How did this myth get started?

Sitting here drinking my morning coffee and .

It is brown and caffinated and I AM drink it through a straw with a side of pop rocks. Well, not really but I wanted to play too. LOL

The last time I had my teeth cleaned my dentist was very interested in everything about my surgery.  I think he knew someone who was considering it.  I take it as an opportunity to educate and slowly, maybe through tickle-down gossip, the right info might get out there.

For some people there ARE a number of foods that they simply cannot tolerate after WLS (of whatever variety), but I think it is mostly a leftover from the initial days of various forms of bypass surgery where people had considerably more trouble eating post-op.  Personally, even at 4 years out, I still cannot tolerate coffee (it makes my pouch burn, which is especially odd since I drink diet soda with no problem), certain kinds of apple skins (the skin of red delicious and gala apples, for example, give me cramping and gas), and more than one bite of an onion ring makes me extremely nauseous.  Until just recently, I was unable to eat more than just a bite or two of bacon.

I think it is also perpetuated by a few RNY patients who tell people that they "can't" eat certain things rather than tell them that they choose not to eat them anymore.  I have an acquaintance who people have all but stopped inviting out to dinner because even though she is more than 6 years out from her RNY, she makes a HUGE deal about what she "can" and "can't" eat.... when nothing makes her physically sick (she does not dump)... so it is a PITA trying to pick somewhere to eat if she is included (despite the fact that most restaurants have some kind of grilled/baked chicken or fish entree) and often people who don't know any better really believe that she can't eat most food.  One woman was very confused about why this otehr persona dn I had the same surgery but I can find something to eat at almost any restaurant (and never make a big deal out of it if the group wants to go to a place where ti is harder for me to find something (e.g., Italian food) whereas the other person insists that she can't eat at so many places at all.

Lora

 She sounds like a joy to be around!  yes, I think you are right, people like that are the origin of these myths that people have about this surgery.

Like I said, I know that some people will have trouble with some foods, but the myth is more centered on there are real foods that none of us can eat, like if we do we will die or have to be rushed to the hospital.

When people so ask what I choose not to eat and I tell them bread, pasta and rice they gasp and act like I'm a nun or something, that my life must not be worth living because I gave those things up.  It is pretty funny!  I am usually much thinner then the people who have issues with what I have to give up, I guess that is why they will never want to do what I have done.  Before surgery I never thought I could give up pasta but I did!  And bread, that one is still hard at times, but worth the results!

Always awesome to hear from you Lora, how have you been since your surgery.  I am not on the boards during the day time as I am a teacher and VERY busy but I always look at night and I think I missed the details of your exploration.  I hope it went well.

Yes, I also find it funny when people act like I am missing out on life by not eating white rice or more than two bites of pasta!

I am doing fine.  The surgeon found that adhesions had my intestine bound to the abdominal wall in one spot but, more importantly, that the adhesions were causing the intestine to "grow into" the mesh that was put in when I had my hernia repair.  The incision has healed very well and I am returning to work next week.

Lora