Just Ducky - The Meditative Hag

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Totay is one year since I was wheeled into surgery to begin my new life.
Before I was almost 300 lbs with a BMI of 50.2+ and wore a size 30. I was wheelchair bound and was on nearly 20 different prescription medications.

Today I am down to my goal (155 lbs) I am an amatuer female bodybuilder and very happy and healthy. I LOVE my RNY, and it's not bad for a 47 year old formerly obese woman who had two autoimmune diseases and is a cancer survivor.  No, I have not had ANY plastics, that is ALL ME, Baby! That is some serious pumping at the gym (and swimming) and loving it.

I am strong in my heart and soul and that is the whole reason I had this surgery. To be happy, healthy and STRONG.
I wish ALL of you well on your journeys regardless of where in your journey you are.
(((((hugs)))) to you all. (Lots of Photos-Before and after) to follow!
Warmly,
Jackie









~Never give up~ Never Surrender~

Where to begin....
So many wonderful things. First, I LOVE my RNY Gastric Bypass. While the surgery (to ME) was very painful, I had no complications, healed rapidly and as the old comedy sketch goes...I look FABULOUS dahhhlink! (Yes, photos will be coming in a day or two)

Pre-Op, I went from wheelchair bound, with active autoimmune diseases and a service dog and morbidly obese with a BMI of 50...To now being an amateur female bodybuilder. I LOVE the gym, I LOVE lifting (And no, I don't look "manly" but lean and mean and defined) and more importantly I LOVE life and living.

I have always been "good" post op...Watched my carbs, ate my protein (TONS of protein) took ALL my vitamins religiously including injecting myself with lovely energy boosting B vitamins 2 times a month; playIng with my family and dogs and being more happy than I have when I was 21 and active duty in the Air Force! (Hooo yaa!)

I am one of those rare (or maybe not) people who got morbidly obese from 2 things...
1) Heavy duty medicines to control my autoimmune diseases and cancer (High doses of prednisone, methotrexate, enbrel, cyclosporin, tons of narcotics, etc)
2) Being wheelchair bound and doing NO, absolutely NO exercise at all....Even just STANDING was excruitiating.

Overeating a ton of food, eating sugary snacks, or whatnot was not my "poison" in fact my favorite foods were (and still are!) Steak (Extra rare please!) meats of any kind, and salads with just vinegar, some thnly sliced avocado, olives and tomatoes.
And lets not forget a huge dish of FRESH strawberries, blueberries and raspberries. Oh, and Oatmeal or Malt-O-Meal with all the fixin's for breakfast (or a 2-3 egg omelet).

Of couse now-a-days I only have a 1 egg omlet with cheese and meat in it, or some pork rinds...I still LOVE my salads and fresh fruits (with Stevia, no sugar) and I still love my roasts, meats and raw salmon and escolar (sashimi!) But now I am fit and trim with very little loose skin. Not bad for a 47 year old woman who was severly disabled!

When I decided to have this surgery (RNY) a year ago, I was told by my doctor that my Adrenal glands were screwed up, I was borderline diabetic (in addition to my autoimmune diseases-dermatomyositis and Mixed connective tissue disease). I already knew I was on a fast track to my grave...There fore I had NO fear going into the surgery. I figured, if I was going to die from the WLS, then it would be ON the table while unconscious (and what a peaceful and quick way to go...I mean afterall...We ALL die, do we not?) or, two...It would be from rapid and early complications. Either way, the surgery would WORK, or it would not. 

It worked. I learned to read nutrition labels. I keep my calories at around 1200 or under per day, my protein at around 70-100 per day, Carbs under 10 grams per meal, and sugar UNDER 4 grams per meal (unless it is LACTOSE/Milk sugar which is fine, it doesn't count technically At least not for me...)  I have never dumped and can eat anything.   I often said (jinxed myself) that if I even had 3 MONTHS of happiness from my surgery--- That it would be a sucess.... And it has been...AndI jinxed myself.

I have recently discovered from lab work that my liver is failing. It is not an easy thing to type, because the last thing I want is pity and head shaking and people feeling sorry for me. Let me be perfectly clear..My WLS/RNY had NOTHING to do with my liver problems.

