Please share your experience...
Welcome, you will find this board very friendly and drama-free :)
II am 32 y/o a starting wt of 298 lbs, with borderline hypertension, sleep apnea, and just plain miserable. I just had RNY 11/7/11. I'm not gonna lie, it's been a difficult transition. You still have to deal with the "head hunger" and it's hard not being able to eat and drink at the same time.
I suggest "decarbing" before surgery. I stopped drinking soda (only drinking water) and low carb/high protein last April.
I developed a stricture around Christmas time and have been dilated twice. I can only eat about 1/4 cup of soft food or about 8 oz of liquid @ a time. My tastebuds have changed and I don't crave things like I did before I take 2 multi vitamins, B12, and 500 mg of calcium 4x/day.
With all of these changes and challenges, I would have RNY again in a minute !! I've lost 112 lbs (50lbs preop since last April and 62 lbs post since November).
Good luck to you :)
Mandy
II am 32 y/o a starting wt of 298 lbs, with borderline hypertension, sleep apnea, and just plain miserable. I just had RNY 11/7/11. I'm not gonna lie, it's been a difficult transition. You still have to deal with the "head hunger" and it's hard not being able to eat and drink at the same time.
I suggest "decarbing" before surgery. I stopped drinking soda (only drinking water) and low carb/high protein last April.
I developed a stricture around Christmas time and have been dilated twice. I can only eat about 1/4 cup of soft food or about 8 oz of liquid @ a time. My tastebuds have changed and I don't crave things like I did before I take 2 multi vitamins, B12, and 500 mg of calcium 4x/day.
With all of these changes and challenges, I would have RNY again in a minute !! I've lost 112 lbs (50lbs preop since last April and 62 lbs post since November).
Good luck to you :)
Mandy
HW-298 SW-251 Loss/Month post RNY(1)-23.5,(2)-23.3,(3)-9.9,(4)-10.6,(5)-8.9,(6)-7.7,(7)-4.2,(8)-7.5,(9)-1.7,(10)-10.8*first goal reached*,(11)-6,(12)-1.3,(13)-0.3,(14)+2.9-*changed scales that weigh 2lbs heavier*,(15)-0.3(16)-4.7(17),+5.8(18)-1.5,(19)+4.4,(20)-+4,(21)-1.2,(22)+3.5,(23)
Hi Mandy! First let me say thank you for your honesty.And furthermore, I can't go on without saying CONGRATS on the weightloss... You have done an AWESOME job, both before and after your RNY. I had the opportunity to meet with the nutritionist once and she suggested the same as yourself. ( cutting back on my carbs & eliminating soda and or juice from my diet) I'm not a soda person, but I will drink juice boxes that I buy for my kids. So I will definitely start with cutting back on that first. But there was something that I didn't quite understand, what did you mean exactly when you said that, " I developed a stricture around Christmas time and have been dilated twice." Hopefully the surgery will decrease my cravings for sweets, as that is probably one of my biggest down falls. :( BUT all in all, I think that I'm moving forward with this process and I so look forward to meeting all of you wonderful ladies on the LOSERS bench. 
a stricture is where the scar tissue heals too fast and closes the hole between my new pouch and my bowels
HW-298 SW-251 Loss/Month post RNY(1)-23.5,(2)-23.3,(3)-9.9,(4)-10.6,(5)-8.9,(6)-7.7,(7)-4.2,(8)-7.5,(9)-1.7,(10)-10.8*first goal reached*,(11)-6,(12)-1.3,(13)-0.3,(14)+2.9-*changed scales that weigh 2lbs heavier*,(15)-0.3(16)-4.7(17),+5.8(18)-1.5,(19)+4.4,(20)-+4,(21)-1.2,(22)+3.5,(23)
Welcome, Nadia!
I, too, love my RNY. But I definitely did NOT lose my sweets craving. However, I can now deal with it in ways that work for my rearrange guts. Instead of OD'ing on reeses, I can make a chocolate protein shake with PB2 (defatted peanut flour) that tastes just like one, but has minimal fat and calories and lasts far longer than an actual peanut butter cup! I can tweak recipes - I am a cheesecake junkie (and make fabulous cheesecakes!), but now am able to make individual sized cheesecake bites that have under 5 g sugar and are about 120 calories.
In the end, it becomes more about understanding what your brain wants, and merging that with what your body will accept. It is definitely an interesting journey!
I, too, love my RNY. But I definitely did NOT lose my sweets craving. However, I can now deal with it in ways that work for my rearrange guts. Instead of OD'ing on reeses, I can make a chocolate protein shake with PB2 (defatted peanut flour) that tastes just like one, but has minimal fat and calories and lasts far longer than an actual peanut butter cup! I can tweak recipes - I am a cheesecake junkie (and make fabulous cheesecakes!), but now am able to make individual sized cheesecake bites that have under 5 g sugar and are about 120 calories.
In the end, it becomes more about understanding what your brain wants, and merging that with what your body will accept. It is definitely an interesting journey!
Rebecca
Circumferential LBL, anchor TT, BL/BR, brachioplasty 12-16-10 Drs. Howard and Gutowski
Thigh lift 3-24-11, Drs. Howard and Gutowski again!
