MinaT

Wow, love to hear that people are doing great! There are others that will lose a lot less than 23 pounds in a few weeks. Everyone is different but in the end it evens out. If you don't lose as much so fast, please don't be discouraged. The one thing people need to do is not compare their success with another's because any pound lost is a success.

@ Kamrie it does, so I asked the nurses to bring me a large styrofoam cup of hot water to make my own tea. I brought my Peppermint Tea and Truvia to the hospital. If you like splenda bring it - because it's just generic crap at the hospital. The hospital provided a safety pin for the drainage tube, but when I came home, I think the lanyard would have been awesome. I always safety pinned it to my shower curtain after I got the water to the right temperature but I would have to stand a little weird. At Emy I felt the same thing. I actually dropped the buzzered thing and I sat there in tears one night waiting for someone to show up.

Full liquid you can drink out of a straw (though you shouldn't). Full liquid is Soup with no chunks. I strain all my soup for example, I had some campbells clam chowder for dinner, just about 7 teaspoons of it. I cooked it and then I put it through a small strainer, so there were NO chunks in it. If I threw it in the blender and blended it really well - that would be considered a pureed. Pureed is tuna fish with celery salt, onion powder, ff mayo but blended well. SF pudding is considered full liquid. Instant mashed potato's is considered pureed, white fish thrown in a blender with a little bit of lf tartar sauce is pureed. For some reason Cream of Wheat is considered full liquid if it is very liquidy, but grits would be considered pureed.

Yep, I'm 18 days out, when I have my first shake in the morning, I get about an ounce gagged down and I am in the bathroom. I hold the wall and the sink because gosh only knows the sounds and force and just a little water comes out sometimes and the gas and whatever comes out makes me groan sometimes and grunt and it sounds like I'm fighting something in the bathroom. I have a husband and son and they have never had to deal with me running to the bathroom before like this and sometimes they snicker at the voluntary and involuntary noises coming out of the bathroom. As you start getting thicker and heavier food, it will stop being so liquidy. One thing I would like you to know, what you are dealing with is actually a whole lot better than constipation. That is even more painful.

I am 18 days out and have been dealing with the same thing you are dealing with. I am only on full liquids still and I have been told by my nutritionist, the nurses and the surgeon to do your best and that you can live off the protein stores for a while. Your tastes will change a few times over. Where I hated Isopure with all my being, I can tolerate it now. Where I loved Pure Protein shakes they made me gag. I am now able to handle Pure protein Shakes, but I can't deal with the Muscle Milk or the GNC Protein shakes. It's gotten a little better for me, and I was to the point of tears because I could only get in 14 grams a day. Every few days retry something you hated. I myself can't afford to buy every protein shake known to mankind and was terrified about not getting enough protein in. I have been reassured by an extremely strict surgeon (4 weeks full liquids) that I as long as I get in my 64 ounces of Water and do my best with the protein, have sugar-free popsicles, sugar-free pudding, even if you can't get in shakes try 2 ounces of skim milk, you won't be harming your body. You don't need to be up to 50-80 grams of protein the first month. Some people can do it, but many cannot and you can live off your fat stores for a while. Good Luck and I feel your pain. I forced myself into the Isopure Frosty Grape to get extra protein in. I am waiting to be able to afford to try some of the Syntrax Nector next. Slowly but surely I'm being able to handle my old Pure Protein Frosty chocolate in small doses.

I was stuck in the hospital 5 days. I needed help, I couldn't help others. I had a drain for 9 days after surgery and could not drive. I am not allowed to pick up anything heavier than a gallon of milk and needed help getting in and out of bed. I came home Friday late afternoon and my husband was off all week while in the hospital and called off on Monday. My son, who is 22 has been here to help me. My parents stopped by also. I know others have been able to do a lot more than me, but I wish you the best of luck. It would definitely be helpful if you had help because you cannot know how you are going to react to surgery or how fast you will recuperate. There are people that recuperated a lot faster than me and those that were a lot slower than me. I'm 18 days out and I still don't think I'm okay to drive. I have not been on any pain medication since the hospital because I'm allergic to everything but Morphine. Best wishes to you and congrats on your upcoming surgery. PS. My husband's company gave him 3 PTO days off for my surgery.