My liver problems were/are caused by all the years of toxic chemicals that have been in my body from fighting cancer and autoimmune diseases....All the prednisone, cyclosporin, enbrel, high doses of methotrexate (a very hepatoxic chemotherapy agent) and a ton of other meds I need not list here.

The damage was done though. It was my own vigilence that noticed my AST and ALT on my labs skyrocketing every 6 months. I am sure that taking tons of tylenol over the years (sometimes as much as 3500 mg a day for years on end) has not helped at all.

I fought ovarian cancer and won... I fought 2 autoimmune diseases and severe disability and won... (Got my butt up OUT of the wheelchair and walked...No, powerlifted my way to happiness...) I fought morbid obesity and won. It get's very old to me always having SOMETHING pop up. Have I not proven myself? Have I not gotten up time and time again when life had knocked me down? It's hard to get up. It's tiring. I love my WLS. I truly do. I HATE my liver...I hate that I had to go through so much medical bull-hockey to fight to a healthy state only to have it snatched yet once again from me.

In august I meet with a top rated Hepatologist in St. Louis. We will see what he says. I am sure I will be doing many MRI's/Cat Scans/ Blood work and probably a liver biopsy or two... But it is getting harder and harder to get UP off the floor each time I am knocked down.

Good luck and good journey to ALL of you my friends and "Losers". Each of our journeys are our own, and I hope your WLS journey is a good one.
Warmly.
Jackie

So I saw my rheumatologist about a week ago for my 6 month follow up.
As many know I have an autoimmune disease that affects muscle tissue (inflammation) and often causes muscle deterioration.

Since my surgery I have come off 10 medications, many of them chemotherapy or potent TNF/Biologic drugs or steroids. My bloodwork looked FABULOUS! NO active inflammation and great vitamin/blood values...

So the first "WOW" was when I was being weighed at the doctor...I was 162 and they were shocked (since the last time they saw me I was nearly 80+ lbs heavier!) at first the nurse thought something was typed in wrong because they didn't know I had, had the RNY. After getting kudos by the whole office staff on how skinny I was I got both complimented and "chewed out" by my Doc.

Many myositis patients (even in remission) have a really HARD time rebuilding muscle tissue (because it gets inflamed, breaks down, and then cycles like that...) So my Doctor was very impressed and proud how much muscle tissue I had built up from bodybuilding at the gym (My new hobby)...

Then I got CHEWED OUT for having too much muscle! She was feeling my back and neck and said "You are as solid as a rock! And as tense as an overstretched rubber band!" and told me to slow down a bit and use wise caution. (She is very PRO exercise, but doesn't want me to overdo it). She showed me some yoga moves and non-harsh methods of building core and shoulders that don't endanger the tendons and muscles (She does a lot of yoga and Tai Chi and such as well...)

She was very proud of me and basically said she didn't want to see me for a year unless I was having problems.... We both laughed and hugged. What a GREAT way to get "rid" of a doctor!

After that, the whole office had to come by to oogle and congratulate me again on my massive weight loss and good health! I was surprised they even recognized me since it had been over 6 months since I had seen them. I was touched by their congrats and kindness. That's my NSV and I am sticking to it!

I had the surgery for my health, and to have one of my doctors give me the "thumbs up" on good health and proclaim me stable/in remission is the BEST NSV I can think of!

I wish ALL of you a great journey.
Warmly.
Jackie

One thing I have always seen here on OH and other WLS sites is people lamenting their plataeus, stalls and "Why isn't the surgery working for me?".   People wondering "Is their WLS 'broken'" People depressed, morose or any other problem (body dismorphia).  I cannot speak for why they had WLS , but I can speak for why *I* did, and why it was already siucessful a long time ago...

It is simple. (And oh so very honest) I truly had WLS for my health. I cared less how "skinny" I got, I could have cared less about a nulmber on a scale, I wanted to feel better. My family has seen me fight ovarian cancer, two types of autoimmune disease and a host of other medical problems (As well as being wheelchair bound and having to use a mobility service dog).

