GoState

My Doctor's office said no NSAIDs immediately due to healing, but that I would be able to take them in the future. I can take liquid Tylenol now, and can also take Lortab (which I will likely need as I have kidney stones). QueenofCrop, I enjoy your blog-especially the pics of your meals-- it really helps to see what others are eating.

Rio- The "hunger" is COMPLETELY different than before surgery. COMPLETELY. I don't have a craving for a specific food- I would almost call it an "empty" feeling more than feeling "hungry". I have been eating 4 or 5 Preztel crackers with smoked salmon, crab or tuna. I have to watch myself not to overeat by just a bite. I generally am full for a few hours, but around 3 hours later feel as if I "need" to eat a little something, so I drink some juice, eat a cracker or some apple sauce or something. But I would not call it "grazing". Hope that helps

I'm 18 Days out and notice I actually do seem to get hungry.Generally, about 3 hours after eating. It's not like the sense of hunger I had prior to surgery. I'm not so sure its not stomach acid/emptiness more than anything. Generally, I eat a cracker and it subsides (I'm eating canned tuna and crackers at meals). Does anyone else at 3 weeks or so feel the same way? Does this change some once you're able to eat more? Right now I feel as if I need 4-5 mini meals.

Geechee, I hope you get to have some grits really soon!

Grits are a "staple" here in Mississippi! They are even better with sausage crumbled in them (Which I am NOT doing now LOL).

Seriously. I'm on 2nd Week Post-Op Diet, which adds texture, but nothing that you have to chew. Today, I've had 1/2 Pack of Instant grits, 1/3 to 1/2 cup of instant potatoes, about 7 tsp of refried Beans, 20oz Isopure, 6oz Cream of chicken and Herbs Soup, 4oz apple juice and 1 juice popsicle. Tuesday starts the beginning of the 3rd wk post-op diet where we add very soft texture/light chewing, such as fish, canned meat, eggs, and oddly enough, crackers. I

I'm 12 days out. I am eating refried beans, mashed potatoes, grits, fruit popsicles (no sugar added), apple sauce, sugar free yogurt and cream soups. I can have veggy soup, too, if blended up, but haven't tried yet. I feel as if my sleeve is tolerating things very well. I did go out last night and ate 2-3 oz. of frozen yogurt from a local place (25 cal, 5 max carbs/oz). It felt odd at first, but I tolerated it pretty well. Hope you move on from liquids soon!

Thanks for all the replies. I assumed that, but still couldn't help but wonder. My first 2 days home from surgery I was drinking just over 100 oz of liquids per day, then I did gould to get 40 for a day or two. If I at grits, I know to stop after 5 tsp full. I'm ready for Tuesday- I can have flaky fish then. I'm TRULY learning to appreciate the simple things post-surgery!

At lunch today, I ordered an Individual Mashed Potato from KFC (Just started adding soft consistency to the diet). Dr. and Nut. told me to eat slow, and I did. The potatoes literally melted in my mouth (guess b/c they are not "real" but "instant"). Anyway, over 15-20 minutes I ate all of them. The Nutritional Info says 136Grams (so about 4.5 ozs) and 130 Calories. Fast forward 4 hours. I decide to have some Mott's Natural Applesauce. 3.9 ozs. It all went down. I didn't get the Full/Bloated/Don't Eat sensation. I realize these foods are different from protein/meat/beans/etc. But is this what you have expereinced, too? Is my Sleeve toooo big?

So sorry to hear you are having a rough time. I'm 11 days out, and would be lying if I said I haven't had some thoughts of remorse (b/c I'm addicted to food and will miss the old days) but hang in there. Let your body heal and it should get better. Can you walk? Try walking short distances several times a day and see if that helps with the gas. God Bless!

It's odd how different docs have different requirements. I wonder if this has anything to do with technique (i.e. 2 vs 3 rows of staples, preferred bougie size, etc.) I'm 11 days post op and just finished 60% of a KFC Individual side of mashed potatoes for lunch (these seem to dissolve in the mouth- must be instant 'taters LOL). This Tuesday I get to try fish and can't wait (although I feel as if my pouch could handle it now, I'm not getting ahead of myself).

From some posts I've read, I'm feeling fortunate: We are: Wk1: Clear liquids & Protein shakes Wk2: Add puree consistency(no chewing)- nothing thicker than mashed potatoes (can have grits, oatmeal and refried beans!) Wk3: Add soft foods (some chewing)- eggs, fish and some canned meats, cooked or canned fruits Wk4-6: Increase texture- Protein Bars, poultry, most meats except steak and chops, raw fruit as tolerated. Wk7/8: Lifetime Maint Diet

For me, the last few nights have been harder to fall asleep than before. That could be due to all the sleep I got a week ago at the hospital. I do notice that when I wake up I feel a little more refreshed, and the "brain fog" isn't as bad as it was pre-surgery. I seem to be more "alert" and yawn less during the day. Have y'all noticed similar things?

Congrats and good luck! I had mine 7/31. WALK! That's the best advice I can give for gas.

than larger cups. It's all psychological, but mind says the 8oz. cupt "is nothing", whereas a16oz. Bottle makes me think "I'm supposed to drink HOW many of those?!" I feel like I can drink 8 cups through the day and have a bigger variety, too! Anyone else?

