By: Olivia Suarez

Olivia Suarez — Wed, 28 Sep 2005 17:23:48 +0000

Lets see what I can do to answer some of your questions. Keep in mind that
I can only answer them from my perspective, which is just my opinion. I had
an Open RNY about 16 months ago. My starting weight was 330 pounds. I now
weigh 152 for a total of 179 pounds lost.
<< How in God’s name will I be able to drink all the fluids that are
required if my pouch is about the size of a finger?
Your pouch is meant to hold solid foods in tightly. However, liquids pass
through much quicker. Its advised that most patients sip slowly, and not
gulp. That gives the liquid time to fill the pouch, then pass through the
stoma (the small opening at the base of your pouch) and pass on through to
your intestine to be assimilated. This means you can drink throughout the
day, in fairly large quantities; just make sure you dont drink while you
eat, always waiting about an hour to do so.
<< How will I go from eating A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G I want as fast as I can swallow
it to eating bird sized portions and making it last 30-40 minutes?

Very carefully? Im not quite sure what you mean here. I guess you mean
re-learning how to eat with your new stomach as opposed to eating how you
eat now? You eat slowly. You chew A LOT. You use smaller utensils,
smaller plates and smaller bites to make sure that you dont eat too
quickly, and you take the time to enjoy each bite. Its a process that
doesnt come easily or overnight. It will take practice, and believe me,
you will learn where your bodies limits are, you just have to listen and
stop to realize what you are feeling.
<< How in the world will I be able to eat dry foods without a sip of drink
to wash it down?
Its called saliva. *grins* It takes some getting used to, but youll find
new ways to eat, discovering all sorts of new things a long the way to help
you.
<< How do you sip?
Small, controlled amounts. Some people find using a straw helps.
<< I have never sipped anything in my life! I am the kind of person who
puts ice in hot tea and hot chocolate so that I can gulp it down. This
surgery requires a tremendous amount of strength and restraint. If I don’t
possess it before surgery how will I after surgery?
Its the reason I think a lot of us HAD the surgery. To learn. For me, I
got myself to my weight by not having self control. This surgery is a tool
to re-teach us how to deal with food. It helps us to form a new
relationship with food. Teaches us how we should eat, helps us remember
when weve eaten too much, and guides us on the path down to healthier
living through moderation and control of urges, desires and wants, as
opposed to what we really need.
The surgery itself takes no amount of restraint or strength. Its the
learning process that follows that is the kicker. YOU will be doing all of
the work, not the surgery. It will be YOU dealing with your everyday
cravings, feelings, thoughts and fantasies about food, not the surgery. It
will be your own decision as to what to put in your mouth and how much, not
the surgery.
It doesnt lose the weight for you. YOU do that. It just gives you the
tools to do so.
-Kyndra
Open RNY 11/08/01

By: Bonnie Nakisha

Bonnie Nakisha — Wed, 28 Sep 2005 00:27:20 +0000

Believe!! You will be able to do it. The only hard thing I am having to do
is slow down and eat slower and not being able to drink. I got most of my
fluids in post op with my meals. But!! Believe!! I am doing it and
feeling great. I had my lap RNY on 10/30/02 and am down -78 lbs. I have a
bad knee so I have to do my exercises sitting down and in the water. This
is very hard since I am a real estate agent and my meals are never on time
and I usually don’t have 30-40 minutes to eat lunch, but I am doing it. I
just grab a sandwich and eat it in the car between appts. You can do
anything you want to if you will believe. I started at 306 and am now at
225. This is the least I have weighed in 12 years.
Trust yourself. You can do anything you need to do to have a brand new
life. Many people never get this chance. Grab the brass ring and go for
it.
Anne

Comments on: CALLING ALL SUPPORT!!!!

By: Olivia Suarez

By: Bonnie Nakisha