Husky2Healthy

I use them, but if you want to try them before you spend any money. Go : http://www.celebratevitamins.com/component/chronocontact/?chronoformname=sample and fill out the free sample page. They send you about 12 different products free, and no shipping cost. And in about 3 days you get them. I was amazed.

I went exactly through this also, I know how terrifiying this can be. See my post, there is GREAT advise in there: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/17948-pushing-my-luck/page__p__150619#entry150619 Also, check with your doctor, I was eating the right amount, but I was waiting too long between eating. I was trying to eat just 3 times a day, when I should have been eating every couple of hours. Call your doctor and double check how frequently they want you to eat, but make sure you tewll them how often you are eating now. Neer be afraid to call your doctor/nurse practioner, they are quite use to having a new patient call at least once a week. This is normal for some people what you are feeling, because I felt it. But just stay on your plan and reach out if it gets to be too much. Best, Steven

When you get to the mushie stage try a hard boiled egg blended with half an avocado and a good shot of lemon juice (sometimes I will add a shot of Wasabi or Tabasco for some heat). I have this at least once a day. And the avocado is helping me get that good fat in so my hair and skin will not suffer either!

I used my MB a lot before I had surgery. but now that I am in my 'prison' aka the Mushie stage until July 1st, I use it several times a day. Some suggestions: 1) It can be tedious to clean it several times a day. So for me, if Iam blending chili (I used Hormel Fat Free Turkey) I open 2 cans and blend them one at a time, then put into one container with a date. Then I measure out 1/2 cup for a sitting and cook in the microwave. 2) Make sure there is enough liquid to keep things moving along. Other wise you may be shaking the MB to get everything to blend. Some liquids I are plain Water, lemon or lime juice, or even broth. My favorite combos are: A hard boiled egg, half an avocado and lime juice. A can of chicken breast, 1 TBS of Fat Free Mayo, and a half of an avocado. A can of tuna, a dollop of relish and a TBS of Mayo or Peanut Butter. it sounds gross, but it is tasty. Good Luck

My nutritionist gave me a list of no's: Carbinated drinks unitl 1 year, then pout into a cup and let go flat, gum, and the 'WHITES' basicly white rice, bread, Pasta and torillias and pita bread. I was also given foods to avoid: raw vegtables (such as celery, carrots or anything that would be too fiberous and hard to get into a mushie state), watermelon and corn. Mind you I live for corn. And then whole wheat products in small, very limited amounts. Mostly because my nutritionist wants me to still enjoy food, but does not want me to fill my sleeve and not get all my protien and nutients in. But I think you are like me, once you try something you will know if it works for your 'Thumby' or you can have it, but their will be a price to pay (ie. Pain, dumping, Productive burps, ect.) Good Luck.

Thanks Samantha, in a really warped way that give me hope that I will experience that soon too. Thanks for being honest and sharing!

Don't laugh, but what is a 'thumby'?

I am on mushies, and I am still waiting for this feeling....

OK, I know this should probably go into the food section, but this is a double question: 1) How long has your doctor suggested that you stay on Mushies? I started Mushies last Friday (end of 2nd week post op), and my sheet says that I won't start solids until post op week 7. Is this about the average? I know it is needed, it is just so boring. I have loads of recipe, but I am craving texture!!! 2) Anyone have good Mushies Breakfast ideas? I am over protien shakes or watered down oatmeal or greek yogurt. Any ideas or what worked for you? Thanks, Steven

Man, this makes me feel like a freak. I have absolutely no problems drinking or keeping food down. I have to restrict my eating to half a cup of pureed food with a baby spoonper sitting and then I must tell myself to stop. I am 3 weeks post-op, I keep on telling myself, 'Yes, you had surgery and you will feel restriction once you go to solids, just follow the plan and don't push it!' I finally called my doctor and I was informaed I was not eating often enough. I was going 3-4 hours between 1/2 cup meals. He told me to bump it up to half a cup every 2.5-3 hours. But this was my doctor for my sleeve. Never be afraid to call your doctor and ask. My docotor's Nurse Paractitioner said, it is very common to hear from his patients one a week for the first month or so. Keep a pad nearby, write down your list of questions when you get to a few, call your doctor and ask. You are not on this journey alone, and look to him to be your guide and shepard for the first couple of months. And never be afraid to bounce it off us older sheep <grin>

Strange, I am not on any of these. Should I call my doctor and ask why? I do have a regular tightness in my chest like heartburn, but nothing I can't live with. But I will def be happy when it stops.

I also have been taking a pretty huge pill (a little larger than a Centrum) since the second day of surgery with no problem, But I still say a little prayer before taking them, just in case. Good Luck!

OK, have I contracted Sleeve-opause? My body certainly has changed. 1) I get weepy at the drop of a hat, a Hallmark commercial would un-do me. 2) I use to sweat A LOT, now I hardly sweat unless it is a cold sweat, & my skin feels cold or clammy to the touch esp. my face & neck area. 3) When I (Bow Chicka Bow Wow), I seem to reach the end very, very quickly, too quickly. 4) I get these weak moments, very brief but if feels like my ears are about to pop with a disconnected feeling, just for a second, but pretty often when moving around. 5) The climate use to always feels hot or warm, now I get cold easily. Some of these are good things, obviously others are not. I am 14 days out of surgery, I heard about some of these changes like sweating and being cold. But I thought this would take effect AFTER I lost ALL my weight. Anyone have these 'changes' this soon?

The hair thing is a good thing to know! I am 41 and fairly smooth and can't grow much facial hair. I always say I am still waiting to hit puberty, LOL. But this is a plus, I can't wait, more hair!!

