jenn20

I am 7 months post op and Dr. Taller was my surgeon as well. He's super nice! Make sure you are strict with your protein intake and overall liquid especially well in the hospital. And make sure u walk a lot! It all depends in how fast you are out of there. It's an experience I will never forget. Good luck! 2 more days for u! Keep us updated!

I am 6 months out and I'm curious as to how common this is. before surgery I remember I would eat, then drink a glass of Water and the water would make the food go down and it would feel better. Now after I eat, I drink some water but instead of it washing down my food,but feels worse. It feels as if it pushes it back up and I feel super full.?? Common?? also, what are portion sizes people are eating and average weight loss at 6 months post op.thank you!

I'm just curious if this is a forever thing. If I go to a restaurant I order water because its a waste of money to order a drink. Just wanna know if i will be like this forever...?

Hello Everyone! I had braces put in and have the worst headaches ever! I need some pain medicine. I remember doctors orders were no ibuprofen, no motrin, no advil, nothing! he only said ok to Tylenol. Something about anti inflammatory who knows what... does anyone know why we can't other pain medicines, Tylenol just doesn't cut it for me.... and I would like to take motrin when those days of the months come along as well because I get bad cramps. Advice? Thanks. By the way, 5 months out am I still supposed to be taking my Protein drink? I dont know... when I have my shake I get hungry like 2 hrs later...doesn't cut it for me...thanks

After about 2 months of surgery I noticed that I have been a "bad patient" it's so hard to be good! I haven't been drinking my protein drink or vitamins. I have been eating chips and candy which I know i MUST stop but sheesh it's so hard. I have some sort of addiction. I do it when I'm bored. after I eat it I regret it. At times I will feel so bad I go to the bathroom and purposely throw it up. I was not exercising a lot, however, I have been running for the past 2 weeks. I have lost about 45 pounds since surgery in the 1st 2 months. After that I have been stuck in the same spot. I don't do protein drinks because I honestly cannot stand them, but I know I need to start again really soon. During the day I eat pretty good. Maybe some oatmeal for breakfast and a sandwich, soup or salad for lunch, but after work I eat bad things and I can't STOP! If I see chips I will eat it even if I'm not hungry. What is wrong with me!? I'm scared that I will stop loosing weight all together. I know that I have to eat better and stop the chips which I'm dedicated to do, but do you think theres any classes I can go through to help me. Not sure what it is.....ahhhh. I need to loose 40 more pounds! and I will not give up!

I lost 55 pounds in 5 months before surgery and right now I am 5 weeks out and have lost 30 pounds. I actually thought this same exact questions the night before surgery. I thought...'well I have been eating very little before the sleeve already, so would it make a big difference after surgey? Will I still loose the weight like everyone else?'..... and the answer is yes! so don't worry about it. By the way congrats on loosing that weight! It only makes it closer to goal!! You loose so fast in the beginning that it makes you only jump closer to goal by loosing that weight before surgery! Good luck on your journey and keep us posted!

Soooo.... I wasn't doing too good with my Protein drink in the beginning because I could not tolerate the drinks. I've tried sooo many brands and all GROSS to me! so then I found that if I take a Protein powder (just a cheap $20 from walmart) and mix it in the blender with a tiny bit of decaf coffee and half a splenda, ice cubes, or just a couple frozen strawberries and almond milk then it takes pretty good. However, almond mink has 25 grams of fat per serving, and i drink 1 in a half servings! I hadn't even realized that just for Breakfast itself I was having about 40 grams of fat!! and supposedly I've heard to stay under 30 grams A DAY! Which to me is impossible! I don't know how people do it because EVERYTHING has fat! I tried non fat milk and I went back to not being able to tolerate the drink. what to do what to do.....? protein or fat?! UGHHHH! Why must milk be so FAT! Tomorrow I will attempt to have my drink with nonfat milk AGAIN.... How do you guys get in less than 30 grams of fat a day?!

I am 5 weeks out and I too feel that I eat too much, but I've read so many threads and people all say the same thing! lol so I learned to not care really about "how much" but WHAT I eat. As long as I get my Protein in and stay away from carbs I know I can't do to bad considering I can't eat that much either way. I had a bean and cheese burrito from taco bell also, and I ALMOST was able to eat 1/2 but I was soooo stuffed. I know now that it's a no no for me. If I really do need to grab something on the road I just get pinto Beans from taco bell, no sauce, and eat about 1/3 of it. Over the labor day weekend I do admit I was eating chips and salsa and was surprised how much could fit in me...I'm guessing this is a "slider food"???? who knows, but I don't feel bad about it....it was labor day weekend and It's not a every day thing and it's not like I ate TONS lol Even if I might have wanted to.... anyhow, don't worry too much about how eating too much, just stay away from tortillas, bread, etc. Those get me way too full either way. Also, Prilosec? I've never heard of that, but if it's for acid my doctor gave me omeprazole so I'm guessing it's the same thing?

