Lissa

I think it's semantics, myself. You need something in you to fuel the workout, and a Protein shake is probably a good way for you to combine the fuel and some liquid. Do you get your full protein and Water requirements every day? If so, then you are doing fine. I don't drink many Protein shakes these days myself, but I start on water early in the day. I don't eat "breakfast" until 11 or so either. I just can't handle the thought of food that early. If I'm working out that day, it's usually mid-afternoon, so I try to eat my biggest meal close to that time and give it half an hour before I work out, so I can drink water while I'm on the bike or treadmill.

You look healthy and happy and younger! I was thinking "too skinny" until I saw how toned you are. I'm old enough to be your mother, so I should just say Great Job!!! (you know, instead of Hubba Hubba!)

I bought some tiny dipping bowls at Goodwill. They are clear glass and hold about 2 ounces. Those were my bowls for foods in the mushy stage, and I still use them quite often for chicken, veggies, and Soups. Do you have a kitchen scale? The electronic ones are really cool, and cost about $20. I set my little bowl on the scale and hit "Tare", then fill my bowl with my portion of food. Usually I'm eating about 2 to 3 ounces of food. I set that bowl on a tiny plate and then I'll add a bite or two of veggie now that I'm allowed to have them again. I should add that I went through Goodwill for my new plates, as well. I bought an assortment of pretty little china saucers that serve as MY plates now. Just be careful if they have metal around the rims and don't put them in the microwave. Oh, and I bought baby spoons (new) in some wild and funky colors for eating, and a couple of small forks and spoons for use when company is around. My son found me a couple of tiny pots that I use to heat or reheat things that don't do well in the microwave. Since they have lids, I also will put stuff in them and cook it in the oven while I'm doing other things. They might hold 8 ounces of food. Good luck!!

I just had that NSV a couple of weeks ago. I felt like happy-dancing myself! You're doing great and rocking that sleeve!! Go girl!!

I agree with everyone else. Try an acid reducer and tiny little bites of food. The foamy stuff means you are sliming. My surgeon gives out a booklet and there are a couple of tips that may be helpful for you. First, always weigh your food, so you have some idea of how much you are actually eating. I started with 2 ounces and ate what I could. Second, your bites should be no bigger than a pencil eraser and you should chew until they are applesauce consistency. Third, do not drink with your meal. It fills your sleeve up way too fast. Fourth, if you have a problem with a food today, don't try it again until next week. Fifth, give yourself a minure or so between bites. It is really tough to tell when you are full at the start of each stage, so taking time between bites gives you a moment to realize that you are full and can't eat any more, which prevents the slimes. Sixth, any time you vomit or slime, you should go back a step. So, if you're on full liquids and have problems, go back to clears for a day or so. This helps your tummy heal and get ready for that next stage. I hope that helps you somewhat. I did a lot of drinkable Soups and super soft foods when I first went to solids. I avoided stuff that I thought would be tougher to digest (salads, raw veggies, steak) until this month. I'm at 3.5 months for reference. Oh, and lots of us have weird food issues after surgery. Beforehand, I really loved cottage cheese sprinkled with a lot of pepper. I'm lactose intolerant now and Rex, my sleeve, does NOT like the pepper. He doesn't like anything remotely spicy these days. I tried to sneak a jalapeno in with some chicken one day and had disastrous results. Thinking about that bite of jalapeno now makes me queasy. I think I'll wait awhile for that again. LOL Good luck and just take your time. You'll be handling solids again very soon.

That's SO frustrating to have a leak for this long! I hope it heals up quickly for you and that you're back on food again soon. Good luck!!

I had mine for 8 days and it pretty much filled up with reddish clear liquid twice a day for the whole time. I just emptied it morning and night and tucked it into my bra during the day. Doc took it out on my first post-op visit after I drank some blue stuff to see if there was a leak. He had my lay back on the table, take a deep breath and then he pulled it. I thought it felt like the downward trip on a roller coaster, but it wasn't painful. He put a large band-aid over the opening and told me not to take it off for three days. When I took it off, there was a scab, but it's pretty much healed by now. I have some pink skin there, but it's not a bad scar. I did make sure I left the scab alone while it healed.

Shae, I'm glad that it was a good cry. You are doing a great job and recognizing that something is an issue for you is the first step to fixing it. I agree with Chris that food isn't inherently good or bad. It's JUST food. I'm trying to wrap my head around eating like a normal weight person and I know that they can and do keep goodies in the house. You should have seen my mother's "snack corner" as she got older, and she never weighed over 140, even pregnant! Normal weight people can eat what they want and, if they see themselves gaining a bit, they back off for a few days and drop that pound or three. That's what I'm looking to create for myself: the ability to eat what I want without feeling guilt. Guilt got me fat and I'm not going to live that way anymore. I think MFP is a great tool for tracking food and keeping us on the road to our daily goals. Keeping on the daily goals will get us to our final goals eventually. You hang in there! We're gonna get there and you're WAY ahead of me. You'll be standing at the finish line cheering me on while I'm still working to get there. But, we'll both get there!

