Newfoundlove

I'm four weeks out and now cleared for most regular food except for lettuce (not enough nutrition in it anyway, so that's okay). At this point, I'm still eating only 1/3rd to 1/2 cup depending on the food. I put all of my meals,including Vitamins (except dinner) together the night before in a lunch box. Here's what I had today: AM: Non-Fat Greek Yogurt (black cherry Chobani this morning) - about 4 ounces 10 AM: Babybel Cheeses - 2 of them AM: 24 ounces of Fluid - some through hot decaffeinated tea, others through Water with Mio Drops Lunch: 1/2 cup small curd cottage cheese with 1/4 small avocado cut up 3:00 PM - Premier Protein chocolate shake - I put tons of ice in mine as it's the only way I can get it down PM: 24 ounces of fluid - water with Mio Drops Dinner: not sure yet - but probably left-over chicken thighs, or I may make a frittata, as I have spinach, mushrooms, and feta cheese. PM : Usually after dinner I have a pot of decaf tea. All of this gets me over 65 grams of protein and all of my fluid and keeps my carbs low.

You may, or you may not have reflux. I've had none and I'm four weeks out, but my doctor has me on a PPI (Prilocec) for three months. I know lots of other people who have never had reflux. I'm also enjoying eating. At four weeks, my NUT has me on mostly regular food. I just make sure whatever I eat is high in Protein and moist. I like to cook, so I found a great bariatric cookbook by Sarah Maria Leach and she has recipes for all stages of eating (liquids to soft to regular) and all of them have been awesome. She also offers suggestions for how to enhance the meals so your family can eat what you eat, and that's what we do at my house. I have not yet gone out to eat though. I'm eating such small portions that I just don't want to waste the money/food. But this Friday we are going to a restaurant for dinner to Celebrate my daughters HS graduation, so I will just have some Soup or maybe split some fish with my husband. I've really chosen to do this with a positive attitude and it seems to be working. I've had a couple of days of feeling tired, or slightly yucky (had to force myself to eat), but generally feel great and now have tons of energy because of the amount of protein I am consuming. I've followed my surgeon and NUT's instructions to the letter. I came out of the surgery being able to drink without any issues and most foods and drinks have been agreeable - although the Protein shakes took me a couple of weeks to get used to (I had a low carb diet for pre-op, so didn't do the shakes). I did find I can't eat Peanut Butter yet, it has too much sugar in it for me. And yesterday, I tried a very tiny bite of bacon and spent the next hour or so in the bathroom. But, you have to learn what your sleeve is gonna like and what it is not. The forum members are here to offer you their support. You're going to do great. Think positive!

I also had a hietal hernia repair same time as my VSG. I had a very uncomfortable feeling from shoulder to shoulder in front. I thought it was the anesthesia, but my surgeon said it was from the hernia repair. It was just a little annoying. Didn't hurt when I swallowed though, which I thought was weird. The sensation went away after about a week.

I am having this too, totally unrelated to the surgery. Mine is peri-menopause symptom. Very annoying but my doc checked me out and I'm fine. Don't mess around with that though. Glad you are going to see your PC.

I would add Jennie-O's Turkey Pot Roast. Discovered this wonderful food last weekend. Really high in protein, and so darn moist. You cook it in the microwave. it has a bone in it which you remove after cooking. Just simply delicious and very filling.

Try Colace, or some thinned down apple juice. Also, for me, yogurt keeps me really regular. I was allowed yogurt by week two.

My NUT said Chobani Greek Yogurt, non-fat, any flavor is just fine. She said with the high protein, it's an excellent choice and told me not to worry about the carbs for this one. Pretty much everything else that I am eating is so low carb that one high-carb meal a day is not an issue.

This is the famous 3-week stall. My surgeon and NUT told me to expect it. Do a search on this forum and you'll come up with all kinds of posts. I had what I would call a mini-stall - only lost a pound (barely), but this week I lost 4 pounds.

Sleeves can absolutely have dumping. My surgeon even gave me a sheet on what it is, how it feels and how to avoid it. I've had it twice now, one with peanut butter too soon after surgery, and today because I "had to" have a bite of bacon my husband made for breakfast. It was a small bite, and I chewed the heck out of it, but two seconds after I swallowed it, I knew I was going to have a problem, and I did. All symptoms noted above and many trips to the bathroom. Lesson learned.

My anesthesiologist put the sedative into my IV first. He said, "I just gave you a couple of glasses of wine in your IV" and I said "red or white" and laid my head down on the table and that's all I remember until I woke up. My first time under and no issues.

I did for the first three weeks, but was allowed to swallow them whole when I hit my fourth week.

I like Crystal Lite Mojito Flavor and Margarita Flavor. I also like Celestial Seasonings Bengal Spice Tea. It's great both hot and iced. Because its decaffeinated I usually have a fullest in the evening after work. It's so soothing and with that spicy flavor (cinnamon, cloves and such) it tastes sort of like a treat without being sweet.

I was drinking about the same. I drank a 12 ounce bottle of water before I even left the surgery center and I had out patient surgery. Some people really have a hard time drinking, and others don't My surgeons and the nurses were actually glad to see me drinking like that. Fluids go right through you. Some of us are able to drink more than others. Fluids are good for you! If you're worried though, call his surgeon.

I have never had much caffeine, even before surgery, but thanks for the suggestion of Smart Water.

I have not, but that's a great suggestion. Thank you!

I've been waking up in the morning with a headache. Even though I get more than 64 oz water a day in, I thought I might need water, so I tried drinking some, but that didn't help. It's not TOM either. Tylenol doesn't help either and I can't take NSAIDS. Anyone know of a magic potion for headaches?

Liisa -- you look fabulous dahling!

I took Colace before I went to bed and by the next morning, the eagle landed, so to speak.

I'm in for my first challenge! HW: 253 SW: 233 CW: 220 GW: 210, but hope for less

Great job! I was also sleeved on 5/3 and am down exactly 33 pounds (including pre-op) - same as you! It does feel great!

I didn't tell my PCP as I rarely had to go to see her and didn't need her referral and honestly, i didn't really care what she thought as she isnt a bariatric surgeon so its not her specialty. One week after surgery, I did go see her because I have been having issues with peri menopause. So, of course I had to tell her then. She was very supportive and I also found out that she has several patients who have had weight loss surgery with my same surgeon!

I took two weeks away from the office, but worked from home answering emails and participating in a few conference calls week two. Week three I went back full time, but was at work by 6:30 am so I could leave early as I was pretty tired by the afternoon. This week, though (week four), I feel great, but I'm also eating a few more calories so I have more energy.

Do you like cottage cheese? That is my go to food. I started out with a quarter cup and chewed it, even though it was small curd. I use salt and pepper and a small amount of chopped ripe avocado. Cottage cheese has lots of protein too, even with 1% milkfat. Chobani Greek Yogurt with fruit was allowed on my soft diet too lots of protein too Get nonfat at the start a quarter cup went down fine I was on soft foods after two weeks too, I just took it slow. Some people have a hard time with ground meats in sauce and chicken, even in chicken salad. Do you like other types of fish, like Tilapia? There are great recipes out there for Tilapia on myrecipes.com. Just know you'll probably only be able to eat a quarter cup to a third cup at a time to start. All fish and shellfish, including shrimp, cooked is considered soft food at least in my NUT's plan.

Oh, and my surgeon let me take 5 - 10 cc's every two hours if I needed it. I took 10 cc's every two hours for the first 24 hours, and then was able to take it every four hours.