A little heads up whats ahead (repost from July's board)

Just a repost reminder As Time Goes By Original Post by Lynn Custer at 8:52 PM PST on 07/22/2008 NC - RNY (06/06/2007) Most of you are a few weeks out now and your getting over the hump. What is the hump....Alot of soreness espically the left side, effects of anastia...gas, waking in the night and not getting back to sleep, depression. Not being able to eat or drink and questioning what have I done? and nausea. Well it gets better. Remember first fluid intake..ie water, crystal light is foremost a must. You need to be shooting for around at least 64 ounces of fluids, and not near your protein meal time. Stop 1/2hr before protein and wait at least 45 minutes after your meal so your protein can absorb. Most of you are still on liquid protein, ie shakes. or have moved on to soft food like refried beans and cheese, yogarts (greek is best high in protein) soft eggs and such. Yes a few have doctors that just turn you loose and tell you just to chew real good. It does differ though with RNY, sleeve or Lap so always ask your nutritionist for a meal plan. Next stress is Vitamins...Chewable flinstons 2 aday is what alot of us do along with extra b complex like a liquid (helps with energy), Chewable calicum or tums is fine but don't stress it quite yet though you will take them the rest of your life. Yes the rest of your life.....there is no turning back you will have to take care of this new body and new plumbing the rest of your life or you could have health and mental issues. This surgery is just a tool! The first 6 months is your honeymoon stage filled with platu's and alot of weight loss and mixed emotions. This is the time it is hard to screw up and the only time to change years of bad habits and start life long ones. After 6 months the weight loss slows up and your healthy life style influences how well you keep losing!!! I guarentee that one. High emotions come from the rapid weight loss due to hormones that are stored in our fat cells so it is normal to swing like a monkey from one extreme to the next. If you are taking anti depressents or on meds for mood swings or depression I hope you have covered this with your doctor. Alot of people have there meds adjusted during this time. Please let your significant other in on this also, it is important to keep the communication open so they know this is normal and will pass and not a new you! Those with diabetis will notice there sugar will get better. Remember protein is the important must 45 to 60 grams a dayto start of natural or Whey protein (our body absorbs this best) GNC does sell protein bullets but remember to break it up into at least 2 or 3 shots cause your new plumping can't exsorb but so much at one time and the rest passes on out. Remember to chew, chew chew. It will hurt like hell if you don't and you'll swear it is stuck and it is or you'll dump if you eat to fast possibly. Use a toddler spoon and fork and plate...It works believe me!! No straws If at any time you get scare or feel something is wrong call your Doctor no matter how stupid you think it might be. Remember to keep walking. I have a friend who did get a blood clot 2 weeks out, he is ok, but it scared him and he noticed it when he was walking how his leg hurt. You will need to exercise for the rest of your life..Yep thats right Yep you did this cause you were tired of being the fatty and wanted to live a healthy life right so get up off your dairy air and start an exercise plan and while your at it clean out the cabniets....yep.. Yep don't even try to use the excuse that you have to keep chips, soda and such cause your not going to punish the rest of the family...Remember obesity is learned at home and can be heriditary. Now is the time get the whole family eating better and moving. No excuse to keep unhealty fat ladden foods in your home. If your kids don't like it they'll go next door, LOL but they will come around espically when there weight drops and complextion clears up. Your spouse well he or she will adjust espically if they support you. And your food bill WILL DROP. When you start adding new foods in you will be amazed on how your taste budds have changed and they do. Fresh food is like candy and fast food espically fast food salads and canned processed food...yuck you'll taste the salt and chemicals and begin to realize what you have put in your and your family's body these years. Water will even taste different and you'll taste it! Protein again is essential cause it helps us loose weight and heals our body and.....will help the hair issue. Yea around 3-4 months out your going to start wondering why the family pet is shedding so bad and why is it on your pillow, in your shower and bath room floor and covering your car seat. It's not the animal it is most likely some of you. The dreaded hair loss that last for months untill you swear your almost bald! But it does come back. Some start taking Biotein for this but it doesn't stop it, may slow it up but protein helps. This happens due to major surgery, weight loss and being in ketosis. SOme people don't experiance it but alot of us do so we do the next best thing and get short sexy hair cuts. Did we talk about bowl movements?? At first it may be lack of one. Have you looked at how much you eat. As my husband says..."not enough to make a turd!" And when it does start it may be long, thin and stringie...like ribbons. The color differs but do watch for black stools..signs of bleeding. Most times its yellow, light brown or greens. And if you get into greasy stuff it will float and cause an oil slick LOL!! Along with bowls your soon to impress the local neighborhood boys ....Won't no one be able to fart like you and clear a room. Pray your close to a bathroom cause sometimes the gas has company! LOL This gets better about a year out. Don't let your urine get dark...could be dehydration, though it usually is in the morning due to that. Drink, drink, drink and pee and pee. Stay away from salads early out. If you have to have it please chew into MUSH, lettuce can lay open across your stomach blocking your intestions and cause major problems so can big bites of anything and may take days to feel better and disolve. If you look at your knew body and plumping you'll see a comparision close to that of a new born and treat it such. Fussie pouch....remember the baby only drinks milk and just a little and gradually ads ceral than certain foods in stages and so should you. Babies have gas and diaria from new foods and so will you! Baby looses hair about 3 months out so will most of you. It grows back like the baby's does. Everything is about stages and like tacking care of a new infant so must you think of your self as such. Only you have to teach a stubborn adult new habits, like no sodas so to that extent it is harder but if you make a life change and do it for the whole family by gradulally ridding the junk out and exercise the chances are higher that you won't be one of the onespeople like to talk about....you know the one that the well meaning friend told you about when they found out you were having surgery.....the one that started gaining it back!! It can happen There is so much to learn and unlearn. So many opinions and veiws. Always ask question and never be afraid to call and bug your doctor or nurse. You won't be the first and it may well be very important. Stay with this board, make friends, go to support groups, find your state forum, make friends there too. Be nice to those around you and supportive. We all make mistakes or say the wrong things. Don't be harsh with out expressing concern. And mostly surround yourself with positive friends and people. Unfortunatley jealousy will come out from people we never expected, don't be hurt it happens. Keep your chin up, love yourself, Everymorning tell yourself you are a success and don't step on the scale lol it isn't your friend! Remember you lose inches along with pounds so when you hit the stall don't stress it your lossing inches. Start now to logg your weight and activity someplace like fit day. And if you have a question and can't get an answer go to last years board and ask a oldie! Good Luck Loosers and keep up the Good Work!