Do NOT have an RNY if...

 I have a friend that had WLS, but she's not even sure what kind she had!  She first thought she had the same surgery that I did (RNY), then we were talking about it and she said she had a sleeve with malabsorption.   After we had lost our weight, she was floored by the loose skin.  She didn't know it was coming.  WHAT?!  No one told you that losing 150 pounds was going to leave loose skin??  
I can't imagine not finding out EVERYTHING you can about something this major!  

 I have met some woefully uninformed people that had some form of WLS, and were clueless that there were even different types of WLS.

Not surprisingly, none of them come to places like this to learn anything. They just took the info the salesma-um-surgeon gave them, and figured it was gospel. Some of the worst information I had ever received, was from a surgeons office. We need to read before being cut, and keep reading to stay informed.

I completely agree.

Great post Jackie....

 Hala Im trying to add you but I cant I would like to ask you something 

Just click on the "Contact" button under her post - this is to send her a PM - you do NOT have to be friends to send a PM ...

Mostly good points, and I agree with you that RNY is not the best surgery for everyone, but different people have different vitamin needs.  Since surgery, over four years ago, I have given myself my monthly injection of B12, and I take one adult multi and two 2000 IU vitamin D3 each day.  My labs are great, including the parathyroid hormones that would indicate if I had any sort of calcium deficiency.  I drink a lot of skim milk, eat lots of yogurt and cheese.  I have never taken calcium (carbonate or citrate).  Yes, you need to be prepared to buy yourself good supplements if you need them, but depending on your diet, you may not need to spend heaps of dough on vitamins.  Also, it's not necessarily eating simple carbs that will give you the severe dumping and reactive hypoglycemia post-surgery.  I'm pretty good with my diet, but I can no longer eat any refined carbs.  I did have a tendency toward hypoglycemia before surgery, and now vegetables are about my limit as far as carbs go.  

I very much agree that everyone should do research on  the type of surgery they are going to have.  They also need to really keep on top of their labs after surgery to make sure they're getting the nutrients they need.  I do have to say though, even with the complications I have, I'd still have weightloss surgery again in a heartbeat, given the chance.  I would however, probably fight like hell to keep most of the components of my digestive tract intact.  I wish I'd have had a VSG, BUT . . . I prefer my current condition to when my body used to get in my way.

Great post. Maybe add something about the need for protein?

do not have rny if you are not willing to keep an eye on your protein intake; it is vital for your helaht and while shakes may taste yucky, you need to take them OR find other ways to get to your protein goal. Serach for a shake you can hadnle with jummy recipes like eggface or bariatric foodie

 
SUPERB!  

To keep track of protein, use MyFitnessPal.com.  You can change your personal nutritional goals to match your needs, and they have a great community over there.  

 

 Awesome thread!