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hi Newbie here, I have a few questions before surgery

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Bigtallsis

Member
hi everyone I'm a newbie to this site, just came across it today. I am scheduled to go to a seminar for bariatric surgery this month. Dr. recommended tome and I have wanted it done for the last 3 years. I am finally ready to take on this new healthier approach to life, I'm 55 and want to live a longer healthier life. I would like to chat with other's whom have already made this decesion and started there new journey. Is there anyone whom has time to chat or is willing to answer some questions. I appreciate your time and help with these matters. Thanks for taking time to allow me to express what I'm feeling. God Bless YOU, :)
 
Hello bigtallsis, welcome you came to the right place! I had gastric sleeve surgery one week ago if there are any questions i can answer for you i will, if you want to private message them that is fine. There are alot of regulars on this site also that i'm sure will respond!
 
Hello bigtallsis my name is Jenny! I just had gastric by-pass on January 20th! I feel good and I would love to help in anyway that I can!
 
hi & thanks for responding to me being a newbie, how r u feeling?

hi
how has your new journey to a healthier you been so far? I am getting so excited as I go to each appt. I see physical therapist mon. and then one more dr. visit then I can get an appointment to see the surgeon. the time frame is so hard having to wait so long between appointments/
I don't know why caffenie has to be stopped after surgery? did they explain that to you? I understand about soda. I love ice water and coffee, I have been trying to take sips and not gulp down my water. Do you have any suggestions that others have given you that helped as you go through this transition? May I ask how your weight loss has been since surgery? Do you have any regrets? Do you still feel hungry I know our minds have to also go through a new transition to not want to grab food like before or least that is how I perceive it, I wish I had already had my surgery but I too must wait it out. In the meantime I hope to be able to chat with you and others. For I beleive patients are the best persons to talk with for they will tell you exactly what it's like and offer tips that helped them along the way.
Hope to talk to you soon.
Donna
 
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hi how has your journey been so far since the surgery? I want the gastric bypass where stomach is the size of a golf-ball,are you having any trouble eating and swallowing ? They told me you can't drink before or while eating, that part is hard to grasp because how do we get the well chewed up foods down without water? I would appreciate any feed back about your journey to get to where you are now. you sure have lost alot of weight, how much did you loose before the surgery?are you happy with your decesion to have the surgery? I appreciate any feedback from you and others. I think people who've actually had the surgery are honest and up front and are willing to answer more questions than the dr.
Hope all is well with you, I look forward to talking with you and others as I embark this new journey to a healthier me, and anxiously awaiting my turn.
Newbie
 
Hey Bigtallsis {Donna} I am doing well! I think the caffeine thing is that they want you to cut back it affects your metabolism! as for the eating and drinking they want you to fill up with your protein and not fluid, you will have to consume 60 to 80 grams of protein per day! it is not easy plus get 64 oz of fluid! it is really hard at first but as time goes on you figure out little tricks. I buy the little 8oz poland spring bottles and keep them with me at all times. I use a lot of different things to make it easier to get things like meat down your nutritionist should be able to give you lots of suggestions. I also find out lots of things at group meetings they are the best! I use things like fat free gravy or light butter on veggies and light dressings are good as well! I ate a ton of applesauce and jello! any more I can help with let me know!!! Jenny




]
 
Hi Donna, I am Tom. I had my surgery 2 years ago on the 28th of this month. I have lost 115 lbs so far. I lost 15 lbs before surgery on my pre op diet. I love coffee and to stop was really hard, just because I love my morning cuo o'joe. I think it was 3 months before I could drink coffee again but well worth it, they told me why but I cant remember, I think it was because it slows healing or may cause complications but I am not sure. The water thing I still strugle with, I alway had water before, with and after my meal but I do my best to stop 30 minutes befor and wait 1 hour afterward, it is so the body can absorb as much of the protien and nutrients it can from the food befor being passed.

Start chewing your food up real well now so you get used to it, it is very difficult for our little pouches to handle food that is not chewed up well and may cause dumping (nausea) it's not very fun. Also start trying different protien powder and drinks get the sample packs if you can find them EAS is a good one I also found choco rite and I like those, but don't stock up because after surgery your tastbuds may change and what tasted good pre op may not taste good post op.

I have no regrets from my surgery I feel much better and I am off my blood pressure and cholestrol medicine, I sleep better I can go out jogging and hike much faster and I can go on and on. Hang in there it sounds like things are moving right along for you. Let us know how your progressing. :cool: Tom
 
Hi Tom
Thanks for taking time to answer some questions for me, everyone has been so kind and up-front. I know I've made the right decesion about w/s surgery. I can't wait to share my story with others on here. It's so nice to be able to talk with others whom truly understand the world of being overweight and the decesion we've made to embrace life and get our lives back. One day at a time. I am glad you and others have warned me about not stocking up on protein drinks because your taste buds may change, I will keep that in mind. There are several out there to try. Alot of people have mentioned the Carnation no sugar added, I priced them at walmart, they want 5.98 I think it was for 4 drinks. I hope to find the right one where I can buy a large container and mix one up as I need it to drink. I beleive that will be cheaper for me in the long run. I have 3 kids to feed so I don't want to spend alot of grocery money on me. Hope all is well with you, thanks again.
Donna
 
