LTARLTON

Just a little tidbit.......the other day I was watching the Dr Oz show. He was having a cooking contest between 3 ladies and had some celebrity chefs as judges. The idea was to take a popular high calorie food and make it more healthy. There was a lady on there that did manicotti, one that did chicken fried steak and the last one did enchiladas. I can't remember everything she substituted but I do remember she wrapped them in boiled cabbage leaves instead of tortillas. I believe she substituted black beans for the meat (which really we need the meat so that wouldn't be a big deal for us). Her recipe cut like 300-400 calories off of the normal. I bet if you went to Dr Oz's website you might be able to find those recipes on there. I believe it aired this past Monday or Tuesday. Just thought I would pass that along.

For about a week after my surgery my cheeks would get extremely flushed. To the point where people would ask me if I was ok. I asked the doc about it and they said it was probably from the blood thinner they had given me. After about a week or so it did go away.

That's so weird! I've been noticing the same thing. I have always had, I guess, a large bladder but now I'm drinking 5 times as much fluid as I used to. I don't know why I never get the urge to go. I plan on asking my doc at my next appt.

Wow! I just saw this today. Jimmy.....I just sent a prayer your way. I hope and pray God puts his loving arms around you and gives you strength and faith. HE will pull you through whatever may be going on. We are all patiently awaiting a reply ......hoping that all is well!

Thanks everybody! I appreciate all the help. On myfitnesspal I am ltarlton. I didn't realize I could change the amount on there. I tried to change the serving size but it still didn't have the amount I needed. So I guess I need to change the number of servings. Is that what I need to do? I don't feel nauseous at all. I just get that feeling that my food is sitting in my throat. I have done better today. I'm eating less than I tried to eat yesterday and it seems to be working. I'm a little confused about my diet though. I thought I was gonna be able to eat soft meats but my NUT told me I could have them but I had to puree them. I could not just eat the soft meat until day 29. I'm not sure what puree means but I don't think I want to eat meat like that. She's very insistent that I get my Protein in but I'm having a hard time with the diet I've been given. I could do a whole lot better if I could eat meat. I can't eat Peanut Butter, vienna weenies, spam or potted meat (not that I think I might would eat that). Only eggs, cottage cheese, yogurt, pudding, refried Beans and soup. Any suggestions?

Thanks guys! I am actually already on myfitnesspal but I find it hard to remember to go log everything and I have trouble always finding the right serving size on there. For example: today I had 1/4 cup or slightly less refried Beans with reduced fat shredded cheese and I could not ever find anything to fit exactly. I haven't logged anything on there in a while because I seem to remember to write it down easier than to go to the app and log it there. Plus I get frustrated when I can't find what I'm looking for. I wasn't really trying to force 1/4 cup......my problem is......I haven't been "hungry" since my surgery. I cannot for the life of me tell when I'm full until I'm already overfull. I'm not sure what my signs are that I'm full. I'm sure I will learn that but until then I'm scared I'm screwin up my stomach. The docs told me I would just need to measure things.....well that's obviously not working because I feel like I'm overdoing it AND I am measuring.

So......I had my 2 week appt yesterday with the nutritionist. She said I could start eating eggs, cottage cheese, yogurt, pudding, cheese and refried Beans. I'm allowed to have soft meat and hearty bean Soups if they're pureed. I should only be eating 1/4 cup each meal and getting @ least 800 calories a day. This is my problem........I am eating 1/4 cup (and I'm using a measuring cup) but I feel like I'm right on the verge of throwing up. I haven't yet but its right in the back of my throat. Should I just cut down my portion size?? I have been keeping a food diary since my surgery and I'm finding it hard to calculate all of my nutritional facts (Sorry but I'm OCD and I like for my figures to be exact. LOL) especially if I'm eating less than the serving size. I have looked online and I'm not having much luck finding a good tool with just nutritional facts. Anyone know any good tools? I'm so afraid of failing! I hope I haven't stretched my stomach by eating too big of a portion. I wonder......how easy is it to stretch it out. Thanks for listening to me ramble! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you all so much! I was starting to get worried something was wrong with me.