My husband married me "thin" and healthy (when I was active duty in the Air Force) and watched me each year get heavier from Prednisone and steroid treatments and lack of mobility. He watched me take 4 narcotics and 10 medications a DAY just to survive, and he knew I was miserable...(Being "skinny" had nothing to do with it for me...It was being in EXTREME pain and literally dying that made me want to do WLS). I was told by two doctors (A Rheumatologist and an Endocronologist) that I had a mere 5 years to live. My Adrenals were shot, my blood sugar was at the borderline of diabetes, and my autoimmune disease was flaring uncontrollably. It was the last straw for me. Litrally. What do you do, when told you are going to die? ANYTHING you do can only be better (or end it quickly).

I told my husband bluntly bluntly,  "If I was going to die, I would die either way...within 5 years or less from complications of being morbidly obese and all the medications and side effects...OR, if I died on the table, it would be quick and painless..."  Again, he wasn't thrilled (Who would be? Seeing a loved one suffer so?) But he understood at a logical level of WHY it had to be done.

He attended all the seminars, spoke to the surgeon and read a lot of research and sites (such as this one). He knew I was having the surgery with or without his support...I needed the surgery to live. He decided to do as he as always done for 25+ years and give me support.

And he supported me indeed...I didn't expect him to change his eating habits or stop eating something because I couldn't... (Why should I ask him that?) But he realized then that this surgery wasn't just "cosmetic" but as important as Open heart surgery to someone who needs a new heart or cardiac bypass.

Just 2 months after the surgery he and I both considered it a sucess just after a 40 lb loss... After all I did NOT (repeating this a million times) did NOT have this surgery to "be thin" or to "be a certain weight"... But to be HEALTHY... I have achieved that goal a hundred times over. Anything else (a loss of weight on the scale, or clothing sizes going down) is merely icing on the cake... It is not a necessity and this is why I have never had the scale obsession or body dismorphia... Because "LOOKING" a certain way never bothered me. This is  why I have NEVER had any depression about the surgery (Or worried about 'eating too much') or post op.. For me, It was always about the extreme pain of dis-ease.

Even if I died tomorrow...I would have had a year that I LIVED, truly LIVED more better than I have in the last 20 years! I have enjoyed the fresh air, my pain level has went from a 9-10 (daily...Imagine someone constantly physically torturing you) to a near 0.  I am off 10 of my 13 prescription meds. I am in cancer remission and my autoimmune disease is in remission (for now).

PRE-Op, the pain was so bad I was seriously and honestly considering suicide,  simply to escape the extreme pain . When you get THAT desperate to be healthy anything is better! Anything!  Within the first 30 lb loss of pre-surgery liquid diet I was already feeling better than I had in over 10 years!

I don't know what your co-morbidities are...People need to realize that this is NOT cosmetic surgery but a chance for you to live again (especially if you have serious medical problems). If you are truly doing WLS to be a certain "number" on the scale, or a certain clothing size... You will not be happy... If you are doing this surgery hoping it will help you STOP "overeating" you will NOT be happy...If you are doing this surgery to LOOK good, you will not be happy. (Loose skin is never pretty! ha-ha) But IF you are doing this surgery to LIVE and be healthy and to start over (so to speak)...IF you are ready to make committments to being healthy than this surgery (WLS) will be indeed a miracle.

From someone who was in a wheelchair, who took 13 prescription medications, who was ready to commit suicide because of the constant physical pain of my illnesses...I HAVE suceeded! I am only on 4 medications, I can walk 5-6k comfortably and ENJOY it! I have went to the gym and put on healthy muscle and most importantly I am LIVING now...Connected to all around me and enjoying life each and every day. For me that is what I wanted WLS to do, and that is what it has done.

I wish ALL of you the best journey of all!
Warmly,
Jackie

I wrote a blog a few weeks ago about the dreaded "6 month stall"... Newbies, be WARE...It will happen... Sometime between 5-8 months you will hit an awful stall that can last up to 3 months where NOTHING comes off no matter what you do...

(Obviously a few people are lucky... We all lose differently, but from what I hear the "6 month stall" is uber common for any WLS).

So anyway, I hit mine and it lasted for nearly 2+ months... I kept going back and forth on the same 2 lbs. I wasn't worried because I was expecting it. I did what I needed to keep doing (Following the rules) and occasionally "mixed it up".

Neither weight OR clothing size moved and in fact I was in some serene way pleased because I could wear my clothing more than a couple weeks...I was at a 16 and had purchased a two really nice jeans that fit awesomely.