Indeed Joni!!!! I went into surgery 229 - I came home and on Saturday I weighed 235!!! I'm 18 days out and I weigh 213 pounds. Sami made a great point about going to the bathroom....if you have nobody there and you are in bed, after you get the catheter out, it's weird going to the bathroom for a while. If you feel like you have to go press your buzzer, because it takes a little bit for the nurse or na to show up, then they have to unhook you from the leg compressor things, unhook your iv and pain pump from the wall, move your bed into a better position so you can find a way to fidget getting in and out of bed. I got some of my best sleep, sitting on the stupid toilet. I refused to go back to bed until I went. There was times I would have to stand, sit, turn the water on, and I knew I had to go, but it does take a while for your kidneys to start working again normal. It also takes a while for your bowels & intestines to start working. Don't hesitate to sit in there or go for a walk because I know I had a few times I woke up realizing I had to go and felt trapped in bed. I also had a few times I felt trapped in bed (because the sides were up) and I rushed and had to sit and just wait for the piddle to happen). Oh and press your pain pump if you need it. I had to be told by my nurses to press it, I always forgot about it, or couldn't find it. I think I should have used it more, to make the experience a little better, but all in all. I was a champ.

I had the patch and changed it every 3 days and anti-nausea medications. One thing about these, they can cause dehydration, so you need to get your Water in. I have suffered nausea with Protein shakes pretty severely. As I am drinking them down, they are coming up and felt like I was drinking elmer's glue. These are the ones that I loved and used 7 months previous to surgery. Did the doctor give you med cups (one ounce (30ml) cups) to use? I find that pouring my drink or water into them and sipping them (3 sips usually get the one ounce down) causes less air and gas and less nausea issues. If you have any decaff tea, try that. What has helped me and others is Peppermint Tea (decaff). I use Bigelow and it's in a blue box. I add one packet of Truvia to it and it actually sooths my belly when it's cramping or h urting. It is refreshing warm or cold. At first water used to bug me, and the tea is what helped my sensitivity and I was able to get water down. Right now concentrate on your waters and perhaps a tea, and sugar free popsicles. If you can't get shakes in, go back a step to clears. Isopure Green Tea with Lemon, with added Mio Lemon flavor seemed to go down easier than shakes for me. Find a flavor you like. You can purchase these at GNC. I was h aving an issue with my shakes being blended because I was adding a lot more air to it. I tried shaking it but it didn't matter at first. Best wishes and good luck, I hope things get better. I'm still on the liquid phase and I'm 18 days out.

I could barely get in 14-20 ounces the first week. No big deal. The surgeon, the nutritionist and nurse, told me for the first month don't worry about it. You can live of stored Proteins for quite a while. They are more concerned with getting 64 ounces of liquid in, whether it be crystal light, decaff tea, Water, sf popsicles, MIO. You are suppose to be trying to work up to 80 ounces of Protein a day, but not the first week, heck it's not even necessary the first month. I'm almost 3 weeks out and am getting about 30-45 in now, if I'm lucky. Last week I had a day where I could only get in 14!! My taste buds changed a lot. For a while I couldn't even handle the taste of toothpaste, and I never had a problem with it before. Luckily now things are changing back. I really must warn you not to buy too much of any one product. What you like now, you may hate or actually be revolted by after surgery. Pure Protein 100% whey Frosty chocolate was one of my favorites, I loved Muscle Milk Light, I loved the banana creme, the strawberry and they were making me gag just days ago. I am just starting to be able to tolerate the Pure Protein again. I am still on full liquids. I am still struggling with Protein shakes, the taste etc. I drank Pure Protein 100% Whey for Breakfast and often times lunch for almost 7 months straight and loved it before. Though I hated Isopure pre-surgery the Green Tea with Lemon was one of the better ones and I added MIO to it. Don't go crazy buying a lot of things, because you will be wasting a lot of money if you can't handle it. Little protein is better than barfing & nausea.

I gained weight after surgery. I was 229 the day of surgery and on Saturday I was 235. I only had Water and tea in the hospital and couldn't tolerate any Protein shakes or Jello. That's really good weight loss at first. You had an IV, you have bloating, excess gas, swelling so you did great.

Wow, look at you, congrats! You are wearing jeans? I seriously spent a week with no underwear on and sheer type nightgowns and I waited until my first surgeon appointment to attempt underwear and stretch pants (I had a drain removed at day 9). Good luck healing, every single day is better than the day before!

I started the Optisource Vitamin 4 times a day the first day I came home from the hospital. It would take me a long time to get it down and it was dry and hard to get through, but it got easier. I just started the Biotin 10 days out (because those are bigger) and I was not given the green light to start those, but I have fine hair. I started the sublingual B12's a few days after I came home. I have NOT started back on my Glucosamine Chondritan for my severe joint damage and my flaxseed oil which I use because I have Narrow Angle Glaucoma and Glaucoma and Cataracts at the age of 48 and Flaxseed Oil helps with the moisture in the eyes and it has the same properties as Omega 3. I will ask Surgeon at my next appointment June 27th when I can start taking those.

