What is Roux-en-Y? Simply, it is reduction in the functional volume of the stomach. Did you know that the top portion of the stomach is where the nerves are that trigger that important message to the brain "I'm full". By reducing the volume of the stomach using this top portion of the pouch, it will give me the ability to feel full sooner and for a longer period of time. Foods to be avoided are mushy foods, like mashed potatoes with gravy and cereals. Solid foods are to be consumed. like carrots, broccoli, cawliflower, chicken, beef and pork. As always, drinking water is good for me, however I'm not to drink 30 mins before or 45 minutes after meals. I'm to try to spread my meals over 5.5 hours in between.Photo: Wikipedia
What does this mean in a nutshell? Four bites is what I will be allowed to have in one meal. This is the equivalent to 1/2 cup. As long as I eat the solids that the nutritionist recommends, I should be able to lose 70% of my excess weight.
What is excess weight? Take your ideal or healthy weight from the BMI index and substract your existing weight from it. The difference is your excess weight. For example, if you have 100 lbs of excess weight, you will most likely lose 70 lbs with this surgery.
Some people who have had this surgery sometimes complain about their 'little pouch' stretching. This is not the case. In most cases, the patient has taken one too many bites, 'the fifth bite' and had pain in their new stomach. In order to get away from that pain and instead of reducing their bites to the recommended 'FOUR', they have returned to eating the mushy foods that are prohibited. The mushy food is consumed and the nerves in the little pouch never feel the sensation of fullness, the mushy food squeezes out into the intestines and the patient feels hungry once again. Therefore, the stomach never stretching.
I learned about all the risks involved in the surgery. Common ones like infections and gallblader stones. However, some more serious risks where one involves death. Something no one wants to discuss, since it is a very sensitive conversation. I have discussed all these risks with my family and also have made sure that they are well taken care of in case this ever happens. Not the dinner table topic, but needs to be discussed either way. My boys are old enough to have this discussion with and actually appreciate to know that they will be well taken care of. Make sure you have an updated Last Will and Testament and appoint your Powers of Attorney. It costs money, but it will also make your family feel better knowing that you have everything in order.
I'm happy to have the support from all of you, your kind words mean the world to me.
I'm happy to have Geoff by my side to help me through this huge change in my life. He is a man who loves me just the way I am, a man who has never been condescending to me because of my weight. The man that blows me kisses at least 10 times a day, and the man who looks at me with passion in his eyes and lets me know that I'm beautiful and sexy to him. I love you so much!
I'm extremely happy to have my children by my side who understand what all this means to me. They've been through the rollercoaster rides with me on different diets and where also there to see the joy of the weight loss then to see it fail, see the tears and the resentment. They want the same for me that I want for myself....a healthy and active life. I'm honoured to have children like my boys who have so much care for the people they love....I'm very greatful to be one of those people. Love you guys so so much!