So when I'm at work I eat good, but as soon as I get home and I see food I eat it because I'm bored. I can't even watch some tv without my mind telling me I have to snack on something. It became a habit and now I don't know how to stop it! It's really irritating because if there is food I'll eat it! ughhhhh

Okay, so I am 4 weeks out and my surgeon gave me a lists of foods that I could eat and he told me to worry about my Protein and Fluid intake. I never even concidered Fats and Carbs. I try to get in my Protein Drink, but have tried getting in high protein foods. I've been living off eggs, Beans, and string cheese, however, I just realized that these are so high in fats! Is that the reason I'm stalling. Or is this just the "3 week stall" everyone talks about. Or perhaps this is both? I'm just worried that I'm getting in to many fats? But EVERYTHING that is high in protein is high in fat or carbs. Or creams of Soups seem so high in sodium, Is anything now-a-day healthy?! I'm so confused now. I just want to make sure I'm eating correctly. Can anyone share with them a typical day of food and portions 4 weeks out??? I would like to know if I'm alone on this? I'm so worried that I am doing this incorrectly and that this isn't going to work for me. I'm going back to work monday and I had stocked up on eggs and string cheese? Should I reconsider? Sorry for rambling on, just frustrated and tired of the same foods!

So my surgeon told me that I cannot have regular coffee, but I could have decaf? why is that? Anyone know? I just think it's kind of weird... Also, is there ANY sugar that is somewhat healthy,sometimes i want to add a bit to my protein shake but i guess all sugar is bad?

Okay, So I am 15 days port op (about 2 weeks) and today I ate the following: Breakfast (4 am): little less than 1/2 cup of oatmeal Brunch 10:30am (since I had breakfast super early): half a string cheese and one Club Cracker Lunch:(4pm) little less than 1/2 cup of refried Beans Dinner: 1/2 cup of honey nut cherrios Yesterday I ate: Breakfast: almost 1 whole hard boiled egg Lunch: 1/2 chocolate pudding sugar free and half a string cheese Dinner: 1/2 cup of honey nut cherrios From all the people I have seen go through their eating changes I feel I'm eating too much??? Also, I can fit more food, I just stop because I don't feel when I'm full so I don't want to over do it. Should I eat even less??? I just don't want to stop loosing weight and I want to make sure I'm doing this correctly. Keep in mind I sip Water and some Protein throughout the day..... Thank you.

I have also seen so many people still on liquids 2 or even 3 weeks out. My surgeon told me at 1 week out that I could start oatmeal, cottage cheese, yogurt, applesauce, and at 2 weeks out I could start deli ham, refried beans, club crackers, etc. He also said at about 3 weeks out I can introduce ground beef! I think that's crazy! But I seem to have no problem getting foods in?! Although I DID have one bite of tortilla (which I'm not supposed to) and it felt as if it were stuck for about 20 min. So that taught me a lesson. Anyhow, now I'm wondering why my surgeon let's me eat all these things?! ahhh Well I guess as long as I continue eating small portions, because my surgeon told me it was okay.... after all he is a great surgeon =)

Hello, So I have been having trouble distinguishing hunger and fullness. It's as if It's all the same to me. I have to remind myself to get my Protein in and try to have half a string cheese or cream of wheat. I don't know when I'm full or anything. If I want I can have a whole string cheese plus a little cream of wheat, but from understood I should only be able to get in half a string cheese so I feel like I can eat more than I should. I do understand that everyone is different so I'm actiallty not too worrid about the amount of food that I'm getting in, the thing I'm confused about is that i don't know when I am hungry or full. I also can eat like a cup of cheerios with milk! and maybe even more but I'm always afraid to eat so I've just been eating a little hardly eating really since I don't know what i am feeling! The only thing I feel is that when I eat too fast there is a little pinch feeling and a little type gas and burp. Then I can drink or eat another bite? confused, please help. How much and what things were you guys eating about 2 weeks out?

Hi everyone, Not sure if this is the same for everyone but I had glue put on my incisions, instead of stitches, now I have 11 days post op and I feel itchy a lot and the glue is beginning to come off. My surgeon told me that the glue will start coming off by themselves and that I could wash lightly but for some reason I'm scared of the glue coming off. I'm afraid that the incision will open! If I wanted to I can literally just lift all the glue and take it off which I am avoiding. How was your guys' experience with this? Also after the glue does come off did any of you use any type of creams so the scars fade better?! Thank you!

