Question:
I would like some honest answers: do you live a normal life?
Hi guys...I'm having open rny in 8 days....and the one thing that is making me worry, is the thought that I'm leading myself to live a harder life. With all of these little things post-op like chewing your food so much, and taking so many vitamins everyday, and all the little things that seem to be a bother...Does all of this make your life post-op harder? Do these things become routine with your lifestyle? All I want to know is ARE YOU LIVING A NORMAL LIFE? Thanx so much, your help means the world to me! — Jennifer M. (posted on February 1, 2002)
January 31, 2002
I read your profile and I see you are nineteen, I am twenty-five. I am 6
months post op and have lost 121 pounds. I will probably get bashed for
this, but I do not obsess over all the technical stuff. I don't sit and
count my water and my protein and add all these vitamin supplements. I take
my two flinstones in the morning when i get up and a calcium pill, like
alot of normal people do. I go out, eat like a normal person and enjoy
life. I have a lot of new slim friends, none of who know I had surgery and
they all weigh like 130-150 pounds and they eat the same amounts of food
that I do, so I don't feel odd. I think you just have to get ready to
adjust to being a little different then you are now, but not abnormal. Now
when I look back, I relized that I was abnormal pre-op, eating waaay to
much food, not taking any vitamins period and just being lazy. NOW--I am
finally normal!
— Courtney W.
January 31, 2002
I'm only 3.5 weeks post-op, but I have to say, my life is pretty much the
same, with a few 'extras'. I am focused more on my health. I do write down
everything I eat, so I know I'm getting the nutriton my body needs; I carry
a water bottle with me EVERYWHERE; I take one vitamin in the morning, and
one at night; and I go to the gym 3-4 mornings a week. These aren't things
I did before, but I don't begrudge the extra time it takes. I take probably
the same amount of TIME eating, but I eat so much less. I am very lucky in
that nothing has made me sick, so I can eat rather 'normal' foods, I just
make the 'right' choices now. I bypass the Klondike bar my roommate has in
the freezer for a fatfree pudding; I order a light soup at a restaurant
instead of alfredo pasta... I haven't been losing as fast as some others,
but I know I will. I know that my life will be so much healthier in the
future because I had this done (I'm only 21, so I have most of my life
still ahead of me!). The small inconveniences are worth it for me not to
develop diabetes, fertility problems, high bloodpressure, sleeping
disorders... Plus becoming a size 10/12 is a nice perk! If you'd like to
chat to a fellow young-person, feel free to drop me a line.
[email protected] Good Luck!!
— Angela B.
January 31, 2002
Oh how wonderful that you have decided to take this life-changing step at a
young age. At first it is a challenge to get that water in, remember your
vitamins, chew slow, wait an X amount of time to drink again. It all seems
so difficult when you start getting this information and planning it out in
your mind, and in the beginning it is a learning process. But once you do
it for a short while, it all becomes such a habit that you don't even think
about it. You chew slower out of habit, take your vitamins at certain
times after you eat out of habit. I have a water bottle every where I go,
it feels strange when I don't have one in hand, it has become what I call
my best friend because it is always there:-) I know it all seems so
overwhelming and difficult, but now just 3 months post op, I forget
sometimes that I even had anything done. That is how normal you will feel.
Enjoy your journey!
— Cheri M.
January 31, 2002
Hello, I had surgery six months ago, so I am not that far along. However, I
will say that in the beginning, I worried about everything. I was so
worried for about three months that something was going to go wrong. A
leak, obstruction, blood clot. Now I am doing fine. I eat pretty normal. I
don't get in all of my water though. It is hard to drink so much water
everyday. I feel great and am starting to look good (in my eyes at least) I
am always getting compliments. I wish I had this done at 19. I lost so many
years being morbidly obese, and hating life. Now I am starting to live
again. Good Luck to you!
— Dawn H.
January 31, 2002
I just wanted to tell you not to be so worried! Everything will be fine.
I am only 8 weeks post-op from and open RNY and am doing great. I live
life like I always did, only I eat less, lol. The first 3 weeks or so were
hard to get adjusted with how much you could eat but after that it got much
easier. I just take one multivitamin a day and chew 2 caltrate tabs a day.
