Marie from Michigan

My Nutritionist told us the story of the woman who ate an entire Lean Cuisine entree two weeks after surgery, developed a leak and almost died. I think its a true story, but either way it sure worked to scare the (*$% out of me!

I love this concept of "breaking up with food." After I had a couple of overfull experiences during about week 3 my ideas about eating changed drastically. I began to associate "overeating" with pain and discomfort. Overeating now is dramatically negatively reinforced for me! I think this is a GREAT THING. I now know at week 13 post op that when I begin to experience my full signals which are burping and/or hiccuping I need to stop eating. If I take even one more bite, I will regret it. Believe me, I have learned from experience. It is hard for me to throw food away and when I measure out my 1/2 cup of Protein and put a couple of bites of veggies on my plate, I feel compelled to try to finish it all. And, its aways a mistake. I have had to learn to listen to my sleeve when she says she has had enough and toss the extra food in the trash.

I told the people I work closely with as soon as I received a surgery date. I was out of work for 3 1/2 weeks and they needed to pick up the slack in my absense. I am an open person and it would have been very difficult to just tell them I was going out on medical leave. They would have assumed the absolute worst and I didn't want to cause them any concern. When I first came back after surgery I looked pretty haggard. I am sure that some people who didn't know I had WLS assumed the worst. I think the word spread and now everyone knows. I get a lot of comments and words of support. Some people ask questions because they are interested in the surgery either for themselves or for a family member. No one has said anything negative or unsupportive at all, at least not to my face! One interesting thing is that I did not tell my extended family I was having surgery (aunts, cousins, etc.). After surgery many of my work "friends" wrote messages of support to my Facebook page. It was pretty apparent that I had had surgery and was home recovering. My relatives all came out of the woodwork asking what was wrong and did I need help. I felt kinda bad that I hadn't told them before but I really had no opportunity to do so. I think the decision whether to tell your co-workers or not is an individual one. I work in an environment where we are generally pretty open with what is happening in our personal lives and it would have been more difficult not to tell than to tell.

Upon leaving the hospital my Doctor prescribed something for the spasms. I only took it a couple of times the first week but it seemed to work well. My spasms completely went away during the 2nd week after surgury. I also when from explosive, runny stools to constipation almost overnight at about day 10 post op. After six days of no bowel movements I was told to take a dose of Milk of Magnesia. It worked like a charm. I still take a dose every couple of weeks when things get blocked up.

I walked a lot of halls at the hospital until I was released. Once home I walked at Costco and the local mall since the weather outside was cold and rainy. I was released to go back to my "normal" 30 minutes on the treadmill two weeks after surgery. I had no problems.

I am 12 weeks post-op and can pretty much eat anything I want to try. Every transition (from mushies to softs, etc.) hurt my stomach. Right now I have to increase both calories and protein grams and my sleeve is rebelling at each meal. My whole body reacts to tell me when I have eaten enough.....I burp, I hiccup, my stomach makes gurgling sounds, I sneeze and my nose runs. With all that going on I do get the message to STOP EATING now!! Its actually quite funny. I think burping is very common and I agree, its not something that was mentioned to me before surgery.

85 pounds is wild! I was sleeved on April 12. I was 254lbs on the day of surgery down from a high of 270. This morning I weighed in at 213 so down 57 total and 41 since surgery. I can eat about 1/2 cup of food. At my 12 week post-op appointment last week, the Nutritionist said to increase calories from about 800 to 1000 and proteins from 60 to 80 grams per day. So far, this has been a real struggle. When I try to eat more my stomach hurts and I don't want to stretch it! I haven't had any complications to date and I love the fact that I can eat so little and not feel hungry. I still like the same foods I did prior to surgery, but can eat WAAYY less of them and feel full and satisfied. For example, we went to an picnic birthday party yesterday. I ate about 2/3 of a grilled burger with cheese, ketchup, and pickle, 1 tablespoon of baked beans, 1 potato chip, and one bite of birthday cake. I am LOVING this sleeve tummy!!!

Thanks all! I think I am going to back off the food for a few days and then try to incorporate a bite or two of veggies at each meal.

I think there are better products for you to choose than Slim Fast, products with fewer carbs and more Protein. I really liked the EAS Advantage Carb Control which has 17 grams of protein after surgery. It didn't seem nearly as sweet as other Protein drinks and the sweetness was really cloying to me. Right after surgery I also liked the Pure Protein Drink from costco, but now I find it too thick and don't like the texture. The EAS drinks are four for $4.99 at my local store. Make sure you are looking for protein drinks in the pharmacy section of the store rather than the grocery section. Just one word of warning - what I liked prior to surgery was very different than after surgery. I had stocked up on some things which are now still sitting in my cupboard.

