ChaChaBurch

After I decided to go forward with surgery, time seemed to sloooooow down to almost nothing. The closer to the surgery date, the slower it went! I tried just about everything to keep me occupied so I wouldn't constantly obsess about it. But the date finally arrived, and now I'm 3 weeks post-op. Looking back it seems like time really flew (of course). I spent a HUGE amount of time going through this website trying to absorb just about as much information as I could so that I would be mentally prepared. I know it seems the same for you right now, but it will go by a lot faster than you can believe - just stay busy doing any and everything that you can. Good Luck - and let us know how you're doing!

I'm really glad I found this thread. I'm 3 weeks post-op and about 3-4 days ago I noticed that I was having some pain on my left side (especially when I was laying on my left side at night). I was really afraid that my "tummy" was coming loose or something - hahahahaha. That does coincide with where the largest incision is for me, and also where my port was for my lapband that the Doc removed. I don't see my Doc again until May 9th and was considering calling him.

So Marchers - any special plans for the weekend? I've got some work to do in our barn. We have baby chicks and ducks hatching all over the place! And our goats are not happy, so we're going to do some rearranging. I'm also going to attempt to get on my zero-turn mower and get some mowing done. Doctor say's it should be okay as long as I take it easy.

I personally think the gallbladder surgery (lapriscopically) is sooooo much easier to recuperate from than the sleeve!!

It took me 16 hours to get down 1 protein shake the first time (3 days after surgery). Mine were pre-made, and extra thick. Now I "water" mine down. As the swelling in your stomach goes down, you will be able to get fluids in, but I would suggest that right now, you just want to focus on water - dehydration is horrible! Try ice chips, SF Popsicle's, etc.I would suggest to try and stay away from anything that's high in sodium, as it just defeats the purpose.

Are you feeling better after the hospital visit? Did they give you IV fluids? I hope you can begin taking in more water. Just try itty bitty baby sips, every few minutes. I'll keep you in my prayers!

I'm soooo sorry that you've been experiencing this. I had an attack back in 2008 (swore I was having a heart attack), and had mine removed. I'm really glad I did.

The tuna is the kind in a pouch - and I don't puree it, I just use two forks and mush it really, really good. As for full-fat may and dressings, versus the fat-free, my NUT says to use Fat Free (due to the fat content - hahaha). I personally use the full fat versions. However, I've seen some folks on the site that have problems with their new tummy accepting full-fat versions. So I guess for me, it's full-fat versions, and I use much, much less than I used to. I can't stand the taste of the fat-free versions at all. So, I use full-fat versions, and my tummy seems to do fine with them.

Wow, yesterday was my 3 week post op "surgiversary". I was in town all day yesterday, visiting the 2 Health Food stores, along with doing a little bit of grocery shopping. Also found out that new Health Food store opened that is even closer to me, so I will have to go see what they carry, next week. I tried a new recipe and it was really good. So good in fact that I ate too much and got extremely nauseous - I don't know if it was the amount I ate, or maybe the Hot Wing Sauce since my tummy isn't used to spicy yet! I took canned chicken, real mayo, and added a bit of Franks Hot Wing Sauce, and made a "Buffalo Chicken Salad". I will have to eat a bit more today (smaller portion), and see if it still makes me sick - sure hope not - it really made my taste buds happy. Exactly 1 month ago today, I started the pre-op diet (3/13), and so far, I've lost a total of 25.6lbs. I'm really pleased with that number, and it will be interesting to see how the next month progresses. Now, I'm going to have to start focusing more on "moving", and increase my walking.

I understand where you're coming from. My taste buds have completely changed. I asked my NUT about it and she said that it was pretty common and it usually is a phase that passes. Do you have a NUT that you can work with, or contact your Doctor for suggestions - especially with you feeling weak? You are probably dehydrated. You might go to the "recipe" forum here and see if you can find more suggestions. For me personally, even though most things taste different, and I have no interest in eating, I still MAKE myself eat, focusing on protein first. I've worked too hard to get this surgery, and I am committed to losing the weight, so I just keep on pushing through each and every day. I know it's hard for you, especially with feeling weak, but it will get better.

When I eat, it's usually about 1/2 cup at a time, but I sit and eat baby bites slowly over time.