The stall broke almost LITERALLY within 3 days... I didn't lose a ton of weight (only 5 lbs) BUT...My clothing size shrank it seemed overnight from a 16 to a 12 or 15 juniors.

Problem is, now that spring is arriving I have NOT been able to find any jeans that fit...Most are "relaxed fit" many are NOT petite..I bought some 14's (just 2 weeks ago from American Eagle, while I was stalled) that when they arrived were sliding off my frame.  

I am grateful...(the stall broke) I really am...I wasn't worried, but now I have clothes that just do not fit... They are two baggy or worse, my ass has literally "metled away" and so have the dreaded baggy butt... I had to go and buy new shapewear, new underwear, everything.

Every since I started my WLS journey this is the BIGGEST drop in clothing size I have ever had, even though it is just a 3-5 lb loss....Go figure!

Yeah I know about buying second hand at the Thrift store, which I do a lot...Problem is, you can't "try stuff on".  (Not in the thrift stores I've been in). So if you grab a size 14 or 12 or 10 then you hope and pray it fits.

I never had this problem being obese...All 3XL's or 28's were pretty much the same...Tents! But man....How do normal people SHOP!?! Seriously, I can see why they have to try on clothing all day... a 12 is not a 12, could be a 14, could be a 10 and nothing you try on might fit at all...

What fits Sally might not fit Sue and so on...
Again..I am grateful...I am. I will just be so happy when my body PICKS a size and sticks to it.
I am NOT at goal, but even if I never lost another pound the surgery (for me) was already sucessful MONTHS ago.

I had the surgery for health reasons, and those reasons are resolved. My medications have dropped from 13 prescription meds and chemo and narcotics to just 4 medicines a day and 1 narcotic pain med. I can do nearly anything physical and fun. I LOOK and eat and FEEL healthy.

I just will look forward to the day I am also a "veteran" and my size stabilizes so I can buy a nice solid wardrobe one way or the other.

Peace and good luck to all!
Warmly,
Jackie

Not me...Honest. I HAVE hit the "Big Stall" the dreaded "6 month out plateau from hell" where you can gain up to 4 lbs back and have your scale not move an ounce for well over several months...

It's NORMAL. It really is. According to nearly 40 post ops (over 2-5 years out) they have ALL hit this. My doctor says it's normal, countless healthy WLS veterans says it's normal, and guess what...It's normal.

There is a reason that time and time again when anyone ever asks me (Pre-Op) what is the most important thing they NEED I say "Save some of your old "fattest" clothes, and though it will be uncomfortable...Take photos of you from EVERY angle (Front, side, back) record your full weight and measurements of your CALVES, BICEPS, CHEST/BUST, WAIST and HIPS . Keep all these measurements and photos in a very safe place....

When you get to a really BAD discouraging time, then you do this... You post some comparison photos of you and or your clothing!!!



You see where you have COME from...Sometimes I see photos or clothing and FORGET just how OBESE and miserable I was...After seeing the clothes compared I look at my Day before Surgery shot and my current monthly shot...

and now...


The point of all this, is that we have been given a "rough forumla"....We will lose 1/2 our excess weight within the first 6 months or so...Then, over the NEXT 6 months we will only lose 1/4 of our excess weight, and then up 18-24 months later, the LAST 1/4 of any excess weight...

And yeah...You gotta work it. WLS isn't a free ride. We ALL know that. We gotta be active, we gotta follow the rules of our surgeon and the American Bariatric Association regarding our vitamins, calcium, etc. We gotta do the "E" word....... E X E R C I S E!
Our pouches or rerouted intestines are NOT broken...The surgery isn't "messed up", no this is NOT all you will lose...Unless....You stop following the rules.
If you drink WITH meals, if you eat refined (White) carbs and to much sugar, if you DON'T eat at least 60-90 grams of protein a day and do ANYTHING...Even walking the dog around your block a few times. If you go back to the old habits of eating chips, crisps, crackers, "bad" snacks or grazing all day... You will "out eat the surgery.

Also remember that our bodies are LIVING organisms. They lose weight, then rearrange inches and flush out fat, and firm up (Or shift things around) then lose some more weight. This whole journey is NOT an "Easy Way Out" to be thin, because you still have to do the work of choosing to eat and be healthy. No one is saying you can never have a piece of cake, or a bite of ice cream (assuming you don't dump...And most RNYers DON'T dump, so we still have to be good and work on choosing whole and healthy foods.)