I saw my Nutritionist earlier this week for my three-month post op visit. She upped my calories from 800 to 1000 per day and my Proteins from 60 to 80. She said not to graze during the day but rather to eat three meals of 300 calories each and one 100 calorie snack. Still eat Protein first but also to add a vegetable and/or fruit to each meal. (Previously I was eating mostly protein only with no vegetables or fruits.) She said not to eat any carbs without also eating protein. No crackers, chips, rice, potatoes, basically no snacking. My problem is that my little sleeve just won't hold that amount of food! I feel like I am cramming in food to get to the 300 calories and am feeling uncomfortably full afterwards. I am worried about stretching my sleeve. To counter this problem I have have been stretching my meals to last longer and I know that is exactly what she doesn't want me to do. Help! Has anyone else been in this situation and can give me some advice? Should I keep eating to the point of being uncomfortable just to get to the right amount of calories? Should I go back to the 800 cal/60 protein that I was getting in previously (and which did not make me sick.) How important is it to eat add the vegetables and fruits? THANKS in advance for any insight. Marie

From 6 - 12 weeks post-op, my nutritionist said to eat about 800 calories per day and 60 grams of Protein. At my 12-week session this week I was told to up the calories to 1000 per day and the protein to 80 grams. Also....no grazing through the day. Three meals of 300 calories each and one snack of 100 calories. She wanted me to add fruit/vegetables to each meal but NOT to eat "empty" carbs like crackers, rice, potatoes, chips, Cookies, etc. I know its going to be a struggle to eat 300 calories at each meal since I can't fit more than 1/2 cup in my sleeve but we will see what happens. The only liquid calories are Protein drinks and those only until the 6 month mark. She told me I should see my weight loss accelerate at this calorie amount. I have been losing an average of 3 lbs per week to date. We will see what happens.

I thought of this idea myself and bought 4 or 5 jars of baby food right after surgery. I only opened and tried one. It tasted so disgusting that I couldn't even swallow one bite. I donated the unopened cans to a food pantry.

I want to be in Onederland by Labor Day! SN.......................................Starting Weight..............................Current Weight..............................Goal.........................Lbs to goal Marie from Michigan........270.........................................................217............................................199...........................18 pounds Plan: 70 grams of Protein per day, 40 or fewer carbs per day, exercise 5 days per week.

At my PCP appointment last November we discussed the weight loss surgery option. She was supportive and I told her I was going to think about it and if I decided to pursue it I would contact the bariatric center in January. I attended my first weight loss seminar in January and had my initial appointment with the surgeon for February. We discussed the different surgical options and I asked him to recommend what he thought was best for me. He recommended the sleeve and told me why. He then ordered several more tests including a EKG, bone density test, endoscopy, psychologist appraisal, and a bunch of lab work. I actually had the bone density test done at my PCP office. The bariatric center sent copies of all of my test results to my PCP and they were the ones to request the "letter" from her. After surgery I asked when I should schedule my next followup visit with my PCP and they said three months post-op. I had my PCP appointment last week and I had lost 48 lbs from my November visit. She said she had been receiving regular updates of my progress each time I was seen at the bariatric center. My surgeon had already taken me off all but one of my diabetic medications but they wanted my PCP to evaluate all my medications at three months post-op which she did. I had to wait about six weeks after my last surgeon appointment and my surgery date due to vacations (first mine, then his) and work-related travel. Those six weeks were the longest of my life. I was so ANXIOUS to get the surgery behind me and start on the journey. I didn't do a ton of research or talk to many people about surgery since I was afraid i was going to get scared and talk myself out of it. I will say that the time went very slowly.

When I left the hospital, I was given a list of medications that I needed to take that included a chewable vitamin (I had taken these same vitamins for two weeks pre-op). After surgery, the chewables made me extremely nauseous. I called the phone nurse and got permission to take my regular multivitamin with water. Those went down just fine. At my two week post-op appointment I was started on vitamin B12 and restarted on vitamin D. At six weeks they said I could take biotin if I was noticing that I was losing hair. I started it immediately as a precaution. I go for my 3 month post op appointment this week and expect they will add iron and calcium supplements. I was hoping that after surgery I could take significantly less medication. For me, I have switched medications to control high blood pressure and diabeties for vitamins. I still take the same number of pills. I guess thats a good tradeoff?

So sorry to hear this happened, but it sounds like you are on the mend now! I live in fear that this is going to happen to me. Both my Mom and sister had to have their gall bladders removed after significant weight loss and I am thinking why should I be any differerent? I don't understand why they just don't remove your gall bladder at the time of the weight loss surgery? Other than the pain on the day you went to the hospital did you have any prior symptoms? Just trying to understand what to watch for. Hope your recovery is smooth!

