a million and one questions.

[barbara18]

hi there, i had surgery three weeks ago tomorrow, and feel i have loads of unanswered questions. so here i go;
1. does the no drink with food rule apply to gastric bypass patients?, as i sometimes find im having to have a sip with food now and again.
2. how soon can i go swimming??, even just to go paddling in the pool so i feel as if i am getting out and about. i wouldnt be doing anything hardcore as i know im still healing on the inside just to relax in the pool would be enough for me.
3. is anyone else having problems with the amount of tablets they are having to take, im currently on 8 tablets a day, as i have had to start my iron early due to me having iron defiancy. even though i am splitting my tablets over the day i dred taking my a-z vitamin tablets as it is so large, could anyone recomend a smaller tablet that is available to buy.
4. i have one more week on the puree diet and im feeling very anxious about starting stage one foods, i should be excited as im sick of puree food at the moment, alls i can think is how excited i will be to finally have cottage pie or something similar, did anyone feel the same and if so what can you recomend, i scared that i wont be able to swallow the food with the nerves of something bad happening.
5. i go on holiday at the end of september am i tempting fate in buying size 14?? im currently in a 18-20 trouser, i have managed to drop to a 16-18 top. do you think i should leave it til closer to the holiday date.
6. and if anyone can recomend a good wls cook book, preferbly a british one please x

i have so many questions that as soon as i started typing them i have forgotten most of what i wanted to ask so i will prob be back later with more, any or all the answers would be great many thanks barbara xx

 

[JaneNewcastle]

Hello Barbara, I'm sorry that I do not have the answers to your questions because I have not had my surgery yet. But did I read your post correctly, you just had your surgery and you were a size 20?

 

[Karlos]

hi there, i had surgery three weeks ago tomorrow, and feel i have loads of unanswered questions. so here i go;

1. does the no drink with food rule apply to gastric bypass patients?, as i sometimes find im having to have a sip with food now and again.

Yes you should stop drinking 15 minutes before you eat preferably 30 minutes. Then not eat for at least 30 minutes after eating. This is really important and something you should stick to

2. how soon can i go swimming??, even just to go paddling in the pool so i feel as if i am getting out and about. i wouldnt be doing anything hardcore as i know im still healing on the inside just to relax in the pool would be enough for me.

Before you do anything more than walking you should clear it with your GP.

3. is anyone else having problems with the amount of tablets they are having to take, im currently on 8 tablets a day, as i have had to start my iron early due to me having iron defiancy. even though i am splitting my tablets over the day i dred taking my a-z vitamin tablets as it is so large, could anyone recomend a smaller tablet that is available to buy.

Nope the prescribed one is the best. If it is Forceval it also contains folic acid so you should stick with it. If you leave it out of the packet for an hour or so it goes softer and is easier to swallow.

4. i have one more week on the puree diet and im feeling very anxious about starting stage one foods, i should be excited as im sick of puree food at the moment, alls i can think is how excited i will be to finally have cottage pie or something similar, did anyone feel the same and if so what can you recomend, i scared that i wont be able to swallow the food with the nerves of something bad happening.

Yep we all felt the very same way so worry not. Just take it really easy and take very small bites and chew the crap out of it. Chewing is absolutely the key here. Make sure you get the protein in first before the carbs. If you find something doesn’t agree with you then leave it out for a while. I couldn’t eat eggs or cheese at first they both made me sick, yet now two years on I tried them again and I’m now ok.

5. i go on holiday at the end of september am i tempting fate in buying size 14?? im currently in a 18-20 trouser, i have managed to drop to a 16-18 top. do you think i should leave it til closer to the holiday date.

Yes only buy small amounts of stuff you really need as you will drop sizes quite quickly

6. and if anyone can recomend a good wls cook book, preferbly a british one please x

I don’t cook so can’t help but there are a couple of ones I think. One of the girls will be along with a better answer

i have so many questions that as soon as i started typing them i have forgotten most of what i wanted to ask so i will prob be back later with more, any or all the answers would be great many thanks

barbara xx

That’s what we are all here for. Good luck x

 

[tesmaralda]

hi there, i had surgery three weeks ago tomorrow, and feel i have loads of unanswered questions. so here i go;
1. does the no drink with food rule apply to gastric bypass patients?, as i sometimes find im having to have a sip with food now and again
Yes it does apply to bypass patients. I am nearly 2 years post op and still can't eat and drink together. It makes me full up and feel ill.

