Question:
18 more days and I have lot's of Questions

I'm going to have my RNY June 29th and there's two or three questions I want to ask. My son is getting married August 15th 2009, and by the then I will be post op 6 weeks. "Is 6 weeks post op soon to go on a road trip after surgery"? I'm just wondering at 6 weeks how much weight did some of you lose? and my last one is "Will I be able to eat some regular foods being 6 weeks post op"?. I have more questions like "How long before I can drive"? It's getting close and I am so ants c and all these questions pop up my mind. I just thought I would see what some of you who have been thru it .What you did or didn't do. I'm so thankful for this site because I have learned alot just reading answers from those of you who have had the surgery. You have been such a light on something that is about to change my life. I just want to say Thank You for all your comments not just on my questions ,but on everyone that has put their thoughts and feelings out there. Not always we get the answers we want to hear ,but one things forsure all the answers I have read have been to the point and done in a caring way. I know I will be out here as I am right now writing something. Curious to know what someone else did in my situation. Thank you so much it means alot to us who are who are going up for bat for the first time, and wanting to get a home run. Thanks for the comments Theresa L It's has been    — treeeza (posted on June 11, 2009)

June 10, 2009
Hi there, understandable about the questions. But i am two weeks post-op so i can't answer how much weight you lose by six weeks, but i work in a factory and i'm back to full time duties in another two weeks so that's a month. I'm feeling great right now, so no pain, moving regularly and whatnot. I drove my first day out of the hospital, and i've been on road trips, i think it going to depend alot on you and how you deal with all this. Everyone is different. My surgeon had told me there was no restrictions...only lifting. The first week you still feel stiff and painful, but i tell ya two weeks and i've never felt better. At six weeks you should be on regular foods...again every surgeon is different, but mine said two weeks liquids. two weeks pureed and then on to solids. So i'm assuming you should be good. Well goodluck with everything, and hopefully i helped a bit, i know i am not super knowledgeable yet, but i'm trying. Take care. Karrie
   — KarrieMcD

June 11, 2009
I was driving within a week and back to work in three weeks. As far as how much weight you will lose in 6 weeks, everyone is different. Just honor the process. By six weeks you should be able to eat soft solid foods. Don't expect to eat a lot because it's likely you won't be able to.
   — MastaP

June 11, 2009
Congrats on gaining a daughter! (Better than gaining weight!) You will probably be well on your way to feeling fine by 6 weeks. Eating will still be new and strange as you will still be in the "phases" of eating and getting to know your pouch...To others it will look like you are just nibbling on bird food, so hide if you don;t want to explain!! In a party type atmosphere, you should find a quiet little corner with a plate of your entire meal so you can still focus on eating and chewing. DO NOT walk around and nibble on buffets even if it's only a taste here and there! You can make yourself terribly ill. That type of eating can later lead to bad habits like "grazing"...Always take all your food so you can "see" the portion sizes you are eating and choose protein selections mainly! The first year you just want protein first...You can easily fill up on veggies and other things without ever getting tot he protein so make certain you take protein rich foods over anything else! And TRY not to overload your plate! (cheeses, fish, shrimp, meatballs, legumes, etc) Do not try to eat a bite of cake soon after your meal! If you do have ANY nibbles after the main meal....make sure it is at least 3 hours later! Or you could end up feeling just miserable! Whatever you do...CHEW CHEW CHEW! You'll be fine! I had my surgery many years ago and as per my surgeon and dietician his patients were all eating most pureed/cooked foods right away in the hospital after surgery...(No raw veggies or fruit for 3 mos) I had no problems eating soft foods or chewing VERY well immediately after surgery so I personally know it can be and is done without harm...And I lost about 40 lbs the first month...and another 30 the second month post op...so you could expect to have lost enough that others will notice. It was not until I lost about 65 lbs that I really felt like I could see the difference myself...I thought I'd see every 10 lbs and I just did not! Not until I lost over 65 lbs...When you get smaller and smaller, that's when you notice every 10 lbs, because at that point you have less to lose and less places to take fat from and it is noticeable when any of it is gone! So while you may not see a huge difference yourself...everyone else will! I noticed too that many people did not comment on my weight loss til after the 65 lbs as well...Then they'd say things like, I noticed you were losing but now your are really shrinking before my eyes! I got many comments like that! I wondered why people didn't say anything right away...Again, I think people generally know that us obese people work hard to lose only to gain it all back and so they DON'T say anything until they realize, "hey, that person is getting to a normal size!" So don't expect too much at 6 weeks, but know that you will be well on your way by then...Enjoy the wedding and your son's happiness!
   — .Anita R.

