Re: Regarding Ramadhan and Roux-en-Y (or VSG)
Hello Rahil,
I'm a Christian, but I celebrate Ramadan every year with my Muslim friends and coworkers. Last year, about half way through I was hospitalized for some crazy neurological issues that ended up being related to migraines. I've been slowly making up my days but now my surgery is scheduled for 3/29 so I'm in a rush to get the last three in NOW!
This year Ramadan starts two months out from my surgery date. I'm up at the 44th parallel so the days will be longggg again this year. I'm going to try to do it, getting in as much of my water as I can at night and pre-dawn.
My coworker was just chatting with me and he said that a friend at his mosque had the RNY in 2015 and wasn't able to fast last year, but he is going to try it this year. It's about how much water you can ingest. I totally get why you WANT to celebrate Ramadan, I was seriously frustrated last year when I had to quite half way through.
I had hoped to have my surgery in Jan so I'd have more time to recover before Ramadan began, but at least it's a two months after :)
5'4" 49yrs at surgery date
SW - 206 CW - 128
M1 - 20lb M2 - 9 lb M3 - 7 lb M4 - 7 lb M5 - 7 lb M6 - 6 lb M7 - 4 lb M8 - 1 lb M9 - 2 lb M10 - 4 lb M11 - 0lb M12 - 3lb M13 - 0 lb M14 - 2 lb M15 - 0 lb M16 - 3 lb
I'm not Muslim, but I have several Muslim friends. The way it was explained to me, you're supposed to fast *if you are able to*. If there are medical reasons why you can't, then it's not expected. But then I know there are many branches of Islam, and they might not all see it this way.
RNY 06/03/15 by Michael Garren (Madison, WI)
HW: 373 SW: 316 GW: 150 LW: 138 CW: 163
Thank you for your reply. I understand the medical reasons, but I would abstain the first year after surgery. It is the following years, when my stomach/body have adjusted, I want to know the issues people face during fasting and how to deal with it. It is similar to Lent, different people have different takes on how to fast. For me, fasting the whole month is important for me. I am just looking for people with experiences in fasting after RNY/VSG surgery.
I am not Muslim, but Catholic, and I understand the religious aspect of fasting for Lent (and a little bit for your religious season as well) and after really struggling with this on my own, I went to my pastor and discussed it with him. This is the part that I'm not sure how you would apply to your fast but I was able to work out a plan (with guidance) that upholds the -intent- of my Lenten fast without impinging on my health. Exceptions are allowed, and I have a slightly modified way of celebrating Lent, that for me fulfills the spirit of the season, and that won't leave me face planted from hypoglycemia. My solution does involve sustinence during a traditionally fasting time, but it isn't 'food' or 'eating' more like taking my medicine so to speak.
Talk to your Imam, he may have some really good ideas for you. And have a peaceful Ramadan with family and friends :)
RNY 9/28/16 at Highland Hospital with Dr O'Malley
I get that deciding between the types of surgery based on the ability to participate in the Ramadan fast would be a deciding factor!
I hope we have some folks respond to this that have been through a few Ramadans 
The thing is, the religion is generally very clear about NOT fasting if it's not safe for you. It even forbids you to fast if it will damage your health... but for someone who has celebrated Ramadan for several years (over ten!) I can attest that even if you aren't "required" to fast, its really really hard to sip your water and nibble your protein bar while every one else is fasting. In my case, I was the only one in my home who fasts so it wasn't as bad but this is such an important month in Islam that even though one shouldn't fast if it's unhealthy for them, you really WANT to do it if you can.
For those that don't know, the biggest challenge of Ramadan is that you can't drink during the day. It seems like giving up food is fine, but I'm usually incredibly thirsty by 9 or 10 AM and it takes a lot the first week or so to gut that out. The timing is dependent on the sun rise and sun set times, but the start isn't at sunrise, it's at the beginning of dawn, which is about 90 minutes before sunrise when the sky starts to show a slight glow on the eastern horizon. I live in Ohio, so my climate is very moderate. I was visiting Egypt this year and as I walked about in temperatures over 115F I had to laugh at myself for whining as much as I do, just thinking about all the locals who had been fasting in su*****redibly hot and dry weather.
With my current full-sized stomach, I have found that waking up before dawn and filling it with water melon seems to keep me feeling hydrated all day. But really nothing helps that first week... Without a couple of liters of watermelon I'm not sure how I'll manage this year! It will probably require sipping water all night long to get enough in to allow me to fast. Then eating protein right before dawn...
5'4" 49yrs at surgery date
SW - 206 CW - 128
M1 - 20lb M2 - 9 lb M3 - 7 lb M4 - 7 lb M5 - 7 lb M6 - 6 lb M7 - 4 lb M8 - 1 lb M9 - 2 lb M10 - 4 lb M11 - 0lb M12 - 3lb M13 - 0 lb M14 - 2 lb M15 - 0 lb M16 - 3 lb
"I hope we have some folks respond to this that have been through a few Ramadans."
This is why I am here. To see what others on this forum have faced. You have some really good points above for which I thank you. I know after surgery, everyone faces difficulties and I totally respect it. This is a life changing surgery and we have to live with our choice to have it.
I see so many people on this forums who are truly remarkable in facing hurdles. That being said, I want to see what hurdles I will face and also how to avoid them.
At Toronto Western Hospital, I have heard it is really hard to have VSG because RNY is the Gold Standard. That being said, if I can see that it is "the better option",I can discuss with the surgeon and explain real experiences of others to make my case.