I started biotin a little bit before surgery. A week before surgery I had to go off all vitamins & minerals. I started the biotin as soon as I thought I could swallow the pill at home. If you drink any pop (diet or regular) or coffee quit now! Quit before you have to go on the pre-op diet. I can only tell you things that made things easier on me. I brought one of those soft cuddly comfy throw blankets from Target (mine was brown, one side was soft and comfy and the other side was fluffy). I had it freshly washed and it smelled like home (Downy). It was my comfort in the hospital, I cuddled with it in the chair and it made me happy. I went into the surgery smiling and humming. Made my nurses hum, even hummed my favorite little theme song to my doctor and anesthesiologists and nurses. It made everyone smile and lighten up and I was told I was one of the most positive people going into surgery and I woke up positive. I found a decaff tea that was refreshing to bring to the hospital plus I bought my own artificial sweetener (truvia). I tried several decaff teas (after quitting coffee). Bigelow Peppermint Tea fit the bill with truvia. It literally calmed my tummy and felt better than water at first and even though it went from warm to cold, it tasted good cold. Hospitals normally serve hot tea with generic artificial sweetener in a coffee cup. It's not appetizing it smells like coffee though it's hot water. I probably have mentioned this 100 times since surgery in posts. This was my saving grace. Bring Cottonelle or Charmaigne Box of wet wipes. After surgery your privates feel nasty (after getting the catheter out). It's a little harder to urinate on your own. Wiping yourself is a little hard because your tummy is swollen, but getting some of the orange stuff off you makes you feel cleaner. I also kept a brush on my table, because it was such a comfort to brush my hair because it became a birds nest. When you go for your walk around the ward, bring along one of those mouth stick wipes because if you talk while you walk, your mouth will dry up on you so fast, especially if you are given the anti-nausea patch and anti-nausea shots. You will be most likely be receiving shots in your belly every so often for blood clots. I wasn't prepared for this, nor was I prepared for a drain. Ask the doctor if you are getting one. The ted hose they use and compression thing I was afraid of but it actually didn't hurt and was comforting, I was nervous about those. If the ted hose starts rolling down and hurting, makes sure you get someone to fix it. I made sure I kept my mouth sticks, water and peppermint tea and spirometer and I brought my own Kleenex (Vicks) type to the hospital. Those I made sure were close to me. When I would wake up during the night I would make sure I used the spirometer. I am prone to pneumonia and I used it OFTEN. I would take my big brown blanket and ball it up with a pillow and then cough. I still use it and it's 19 days out. My hardest part of surgery (I was in the hospital 5 days) was the leak test. I had an allergic reaction to the Gastrique used and it was really hard on me. My face, neck and chest turned a bright red and I got dizzy and sick. Most people just feel sick from their first drink being something like that. Things I did not use. I didn't use my kindle, didn't change clothes once (all the iv's getting any real pj's on there is no way.) I did have a pair crocs that I used to walk in, which was more stable to me than wearing their socks. When I came home getting in and out of bed was not easy for me, and I spent a lot of time sleeping in the lazy boy. I walked as much as I could and I started spacing it out 20 minutes walking through the kitchen, living room and dining room 3 times a day. I had the drain for 9 days and the last few days it started bugging me. Getting it out, was not comfortable but there was HUGE relief getting it out. I could finally actually breathe again. Realize that no two people heal alike. There are people that sound as though they have surgery and go home and are out walking miles in the first week. You may have had previous abdominal surgeries and have more scar tissue, you may have never had one and aren't used to it and take it harder. Everyone recovers differently and don't compare your experience to others because it's unneeded frustration. Try to remain positive, even when the going gets tough. I had only questioned my decision when I had the reaction to the gastrique, and then when my drain got infected (I have lupus), they were fleeting. I have tried to stay positive otherwise and it's done me well. I have a brain tumor, and I suffer from Lupus, I had diabetes and sleep apnea, and I suffer from raynauds and severe migraines and I have a lot of things that could contribute to me not staying positive. I had complications during my surgery which were pretty severe and still I would do it all over again. I will be 49 in August, which is how old my Great Grandmother Died due to obesity, and I am built just like her. Good Luck to you and stay positive, keep a fun song in your head that day, be it a theme song - like Brick House, or whatever current music you like. Mine was the Theme from Sanford & Son and old TV show that I loved as a little girl. The music is happy & funky and to remember the look on my surgeons face or remember the nurses trying to hum it or my husband and son humming it as I was being wheeled out still makes me giggle

