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[SkinnyMinnie]

Hi!     I'm a female from MN and had gastric bypass Roux En Y surgery on Monday morning (5 days ago).  I'm very happy to find this site and hardly even know where to start asking my questions!  I think I'm doing OK but have a few concerns I'd like reassurance about, such as the softball sized bruise around just one of my incisions that seems to have gotten worse over the week, and the black stools I'm having, as well as periodic light-headedness and what the heck to eat that tastes good and meets the requirements of having protein and being applesauce consistency! 

I'm allergic to milk, but I do OK with cheese, yogurt, etc. but NOT the milk based protein shakes!  Isopure is pretty good.  Is there such a thing as recipes for the first few weeks?!

Also, I have been weepy, and I think I have a little post-op depression. Is that common?  It gets better each day, right?  The pain is subsiding slowly, and I don't want to take any more pain meds, because they make me disoriented and give me nightmares.  Between that and feeling like my best friend (comfort food) just died, I think I'm grieving.

I apologize for the semi-secrecy of my profile, but I have only told 6 of my immediate family members so far, and no one else knows I had this surgery.  For now at least, I feel it is no one's business.  Thanks, and I look forward to getting to know you all.

[baka]

Welcome to FreakVille!

I'm guessing the one incision giving you discomfort and bruising is the Lower Left Hand one? If so that's the one they do the most work through and thus the muscle can take 3-5 weeks to heal up properly according to my surgeon. Sometimes they put a stitch on the inside too.

I experienced black, green, yellow, brown stool/sludge as a baby-freak...... Your body has just gone through major surgery and is in a kinda WTF mode....... I noticed that increased protein produces darker colored poop/sludge for me just after surgery.

Being lightheaded is most likely dehydration - Are you getting all your fluids in?

Were you on any blood pressure meds pre-op? Are you still on them cos that could account for low blood pressure which can cause you to feel lightheaded too.

Chewing will get stuff to applesauce consistency - 25-35 chews per spoonful

With my program it was 8 weeks post-op before they let us near pureed/semi-solids

When you lose fat cells it releases estrogen into your system - Welcome to WLS puberty

Hope that helps

Ian

[Larkey]

Many of us experience all that stuff so pretty normal.  Can you do almond milk with shakes? It tastes good and has some protein as well.  Lots of folks like soy milk too.  My fav site for shake recipes is this one http://www.theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/  Shelley has some fantastic combos.  Happy healing

[Maddie]

Welcome.  Best of luck for a speedy recovery.

[ttowe]

Welcome to the freakdom.

Bruising sound normal.

There are lots of other non whey or milk based protiens. Start looking into the soy products.

Weepy?? Totally normal. Hormones, anethesia, and loss of food is enough to make anyone, even the strongest of men a little weepy. Give yourself a break by just accepting that it is normal.

Sorry so short of an answer but I'm on vacation.

Toni

[Indykitty]

Hello SkinnyMinnie!

[SkinnyMinnie]

Thanks for all the tips and welcomes.  I am feeling much better now, 14 days post-op.  My incisions are looking really good and bruising is almost gone.

I'm reluctant to use soy as a milk replacement because I've heard so much bad stuff about it, especially about it being bad for my hypothyroidism.  I know many would argue that, but many wouldn't, and it's hard to know what to believe!

My latest struggle is that I have found I am already able to tolerate pop and some other "non-healthy" foods.  I didn't lose ANY weight this past week!  Now I am very freaked out.  I will see the dietician and surgeon later this week, and I'm going to ask about medical hypnosis or other options for helping me get over my sugar addiction and cravings, especially pop.

Before surgery, people told me after surgery I wouldn't feel hungry or even miss the foods and beverages I loved.  They were totally wrong.  I must be an anomaly!  I feel hungry, and I'm bored with eating yogurt and refried beans all the time.  Sure, I get full pretty fast, but I still want pop, buffalo wings, burgers, fries, etc., and I am trying things I probably shouldn't be yet, but they go down OK, and I haven't thrown up at all.

I really want to be succesful, but my old habits are definitely still going strong and pulling at me constantly.  Advice please?  Thanks!!!

[baka]

Not trying to be mean or anything and you already know this.........

SkinnyMinnie WLS is not a magic pill it's a TOOL and you HAVE to do your part to be successful period!

Please take the time to read the following:

Soda 101 For Freaks - http://www.bariatrictv.com/forum/index.php?topic=4307.msg42469#msg42469

Drinking and Eating - http://www.bariatrictv.com/forum/index.php?topic=4010.msg39655#msg39655

Protein 101 - http://www.bariatrictv.com/forum/index.php?topic=3736.msg37166#msg37166

Vitamins 101 - http://www.bariatrictv.com/forum/index.php?topic=4340.msg42954#msg42954

We all make mistakes so just dust yourself off and get back on that horse lady!

