SophieJaneB

I bought several of my favorite Campbell's soup, and when you blend it up really good in a blender, it liquifies it, so there are no chunks left, therefore fully safe to eat. My favorites are the New England Clam Chowder, Fiesta Nacho Cheese, Bean and Bacon, Cheddar Brocolli. I am ready to go onto purees though, it gets old!

I have a few suggestions based on things I've done in the past. 1. Medifast (check it out at medifast1.com) I did well on it, and the weight loss is fast. 2. Go to a clinic and get the weight loss shots and the prescription appetite suppressant, it is fast and effective (but not for long term). 3. Atkins, or South Beach or any other low carb diet. Low carb melts weight very fast.

Welcome! I am 1 week post-op and had some pain with my surgery, but it is subsiding, my best advice is to put on your GAME FACE when going in to surgery, realize you CAN do this, yes it will be challenging but YOU GOT THIS AND YOU CAN DO IT!!! Good luck and keep us posted with your progress! And if you have any questions, feel free to ask, or message me!

No hernia repair. It feels slightly better today, I can already get more liquids down. (thank goodness) So i do see the light at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully within a week it will be gone!

Thanks MinaT! Glad to know of someone else who experienced the same thing, and that there is light at the end of the tunnel. I will let my surgeon know when I go in for post-op.

Hang in there girl! You got this!!

After just a few bites of anything (thinned out soups/ thinned puddings/ Water, anything) I feel this knotted up constriction where my esophogus meets my stomach. It is almost painful, makes me wince, put my hand to my chest until it stops, a few seconds later. Is this my stomach trying to heal, or could it be something else? I don't think it is air bubbles because I am very careful not to take in air as I eat or drink. Any advise will help!

They gave me the med cups, and told me one oz per 15 minutes. I thought I could use a water bottle, but am not getting enough in. Only finished half a water bottle yesterday (which is about 8 oz) Plus I had a total of about 8oz of Soup./yogurt/and pudding. I am going to immediately start using the med cups. I am having the discomfort of when it hits my stomach, it feels like its going through a knot, or its knotting up. Its very uncomfortable, and I figured it was meaning I was full, but maybe not. I don't know. These sensations are all so new.

on full liquids. and 8 oz. per day is good?

Is this normal? Only able to get in about 8oz of liquids and under 200 calories each day. Almost scares me.

I would say for me, this was very comparable to my c-sections i the pain department. The gallbladder, for me, was easier. The doctor used a 34f bougie on me, which is pretty darn small, I am having a hard time getting my liquids in, right now I'm getting 8oz of liquids a day (i;m 5 days post op). Eating less than 200 calories a day. I am off pain meds today because i'm taking care of my kids, but still feel the after effects of the liquid vicodin, i feel dazed and a little confused lol

glad you had a good experience!

