MyGastricSleeveLife

I was sleeved on Monday. It does get easier!! I couldn't have anything from surgery until the next morning when I did my leak test. I understand their reasoning, but also think it's a bit cruel to have us drink that crappy stuff as our first sip of something!! After my leak test I mainly sucked on ice chips for the next few hours. Then they brought me broth & Jello, which I got down really slowly. I still preferred the ice chips more than anything else in the hospital. I'm on Clear liquids for 2 weeks. It's taking me all day to get everything in, but I'm doing it. The first time I tried a cup of broth at home it took me about 90 minutes to have! I find that warmer things go down easier. I used to like cold Water, but now I warm everything up in my mouth before swallowing. Now it still takes me about 20-30 minutes for a cup of broth, but that's better than 90 minutes that first day! Just take it slow. One sip/spoonful at a time! It does get easier!!

you might want to ask your surgeon if it's okay to TRY a straw just to see what happens. I read a thread last week where someone said they actually took in more air without a straw than with a straw so they were able to use straws even though the general rule is not to use them. I know I've had to change how I drink to not take in too much air. It's definitely trial and error.

i just sent an add request. If you do a search on the forums, you'll find a bunch of other threads w/ people's names for MFP too!

congrats on your new journey! I just had my surgery on Monday & am doing great so far!

I was just sleeved on Monday & am still on clear liquids, so I don't really know yet. However, the positive that I see now is that even though I have to drink stuff all day long, the food doesn't control me anymore. I still have some pain from surgery & normally I'd seek food to deal with pain, but I don't anymore. I am consuming because of necessity instead of because of want/ addiction/cravings. For me, that is a huge difference!

I've tried them & actually went to buy some more today. However, I don't really "like" them, but can tolerate them. They taste good going down, but have a horrible aftertaste! You can add some Crystal Light or Mio flavoring to cut down on the aftertaste some, but it's still strong - at least to me. Some flavors are more tolerable than others. I didn't buy much, but I wanted something different since I still have 9 more days on clear liquids.

I love the Chike ones too! I got a couple Unjury samples from the Bariatric Coordinator at the hospital before my pre-op diet & those were good too.

I didn't mean to step on any toes. I know everyone is different and everyone deals differently. Personally, for me, I'm following what my doctor says because I trusted him enough to operate on me so I'm going to trust him enough to follow his guidelines. I was not trying to be unsupportive. I was actually saying that eating throughout the day makes sense in the clear liquid and full liquid stages, and even after that depending on your guidelines. I'm sorry if I came off differently.

Yeah, walking is the only thing that helps the surgical gas work its way out of your system. I've done lots of short walks around the living room. The Gas-X only helps gas in your stomach or intestines, but not the actual surgical gas.

Mine was the 14th. The only issue I had in the hospital was not being able to urinate on my own. They almost kept me another night, but my surgeon prescribed a single dose of Flomax to help relax my bladder muscles & I was able to trickle enough that he let me go just before midnight on Tuesday night so I didn't have to pay for another night. He thought it was due to the pain pump & it hadn't worn off yet even after they unhooked it. I haven't had any problems with it since being home though. I've had sore tummy muscles mainly from getting in and out of a flat bed instead of the hospital bed, but I'm really doing a lot better than I thought I would be at this point. We actually went to the mall today to get out of the house & buy some more Isopure clear liquid from GNC. It took me about 45 minutes to walk the same distance that would've only taken about 10 minutes prior to surgery, but it was nice to get out of the house. Each day gets better & better, but I'm definitely taking it slow!!

Just remember that in the clear liquid stage everything counts toward your total ounces. Although it's hard to say how much is in a SF popsicle, it still counts. It takes me all day now instead of less than an hour like before surgery, but I'm not having any problems getting in at least 64 oz of liquid & most days I've gotten a lot more than that overall.