Good luck to you. Not drinking alcohol is going to be a big thing. The thing about shrinking your liver is the most important part and of course, concerts, parties usually have alcohol involved. If you can get away with not drinking the alcohol, make sure you get your shakes in and drink a lot of Water. If it becomes hard, then head h ome. I do know that I was only allowed 3 shakes a day and it did something to my belly and I used the washroom a lot. It's also the time that I learned a valuable lesson and that's to never trust a fart. I locked myself in the house for 2 weeks and I exercised a whole lot. I wish I would have gone and done a few fun things, so I hope you enjoy yourself.

You know sometimes that hungry feeling is actually a healing of your tummy and sometimes it's actually just gas. I was sleeved June 4th and I'm still on Full Liquids. I am looking forward to pureed stage but I really want my stomach to heal inside and out. I know most people that were sleeved the same day as me are already on pureed and some are on soft food already and last night I tried 1% small cottage cheese (just three partial teaspoons and I mushed it and I chewed it) and my tummy turned and it hurt and I was like okay, not yet.

Oh Congrats!!!! I am hoping to hit it by my birthday in August!!!

I bought a 1x sundress and I was in a 4x - 3x. The dress is too big. The thing is though I lost a lot of weight before surgery, I was still wearing 3x pants and jogging clothes and just pinning the pants stomach. All my sweaters were big. Well we still had lots of cool days in the spring and I pretty much stayed in and exercised in the house for the 2 week preop. Most people didn't notice the 70 pounds I lost during the winter because of the heavy clothing I wore. Now it's extremely noticeable how much I lost and I am only 18 days out from surgery because of the summer clothes I'm wearing, they all hang on me. My husband said oh my gosh, you got bony shoulders lol.

Thanks for checking in skinnytata. I hope every day is a better day and you rest up, walk and pee comes soon. I spent a lot of time sleeping on the toilet after they took out my catheter. I didn't like going back to bed until I went. It was so much easier just to stay there.

I think Puree stage is play it by ear. I'm 18 days out and I'm still on liquids and I see my surgeon next Wed. and I hope i get to pureed food. It's not about "meals" actually it's about finding something that goes down well. I have heard someone try Peanut Butter and two hours later it was horrible, also hummus. Here is a list of ideas from my doctor's office. The only thing that actually looks doable to me is the tuna or mashed potatos, but everyone is different. I hope other's have a good idea of what works for them. PUREED DIET - SUGGESTIONS AND EXAMPLES Breakfast 1/4 cup high Protein cooked Cereal 1/4 cup pureed low sodium/low fat meat 1 chewable sugar-free complete Vitamin Snack 1/2 cup pureed fruit lunch 1/4 cup cottage cheese (lowfat) 1/4 cup pureed fruit snack 1 cup High Protein shake dinner 1/2 cup mashed potatoes with low fat gravy 1/2 cup broth 1 chewable sugar free complete vitamin snack 1 sugar-free fudgiscle This sample menu provides approximately 80 grams of protein and 885 caloires - SIP Water throughout the day ------ High Protein Pureed Diet recipes Cheeseburger 3 oz. lean chicken or turkey 1 slice fat-free cheese 2 tbs.p warm beef broth 1/2 hamburger bun Cook meat and drain fat. Add all ingredients except broth to blender and puree on high. Gradually add broth to desired consistency Yield 1 serving Calories 309 Protein 27.0 grams Chicken Stew 1 Cup Chicken, cooked and cubed 1/4 cup rice, cooked 1/4 cup mixed vegetables, cooked 1/4 cup chicken broth 1/4 cup skim milk 1/4 cup nonfat dry milk Blend together Yield 3 servings Calories (per serving) 120 Protein (per serving) 15.0 grams Fish 4oz. Whitefish fillet 4 tsp. nonfat tarter sauce Warm skim milk (as needed) Cook fish by baking or broiling. Place fish and nonfat tarter sauce in blender. Puree on high speed. Gradually add milk to make mashed potato consistency. Yield: 2 servings Calories (per serving) 116 Protein (per serving) 15.0 grams French Toast 1 slice frozen French Toast "I can't believe it's not butter!" spray 3 tbsp. warm sugar-free syrup Warm French toast according to package. Spray with I can't believe it's not butter. Cut into quarters. Place all ingredients in blender. Puree on high until smooth consistency is achieved. Yield 1 serving Calories: 171 Protein 4.0 grams Grilled Cheese 1 slice whole wheat/high Fiber bread 2 slices fat-free American cheese I can't believe its not butter spray 3 tbsp warm skim milk Heat non-stick pan over medium heat. Spray one side of bread with I can't believe it's not butter side down on pan, top with cheese and heat until cheese melts and bread istoasted brown. Fold sandwich in half and cut into four pieces. Place in blender and puree on high, adding milk until smooth. Adjust the amount of milk used for thicker or thinner consistency. Yield 1 serving Calories 146 Protein: 12.0 grams High Protein Breakfast Shake 1/2 cup fat-free plain yogurt 1/4 cup skim milk 1/2 small banana 1/4 cup non-fat dry milk Mix all ingredients together in blender Yield 1 serving Calories 125 per serving Protein 12.0 grams per serving High Protein Mashed Potatoes 2 tbsp mashed potato mix 1/2 cup hot skim milk 2 tbsp. nonfat dry milk Mix nonfat dry mil with skim milk and heat to a boil. Add mashed potato mix. Mix well with a wire wisk. Mix thickens as it stands Use Butter buds or fat-free gravy to add flavor Yield 1 serving Calories 148 Protein 10.0 grams Chicken/Fish/Turkey 4oz meat cooked 6 tbsp. low fat gravy Chop meat into small pieces, blend on high speed, gradually adding gravy until desired consistency Yield 2 servings Calories (per serving) 126 Protein (per serving) 16.0 grams Tuna salad 1 6 oz. can light tuna in spring water, drained 2 tbsp. fat-free Miracle Whip 1tsp mustard 1/2 tsp. onion powder 1/4 tsp. celery salt Add all ingredients to blender. Puree on high until smooth. Refrigerate Note: May substitute canned chicken for tuna Yield: 3 servings Calories (per serving): 60 Protein (per serving) 11.0 grams