2. how soon can i go swimming??, even just to go paddling in the pool so i feel as if i am getting out and about. i wouldnt be doing anything hardcore as i know im still healing on the inside just to relax in the pool would be enough for me.

Wait for all you wounds to heal as you don't want to get an infection. Most surgeons will recommend nothing more than a gentle walk until you have your first post op check up as this minimises the risk of incisional hernia.
3. is anyone else having problems with the amount of tablets they are having to take, im currently on 8 tablets a day, as i have had to start my iron early due to me having iron defiancy. even though i am splitting my tablets over the day i dred taking my a-z vitamin tablets as it is so large, could anyone recomend a smaller tablet that is available to buy.

Spreading them out over the day is good, get into a good routine and this will help. Can't recomend anything smaller as I take forceval and this is the size of a horse pill.
4. i have one more week on the puree diet and im feeling very anxious about starting stage one foods, i should be excited as im sick of puree food at the moment, alls i can think is how excited i will be to finally have cottage pie or something similar, did anyone feel the same and if so what can you recomend, i scared that i wont be able to swallow the food with the nerves of something bad happening.

Take it really slowly, introduce one new food at each meal as it helps if you do have a problem identify what has caused it. Us a teaspoon and just fill the tip of it, put the spoon down before you swallow, even start getting in to the habbit of chewing. Wait until you have cpompletely swallowed before you pick the spoon up again. Don't eat for longer than 20 minutes, if you have anything left on your plate after this time either bin it or save it for your next meal.
5. i go on holiday at the end of september am i tempting fate in buying size 14?? im currently in a 18-20 trouser, i have managed to drop to a 16-18 top. do you think i should leave it til closer to the holiday date.

Wait until closer to the date as you may be surprised.

6. and if anyone can recomend a good wls cook book, preferbly a british one please x

There is only one British bypass cookbook and I can't think of the name off the top of my head. Will have a look around and get back to you.

i have so many questions that as soon as i started typing them i have forgotten most of what i wanted to ask so i will prob be back later with more, any or all the answers would be great many thanks barbara xx

No problems ask awa as the only silly question is an unaasked question.

 

[Deets]

www.bariatriccookery.com/ the website also sells a book called 'Return to Slender' - to be honest though i found the cook book a bit empty, and have found more recipes using the website and also using this website theworldaccordingtoeggface

good luck x

 

[barbara18]

Hello Barbara, I'm sorry that I do not have the answers to your questions because I have not had my surgery yet. But did I read your post correctly, you just had your surgery and you were a size 20?

i was a a size 22 trouser and a size 20 top im now currently at a 18-20 trouser and a 16-18 top ),

 

[barbara18]

there was one more question i forgot to ask, i dont normally drink alcohol, but i'd like to know how people got on with it as i do drink occasionaly, couple of times a year if that, how soon is it ok to drink any any any suggestion on what would be acceptable, i.e non fizzy and obviously sugar free. many thanks

 

[jaynefrances]

I've got the return to slender book but have also got lots of recipes from just googling on the net. For sweet things there are some good diabetic sites out there that offer sugar free recipes.
Regarding alcohol if i'm having shorts i tend to use pure juices with lots of ice or have a glass of rose wine.
I too was very nervous about moving through food stages, so i built up my textures very slowly, gradually thickening up my purees before moving on to fine textures. Good advice earlier about using a small teaspoon and taking plenty of time. By being extra cautious it reduces the risk of vomiting (i've not been sick once since my surgery - although i have felt nauseus at times)
Good advice about leaving the holiday clothes just yet, you may find that you are even smaller by holiday time !
Regarding swimming, my specialist nurse advised waiting until every wound had healed fully and then to try some very gentle swimming.
With regards to drinking with food, Karlos's advice is the same as i was given my my doc. However i've always had a problem with not clearing mouth and throat out after food and it makes me feel uncomfortable (yet another weird compulsion i have lol) so i spoke to the doc and he said that i could take a couple of very small sips after i had finished eating, just enough to feel that the food had moved away but no more for 20 minutes. I'm not sure what the reasons are for you feeling the need to drink with food but speak to your doc if you are worried.
And finally meds - i have yet to find a small vitamin ! It is hard at first, especially while your pouch is still tight and fills easily, but it does get easier to get them down over time.