Question:
I would like to hear from others 1 month post op.
ATTN: One month post ops..please email me! Hi all. Well, I am just about at the one month post op point of my Open RnY . I would really like to comapre notes with other folks.....whats everyone eating? Hows their energy level, how do people feel in general, etc? I feel VERY tired and weak and cant even focus on the positive aspects of my 28 pounds loss, b/c I feel like an invalid. Lisa in NY — Lisa G. (posted on September 18, 2001)
September 18, 2001
Hi. I am one month post op like you. I, too, am suffering from
hibernation syndrome, but refuse to let it get me down. Most of the time,
the tired feeling doesn't hit me until dinnertime and I simply go to bed
earlier than I used to. As far as eating is concerned, that is going well.
Most of the time I can eat anything I want to without problems - of course
in very small amounts. I have had steak, and pork chop, but my most
favorite meal is fish. Funny thing about that is that I never used to like
fish! I would eat it, but wasn't crazy about it. Now, it just goes down
so darned well! I am able to eat most vegies (zuchini squash came back up)
but only about a teaspoon after I have eaten my protein. All in all, I can
eat about 2 oz very comfortably during a meal. For breakfast, I usually
eat 2 saltines with peanut butter just because it is easy. Lunch is
different every day. I made homemade lentil soup and froze it in an ice
cube tray so I bring a cube to work with me and microwave it. Or I'll have
a piece of string cheese, or tuna salad. I even had 1/2 of a McDonald's
cheeseburger patty! Dinner is whatever I am making for my husband,
measured out in 2 oz. I am trying to be creative, but that's not always
easy! LOL. In any event... good luck to you. I'm down 36 pounds. Pam
— Pamela F.
September 18, 2001
I'll be one month postop tomorrow. My energy level was getting better as I
realized I really had to get out and walk in order for it to get better.
But due to recent events I haven't been far from my home. Food has been
hard for me. Most everything gives me stabbing pain when I eat it. Some
deli slices of ham today was the first thing I've eaten that didn't hurt,
so I drink protein drinks. I don't have much hunger although when I eat I
still want to eat too much and too fast - also not helping the pain. I've
lost about 30lbs but like you can't even focus on that good thing as I'm
worrying about getting food/protein down.
— Elizabeth A.
September 18, 2001
Hi... I'm one month post-op. You can email me at [email protected] I had
numerous post-op complications, but am now doing pretty well. Lost 33
pounds, and even mowed the lawn today. Other 1 month posties are welcomed
to email... One thought Lisa... I was an invalid and really dragging,
and then suddenly, about 3 days ago, I felt as if I was joining the human
race again. Also, Lisa, the terrorist tragedies are making ALL Americans
depressed and unable to focus... make sure to factor that into the
equation.
— Nancy G.
September 18, 2001
I am one month post op and have lost 52 lbs, although in the past week and
a half the scale has not moved. Up until two days ago i was very sore and
had no energy. But then it all seemed to get a bit better at once. I still
am having problems with not feeling well after i eat. I think alot of it is
my ulcers acting up though. I get kinda sick from dairy products. Chicken
and pork chops go down best but can only eat about one once at a meal.
— paula B.
September 18, 2001
I am a little over 1 month post-op. I will share with you something my
Doctor told me at my 1 month visit. He told me that the first 3 months are
a roller coaster ride. Some days you'll feel fantastic, and other days
you'll feel really crappy. All of us have been eating a certain way for
such a long time (many of us have been eating a certain way for all of our
lives!) and when they performed this surgery, they only operated on our
stomachs, not our eyes or our brains. A few days ago I stopped taking the
flinstones chewable, and started taking a One Daily High Potency
multivitamin supplement from Spring Valley (a brand carried in Walmart) I
can't tell you what a difference this vitamin has made! My energy level
has done a complete 180! It may be something as simple as changing your
vitamin. I've lost 35 pounds, and after dropping two dress sizes, I'm
finally happy about my decision to have this surgery. It's taken over 5
weeks to get here, though. Keep the faith...all of our troubles are
temporary! That's a FACT!
— missmarisa
September 18, 2001
Hi there Lisa. I am three weeks out. I have had almost no physical problems
except for nausea which I am on meds for. I have had some mental problems
... crying jags, depression, not wanting to bathe for days, thinking of all
the food I can't eat in quantity and wondering what I did to myself. This
lasted about three days and then one day I got up, showered, and have been
fine every since. My dr has a strict protocol, clear liquids the first
week, three weeks of full creamy liquids, a month of puree, then a month of
soft texture. I have had a few purees a week early because the liquids were
just not cutting it. At my two week pt I had lost 28 lbs (I started at 410)
I go again the 25th and will have a new weight loss, I hope. I do worry
about being one of the one in a thousand this surgery doesnt' work for lol!
I never really realized how much or how fast I ate until it was gone. It's
been such an amazing journey and there is still so much left to go. I am
getting better every day, but I still nap sometimes and sleep in late. I
was actually going to get new vits tomorrow and think I'll try the kind the
previous poster mentioned from walmart. Best of luck!
— Becky K.
September 18, 2001
Hi Lisa, I had my surgery on 7-31-01, So I'm about 6 weeks out. I've gone
through my bouts of depression, low energy but now I am much better. It
takes a while to get to that normal feeling, but eventually you will. I
started out at 333 lbs I'm 5'4. I lost 40 lbs my first week, and now have
lost 95 lbs in this short amount of time. I eat salad, string cheese,
eggs, and other low fat stuff. I stay away from sugar and drink at least a
gallon of water a day. I have to say that once I started taking an adult
multi vitamin over the childrens, that my energy shot up. I also increased
my exercise, which helped with the low energy. If your energy level
continues to be crappy, contact your doc, maybe your missing something in
your diet. Hope you feel better! Carey
— Carey N.