I have it too. Its horrible when I first wake up! What is that??

Ok I know that might sound like a really dumb question but.......today has been 2 weeks since my surgery. I'm still in the "liquid" phase although I get to have blended soups. My instructions were to start with 4-6 oz an hour and increase to 8 oz as tolerable. I can drink a 16 oz water over the course of about 1 - 1 1/2 hrs so of course that's more than 8 oz in an hour. I also hear others on here talking about how they can only hold 1 - 2 oz of food per meal. So how is it that I can take in so much more fluids? Do they pass straight through my sleeve and don't really fill me?? Where solids actually sit in your stomach? Just wondering! I didn't know if I'm stretching my sleeve by drinking that many fluids in an hour. Does anyone know?

I was sleeved 4/24 so I'm only about 2 weeks out. My surgery was a breeze. My doctor did not require a pre-op diet. His only requirement was that I not gain any weight. I had to be on clear liquids 24 hrs prior to surgery. Let me just back up a little bit........my initial consultation was 3/19. My insurance company did not require a waiting period or 6 mth supervised diet. I had to have 1 psych eval ,1 nutritionist visit and a upper GI. It is amazing how quickly it all happened. My surgery was scheduled and !bam! it was done. Now as far as my surgery is concerned..........I was extremely nauseous after coming out of recovery. The doctor assured me it was because of the anesthesia. By that night it was completely gone. The next day I had a couple episodes of acid reflux but nothing major. It was all uphill from there. The last day I had pain meds was the day after surgery and haven't had any since. I feel great! My doc required me to do 2 week liquids including cream soups. The only way I have cheated is by taking chunky soup and blended it to where I could drink it. I didn't try that until I was over a week out. My doc had said at my 1 wk appt I could do tomato soup and that all I had to do was strain my soup. If it would go through a strainer it was ok. So I made that work for me I haven't had a bit of problem with those soups. I am still eating 4-6 oz sometimes 8 oz. I have not overfilled myself yet so no vomiting. I seem to be able to notice when I get full. Its a full feeling in my throat. The ONLY problems I'm having is making sure I'm getting enough fluids and protein. The other problem is smells! I have not been hungry since surgery BUT the smells of other peoples foods is killin me. I haven't given into temptation but man its hard! Those are the 2 worst things that are happening to me right now. I have an appt Wednesday to see the nutritionist. I will be able to go on soft/mushy foods and I am overjoyed! I know this is terribly long but I didn't want to leave anything out! For me this has been a great experience!

I too do not know what this is ....... but I just sent up a prayer on your behalf!

Okay here's a thought. 5 packs koolaid Sugar substitute (whatever is equivalent to 4 cups regular sugar) Water Put it in your ice cream freezer and freeze it just like ice cream. I haven't tried it yet with sugar substitute but I know its great with regular sugar. I hope the substitute wouldn't hinder the freezing process. Like I said.....it was just a thought!

Hey suzcomptime! I wad able to drive as soon as I no longer took pain meds. I had my surgery on a Tues and Wed was the last day I had pain meds. I was driving Friday. Not sure about the swimming. No pushing pulling or lifting 20 + lbs for 4 weeks after surgery. Hope this helps!

That is an awesome idea brookb! I may just have to try that! Thank u for sharing!

Is there any way protein can be heated or cooked?? I'm in liquid/blended soup stage. I have heated my soup and let it cool some. I then added 1 scoop unflavored protein powder. As slow as I'm eating now my soup is really cold again. Can I nuke it to make it warm again? It started out being 8 oz but after adding the protein and some chick broth I now have way more than I can eat. So I would like to put it in the fridge and finish it later but I don't want it cold! What a dilema!

Hey timeforme! I am 48 hours post op. I live in Monroe NC and had my surgery at Presby Matthews. Doing really well! I hope ur surgery went well today! Please let us know! Kaybaby - glad ur surgery went well! YaY!

I looked for this on FB and I can't find it. I don't know what I'm doing wrong.