what was the hardest part of RNY for you?
The fact that at seven plus years out and at goal I still cannot drink a half a cup of cranberry juice or eat a tiny pieceof my bf's ice cream birthday cake without getting sick. And I didn't eat them together I ate chicken in salad and needed a drink and the cranberry juice was the only non carbonated nonalchoholic option at my bf's bar. Uggh
I didn't expect to dump but now it's a useful tool that I just work into part of my life - easier to avoid sugary/fatty foods than to spend 2 hours in fetal position! I was surprised that it took me 5 weeks postop to really feel good, but have been awesome since then. The hardest issue, but expected, is the head stuff: changing relationship with foods, new body image, acceptance of things, etc. Therapy is always a good thing in that arena!
First ultra: Stone Mill 50 miler 11/15/14 13:44:38, First Full Marathon: Marine Corps 10/27/13 4:57:11, Half Marathon PR 2:04:43 at Shamrock VA Beach Half-Marathon, 12/2/12 First Half-Marathon 2:32:47, 5K PR Run Under the Lights 5K 27:23 on 11/23/13, 10K PR 52:53 Pike's Peek 10K 4/21/13, (1st timed run) Accumen 8K 51:09 10/14/12.
The hardest part for me was my inability to find a protein shake/powder I could tolerate which meant I had great difficulty, for a couple months, getting my protein.
Pre WLS I never, ever drank/ate anything with artificial sugars. I could not stand the taste. About 4 months before surgery, my NUT gave me a list of acceptable protein shakes/powders and told me to start looking for one I liked. Well...I did not want to waste $$, so I decided to wait until I was placed on my pre-op liquid diet. I drank Atkins at that time, but I could barely get them down. I did not like the taste. I tried a couple other brands during that two week period.
The day I came home from the hospital my husband bought a supply of shakes, and that was when the battle began for me. I was completely unprepared for how I would respond to tastes and smells post op. I became lactose intolerant, the smell of whey made me gag, and I was lucky if I was able to drink 2 oz of protein shake.
We spent a fortune and tried everything. I finally resorted to bullion cubes mixed with 1/3 scoop of a non flavor whey that could withstand high temps. It gave 8 grams of protein, and that was about the extent of how I was able to get protein. I drank as many cups of bullion per day as I could manage.
At one month out I was doing good to get 30 grams per day. I think more than anything it worried me more than anything. I was concerned about my health. Add the vitamins we had to take, and it was difficult, for m anyway.
When I got to the pureed stage, that stage gagged me, and I had to go back to liquids. Finally one day my husband happened to buy one EAS AdvantEdge Rich Dark Chocolate flavor. for me to try. The instant I drank the first sip, I knew I would acquire a taste for that brand. To this day it is the only brand and the only flavor in that brand I can drink. At 3 years, almost, post op I drink them every day.
I've told this story dozens of times on OH, so it is old for some. I wish I had followed my NUT's advice and had been prepared, but then again post op my tastes changed so drastically it might not have even mattered.
I do not dump, and pain was not an issue. I was extremely tired for a long time, but I attribute that to my low nutrition in the first month or two. When it came to food, I took it very slowly. All in all my recovery was very, very easy. The protein shake issue I blame on myself for not being more proactive. I have been very fortunate otherwise.
Pre WLS I never, ever drank/ate anything with artificial sugars. I could not stand the taste. About 4 months before surgery, my NUT gave me a list of acceptable protein shakes/powders and told me to start looking for one I liked. Well...I did not want to waste $$, so I decided to wait until I was placed on my pre-op liquid diet. I drank Atkins at that time, but I could barely get them down. I did not like the taste. I tried a couple other brands during that two week period.
The day I came home from the hospital my husband bought a supply of shakes, and that was when the battle began for me. I was completely unprepared for how I would respond to tastes and smells post op. I became lactose intolerant, the smell of whey made me gag, and I was lucky if I was able to drink 2 oz of protein shake.
We spent a fortune and tried everything. I finally resorted to bullion cubes mixed with 1/3 scoop of a non flavor whey that could withstand high temps. It gave 8 grams of protein, and that was about the extent of how I was able to get protein. I drank as many cups of bullion per day as I could manage.