During my WHOLE WLS from start (pre-op liquid diet until now) I NEVER "lost weight continuously"...It was like walking down a staircase...I'd lose a couple pounds...then lose NOTHING for a couple weeks, then lose another 2-3 lbs, then lose NOTHING for several weeks. I'm cool with that.

I KNOW I look good! Just look at them photos! That baby is a 47 year old Mama who can bench Press nearly 200 lbs who can so some AWESOME weight lifting at the gym (even out-lifting some of the men!) and who looks 15 years younger! I FEEL a lot better and now am only on 4 prescription medicines (where as before I was on 13!!!!!!)

So the next time you are depressed about a "stall" or a plateau or that you haven't lost anything for 2-3 weeks...Do what I did (Compare how you looked 6-8 months ago!)...And then pull up your big girl (or boy) pants and be thankful that the surgery is WORKING for you! Count not was is NOT happening, but count ALL you can do!

Hugs and love to all my fellow Losers!
Warmly,
Jackie E.

As I type this I cannot believe that I have lost 100 lbs in 7 months! What other kind of "diet" or help could do that?

Even more amazing, is I cannot believe how much life has changed for me in those 7 months. I walk at a very brisk stride now, I go to the gym and pump iron 3 times a week, I ENJOY going out and doing things, I have dropped from the "Womens PLUS Sizes" (nearly a 30) to now shopping in the NORMAL size area and wear a size 16/14!

For nearly 15 years my wedding ring was pretty much MELDED into my finger flesh and could not come off unless I would have cut it off. Now I can play with it and it often nearly slides off on its own! Soon I will have to get a ring guard for it.

9 months ago I was in a wheelchair and relied on a service dog to assist me. I had active autoimmune disease, and my blood sugar was borderline diabetes. I was told my adrenal glands were messed up and I had sleep apnea. I could eat nearly 40 oz of food at a sitting! (Go measure 40 ounces...Go on, I'll wait.) that is nearly 5 cups of food. An hour later I would be hungry!
I could eat 3-4 LARGE bowls of cereal at one sitting, or a 28oz steak.

Now, I get filled up on 1/4 to 1 cup of food (depending on what it is). I don't get ravenously hungry and hour later. I am off nearly all my prescription medications (except for 5) and my Autoimmune disease is in remission!

Before I was often depressed or had a lot of rage inside. Like really BAD rage inside. Today I am so calm, mellow and happy. Before nearly every day I was in physical pain (around a 7-8 on a scale of 10) today I am usually about a 1.

My surgery was/is a great success and I am proud of myself. I am confident and grateful to my surgeon, my friends on here (Renewed Reflections) and my belief in a higher power.

I know that my surgery is a "tool" and not a magic wand. I do NOT dump at all, and so I must work that much harder to measure and read labels and cook and follow the rules...

So far it is working like a charm! This summer I plan to go horseback riding again. I used to own a horse nearly 20+ years ago when I was under 140 lbs. There is no way I would have put my fat butt on a horse when I was over 190. But now my health and energy and weight feel good enough to allow me to do the one activity I have always loved! So I look forward to riding on the trails and maybe taking up endurance riding or cutting! A local stable offers lessons and it may be a gift to myself. (Along with my martial arts lessons, another gift to myself!).

So has the surgery changed me? Yes..it has! ALL is a positive way. My life has JUST begun again, and I have begun to live...To truly be grateful for each moment, to be mindful of each of life's pleasures (and to be mindful even of the BAD things and the fact that we can learn even from those).

Be good my fellow Losers! The WLS is a very "wild ride" indeed...Like a Roller-coaster it goes up and down, and round and round and upside down and you have NO control over much of it. But you can either be terrified of it or you can work it, follow the rules and glean pleasure from each twist, turn and loop-de-loop of your adventure!
Warmly,
Jackie

My "Thankfullness/ NSV" post...

