Question:
I am 6 months post open RNY and still don't feel well most days

I've seen the doctor several times and he's not sure what's going on. I started @ 268 lbs. and am down 80 lbs since 9-26-02 open RNY. I usually feel good 3 days out of 7 and pretty lousy the other 4 though these days aren't always consecutive. Could daily nausea be a form of dumping from eating sugar? I sometimes have OJ or small amounts of candy but I don't think that's it. I try to get in 60 grams protein and 64 oz. liquids. I usually walk 5 days a week and faithfully take my vits every day (B12, calc.cit, multi 2x daily, iron). I've researched the library several times but still can't figure out why I still feel sick. Maybe I'm just a slow healer. I had my bloodwork done in Jan. but I don't know what the results were (my PCP very slow). What should I be looking for in tems of lab results? Any help would be appreciated.    — kelleykeith (posted on March 18, 2003)

March 18, 2003
I have 2 suggestions that may help based on my own experience. 1-cut out all sugar and fruit juices. I dump just eating an orange and can't tolerate any fruit juice at all. 2-Try avoiding all dairy for a week and see if you feel better. I became lactose intolerant about 2 months post op and felt nauseaus and weak until I figured that out. Now, if I eat cheese or any dairy, I get that weak queasy feeling. Otherwise, I feel great. I still dump on anything with more than 15 grams of sugar. Most fruit juices will have upwards of 25 grams. I hope this helps and that you feel better soon. Good luck and congratulations on how well youdone so far. Keep the faith and stay on track.
   — Teri D.

March 18, 2003
Have you tried drinking hot decaf tea? That seemed to help for me in the beginning. I've also found that having a little something in my stomach all the time will help with the nausea. I like milk and don't have any trouble with it, so I will have a couple swallows of it so that I'm not so empty. I've done crackers, which sometimes helps. Do you just wake up with your nausea, or does something set it off? Even at almost 12 months post-op I will still feel nauseaous, food for the most part, will cause this for me. Then I just don't eat or have a cracker or something. I hope this info helps. Good luck and God bless!
   — Christine L.

March 18, 2003
Are you taking a zinc supplement? Those made me nauseated. You might also try changing your multivitamin. Some of them make me terribly nauseated. Once I found the right supplements, I was fine.
   — joeandteri

March 18, 2003
What kind of iron are you taking? How does water taste? When are you nauseated? How much water are you drinking?
   — vitalady