June 11, 2009
Thank you so much for your comeents,and i will keep in mind your advice. I will keep you posted on how the surgery goes.Theresa L
   — treeeza

June 11, 2009
Hi, No, six weeks isn't too soon to go on a road trip, but it is too soon for solids (reg food). You should still be eating in these phases: liquids (you should be able to see through it), thick liquids (thick soups,s/f pudding, cottage cheese, yogurt)pureed foods, then on to solids. The whole phase should be about 2-3 months to complete. So I would say thick liquids-pureed foods for only 6 weeks out. That isn't really enough time to completely heal (mend) your pouch. Just remember no chips; as you can really injure the pouch. It is a major surgery and treat it as a baby. Be gentle. That is how people end up having problems is they don't listen to their doctor. Six weeks should be long enough to drive. Everyone is different when it comes to weight loss. It depends on how much weight you have to lose. The heavier you are the slower the weight comes off. (my dr said that not me) I had the RNY 3.5 yrs ago and I haven't had any problems because I followed my doctors instructions. I didn't cheat and eat foods I shouldn't. This is important. My advice to you is to be patient in eating food. Food is what got us heavy in the first place. When I would cook I would dip my finger in the sauce or liquid of what I am making just to not feel deprived and this worked for me. Cooking made it all better. Just the smell of food helped with the head hunger. Be real careful of head hunger. It can make you cheat and eat bad things. If I can help more, please email me and I would love to go over more with you. You can never know to much about your new life that is about to start. Best wishes to you.
   — Kristy

June 11, 2009
Congratulations on your upcoming surgery! I am at 4 wks out myself so here is what I know so far based on my personal experience. Mine was "textbook" but with a small hernia repair at the same time (hernia discovered during surgery). I was really, really sore the first week but by end of week 2 I was feeling great. Despite that my doc advised 6 wks off; I am taking 4. My doc also said I could drive as soon as I wasn't on any pain meds. A road trip at 6 wks should be no problem, just would caution you to stop every hour and stretch your legs for a few minutes. As far as diet my post op eating plan it was clear liquids week 1, puree weeks 2-4, soft foods week 5-6 and solids after that. Even puree have to be chewed well. All I can recommend is follow your doc's plan, the inside takes longer to heal than the outer incisions (if you're having laproscopic). I have to baby my pouch as I seem to be very sensitive to textures and I can't emphasize enough to measure your food. This will include the wedding but if it's a formal type dinner reception where the food is served to you, it'd be better to underestimate how much you should eat off that plate than to overeat and yes, eat the meat course first if you can. You'd hate to be in a situation where something gets stuck and you get sick or have the foamies. I wouldn't even try the wedding cake because of the sugar & potential for dumping and be leary of any food sauces as they may contain sugar as well. Lastly, don't forget to take your protein and snacks with you. I love my blender ball shakers for mixing up my protein drinks and that can be done on the road with bottled water. I'd take an ice chest to keep things chilled during the road trip. Remember, the first week of surgery will be the worst, after then it's a breeze besides you have non-weight goal to shoot for already. Getting well to attend that wedding. Have fun!
   — Arkin10

June 12, 2009
I forgot to mention that your abdomen will feel like you just did about 5,000 sit ups but it isn't too painful per se. I only took 2 weeks off from work and just did light duty, didn't lift anything heavy or over 5-10 lbs for a couple of weeks. Also, you won't be able to eat much at all. I was full after about 2 tablespoons of food, when I started onto solids. Your pouch is so new and still healing, so trying to fit more in it will hurt and you might throw up. If you eat something and you don't chew well, it will get stuck in the stoma and you will get what we call "the foamies". If you can; throw up and start all over. The foamies are just salvia that has accumulated in your new plumbing. If you feel like you have a lump in your chest and you get the foamies you haven't chewed your food enough. Be sure to chew your food to a pulp. You shouldn't have any problems if you take all of our advice. take care
   — Kristy