Question:
Why do I feel my open RNY is a complete failure?
I am almost 3 weeks post op, and I have never dumped, felt nauseas, or vomited. I can eat anything that I want, I can drink immediatly after eating, and nothing bothers me. In my first 2 weeks I lost 18 lbs. I am now down about 22lbs but I feel like the surgery is not working to prevent me from being able to digest some foods. I can't eat the same quantities as before but nothing bothers me in the food department. If it were not for the 3 inch scar I couldn't tell if I had the surgery at all? What went wrong?? — anessa W. (posted on July 10, 2001)
July 10, 2001
I don't want to sound mean but I think it sounds like your surgery is a big
sucess. My surgery experience sounds a lot like yours. I don't get sick and
vomit. I don't suffer from malabsorbtion. I have never had that dumping
stuff. I can also eat anything I want, soda, sweets, meats, whatever. It is
good that you are aware of it. You'll just have to change your eating
behaviors to avoid re gaining once you have lost your excess weight. I
regained 30 pounds because I wasn't aware. You'll be okay. Your body is
probably just super efficent. You may have to really work hard to get off
that last 20 pounds but you'll be healthier than someone who barfed or
poohed there way to their goal weight.Don't give up so soon, you are doing
fine.
— paintnmynails
July 10, 2001
I have felt a little of the same way you are feeling. I am also 3 weeks
postop. I haven't tried to eat everything. I am going by my doctor's
diet. I was on clear liquids for 2 weeks then moved to soft foods like
mashed potatoes, eggs, cottage cheese, etc. The scale IS NOT moving and
I'm getting very frustrated. I don't eat much at all. I measure almost
everything out. I don't eat more than 1/2 cup of food at a time. I have
only lost 18 pounds and I am not losing a bunch like most people at the
beginning. A lady that had surgery the same day as me has lost 31 pounds.
I don't understand it and I'm starting to get worried. It's starting to
get very depressing. Good luck to you. Just don't overdo it.
— Tracy B.
July 10, 2001
Though I am now 2 1/2 years post-op, when I was only three weeks post-op I
had lost 21 lbs. and felt exactly like you do now. I too found that I could
eat just about anything, though I discover that until some months later.
It's still the same for me, so I have to really watch it to prevent the
weight from creeping back on. I guess what I'm trying to say here is even
though I didn't lose a lot by my third week, I'm now at 155, down from 314.
I think it just took my body a wee bit longer to get here than other
people's. So,hang it there. Your surgery wasn't a failure and neither are
you. That weight IS going to come off. Wait and see. Good luck! (Oh, and
when you are able to consume more of the "anything I want" at one
sitting, you WiLL dump and it's probably not going to be pleasant, so
please be careful.)
— Mavis C.
July 10, 2001
It sounds like your rny was a complete success. It sounds like
you're lucky to have avoided the nausea etc. You probably aren't
experiencing dumping because you are eating the proper foods in
the proper amounts...ditto for the nausea. Nausea was never a
problem for me either...I think because I was never ever (and
still don't) ate past the point of satisfying my hunger. You are
losing weight and you're healthy.....relax.....you're doing great.
— margaret N.
July 10, 2001
Hi there, it sounds like you're losing weight, so I would say not a
failure! One point I would like to make in response to your question is...
it's not that you CAN'T drink water or liquids with meals, it's that you
SHOULDN'T. The water acts as sort of draino with your intestines, pushing
the food you ate on down the tubes, leaving you hungrier faster. The food
should stay in your tummy awhile making you feel full. If you drink with,
or right after a meal, you are pushing it through and sabotoging yourself.
May I reccomend a website... http://oregoncenter.com/article1.html
Scroll down towards the bottom and it explains why you should wait even 2
hours after eating to drink and also how to drink to satiety so you aren't
tempted to eat as much. This article has tons of good info, though a bit
technical *for me anyway lol*
Best of luck,
— Becky K.
July 11, 2001
Hi! I am 7 months post-op today (Lap RNY), and like you, I sometimes feel
like I haven't had the surgery. It just doesn't seem to have changed my
life much, EXCEPT for the 70 pounds I've lost, the energy I've gained, and
my new outlook on life. I, too, had "only" lost about 15-17
pounds in the first three weeks. BUT... think about it. Have you EVER lost
weight that quickly, knowing that you would keep it off, on any
"diet?" It sounds to me as if you are doing fine. Just don't
tempt yourself. I can eat anything. even sweets & fatty foods, and
other junk. You just have to be careful to stick to your doctor's post-op
plan. Instead of questioning the surgery, be thankful that you do not
suffer with frequent nausea or bowel problems like some people do. Believe
me, I don't think you'd rather have those problems, even if it meant faster
weight loss. This is not meant to be a "quick fix." We may lose
more slowly, but will get there just the same. This is not a race. We
cannot compare ourselves to others. Each person's body is different, and we
will experience WLS differently. You sound as if you are doing fine, losing
at a good pace, and feeling pretty good. That is wonderful. Best of luck to
you. Maria
— Maria H.
July 11, 2001
Hi everyone thank you so much for responding to my question above. All of
your advice and experiences have calmed my fears. For now I have decided to
go back to mostly soft/pureed type foods. Thanks Again :-)
— anessa W.
July 11, 2001
I don't think anything went wrong.. you've got to work on following the
rules. Anyone can drink after eating.. only it pushes your food through
faster so you don't the benefit of being full longer. What has your
surgeon or nutritionist given to you as far as a food plan? If you stick
to it and use this surgery as a tool NOT A CURE it should help you. I wish
you luck.. I can't imagine having this surgery and sabotaging it.
— [Anonymous]
July 11, 2001
The article that Becky mentioned earlier. .
.http://oregoncenter.com/article1.html. . .is EXCELLENT! It tells you how
to eat and drink and WHY you should eat and drink like that, for newbies, 6
mo., 1+ yrs. It is a long article but well worth the time to download it,
read online, or print out.
— Doris R.
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