Hello RNYerâ??s. Value your answers please

Wow!! What a transformation. You did amazing work. I applaud your success and your diligence and commitment.

Thank you for an informative post. Blessings.

Hi Karen,

I did a lot of research before surgery, but I wish I would have known that while most people don't have pain after surgery, some do, and I was one of them. It was really bad for the first few days, I won't lie, but totally worth it. I went in expecting discomfort, but I think I would have liked to have been more mentally prepared for the pain.

If I could do things differently, I would go back in time and have surgery 10, 20 or even 30 years sooner than I did.

My only regret is waiting so long to have surgery. It's the best thing I've ever done in my life.

I can eat some foods with sugar content, like berries, but cannot eat things like mangos or pears without nausea and stomach issues. My center says to keep sugar lower than 10 grams and that works for me. At Hallowe'en I tried one of those little tiny candy bars and 1 was OK, but 2 was not, lol. When I want sweets I have sugar free coolwhip with berries, and I recently found a protein icecream called Cool Whey (Canada's answer to Halo Top). It's really good and 1 serving has 8 grams of sugar so below my limit. It did make my stomach gurgle after eating it but I didn't feel ill or anything, but I know eating more than 1 serving would trigger dumping for me.

The worst thing for me was the pain but that passed quickly and was as bad as it was because I couldn't take a full dose of my pain killer...it made me too dizzy and lightheaded so they had to cut my dosage in half. So my pain wasn't well managed.

The best thing is my asthma is so much better. I only need my inhalers when I'm actually sick with the flu or something now, and in between I don't need them at all. Before surgery I needed them 4-6 times a day. I couldn't walk even a few feet without needing my inhaler and I was on so many asthma meds I had a whole cupboard full of them. Now I only keep my rescue inhaler with me in case of emergency, and only actually need to use it when I'm sick with the flu (or around allergens like smoke or cats that trigger my asthma). I can walk, cycle, and swim, and rode my bike for over 350 km last summer. I am hoping to make it to 500 km this summer.

I lost over 130 Lbs so far, and went from a very tight size 24 pants to a loose size 12 pants (same brand of pants) and from a 4-5X top to a size medium top. I can shop anywhere, and my best buy so far has been a like new full length winter coat at the second hand shop for only 20 dollars. I wear it all the time and it's super warm. I can walk when it's -10 out, -15 if I cover my face (cold triggers my asthma).

Kathy ð?'-? wow so happy for you. I have asthma too. I don't need the rescue inhaler that much, only during change is Seasons mostly. You've come a long way girl. Must feel amazing.

How do you get past the head hunger?

i read that many switch addictions. I'm scared for what I may do. I like to shop. What do you do instead of eating at your emotions or boredom?

Have you experienced dumping syndrome and if so could you describe how it made you feel.

Thank you so much, Karen!

Head hunger is the devil, lol. I try to wait it out, and to figure out what triggers it. Sometimes I pretend I've already eaten the food that I'm craving and it's done. If that doesn't work, if I'm craving something sweet, I'll have some sugar free coolwhip with berries and if I want something salty I have a pickle or two. If I have the money, I'll splurge for some Quest Cravings Peanut Butter Cups, Quest BBQ chips or Smart Sweets sugar free high fibre gummies, but usually I don't have the extra money so those are just once in awhile treats (so expensive). If I get in a place where I want to just chew, I chew sugarless gum, but usually just once or twice a week because it works like a laxative if I chew too much, lol.

I don't have the funds to develop a shopping addiction, and I don't like the taste of alcohol, except for those icecream drinks which I can't have now because of the sugar, so I'm not too worried about developing those type of transfer addictions. In the summer I do exercise a lot; I ride my bike a lot. Often I'll pack up my rear bike basket with picnic supplies and take off for the whole day, leaving in the morning and not returning until after dark...and it gets dark at around 10:30 PM in my area in the summer. I once did an overnight bike trip too, which was great, so maybe bike riding is my transfer addiction. I sure do miss it now that winter is here.

I miss exercising. I don?t like the pain while I?m doing it but after feels great. Thanks for your response. I love fruit. Berries and watermelon are my favorites.

Hi Karen,

Congrats on moving forward with your weight-loss surgery. I put mine off for years and the only thing I regret is that I didn't do it sooner! Even though I haven't reach my goal yet, it has changed my life considerably. I can do so many things that I could not do before.

What do I wish I would've known before hand? I wasn't really prepared for how many vitamins you take for the rest of your life. I knew it by what they said but not the reality of it. Also, getting your schedule down to get in all of your water and your meals.

Everyone is different but I had no pain with my surgery and very little trouble digesting things. I agree with those who say you still battle your mind every day and have to make wise decisions. I, personally, haven't found anything that makes me sick. Therefore, I wish I would have just assumed that somethings would! LOL

If you really want to live a healthier life and you have determined that he will do it at any cost, then this is a great tool for you! But it's not a cure-all, and it's not easy. But is it worth it? ABSOLUTELY!

I am only 2 months post opt RNY but something I have learned are below.

The mind does still want food like others have said.

I keep in the house 5 calorie jello, star wars sf Popcicle at 20 calories, pickles (later) 10 calories. For the times the brain wins.

I struggle with drinking after surgery. I was told about a trick to boil my water and let it cool. Fixed my drinking issues.

Brussels sprouts, hard boiled eggs are bad. Lol very bad for me at east. I have a hard time getting them down.

I did not get my energy bac****il a full month later. I was taking naps and sleep 10 hours a night that first month. I needed some one with in ear distance for when I showered. I would get weak and shakey.

I am not sure if that's what you are looking for but that is what I wish I had know about since being home.

Thank you. Very helpful to read others experiences. What kinds of things sit well with you to eat or drink. The water boiling? Why do you think it?s easier to drink after boiling it? ?

I had the RNY Gastric Bypass and I was pretty well-prepared for the surgery. I knew what my diet would be, how my pain would be managed, etc. The only thing is probably something that can't be explained and that are the feelings and emotions that come afterwards, some positive and some negative.

No regrets regarding the surgery. I've lost almost 100 lbs since my last weigh-in, something I've never done. It's awesome, I feel so, so much better, I can't even fully describe how much better I do feel.

Sweets as long as the taste comes from stevia (I don't do aspartame at all, ever), erythritol and occasionally splenda. My smoothies are sweet, fruit is sweet. I have dumped but my surgeon has decided that dumping is a good thing. You drive to DQ, get a chocolate milkshake, drink what you can, then you get horribly sick and you poop on yourself. That should be a deterrent from another trip for a milkshake. :) I agree. Whenever I do think of having candy or ice cream, I think of the consequences and I just don't. Dumping wasn't fun.

Weight loss, weight loss, better health, feeling good, having the energy to live my life, much less pain! The only negative is caused by my own fat brain when I want to eat emotionally and I can't. I'm learning new ways to deal with stress and emotions.

I forgot to put this in my reply. If you have any GERD at all, go for the RNY, you may very well end up there anyway. I've seen too many sleevers develop severe GERD afterwards and it is considered to be a complication of VSG. Just my advice.