in the shower or something. A week after surggery I am noticing that the hunger is coming back. I started on full liquids today with sf carnation instant breakfast, skim milk and Isopure plus some jello and a popsicle for snacks. I am a lot more hungry today than I was than I was on post-op clear liquids which were unlimited. Is this the PCOS?  I am trying to stick to the protein (20-30) and calorie (150-200) guidelines but am still hungry. I thought I wasn't supposed to be hungry after surgery? Any suggestions? I start soft foods next week whi*****reased protein to 40-60 and calories to 250-300, but I don't want to suffer through this week if I don't have to. How can I keep the hunger down within the diet? Someone else I know on another forum said she was supposed to do 80-90 grams of protein per day in about 200 calories. Even with protein powders, I can't figure out how that is possible in 200 cals? I have been using Isopure and Procel to help meet the guidelines, but it is always such small quanitites per meal that I don't know how to get in more protein without going over the calories. Any suggestions? Thanks for the help!

Congrats on surgery!  Ideally you should have left the steristrips (tape) on and just trim away the parts that lift away until they come off completely.  But as long as your incisions stay closed...you should be ok...just be careful.  As for your hunger...I'm not sure since I don't have any hunger...but everyone is different.  Maybe kick up your clear liquids to help your little pouchy feel full?  Hopefully your hunger should subside with starting the soft proteins next week.  I know it's kinda hard now...but take each day at a time.  Oh...and as far as it goes for the 80-90g protein with 200 cal...not possible.  Eventually you'll work up to that many grams of protein...but for now just try to get in what you can.  Don't worry about calories and going over 200 cal a day.  Just get in what you can with healthy choices and you'll be just fine.  I was never given any calorie limits and I reached goal in a year.  Good luck & if you have more questions...just ask! Kristy

Hi. Thanks for the posts. Yeah, I never thought about cutting the edges if they came up. I guess I could have done that with some, but I didn't think about it and it's hard to see what I was doing anyway. The problem with a couple incisions is that there was so much blood underneath the strips that had dried up it was really uncomfortable. However, all of my incisions are closed or have a really good scabby area.Nothing has or even looked like it might ooze or bleed, and I am being very careful. I tried some triple antibiotic ointment to help with the dryness nad itching, and it seems to be helping. I also got some cream to help with the belly skin and stretch marks irritation and plan on doing all that away from the incisions themselves. As for the hunger, it is a mixed bag. Some of it is head hunger or wanting to chew something. The other thing is that since I am adding full liquids slowly, my tummy isn't getting filled up with thick foods yet so the runny fluids just go through and don't fill me up. I start yogurt today and will do cream potato soup tomorrow and runny oatmeal on Thursday. The more I add then the more I will be able to eat each meal that will fill up my pouch. I'll be glad when I can start on soft foods and have more variety, but I'm just not there yet. Yes, I remember you emailing me about being from Denver awhile back.  Anyway, I better go and get to some other posts. Thanks again and keep in touch.  Sherry 

BTW - I grew up in Denver...corner of York & Mississippi in the Washington Park area...just a block from the shops on Gaylord St.  Sometimes I miss Denver...but then I remember just how intolerant I am to cold now...I guess I'm a little spoiled by the warmer California winters...

Your hunger is what they call head hunger from my knowledge I'd say 80% of people experience it and has nothing to do with PCOS. As for the calories, don't worry about them your main objective at this point is to get in protien and water. 500 calories instead of 200 won't make much a difference if you are lacking the protien staying at 200 calories and your body isn't healing right. WLS doesn't do you much good if you get complications and die from them because you were counting calories so soon. I know there was a much better way to say this but all I'm getting at is don't stress over a few 100 calories get what your body needs in it in what ever means you can do it.

Hi. I am further out now and on soft foods, so everything has changed a bit. I had my two week post-op appt on Wednesday, and I have been cleared for exercise. I do sometimes still get pain on my left side and lose energy quickly, but I feel better than a week ago. It's hard fighting the head hunger mostly with seeing others eating and wanting to eat the same, but I am doing ok with it. I am still losing weight, so that's the biggest thing for me

Thanks for the help!

Sherry