I already feel much healthier. My doctor was not one for protein
supplements or anything, so I don't have to worry about that. Just be sure
to drink lots of water and eat slow. Everything will work out GREAT! Good
luck to you.
— Beth Ann G.
January 31, 2002
I feel pretty normal. Yes, I am careful to take my vitamin supplements in
the morning, and I have afternoon supplements, but so do "normal"
people. I don't even think about it; it's down to a routine. I try to
drink water/Crystal lite primarily, get in a protein drink when I can, and
I eat three normal meals a day. I go out with my friends, I eat out at
restaurants, I even have a beer every now and again, or a mini reeses-cup
if I feel like it. My goal in having this surgery was to have a normal
life, and if I'm not perfect in my eating or drinking habits one day,
that's okay. It makes me "more normal" : )
— blank first name B.
February 1, 2002
I am 6 mos post op. I am living better now than I ever have. I take no
medication other than my vit. twice a day. It becomes second nature to you
to chew, chew, chew. I eat anything I really want, just small amounts. I am
41 years old and can out walk my husband now, have no problems breathing,
and can now play outside with my kids, before I was inside looking out
because I was not able to walk for any distance without being in pain.
Before the surgery I was taking pain medication twice a day and getting
shots in my feet twice a month, now I do not take any medication and no
shots, and have went from 289 to 192. I wish I had done it at your age, I
could have saved myself alot of pain and heartache. Now I have a normal
life.
— Valerie M.
February 1, 2002
I'm over 9 months post op. I'm more normal than ever before. The
chewing/slow eating thing never is a bother. I rarely, if ever, have had
someone say something about it. I have a great boyfriend that respects my
wish to not center our dates around food. Life is so much more exciting
and fun without being obsessed with my next meal. You will have a great
life post-op. Relax and enjoy the ride.
— Anna F.
February 1, 2002
No, I don't live a <b>normal</b> life, I lead a
<i><b>better than normal</i></b> life!! Most people
don't jump out of bed each day with lots of energy, don't get to
relentlessly, week after week, buy new, skinnier clothes, don't lose weight
over the holidays, don't exercise 1-1.5 hours a day at the gym (and don't
feel better when they're done, either!), and don't have the self-awareness
and the self-esteem that comes from accomplishing something difficult over
a long period of time.
<p>
I'm 4.5 months post-op, down 96 lbs and 82.25 inches, and basically eat
normal food, if more on the low-fat low-sugar side than a lot of my
friends. Oh yeah, many normal people are slaves to chocolate but I'm not
anymore. I basically eat what I want; I don't WANT high-fat food anymore. I
also almost never want soda; water tastes good to me and I drink a lot of
it... 3.5 to 4 liters every day.
<p>
Don't get hung up on the things that you're going to lose, or that will be
difficult. They ARE difficult the first few months, but once it becomes
habit, you will find that everything gets MUCH EASIER. I'm still 214 lbs
now but I feel like my mobility is better and my life is easier than when I
was 175 lbs and on my way up on the scale.
<p>
Chewing your food to death becomes very much second nature; and the vitamin
thing's not such a big deal. I enjoy social outings much more; I never
worry about what I'm going to eat, getting food on my shirt, not fitting in
a booth, or embarrassing myself with how much I eat. I also never eat a
reasonable portion "for show" and then spend time
figuring out how I can sneak off to a fast-food place for a REAL lunch. I
actually ENJOY the conversation with the people that went to lunch with me
instead of thinking about all those things. You figure out a routine that
works for you and you build a new habit over the course of a few months.
The payoffs are so incredible!
<p>
Good luck with your surgery. Your life will be more normal than you think
once you're through the recovery and retraining phase.
— Julia M.
February 1, 2002
I am 3 months post-op today. I don't think I live my life any different
then before, EXCEPT I don't shovel food into my mouth when I am hungry.
And oh yeah...I actually LOVE water. Good luck and God Bless!!!!
— Katrina M.
