Diane, Cathy, Beth, Tracey, Jennie and my Questions

[Guest guest]

Diane

Your surgeon should have a nutritionist on staff you can talk to about the diet

and what to have on hand.

I could have been and would have been discharged 24 hrs after surgery but I live

200 miles away and asked to stay a 2nd night. Day 1 in hospital was ice chips

and clear liquids. Day 2, after the morning upper GI resulting in no leaks, I

was on full liquids: cream soup, cream of wheat (ugh), protein drink, pudding,

etc.

My first week home was full liquids...diet pudding, cream soups, lowfat yogurt,

high protein drinks - 1/2 cup between meals as a snack. Week two was Pureed

Diet: applesauce, pureed fruits and vegetables, scrambled eggs, low fat cottage

cheese, cheese and protein drinks - 1/2 - 3/4 cup between meals. Week three was

Soft Diet adding tuna, seafood, soft veggies fruits and protein drinks - again

1/2 - 3/4 cup between meals. From this point I could add foods at my own pace

including solid pieces of chicken and turkey and more fruits and veggies.

Instructed not to eat beef or pork for the first 6 months (except ground beef at

two months). I was to get in 80 grams of protein a day, which was made easier

with the shakes. 1 egg, 1 oz of meat, fish, poultry or cheese is only 7 grams

protein. 1/2 cup skim milk or yogurt is only 4 grams.

So, to answer your question: I shopped before surgery stocking up on soups,

puddings, yogurt, and protein drinks (Atkins is the best tasting to me). Just

be sure to read labels for the high protein and low sugars (under 5 grams per

serving) and get the biggest bang for your bite.

Cathy:

I was told I could drink water after shakes, just not after meals. I have my

shakes between meals as a snack.

And the constipation! The added iron and consuming half the liquids as pre-op

has me bottled up like concrete! Ive started a regime in the morning of

drinking up to a cup of hot water with sea salt and fresh squeezed lemon juice.

It helps get things moving.

Beth

How many grams of sugar are in the 100% juice popsicles?

Tracey

I only had to wait 2 1/2 months and was so beside myself having to wait.

December 10 just couldnt arrive fast enough for me. Hang in there, its worth

it.

Cathy

Hi again. Try broling or baking your chicken or fish. THEN CUT EACH BITE as

small as a pencil eraser and chew thoroughly. At say a BBQ place, I order a

chicken breast and pull the meat, shred it then cut the shreds into small bites.

Plus it feeds me another two or more meals.

Jennie

If you are comfortable with the surgeon and can stand the wait... hang in there

for the Lap. Recovery is so much faster, and I personally believe less chance

for infection. Congrats

QUESTIONS

Biotin - does it really work? My hair is so thin now I cant afford to lose

more. What dose?

Also, how many months before one notices hair loss? It better not hit me before

mid-May... Im going to my high school reunion.

How do the rest of you with constipation tackle it? Even taking 3 5mg biscodyl

a night dont move it. Im afraid of fiber supplements or laxatives because I

imagine them swelling in my pouch.

Last question: I had to discontinue Celebrex 10 days before surgery. Has

anyone else with arthritis or joint pain/inflamation been prescribed a

replacement that is gentle on the stomach?

Congrats to all on their weight loss. This has been so exciting for me and

motivating to read everyone's success stories. Group Hug???

~~Pat~~

Orlando, FL

252/207/160

BMI 37/

52 Years Young

LAP-RNY 12/10/03

Wayne English, MD

Ft Lauderdale, FL

[Guest guest]

Diane

Your surgeon should have a nutritionist on staff you can talk to about the diet

and what to have on hand.

I could have been and would have been discharged 24 hrs after surgery but I live

200 miles away and asked to stay a 2nd night. Day 1 in hospital was ice chips

and clear liquids. Day 2, after the morning upper GI resulting in no leaks, I

was on full liquids: cream soup, cream of wheat (ugh), protein drink, pudding,

etc.

My first week home was full liquids...diet pudding, cream soups, lowfat yogurt,

high protein drinks - 1/2 cup between meals as a snack. Week two was Pureed

Diet: applesauce, pureed fruits and vegetables, scrambled eggs, low fat cottage

cheese, cheese and protein drinks - 1/2 - 3/4 cup between meals. Week three was

Soft Diet adding tuna, seafood, soft veggies fruits and protein drinks - again

1/2 - 3/4 cup between meals. From this point I could add foods at my own pace

including solid pieces of chicken and turkey and more fruits and veggies.

Instructed not to eat beef or pork for the first 6 months (except ground beef at

two months). I was to get in 80 grams of protein a day, which was made easier

with the shakes. 1 egg, 1 oz of meat, fish, poultry or cheese is only 7 grams

protein. 1/2 cup skim milk or yogurt is only 4 grams.

So, to answer your question: I shopped before surgery stocking up on soups,

puddings, yogurt, and protein drinks (Atkins is the best tasting to me). Just

be sure to read labels for the high protein and low sugars (under 5 grams per

serving) and get the biggest bang for your bite.

Cathy:

I was told I could drink water after shakes, just not after meals. I have my

shakes between meals as a snack.

And the constipation! The added iron and consuming half the liquids as pre-op

has me bottled up like concrete! Ive started a regime in the morning of

drinking up to a cup of hot water with sea salt and fresh squeezed lemon juice.

It helps get things moving.

Beth

How many grams of sugar are in the 100% juice popsicles?

Tracey

I only had to wait 2 1/2 months and was so beside myself having to wait.

December 10 just couldnt arrive fast enough for me. Hang in there, its worth

it.

Cathy

Hi again. Try broling or baking your chicken or fish. THEN CUT EACH BITE as

small as a pencil eraser and chew thoroughly. At say a BBQ place, I order a

chicken breast and pull the meat, shred it then cut the shreds into small bites.

Plus it feeds me another two or more meals.

Jennie

If you are comfortable with the surgeon and can stand the wait... hang in there

for the Lap. Recovery is so much faster, and I personally believe less chance

for infection. Congrats

QUESTIONS

Biotin - does it really work? My hair is so thin now I cant afford to lose

more. What dose?

Also, how many months before one notices hair loss? It better not hit me before

mid-May... Im going to my high school reunion.

How do the rest of you with constipation tackle it? Even taking 3 5mg biscodyl

a night dont move it. Im afraid of fiber supplements or laxatives because I

imagine them swelling in my pouch.

Last question: I had to discontinue Celebrex 10 days before surgery. Has

anyone else with arthritis or joint pain/inflamation been prescribed a

replacement that is gentle on the stomach?

Congrats to all on their weight loss. This has been so exciting for me and

motivating to read everyone's success stories. Group Hug???

~~Pat~~

Orlando, FL

252/207/160

BMI 37/

52 Years Young

LAP-RNY 12/10/03

Wayne English, MD

Ft Lauderdale, FL