September 18, 2001
Hi!. I am one month post-op today. YEAH!! So far I feel really good. My
diet consists mostly of tuna, chicken, mac&cheese, mashed potatoes,
cheese & crackers... and they all work well. I was keeping to alot
high protein foods because I could not find a drink I liked. That is until
yesterday. I found myoplex at GNC and it tastes almost like a yoohoo. It
is low on carbs and has 20 grams of protein. My energy level is super. I
have been back to work for 2 weeks and I am doing my regular team mom stuff
for my sons football team. Working the snack bar, organizing pictures,
etc... I make sure to take all me vitamins everyday. I have a daily pill
pack and empty what I need for that day into my packet before I head out to
work. I re-fill it every Sunday. I am not depressed at all (knock wood).
I have been heavy for so long that I am on a cloud that I am even able to
lose weight. I am planing to do major yeard work this weekend. Pull up
the impatience and work on my Redskins mums. (burgundy and gold) All of
have different reactions to this surgery and out bodies heal at a different
pace. Your still early in the recovery stage as I heard it can take up to
a year for our bodies to really adjust to our new way of eating/living.
Please feel free to e-mail me if you want to talk further. Good luck!
{{{{hugs}}}}
— Betty M.
September 19, 2001
I'm 7 weeks out as of tomorrow. I can tell a BIG difference in the way I
feel in the last two weeks. The first month was rough - I was sick and
couldn't keep a lot down. Now, I am doing very well with string cheese,
peanut butter crackers, red meat, vegies. Ironically, I can't keep fish or
chicken down yet, but I will keep trying! It literally took a full month
before the "blues" left and I felt even semi-normal emotionally.
Hang in there - it will get better! Robin
— robinkc
November 19, 2001
I am 2wks post op and i am having a hard time keeping the liquids down that
I am supposed to be on for 6 wks. I am already so sick all of the time
that I would rather not eat. My doc says no to protein shakes and solids.
I am afraid that I will lose the little nutrients that I can keep down. I
still don't regret the surgery.
— Julie R.
December 19, 2002
Hi, My nameis Suzi and I am 6 weeks post op. Hang in there, it really will
get easier! Up until just last week I too could not keep ANYTHING down and
I learned the secret and this week is a whole new ball game. I am training
myself to eat very very very slowly. One bite is taking up to 10 to 15
minutes. Not only am I savoring food again, it's staying down!!!!! Plus I
don't get full before my head signals me and says I am, where as before
that last bite just tore me up. My energy is returning because I am being
nourised.
Just remember... EAT DRINK AND SIP very slowly and don't swollow anything
unless it has the consistancy of apple sauce. It will get easier and trust
me when I say, just take it one day at a time. Don't worry about tomorrow,
or next week. Just get through each day one at a time, and things will be
fine. Good Luck!
— Suzi A.
December 30, 2002
Hi Lisa in NY,
It's day 12 post op from my open RNY and i plan on going to work next
week...yes i feel weak, but i am getting stronger every day..thank god for
egg drop soup, its giving me strenght on my full liquid diet. the other
thing giving me strengh is knowing that on friday i can eat pureed
foods.---alex in NY
— Alexandria D.
April 19, 2003
hi iam about 3 months in another week i have lost 56lbs and i feel good no
problems with the surgery my concern is my water intake i eat any thing i
just keep the sugargrams very low in my food choices good luck&god
bless
— lillie M.
June 19, 2003
It will be one month tomorrow since my surgery. I am still in pain and
have no energy. I am eating soft foods, chicken, meatloaf,etc. Nothing
tastes the same, but I hear that passes. I do not have a problem with
dumping nor vomiting, but the internal pain is getting me down.
— Laurie C.
August 1, 2003
Hey Lisa:
I am almost 6wks out and let me tell you, it will get better. I've had
some minor nausea/vomiting but I feel great! I have more energy now than I
thought possible. I still have to take it easy with what I eat, but I am
getting used to that. I have lost 40lbs.. I hope you feel better really
soon. Congrats on the 28lbs. That in itself is something to be proud of.
Just keep on trying. It's a lot to get used to in a short amount of time.
You can do it. Sarah in Tn.
— Sarah J.
August 15, 2003
HI LISA, MY NAME IS JERI AND I AM 4 1/2 WEEKS POST OP FROM OPEN RNY. THE
MORE YOU DO THE QUICKER YOU WILL GET YOU STRENGHT BACK JUST DON'T OVERDO,
AND TAKE REST PERIODS. I WILL BE RETURNING TO WORK MONDAY CAN'T WAIT I AM
BORED. REMEMBER THOUGH WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT AND RESPOND AT DIFFERENT RATES
I HAVE LOST A BUNCH OF INCHES AND 17 POUNDS AT MY 3 WEEK POINT I GO BACK TO
THE SURGEON ON WEDNESDAY THAT WILL BE FIVE WEEKS FROM SURGERY. IF YOU WOULD
LIKE TO E-MAIL ME DIRECTLY YOU CAN DO SO @ [email protected]
— nursejar
July 14, 2004
Hi Lisa, It will get better I'm almost 6 weeks post-op. I was weak and
tired too at first, but it does get better. I'm back to work two weeks
post-op. I still have a bad day now and then. But, overall doing great and
lost 37 pounds so far. My energy level is up and feeling more normal. You
will get there it just takes time.
— JaDean T.
January 18, 2008
Thanks for posting this question. It is exactly what I was searching for.
I'm about 1 month out from surgery. I didn't have a problem keeping things
down until this past week. I too would just rather not eat than feel sick.
It's nice to read from other people that they've had similar issues and
that (hopefully) it will pass. Thanks again to everyone who has responded!
— mybutterflysoul
Click Here to Return