lollyfidy1965

My surgery was June 19th, by Dr. Daniel Jones, in Boston, MA. My highest weight was 354. My weight at first surgeon visit (5/4) was 330, BMI of 47 My weight the day of surgery was 302.4 My current weight is 274.4, BMI of 38.2

I'm half-way to my Labor Day Goal!! 26 pounds down, and 26 pounds to go!!

I guess my thought on this is that, before straying too far from a strict high-protein, low-carb, low-fat post-op diet, I would seriously consider whether or not I am able to eat "in moderation." For many (most??) of us, the concept of "moderation" has been foreign to us...obviously, or we wouldn't need to have 80% of our stomachs removed...right?? I recognize that I struggle with moderation...so I'm staying as far away from the concept (of eating anything "in moderation") as possible. Best of luck to you!

If you're unable to find a protein shake that you can stand enough to drink (I prefer chocolate Muscle Milk RTD, either the lite or regular version), you can put unflavored protein powder in almost anything. I use the unflavored Unjury protein powder, and it works pretty well. If you put in anything "hot," the temperature has to be below 130 degree (or the protein denatures, much like egg whites do when cooked, and you'll get clumpy yuck). I use it in hot tea, all kinds of broths and cream soups, I've added it to thin oatmeal and cream of wheat, and to yogurt and cottage cheese. The Unjury chicken broth flavored powder is also pretty ok...particularly if you mix it in chicken broth, instead of water. (Again...make sure it isn't hotter than 130 degree!). Best of luck to you!

You can get liquid colace....but it tastes nasty. I use cherry Milk of Magnesia when I get stopped up. It works pretty well, if slowly sometimes.

I agree with this who said "call your surgeon". Don't take anything over the counter without first checking with your surgeon. Prevacid and liquid Zantac have worked wonders for my heartburn. Best of luck!

Call your surgeon and let him/her know. I started on liquid Zantac when I came home from the hospital, but started having breakthrough heartburn about 3 weeks later. I called my surgeon and he added Prevacid to my meds. Three days later the heartburn was completely gone. I would advise against taking anything over the counter without checking with your surgeon first!! Best of luck to you!

I track my carbs daily, along with protein an liquids, and try to keep them between 20-30g/day. I check my urine for ketones several times a day, and have been "moderate" or "large" (positive) since the day I came home from the hospital (25 days ago). I've lost 26 pounds in the same period of time, and I'm pretty happy about it.

I'd been taking Zantac since I came home from the hospital (3 weeks ago), and started having breakthrough heartburn horribly on Tuesday (3 days ago). I called my surgeon and he added Pevacid to my meds. Finally, this morning I'm not feeling any heartburn. I'm hopeful the combination has finally started working...because the last 3 days have been miserable!!! Best of luck to you!

I'm not a nutritionist, and every program will have their own guidelines...but....that seems awfully high to me. My Protein goal is 75-80g/day, and calories between 600-800. As far as carbs go, my typical day is between 25 and 30g of carbs, and never from anything sweetened with sugar. All the best to you!

My surgery was 4 weeks ago, yesterday. On the days I have lots of energy, I have LOTS of energy! On the days when I have no energy, I really have NO energy! Thankfully, I have more good days than bad now, and even on the "bad" days I make myself go to the Y, to walk on the treadmill for at least 30 minutes. All the best to you!

Yay for you!! I've had problems with breakthrough heartburn the last two days (even though I take Zantac twice a day). Dr's orders::: back to a full liquid diet for 3 weeks (I'd been advanced to soft/pureed foods last Wednesday). I'm a little bummed, but it'll be fine. At least I have lots of liquid options that I quite like (Muscle Milk, Unjury powders, etc), so I won't be completely miserable! Best of luck to you, and congrats on the fantastic weight loss!!

My surgery was four weeks ago yesterday, and I'm still having low energy days. I walk an hour on a treadmill most days, and sometimes go back in the evening for a second walk, but on really low days I only walk half an hour, and rest up. My upper abdomen (where all of my incisions are located) has been very sore the last few days...chalking it up to the healing process. I'm hoping another couple weeks will see me back in fighting form, as the saying goes.

