Hi I'm in NY. Am looking for a penpal who has had the rny surgery or who is pre op. Someone  who can be a buddy to me. I'm schedule to have my surgery on June 6. God willing, and would like to have someone take that journey with me.  I'm interested in knowing which vitamins I will need and foods/protein is recommended

Hi. Which surgery are u having? i just had the RNY.

Hey how r u doing? How's it going? I'm having RNY as well. Hope u have some speedy recovery. Pls tell me of ur experience. By the way congratulations!

Hi SBsweets.  I am doing well.  I went to my post op checkup today and have lost 17 pounds since my surgery on 05/03/12.  I am doing a bit better since they removed the last drainage tube today.  So thank you.

Of my experience....Getting everything done was the easy part.  I will say this.  Every day since I got my surgery date it felt surreal.  My mom was saying it seemed like I wasn't scared.  To be honest I wasn't.  I spoke to my surgeon two weeks before surgery and it would appear to anyone it was two friends talking.  It wasn't until after surgery that I realize what I had done. 

One thing I will say do it for you and not for anyone else.  You choose who you will tell and don't tell.  It makes it easier on you in my opinion. 

Feel free to ask any questions.

Hey that's wonderful! I hope to be as lucky. I agree about making the decision for self. I hesitated having to tell anyone but my supervisor got it out of me. When I was explaining I needed to be off for two weeks. She then slipped n told another coworker. I've told both of them I didn't want to discuss it cause everyone has their own opinion n I don't want to hear any negative. I was referred to this site n I find it cry helpful.

Ange where u on any particular diet prior to having surgery? How has it been trying to sleep. Do u have any pains? Regrets? Suggestions? How r u doing wth liquids?

I had to do a reduce calorie diet while meeting with the nutritionist.  And two weeks before surgery, I did a liquid diet.  Yes, I did cheat once or twice the first week of the diet.  I will admit it was hard.  Sleeping after surgery was a bit difficult.  I have been sleeping on my back since the surgery and I am normally a side sleeper.  After the doctor removed the last drainage tube, I asked if it was okay to sleep on my side and he said yes.  I slept on my side one or two nights but still sleeping on my back most nights. 

Definitely in the hospital, I had pain.  Every cough and sneeze hurt like hell.  I filled the prescription to be on the safe side.  I took them the first two nights and otherwise no pain that needed medication.  Taking out the drainage tubes will hurt almost as bad for an hour or two. 

Regrets.....I don't think I have any.  Suggestions.......make sure you have someone to help you post surgery.  THere is no bending, lifting, etc.  I even went to a wedding last night.  That was hard even though I brought my own food/drink.  A challenge.  If you have familly events happening during your recovery, seriously think over if you want to attend.  Purchase food that can be pureed before surgery. 

I am on pureed foods and liquids.   I am trying to get in the necessary protein but it isn't easy.  I am not hungry at all and I have to remind myself that I need to "eat" something.  I have no appetite.  Just force yourself to eat your one once of food/drink.

I hope I haven't scared you with everything.  It is alot and somethings people just wont say.

How is your journey going?

Hey Ange hows it going? Well not scared yet. I should find a nutritionist to work with. I will inquire from hospital. The nut I was referred to offered me diet pills which I wasn't comfortable with. My surgeon office has me on an 800 cal diet for two weeks. Im nervous, excited n can't Stop reading posts. I'm worried that I may be missing something

You wont miss anything.  Just look at different topics and read the ones that you think may help you.  Ask general questions on the board.  I did that and next thing I knew I had my surgery date.  Take time to relax and focus on you.  Pamper yourself while you can.  That way you can go in with a clear mind.

I am doing good.  Taking it day by day.  Hour by hour.  Still no appetite, but I know I have to eat something. 

Take care.

Im Glad to hear your doing well. Have u gone back to work? Doing just that. I feel like I live n breathe this website. I will need to clear my head. I'm so anxious. I read so many stories n those wth ideas n solutions, I bookmark.

I haven't gone back to work yet.  I am still not cleared to do much.  I don't go back to see the surgeon till the end of June.  So maybe I will be back at work beginning of July.  My surgeon advised me that the expected recovery time for RNY is 6 to 8 weeks.  So I am aiming for the 8 weeks. 

Have they given you a date yet?  I had my surgery in NY at LIJ Forest Hills Hospital.  Also, are they going to cut you open or laproscopic surgery?

Yes june 6 laproscopic

In that case clean out the refrigerator and pantry of everything you can't eat unless you live with someone.  Stock up with protein shakes/drinks, etc. Time will fly by fast right now.

lol yes I've started to do that. I've cleaned out and rearrange the house. To help deal with my nervousness, I've even painted over three doors. I live with someone so I could not get rid of everything. The whole top shelf in my fridge is full of isopure grape flavor protein drinks. I have isopure powder. I have the unjury protein. I've been on two protein a day since early may. I just hope my palate will be able to stand the taste. I stocked up on sf jello, soup etc...
I pray for no complications. Did you have to open surgery?

I did open surgery.  My surgeon doesn't do laproscopic on RNY but will on lapband. Now relax. Everything will fall into place.

Hi! I had the roux n y surgery one year ago. I have plateaued for a while, but I did lose over 90 pounds. I can give you some tips if needed.

I was sooooooooooooooo glad that I had the surgery! I am in southern California.

