KS Fort Worth

Thinner liquids can pass right through the stomach, as long as you don't force it. I had a second swallow test 8 days post-op (standard procedure for Doc) and he showed me the contrast going past the pyloric valve. Tomato soup is fairly thin. My staple right now on full liquids is the heart-healthy cream of chicken, made with milk, with a scoop of protein powder. It's thick enough I can't do more than 3 ounces or so at a sitting.

Thank you! So these can be opened up?

Does anyone know if there is a biotin capsule on the market? A google search shows plenty with that description, but they seem to actually be softgels. I'm still a few weeks away from being cleared for pills, but I'd like to start on the biotin now.

GNC also has one, their own brand, in a smaller bag rather than a huge tub. I have one, but it's partly protein concentrate instead of all protein isolate. I've read that isolate is supposed to be better, but I've had no problems with the GNC. I do have some Unjury on order, should be here Wednesday.

LOL! I don't care for guacamole, but you reminded me of my wife. she LOVES the stuff!

Wow, that's exactly how I feel! I've also been big all my life, and have no clue what "normal" will look like on me. But I'm excited to find out!

My sister-in-law is from Guatemala and does WONDERFUL things with black beans, including a very loose refried style. One more week and I get to have some of those! My wife is also planning a pilgrimage to Olive Garden for their soups, which we will blend but won't have to strain, and my mom made me three jars of broccoli cheese soup. I'm well covered for the mushies stage, I think.

My Doc also said aspirin and NSAIDs were no-nos, from the blood-thinning aspect I assume. Bleeding along staple line=BAD. Tylenol is OK AFAIK. The 64 oz will get easier as your swelling subsides. He repaired a hiatal hernia in me as well, so there was some swelling in that area also. I found it helped a LOT to straighten my torso as I swallowed; either stand up or sit up straight. It still does help, but it's not as necessary now.

Good for you! My Doc is more conservative, I still have one more week on full liquids, then mushies for two, then transition to solids. That's OK, I'm patient.

A headache can make you nauseated. If you are historically a heavy caffeine user, you should taper off instead of quitting cold turkey. You definitely should stop though, as you won't get any the day of surgery or the day after, at minimum, and those would be terrible days for a caffeine headache.

I was a little concerned about this a few months ago (well before surgery) but then I realized since it is WAY too easy to "beat" the sleeve with liquid calories, I was NOT going to starve. Not that I WANT to cheat, but it did put my mind at ease.

Yes, I was sleeved July 24th at Baylor Trophy Club. everything went smoothly, recovery is going well, and I started back to work today, 8/07. Good luck, and we'll see you on the loser's bench!

@jennyblue111 - do you mean your stomach seems insatiable now? Could read either way. If so, are you taking a PPI like Prevacid or Prilosec? Too many gastric juices will mimic hunger.

I think LURKER is the term you wanted. Wholly different connotation! And good luck on your journey!

IMO it would be safest just to leave them at home. My mother was hospitalized for an allergic reaction and they had to CUT her rings off because her hands were so swollen.

According to Unjury's site, protein powders coagulate at temperatures above 130-140F, just like an egg white. Either lower the temperature first, or mix it cold and slowly heat it up.

Would it have the same deleterious effects on healing that smoking tobacco does? If so, you might want to stop.

My life was stable, so I was able to lose. It takes time to fix bad habits. If you have until October or November, just dust yourself off, go over your food log with your nutritionist (you DO keep a food log, right?) and continue modifying your habits. You CAN do this. Protein really is the key, as it keeps you fuller longer. If you haven't already, switch to Water or unsweetened tea. Sodas and sugary drinks are a KILLER from a dietary standpoint, and actually make you hungrier. Even artificially sweetened beverages trick your body into thinking it has had calories and spike your blood sugar. The resulting drop makes you crave carbs. Even little things can add up, like of you are going to have a hamburger, skip one or both buns. Select a thinner sliced bread to make sandwiches with. You won't miss the extra bread. Decide your portion in advance, and STOP when you're done. It takes 20 minutes for your stomach to realize it's full, so wait. If you're still actually hungry, have a snack of something high protein, like a few cheese cubes. Your stomach WILL shrink if you allow it, and this will also help with the feelings of hunger. Keeping your eye on the prize is a great motivator, it got me through. Hang in there, and don't give up! You CAN do this!

I read that too fast and thought you said "chew the CHICKENS out of it..." Made me laugh!

I actually considered bypass last year when I started seriously looking into all this, but in the end decided bypass as compared to the sleeve was the "easy way out." I too have friends who've had RNY who have put a lot of the weight back on. I had myself convinced that my eating habits were not "that bad," and that my digestive system was just "too efficient," and that bypass would fix that. After plenty of research and soul-searching, I figured if I wasn't willing to do work on MY end, and instead rely on malabsorption for all my losses, that I would not be better off. I also decided the different (and lifelong!) malnutrition risks with each bypass procedure were just not worth it. Very happy with my decision. And down 56 pounds...

Sleeved July 24th, recovery going well. Only used pain meds for 3 nights. Still 9 more days of full liquids (every Doc is different, it seems, but I am patient...) getting plenty of liquids, and protein numbers are good. I lost about 45 pounds pre-op, so I'm not really worrying about calories right now, although I'm sure they are not too high. Just concentrating on letting my body heal. Rarely actually hungry, and the feeling seems transient. Grateful to be given this opportunity to get my weight under control, for the first time in my life.

Homemade broth is best, but a reasonable alternative is Swanson's Low Sodium chicken broth. It tastes salty enough without being too salty, and frankly reminds me of Campbell's Chicken Noodle soup minus all the solids. It got me through until I could start full liquids. You can try mixing some protein powder in that, but it will thicken it a bit.

Also wishing for a piece of toast, but honestly, getting food particles stuck in the staple line would so NOT be worth it. It's only a short time, and you have the rest of your like to enjoy eating responsibly. Give your body the time it needs to heal without shooting yourself in the foot. I for one will NOT be cheating on my doctor's plan. Just because somebody else may have cheated in the past with no complications is no guarantee that you or I will fare similarly.

I've started mixing my meals in advance and letting the bubbles settle out. Once the protein powder is mixed in, it won't come back out, and just a stir or a swirl in the cup is all it needs.

My doctor told me that the greatest risk of leaks is 3-5 weeks, after the swelling has gone down, and is due to essentially hydraulic back pressure created as the stomach pushes food into the small intestine. Based on that, I WILL NOT CHEAT. It simply is not worth the risk. I will be in mushies then and they will be truly mushy. I'm patient; I have the rest of my life to eat. A few weeks is NOT going to kill me.