I'm sorry I made you cry, Shae! I just wanted to remind you that you need to shower some sunshine on yourself, too!! You are gonna make it!! Lissa

Yay for you!! That's a great NSV!!!

Shae, I second (or third, whatever it is) the suggestion to see a counselor AND to use My Fitness Pal. I love/hate MFP. It keeps me on track for the Protein, but makes me face my food choices, no matter what. One of my "things" is accountability to myself and to others. So, MFP helps me to really look at food before I eat...and I made my diary public for the extra accountability. Anyone who is my friend there can see what I eat daily. :::cringe:::: The counselor is great because s/he can help you look at WHY you are doing this. It's great if you can find one who is experienced in dealing with Bariatric patients, but any counselor that is committed to helping you work on your issues is good. Mine talks to me about not "eating my emotions", which I have a tendency to do...or I did have a tendency to do. I can't physically do that anymore. You have to believe in yourself. You ARE worthy of being healthier, thinner, and happier in your own skin. I see you posting positive feedback for others and I think "What a nice lady!" You need to learn to be nice to yourself. Take this wonderful tool you've been given and use it to benefit you. It IS okay to do this for you, and you've made the biggest step by having surgery. (((Shae))) It's tough accepting that we get to do something just for ourselves, isn't it? That's what the sleeve is, a gift we have given ourselves. Now you just have to give yourself permission to accept the benefits that come with this tool. You're actually doing your hubby and kids a favor, too. They get to see a happier, healthier you. And, they get to keep you in their lives for longer. I will be cheering you on as you get this under control and you get back on track. I want us to both get to our goals so we can look back and say "I did it!" And, we WILL do it!

Wow!! Amazing weight loss! You are rocking your sleeve, for sure!!!

The first three days are the worst, aren't they! It will get easier. As for getting hungry during the day, what items has your doctor allowed? Are you on full liquids, Clear Liquids, or some combination of food and Protein shakes? Knowing that will help come up with some ways to keep from being so hungry, but a few tips are to keep a Protein shake handy so you can sip on it while you work. Also, warm things sometimes helped me stay full longer than cold drinks did. I'm not sure what other advice to offer except to stay strong. The diet is helping to prepare your body for surgery and your mind for the liquid diet after surgery. Good luck on your journey and welcome to VST!!

Bristle, I've been told to avoid all seeds until I am at least six months out from surgery because there is a remote danger that they could get caught in the healing tummy. Even seeds like the ones in strawberries are to be avoided from what my Nut told me. I know nothing about chia seeds, just wanted to pass that info along.

Don't get worked up over the drainage tube. I think it's a preference thing for the surgeon. Mine does give you one and I had it for 8 days. No blood, just some Fluid that was easy to drain and did NOT smell bad. As for needles, getting my iv started wasn't tough for the surgery. Just look the other way and take a few deep breaths. It will be over in a minute. Good luck!!

MzLady, It really does sound like gas pain, or possibly a tight stitch inside. Keep walking and sipping and the pain should pass. Are you taking pain meds at all? Do they not affect this pain? Good luck and I hope you'll feel better very quickly!

I diagnosed my son's diabetes and still had problems with the doctor when I took him in for the "official" diagnosis. That's a tough row to hoe. I'm glad that you are finally getting the care you need and that you will soon be sleeved. Hopefully, your diabetes will soon be a thing of the past! Good luck!

Lily, don't live and die by that scale. I weigh myself every day as well, but that scale can crush your heart if you let it. I typically weigh more at night than in the morning, and I gain a pound or two when I hit TOM. And, when I am stalled, I do see fluctuations on the scale. I've posted before that I bounced between 299 and 295 for over a week before the scale finally settled at 294. I think most of us do that, but many don't see it because they are able to stay off the scale! 1 pound could be the extra Water you drank yesterday, or that you haven't had a BM today. Don't let 1 pound scare you. Now, if it's 4 or 5 up from a weight you held for a few days, then you need to reexamine how you're eating/drinking, but I doubt you're done losing yet!

Skinny and Firm, Welcome to the loser's bench! It sounds like you're doing very well post-op!

Crosswind, Your last sentence says it ALL. "I would have cut off my arm to weigh 210". You still have motivation and you will continue to lose. The fact that food isn't ruling your life, but is just a part of your overall picture (ho hum about the cake), means that you will continue to make good food choices and you will lose weight. I don't think you have doubts, but just wanted some reassurance, and I think you've got it! Good luck. I can't wait until you post your "I'm at goal" post!

