Info needed urgently - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

Sally G · 06-29-2009, 05:29 AM

Hi all

Some of the questions I have concerning the RNY have been answered in other threads but I do need some more info. Those that have gone through the lap RNY, please help.

1. Since starting to loose my pre-op weight (20.25 pounds in 4 weeks) I feel cold most of the time. I never experienced cold in a bad way. Is this normal?
2. How soon after the surgery can I go back to the gym? Although I am big, I have been exercising three times a week. I am quite fit for my size.
3. What does the liquid diet before the surgery consist of? I am diabetic and need to watch what I eat very carefully.
4. If one cannot eat solids after the surgery, will I be able to swallow pills without difficulty?
5. Does one's hair really fall out after the surgery and if so, what can be done to assist in the re-growth of hair?

Hope you guys can help.

Loosers Rule

Sally G

RIXterra · 06-29-2009, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sally G

Hi all

Some of the questions I have concerning the RNY have been answered in other threads but I do need some more info. Those that have gone through the lap RNY, please help.

1. Since starting to loose my pre-op weight (20.25 pounds in 4 weeks) I feel cold most of the time. I never experienced cold in a bad way. Is this normal?
2. How soon after the surgery can I go back to the gym? Although I am big, I have been exercising three times a week. I am quite fit for my size.
3. What does the liquid diet before the surgery consist of? I am diabetic and need to watch what I eat very carefully.
4. If one cannot eat solids after the surgery, will I be able to swallow pills without difficulty?
5. Does one's hair really fall out after the surgery and if so, what can be done to assist in the re-growth of hair?

Hope you guys can help.

Loosers Rule

Sally G

Let me try answering some of these questions. I'm no expert but I have gone thru this and so has my wife..

Oh and almost forgot to welcome you first...

1.)Yes you will tend to feel colder. Your loosing your insulation that keeps you warm. My wife is always cold now. And I feel myslef not sweating nearly as much as I've done in the past and I'm only down 44 lbs.

2.)You can actually go back to the gym within a couple of days. But you'll be limited to using just the treadmill for a short period of time. You won't be able to do any weight training for a bit. Ask your Dr. on what he wants for you. After all everyone is different..

3.)I did sugar free ice pops, Sugar free jello, Sugar free water flavorings, Watered down white grape juice, watered down apple juice. Watering down the juices was brought to my attention by my Dr., he wanted me to water them down so they're not as strong and lowers the sugar count slightly. But if I'm not mistaken there might be a sugar free juice. I just wanted to use the 100% juices.

4.)Directly after surgery your not allowed to take pills in solid form for a while. You have to either get a liquid form or crush them up. So if your using previous prescriptions I'd talk to the Dr. that prescribed them and see if there's an alternate form (like liquid) or buy yourself a pill crusher. Also buy yourself a nice big jar of applesauce and mixed the crushed pill into that and eat the applesauce. Makes it alot easy.

5.)Yes it does if your not getting enough protein. From what I've read. My wife goes thru this a bit and she makes now she gets the protein in.. Me I don't have to worry about this cause I shave my head anyways.

But hopefully I've given you some insight to these questions. Like I said I'm not an expert but I have been thru it..

Liezl · 06-29-2009, 08:34 AM

Sally
Welcome to TT!

1) The cold is normal, I swear this is by far the coldest winter I have experienced! I'm constantly cold!
2) Prof Heine will expect you to be walking 5km if you can after 2 weeks. Just no use what so ever of your stomach muscles for the first 4-6weeks. There after you can go back to your normal routine.
3) For the first 4 weeks you will need to chrush all your meds and take it in a powder or liqued form. After 4 weeks when you start the second phase (purity phase) you will start with your supplements and you can start taking the rest of the meds as normal, no chrushing.
4) On Hanlie's list of the diet you'll see there is Nutren Activ Diabetes. It's a protein shake. Avaliable at Dischem. The shake will be your main "meal" for the last 2 weeks. Fat free milk and jogurt, jello, low fat vanilla custard, home made low fat soups ect. You'll be having 250ml every 2 hours. That worked for me. But if you find yourself getting dizzy just give Hanlie a call and she will tell you where you can make changes in your diet to get it under control.
5) The main effective thing I know of is hitting your protein targets. That will prevent/minimise the hairloss. I've also seen on here some people swear by Biotin, although I have not tried it personally.
Hope this answers your questions! Send me a PM if you need any other info or just some support. Would be glad to help.

poet_kelly · 06-29-2009, 09:22 AM

Hi, Sally!