PREOP I had active autoimmune disease (Myositis and MCTD) as well as severe osteoarthristis, high cholesterol, borderline Type 2 diabetes, failing cortisol levels and beginnings of high blood pressure.  I used a WHEELCHAIR and had a FULL TIME Mobility Service dog!
I was on 14 different prescription medications, 3 of those heavy duty pain meds (Fentanyl, Nucynta and high amounts of NSAIDS)...
I was on CHEMOTHERAPY and Biologic Medicines to shut down my immune system. I saw 4 different doctors and was TOLD by 3 of them that I would be DEAD in less than 1 year.
That was my main reason I decided on WLS...In fact one of my doctors recommended it (2 actually...My Physical Therapist and my Pain Management team!).
If I do not lose a single pound more, or a single clothing size less, I would consider teh surgery a SUCESS!!!!!! I considered the surgery a SUCESS 4 months AGO when I had ONLY lost 40 lbs!!!
Why???
Because I was off 10 (That's right 10!!!!!!!) Of my prescription medications. I no longer had to have Chemo OR the biologics or high doses of presnisone (Steroids)... I was able to dump 3 of the narcotics. I no longer NEED a wheelchair OR a full time mobility service dog!!!!!!!!! I walk 1 mile daily and go to the gym 3 times a week for body building work... My doctors...ALL of them are STUNNED!
So for me...It never was about teh weight. Of COURSE I am "Happy" I have gotten smaller and lost weight. But FAR more important to me was to LIVE...ANd you know what??? If I DIE tomorrow...It was STILL all worth it. I have done MORE in the last 6 months with my adult autistic son, and my military husband..I have LIVED more and loved more than ever before in my life! I truly WAS given a second chance.
And this is from a cancer survivor and ex-smoker...So I had the "2nd chance" once before...But this is different. My surgeon truly HAS saved my life and allowed me to enjoy some serious pain free months...
If anyone wants to tell me it HASN'T been for my health they can kiss my butt!!!!!!
If someone wants to tell me I had the "Wrong surgery" they can kiss my butt!!! I am not a vain person, even when I was fat I didn't care...Only when my health was tanking and in the toilet did I finally care. And yes...That is my BEST Non-Scale Victory....In fact it is SO great I am posting this in my blog to remind me of how far I have come.

I wish each of you a wonderful and healthful journey as well.
Warmly,
Jackie E.

One of the reasons I had this surgery was to be "normal"... When I was obese, what did I consider normal? To me, normal was not having everyone "ignore me" or worse make judgments because I was the "fat girl"...
Being Obese before meant, doing ANYTHING physical (whether exercise, or doing stuff with my family, was excruciating on my joints and muscles)... Before, being obese meant my clothing selection was limited...Being obese meant I was "existing" but not truly living or enjoying life.

Since having the Roux-En-Y surgery the greatest gift it has given me is that it is allowing me to be "normal".... Like many other ladies (or men) I now agonize over ALL the clothing selections I can buy! It is often hard to choose just one thing! You're talking to a "tom-boy" gal who fishes, hunts, plays outdoors, and normally could have cared less WHAT I was wearing... A yucky but comfortable size 3XL was just fine as long as it was black, plain and hid my fat tummy. Now I enjoy trying on form fitting comfy and feminine jeans and "girly girl" T-Shirts or other clothes... Believe me! The hubby loves the change!

But this Thanksgiving was a chance for me to truly BE and EAT like a normal person. I didn't "fret" about the holiday. Before I would have loaded my plate and eaten 2nds, 3rds, and then around 10PM had 4th's and 5th's of whatever Thanksgiving day bounty we cooked up.

This thanksgiving I was able to actually eat normal portions and enjoy the holiday and be mindful of what it meant to be "thankful". I had 3 oz of dark meat turkey, some green beans with bacon, homemade sweet potatoes with brown sugar splenda, cinnamon, nutmeg and a little almond meal in it, I enjoyed a tablespoon of mashed potatoes and a wee bit of gravy on my turkey and potatoes. There was no "obsessing" if I was eating to much, or not enjoying the meal... Nor was there ANY guilt afterwords for blowing my carb count on the sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes.

Since I don't eat like this every day, I was thankful for my surgery, thankful that I could enjoy the meal (since I don't dump or have pouch problems). I was Thankful that I can now walk nearly 2 miles in around 25 minutes, can wear a size 16 (at least right now!) Thankful that I am off 4 different types of medications. Thankful that I have met WONDERFUL people in the WLS community who have been supportive and inspirations and thankful I was given a 2nd chance to be "normal", to actually LIVE life and enjoy it day by day.

