Gastric Bypass Surgery Support Group

can anyone tell me what to expect with gastic bypass, what works food/drink wise for 1st 2 weeks and after

No one can tell you exactly what you will experience, but there are a few unique things with the gastric bypass that I think you should know. I don't know if they apply to the lap band, since the gastric seems to have affects beyond just the reduction in stomach size.

First of all, I had my gastric bypass almost two months ago. Surgery went well and since then I've lost 38 pounds. However, the first month was not easy. I healed well - no problem. But getting through the changes in diet was kinda rough and I had diarhea most of the time. I did not like the protein shakes that were recommended, so I fought having to do drink them (which was a mistake). I lived off homemade soup right after surgery.

I found that I was generally not hungry and began noticing things tasted different. Food that I used to like did not taste good. Other foods that I only mildly cared for tasted much better. My tastebuds seemed to be much more sensitive and as a result much pickier. If something is not good quality (such as much of the fast food), I can pick up on it right away and I won't eat it.

My preferences have changed a lot. For example, I now LOVE the taste of vegetables. I don't care for meat much and it sits heavy on my stomach. I also love fruit now more than ever. Starches, which were my best friend (pasta and breads) are now only mildly interesting.

I get thirsty more often than hungry and I have to regulate that because you REALLY can't drink before and after a meal. It makes your stomach bubbly and will often lead straight to the bathroom. So I suck on popsicles a lot and sometimes have something juicy with my meal, such as fruit, to give me some kind of thirst quencher when I can't yet drink.

Now that some time has passed, I'm eating a more solid diet. I found my bathroom trips are less frequent and I'm able to realistically judge how much to eat. If I stop within my limits, my digestion is fine, so I'm able to control my portions because I don't like how I feel if I don't.

Sugar is something I strictly watch because if I eat too much it makes me feel like I'm being short-circuited. I get jittery and break out in a cold sweat. So all canned fruits are eaten in moderation without added sugar and I stick with sugar free and low sugar products.

One of the hardest things is to get enough protein in my diet because if you don't you lose energy. My refusal to drink milky protein shakes really cost me a lot of energy. So I've tried getting protein in other ways. I make myself eat some protein at every meal - chicken, eggs, beans, etc. and look for protein enriched products. I have made smoothies with plain whey protein that has little taste. These are pretty good.

I do not regret one minute of this operation - It probably literally saved my life. I am feeling much better and my energy is coming back. I'm actually enjoying getting dressed and I can move around so much better than before. Little things that were taken away from me because of my weight limitations are coming back and I'm so appreciative of my regained mobility.

As for my choice between lapband and gastric, I did it because I did not want to even remotely risk failure. I knew this was my last chance and since then I know without a doubt I would have cheated if I had not gone this route. It has taken away my ability to cheat and forcefully changed me. It has taken away cravings and choices. It has made things easier and harder at the same time. Ultimately it was the right choice, because I look back over the years of all the yo-yo dieting and I realize that pattern would be with me the rest of my life if I hadn't done this.

Also, as my doctor explained to me...if you have a gastric - if there are going to be complications these will happen up front, right after surgery. Once everything has healed, that's it - you're done and it requires little or no maintenance. With a lap-band it requires visits for adjustments, and eventually may have to be replaced. It's a foreign object in your body, so if there are complications they will happen down the line. For me, I wanted to get on with my life - get it over with and make food take a back seat to the rest.

I hope this helps. Good luck with whatever you do!

I believe that you gave some very valuable advice . I do believe that you should eat as much protein first before other items on your plate. You do need to balance out the meal. Since we are on a high protein diet, the stomach build lots of acid to break it down. So you will need a little starch to soak up the acid and vegies for other vitamins.

When I eat out, I order a salad and ende up takeing a few bites, pass it to another family member. When the main course comes, I work on the meat first then take a few bites of the other items on my plate. Each person experiences their own changes that happens true. Like drinkng while eating is not easy for most, but I am capable of doing it. I have never been able to et without drink( due to another disease Fibromyalgia). Yes -food taste change and for me the food I like or not bother me changes every 6- year that I have notice, some for the good and others that drive me crazy(favorites) I found that I eat more eggs and red meat. Chicken has been a problem. I am fine with chicken 1 out every 4 meals. I know am trying to get some fish in my diet. This is a real challenge due to the fact I don't like most fish that stink. I don't like protein powder or whey- it feels to gritty and so I just eat products like cheese and sour cream , yogurt, and cream cheese to help in this area- also helps with calcium needs. I hope this helps and gives you a rouned picture between the two voiced opionions.

I had my bypass in Feb. of this year.. I too find that food tastes very different than it did before.. Most things that my brain tells me I want and like (because I did before) I find myself taking a couple bites only to find I don't seem to like it anymore. I was on a strict protein shake diet the first 2 weeks as most are.. I now can eat pretty much anything in moderation but I do stay away from most all sugar. The good part is I don't seem to want it anymore anyway. I rarely even get hungry so most of the time I find myself making myself eat. (something I never thought would happen).

Good Luck With Your Journey!

I know the feelingof feeding myself because the urge is not there. This tends to be more when you feel slightly off(sick with anything Cold, headach, ect...) Right now , I am sick and trying to get well. My regular docotr is not available , so I made an appointment with ENT for next Wednesday. I just want less pain and feel the best that I can without other complications. Thus leads to not wanting to eat. Thee is also emotional issue that leads to either eating too much or too little. Just make sure you recognize the signs. I know when I have not eaten enough protein. I get very tired and lethargic. Everyone please learn to listen to your body it will tell you what it needs .

just had gastric on the 16th - the 1st 2 days were horrible and i regretted it.

migraine headaches would not allow me to move much but since then - day 3-6 - i have been shopping and leading a normal life.

Right after surgery, my blood pressure and diabetes disapeared and i no longer have to take medicine - thanks for you advise on homemade soups.

i mixed up a potato, onion with chicken broth and blended it together and it was delicious - food does not taste the same and you get full so quickly

My favorite meal was blended pork chops, potatoes and cream of mushroom soup. My hubby tried bake potate with chili and cheese blended up for me. I gagged. I ate lots of yogurt and drank lots of water. i really did not have much of an appetite. Taste change and change and change over the years. I enjoy finding foods I would not eat before and will now.

Wow, what you wrote helped me so much. I can identify so much with what you wrote. I am at the 4 week mark now and I am having lots of trouble with the protein shakes as well. Everthing I drink makes my stomach bubby and I am having trouble with an upset stomach. My tastes have definitely changes too. I was really wondering if it was me or normal, so thanks so much for posting....

I use to have that problem till I switched to Profect from Bariatricadvatge it is a vile that has 50g of protien in it. It is only 3.2fl.oz. and it is great I drink half and then in a couple hours I drink the other half. It comes in many diffrent flavors. I love it. But it is exspensive. But I recomend it.

Dee

I am two months post op, and have been very fortunate to not have a lot of problems with stomach upset. And as unbelievable as it is to me, I do have to make myself eat. Chicken doesn't really like me unless it is juicy, which isn't the easiest thing in the world with boneless skinless chicken breasts. I have not experienced taste change, but I don't care anything about sweets anymore. Also, I do not have a desire to drink diet drinks or regular ones at all. I do get tired in the evening and nap some each day, but I have a kindof labor intensive job, so this contributes to the tiredness. If I take a little nap, I can exercise later. Mostly, I have done extremely well! I am very blessed. My surgeon is the best!