You might be feeling cold just because you've lost some weight. It is common. There is also a chance you might be anemic (low in iron). Are you taking vitamins?

You can go back to the gym as soon as you want. I was told not to do anything more strenuous than walking for about six weeks, though. But you should walk a LOT after surgery, so the treadmill would be good.

Different doctors require different pre-op diets. Some don't require any pre-op diet at all, but most do. Mine included protein shakes, sugar free jello, sugar free popsicles, broth, and cream soups.

I am on some prescription medications and was able to take those pills the day after surgery. As far as vitamins go, my doctor recommends chewables. Some doctors recommend using liquid medications right after surgery, so talk to your doc about whatever meds you require and the best way to take them.

Hair loss is common after WLS. Some hair loss is common after any surgery, as it can be caused by the anesthesia. Rapid weight loss also causes hair loss. In addition, if you aren't getting enough protein, you can really lose a lot of hair. I did. The best thing to do is to make sure you get at least 60 grams of protein a day and take your vitamins. You will most likely still lose some, but hopefully not too much, and it should grow back fairly quickly.

Kelly

Still-Just-Jenn · 06-29-2009, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sally G

...
1. Since starting to loose my pre-op weight (20.25 pounds in 4 weeks) I feel cold most of the time. I never experienced cold in a bad way. Is this normal?

...

4. If one cannot eat solids after the surgery, will I be able to swallow pills without difficulty?

...

5. Does one's hair really fall out after the surgery and if so, what can be done to assist in the re-growth of hair?

Hi, Sally!

I agree with what's been posted in terms of responses to your questions, with only a little to add.

1. Fat's the best blanket -- of *course* you're colder! I remember all those "skinny-minis" who used to whine in college that the classrooms were "too cooooold," while I was sweating my butt off ... Now I'm cold too!

4. Try to have all your vitamins ready in liquid or sublingual form before your surgery. I only had trouble with one (the doozy!), my antidepressant. I had thought to switch from XR capsules to the regular (and generic, w00t!) version ... but forgot that I'd have to crush them. Eeeeeeeeewww.

5. A *little* thinning seems to be "normal" as your body adjusts. But if you start really losing it, like seeing your scalp, or a receding hairline (like I did!), you need protein, and zinc, and your B-vitamins. Bad experience, trust me.

Good luck!!!

Ashley · 06-29-2009, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sally G

Hi all

Some of the questions I have concerning the RNY have been answered in other threads but I do need some more info. Those that have gone through the lap RNY, please help.

1. Since starting to loose my pre-op weight (20.25 pounds in 4 weeks) I feel cold most of the time. I never experienced cold in a bad way. Is this normal?
2. How soon after the surgery can I go back to the gym? Although I am big, I have been exercising three times a week. I am quite fit for my size.
3. What does the liquid diet before the surgery consist of? I am diabetic and need to watch what I eat very carefully.
4. If one cannot eat solids after the surgery, will I be able to swallow pills without difficulty?
5. Does one's hair really fall out after the surgery and if so, what can be done to assist in the re-growth of hair?

Hope you guys can help.

Loosers Rule

Sally G

1. I was FREEZING in the beginning. I got really sick and lost 80 pounds in 8 weeks. My poor husband was sweating his ass off with the thermostat at 85 in the summer, and I was shivering under a blanket.

2. I have no idea on the gym thing. I couldn't walk by the end of those 8 weeks, so getting the feeling in my legs back was enough exercise for a while

3. Liquids (at least with my doctor) could really be anything I wanted that I didn't need to chew. This included SF Jello, SF pudding, SF yogurt, broth, juice, popsicles, skim milk with protein powder, etc.

4. My doctor told me that I could take pills from the time I was discharged from the hospital (2 days post-op). He said to take one at a time, and give them a little time in between. I took vitamins, birth control, acid prescription, etc. with no problems.

