Question:
The show 48 hours showed the woman eating sugar cookies and candies. How ?
I was told you will never be able to eat sugar again. Was I misinformed? — Retha B. (posted on July 14, 2000)
July 14, 2000
Good point. Normally if someone has the surgery she had, they would not be
able to eat sugar like that. However, this lady was one of the exceptions.
And, she was extremely post op and I've learned that the further away from
surgery you are, the more you are able to tolerate other foods, including
sugar. They did say that she didn't eat much, just a couple of bites. On
this site, you'll encounter RNY patients who can eat anything and many
"cheat" and eat sugary foods. I can tolerate low sugar items but
don't want to try candy. I'd like to just live out my life, believing that
I cannot tolerate that. I used to crave sugary, fat-ladden baked goods.
Since open RNY on 4/4/00, those foods no longer provide a tempation and I'm
so pleased with that I cannot even tell you!!!!! I want to move forward,
not backward.
— Cindy H.
July 14, 2000
I believe she had the Gastroplasty not the RNY. At least thats what I
thought they said. The Gastroplasty restricts volume only.
— laucol
July 14, 2000
I had open RNY on 2/8/00. At Easter this year I decided to try to eat a
Cadbury's chocolate egg, expecting to get sick. Instead I found out I can
eat the chocolate, I can eat sugar, I can eat cakes and pies BUT I also
found out that after those little tastes (the Cadbury's was 3/4 of the
egg), that I really don't have any desire for the sweet things. What I
REALLY want is chicken--and it makes me throw up. Go figure.
— Connie G.
July 14, 2000
Some RNY CAN tolerate sugar, unfortunately. Most never want to KNOW, so
they just don't. The problem is that, whether you are warned against it or
not, it will stall out your wt loss or cause regain. We do not malabsorb
sugar. ANd it has no work to do in our bodies. It ONLY makes fat. That's
all it does for us. Often sugar cravings mask protein or other element
shortage cravings, too. Always be suspicious of your body's request to put
calories on board which serve no purpose, except to fatten you up!
— vitalady
July 14, 2000
I agree with Cindy and Michelle, I really don't want to know if I can
tolerate sugar or not. I just prefer to believe that I can't.
— Sharon T.
July 14, 2000
Hello Retha, You wasn't misinformed some people can eat those things after
surgery. Everyone is different. It is better that you don't eat them to not
go back to old eating habits. I can tolerate Sugar. I chose not to eat
cookies, pies and cakes. I do tend to ices once in while. It is hell that
some people say they go through when eating sugar and dumping happens. You
might have dumping or you might not. It is up to you if you want to have a
cookie. But remember you can dump by throwing up or having diaherra. I wish
you luck on what ever you decide. But remember don't go back to old eating
habits. This is the main reason you had the surgery is to eat smaller
portions of food. Good Luck and God Bless You
— Queen K.
July 14, 2000
I had a proximal RNY and I am able to eat sugar. I can't eat MUCH sugar but
I can eat a cookie without getting sick to my stomach. I believe in
moderation...now that I have had my surgery, its much easier to control my
eating, so I don't deny myself a treat ON OCCASION.
— SherP
July 14, 2000
I am 11 wks post op from open RNY. I have lost 62 lbs and I can eat some
sugars, in small quanities. I can also drink alcohol with being sick. I
have tried a peice of cake, but didn't feel well afterwards. Even when I
don't feel well from trying something, I never vomit or dump. I think it
just depends on each person and how they react to stuff. I am glad I can
still have small pc of something sweet every now and then. I don't take
advantage of this, however I don't deprive myself either. I try it and then
it's over with. I ususally find that I don't want it again, so now the
craving is gone.
— [Anonymous]
July 15, 2000
Dumping is a side effect of some RNY surgeries, but not the BPD/DS
(Duodenalswitch) surgery. We are only restricted (for about the first 18
months) in the volume we can consume. As a BPD/DS patient I can eat like a
"normal" person. Had a Milky Way bar for a snack yesterday.
Split a piece of pecan pie with a friend for dessert while on vacation last
week. Routinely have a few cookies after dinner. Please note that I no
longer eat the entire box, pie or gallon of ice cream. But I still can
enjoy a small or moderate portion of anything and it does not jeopardize my
weight loss. I have lost 125 lbs at 9 months post-op. Have another 9
months on my window period to loose another 50 to 75 lbs to goal. Very
happy with my loss and life post DS.
— Jill L.
July 15, 2000
I noticed that she said she ate those sweet things but she didn't say how
much of those things she ate at one time. I can eat sugar too (postop prox
RNY) but I can't eat as much sugar as I used to. Before my surgery I could
(and often did) eat a whole box of cookies at one time but now I can only
eat a few cookies (actually, I could eat more than a few but if I do I get
a stomach ache). Everyone is different and it depends on what kind of
surgery you have. I wish I did get really sick from sugar as it is a
problem food for me.
— Kellie L.
July 19, 2000
I would like to add that I too do not dump from suger and I do have a small
sugar fix EVERY day to keep me sane. I am only 3.5 months post-op and have
lost 60#'s. I am only 40#'s from goal and the sugar has not seemed to
hinder my weight loss. It seems the more weight you have to loose the
more important it is to stay away from the sugar and fat. As you can see
from my profile, I started on the lower end of the BMI list.
— DOROTHY A.
July 22, 2000
I read/heard the same things about sugar. However, my surgeon said that
eventually I would be able to eat ANYTHING I wanted, just in small amounts.
In fact, 20 minutes ago I had a VERY SMALL piece of brownie. And so far I
am just fine. I even put sugar on my cereal. The only things I have a
problem with are things that are deep fried, fatty (like bacon) and chinese
food. They come right back up. So I do not even attempt them any more. I
am 11 months post up, and I also just took my first drink of soda the other
day....it tasted terrible, so I guess that is also out.
Good Luck!
Linda F.
Victorville, CA
— Linda F.
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