At day 3 I finally convinced the nurses to let me have popsicles and crushed ice. Other than gas, I had NO pain and the bad nausea was gone by the 3rd day. Ask if you can have a Popsicle. But FYI- I had a very easily time getting down stage 1 liquids, I had an easy time on stage 2 full liquids, now I am on mushies and I am still have too easy a time. All I can suggest is call your doctor or their nurse practitioner and double check the oz amount and how often. Although, I was eating enough (except a small bout of trying mushies too soon )I was not eating often enough. Sowhen I check with my doctor, he said eat full liquids every 2.5 to 3 hrs 4 oz, and if I wanted to I could have 2 small spoon fulls of a mushies like, blended eggs or such. But that was MY doctor and his advise for ME. Don't be afraid to call you doctor and and ask these things, you are NOT bothering them, this is part of the experience. I am 16 days out, insicions/scabs are gone, they look great, went to work after 12 days off, and I had no problem. Again everyone is different, and don't push it. Best of luck, Steven

LOL, thanks all! It is nice to know I am not insane, LOL.

Let me tell you, the first time I had refried beans blended with a sprinkle of cheese and small dollop of Fage Greek yogurt, I cried it was so good. I also switched to using a baby spoon to eat my mushies to help 'pace' my intake. Oh, my favorite mushies so far are 1/2 an avocado, a squirt of lemon and some tuna; my refried beans with cheese and yogurt, and I made 'Shelly's Baked Ricotta http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2007/08/pureed-foods.html , I could only have 2 oz, but it was amazing. Good luck on the mushies and take your time.

So you don't spend anymore money, go to http://www.celebratevitamins.com/component/chronocontact/?chronoformname=sample they sent me loads of free samples and I got them in THREE days after the request!!!! See if you can keep any of these down. I wish you luck and be well!

I hope they fade soom, mine were pretty bad and my right side hurt more than my left too. But today is day 13 and the bruises are just slightly visable still and no soreness. But on a brighter note, my insicion site look, flipping amazing!!! The 'super glue' and scabs are pretty much gone, only a slight crease and pinkness remain. the one at the very top (I have six incisions total) looks like I may have a slight dimple/pucker scar, but nothing I can't deal with or fill with spackle, LOL. I also have a little hardening under all my incisions, but i her those 'Hemotomas' will breakup and fade also. But at least they done itch anymore! How are your scars doing?

I am afraid I am pushing my luck and need some tough love. I had my VSG surgery late May 5th, but today on May 14th, I am already on some mushies. It started with a hard boiled egg blended, it was so good I am now doing blended refried Beans. I know I am suppose to be on full liquids only until May 20th (although my Doctor's main nurse said I should be good for mushies on May 18th. I am in no pain from the surgery, I walked 3 miles today, eating mushies, going back to work in 2 days, but I had surgery 9 days ago. And even though I am limiting eating just 4 oz, I know I have had 5 oz in one sitting with no restrictions. Everything just tastes so good, and I get a minor heartburn feeling in the center of my chest and force my self to stop, but I am very worried. This IS NOT a good start. If I am pushing things and 'cheating' now, what will happen and will I ever really change my habits, or will this all be for nothing? Input?

Thanks LilMissDiva. I fel much more 'sane' and in control now that I am eating 'less in volume, but more frequently' during this Full Liquid/Mushie transition. My doc said I could start mushies today rather than Friday 9which is what my written plan says), but just to be on the safe side I am only going to do mushies for one 'meal' for a couple of days. It is just confusing/scary since my written plan seems much 'faster' than most other posters plans. Today is my 13th day out of surgery, yet i am ok'ed to go onto 'mushies', but most poster are just beginning full liquids at this point. No one wants to 'blow' their stiches and een though I have been ok'ed, I am still going to take it slow for a while. You hear about it, but there until you experience relearing your body after surgery do you realize how difficult it can be. Your nerves ending are gone or wack-a-do, and your are trying to figure out, is that gas, or hung or just acid build up. But I will figure it out soon, I hope, LOL. Thank you for you kind words!

Taled to the docotr today, found a good therapist that deals with post operative bariatric patients ON MY HEALTH PLAN!!!! Woo Hoo!!! They were not too concerned about me moving to mushies so soon, but advised me to only have 2 tablesppons of any mushie during a 'planned eating event'. We talked about how I was food obsessed and ravenous, but it got better with me being at work. I could concentrate on other things, plus no food commercials to tempt me. But we found out I was eating WAY TOO LITTLE. I was eating only 3 times a day, 4-5 oz. I should be doing 4 oz every 2.5 hours on full liquids, then when I do mushies 4 oz every 3-4 hours. Their only concern with mushies was whipping up too much air into the food and having pain and advised me to watch it. As far as not feeling like I had any surgery, they said my surgery went very smooth with minimal incisions and manipulation, so they were not that shocked. So I am much relieved. So there is my update, meltdown documented, and I can move forward. Thanks for all the kind words and well sihes. Best, Steven

I know for me, a male, that on a regular diet on the 4 week I gain or stall due to water weight retention. I am 12 days out of surgery myself and I am mentally preparing myself for a stall. i just plan to try to be a bit more active that week and watch my sodium. This may not be the case for you, but I hope it helps...

Yippeee!! I am glad, I move to mushies on Friday. I had a hard time on full liquids as far as pushing myself too hard. But I actually bought baby spoons, so I could take smaller bites, not only did it space my meal out longer, I was able to savor the taste. Good luck!!