They operate on our tummy not the stuff between our ears.... That's your job to work on and it will be the hardest battle you will face in the journey to a new healthier lifestyle.

We're here for you every step of the way....... So feel free to vent/rant/cry/whine/bitch whatever it takes

If I can do this anyone can!

(((HUG)))

Ian

[Tammy]

Welcome aboard Skinny Minnie!!

[SkinnyMinnie]

Ian,
I get the feeling you've been around the block so I value your input.  Having said that though, please don't give me the "it's only a tool / not a magic pill" speech.  Agh, am I the only one who gets really annoyed by that?

But as I said, the rest of your message was great!  I looked at some of the links and watched the video.  That is good stuff.  However, if being thin was as simple as doing what you know is right, none of us would be here, would we?

I love pop.  I LOVE it.  I crave it.  I dream about it.  Don't tell my husband, but I dare to say it's better than sex.   

I can see the logic behind that pop 101 article.  The carbonation might expand my pouch!  YIKES!  And my mother-in-law just told me about a coworker who had the surgery and has gained back all her weight, and she thinks it's primarily because she drinks pop!

Everything I'm hearing against pop is very compelling....BUT...like any addict, giving it up is proving impossible so far.  Your point about our brains is well taken and something I worried about prior to surgery.  That's why I mentioned hypnosis as a possible solution, but I tried it once before with a certified professional, and it didn't work.

I don't want to feel deprived.  I don't want to feel like there is anything I can never have again because that just makes me want to fight it.  I think I have always used food and pop especially as a reward, a comfort, and I suppose I need to replace it with something else, right?  Isn't that what the experts say?  But nothing else is as good, and I'm too smart to fool myself into thinking it is?!

I'd like to hear from anyone who has been where I am on this topic and successfully gotten past it.  How did you do it?  Thanks Ian and everyone else.

SkinnyMinnie

[Dormaggy]

Ian,

I am once again calling for your opinion. I read what you said about protein.  I noticed now that I am eating puree foods.....its a challenge to get the liquids in and the 8 oz Carnation Instant Breakfast which I like......but filling.  Do you have a suggestion on a protein drink you like, that would be good for a new freak?  And do I need to push myself to get all this in?.........I understand that one day.........I will be hungry and will need to think about everything thats goes into my mouth.  I am on the site all day......(I work two jobs so I am having a problem with being bored the last time I stayed home like this was 11 years ago) reading and just wanting to do whats best for me. 

Thanks as always

Dorene

[HopenToBeThin]

Did your plan give you an eating program?  Mine did and it was very strick.  I did not always follow it to the letter, but I found out through some trial and error that I had the best weight loss when I stuck to the plan. It went in phases; first 10 days only full liquids, next 10 mushy / soft food only, then up to 3 months on a small list of approved foods, after 3 months got to start adding some back.  

Some of the major things were no sodas even if they were diet until you had lost 60% of your excess weight and then only a couple of times a week.  No full sugar sodas ever.  No pork or beef till you hit the 6-mth mark, no rice, potatoes, pasta or fruit until after you reach goal.  Limit carbs to 15 total a day (this one is hard).

Take all your suppliments every day.  Big, big thing that you must do.

That is the basic over view.  I think part of the secret to success is not to push any limits for at least the first 6 months.  If you don't try and just assume it will make you ill, then by the time you do try it, you may not like it anymore.  I am glad that I dump.  However I believe in some cases the more you push the limits the more your system will tolerate which would mean that eventually you could eat around the surgery.  That is a place none of us want to be. I loved Mt Dew and I have only tired a few sips, but I think all soda is gross now, not sure what I ever saw in it.  And yes, I realize that I am fortunate and that it is a good thing.  My problem now is dark choc.

I am at the 14th month since my RNY and have lost a bit over 100 pounds and still have about 50 to go.  I would be farther along if I could keep the carbs as low as they want, but it is hard.  I am recording everthing I eat again and have identified some of the things that were increasing my carbs and have cut them back out and have gotten back down to my low point that way.  Aiming for the rest now.  

I was very sick, on 9 pills a day and a shot, used a CPAP machine, could not climb stairs, was a major effort to just get through the day at 294 when I started.  I am still a long way away from perfect, but would not want to go back there for any reason.  You just have to make up your mind that this is for your long term health.  I know that is not easy, but you have to.  If you did not get couseling with the program leading up to surgery or spend some quality time with the dietition you need to now, quickly please.  I fear you have started down a slippery slope haveing already pushed the envelope on some things.  

