Question:
Why is it that after surgery you can not have sugar?

   — [Anonymous] (posted on August 17, 2001)

August 17, 2001
Ok, let me see if I can answer this correctly. A) It's not good for you and B) with the RNY, since part of the intesting is bypassed, the sugar enters your blood stream too fast causing the dumping with makes you feel very ill. If you're having the VBG or Banding, it's basically because you can eat so little that what you do eat should be what you need to stay healthy, not empty calories. I hope that's what you were looking for!
   — [Anonymous]

August 17, 2001
8/17/01 - I have sugar and no dumping- 21 days post op -34 lbs, no dumping, drink soda that is not flat, have caffiene in tea and sodas and eat basically whatever but very small amounts, I asked my dr. today about carbonation stretching the pouch- he thought I was nuts, said it may make me very uncomfotable, but would not stretch pouch. -debi
   — Deborah M.

August 17, 2001
It depends on what surgery you have for that restriction but basically its not a necessary ingredient and is empty calories. Best not to have much if any to begin with.
   — [Anonymous]

August 17, 2001
It depends on the type of surgery that you have. I had an open RNY on 8/16/00. On the day of surgery I weighed 469 pounds. I have lost 290 pounds in one year and I can eat small amounts of absolutely anything. I can eat one piece of a kit kat bar. I don't eat surgar everyday because I had over 300 pounds to lose. I eat it every once in awhile.
   — DeeDubbs

August 17, 2001
Aside from dumping, which is unpleasant, but survivable, daily small amounts of sugar can completely stop or reverse your wt loss. It doesn't happen right away, but in theory, just compromizing a little every day and within 3 yrs, you could be back at start wt +, no matter WHICH surgery you have. Sugar does not require diegestion, so there is no malabsorption. It goes down easily, so you can get quite a bit of it without thinking about it. AND it fuels cravings for more & more, so the more you get, the more you want. It is a hear breaking thing to see someone lose their weight & their comorbs and watch it all come back with sugar. Just a little here, a little there. It cost me 6# and it was as little as most people take in who drink milk! But I got 6# in 2 weeks. Just a little, now & then.
   — vitalady

August 17, 2001
Ohmigod!--how is it that you are contemplating having or maybe you have just had WLS?--I am sure that some of the weight on your body may be there because of consuming sugar--don't do it!!--this surgery is a gift of sorts and there are a lot of people who would gladly give up sugar and lots of other things for the rest of their lives just to have this procedure. Michelle's post is right on and she is quietly telling you that even little bits of that sweet stuff can make you gain your weight back--you don't really want that do you?--and for those who eat a "bite now and then" relax--I am not even talking about you--I just see alot of people thinking that WLS is a license to eat--most of us know that it is not--heartbreaking is right!! Please do your research and talk to your dr and nutritionist!!
   — [Anonymous]

August 18, 2001
SUGAR IS THE ENEMY! That's what our WLS nutritionist says. It is empty calories that trigger insulin release and the up and down blood sugar roller-coaster. After surgery you need to focus on getting in PROTEIN FIRST (chicken, fish, eggs, meat), then vegetables, fruit, grains. For a long time you'll be lucky if you get the protein in and a bit of the others. Because WLS people ingest so little, it has to count nutritionally. No place for sugar. One-third of all WLS patients will REGAIN their weight in 10 years, if they try to go back to old, bad eating habits. The surgery is only a TOOL; you have to make the permanent eating changes, or ultimately you'll have put your poor old bodkin through all this for nothing. Get serious about taking in 60 grams of protein a day and 60 ounces of water. That is what is most important - everything after that (veggies, fruit, grains) is just a bonus. Good luck to you on the journey.
   — Lisa D.

August 18, 2001
Sugar is the enemy for RNY patients only! Again, I have to state that as a BPD/DS patient, NO FOOD IS INTRINISICALLY BAD. We can eat anything. Yes, we must make sure to get in all our protein, but since we don't have a tiny pouch, but a fully functional stomach the eventually approximates a normal size and our digestive process is not compromised by dumping, getting in adequate protein is not the daunting task it may be for RNYs. I can get sufficient protein by having eggs and bacon for breakfast, and still join the non WLS group for doughnuts at breaktime (think NORMAL PEOPLE). I can eat a restaurant meal (high in protein -- steak, shrimp, prime ribs, etc.) and still grab the dessert cart. Even chocolate has protein, and cheese cake and pecan pie, LOL. Obviously no person should compromise their nutrition by ONLY eating sugar, but not all WLSs are created equally, and the DS diet can include ALL foods.
   — Jill L.