Tomorrow I will be 3 weeks post-op. I've been sleeping better, and my stamina is a little bit better than last week. Easter weekend wasn't as bad as I expected. I was able to eat mashed potatoes with gravy, super soft squash casserole, and refried beans (from Taco Bueno). I even ate a single green bean that was super soft. So what have I noticed over the past couple of days? My taste buds are really weird. Nothing really tastes the way I remember it. Everything seems to taste "stronger", or "weird". I'm wondering if this is because of the liquid phase, or if it has something to do with me not really being hungry. I had 1 day where I felt like I could never get full, but that was just the 1 day. All my other days have been a struggle trying to figure out what to eat, because nothing interested me. Even pizza, which was all I could think about for about a week after the surgery. Now, I couldn't care less about eating it. I've been researching various different food lifestyles, trying to figure out which one would be best for me once I'm back on regular food. I'm thinking about the "Caveman" lifestyle, which pushes lots of meats, veggies, fruits, and nuts, and absolutely no grains, pasta, beans, rice, or dairy. I've also looked at some others that limit the "glutens", but I can't seem to make up my mind. I suspect that once I go back on regular foods, I will have the opportunity to "reorient" my taste buds and I want to make sure that what I choose is the best option for me and my DH. Thankfully, my DH will eat anything I set in front of him, he is not picky. He is also in need of losing a little bit weight, about 30lbs. Which I know he can do if I set the standard and do the cooking -- which I will when I can get back to eating regular food. So I guess I'm saying that I'm at the point where I need to make a decision on what type of food lifestyle we're going to move forward with. Decisions, decisions. Everyone I talk to tells me something different - how do I know which one is really the best one???? Probably need to start with one and find out. If it doesn't work, then try something different. The important thing is just that I start. A step forward is the only way to move forward.

I use a blender on some things, and for the veggies I just cook them super soft, and then use a fork to sort of mash them up. I also love eggs. I eat them scrambled or fried. Again, I use a fork to mush them up.

Finally found one I can eat - Dannon OIKOS Fruit at the bottom- tried the strawberry - delicious!

Hey gette2751 - Could I have your recipes for buffalo chicken salad? It sounds really good!

I lost 20 lbs really fast, and since then have slowed dramatically. I have a hard time getting in the calories (no appetite), and I know that my body has gone into "starvation mode", and is hanging on to the fat right now. I'm also 3 weeks post-op and have hit my first stall. However, I really like the idea of losing slowly because I shouldn't have as much saggy skin, and I am a little bit worried about possible hair loss. My NUT said that in order to lose weight, I have to eat more (which sounds weird, but I know it's true). So I am basically forcing myself to eat more often to try and increase my calories. Just like the story of the tortoise and the hare . . . slow and sure wins every time!

I'm 3 weeks post-op (tomorrow), and I'm wondering if anyone else seems to be having the same issue. My taste buds seem to have changed dramatically.Everything I eat tastes different than it did before the surgery. Puddings, yogurts, tuna salads, etc., all seem to not taste as good as they used to. Will food ever taste really good again? Everything seems to taste "weird". That's about the best I can do to describe it. Maybe it's just that I really have no interest in eating. I have no appetite, and when I do eat, it's never really satisfying. Anyone seem to have any thoughts or suggestions? I'm still on the soft/mushy phase, and will continue to be so for about another 3 weeks.

For this weekend, I have been super tired. Not sleeping well at night. Every time I try to lie on my left side, I get a pain (feels like a pulled muscle) in my largest incision sight. Enjoyed Easter service, and went to Mom's with my DH. Mom had made some things that I could eat (mashed potatoes, squash casserole, super soft green beans). It was really nice to sit down to a meal with others and visit. One of my cousins that I grew up with was visiting. He looked incredible, and I asked him how he was doing. He had been diagnosed with Rhumatoid Arthritis about a year ago, and back then he was in really bad shape. He said he started a gluten-free lifestyle, went to www.mercola.com, and started on what is basically called "The Cave Man" diet. He said he has never felt better, and eats like a King. Lots and lots of meat, fresh veggies, fruits and nuts. No flour, beans, pasta, diary (except butter), bread, etc. I had heard of something similar to this, and since my taste buds are all "screwy", I thought that once I was able to get back on to "normal food", I might start learning how to cook all over again, but in a much, much healthier way. My weight has stayed the same for the past 3 days, so maybe I'm at my first stall. If so, that's fine. I'm more concerned about making sure that my new tummy is totally healed first. This coming Wednesday, I'll finally be able to get out and mow. I can't wait. Our yard is in serious need. Since my DH works 65-70 hrs a week, he only gets 1 day off, and that's Sunday. Since I don't work, I handle the mowing and weed eating. It will be nice to finally get our yard in shape. I can also start working on my garden. We do a "deck garden", on a back deck. I can't wait to plant tomatoes, green beans, squash, bell peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, herbs, eggplant. I love having a small garden that is just big enough for me and DH to eat out of. Well, I sure hope I sleep tonight. Getting up at 5am is gonna be tough if I don't.

What a difference 2 weeks make! I've seen others posting that, and just didn't really understand it until now. Last night, DH brought me a small refried bean from Taco Bueno, and I could only hold half of it, but my oh my! It was just about the most delicious thing I've eaten in well . . . . about 3 1/2 weeks! No problems with it going down, just took it nice and slow, and savored EVERY bite! He then showed me that he had put 2 other small orders in the fridge for me. He said he knew that I was getting bored with my food, and thought that it might help. He is such a wonderful guy, and I am so blessed to have him! This morning I tried Greek yogurt for the first time, and have had a hard time eating it. It's about the most disgusting thing I've eaten. But it has 15g of protein in a single serving, so I posted on the Food Forum asking for some input, looking for a better tasting one (if one exists). Hope to have some luck with that. So I'm down 21.8 lbs in 23 days. I just can't believe that! Tomorrow is my weekly weigh in, and we'll see how it's going.