I am sure you did not go through all you have been through to fail.  We will give you all the support we can and answer any questions you have, but we can't reach through the computer and make you replace the soda in your hand with the water your body needs.  I wish I could.  Please seek some one-on-one help locally.  And please stay in touch here.
I sincerely wish you much success in your journey.~~Paula~~

[baka]

I was addicted to soda drinking 6-12 cans per day and when I started to research what it took to be sccessful at WLS I discovered that Soda would have to be kicked to the curb.

So six months prior to my WLS I drank my last soda ever......

Now when I think about putting that crap in my body makes me sick

Ian

[ttowe]

I had 6 pack a day habit myself.

Post surgery...I didn't touch the stuff for a year.  When I did...it tasted sick and gross.

Even at 6 years out, every once in a while I'll try a diet soda...and have yet to finish one.  It just doesn't sit right in my pouch.

Even diets soda's are bad for you.

You can sit here and think that it's okay...but its not. My whole family has given up their addiction to soda. When I stopped buying them for the family, they all lost weight (and yes, we drank diets).  This alone convinces me that soda's just aren't good for you.

Toni

[SkinnyMinnie]

Thanks everyone.  I agree, pop is terrible for anyone but us especially.  I don't think any amount of convincing is going to work on me because I already know it all logically, but I'm not in a place of logic when I'm craving that pop.  I really admire those of you who kicked it.  Can you tell me more about how though?  You just quit cold turkey, and that worked for you? 

I am afraid you might be right about the slippery slope.  I'm seeing the dietician the day after tomorrow, and I'm going to ask about counseling because, no, there is none that is a routine part of my program.  I attended a 3-hour nutrition class and had a psych eval, which showed I was a good candidate other than being unlikely to follow rules (ironic, huh)!!!  But that's about it.

They gave us 2 sample daily menus for the first week or two after surgery and a list of foods that might be good, but I just don't feel like it was nearly adequate, especially since I have a dairy allergy and lactose intolerance.  They offer nothing when it comes to dairy alternative diet plans.  And yes, I am taking my chewable multi-vitamin, and I think they want me to start some others at the one month mark.

I don't know if I can explain what I'm feeling, and I sense that you all think I'm being stubborn and selfish.  Maybe I am.  I feel like you're asking me to give up my best and only friend.  I'm crying now because I just wish somebody understood.  When you tell me pop tastes terrible to you now, I am so confused and jealous.  I love it so much, I feel like I can't live without it.

Thanks again though.  I appreciate all the feedback and advice.

[auntb]

Honey I think everyone has felt the way you do right now about something. The thing is you had this surgery to force you to change why else rearrange your insides.

Think about how much better you will feel with the extra weight gone. You are a baby freak it will get better  and drinking pop now would hurt. And over time you will replace those wants with others. Caffine addiction is HARD to kick then add in the habbit of the bubbly wellllllllllll

Just read all the NSV posts and know that you have all these things and more to look foward to.

[trbsmom]

I was very addicted to Diet Pepsi pre surgery also...I really really didn't want to give it up. I know how you feel...but you want to have your cake and eat it too. Does that ever work out for anyone? That will not get you where you want to be...and you were desperate enough to have the surgery, so I can't believe that you did that for nothing. Sounds like maybe some counseling might help you...if you feel deprived..there may be something deeper that you haven't identified yet. Replace the pop with water...or find a crystal light flavor that you really like...it will take time to get over the addiction, but it's not impossible...as evidenced by everyone on this thread that also loved pop.

We all do understand...really..you have to choose, bottom line...you CANNOT have pop and get where you want and need to be.

[LowCHO]

I'm still preop, but a couple of years ago is when I started seriously looking into the RNY. I love coffee (used to have 10-15 double espresso's daily) and diet soda (6-12 daily). When I saw the dietary restrictions, I completely thought I couldn't do it so I tried it. I thought there was no sense in having majory surgery only to just blow it so I went cold turkey for 4 weeks. It was the hardest thing I ever did. The headaches were incredible and the withdrawal was like what I would expect coming off of drugs.

Due to a number of reasons, I was unable to complete the workup but I never went back to diet sodas. Occasionally, I'll have one but they don't call my name anymore. I still drink coffee but only 1/2 caffeine and I limit myself to 1-3 cups of brewed daily. After all I went through, I'm well prepared to go decaf coffee and no sodas. Best of luck in working through the hard stuff.