I got this from Vitalady.com I didn't know there were so many different Protein. So which one is recommended after surgery? I'm trying to find which one I need to get for after sugery. I want some samples but dunno where to get them? I like chocolate though. I'm taking the EAS protein from costco it tastes alright considering I mix it with Water, but it usually always leaves little clumps. I was thinking of Isopure? or nectar? whey Protein Isolate It is the purest form of whey protein. It gets into the blood system the quickest. Is generally the most expensive to use and although it mixes well it can "foam" up. They tend not to be as filling or satisfying, but fulfill the protein requirements very well. Whey Protein Concentrate It gets into the system very slowly. It is generally the least expensive to use. It shakes well and pretty completely. Whey Protein Blend Is a combination of the two above. These usually seem to be more "satisfying" and stay with us longer so we tend not to graze or crave carbs as much. Generally they shake well but may leave some clumps if you aren't careful. Whey Protein Meal Replacement They are generally a whey protein blend that is much thicker and requires a lot more water. Best for preop and long term postop customers that are more comfortable with larger volume. Predigested Collagen Protein These are collagen based Proteins, which are lower on the "bioavailability" scale. They contain some amino acids, but not ALL. Best used in addition to whey protein for additional protein intake. Easily added to water to "cut" the extreme tastes.

So I had surgery 8/4 (4 days ago) and I have not been able to sleep comfortably. I sleep only on my back because I am too scared to lay on my stomach or side because of my incisions. I also keep waking up like 4 times in the middle of the night to take a brief walk and do bre:cursing:athing exercises. Which I know is good, but is it realllly necessary considering I would LIKE TO SLEEP! Any ideas or suggestions? has anyone tried laying on their stomach...are we even allowed to? I would just like to get a good nights rest.. when does the incisions pain go away, where I can actually get up easily without discomfort? I got 5 incisions and lucky for me no drain.

Okay, so today is my one week post op and tomorrow I have an appointment to see my surgeon. He is going to be allowing me to go into my mushie phase yay. However, I'm so confused. First off, this week has been challenging. I have been on Clear liquids and Dr Taller M.D. told me to get in 64 oz. of fluids, 40 of those oz must be Protein, and that has been somewhat difficult for me, mostly because I cannot find a drink I can bear, They are all horrible to me. Blah. Also, I'm confused about me stomach, I'm not sure when I'm full or hungry or anything. I just keep sipping and sipping trying to get those oz in. Very frustrating I'm wondering if this is going to happen to me when I start my next phase..? I'm also missing food! Not because I want to eat everything that is unhealthy, simply because I think since I'm not eating ANYTHING that EVERYTHING looks good. SO VERY HARD. I'm realy looking forward to mushies, is this normal?! BIG QUESTION: I know that I will eventually be having 3 meals a day and that those meals will be small portions since my stomach is so small now. However, tomorrow when i start mushie phase I am not sure if I will be eating small things throughout the day since my stomach is still healing, or if I'm going to be having 3 meals and fit in fluids somewhere in between. Also, Is this when I start couting my protein, calories, carbs, etc. I need some guidelines i'm so confused.!? :biggrin0:

Hello Everyone, I am happy to announce that I am officially "post-op" I was sleeved 8/4 (2 days ago) I am currently still in the hospital and In a bit of pain/discomfort. I am having trouble urinating and passing gas. For some reason I just can't do it. I have a feeling until then they will not release me from the hospital! GRRR. But I'm walking ALOT and today I start drining fluids. 30 ML an hour. The first day of surgery I was in so much pain all I did was whine and sleep. Yesterday they had taken out the Katheter but had to put it back on because I wan't urinating. This morning they took it back off though! yay. Anyhow. I just wanted to share that I am post-op now! anyone remember not being able to urinate or pass gas? any suggestions? Thank you and god bless!

So....I am currently at a hotel in San Diego, I will be having surgery tomorrow 8/4/2010 at 10:30 am! ahhh I'm getting nervous. not to mention I have been in a bad mood today because I'm on liquids and when I don't eat my stomach and head begin to hurt. Other than that, I am just counting down the time! Please wish me luck! and I will see all you post ops VERY SOON! =)

what they do is they put you on a waiting list, you have to wait a couple weeks until they call you for an orientation, once they do that you have to wait a couple more weeks and that is when they set you up for the options program. it is 3 months and goes by very fast. During the class they have you do food logs and activity logs, as well as order the necessary tests for you. Make sure that you do them all on time! or else it will keep you from the last day graduatuion. Even is you think you just need one test, if something comes out deficient or something you have to sometimes make it better (which can be weeks if not a month) to retake a test. So make sure you do exactly what they say when they say it an not wait. After you graduate the class they send your things to the hospital you choose. You cannot change hospitals afterwards once you choose one, thats it. The one in pacific bariatric in san diego is not kaiser facility, so you might have to pay outpatient copay but the wait is wayyy less then the kaiser facilities. They do all 3, sleeve, lapband, and gastric. Anyhow, after that they will call you a couple weeks later to meet with the surgeon and some other people, you then will have to wait an additional time for your surgery date. it seems like a ot but it actually goes by pretty fast. I was in the options program feb. and my surgery is this wed. however, if you choose a kaiser facility it will take longer, and i would have gotten my surgery already but just my luck they are busy right now because of summer and what not. anyhow, good luck to you and let me know if you have any questions.

I'm getting the vertical sleeve surgery August 4, 2010 in San Diego's Scripps mercey hospital. Anyone having surgery in august? I have Dr. Taller!

what do you have to do for your pre-op? my surgeon isn't having me do preop just one day before? im gunna try isopure