Hi donna-- first of all, you are doing marvelous!! I decided pre-op that I was going to forever change what I put in my body, so I have given up red meat totally, and no longer eat any bread, pasta, noodles, rice, etc. These were my downfalls and I know for me, they just swell in my stomach!! So now I feel phenomenal, and I think there was something happening in me due to the yeast, because I no longer have mucous problems (sorry) in my nose or throat, and I have also rid myself of other breathing problems/allergies. I also eliminated sugar, (of course fruit has natural sugars, and that is okay) but I no longer eat anything that has added sugar (fructose, corn syrup, etc). So what do I eat--lots of fish, tuna, special k with added protein, yogurt, fat free yogurt cheese,eggs(never been a problem), hummus, ground turkey and lentils/beans. I have repeatedly tried chicken (with broth, sauces, etc. For moisture), but it refuses to go down, so I will try again in a few months. I occasionally eat deli turkey, but only in emergency situations. I don't like the extra sodium and fillers used to make it. Even though I buy the gourmet lite-low sodium type. So yes, I think being 4 months out, we still need to be careful, and listen to our bodies. I just figure, we are still healing and learning. But boy oh boy, isn't it grand!?!?!?!?!? Hugs and luck to you! Lora

Hi Donna. You are doing GREAT. I'm four months out also and am down 70 lbs. I love it. It's fun zipping up size 16 clothes!! I still can't eat anything made with ground beef and bread bothers me too. I can eat chicken, steak and lunchmeats but nothing with bread and if I have them in a wrap, then only about 2-3 bites. Eggs sometime bother me. Not all the time. Try to make sure anything you eat is moist. Maybe that will help. I love dipping my lunch meat in mustard. Goes down alot easier when its moist with something. Good luck.

Hope I'm not too late! My surgery was 3/12. I was 49 years old as of March 11, 2007. I started out at 302 (my scale) and as of Monday, 7/19, my scale says 236. That's a loss of 66 pounds - Yay! I hit a plateau too, at about 245. It made me simply nuts and so I decided to stop weighing so much and to quit obsessing. I waited three weeks before finally weighing on Monday. When the scale stopped at 236, I was tickled pink!! I'm not the best RNY patient, either. I have severe spine problems, making it very difficult to get exercise. I can't walk very far, even with my cane. But, I've pushed myself to walk -- at least 50 yards, to the dog kennel, then the mailbox, then back up the steps to the door. It sounds like so little, but it is sooo hard for me! Being stuck on the couch each day made me feel a little hopeless about losing the weight. I 'm also taking prescription pain meds. The good news is at the time of surgery, I was taking about 18 methadone per day. I've been on them for three or four years, now. Today, I am at 4-1/2 pills per day. That's an incredible success! My pain is fairly well controlled, too. I feel like I fit right in with everybody here. I struggle with drinking all my water. I do get my protein, with the help of supplemental shakes and the dry protein you can add into anything. I've had two dreadful dumping episodes a while back (pouring sweat) so now when I taste anything slightly sugary, I put it aside. I do tend to NOT chew my food well enough and today have a "stuck" feeling in my stomach. It started as a feeling like an aspirin was stuck just below my Adam's apple. Each bite or drink made it move slightly. Boy, did it hurt every time! Yeowch! Now it is down in my stomach or just above it. I'm not sure exactly what it was, but I had a handful of trail mix (nuts and raisins) too late night before last. I probably didn't chew the raisins good enough. It didn't hurt right away, but I woke up with the "stuck aspirin" feeling the next morning. Vomiting is one of the most awful things for me. I 've only done it right after I was home from the hospital. At that point, my harsh heaving caused my new stomach to tear and I developed a leak. I ended up back in the hospital for five extra days, with nutrition thru a tube. The leak resolved itself and I went home without any additional surgery, thank goodness. Since then, I have been VERY careful about my new little pouch. I know that it has stretched a bit, though. I can eat 4 ounces of protein now, where it was 2-3 ounces at the five week mark. I've also found there are some foods that just plain disagree with me. No logic about it. Eggs are one of them. Even Egg Beaters make me sick. Anything with more than 15 grams of carbs is a no-no for me, too. I read labels pretty closely these days. I don't really crave anything, my last lab tests were good. My hair has come out a bit more than normal, but I'm not bald yet (ha ha). I've continued taking the essential BA vitamins, iron, B-12, calcium, plus other prescription meds for blood pressure, type II diabetes, antidepressants, etc. With my pain meds though, I HAVE to take a combination of stool softeners and sennosides to avoid constipation. My pre-surgery fear was having complications from constipation, which I have been able to avoid so far. Not perfectly, but pretty well. I recently added fiber (chewable of course) to my pill pal. It is difficult for me to sit very long and type, so I haven't done much with my page. I've only just now put a couple of posts on the boards. I've kept behind the scenes most of the time, but feel I know you all. I just want to thank all of you for sharing your stories, your pain, your joy, and your success. It has meant the world to me! Yes, I'm a shut-in, but I'm not alone. You guys have made that possible (and you didn't even know it, did you). I'm so very grateful for the positive changes in my life. Someone posted how she had read about all the "awful" times people had right after surgery and she was afraid to have it now. My doctor says he would never ask a new post-op patient for a referral. He laughingly said it would just kill his business. He loves to talk to the people who are six months to a year out. They are the ones who are beginning to see the positive effects from this surgery. I know if he asked me to do it again at our 3-month meeting, I would have said, "No way!" It is just recently that I've started seeing how much easier it is to move, to get up and down. My pain levels are significantly reduced. My mid-back is breaking down, and my doctors say I need another surgery. I bet I can put it off much longer now. Maybe I can get by with my back the way it is. Who knows? My husband and I went to a family reunion earlier this month. I was able to ride in the car for five hours (into Canada) and not suffer like in the past. I walked around so much more! I managed to wear an outfit from the deep, dark basement closet which I haven't worn for, well, at least ten years. I highlighted my hair and put on makeup (something else I haven't done for years). This was my mother-in-law's relatives, so I didn't know many of them. She remarked to my husband that I was "all over the place, just visiting with everybody." If you knew me, you would be surprised to hear that she was talking about me. Being in pain, being heavy, kept me withdrawn. If I could avoid going anywhere at all, I did. If this reunion was last year, my husband probably would have had to go without me. So, the changes are really incredible. I don't seem to obsess about food anymore. It use to be my best friend and made me feel comforted. In one day all of that changed -- and with this forum and all of you, I was also changed! Sorry to be so long. I didn't intend to write a book here! Thanks for being here, for reading my looooong post, and for, well, EVERYTHING! --Leslie

Hi Dave! I tried to go to your site. You left off a "w". Here's the site: http://www.mvm.com/en/index.htm It looks like fun -- thanks! --Leslie

Hi pa!!! Boy have I missed posting and reading. I just returned from vacation. Went to the mountains in west virginia and they were awesome. I actually walked and hiked everyday!! Got up early every morning, even in the rain!!! Made sure I kept up my 2.5 mile daily walk and it was great. Eating was a challenge, because I had little to no control...But I managed. So, I am a bit over 4 months--hard to believe!! As of my last Dr. Appt., I have lost 80+ lbs. I never weigh at home--only at the Dr. Ofc. Because I know me...I would get all crazy about stalls, etc. I am still loving life more than ever!! And have rediscovered how great the world is, including nature and all of its creatures!! Have a wonderful day!! Hugs, lora