Obesity Surgery WP Blog

I AM A LITTLE CONFUSED, AGAIN? I AM 11 DAYS POST OP AND ON THE GASTRIC BYPASS
SOFT DIET. I AM TRYING TO GET ALL THE PROTEIN I CAN AND I AM WONDERING IF ANY
OF YOU CAN HELP WITH REAL FOOD SUGGESTIONS INSTEAD OF CREAM SOUPS OR PROTEIN
SUPPLEMENTS. I HAVE TRIED COTTAGE CHEESE, I EAT YOGURT EVERY DAY FOR BREAKFAST
AND HAVE TRIES MAC-N-CHEESE AND PINTO BEANS. THE LIST SAYS CANNED CHICKEN AND
TUNA, CAN I HAVE A PIECE OF GRILLED FISH? THE LIST ALSO SAYS PASTA. IF I FIX
LASAGNA FOR MY FAMILY AND I PUT MEAT IN IT CAN I EAT THAT? WHAT ABOUT
SPAGHETTI, CAN I HAVE SAUCE WITH MEAT? IF YOU DON’T PUT MEAT IN THE SAUCE IS
THERE ANY PROTEIN IN IT OR IS IT JUST CARBS? I HAVE ATE BEANS AND MACARONI AND
CHEESE FOR THREE DAYS AND I REALLY WANT SOME VARIETY. HELP!!!!
KELLY WILLIAMS
BAKER 11-27

I have to say that I read Barry’s post and agree with a lot of what he says.
My situation is that my own perception of myself seems to be out of whack
right now. There are so many changes taking place in such an incredibly
short period of time, my brain just can’t process everything accurately yet.
Because of this fact, I “use” the numbers as a gauge and the compliments that
are constant at this stage to help me see myself in a more positive way. I
find that sometimes I look in the mirror and the perception of my reflection
is as distorted today as it was pre-op. My best barometer seems to be
pictures. I look at pre-op pictures today and can’t fathom that I was so
huge! I carry one in my little bag and pull it out often (as Kathy says…to
never forget where I’m coming from)! As humans beings we need affirmations
and approval from others around us. That’s human nature!
I may have a distorted view of myself sometimes, but I do try to be honest
and good to myself. I find today that it’s easier to believe in my heart
that I’m worthy of good things in my life. I always was and fortunately for
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Hi,
I am Robin and I live in Florida. Wed. 12/12/ I am having by pass surgery in
miami!!! I still am sonfused about lap or open I’m 52yrs. old and almost 300
lbs. 5′5 tall. I am concerned about how long does each procedure take as some
one told me lap can take 6-7 hours, that seems a long time to be under general
anesthia. Of course I have to be concerned about going back to work and which
is less painful after! But my first concern is living through the anesthia.
Please answer quickly thanks for all the support- I quit going to OA meetings
this year and got sick of 50 years of dieting and now I can hardly function. I
am ready for the operation if you have any post op suggfestions please forwqard
to me email lioness7230@…

Hello everyone,
My name is Theresa and I had surgery for the DS on 11-19-2001. I am
hoping some of you might help me out a bit. A complication in my
surgery is requiring that I eat a soft diet for at least a month and
most DS post ops have no restrictions, so I was thinking you all
could help me with suggestions.
During my surgery, the doctor found that my tissues kept shredding as
he was sewing. This left the duodenal anastimoses rather small for
now. After I am totally healed in a couple of weeks, I will start
eating a normal DS diet and if I run into problems, I will be given
and endoscopy…something I have heard about but am not thrilled with!
Anyway, I have about run out of soft food ideas and am bored as heck.
Since DSers malabsorb most fats, some carbs and no sugars, if you
could give me some suggestions within those parameters, I would be so
greatful. Since I am not taking in enough liquids or protein, my
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Hey,
I would appreciate your prayers and positive thoughts.
I am supposed to be having surgery on Weds, after two days
of preop. Please pray that everything will go okay (and that
the surgery won’t get cancelled for some reason!)… and that
I will be a postop in a week. I’m feeling a little nervous…
I have a phobia of needles… and as you postops know… this
surgery involves a “few” needles! And I will have to get an
EGD, not worried because I will be out.. more worried because
it is another IV. ALso have to get a blood gas draw. Tell me…
what exactly does a blood gas draw show? (besides the obvious…
how much gas is in the blood).
Thanks for your prayers in advance… I could use them ALL
week next week!
Thanks…
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Big thanks to everyone that has replied to my question about Postop diets. It is
something I have wondered about. I will be seven weeks postop on Monday. My dad,
at six weeks, was allowed to have whatever he wanted, as he was told his body
would tell him what he couldn’t have. Of course, he was advised to eat healthy.
He got sick on some foods. I have tried a few different things and have only
gotten sick once, and that was because I ate way too fast. I learned a good
lesson then.
Again, I appreciate the replies and I look forward to reading anyone else’s
thoughts on the question. Have a great night!
Craig