Hi Jenny
I just wanted to say" thanks" you and the others have been so kind to me. I am glad to have found this new place to chat with others whom understand what I am going through and what I am about to embark on, my journey.
enjoy this wonderful Sunday.
Donna
 
Bigtallsis said:
hi
how has your new journey to a healthier you been so far? I am getting so excited as I go to each appt. I see physical therapist mon. and then one more dr. visit then I can get an appointment to see the surgeon. the time frame is so hard having to wait so long between appointments/
I don't know why caffenie has to be stopped after surgery? did they explain that to you? I understand about soda. I love ice water and coffee, I have been trying to take sips and not gulp down my water. Do you have any suggestions that others have given you that helped as you go through this transition? May I ask how your weight loss has been since surgery? Do you have any regrets? Do you still feel hungry I know our minds have to also go through a new transition to not want to grab food like before or least that is how I perceive it, I wish I had already had my surgery but I too must wait it out. In the meantime I hope to be able to chat with you and others. For I beleive patients are the best persons to talk with for they will tell you exactly what it's like and offer tips that helped them along the way.
Hope to talk to you soon.
Donna
Click to expand...

Donna-Caffeine causes irritation to the stomach and will slow down the healing process. It also promotes dehydration which can be a major concern after your surgery. Before your surgery try using half decaf coffee and then gradually increase the amount of decaf as you decrease the amount of regular coffee until you are at 100% decaf before surgery. This will help you avoid the headaches that come with stopping the caffeine abruptly. You should be able to have decaf after surgery. I find that by making the decaf a bit stronger also makes it taste better.

I just had my surgery a week ago and I haven't felt hungry yet. I still manage to get my protein and fluids in by sipping slowly. Five days after surgery I started eating thin cream of wheat and soupy instant potatoes, both made with skim milk. I am also eating sugar free pudding and applesauce. For fluids you count the liquids in the protein drinks and hot cereals, etc. so it's pretty easy to meet at least the minimum requirement. Just remember to sip / eat slow and steady. This way you will get you protein and fluids without being nauseated.
 
donna- i am defiitely a newbie too, but i reember in my first nutrition class the dietician said to sto caffeine because it be dehydraating.
 
I was told that even a little caffeine can stimulate your appetite and also they don't want you to have a headache (from caffeine withdrawal) in the hospital. I will tell you a secret though for the last 6 months I have been drinking caffeinenated crystal light. I know I shouldn't but I just can't seem to get going without it. My appetite has not been affected so far (at least as far as I can tell). It is possible that I would lose a little quicker if I didn't drink it but I am doing well so I'm not ionclined to quit now.
 
Hi Newbie
This is my first post on this site,or any other as it were.I'm 61 and got my surgery on April 8th of last year so I'm comming up to my first anniversary. I can tell you that this has been the best thing that I've ever done for myself.After being diabetic for 15 years and having high blood pressure and being prone to sprains and strains due to my weight,and fighting diets for many years without sucess I knew it was time to act.I investigated the surgery for several years and saw a family member and a few friends improve their health and have good results.I met some people thru my work also and made the decision to go with it.
Keep in mind that this takes total lifelong committment to be truely successful but the results are dramatic.It truely is a remarkable change and if I can answer any questions I will surely do that.
My start weight was 357 and after a year of committment I weigh 182.All my numbers are normal and I'm on no medication at all.Just my vitamins,of course,which are a lifetime committment also.
 
kpn- I drink mostly tea now-The support groups tell us that caffeine will dehydrate us also so watch for signs of that-I haven't experienced any ill affects from it and every person is different-others might have bad reactions so it seems it's a "play it by ear" situation-I haven't met anyone in the groups that does everything perfectly all the time but almost everybody knows to listen to their bodys signals and pays attention to their numbers-it"s our life to live and we need to do what works for us.
 
hi JennyBug76
how's everything been going for you since your surgery? I haven't seen any recent post. Maybe I haven't looked in the right places, Just curious how you were doing and if you've lost weight since your surgery date? still waiting for my surgery date, I can't wait to advance farther with this new journey.
Donna
 
Bigtallsis said:
hi everyone I'm a newbie to this site, just came across it today. I am scheduled to go to a seminar for bariatric surgery this month. Dr. recommended tome and I have wanted it done for the last 3 years. I am finally ready to take on this new healthier approach to life, I'm 55 and want to live a longer healthier life. I would like to chat with other's whom have already made this decesion and started there new journey. Is there anyone whom has time to chat or is willing to answer some questions. I appreciate your time and help with these matters. Thanks for taking time to allow me to express what I'm feeling. God Bless YOU, :)
Click to expand...
This is 6 years ago but how have you been since your surgery? I am almost 1 week post op with sleeve_Amy
 
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