:) Maureen

Hey Maureen nice to meet you. I had my surgery on May 31 came home on June 2nd. Thank goodness no complicAtions just uncomfortable from gas pain n confusions from information received from discharge staff n surgeons office. I go back to hospital on wednesday to have drain remove. How did u deal with getting ur liquids?

Again, I had the roux n y. Did you have this surgery or another? Liquids were not a problem for me. I kept cold water available all of the time. Drink the protein shakes as directed. First I used the Isopure clear protein drinks. The grape tastes pretty good, kind of like grape children's Tylenol (if you can stomach that taste). The orange was also okay. I did not really care for the apple/green one. They are a little pricey, but worth it in the beginning so you don't have to concentrate on mixing. They are best served cold/refrigerated.

When you can go onto the other protein drinks (like NOT clear ones) try the Six Star cookies and cream. I lived for a while on the Body Fortress vanilla protein drinks. I would ALWAYS BEFORE THE SURGERY chose chocolate over vanilla, BUT I LEARNED WITH PROTEIN SHAKES TO USE THE VANILLA!!!! VANILLA OR COOKIES AND CREAM TASTES MUCH BETTER!!!! The chocolates taste ... well, very artificial to me. Again, the cookies and cream is closest to anything chocolate like. Drink them while you can. I found that after a while I wound up with a bit of "food aversion" toward the vanilla that initally had tasted better. Sip your water, as they say, all day. I was able to drink around meals, but they tell you not to do it so just do as the doctors say for best results.

Once I was able to eat more solids I lived on the Dannon light yogurt, Fage greek yogurt (which I drizzles a little honey with even though that was a "no no", and cottage cheese (which I did not like but kept me full). This lasted for a while; I seem to recall up to a few months. String cheese also became my friend once I could eat more solids. The Stater Brothers brand (it is a grocery store out here ... I am not sure if you have them there now; I grew up back east and do not recall them there) is good. String cheese, when you can eat it, tastes like "a lobster dinner" after all the other "mush". LOL

I hope you are doing well. I did not have a drain except when they pulled out the drain that was in for the gall bladder removal. It felt a whole lot better after that was removed, but they removed it after three days. I really felt quite well then without any pain. I wish you the best. The surgery was the best thing I could have done. I still have more to lose, after a year, but I have been sabotauging myself. I am 186 pounds at 5 feet 4 inches. I do work out, but I eat things I should not. I am off of work this summer, so I am back on the plan. Stick to the doctor's plan and DO NOT DEVIATE!!!!! Embrace the weight loss as it comes. And walk when they tell you to. It doesn't have to be a marathon, but just calmly do it. I hated walking and exercising. Now I am about one hour a day (30 mins. on the elliptical and 30 minutes on the cross trainer OR until I reach 600 calories). It took me a while to do this. I still don't like working out, but once I am at the gym I will do it. I sold the eliptical I bought for home because I wouldn't use it at home. All I do is think to myself, "Get to the gym." If I just get there, then I will work out. I also just joined a Zumba class. Substituting exercise for the want of food (after a year) really helps.

Good luck!!!! I hope you are feeling well! Ask me any question you want. My Facebook page is Maureen Moctezuma in San Dimas California. There are some before and after pictures there. 

Hi Maureen great info. I did have the roux en y, on may 31. Came home on sat June 2nd. Yesterday I got drained removed. They also weighed me in and I weigh in @ 230lb ( this was with my shoes on too). I was elated. This morning I weigh in @225!!!! I was in disbelief n weigh myself three more time. Dr say I can start purée diet.

Great for you!!!! You will be totally surprised with the weight loss at first. Enjoy it and embrace it! Stick to the plan. Right now you are probably a little cautious about eating. Keep that cautiousness up. It will help you stick to the foods. I can eat everything now, after a year, and I eat things that I know I shouldn't. When you can start to eat foods make sure it is protein first. Now, after one year, I could eat chips all day. Stay away from things like that. When I eat salmon or protein first I get full, then "that's that". My doctor also told me to eat ONLY three times a day (in order NOT to undermine the plan.) I went from 275 to 205 in six months. I was at 195 in November; I now weight about 186-197. Since November I have been cheating it. I am still happy, and still fitting into clothes better (0 in plus sizes or XL and sometimes L in "normal" sizes). I am getting back on track now. At least I can buy things that look decent, more or less.

Walk as directed. That should help the gas. Don't use a straw as it can create more gas/air. Constipation may be a problem. Ask your doctor about what you can take if that starts up. It is probably too soon to take Metamucil yet. Also, I eat papaya with the Dannon light yogurt to help with that. It really does work. For now, stock pile your fridge with the Dannon Light n Fit yogurt,  Fage Greek yogurt (at Costco if you have those out there), and cottage cheese. I lived on the first two. Get the protein drinks; again the Six Star cookies and cream is great. Body Fortress vanilla is good. I did not prefer the Isopure that you have to mix, but I only tried mango and strawberry of those ones. Oh, I also remember tofu in the beginning. I hate tofu, but I would cheat and get a tofu dish with sauce at the local Chinese restaurant (Buddha's Feast I think it was called). Stay away from the sauce!!! Too many calories for nothing!!!!

When you can eat "real food" use the canned shrimp (the small ones). You will feel like you are eating like a queen after all the mush.