I have had it on and off in my life due to different medications, I have had it due to ketosis (which I'm dealing with now) and sinus infections. The Protein type metallic, milky taste seems to come back even right after I brush my teeth and usually in the middle of the night now I get up and have to brush my teeth again.

I was a huge coffee drinker, I drank Dunkin Donut K-cups, my husband likes the bold kind of K-cups. I quit about a month before the pre-op and switched to a Breakfast like decaff K-cup though I can't remember the name. I haven't gone back to the decaff coffee and I had started drinking Bigelow Peppermint Decaff Tea before surgery and I just put the bag in my cup and press the button and use the hot Water that comes out of the Keurig. I tried a few sips of decaff once....and felt ill, I'm done with decaff for now. Maybe next summer when I'm healed I'll try a decaff Ice Coffee. I've gone almost 2 months without caffeine, I see no reason to go back to it.

Oh Becky, the drain coming out is a godsend. You will notice the ability to breath so much more. I am allergic to pain medications and my last few days of the drain became torture because I have lupus and it went all crazy trying to attack the drain. You will see a huge improvement once that's gone.

Anewlifeforme23 - good for you for getting some check and balances. You are trying to find ways to work the sleeve and you should be proud that you reached out. Good luck to you and congrats on your loss so far.

My father and mother were for me having the surgery until the day approached as the day approached my father became more and more leery and upset about the surgery. We did not tell my brothers. I had a hernia repair and adhesions removed and that's all they needed to know. My husband and son were for me having it. Of course both sorta waivered after I had it a little bit, because let's face facts. This is a major surgery and they all love me and worry. After your surgery and when you start healing and they know you are okay and safe and that you are doing well, they will lighten up. Your family loves you and they just worry about the surgery aspect of it. They are afraid you will never get to eat again, or whatever, I have h ad to prove to my father that I'm okay and he's okay with it now. Best of luck and I remember how getting the approval was such a hard thing for you. Just do me a favor go into this surgery with a positive attitude, not a bundle of nerves. Be positive, be happy, have a good song sitting in your head, and it will make after the surgery that much easier to deal with. Positive attitude goes a long way and eventually your parents will see you have done what is best for you.

My pre-op calories for 6 months before surgery I stayed at 800-900 calories a day. If you have a nutritionist at your doctor's office I would ask them, but 1000 at 2 months seems high, but if you are steadily losing and not in any pain when you eat, I don't know. I'm still on liquids and I'm almost 3 weeks out.