Dear Kelly: I just had lap gall bladder surgery Nov 27, and the incision
next to my navel is very sore. When I turn over in bed, it pulls down deep
inside. My surgeon’s nurse said It was probably a stitch inside. It is
better this week though. Honestly, I was surprised that the gall bladder
surgery was more painful to me than the RNY, and I have felt really icky ever
since. No appetite, feeling a little nauseous when I eat, not sleeping well,
little energy. I’m sure hoping things improve soon.
Good luck.
Kay
LAP RNY 6/29/01
Starting weight 247
Yesterday’s weight 171
-76 lbs

HEY YA’LL!! I AM 10 DAYS POST OP AND I AM A LITTLE CONFUSED. DR. BAKER TOLD ME
TO DRINK AT LEAST 32 OZ. OF WATER A DAY AND BE WORKING UP TO 64OZ. I CRAVE
GRAPE KOOL-AID, CAN I ADD THIS TO MY COUNT OR IS IT STRICTLY WATER THAT COUNTS
TOWARDS OUNCES? I KNOW THAT SOUNDS ODD BUT I WANT TO BE SUE I AM DOING THE
RIGHT THING. I AM DRINKING LOTS OF KOOL-AID, BUT AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE
WATER. I ALSO WEIGHED THIS MORNING AND I HAVE LOST ANOTHER 3 POUNDS FOR A TOTAL
OF 19. I AM SO HAPPY. I KNOW THAT WILL SLOW DOWN, BUT I HAVE STAYED ON DIETS
FOR 2 MONTHS AND NOT LOST 19 POUNDS. LOL WELL TIME TO GO GET MY KIDS AT SCHOOL
TALK TO YA’LL LATER.
GOD BLESS
KELLY WILLIAMS
BAKER 11-27

Hi everyone. I was trying to post this earlier but apparently our
“moderators” decided that there was something in it that they didn’t agree
with, so therefore my actual question was ignored. It was in reply to the
statement about someone thinking that the stoma had nothing to do with
losing weight/gaining weight (which of course was not the case). So I will
try and post this again and hopefully this will go through. :
the original post said - My surgeon says that the stoma has a lot to do with
it (stretching and gaining/not losing weight) and that is why they make it
so small to begin with.:
That is what my surgeon says also. But he has been using a mesh ring
in/around(?) the stoma to prevent it from stretching ever. The tissue grows
through the mesh and becomes stronger with time. In the first 6 months to a
year it really doesn’t matter without the ring, but, he does it because of
the long term effect the stoma has on the success of the surgery. He has
been doing his own study about his patients that he has used this on and has
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HI EVERYONE, THIS IS LIZ FROM ONT. I AM 3 WEEKS OUT AND FEEL GREAT!!!!! NO
PAIN ,NO JOINT PAIN FOR SOME ODD REASON. I GET A LITTLE TIRED IN THE
AFTERNOON BUT THATS FINE. I GET TO START ON PUREED ON MONDAY YAAAA . SO FAR
SO GOOD. MY NEXT DR. APPT. IS AFTER XMAS I CANT WAIT SO I CAN SEE HOW MUCH
WIEGHT I HAVE LOST. IF YOU ARE OUT THERE GELLA WRITE ME AT
marlesmeme@… IT WAS NICE HAVING A FRIEND IN THE SAME HOSPITAL.
LIZ