Question:
I have two questions...

First, after the 1st year after surgery, does one need to see a doctor on a regular basis, like maintenance? Or only if you are having specific problems - - and if so, and the surgeon who did your surgery is a ways away, will your PCP know how to treat you, whether it be certian meds, or treatments? My other question is I know a lot of post ops have problems with milk. Why is this, and does it last forever? Milk is one of my favorite things - not to mention good for you! Is there anything else out there that tastes just like milk that you can substitue with? (Okay, I lied, more than two questions, but thanks!!)    — Karen A. (posted on January 2, 2001)

January 2, 2001
I am only 6 months post op so I cannot answer your first question out of experience, but my opinion is if you are aware of your body and you feel and look healthy and are taking all of your vitamins ect. You should only need to go to the doc if you are sick. As far as seeing your pcp. My pcp has done almost all of my follow up bloodwork and taken care of any problems that I have had. My surgeon was not very good with post op problems related but unrelated to the surgery. I got thrush post op and my surgeon brushed it off so I went to see my pcp and she took care of it. I realize that my pcp may not be aware of problems I may encounter so before I go to see her I research my problem and share with her what I find out. I don't have a problem with milk but I rarely drink it anymore. After you have the surgery your tastes change. I used to drink (guzzle) 2-3 glasses of milk a day. Milk is just not as good if you cannot guzzle it. It just does not taste as good to me anymore. I eat more cheese now and try to get my calcium that way. If you have anymore questions just email me. Paula
   — Paula G.

January 2, 2001
Karen, Milk tasted very bad right out of surgery. I think it has something to do with the anastesia. But every thing starts tasting good over time. Now I don't eat somethings that I used to eat because I ate them because they came in large quanities. I don't waste me space, and Calories on things that aren't absolutely scrumpous!!! Milk might be tolerated with chocolate,skin milk. It seems that the chocolate changes the chemical properties in milk. Try it. I only have problems with white milk. They make sugar free chocolate, and sugar free chocolate carnation instant breakfast. Check out my profile. Good Luck, and God Bless -- You
   — CohenHeart

January 2, 2001
I've done without milk for 6 yrs now. I whined at first, but since my eyeballs tell me the long term difference beween milk or no milk can be as much as 30#, um, I can go a LONG time without it. It really doesn't have that much value for an adult, anyway, and even less for RNY. It is an excellent souce of non-sweet-tasting sugar however, so if you lose too much, this might be a good way to put it back on, and not have to suffer too much. Many of us become lactose intolerant. Lactose is a form of sugar that is helpful in building body fat in infants. I don't ever use a milk sub as a beverage now, but I do cook or make sauces with Better than Milk (a dry soy product). Chances are that your PCP will NOT know how to treat you. Tell him to treat your stomach as if it was ulcer prone, so to avoid certain meds. Also, some meds will be absorbed more efficiently, some less efficiently. We don't do as well with timed release ones, for example. We don't absorb oil based vites or minerals. We don't absorb ferrous sulfate iron. Tums and Viactiv are not absorbable by us, either, so we can only use calcium citrate, and we need more than the RDA of it. If you email me privately, I can send you a list of labs that your PCP will want to run on you. It is in your best interest to get a copy of your pre-op labs and then compare your 3, 6, 9 month labs to it to see if you are drifing down in any elements. Then ever after, if you're tested at 6 months, you can see for yourself if your post-op nutrition plan is working. Your PCP will probably not know as much as you do after a few months! I get my labs and send my PCP a fax telling him what I see, and how I'm going to tackle fixing it. I think I amuse him, but things in my labs that scare me don't bother him. I have to live in this body, so it's important to me to be very Hands On in my approach to my care.
   — vitalady

January 2, 2001
Absolutely continue post-op follow-up with your surgeon. Not only does it give you an edge of security if something goes wrong later down the line, you are providing your surgeon with valuable post-op data which is invaluable to those still learning about wls and seeking approval. I will continue to see my surgeon annually for the rest of my life. Small price to pay for regaining it. Best wishes!
   — [Deactivated Member]

January 3, 2001
I see you've received some valuable advice on this already. I'd add that Dannon Lite Vanilla yogurt tastes wonderful -- and you can eat it alone for breakfast or add some cereal to it, or sprinkle it with dried orange peel and nutmeg, or pumpkin pie spice, whatever. I just love it.
   — Cindy H.