February 1, 2002
Hi there! I will be 21 years old this year, and I am 9 days post-op. I
just want to give you some reassurance being that I am newly post-op, and
around your age. So far everything is normal execpt the food, and I don't
think it's any harder, you just have to eat less. I'm on the liquid diet
for now, but I have had a few normal foods, and I was just fine. I think I
chew about the same, maybe a little more, but its not hard at all, just
takes a little more time. I can already see where I have lost weight in my
face, and my clothing are fitting better and better each day. The only
weird part to me is just readjusting your thinking post op. You may still
want foods you can't have, i know i do, sometimes you will think you want
more to eat, or that you're hungry but that is just all in your mind, you
will find that out yourself. Your stomach only holds so much, and will let
you know when you ate too much, but other than that, everything else seems
normal in my life, and I feel a whole lot better.
— tjmoore
February 1, 2002
HEY GUYS......I JUST WANT TO SAY THANX FOR THE RESPONCES! THEY REALLY
HELPED ME REALIZE THAT EVERYTHING WILL ADJUST ITSELF INTO MY LIFE ......AND
IT GAVE ME THAT LAST KICK IN THE BUTT THAT I NEEDED TO FEEL UTTERLY
CONFIDENT ABOUT HAVING THIS SURGERY.
— Jennifer M.
February 1, 2002
Normal life? Oh, yeah. Sure, there are some of those changes already
mentioned, but just a FEW of the changes I didn't see mentioned yet
include: being able to cross your legs...with ease & comfort, being
able to jog to your car when you're running late, being able to buy
inexpensive clothes on sale in a "normal" size (BTW, clothes that
look great!), getting on a plane without being terrified the seat belt
won't go around you, getting in a friend's car & not worrying about
THAT seatbelt, no little kids snickering about the "fat lady",
being able to do all the fun physical things that are impossible for an
obese person such as skiing, biking, rollerblading, etc., crawling under
the bed for that lost shoe, tying your shoe without pain, squatting down to
talk to your little nephew, fitting in EVERY SINGLE chair & not
worrying whether it will hold you or not, rediscovering your lap (it WAS
there all along), not being hot & sweaty all the time, no more summer
rashes & chafing skin, being graceful & having balance again,
rediscovering the pleasure of trying on wonderful clothes, being HEALTHY
and feeling it. These are just a quick few I thought of; you will discover
so many more. Have fun & knock yourself out! :)
— Kathy W.
February 1, 2002
I'm 13 months post-op, and definitely would say I'm leading a normal life.
I'm going to school full-time, go to the gym regularly, eat out at
restaurants, can go to a bar with friends and have a beer, you name it. I
can also do things I couldn't before, like walk up stairs. Yes, I do have
to take supplements, which I do religiously, but they have simply replaced
some of the prescription medications I was on previously. Also, I don't
have to inject myself with insulin 3-5 times a day like I did pre-op. So,
while I have had an RNY, I don't feel like I'm not "normal." I
feel better than I have in years. The few things I've had to change have
just become part of my routine. You'll see. It does feel normal! Good luck!
— Maria H.
February 1, 2002
I'm 7+ yrs out from very distal RNY. I do take lots of supplements,
protein 4-6X per day, and lots of pills (I read too many nutritional mags
for my own good! LOL!) Normal like it was? No. I was sick and on a diet.
All the time. Today, I am normal body weight, eat normal foods (no milk,
no sugar... but at least I am not on that infernal "diet"). I
now SAVOR my food. YOu can call it chewing, I prefer savoring the flavors,
the textures, slowed to eat more enjoyably than before. Sure, there are
times I wish I could have two big heaping plates of food, maybe twice/year.
But I never miss the health problems I had, nor the constant cravings for
food & denial of same. I am overall much healthier (nothing can get
past that pile of vites I take! LOL) Have had 2 colds since 1994, no sore
throats or anything like that. I work from my home & have 6 employees
who often bring their various ailments here & we work very closely. I
don't catch what they bring. I conclude that my life is far more pleasant
& comfy now, not to mention the preference of wearing a size 3 over a
size 30, you know?
— vitalady
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