I put the TV on mute during commercials, and keep something handy to distract me so I don't look at the tv...or make a trip to the little girls room. In my experience, "head hunger" does get better...especially if you focus on how NOT hungry your tummy is. All the best to you.

Mine was in 6 days. When it was removed I felt nothing. I expected pain, but there was no discomfort at all!

Have you tried thinly sliced deli meats (turkey breast, chicken, roast beef, etc)? Those are included in my "soft/pureed/ground" stage. Also, there are many different types of fish available frozen (I just got some wicked good "bourbon glazed" salmon at BJs...very tasty, high protein, and no carbs.), some even come in microwavable steam pouches. Harvestland makes a very tasty turkey burger...3 oz after cooking. Most any canned veggie will be soft enough for you to eat...that gives you green beans, wax beans, beets, carrots, asparagus...anything non-starchy...as well as canned legumes (black beans, navy beans, etc). I hope you find some additional options to add to your menu!!

You can count all your liquids towards your daily total...protein shakes, water, protein drinks, broth,e tc. If you're truly only getting 8 oz of LIQUID per day, you definitely need to work on increasing that number. If you're getting 8 oz of WATER, along with other liquids, total it all up, and see where you are. You should be pushing to get 48-64 oz of liquids in, total, in order to avoid dehydration. And whenever you can add protein (unflavored protein powders, etc), do...to get the most protein possible. All the best to you!!

I'm four weeks post-op (tomorrow), and I've yet to experience anything remotely like "hunger." I eat according to a schedule (to ensure I get enough protein and water every day), but most of the time I have no interest in putting anything in my mouth. While I'm thrilled to be able to eat so little, and feel "satisfied" all day long, at times I find it annoying. I want to want something....anything....to enjoy the taste of something...but most of the time eating is just a chore.

My surgeon started me on chewable flintstones the day I went home from the hospital (day 6). At my 2 week follow-up visit, my nutritionist added chewable Calcium Citrate (after the sleeve procedure our calcium must be in this form...not the form found in TUMS, or many other calcium supplements), with Vitamin D, and a Vitamin B12. If you're taking a multi-vitamin and Calcium/Vit D, you have to be careful to space your pills carefully. If you take Calcium within 2 hours of a multi-vitamin, the calcium won't be absorbed (because of the iron in the vitamin). Also, your body can only absorb 500mg of calcium at a time, so you have to split the daily dose over the course of the day (if you're taking more than 500mg/day). I use Celebrate's "Calcium Plus 500," which include the amount of Vitamin D I need (1000IU/day). The daily dose is 3 chewables per day, taken at least 2 hours apart. I also use Celebrate's Vitamin B12, which is a sublingual tablet (it dissolves under your tongue). The cherry versions of each of these are pretty tasty, and they contain no sugar, or aspartame. (If your not a fan of cherry, Celebrate will send a sample pack of every vitamin/mineral supplement they sell...I think its $9, and gives you the ability to taste each of the many different flavors they have, before investing a lot of money.) All the best.

Try chewable melatonin....works great for me!

@Celtic Harpist....my surgeon used a stapler with 6 rows of staples (3 remain in, and 3 go out with the old stomach), and he still over stitches. I'm grateful for the extra care taken!! Best to you!

My nutritionist included WHIPPED cottage cheese (there is such a thing, sold in major grocery chains) in the "full liquid" stage. I have been eating that for two weeks, but have to thin it with milk. Regular curd cottage cheese is part of my "stage 4"....soft/puréed/ground foods.

I was prescribed liquid colace....a truly vile taste. I use cherry MoM. It doesn't taste great, but it does work.

Google Unjury...you order it directly from their website. You can order single packets to try flavors before committing to a big bucket, if you want. Best of luck!

So...I'm just amazed at the differences between surgeons....the testing they do prior to surgery, the procedures performed...whether or not a drain is used, and whether or not its removed prior to leaving the hospital....the length of stay in-hospital...the speed at which people are moved through the diet stages after surgery....whether or not people are prescribed anything for acid reflux....and I wanted to ask a couple related questions. Who was tested (by having an abdominal ultrasound done) for gallstones, prior to surgery? And who was prescribed Actigall (or some other medication), after surgery, to reduce the risk of gallstone formation? (Because of the post-surgery diet, we are much more likely to form gallstones.) All the best, to each of us!