HI Meggie I read your experience with great interest! I too am scared to death to try carbs. They were always my downfall in the past. I could eat an entire box of crackers in one sitting and popcorn was a nightly ritual for me as well (microwave). I made a promise to myself that I would never eat 'empty" carbs that I have kept so far (3 months) but I am tempted to try some. I ate a small clementine last weekend that didn't sit so well. I don't know if it was the fiber in the orange or the sugar, but I am not trying it again for a while. My extended family came over with popcorn and I ate about 10 kernals. Like with you, that went down easy without any problems. My birthday is also later this month and I feel like I should "indulge" but then think what's the point? So....given everything that happened and your emotions about it, was it worth it? Given what you know now, would you eat the popcorn and ice cream again?

I also have what many consider to be a "strict" doctor. However, I also know that his patients have very few complications after surgery. I wouldn't so much label him strict as "cautious." I picked him and I am NOT going to second guess his decisions. I followed his directives to a T and had NO complications at all.

I took a vacation to Disneyland ten weeks after surgery! Everything went great. First was the airplane trip without having to worry about needing a seatbelt extender. I was able to do all the rides no problem. Eating was the biggest hurdle. At the last minute I threw in some pre-made Protein drinks and string cheese in my luggage. I am glad I did since it was hard for me to get in my protein. At some restaurants I ordered an appetizer and other times shared meals. I tried a lot of new protein food items that I hadn't had since surgery including shrimp, chicken strips, BBQ ribs and almonds. Some of it went great, others not so much. I never ordered a kids meal at a table service restuarant, but I understand if you have a WLS card from your doctor they will let you order. I did order a couple of kids meals from the counter service places substituting apple slices for the fries. Worked fine. One thing my Nutritionist told me was that I had to get accustomed to throwing food away. She said most overweight people will always finish their plates and find it difficult to toss extra food. I am finding that I am one of those people. My vacation meals came with all kinds of "extras" that I couldn't eat. Sometimes family members finished food for me, but often times I just needed to throw it away. That was harder for me than I thought it would be. Example: I ordered a Breakfast platter from a counter service restaurant and just ate the scrambled egg and a tiny piece of the bacon. The potato puffs and biscuit went in the trash. We did eat at one Character buffet. I certainly did not eat my $36 worth of food, but the kids loved it and I am glad we did it. I ate one chicken leg, a couple of pieces of cold shrimp, a strawberry, a small piece of roast beef and one bite of pineapple cake. I was so stuffed I had to leave the table and walk around a bit! Over the course of the week I think I averaged about 45 grams of protein a day rather than the 70 I was eating at home. It was also hard for me to get in all my fluids. I am planning a trip to Disney World this October during the Food and Wine festival. I am thinking the appetizer portions of food will be just perfect! I would NOT recommend postponing your trip. I hope you have a great time!

When I was first sleeved I took two naps a day - one in the late morning, the other in the late afternoon. When I was awake, I tried to be as active as possible. It was cold and rainy outside, so I walked at costco and the Mall. I went back to work after 2 weeks off, but really think I needed a third week. Try to balance as much rest as possible with light activity. About the BM. Upon my Doctor's advice, I had to take milk of magnesia to get things started. I only needed one dose.

Be careful with fruit. I didn't have any fruit until about 2 months post-op. At that time I tried a small clementine. I got really dizzy and upset stomach. The Nutritionist said it could be two things: 1) many people have trouble with fiberous fruits post WLS, and/or 2) eating just a piece of fruit is a lot of SUGAR. She said the symptoms can be similar to those of "dumping" for a gastric bypass patient. Anyway....she suggested leaving the fruits alone for another 1-2 months. I cheated though and have had a few strawberries recently and they were fine. I make certain to eat them WITH some Protein. Marie

I brought my own pajamas and slippers, underwear, toiletries and a little makeup. I wore home the same clothes I came in. I took a couple of magazines/books, but never opened them. I did have my iphone and made phone calls/sent texts to family and friends. I also got my period right after surgery and had to rely on hospital provided pads. Not good. My advice would be to bring your own "supplies" just in case. I also brought lip balm and used it a lot.

I switched to chewable multivitamins two weeks prior to surgery. They made me nauseous but I kept taking them. I was supposed to re-start them immediately after surgery, but I couldn't keep them down. Called the Doc office and the nurse said to try my regular capsule multivitamin with a small amount of water. No problem. Doctor added B12 and Vit D at two weeks post-op. I have my 3 month post-op visit next week and am told he will re-start iron and calcium at that time. I am also taking biotin to hopefully start hair growth.

I had my first piece of pizza at 10 weeks post op. I only ate the cheese and toppings (ham and pineapple) and let the crust lay. It was good, but not something I would want every day. And the one piece was more than plenty. I was on vacation with friends and it felt good to eat what they ate and be part of the crowd. No one noticed that I just picked at my one piece.