[mhoholuk]

OK....I am getting closer to knowing if the insurance co. has or hasn't approved my surgery, and have been wondering some things....I think I need one more one one one with my doctor, but thought I'd ask you guys for your first-hand experiences....

1. What exactly do you eat for the first stage?
2. How long after the surgery did you go to work?
3. How long after the surgery did you get to the gym?
4. How many vitamins/supplements do you take daily? Does this dose ever change?
5. Have you had any medical complications because of the surgery?
Has anyone lost a substantial amount of weight and not needed surgery to remove extra skin? If so, how did you do this?
6. Anyone have any children after the weightloss?

[mhoholuk]

What is dialation? and how is it performed?

[fr1endly2]

ITs so exciting...heres my replies to ur Q's, of course alot of this has to be done to your surgeons rules and depends on your situation totally:

1. What exactly do you eat for the first stage? I was on my clear liquids for 2 weeks as per my surgeon.
2. How long after the surgery did you go to work?
My surgeon required me for my work 2 weeks but i went back in 3 days early being i was careing for my 2 year old son i said i might as well have his friends back in my daycare program....so i started back early. I also was able to take a nap to recharge when the kids in the program napped so it helped me out tremendously.

3. How long after the surgery did you get to the gym? My surgeon only wanted me to walk at first and cleared me to return to my ladies gym in three months.
4. How many vitamins/supplements do you take daily? Does this dose ever change? Well when i was first post op...i was on ONE centrum chewable and 2 tums 4 times a day and took biotin. DUE to some issues (not sure if weight loss surgery related or numbness) at a year i was increased too two centrum multi's, B complex, B12 (i use nasal nascobal), and also had to go on prevadsid for my bleeding ucler after few months on nexium to heal it.

5. Have you had any medical complications because of the surgery?
Well at 12 months out i had some alarming vomitting and my surgeon put me in for a scope the next morning and i was diagnosed with a small
bleeding ucler. I have numbness in my hands and feet but I think i always had it just always thought it was from my wieghing over 300 lbs and knew if i told doctors they would say loose weight and i couldnt. SO now that i weight normal i still have this...and been checked im not deficient and i have failed to get back to the nerologist. OTHERWISE i been fine.....

Has anyone lost a substantial amount of weight and not needed surgery to remove extra skin? If so, how did you do this? Well i have lost to date 143 lbs. IN my clothes i look fine and can deal..here is my after pic .....

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...2/100_0625.jpg
I am fine with how i look in clothes and at this time almost 2 years post op dont think im doing any plastics...
6. Anyone have any children after the weightloss .... I know of people that have but i had my last child before the surgery....

HOPE i have been a help
hugs!

[DocSanae]

Originally Posted by mhoholuk

OK....I am getting closer to knowing if the insurance co. has or hasn't approved my surgery, and have been wondering some things....I think I need one more one one one with my doctor, but thought I'd ask you guys for your first-hand experiences....

Of course, you know that the cardinal rule is to follow your own surgeon's instructions, no matter what other people say, and also if in doubt, check it out with your surgeon.

That said, in general.

1. What exactly do you eat for the first stage?

With most surgeons,
1-2 weeks of clear liquids, followed by 1-2 weeks of milk based or creamy soup type liquids, 1-2 weeks on pureeds, then on to soft food, and slowly going up to regular food. Each stage is on the average 1-2 weeks, but the "firmer" the food stuff you are able to eat, you may be staying at the same stage for a week or two longer. Generally, it seems you will be able to eat red meat at about 3 months post op.
However, you will find, the earlier out you are, that you will not be able to tolerate certain foods even though they are allowed at that stage. Do not be discouraged that you will never be able to eat that particular food. Things change over time, and a week, a month later, try it again, you will probably find that you can tolerate it. Or, cook it a different way, and you may be able to tolerate. Post op, consider, all food as trial and error as to what you can eat, and also that it changes from time to time.
You may or may not find that you have dumping issues, if you do experience dumping, then it's best to avoid the food that caused it. Actually, it is best if you can avoid the kinds of food that are likely to cause dumping.

2. How long after the surgery did you go to work?

For those I have been following here, anywhere from 2-3 weeks to 6 weeks or so. Probably best to give yourself at least 4 weeks.

3. How long after the surgery did you get to the gym?

This depends on the type of exercise. Walking is recommended immediately post op, while the most strenuous types of exercises are okayed past 3-6 months, depending on the surgeon.

4. How many vitamins/supplements do you take daily? Does this dose ever change?

You will need to take all the vitamins from A-E because of the absorption issues. Also iron and calcium and some other minor nuturients as well. It is best to get multivitamins and minerals developed specifically for use by bypass patients, such as the ones available in our eStore.
Yes, the dosage can change. As you go along your journey, and get regular follow up labs, if data shows that you are showing signs of defficiencies, you will be adviced to increase your dosage, or to change to other forms of medication. An example is in this linked thread about iron.

5. Have you had any medical complications because of the surgery?

A number of members had strictures. Most recently, RePete07.
Some had more serious complications like wannabethin. I think hers is about the worst experince, though, of someone who came on board prior to surgery.

Has anyone lost a substantial amount of weight and not needed surgery to remove extra skin? If so, how did you do this?

Lisa/fr1endly2 for one, as she says.
Also, tantesta, KimberlyDiane, BreeChick to name a few.

6. Anyone have any children after the weightloss?

Yes. njmom.

Originally Posted by mhoholuk

What is dialation? and how is it performed?

Dialation is a method to treat strictures. Stricture is the narrowing of the stoma--the opening between the pouch and the intestine attached to the pouch. Symtoms are fullness and nausea that don't go away, almost every meal, especially solid food, liquids usually manage to go down. This happens as an "over reaction" to heal. Our body will naturally try to close up all openings that *shouldn't* be there, so your pouch will try to close up the stoma.
To diagnose, you need to be scoped--an endoscopy done.
It is also treated by endoscopy--dialation done endoscopically. There is a very narrow tube along the entire endoscope that allows tubes and wires to go through and be inserted into the gastric/intestinal cavity. A tube with an inflatable *balloon* attached to it is inserted through this tube into the narrowed opening, then inflated slowly to stretch the opening. It may take several dialations to stretch the stoma to what it should be.

[DocSanae]

P.S. Moving this to the Stupid Qs forum.

[DocSanae]

I forgot to say.
About pregnancies.
It is best to avoid pregnancies for at least a year post op--most surgeons advice two years.
While you are in your weight losing stage, you will become extremely fertile, and pills ineffective, so you will need to be prepared to use other forms of birth control.
After you have reached goal and your weight stabilized, you will be able to have as healthy a pregnancy as a non op, so long as you take care of your nutrition and keep your diet balanced and eat in moderation, and have an obstetrician who understands well about WLS.