First thing I want to say is, the surgery is not for the faint of heart. I've had 2 c-sections, and gallbladder removal surgery so I kind of knew what I was getting in to. If you've never had surgery just be prepared, there is quite a bit of pain in your abdomen, and the worst is geting up out of the bed every time you go to the restroom, which is very frequently since they are giving you fluids through an IV. So, put on your Brave face and tackle it head on, you can do this!! I arrived at the hospital Wednesday at 5:30am and things started happening very quickly. I got called back, changed into gown, and people started coming in, anesthesia team, nurses, and surgeon. They started my IV and gave me fluids and tylenol through IV. I vaguely remember being wheeled to the operating room, I remember one of the doctors asking if I'd like some chapstick on, and I said yes, and he rubbed some onto my lips with gauze, I thought that was very thoughtful. Next thing I knew I was barely waking up in recovery and in pain! I remember moaning and saying "it hurts, it hurts" and the nurse said they were starting in on my Dilautid drip, and I said "will it get better the more I have because it still hurts!" and she said yes. I vaguely remember being wheeled to my room, where my husband was waiting for me, and I pretty much slept the rest of the day. My mouth was dry as cotten and the nurse said usually no ice chips, but she'd call the dr. to see if I could have some. I had a few ice chips after that and a few more before bedtime. My husband left to go home for the night. I woke up at 2am puking my guts up, then dry heaving. Let me tell you, It hurts to vomit and dry heave with a stomach that was just cut open! I frantically called the nurse and they came in and gave me some phenegren, then changed the sheets, and my gown, wiped my neck and hair down (yes it had gotten everywhere!) I know you're thinking what was there in your stomach to even throw up? Well, it was bile,the dark brown stuff. *sorry if TMI* The next day went better, started me on Clear liquids, could hardly sip anything. By the end of the day I had eaten a few bites of chicken broth, and a sugar free popsicle, and a few sips of crystal light. Nurses kept me on zophran for nausea during the day and dilautid pump for pain. I pushed the pump every 10minutes to keep my pain under control. I started running a low grade fever that evening 100.5. the doctor did not want to treat it, said it was normal due to the surgery and it would go away on its own. He was right, it steadily went down every couple hours, the next morning it was 99.9 then midday, it was 98.5, so it went away by itself. That night was uneventful, I could pretty much get out of bed (without using my abs) on my own and go to the restroom. Just warnig you, you will be peeing A LOT!! from the iv fluids they give you. The next morning was Friday and by then I could walk around the floor with very little problems, still pumping the dilautid drip every 10 minutes. It was wonderful that I had a friend there doing the same surgery so we'd visit each others room, and walk laps together, truly truly a blessing to have her there, and we just met at pre-op visit! The doctor made his rounds at about 12:30pm and we got the ball rolling on discharging me. We left the hospital at about 2pm. By the way, they took me off the dilauted around 12:30 and gave me liquid Lortab (vicodin) and it made me loopy! I felt drunk the rest of the day. I am still taking it though, and do not feel that "drunk" feeling anymore. Today is Saturday, I am in great spirits, sipping VERY slowly on Atkins drinks and crystal light lemonade. and walking laps around my living room. The main thing I want people to know (who haven't had the surgery yet) is to be BRAVE, COURAGEOUS and put on your fighting face, because you CAN do this, YES, you will have pain, but it is so very worth it! I wouldn't take it back for a second! Thanks for listening, so if it was too long

I forgot to ask my surgeon if I will have a catheter during surgery. I know some use it, some don't. Didn't have one with my gallbladder surgery, so don't see why I would need one for this. Did you have one for your surgery?

Okay, I woke up singing the Annie song "tomorrow!" I am SOOO excited!! EEK!! Spa day today, facial, mani, pedi! Then 7:30 am is surgery! I have to be at the hospital at 5:30am. I will post as soon as I am able to.

Mixing with fat free Lactaid milk, I have chocolate and vanilla, and flavored sugar free syrups to mix into the vanilla.

Today is day 9 of my pre-op diet, and I've been doing very good. Not cheated at all. Today I had to fast for my EGD and got to start eating about 12:30pm, so got behind on my bariatric advantage shakes, I've had about 500 calories today and none of my diet food sounds good. I just want like a grilled chicken breast or something, nothing crazy, nothing with sugar or carbs, I just want some flavor in my mouth.

I went "cold turkey" on the pre-op diet. Had my last meal the night before, and was totally ready to start it by the time it came. I advise don't start too soon, wait till your doctor says to start it.

It could be water retention, or if you're coming up on that time of the month, then that can cause a weight fluctuation for sure!

took 2 tums about an hour ago, waiting to see if it relieves it.

this is day 5 of liquid pre-op diet. My chest started gradually hurting last night, and is worse today. It feels like I slept wrong on my side or something. It hurts when I turn left right, or reach for something, or press down on it. Right behind my sternum. I've read it could possibly be heartburn, but I don't feel a burning sensation. Is it possible to have heartburn or GERD without a burning sensation? I don't think it's anything serious, but it is not comfortable.

July 11 is my date too! Today was difficult.

WHen you say enormous meal at Red Lobster, how much do you mean? It's probably nothing compared to before, so I wouldn't worry too much about that meal. I would think to only keep good things in the house that are on-plan to eliminate the temptation. You got this!!

I've had to stop my self several times from mindlessly reaching for something. It's like I reach out for a bag of chips on the counter (from the kids) and I have to say "oh, yeah, liquid diet, duh!" lol. I'm so used to just mindlessly grabbing stuff! I have not cheated one time, and don't plan to either. I'm the type that if I take an inch, I take a mile. So no cheating for me.

I do fine until about 5pm then I am craving some flavor! I've never had to abstain from food like this. Hardest thing I've done in a long time. I'm about to have a bowl of chicken broth and hopefully that will help. Can I really do this for 10 more days?