My NUT said I could go on "pureed/super mushy" foods. I've had instant mashed potatoes with gravy (the kind in a packet that you add Water to), refried Beans, applesauce, oatmeal, grits, cream of wheat, tuna salad (tuna with LF Mayo), scrambled eggs, chicken salad (canned chicken with LF Mayo), poached eggs, any kind of Soup (as long as I puree it), any vegetable (except corn) cooked soft and blended. I've done well with this, but just take it slow and take baby bits and wait a few minutes between bites.

Hey March Sleevers - Are you doing anything special for Easter? I mean, it's not like I can eat the "usual" Easter meal - at our house that would consist of ham, deviled eggs, potato salad, leafy salad, etc. My mom is cooking a large lunch meal, so I'm sending my DH to eat at her house (which is next door). I'm not sure I can handle walking into Mom's house and have the smell of Easter lunch hit me. About the only thing I COULD eat at this point would be the deviled eggs. How are you guys going to handle it?

My surgery was on 3/22, and I have to admit that I wasn't even a little bit nervous, until we were actually in the OR. The Head Nurse gave me my "happy juice", I immediately apologized for anything that I might say, then pure oblivion. I had a flash of someone calling my name, and I remember asking, "Laproscopic?". I was concerned that they wouldn't be able to remove my band and do the sleeve laproscopically, even though the Surgeon felt confident he could, he did warn that it might require him to "open me up". Thankfully everything was done laproscopically. I don't remember another thing until I woke up in my hospital room, and my DH was sitting next to the bed holding my hand. I asked him the same question - just in case I imagined the first one - and he confirmed that they were able to remove my band/port, and do the sleeve laproscopically. He told me that the Surgeon said I had a tremendous amount of scar tissue from the band, and that he ended up removing 85% of my stomach. I didn't use much of the pain meds, they made me nauseous, even though they gave me anti-nausea medicine. My pain was about a 7, so I could handle it.The switched my pain meds from morophine to dilaudin, which still made me sick. They waited until the next morning around 10am to do my swallow test, then after that, ice chips. I don't think I've ever taste anything so good in all my life. I've also never had acid reflux before, but I did then, at least until Sunday morning. BTW - Has anyone mentioned (or experienced) the extreme pain in the head, neck and shoulders? I don't know if it was from the surgery table, being tense, or lack of caffeine and/or food, but my head and neck hurt much worse than my surgery did. It was exactly like the migraine's I used to get. They discharged me Friday afternoon, and I got home around 6pm. I ended up sleeping on/off until about noon Saturday on the Couch (it has reclining on both ends). Felt a little better Saturday afternoon/evening, but by Sunday was feeling vastly improved. Headache/neckache were finally gone. I ate applesauce, jello, broth, water, and popsicle that day. Today, (Day 4 - AS) - I get to start full liquids. I'm also feeling almost normal, except for being a little woozy, which I don't know if it's from a lack of food, left over from surgery, or what. I've been working on getting down a protein shake (worth 42g of protein). So far, everything I've consumed has gone down with no issues. No more nausea, no more acid reflux. My big fear now is, how much is too much? How will I know if I've put too much in? Will I vomit (don't want to, that will really hurt), Will my stomach tear (REALLY don't want that), or will I get that sliming/spitting thing I used to get every single day with the band? I'm not willing to push it just yet, so will continue to take "baby sips" all day long. I have a follow-up appointment for Wednesday afternoon. The Surgeon will remove my drain then. By Friday of this week (if all is going well), I will progress to mushy foods (yayyyy)!. Also, just a thought, but I KNOW I have never seen so many food commercials in all my life!

Haven't been on the website much the past 2 days, but been busy running errands, and working up at the Fire Dept. Boy, my stamina is pretty much zilch. Don't know if that's due to the surgery, the lack of calories, or what -- maybe a combination of both. At least I'm back to sleeping better at night. So I'm starting to get a little bit bored with my food choices, and "regular" food is starting to invade my thoughts. I haven't been cooking because I'm concerned that I might "cheat". I've got another 4 weeks before I can get back on regular foods. Right now, my usual food choices are Oatmeal, Cream of Wheat, Instant Grits, Tuna Fish Salad, Avocado, mashed potatoes with gravy, scrambled eggs, yogurt, jello, and protein drinks. What I'd really like is something crunchy and salty -- that was always my biggest food issues, fried stuff and salty stuff. Hard to believe tomorrow will be 2 weeks since my surgery. What a difference 2 weeks make!

Joni - I took SF pudding and LF Yogurt, and some Gatorade.