My story - what I was eating post-op, etc - LONG

[Guest guest]

<< I was wondering if

anyone

> could e-mail about what to expect as far as diet goes. I have read

the

> educational manual, but I wanted to get some input or examples of

what your

> diets consisted of. >>

Well, and all this is more than what you asked for but any of

use can use this as a post-op reference letter. Being a part of the

MGB support group has brought the most wonderful people into my life

and I am glad to see that you are one of them.

OK, my story:

I am 41, single (never married), overweight all my life. I have

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), arthritis and back problems. The

PCOS plays havoc with my insulin levels, amongst other things. After

all the diets in the world failed, I started seriously thinking about

having the surgery. I hit the net and started researching. IMHO,

Doc

R. is the most thorough person I have seen. He cares about us as

people as well as clients.

I first found his number at Obesityhelp.com. I called the number

listed late on a Sunday night expecting to leave a message with his

office answering machine. Here, it was his house I had called.

Yiikes! He spoke to me for about an hour - he was so nice. He won

my

vote on that alone.

When I finally decided to have the surgery, it was the beginning of

October of 99. My insurance was an HMO and I was afraid that it

would

not be covered. At open season (we Federal employees have a chance

every year to change insurance policies), I chose BC/BS for I knew it

covered obesity surgery. I had to wait till Jan 2000 for it to go

into effect. My first clinic was Jan. 8 and I had no problem with

approval. My approval came mid-February and my surgery was 1 Mar.

Since I am single, I don't have a problem with family and the everyday

aspects of eating. When it came to the family support letter, I

wrote

it myself, took it home to PA with me and told my whole family (save

for my mom who already knew). All my siblings and my in-laws, save 1

(and I have 5 siblings, all married) signed. My eldest sister, who

has battled anexoria, started monitoring my eating while I was home

and I had to put my foot down with her. The sister-in-law that

didn't

sign is cheesed off with my cause that will make her the largest gal

in the family and it's making her feel guilty.

As for my friends here, they are very supportive and have gone with

me

when I needed Gatorade or found a restaurant where I can get soup.

It's much easier now that I am almost 7 months out. I can eat almost

anything but somethings like most desserts, beef, pork, biscuits -

greasy and heavy foods - I don't care to eat.

My surgery went well. Doc R. did find some liver damage so I am going

to have to be careful. I am one of the recipients of the " coveted "

(?) 6th hole. It was due to the fact that my abdominal wall was

thick

and stiff (might be due to my Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) that Doc

R

needed the 6th hole to finish the surgery.

My procedure took 50 min., even with the addition of the 6th hole. I

awoke about 3 + hours later belching to beat the band from the gas he

uses to inflate the stomach for surgery. I heaved every time I took a

pill until about after midnight. It was about that time I was given

some apple juice (I cut it with 50% water to be on the safe side). I

was up and walking around about 8:00 p.m. and was able to go home the

following morning.

Since being home, I have been careful to sip. Man, you have to be very

mindful of what you're doing! That first Friday night, I awoke and

took a big swig of Gatorade and then panicked over what I had done. I

was nauseous the remainder of the night and didn't sleep well.

I took lots of naps the first 4 days but went shopping with my Mom,

went to church, and went to work the following Monday. I was gentle

with myself and worked 4-6 hours/day that first week back. My staples

itched - LOL.

When day 6 hit, I awoke starved. I was nauseous that morning from

hunger. ly, this was the first time I have felt true hunger

since the surgery. For most folks, I think it takes longer. Lucky

me

:oP

I was on yogurt (ensure tasted vile to me), V8, chicken and veggie

broth, Gatorade, and fruit juice cut with water. On day 12, I

started with some soft foods: cottage cheese, applesauce, soups.

I lost 14 lbs. at my first weigh-in (3/11) and I promised I'd only

weight myself every 2-4 weeks to keep my mind set out of the old

" weigh yourself everyday " diet paranoia. I walk right now as a my

major form of exercise but I also swim and am looking for a

stationary

bike and a regular bike.

I consider myself fortunate. Not much pain from the surgery, no

nausea, no bile reflux - although some folks have had trouble when

they go on the actigall, I wasn't one of them. I traveled 2 + weeks

after surgery to Mississippi. I was lucky again and had a fridge in

my hotel room and grits on the breakfast bar.

My insulin is working again, my hormones are beginning to balance

themselves out, my cholesterol count and blood pressure have fallen.

I would have surely died soon from the weight and PCOS complications

(heart attack, stroke, diabetes, endometrial cancer, uterine cancer,

etc.). Yes, Dr. R's procedure is about five years old and yes, some

folks consider us guinea pigs. I work in the scientific community

and

I understand the value of research, and proof of work. Somebody had

to go first. Soon Doc R. will have his first 5 yr. data in. and I am

more than willing to have work done to make sure I am progressing

fine to provide supporting data.

As for the boredom, I go for a walk, read a book - far away from the

kitchen as possible. I moved four weeks after my surgery into a

house

that's a fixer-upper so I have lots of projects now. I take a class

every week at church and am quite involved there. I am thinking of

taking up quilting - that'll keep my hands busy.

I haven't eaten tons - my stomach won't let me. I am constantly

sipping on water so that gives my mouth something to do. I eat 6

small meals a day. I eat seafood/chicken/turkey, fruit, some pasta

(doesn't bother me), grits, veggies of all sorts, and a wee bite of

dark chocolate every day to keep me sane )

My PCP was a very skeptical about my having the surgery. I gave a

copy of Doc R.'s manual and that helped her decide to support me.

She

is now thrilled with my results and since then has referred 3 more

patients to him. I researched the RNY and didn't like the tales of

vomiting (cause of only a 4 oz. tummy) and other complications. My

sister-in-law's sister has had a nightmare experience with her RNY.

Not that in my mind that the RNY is a bad procedure, it is not the

one

for me.

I ran the modified Billroth II past a gastric surgeon is my home

state

who deemed it sound. I even wrote to the ASBS about Dr. R. asking

about some of the rumors. They told me that there isn't any proof to

substantiate the claims of stomach/esophagus (sp) cancer. Remember,

we are totally responsible for researching our options and coming to

our own decision. Let the voice of Christ/God/Spirit/Intuition

(however you deep your higher power) guide you.

My insurance paid almost everything. I think my total out-of-pocket

expense is $450.

It really hasn't been hard adjusting to my new reality of eating, but

mind you, I spend a year and a half in therapy working on my

self-esteem and preparing for this MAJOR change in lifestyle. This

is

not a decision to be made lightly. If you are not willing to change

the way you live your life, not willing to stand up for yourself, and

are not willing to love and respect yourself, don't have the surgery.

For me, I'd do it again and it has been totally worth it so far.

I have only had one incidence of vomiting. It was during the 6th

week

and I ate something that was too greasy. It's all a learning

experience - refeeding and readjusting to your body.

I am 5'9 " and started at 348. Now, I am 254 as of last week and I

can

tell more is coming off. Good luck to all of you and write if you

need anything.

-Ginny Ivanoff