5. My hair fell out like crazy. I have the thickest hair in the world, so it wasn't noticeable until NOW--because it's grown back about 2 inches, and it is spiking up above all my other hair. I look like such a nerd :P

Good luck with everything, keep in touch!

Vikkator · 06-29-2009, 01:20 PM

I advise you to ask your doctor these questions. Every doctor has different restrictions.

I took pills right after surgery as soon as I was cleared to take liquids (which wasn't until the next day).

And I'm down 91 pounds and am freezing most of the time (except when I get hot flashes). Fun, but I'd rather be cold and slim than warm and fat.

Marella · 06-29-2009, 05:29 PM

1. Since starting to loose my pre-op weight (20.25 pounds in 4 weeks) I feel cold most of the time. I never experienced cold in a bad way. Is this normal?

I'm one of those who did not experience a change for the colder, as in, always being cold. I liked it cold pre-WLS and I still like it cold now. So, although I've lost 150 pounds of insulation, the only difference is that I now enjoy the heat of the sun.

2. How soon after the surgery can I go back to the gym? Although I am big, I have been exercising three times a week. I am quite fit for my size.

Whenever your doc clears you - from a few days to 2 weeks.

3. What does the liquid diet before the surgery consist of? I am diabetic and need to watch what I eat very carefully.

My pre-op liquid diet consisted of 64 oz of SF Chocolate Carnation Instant breakfast with skim milk per day.

4. If one cannot eat solids after the surgery, will I be able to swallow pills without dfficulty?

I was told that vitamins MUST be chewables for the first year. Meanwhile, all my medication was in pill form... including Tylenol and Vicodin. All pill swallowing must be done 1 pill at a time, and must be followed by as much water as possible.

5. Does one's hair really fall out after the surgery and if so, what can be done to assist in the re-growth of hair?

I was told that it is important to have a high protein diet at least 3 months prior to surgery. Hair is on a 3 month cycle, so if your diet prior to surgery was poor, you'll have hair loss sooner. It seems to be inevitable, the amount of loss is always an unknown. Keep your protein up to the max. I had minimal hair loss, which really became noticeable to me when it started growing back in. My hairstylist is the only one who truly noticed.

Welcome to Thinner Times... you're getting lots of answers... I hope they are satisfying your informational needs.

Sherry_Lynn · 06-29-2009, 09:22 PM

[QUOTE=Sally G;455900]Hi all

Some of the questions I have concerning the RNY have been answered in other threads but I do need some more info. Those that have gone through the lap RNY, please help.

1. Since starting to loose my pre-op weight (20.25 pounds in 4 weeks) I feel cold most of the time. I never experienced cold in a bad way. Is this normal?

I don't mean to laugh at you, but I have been really hot all my life, I used to freeze my poor Husband in the winter, and with the air conditioning all summer! Now, ever since I started really losing some weight, before surgery, I have been pretty cold too! This is totally normal.

2. How soon after the surgery can I go back to the gym? Although I am big, I have been exercising three times a week. I am quite fit for my size.

Everyone has different orders from their surgeon, but for me, at 6 weeks post-op I was able to do anything I wanted.

3. What does the liquid diet before the surgery consist of? I am diabetic and need to watch what I eat very carefully.

Again, everyone gets something different, just depends on your surgeon. Follow his orders to the letter, and you'll be fine.

4. If one cannot eat solids after the surgery, will I be able to swallow pills without difficulty?

I panicked in the hospital, 1 day post-op when they brought me what I thought was quite a few pills. I was terrified, they all said it would be fine, and they were right, but it wasn't until around day 4 that things got easier. Trust your Doctor. I was sure I'd be chewing all those horrible pills for the rest of my life, but I did fine. Also, come here if you have any problems.

5. Does one's hair really fall out after the surgery and if so, what can be done to assist in the re-growth of hair?

I'm only 10 weeks out, so far so good, but even if it does start falling out, it is temporary, it does grow back, and it is worth the better health and weight loss.

I hope this helps...............feel free to PM me anytime. My first two weeks post-op I just needed someone who had been through this to comfort me..............and that's what we're all here for.