Height 5' 5". Start point 254. DH's goal: 154. My guess: 144. Insurance goal: 134. Currently bouncing around 130-135.
Circumferential LBL, anchor TT, BL/BR, brachioplasty 12-16-10 Drs. Howard and Gutowski
Thigh lift 3-24-11, Drs. Howard and Gutowski again!
Height 5' 5". Start point 254. DH's goal: 154. My guess: 144. Insurance goal: 134. Currently bouncing around 130-135. 
I'm a year and a half out from RNY, 63 and only wish I had done this sooner. I didn't have a problem with the no eating and drinking together because I grew up in a household where liquids were never on the table so we couldn't "wash down" our food. I do low carb but still eat all my veggies and some fruit. The vitamins are a must but now I take those instead of all the medications I was on before. I have had no complications and love my pouch.
66 yrs young, 4'11" hw 220, goal 120 met at 12 months, cw 129 learning Maintainance
Between 35-40 BMI? join us on the Lightweight board. the Lightweight Board
Hi Price! I appreciate all the wonderful feedback that I've received thus far. And just hearing that you have NO regrets, really speaks volumes for me. I've thought about having this surgery for years now and always put it off after hearing so many negative views from other family members, but I know that the time is now. Thank You Again for sharing with me. 
Hi Lee, thank you for responding to my post. I appreciate the BIG Welcome and I'd LOVE to hear some of your experience with the Sleeve. Initially, I was leaning more towards the sleeve so I'm very curious to hear about your experience.. Is it true that you no longer really get hungry because that portion of the stomach has been removed? And what about the desire of sweets?
Hi Nadia,
I LOVE my sleeve. I didn't think RNY was for me because I did not want malabsorption. As it turned out, with my past history of Rheumatoid Arthritis and family history of Celac Sprue, my surgeon was oly willing to do the sleeve.
I am one that got my hunger back early on. That said, it's nothing like it was pre op unless I'm cramming carbs into my mouth. It's all about new good habits, regardless of which surgery we have. The surgeon operates on our stomach, not our head. I can eat everything. Dense protein is around 4 oz at a meal, but cookies slide right through, so it's about making wise choices.
Sleeve needs a good food plan, vitamin plan, hydration. My body loves when I move a lot through walking, hiking, Pilates and yoga.
I think we can be successful, regardless of which surgery, if we are willing to put in the work and commitment. There is fear of regain regardless of which surgery. It keeps me on my toes!
Good luck!
I LOVE my sleeve. I didn't think RNY was for me because I did not want malabsorption. As it turned out, with my past history of Rheumatoid Arthritis and family history of Celac Sprue, my surgeon was oly willing to do the sleeve.
I am one that got my hunger back early on. That said, it's nothing like it was pre op unless I'm cramming carbs into my mouth. It's all about new good habits, regardless of which surgery we have. The surgeon operates on our stomach, not our head. I can eat everything. Dense protein is around 4 oz at a meal, but cookies slide right through, so it's about making wise choices.
Sleeve needs a good food plan, vitamin plan, hydration. My body loves when I move a lot through walking, hiking, Pilates and yoga.
I think we can be successful, regardless of which surgery, if we are willing to put in the work and commitment. There is fear of regain regardless of which surgery. It keeps me on my toes!
Good luck!
HW: 249 SW: 229 GW: 149 Age: 63 - Body by Sauceda - 12/2011
I had RNY a year and a half ago after wasting 4 years with the lapband. I have kept my weight off (though I'm probably still in the honeymoon phase).
I've been fortunate with no medical problems from the procedure. I was really scared that I wouldn't be able to maintain the high protein/low carb life style since I'm such an emotional eater and the idea of all those pills freaked me out too.
But the reality is that, like Jennifer, I adapted really well to the diet. I always have at least two protein coffees a day to make sure I get enough protein ( I have NOT been able to adapt to the protein shakes!) and keep my morning and evening pills by my bedside so I'm sure to take them. I keep my daily calcium and Vit D pills in a little pill cup that goes in my purse. That is the one vitamin I have had trouble maintaining since I don't work a traditional schedule but it is essential to get enough vitamins.. I stay on top of it by setting alarms on my smart phone to remind me it is pill time. I try to get most of my pills in capsule form from Vitalady.com since I find them easier to swallow.
Wouldn't have changed my decision for the world.
Good luck,
Janet
I've been fortunate with no medical problems from the procedure. I was really scared that I wouldn't be able to maintain the high protein/low carb life style since I'm such an emotional eater and the idea of all those pills freaked me out too.
But the reality is that, like Jennifer, I adapted really well to the diet. I always have at least two protein coffees a day to make sure I get enough protein ( I have NOT been able to adapt to the protein shakes!) and keep my morning and evening pills by my bedside so I'm sure to take them. I keep my daily calcium and Vit D pills in a little pill cup that goes in my purse. That is the one vitamin I have had trouble maintaining since I don't work a traditional schedule but it is essential to get enough vitamins.. I stay on top of it by setting alarms on my smart phone to remind me it is pill time. I try to get most of my pills in capsule form from Vitalady.com since I find them easier to swallow.
Wouldn't have changed my decision for the world.
Good luck,
Janet
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