Today, I was thankful to be a "normal" person!
Warmly,
Jackie

I am 4 months out of Roux-En-Y surgery.
First of all, I have been blessed with nearly NO complications and a fairly easy time.

Now, for the "bad news". I am one of those who can eat ANYTHING, who never feel full and who don't dump. Ever.

I think that for many of us, when we decide on RNY surgery, there is a part of us that "hopes and even counts" on Dumping Syndrome to help keep us in line! We are told we only have a "small" pouch and will feel full after only a few bites. We hear stotries of people who are nauseous and can barely eat for months following their surgery.

I am here to tell you the truth. Only around 30-35% of RNY patients "dump" on sugar, fats or carbohydrates. That means 70% of us DON'T. That we could eat candy bars, crackers, ice cream, cake, fried foods, basically ALL the "bad stuff" that got us Obese in the first place.

There are also around 30-40% of us RNY patients who don't feel ANY satedness or "fullness". Granted, I do NOT feel ravenous hunger or hyper-acidity, but I do not ever feel "full". No pouch signals like hiccups, runny nose or even burping.

What that means is this. Because I don't "dump", because I don't ever feel full or sated I have to follow the rules even HARDER than the average bear. I must measure everything carefully and I must make sure manually that my carbs are under 10 grams per meal and my sugars are under 9 grams a meal. I must carefully measure out my 1/2 cup of food and make sure I stop after my measured amount.

As I said...I DO think my pouch is working to some extent because one, I am losing weight and two, I do NOT feel "extreme hunger" all the time like I did pre-op.

I make sure I get all my required daily vitamins in, my water (50-64 oz) and my exercise 3-4 times a week.

While the pouch does NOT work to just make me dump or feel full, it DOES give me the strength to say "No!" to things I shouldn't eat, such as high sugar sweets, or high carb or fried crap.

I use my advantage of being able to eat anything (From raw veggies and fruits and ALL meats) to eat healthy stuff. Steaks, salads, chicken, eggs...Always "Protein first".

I COULD go eat a McDonald's hamburger but I chose NOT to go eat a McDonald's hamburger. It's like an addict. Each day I chose to consciously eat healthy, whole foods that are minimally processed. I stay away from food that has too many chemicals or additives in it.

Perhaps there are more of us out there. People like me who have been blessed with virtually no complications an can eat just about anything. Maybe eating whole foods, and healthy foods gives us the opportunity to eat more. I don't know...I'm not a doctor or an expert.

Perhaps my stoma is stretched or perhaps I just have the constitution of a T-Rex. I know my metabolism is also screwed up due to being obese for so long and for having 2 autoimmune diseases and all the steroids and medicines that it entailed.

I do not regret my WLS at all. I lose a wee bit slower, my metabolism is still slower, and each day I make sure that I eat between 800-1000 calories and protein around 70-100 grams. I keep my carbs really low and avoid sugar like a diabetic! I am "doing" all the right things, so therefore my tool (pouch and surgery) is still working.

I know I just have to work harder to be good and that my surgery will NOT "check" me nor punish me by dumping.
If you are someone who is pre-op and COUNTING on RNY surgery to make you be "good" in your diet....Don't. You may very well end up like me. A Non-Dumper who never feels full and who can eat anything.

You WILL be rewarded with better health and at least will NOT feel "ravenous" or "out of control" physically. But mentally you may. I don't know about that either. Again, I have been blessed to have no depression or any "mental battles" with food after surgery (No cravings, no having to eat something because it "calls" to me or anything like that).

Maybe, the surgery is doing exactly what it is supposed to. I don't know, I'm still learning myself. But...While many of us "hope" we will dump or feel full all the time, many of us WON'T feel either. Just be aware.

At least I learned this very early out so I know I have to watch what I eat. If I go OVER 1000 calories or if I eat too many carbs then I stop losing and begin gaining. That is my metabolism and my "Cross" to bear. But you know what? I am still O.K with that. There are a lot WORSE things out there.

Hang tough my little "losers" and be healthy and happy!
Warmly,
Jackie