I just had some runny, wholesome refried Beans from the local Mexican place. With cheese sauce. I've had 3 teaspoons full. I think this is the BEST thing I've ever put in my mouth!! Right now, I'd say these beans are better than sex (well that's b/c I can't have sex right now, but I CAN have these wonserful, delectable smushed beans that I generally glance over at the restaurant. If I could have $1000 or more beans, right now I'd say more beans. YUM! I am going VERY slowly. This is the first thing I've put in my stomach other than broth, juice and Water in 10 days. I feel like I can eat another spoon, but will wait 5-10 minutes or so before trying. Maybe not. These are GOOD! It's funny how we take the small things in life for granted until we don't have them, huh?

Yep- I've laid off the juices today. In the hospital, they brought me apple and grape with every meal, so I kept it up. But now, I'm just using a shot of Mott's low-sugar apple juice with my daily dose of Protonix and trying to dilute the juice more and drink less of it and more broth & flavored H2O. Thanks for all the feedback. Come Tuesday, I get to advance to Stage 2, where I can have cream Soups, thin oatmeal, grits, mashed potatoes and refried Beans. I'm really appreciating the small things in life thanks to the pre- and post-op diets LOL!

They told me that long term 60 oz was minimum goal. I noticed that my sleeve feels full today after taking a protein soup mix. Was more filling than the broth alone. I have not noticed sleeve really feel full when drinking juices.

I am beginning my 6th post-op day and am on the clear liquid phase. I'm writing down what I'm drinking (cups, ozs, etc) I did some calculations and came to the conclusion that I am drinking 100-115 ozs of liquids daily. Basically 3 - 5 cups of broth from chicken noodle Soup, 2 cups no-sugar added grape juice, 2 cups no sugar-added apple juice and 1.5 bottles of Water. I figured out most cups (coffee mugs) were 8 ozs or so. Is this too much? My dietician said that I likely wouldn't get down 30 ozs. at first, but to force myself to a little more day to day. Since I'm not on real food yet, I don't know if this is good or bad. I'm nervous about streching things, but am not having pain, and know liquids empty quicker than food. Have any of you experienced the same thing?

Well, had surgery yesterday morning. Thankfully, no more stones, Recovery room was rough, but everything has gotten better from there. Just had first liquid meal. Lzuri, how was your surgery?

They are literal stones formed in your kidneys from excess Calcium or uric acid. Some look like cuckleburrs, others (like mine, thankfully!) are smooth. I think mine is around 2 mm, but some people have them the size of marbles and even golf balls. 6mm and under can generally pass; anything larger requires surgery or lithotripsy to break them down to a passable size. This is the closest a man will ever come to childbirth LOL!

last night. Thought might be having gas pains, but for 3 days they wouldn't go away. I went to give my urine sample and POOF- out pops a kidney stone. That was my first and I'm SOOO thankful this happened the morning before surgery vs the morning after LOL! I have several more they say, but all 2MM or so. Surgeons office says I'm still ok to go so long as I son't start having pains again as if another is passing. I hope and pray the pain from the surgery is nowhere near the pain from the stone!

Thanks, Kathy! I've come to the conclusion it was probably gas--- VERY bad case of gas LOL!- I hope and pray the surgery itself is nowhere as bad as that was! Congrats on your success!!!!!! I hope to be there soon!!!!!!!!

The liquid diet has not been that bad, BUT last night I had SEVERE abdominal cramps (so bad I feel sore/bruised this AM). Mainly was my lower abdomen. First thought is gas, but I also have been wondering for a while if I might have IBS or Lactose Intolerance issues. I did drink Lactaid Milk for the first time yesterday, but woudnt think it would cause this. Has anyone else experienced this??

I'm being sleeved Tuesday. What helped me to get over this same feeling is research. The fact is a lot of our weight problems is due to gut hormone levels, which we have ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL OF! There are studies where healthy lab rats were divided into 2 groups. Half the rats were given the Ghrelin hormone (produced in the fundus of the stomach) and the rest were not. EVERY rat that was given grehlin gained weight! Ever wonder why some people can't gain weight? Almost every American makes very poor eating decisions daily. I know skinny people who do not exercise who can eat pizza, burgers, etc EVERY day of the week and not gain weight. Much of this has to do with metabolism, gut hormone levels and other things science has not yet uncovered. So many of our foods (healthy foods) are engineered by man. In many "low fat" foods, the fat has been replaced with carbs and other things. And portion sizes have skyrocketed over the past 50 yrs. Remember when all coke bottles were 10-12 oz's? I understand the feeling. I have felt the same way. But the fact is everyone's body, mind, etc is different. My parasympathetic nervous system ( the body functions we can't control) tells my heart, lungs, liver, etc. what do. Our metabolisms and hormone levels are controlled this way. This does NOT mean you are a failure. Actually, it means you are intelligent enough to look at facts, realize where you need help, and seek that help to reach your goal. Reaching out and getting the help you need actually sounds pretty smart to me! Good Luck!!