That's so awesome!! I was just sleeved on Monday (5/14). I still can't fathom what a month from now will be like yet, but so far I am loving my new life already!

what I was trying to say is that I think it's pretty normal to eat throughout the day at the clear liquid and full liquid stages just to try to get everything you need to in. At least that's what I was told by my dietitian. I know right now I'm on clear liquids & it takes me all day to get all my Protein & liquid in. My guidelines are to change that and only have 3 actual meals with only liquids between meals once I'm on the pureed/soft food stage. But again, everyone's guidelines are different. Therefore, you should really ask your doctor if it's okay to be eating like you are throughout the day.

I just had surgery on Monday 5/14. My surgeon is pretty strict about introducing food again. I'm on Clear liquids for 2 weeks, full liquids for weeks 3-6, puréed/soft for weeks 7-12, and then small bites of regular food from week 13 onward. Therefore, I'm still on clear liquids. I don't have any guidelines for eating at this point except to get in all my fluids and Protein. For me right now that means basically sipping on something all day as long as I'm awake. I'm able to get in all my fluids & protein, but it does take all day to do so. My dietitian said that I shouldn't worry about the rule of not drinking near meals until week 7 when I start puréed. My surgeon also says to only have 3 actual meals per day and get fluids (including protein shakes) in between meals. Since each doctor is different, I would go by what your doctor says & if you're unsure about it, then call your doctor or dietitian about it.

I don't drink coffee, but my surgeon's guidelines say no caffeine for life after surgery. I know people who have had surgery with the same surgeon who drink coffee anyway though.

My surgeon said some PCPs just write something on their prescription pad. They didn't care what it was as long as it said they were aware of it and I could physically handle surgery.

Yeah - I found that warmer things go down easier. I used to love cold water, but now I warm everything up in my mouth before swallowing!

I just had surgery on Monday, so I don't really know. However, from what I've been told by my dietitian we should stop eating when we feel full and not force anything, even if it's only 2 bites of food. However, I really think you need to ask your doctor or dietitian because every doctor is different as far as their guidelines go. I've heard the 30 minute timeline from other people here, but my doctor never mentioned at time limit on meals.

I know it's hard, but you need to stop comparing yourself to your aunt or anyone else! You need to look at YOUR accomplishments! You've lost 77 lbs! That is AMAZING!! You've gone from a size 22 to a 12! That is AWESOME! You probably have more energy than before and are healthier than before. That is TOTALLY WONDERFUL!! You need to look at you & not others. We are all different. Even if you both started at the same weight, same age, same height, and EVERYTHING the same, it would still not be fair to yourself to compare. We all lose at different rates. We all fit into clothes differently. We all lose in different parts of our bodies at different times. Please don't compare. Just focus on yourself and realize what an awesome accomplishment you have achieved!!

I just mixed it with some Crystal Light for the first time tonight & don't mind it that way.

you just need to do what is right for you. I've told everyone now and have it pretty public on FB and through my blog. In the beginning there were a few extended family I didn't tell just because they had a lot they were dealing with right now and I didn't want them to worry about me, especially since this is elective surgery. However, they now know & are supportive. Just because it's right for me to tell people doesn't mean it's what everyone should do though! Just do what you are comfortable with.

Valerie - they can stretch to a certain extent over time, but my surgeon said they can never stretch to be like they were before because they remove the more stretchy part anyway. From what I've read from other stories, it can accommodate more food long-term and people can gain weight back by making poor choices, but we're never gonna be able to eat 6+ pieces of pizza in one sitting like most of us could before surgery. The stomach just won't allow it.

You look awesome!! Congrats!! How far out from surgery are you?

I had surgery on Monday. I'm on clear liquid for 2 weeks, then full liquids for weeks 3-6, then puréed/soft foods for weeks 7-12, then finally small bites of regular food from week 13 onward. So far I have been fine on my Clear Liquids & do not have any head hunger at all. It may just be the "honeymoon phase" but I'm hoping it stays this way!!

If you eat & drink at the same time you get full faster and the stomach does not absorb as many nutrients from food as it does if there is no liquid there. The food also washes out of the stomach faster, so you get hungry sooner than without liquid. I read a post the other day on here where someone said someone (I forget if it was a trainer or doctor or nutritionist) told her they actually give the same advice to non-WLS people because it's actually healthier for anyone to eat that way.