Question:
What is the best advice you can give to someone about to have RNY?
I am scheduled for RNY on April 13 and am working on preparing myself both physicially and mentally for the surgery. I love reading the questions here as it gives me a lot to think about. Thank you in advance for your words of wisdom. — Nancy W. (posted on March 18, 2009)
March 18, 2009
Let your pouch re-train your brain. It is the BEST tool to help you gain
the confidence in yourself to lose the weight and Keep it off! Once the
rapid weight loss stops, it's truly up to you to continue to stay healthy
and maintain your weight by making good choices in foods and snack attacks.
When your weight loss slows down at the end of the first year, you should
know your pouch well and it should have taken over how you think about
food...Do not over eat...(if you feel full, you've over eaten) or begin bad
habits (sugar, white carbs, fried foods, grazing)...Keep an eye on the
scale and if a 3 pound weight gain leads to 5...You better get back on
track with your pouch rules AND your sneakers! Don't let that 5 pounds turn
into 15-25-35 lbs...Stay on top of it and do not let your head ever take
over again...Your pouch is the brains...Listen to it! Don't feed it sugar
and simple carbs "regularly" ...but don't be afraid to eat like a
regular small person either! MODERATION! KNOW your food weaknesses/triggers
and stay away from them! Start each day as a new day with good
intentions...So if you did terrible with choices...wipe your slate/plate
clean, workout harder that next day, eat leaner. This is your second chance
so don't take it for granted. Remind yourself that you DESERVE that thin
healthy body and RESPECT yourself! It is SO amazingly rewarding to eat
healthy...DON'T slackoff on getting all your vitamins and vitals checked
out yearly with labs...and Don't slack off taking your vitamins either!
Don't ignore chronic symptoms! Vitamin deficiencies can be really mild and
come on so slow that you don't even realize it til you are in trouble! So
if you feel something is wrong...It probably is. Vitamins are for the rest
of your life and so are labs to monitor how well you are doing with your
vitamins! Just enjoy your first year; you feel like a movie star and
before you know it...you are just any other regular size person without all
the ooh's and ahh's. You kinda miss it...LOL BUT YAY! It feels great
anyway just to go out and not worry if you'll fit in a seat...or bathroom
stall...or hold your family up from doing something fun! It's so worth it
especially after the first year after year....after year! And last...if you
have questions, you know where to find people that understand what you are
going thru right here at OH! Good luck!
— .Anita R.
March 18, 2009
Nothing anyone can say will make you ready for your journey...It is one of
those things that is as individual as we are...My only advice is that the
first 3 months are the hardest, there is depression, greiving of food/loss
of a life long pal, new emotions that were never felt and learning how to
deal with them good or bad, eating difficulties for some, plateaus and self
doubt...That is all the ahrdest stuff in the first 3-4 months...
It gets way easier from there...don't think you are the only one that ever
feels this way, it happens to most everyone in some degree or another...I
am now 9 months out have lost a total of 195 lbs and feel better than I
have in years, I am in a good routine and still make mistakes, but I hope
right back on the next day not like years previous where one mistake
derails your hwole diet plan..It works if you work it...Kepp it in check,
it is easier after surgery than before, your bady forces these ways upon
you and you don't even realize its happening..
— lori042499
March 18, 2009
The best advice I can give you is to follow the rules and be patient. The
weight isn't going to fall off over night and if you follow the rules , you
will be successful. Don;t be in a hurry to eat like before. Take this time
to re educate yourself on what your body needs to be healthy and try to
live by that. Sure an occasional goody is forgiven, but keep it an occation
thing. Best of luck to you! hugs,kim
— gpcmist
March 18, 2009
the best advice I can give you is to follow the rules and be patient. Don't
expect the weight to fall off over night and don't be in a hurry to eat
like before. Take this time to re educate yourself about what is needed to
be healthy and re train yourslef to eat that way. It isn't as difficult as
it may sound. Best of luck!
— gpcmist
March 18, 2009
As someone else said, stick to the rules. The more you work out now, the
better your endurance will be when it's time to start walking after
surgery. Whenever I started getting antsy or wondering if it would work for
me, I'd focus on the pre-op weight I lost. It wasn't a big amount, but it
was a move in the right direction, something wonderful that I'd
accomplished, and a sure sign that I was committed to changing my life for
the better. Stay positive, it's worth it! Oh, and think about taking along
an iPod or mp3 player for walking in the hospital. The nurses told me I was
the first person they'd seen w/ one-- and that they hadn't seen anyone else
walk quite as much. The music definitely helped me keep going. ;)
— snickersblk
March 19, 2009
My best advice. Do what you are told by your surgeon and NUT - they know
best for the type of surgery you had. Also... If you are having a good day,
share. If you don't know, ask. Attend a support group. Eat right. Exercise.
Enjoy your honeymoon period. If you have feelings about surgery, about
food, about the changes your body is going through, etc. Talk about it with
someone either here with your OH family, a therapist, a friend, whatever.
Get it out - talk about things you are feeling, etc. I have a good friend I
met at support group and she's my touch stone. I need a kick in the pants,
I need a "thata" girl, I need support, whatever I need... I call
her/email her and she's there for me. Have that one person you can tell
anything to and keep them in your pocket. My angel has helped me through
more than one awkward situation from another.
— jammerz
March 19, 2009
I am scheduled for RNY on April 1st! Hope, prayers, I want to be okay. We
all want to just get through the dang surgery and on our way to being
healthy and hopefully thin!! Good Luck on your surgery. I'll try and stay
in touch after mine. Carol
— CarolH1953
March 19, 2009
I am just 10 days post of from lap RNY so I can't yet address the long term
aspects as others have done above. I was very concerned (almost freaked
out) about blood clot risk as I have bad venous stasis to begin with and
then major abdominal surgery on top of that!!! But I walked, walked,
walked, and then did some more walking. Not only did I not have a blood
clot but I had very little pain and my energy level shot up quickly.One of
the above posts makes me feel stupid. I had my iphone with me and not once
thought about taking it with me walking. That is a great suggestion as
anything that helps you move lowers the risk and speeds the recovery of
surgery. You're asking the right questions and I plan on trying to follow
the advise of the more experienced people that posted above. Good luck and
my prayers go with you. Kevin
— hapkidodoc
March 19, 2009
listen to your OWN dr -- follow the rules -- follow your OWN body -- don't
push the limits -- if YOUR dr says to stand on your head then do it -- only
your dr knows your medical history and what you are up against :) and take
your time -- never ever ever compare yourself to someone else -- you have
18 months to lose the majority of your weight -- protein first -- drink
your water -- get your protein from food, it will fill you up better than a
shake or something -- enjoy every minute of your own personal journey --
watch the sizes go down -- do not be a slave to the scale -- walk right
away, it helps to prevent blood clots -- everyone is unique -- but just
enjoy it and take your time -- this isn't a race -- good luck :)
— RCassety
March 19, 2009
Thank you all for writing. This is exactly what I needed to hear. I will
keep you informed on my progress. Good luck to all of you who are on your
journey.
— Nancy W.
March 19, 2009
Before my surgery I saw a counselor to work on why I had the weigh problem
in the first place. It really helped me to get in the right frame of mind
as the surgery got closer.
— ntssmith
April 6, 2009
I am having my RNY on April 13th as well, congrats to us :)
— Hethermarie
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