Post by Girlrocker on Jan 24, 2012 15:19:06 GMT -5
Hi everyone, recognize most of you from the DS board, where I've been living pretty much the duration of my recovery since my revision from RNY to DS on Dec. 15. I'm 5'4-5-5ish, surgery weight was 234 (lost 6 lbs before surgery), BMI 40. It's been so different this time around, not only because it's an entirely different surgery, but because I had so much trouble post-RNY, one of the worst years of my life.
That was then, this is now. I do bring with me a ton of nutrition, exercise, fitness experience, knowledge of the WLS lifestyle, psychology, great labs all along that is mine to keep; just tweaking the eating to the DS way as well as the supplements.
So now I've gotten to see what a more traditional post-op recovery is like. Well, traditional as undoing an RNY and rearranging to a DS can be. ;-) Clean, smooth healing, no complications, infection this time, long paid medical leave - gratetful beyond words for that. But I'm feeling that twinge of anxiety. Not that I will break my DS, but that I won't lose!
I hit 217, and then have gone up to 220-221. Basically, my first drop came the first two weeks after surgery and then the past four weeks total standstill. Oy.
This is what I know, having been to the rodeo before, and, what I would probably say to another newbie post-op.
- Body is healing, yours in particular because it just went through a GIANT surgery, one of the biggest, most complex there is.
- There is so much internal moving around, water build up, etc so it's normal your weight will veer up and down right now a few pounds while it heals.
- Revision loss is a slower process than a virgin DS
- You are a lighter weight, so your numbers will be relative - 50 lbs for someone with a higher BMI might be more like 10 lbs for you.
- What, you've had your period for 12 days (yes, dear god, it's FINALLY just leaving now); you bloat during your period normally, and this one wasn't normal.
- What are you eating? Well, essentially, protein shakes, bumped them up to 2 a day; hardboiled eggs, reduced fat cheeses (elimination of some fuller fat after some major poop/slick problems), turkey sausage, chicken wings, turkey wings, lean ground turkey, soy chicken patties (now eliminated this week), thin-sliced lean beef, low-sodium bacon, chicken breast, peanut butter. tomato soup with tofu, lo-carb/hi fiber tortillas, lean, thin deli meat, soy-flaxseed chips. The first few weeks I had saltines to help with the nausea and pain also due to my gallbladder being removed, usually with peanutbutter. I'm averaging 80g protein or more, carbs usually around 20ish.
Exercise - haven't been able to yet, but I walk every day with my doggie, and I live in a hilly neighborhood.
Measurements? I haven't taken my measurements, but I know things are changing that don't show up on the scale, can see it in my clothes.
So that's what I'd say to another post-op. And yet. I'm anxious. This number 217 is evil for me, from here down to 200 where I could not get past the 9 years after my RNY. I'm not completely mental or swinging from the chandelier.
But I've got the fear.
As grateful as I am for this second chance, amazed by it, have loved submerging into my recovery, reading, learning, sharing - I've shed some tears over not being able to have the DS in the first place, being 50 years old and having lost half my life to being obese. I know emotions are still high as a new post op, normal, and I have a great therapist.
I apologize - again - this is sooo long. Can't seem to get it around it for now. Would love to hear from newbies and long-term vets, did you stall this soon, this long? I'm wide open to any and all thoughts, comments, stories. :-) Thanks for listening.
That was then, this is now. I do bring with me a ton of nutrition, exercise, fitness experience, knowledge of the WLS lifestyle, psychology, great labs all along that is mine to keep; just tweaking the eating to the DS way as well as the supplements.
So now I've gotten to see what a more traditional post-op recovery is like. Well, traditional as undoing an RNY and rearranging to a DS can be. ;-) Clean, smooth healing, no complications, infection this time, long paid medical leave - gratetful beyond words for that. But I'm feeling that twinge of anxiety. Not that I will break my DS, but that I won't lose!
I hit 217, and then have gone up to 220-221. Basically, my first drop came the first two weeks after surgery and then the past four weeks total standstill. Oy.
This is what I know, having been to the rodeo before, and, what I would probably say to another newbie post-op.
- Body is healing, yours in particular because it just went through a GIANT surgery, one of the biggest, most complex there is.
- There is so much internal moving around, water build up, etc so it's normal your weight will veer up and down right now a few pounds while it heals.
- Revision loss is a slower process than a virgin DS
- You are a lighter weight, so your numbers will be relative - 50 lbs for someone with a higher BMI might be more like 10 lbs for you.
- What, you've had your period for 12 days (yes, dear god, it's FINALLY just leaving now); you bloat during your period normally, and this one wasn't normal.
- What are you eating? Well, essentially, protein shakes, bumped them up to 2 a day; hardboiled eggs, reduced fat cheeses (elimination of some fuller fat after some major poop/slick problems), turkey sausage, chicken wings, turkey wings, lean ground turkey, soy chicken patties (now eliminated this week), thin-sliced lean beef, low-sodium bacon, chicken breast, peanut butter. tomato soup with tofu, lo-carb/hi fiber tortillas, lean, thin deli meat, soy-flaxseed chips. The first few weeks I had saltines to help with the nausea and pain also due to my gallbladder being removed, usually with peanutbutter. I'm averaging 80g protein or more, carbs usually around 20ish.
Exercise - haven't been able to yet, but I walk every day with my doggie, and I live in a hilly neighborhood.
Measurements? I haven't taken my measurements, but I know things are changing that don't show up on the scale, can see it in my clothes.
So that's what I'd say to another post-op. And yet. I'm anxious. This number 217 is evil for me, from here down to 200 where I could not get past the 9 years after my RNY. I'm not completely mental or swinging from the chandelier.
But I've got the fear.
As grateful as I am for this second chance, amazed by it, have loved submerging into my recovery, reading, learning, sharing - I've shed some tears over not being able to have the DS in the first place, being 50 years old and having lost half my life to being obese. I know emotions are still high as a new post op, normal, and I have a great therapist.
I apologize - again - this is sooo long. Can't seem to get it around it for now. Would love to hear from newbies and long-term vets, did you stall this soon, this long? I'm wide open to any and all thoughts, comments, stories. :-) Thanks for listening.