At one month out I was doing good to get 30 grams per day. I think more than anything it worried me more than anything. I was concerned about my health. Add the vitamins we had to take, and it was difficult, for m anyway.
When I got to the pureed stage, that stage gagged me, and I had to go back to liquids. Finally one day my husband happened to buy one EAS AdvantEdge Rich Dark Chocolate flavor. for me to try. The instant I drank the first sip, I knew I would acquire a taste for that brand. To this day it is the only brand and the only flavor in that brand I can drink. At 3 years, almost, post op I drink them every day.
I've told this story dozens of times on OH, so it is old for some. I wish I had followed my NUT's advice and had been prepared, but then again post op my tastes changed so drastically it might not have even mattered.
I do not dump, and pain was not an issue. I was extremely tired for a long time, but I attribute that to my low nutrition in the first month or two. When it came to food, I took it very slowly. All in all my recovery was very, very easy. The protein shake issue I blame on myself for not being more proactive. I have been very fortunate otherwise.
The two-week pre-op diet, without a doubt. It's been smooth sailing since surgery.
Oh! Crushing meds in the beginning was horrible. If I had it to do over I wouldn't bother. I'd just break them into smaller pieces until I was sure I'd be OK swallowing.
Oh! Crushing meds in the beginning was horrible. If I had it to do over I wouldn't bother. I'd just break them into smaller pieces until I was sure I'd be OK swallowing.
- Barb, who is at GOOOOOOAAAAAAL!
HW: 274 SW: 244 GW: 137 CW: 137!
Keep on swimming! Keep on swimming!
(deactivated member)
on 9/25/12 11:51 pm
on 9/25/12 11:51 pm
The 2 week preop diet was really hard but I lost a lot of weight preop. It was very difficult the first few days.
Also I struggled at first until about 3 months with being able to eat the proteins that my nutritionist cleared me for. I wasn't able to progress at the rate they told me so I threw up a lot or just felt sick. I learned pretty quick what worked and what didn't and that the guidelines were just guidelines.
This may or may not be totally unrelated but I have develped food allergies some of whihc I had preop and some of which I did not. I was gluten intolerant before surgery but am now finding I cannot tolerate soy which is in alot of foods and protein drinks. Its been a challenge figuring out what causes a reaction and what does not. But this could be completely unrelated to RNY.
Having said that, I have no regrets and would do it again in a heartbeat. The surgery's been a lifesaver for me.
Also I struggled at first until about 3 months with being able to eat the proteins that my nutritionist cleared me for. I wasn't able to progress at the rate they told me so I threw up a lot or just felt sick. I learned pretty quick what worked and what didn't and that the guidelines were just guidelines.
This may or may not be totally unrelated but I have develped food allergies some of whihc I had preop and some of which I did not. I was gluten intolerant before surgery but am now finding I cannot tolerate soy which is in alot of foods and protein drinks. Its been a challenge figuring out what causes a reaction and what does not. But this could be completely unrelated to RNY.
Having said that, I have no regrets and would do it again in a heartbeat. The surgery's been a lifesaver for me.
Being thirsty and not liking the flavor of anything, Even water which I loved before surgery was disgusting tasting to me after surgery. I can now drink it but it has to be cold.
Not a big fan of the foamies because when I get them I know I am going to vomit. The first two months I was scared to eat lunch at work because I didn't want to vomit. I can't just run to the bathroom as they are pretty far away from our buildings, and didn't want to vomit into a trash can in front of coworkers.
The pain was more than I thought it would be but not that terrible considering I had major surgery. Not as bad as my 3 C-sections or Carpal Tunnel/Ulnar nerve surgery, although I was weak for several weeks but the pain part was just a week worth before it settled down.
Not a big fan of the foamies because when I get them I know I am going to vomit. The first two months I was scared to eat lunch at work because I didn't want to vomit. I can't just run to the bathroom as they are pretty far away from our buildings, and didn't want to vomit into a trash can in front of coworkers.
The pain was more than I thought it would be but not that terrible considering I had major surgery. Not as bad as my 3 C-sections or Carpal Tunnel/Ulnar nerve surgery, although I was weak for several weeks but the pain part was just a week worth before it settled down.
Lori 
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