Dogma, I'm not as worried about the dehydration as I am about the fact that you can't swallow well and that your drain is bothering you so much. I was actually told NOT to strip my drain when I emptied it. I also had my drain in for 8 days and the ONLY place I could feel it was at the opening, and I think that was because there was a stitch to hold it in place. I'm very concerned that maybe you are either beginning an infection or having a negative reaction to the tubing that composes the drain hose. Both of those could end up having severe consequences, including the need for another surgery and/or result in the doctors placing you NPO and installing a feeding tube. MeMeMee had a leak in her tummy and has posted numerous times about her complications. She's now on a feeding tube for all of her nutrition and Water. She posted and begged others NOT to ignore the symptoms their body is throwing out there... and I think you should really be seen by a doctor. I know that the on-call doctor wasn't very helpful, but I really wish you'd take that trip to the ER. Who knows, maybe they'll even take your drain tube out today and tell you that you're fine.

One of the reasons I chose my doctor is that my best friend is an ER nurse in the hospital where he performs VSG surgeries. She has seen him drag into the ER at 2am because one of his patients was there for something unrelated to the VSG. He IS an advocate for his patients. I like that about him. The other reason I'm so happy with him and his staff is that I can call in and ask what I think are stupid questions and they are never snarky in their answers. My pulmonary doc had a cow when I told him I wanted to start taking Calcium and immediately ordered me to take Tums instead. I called Dr D's office and they took my question directly to him and came back with an affirmative answer in seconds. I've called for other minor questions and been treated exactly the same. I think it would be great if everyone's surgeon was like mine, but most are not. My PCP stinks, IMO and will be changed after the first of the year. But, our responsibility to ourselves is to keep insisting on medical help/care if we aren't getting the care we need. I'd be dead if I didn't have a big mouth and lots of chutzpah. When I had pneumonia last year, the original doctor treated me like a drug seeker and sent me home. I took the antibiotics for a few days, then trundled my happy self right back into that ER and insisted that I was going to be checked out. I ended up being admitted for six days and on major antibiotics. So, I agree that there is a double standard in the medical community. My PCP kept blaming every problem I had on my weight. But, I think that you also have to factor in that many obese people have underlying issues that make us reluctant to rock the boat. We often eat our problems rather than dealing with them. It's often harder for us to stand up and be proactive for ourselves because we have learned to hole up somewhere and be quiet.

Kendall, Lots of things aren't fair, but the pre-op diet is because your surgeon wants you to have the best outcome possible. You need to follow his instructions as closely as you can so that you have the best chance of doing well during and after surgery. I don't think a 1 time small cheat is going to hurt you too badly, but it should NOT become a habit. The diet is to do a few things, IMO. It's there to help shrink your liver, which reduces the chance of the surgeon harming it during surgery. It's also to get you and your body used to the diet you will have to follow post-op. I think it's also a way for us to detox from all the crap we've put in our bodies over the year AND a way for us to prove to the doctor that we CAN follow instructions. Most surgeons have limited availability for surgeries. Unless they are superman, they can only do 3-5 surgeries a day, and then, only a couple of days per week, so they have to limit themselves to doing surgery on people that they know will benefit from the surgery. If we as patients can't manage to follow the diet pretty closely pre-op, how do the surgeons know that we will be compliant afterwards and manage to lose our weight? Attitude is everything with this journey, IMO. It's not going to seem "fair" that your friends can eat and drink unlimited quantities of food while you have to do liquids, then mushies, then tiny amounts of food one you are healed. If you walk around thinking "It's not fair", then you will be doomed to being unhappy with your surgery. If, on the other hand, you keep thinking "I'm losing weight and becoming healthier. That's great!" you will be much happier with the results you're getting. I wish you lots of luck with your journey! I know that you'll do great and rock your sleeve!

Let us know please!

It looks like you are doing well. At 3 weeks, my portions were very small, too. I can barely eat a whole egg now at 3.5 months post-op. Most meats have Protein and many foods have a nutrition label that tells you how many grams of protein are in a serving. If you aren't eating a whole serving, be sure to divide the grams of protein by how much you are eating. For instance, one egg has about 6g of protein. If you eat half of one, you ate 3g of protein. I use My Fitness Pal to log my food, primarily so that I can see how much protein I'm getting a day and don't have to keep a running number in my head. It's easy to use on the computer or on a smart phone, and I have only had two foods that weren't listed in the approximately 30 days I've been using it. There are also websites online where you can look up how much protein is in the foods you are eating. Many restaurants have nutritional information on their websites as well, in case you like to dine out.