What vets taught me.
Let's see... although my surgeon's office provided a LOT of pre-op information through various channels and my surgeon answered a whole boatload of additional questions one-on one with me, here are some of the valuable things I learned from the vets who came before me and some of my current "veteran" colleagues:
1) Let's start with the piece of info I had to use yesterday in the ER while passing a kidney stone... that Toradol is an NSAID (and a heavy-duty one at that, so should NEVER be taken by RNY folks)
2) That general physical activity is as "legitimate" and useful to your body as formal gym exercise
3) That the precent of RNYers who dump is only about 30% (my surgeon said "not everyone" dumps but the one piece of crucial info she did not give us was that the number was SO low... which might have influenced my choice of surgeries if I had known that before surgery)
4) More info about vitamins than I could possibly list... or that I thought I would ever know!
5) That health is more important that the number on the scale... it doesn't matter how skinny you are if you are sick all the time because you still have no life
6) Confirmation that the emotional and psychological part of the journey is as important, if not more so, than the physical part of the journey
7) An innumerable number of small tips/hints to make the early post-op period more bearable and to help navigate life post-op and keep your sanity.
Lora
1) Let's start with the piece of info I had to use yesterday in the ER while passing a kidney stone... that Toradol is an NSAID (and a heavy-duty one at that, so should NEVER be taken by RNY folks)
2) That general physical activity is as "legitimate" and useful to your body as formal gym exercise
3) That the precent of RNYers who dump is only about 30% (my surgeon said "not everyone" dumps but the one piece of crucial info she did not give us was that the number was SO low... which might have influenced my choice of surgeries if I had known that before surgery)
4) More info about vitamins than I could possibly list... or that I thought I would ever know!
5) That health is more important that the number on the scale... it doesn't matter how skinny you are if you are sick all the time because you still have no life
6) Confirmation that the emotional and psychological part of the journey is as important, if not more so, than the physical part of the journey
7) An innumerable number of small tips/hints to make the early post-op period more bearable and to help navigate life post-op and keep your sanity.
Lora
14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained
You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.
Oh, goodness. This will probably be a long, long list.
Vitamins. You know where I learned most of what I know about vitamins? From Michelle, Andrea, Pam, a few other very smart, very well-informed vets here.
Labs. What labs we need done, to always get a copy to see the results for ourselves, what levels we're looking for.
Lots of tips for maintaining weight loss after the honeymoon period is over.
Lots of tips for getting in more protein. Including ideas for really yummy protein shakes.
That it's OK to question your doctor and it's OK to disagree with your doctor.
What's "normal" and what's not after surgery. And that there is a wide range of what's "normal."
Lots of cooking tips, tips for making meals that taste really yummy but are also healthy, ideas for meals and snacks, recipes.
In addition to all I've learned from the vets here, I have received so much emotional support. Emotional support for things related to WLS but also related to other things in my life. A couple months ago I went through an extremely difficult period and people here on OH gave me so much support, I don't even know how to put into words how much it helped me.
Vitamins. You know where I learned most of what I know about vitamins? From Michelle, Andrea, Pam, a few other very smart, very well-informed vets here.
Labs. What labs we need done, to always get a copy to see the results for ourselves, what levels we're looking for.
Lots of tips for maintaining weight loss after the honeymoon period is over.
Lots of tips for getting in more protein. Including ideas for really yummy protein shakes.
That it's OK to question your doctor and it's OK to disagree with your doctor.
What's "normal" and what's not after surgery. And that there is a wide range of what's "normal."
Lots of cooking tips, tips for making meals that taste really yummy but are also healthy, ideas for meals and snacks, recipes.
In addition to all I've learned from the vets here, I have received so much emotional support. Emotional support for things related to WLS but also related to other things in my life. A couple months ago I went through an extremely difficult period and people here on OH gave me so much support, I don't even know how to put into words how much it helped me.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
I'm a nurse. I've been questioning doctors for a long time!
I do think some of the ones who do this surgery are just in it for the quick money. They don't take the time to learn about after care. They hire support staff that don't understand either.
Fortunately I haven't found that to be the case with my doctor or team. The only complaint I had was the first time i went they did not have blood pressure cuffs that would fit my arm. I was not kind that day.
I read posts late at night. Many times I go to answer a post and will see that you have it covered nicely. Your knowledge is wide!
Deb
I do think some of the ones who do this surgery are just in it for the quick money. They don't take the time to learn about after care. They hire support staff that don't understand either.
Fortunately I haven't found that to be the case with my doctor or team. The only complaint I had was the first time i went they did not have blood pressure cuffs that would fit my arm. I was not kind that day.
I read posts late at night. Many times I go to answer a post and will see that you have it covered nicely. Your knowledge is wide!
Deb
I had such a hard time after surgery. I just wanted a reversal more than anything. I didn't think I would make it through. But I posted everyday with my worries and my questions and always got good feedback from the vets and from everyone. I made it through such a hard time in my life because of the people on this forum. I think without I would be sad, vitamin deficient, lacking all kinds of protein, and still eating nasty bean soup for every single meal. I am so thankful to the people on this forum.
Height - 5'8 - SW - 292/ CW - 177.6 /GW - 150 - BMI - 27.1 - 114.4 lbs lost!
"The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore" Vincent Van Gogh
"The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore" Vincent Van Gogh
Rats, Deb. Did I miss the regularly schedule "vets are so mean" thread? I hate missing the drama-rama that is that thread. Dang it.
Vets taught me 95% of what I needed to know about post-op life. The other 5% I got from my surgeon and his NP (Both of whom are sheer wonderfulness - just not very helpful about the day to day living of postop life).
I'll gladly second your thanks to those who came before and those who come after. OH has been a godsend to me in ways I never could have imagined. I don't feel alone in the journey that is postop surgical life, and that is priceless.
Vets taught me 95% of what I needed to know about post-op life. The other 5% I got from my surgeon and his NP (Both of whom are sheer wonderfulness - just not very helpful about the day to day living of postop life).
I'll gladly second your thanks to those who came before and those who come after. OH has been a godsend to me in ways I never could have imagined. I don't feel alone in the journey that is postop surgical life, and that is priceless.
It went something like this:
Vets on OH are rude and make people feel stupid when they ask a question. We are bullies and meanies and that is not what this forum is supposed to be for. We make newbies feel uncomfortable when we should be nice and pat them on the heads...
OK, that "Pat them on the heads" is my own words. But the rest is what you missed.
Vets on OH are rude and make people feel stupid when they ask a question. We are bullies and meanies and that is not what this forum is supposed to be for. We make newbies feel uncomfortable when we should be nice and pat them on the heads...
OK, that "Pat them on the heads" is my own words. But the rest is what you missed.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/rny/4434504/I-think-I-will -refrain-from-asking-anymore-s-on-here/
Height - 5'8 - SW - 292/ CW - 177.6 /GW - 150 - BMI - 27.1 - 114.4 lbs lost!
"The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore" Vincent Van Gogh
"The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore" Vincent Van Gogh
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