Crazy lady telling me about surgery.... is this true for all or just for some?

So, a crazy lady just went into my hubby's work (he's a mattress salesman) and it ended up coming out that she had the surgery and how that would factor in to her mattress decision. So hubby said, "Oh, that's interesting, my wife is actually going to be having it done in a few months and this *points to bed* is the bed she has." It then turned into her talking about the surgery and what seemed to me, to be trying to scare me or telling me what to do and how to do it. "Tell her this and tell her that"...but it seemed to me that all of her "don'ts" were things that didn't work for her. Everyone's body is different, and thus, every body reacts differently to different things after the surgery. She said "She can't eat fruit and can't have milk" and "she's going to have her period for 6 months" and "she's going to lose her hair" and "Go to my surgeon , he's the best. I never had the shoulder pain and everyone else I know did." I was pretty irritated by the things he was told to relay to me. I go out of my way to ask billions of questions of those that have had the surgery already...but this time, the advice seemed really...judgey? lol. So I guess...how many women had their periods for several months after surgery? How many can't eat fruit (It sounds like fruits make her dump)?

Only about 30% of people dump at all, and most of those only on table sugar (sucrose), not fruit.  But some do dump on fruit.

Some people become lactose intolerant because they don't have enough of the enzyme lactase in their pouch.  I'm not sure how many have that problem.  If you do, you can buy Lactaid brand milk, which has lactase added to it, or you can buy raw milk (unpasteurized), if you can find it, which naturally contains lactase that is destroyed in the pasteurization process.

People often have irregular periods for a while after surgery.  I had one right before my surgery and did not have another for three whole months.  Then it was pretty irregular for the next nine months or so.   Some people have one that lasts for a few weeks after surgery, but I think six months straight is not very common.  I guess it could happen, though.

Most people do lose some hair.  It's a side effect of general anesthesia called telogen effluvium.  You can google it for more information.

I'm 3 weeks out and haven't dumped yet.  Hopefully don't . I've had milk products no problem. I have carbsmart or Greek yogurt several times a day.  have yet to try eggs since I've heard so many horror stories.

 I've only had one person who had the surgery tell me it was a mistake and don't do it. but she said she threw up a lot.  Everyone else usually says they wished they had done it sooner. 

What I do is take little bites. If nothing happens I'll have a few more.  I was scared of yogurt in the beginning, thought I'd dump from the sugar content but didn't. 

Everyone has a lot of advise, just remember not everything will work for you or against you ! 

 

Just curious, what did you hear about eggs ??

Maureen some people have a terrible time eating eggs. I was one of them and still can't do scrambled well. After a couple of bites it sits heavy in my pouch but a boiled egg works well. To eat the egg bites I have to do them with lots of cheese and use salsa and can eat about half of one. 

Just to prove the "everyone is different". Eggs were the first and most often good I ate on the soft phase. I heard a lot of people have problems with beef too I didn't have any issues. I can pretty much tolerate any unprocessed food. Possibly processed too but I dot eat those often so I'm not sure.

What she said holds a lot of truth for some people.  The manner in which she told your DH was not the best way to present it.  It is a serious surgery and we have altered our digestive tract severely.  I don't try to push anyone into it just because I did.  I had my reasons and I'm a strong willed person.  If you are a positive type and generally handle tricky situations well, you will probably do well.  

I hate the smelly gas part of it but I love the new lightness I feel when I walk and exercise.  I don't like the way my hair changed but I wear cute hats and bandanas now.  I could go on but you get the idea.

I had surgery as well as 5 other family members. We are all able to eat fruit and have had no complications !

Had my surgery 4/4/13 and I haven't had a period yet.  My hair is falling out, but not too bad.  I have yet to dump on any food, no problems with fruit or milk.

 

You are right we all react differently.



Hair loss, I had some but nothing noticeable except by me and my hairdresser saw some loss and regrowth. I do have thick hair.



I don't drink milk often but it doesn't bother me to much, some slight bloating sometimes.



I don't dump and yes I eat fruit.



Some have gas worse than before surgery and say it smells awful. I rarely have gas, nothing more than I had before surgery.



My period did go wonkers after surgery for a while but I've always had pretty bad periods and ended up getting a hysterectomy a few years ago because of 2 per month for almost 3 years. An ablation did not help so it was the final option.



Some throw up a lot especially early out. I didn't throw up until 18 months out on beef roast that got stuck. I've thrown up 2 other times since, again on roast beef. I don't try it any more.



Nausea is more prevalent for some and not others especially early out. I did have a good amount of nausea then and occasionally I get it now. It's manageable and usually something that I know may make me nauseated....high fat does it to me since my gallbladder was removed.