My Mini Gastric Bypass

So, you may be wondering just what a Mini Gastric Bypass is. You've heard of a Gastric Bypass, but not the Mini. An MGB is similar in overall effects to the traditional Roux en Y Gastric Bypass, however it is a different surgery.

The Mini Gastric Bypass (MGB) is a short, simple, successful and inexpensive laparoscopic gastric bypass weight loss surgery. The operation usually takes only 30 min., hospitalization less than 24 hours. The Mini Gastric Bypass is low risk, has excellent long term weight loss, minimal pain and can be easily reversed or revised. Over 4,000 people from all across America and around the world are choosing the MGB as the Best in Bariatric Surgery, more effective than the LapBand and safer than the RNY Gastric Bypass. The big difference is in the way the stomach is divided. In the RNY, the stomach is cut across, and the top portion becomes your new 'pouch' and then they bypass some of your intestines and reconnect your new stomach. In the MGB, the stomach is divided vertically, so that your new 'pouch' is straight down from your esophagus. Then some of your intestine is bypassed, and your new stomach is reconnected to your intestines down the line.

If you want some indepth info, you can go to www.clos.net and you will find plenty! I decided on this surgery after having some friends and my daughter-in-law undergo their own MGB's. The surgery itself for me was painless - I didn't even get sick after waking up from anesthesia, which is unusual for me! I was the first patient of the day, the surgery was short, I was in my room in no time, and walking around by that afternoon. I was released the next day before noon. This surgery is done laparoscopically, so all I have are 5 little port scars in my middrift area.

For the first 2 weeks, I was limited to yogurt, crackers or pretzels, clear soups, fruit juice and green tea. Oh, and I did eat popsicles! That 2 weeks is called Stage I. It allows your new little tummy to heal. After that, you move on to Stage II. In this stage, you can add mushy foods, like mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, finely mashed tuna or chicken - soft stuff. You also begin taking your vitamins 3 times daily, something you will do forever!

Of course you'd think that finally being able to eat something other than soup would be a big deal, and you'd be right. What you find out though, is that "eating" has become totally different than what you've known it to be. I was really looking forward to that first scrambled egg!! What I didn't realize is that it would take me about 30 minutes to eat it! Oh, and those mashed potatoes...2 bites and I was done. This was so unlike me, as I loved to eat before my surgery. I slowly chewed my way through the next 2 weeks, and then I was ready for Stage III.

Stage III is really where you just eat healthily. This is where you will stay as you lose the weight over the next 2 year period. The best advice I would have for anyone is to take it slow, and find out what works for you. I'm almost 7 months post op now, and have found what works for me. Everyone is different. Some can't tolerate beef, some love it. Some can eat more than others. I have found that I can't eat much at a time, so I try to eat 5 or 6 times during the day.

I usually have yogurt for breakfast, or maybe an egg. Even though I loved scrambled eggs in Stage II, at some point they made me sick after I would eat them, so now I fry them medium hard, and usually eat the yolk and a little of the white, and I'm full. I've also started adding some Grapenuts cereal to my yogurt, and maybe some raisins, and that's good. I drink some oj or grapefruit juice too. After MGB, we are supposed to avoid coffee and tea, but can have green tea. I miss my coffee, but not nearly as much as I thought I would. If I want a hot beverage, I usually have an herbal peppermint "tea" and find it to be very good.

I still like soups for lunch, but find that I don't care for canned soups, and usually make my own. Or I might have tuna or a hamburger patty (smallllll) and some salad, or whatever is leftover from the night before. Dinner is our biggest meal, but I sometimes can't eat too much at that time, so I do try to get a good lunch in. My husband and son are trying to be carb conscious, so that works well for me in preparing our dinner. I don't eat bread, and very little rice or pasta - maybe a couple of bites. Or a little potato, either mashed, baked or roasted. These types of food fill me quickly, and I really need protein, so I eat it first. I do especially well with beef, but also eat chicken or pork. I either roast the meat, or bake it or use the rotisserie. Simple is best. I also like fish or a little shrimp. In addition, I have some veggies either cooked or in a salad.

My inbetween meals are my fruit and maybe a protein bar or shake, or a couple of pretzels or crackers with some cheese. I don't drink carbonated beverages, but drink water, green tea, maybe a little lemonade. I don't have the sweet tooth I had before, and what a blessing that is. I have also become somewhat lactose intolerant, and have been substituting Soymilk for my beloved regular skim milk! That I do miss! Funny, you'd think it would be the goodies, but it is the milk.

So there you have a little about the surgery, and what my eating habits are at this point. I've been told by veteran gastric bypassers that this is the honeymoon period in which you can take it or leave it when it comes to food. So, I'll enjoy the honeymoon, and work to change my habits for good when this honeymoon journeys on into regular life.