Question:
Just a few questions...
Do spicy foods irritate your pouch after you have healed from rny surgery?? Also, can you go tanning after the incisions have healed? and how long after wls can you travel by plane? I am also a little bit curious about loose skin and I know that it varies from person to person but I'd like to hear from those of you that have had wls if you had a lot of excess skin or if it just kind of bounced back... This is not a factor in making my decision for wls but these are just a few questions that I was thinking about as I was browsing through the Q & A's. Thanks! — brooklyn_b (posted on May 10, 2008)
May 10, 2008
You don't say which surgery you are planning to have - that could make a
difference in the spicy food answer. For me, a band patient, I do not have
issues with spicy food. Well, other than the fact that I don't like food
that is too spicy! Loose skin is a hard one to answer. There are so many
variables. For me, I lost 110 pounds. I was 39 when I had my surgery. I
had been fit at different times in my life, but never for long. But,
between the sports as a kid, the weight lifting when I was trying to get to
a normal weight as an adult and probably genetics, I didn't have too much
excess skin. I did have some on my tummy and some on my inner thighs. I
opted (after 4 years) to have a tummy tuck - I decided if it was going to
tighten up it would have done it by then. I haven't had the thighs done -
at least not yet.
If you go to my profile and look through all my photo albums, you will see
pictures of me pre-op; in a bikini post-op but pre-tummy tuck and also in a
bikini post-tummy tuck. You'll notice that my arms are fine, my neck is
fine, everything is fine except the thighs now.
— VickiStevens
May 10, 2008
I had lap RNY surgery March 3, 2008. No real problems with spicy foods
(yet). Of course I didn't eat anything that would set my tongue on fire
but normally spiced stuff hasn't bothered me. As far as loose skin, I am
50 years old. I anticipate at my age there will be some loose skin
(especially arms and thighs as they have always been my "bone of
contention"). I would join some kind of exercise program as soon as
possible. I am not opposed to plastic surgery however I know that is
something I won't do, so I'm exercising to keep the flabbage to a minimum.
Also, I plan on "dressing wisely" - and hiding the flabbage as
much as possible. Good luck!
— Donna_in_PA
May 10, 2008
I had Lap RNY, and was doing spicy stuff right away. I was allowed diluted
cream soups (like cream of mushroom) once a day as a snack and I would
sprinkle Old Bay Seasoning on them. I also eat a lot of Newman's Own Mango
Salsa. As far as tanning, I wouldn't do that. Tanning makes scars
tougher, not to mention the skin cancer you can get from it. I have lost
61 pounds since my surgery, 75 since I started this whole thing. I still
have about 40 pounds to lose, but I don't have a whole lot of dangly skin.
I also work out regulary, keep myself hydrated inside and out and exfoliate
regularly, and I believe these things make a lot of difference in how your
skin reacts. Good Luck!
— Shirley D.
May 10, 2008
I had my rny on 9/25/02 and until just recently I really loved spicy foods.
I do have other food intolerances though; orange juice, broccoli, rice, and
straight milk. Yes, you can go to the taning bed after you have healed. As
for traveling by train, my gastric doctor recommends waiting 6 weeks. I did
have quite a bit of extra skin and no, I am sorry to say didn't bounce
back. I had to have a tummy tuck and breast reduction/lift. My thighs and
arms are seriously flabby now and no matter how much exercise I do it
doesn't change.
Hope this helps!
— EmtEeyore
May 11, 2008
I had RNY and LOVE spicy foods...It's acidy foods like orange juice and
pineapples that really bother me more than anything. Carbonated drinks and
alcohol burn too...even after 4 years. I got pretty lucky with skin, but
it's not perfect by far...not too shabby either for a 43 year old who lost
150 lbs...I was not MO my entire life either, so that must play a part in
the skin bouncing back. I was 315lbs for a year...and 200-230 my 20's and
30's...I gained 85 lbs when I quit smoking and that's when all my serious
weight trouble began and I got so sick and could not get out of it myself.
As for tanning...well, I dunno...I don't do tanning...I avoid anything bad
for my skin...That's always been a no-no for me. Maybe that's one good
reason I have young looking skin?
— .Anita R.
May 11, 2008
Loose skin varies with age. below age 35 and with the right excersize it
will shirk back in 80% of the cases, after 35 years old and it does less as
you get older. I had my surgery at 62 years old and I did every excersize
I could and use all kinds of skin loations to tighten it up. Worked well
on my neck and and stomach, but not my arms and legs. So some surgery is
needed to keep that girlish figure when you are down to that size 6 or 4
that you are shotting for. Best of succes to you
— William (Bill) wmil
May 11, 2008
Really spicy foods irritate me, but they would have before RNY. I still
eat chili and salsa and such. Tanning... Yep, I go to the tanner.
Waiting until the incisions are done scabbing and outer healing is complete
would be wise. I'm almost 5 months out. I'm all jiggles... no more
sagging than prior to surgery (other than in the boobs). However, I
suspect it is only a matter of time. I have lots of stretch marks (damaged
skin). I can't imagine it will ever be 'like new'.
— gonnadoit
May 11, 2008
I am 6 months out and I eat spicy food, I haven't had my New Mexico green
chilli, yet, will try it this summer when I'm home, but other spiscy stuff,
even citrus I have not had a problem. If you are a spicy food eater, I
would suggest taking your zegerid or something similar..... For Saggy skin,
it really does vary, however, soon as the doc said to, I started out with
swim aerobics and then moved on back to playing soccer and weight lifting.
However, my mother in law, did not exercise right away and she did have
some sagginess and soon as she did start to exercise, MONTHS later, she
started off with water aerobics and had great results as well!!!
— teekayoki
May 12, 2008
I had open RNY surgery in February and I didn't particularly care for spicy
foods before my surgery but have found that I like a little more spice
since then. It doesn't bother me, actually I crave it more....maybe
because you eat so much less that you need a little kick or something. I
also started tanning about 8 weeks out with no problems and love the way I
look with the extra color. It's a nice lift to my ego since I'm usually so
pale and after surgery I seemed to be even more so, everyone tells me that
I look "so healthy" and I contribute that to the tanning. As far
as loose skin I've been lucky so far and don't have much. I got into an
exercise routine as soon as I could and use lots of coccoa butter as well
as "bio oil" on my scar and streatch marks. Everyone is
different and I've had most of my excess weight for more than 18 years, I
feel fortunate that so far the skin appears to be bouncing back.
— deebunny38
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