Re: a few questions for the post-oppers

[Guest guest]

Hi Blair,

Hope this helps you and any other pre-ops who might have the same questions.

<< Here goes:

1. When did you have your surgery?

4/10/00

2. How have you felt since surgery, energy-wise? Is your energy level

higher

or lower?

Generally I have felt good. I did have a bout with pneumonia brought on by

Rotavirus which I caught from my four year old (who knows where he got it!)

and bronchitis. I probably would not have developed pneumonia if I hadn't

been so stubborn thinking I could " ride " it out.

Initially my energy level was low...basically for much of the first month.

Now I'm in month two and I have more energy. I recently went on vacation and

did a good bit of walking and was pretty much on the go. My stamina was much

better than it was pre-surgery.

3. Have you experienced any side effects, such as acid reflux, GERD,

dumping, continual nausea? How have you dealt with it? Do these side effects

persist?

I have experienced dumping on several occasions. I guess I'm just too

willing to test the waters. It has not been as bad as throwing up was before

surgery. I must add that I HATE TO THROW UP! When I have eaten something

that disagrees or too much of something, about 15 minutes later I break out

into a sweat and can feel the " offending food " rising to my throat. Once I

throw it up I feel better immediately. Usually food that disagrees with me

has too much sugar or fat.

I have had diarrhea a couple of times. That has happened almost immediately

after eating something that didn't agree. I have not experienced the orange

discharge that you may have read about recently or what some people call

" greasy farts " . Guess I lucked out on that one.

These side affects have only persisted if I persisted in eating/drinking

something that my body obviously doesn't want. I've been trying hot

chocolate out lately, finally gave up and listened to my body.

4. Are you exercising? If so, what kind of exercise, and how many times per

week?

I swim daily and also work out at a physical therapy gym nearby several times

a week. I started back at the gym one week after surgery.

5. Has your food intake changed? What kinds of foods are you craving? Are

you able to take all the required vitamins and supplements?

I definitely eat less food! I was a big binger pre-surgery. I physically

can't binge anymore and for that I am thankful! I can generally eat a small

to med. salad. Sometimes a whole sandwich, sometimes only half. Sometimes a

whole bagel or english muffin, sometimes only half. Depending on the size I

can now eat a whole chicken breast. I can eat almost a whole apple in one

sitting. I can eat a whole banana. I tend to focus on eating protein,

salads and fruit. I do eat carbos, but mostly at breakfast. I may snack on

cheese-it crackers (8-10) or tonight I had two slices of deli ham for my

evening snack. I can eat one slice of pizza and some salad.

I am finally craving salad and fruits. All through the first month I

wondered when that craving would kick in since I heard so many people say

they crave these things. I definitely did not crave them prior to surgery.

I craved pizza until I had some. My first week home (week 2) I craved

Chinese so I got some egg drop soup and lo mein. It was the best tasting

thing I ever had! Since then I haven't really wanted Chinese. It sat well

though. If I crave chocolate I have a few bites of a protein bar. If I

crave a food, I'll go ahead and try it. The worst that can happen is it

disagrees. The best that can happen is it agrees and I know I can only eat a

few bites anyway.

The only problem I've had with the supplements is my memory. Being in the

hospital was great from that standpoint, they brought my everything on

schedule! LOL Wouldn't want to do that again though. lol

6. How is your mood since surgery? Have you experienced any depression

since

surgery? If so, are you taking medication to help you through it?

The first two weeks after surgery I had MAJOR mood swings. I don't know if

it was hormone/surgery related or if it was related to 's death (She

was my Littermate). Probably both. I had been taking Celexa prior to

surgery for depression and Alprazolam for anxiety. I went back on them and

continue to take them with no problems.

7. Approximately how much weight have you lost? Are you satisfied with your

progress?

I have lost 40 lbs as of this past Monday. I am very pleased with my

progress. When I hit one month and had not lost the average 30 lbs I was a

bit disappointed, but I measured myself and had lost over 15 inches so I was

thrilled. As long as my weight is going in the right direction I will

consider this a success.

8. If you had the choice to make again, would you choose to undergo weight

loss surgery? Would you choose the MGB procedure, or a different procedure?

I would have the MGB again in a heartbeat!

{{HUGS}}

Claire

MGB 4/10/00

300/259.5 Yippeeeee

15.25 inches lost forever!!

Dr. Rutledge (http:/clos.net)

" He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it until the

day of Christ Jesus. " - Phil. 1:6

[Guest guest]

<< Here goes:

1. When did you have your surgery?>>> 16 Dec 99

2. How have you felt since surgery, energy-wise? Is your energy level higher

or lower? >>> energy level increased at least 300% since MGB!

3. Have you experienced any side effects, such as acid reflux, GERD,

dumping, continual nausea? How have you dealt with it? Do these side effects

persist? >>> none of these side-effects have occurred

4. Are you exercising? If so, what kind of exercise, and how many times per

week? >>> walking (treadmill because my joints still don't like concrete);

gardening, housework, weight-training/strength workouts

5. Has your food intake changed? What kinds of foods are you craving? Are

you able to take all the required vitamins and supplements? >>> I CRAVE

fruits, veggies, salads and light foods and juices. I cannot bear sweets,

fatty foods, dense carbs or even pasta. I have no trouble handling the

vits/mins and the supplements. It took me a few weeks to figure out what to

take when...but now it's habit.

6. How is your mood since surgery? Have you experienced any depression since

surgery? If so, are you taking medication to help you through it? >>>> I'm a

charter member of the Prozac Club...I'll be on it for life; I've not had

problems with post-MGB depression.

7. Approximately how much weight have you lost? Are you satisfied with your

progress? >>> I'm down 85 pounds in six months; many, many inches; YES!

I'm very satisfied!

8. If you had the choice to make again, would you choose to undergo weight

loss surgery? Would you choose the MGB procedure, or a different procedure?

>>>> I did a ton of research prior to making Dr. R's MGB my choice; I

wouldn't trade his MGB for any one's other WLS. I chose it for: short time

under anesthesia, short recovery time required, very few complications in

over 300 operations (at the time I was considering it), less invasive

surgical procedure with a better plan for moving the internal organs around

during surgery, totally reversible and easily re-done if necessary down the

road.

If you don't want to share this information with the MGB group, email me

privately and it will remain absolutely private. If you do want to share

with the group, please reply to the group. If you find this intrusive, please

ignore it.

I look forward to hearing any and all replies.

Thanks in advance.

Blair

bjenk23768@...

>>