Hey All,

I don’t know much about lap banding…   It would be great to hear some about it. Keep us posted on how you are doing and what you have to do post op. Maybe you can inspire someone here to take that step.

I had the RNY gastric bypass in March of 2007. We are limited on what foods we can eat for up to a year or more because of the way our body now absorbs food. RNY patients have to get in the protein above all….  So that is our primary concern for the first year…  though at 9 months out I don’t worry about it so much anymore, it’s just become a habit. Our portions are 2 oz at first and we work up to 1 cup per meal in that years time. Everyone handles things differently, I know D’Ann has trouble with too much splenda and I still can’t eat beef and sometimes pork if it’s not tender enough. Today is my husband’s birthday so we are taking him out to a steak house so he can get real beef!! He’s very excited. I’m not supposed to eat bread either until I’m  year out of surgery, but I do eat small bites of pizza crust now and then or a bite of someone’s bread stick.  For RNY patients sugar is the worst….  Too much, 10mg per serving, causes a dumping syndrome….  Meaning all the fluids in the intestines go to the sugar to help digest it and causing severe cramping and diarrhea.  I can now handle about 17 mg per serving I think… but I don’t play with it much. I don’t miss all that added sugar much.  I have noticed when I eat a lot of fatty food that it usually goes right through me, giving me diarrhea without the cramps. Getting enough fluids in is a biggie too…  they stress small sips continuously all day long for the first few months except 30 min before and after a meal so that you don’t wash the food right through.

Today is my 9 month anniversary and I’ve lost 70 lbs. More importantly I’ve gone from a size 22 to a size 14 and they are getting a bit big. My weight loss has slowed down considerably, but I still lose about 2-5 pounds a month. I don’t really work at it like I should, I’ve become complacent and really need to exercise more… I spend less time sitting around then I did pre-surgery, less time watching TV and munching on food, I’ve taken up hand quilting to keep my hands busy when I do sit down in front of the TV. When I take the dogs to the park I can jog along with them for a bit, which is something I never could do before without thinking my heart was going to burst. I can put my shoes on and still take a breath. I can sit on the floor and play with my son and get up without a struggle. When we go hiking over at Audobon, I’m no more out of breath then my husband who is 10 years younger then I am is…  It’s amazing!!

When I went to an orientation with a friend of mine at St. Mary’s Bariatric Center, I thought there had to be an easier way to lose weight… but after a year I realized I just couldn’t do it by myself. I had tried everything else and nothing was working… I was diabetic and had just developed hypertension and was at that time watching my father slowly lose his battle with diabetes. I wanted to be around to see my grandkids grow up. I have a 5 year old and I need to be there for him!! I do not regret having this surgery… if I don’t lose another pound it was all worth it… and I highly recommend to everyone that is obese and has health issues to do something… if nothing else is working then get to the doctor and do something surgically. I no longer have the high sugar levels, I don’t take the diabetic medications and I don’t take anything for hypertension. My blood sugar levels are excellent and my blood pressure is great. It’s amazing what 70 lbs can do to your body.

Judy