TES

My surgeon's educational materials state that consuming adequate protein the first 2 weeks after surgery can affect/prevent hair loss later on. Has anyone heard this before? It is definitely good motivation to try to get in the protein....lots of other good reasons too of course.

Possibly dehydration--there has only been one day post-op when I didn't get in enough fluid (I was sleeping due to being up late to meet a work deadline) and I paid for it with horrible foot cramps all evening and night. This was about 1.5 weeks after my surgery. I got back to an equilibrium by really focusing on drinking diluted G2 and water (this was the first time I had G2 since the hospital and I liked it better than I thought). Also, sometimes it is a magnesium deficiency. Remember that your body needs more fluid than normal when you are losing weight.

all of these ideas sounds great--thank you so much!

Thanks for all of the replies on how long to where the binder. To those asking about where to get one: It's possible that you might receive one in the hospital, but if not, you can get them at a medical supply store. In the hospital, I was given a replacement one because of the drainage and such that got all over the first one. The nurse said that I could keep the first one and take it home and wash it, but I declined because the sight of the drainage on it was making me woozy, just because of how I was feeling at the time. Wish I would have kept it so that I could wear an extra while washing the other one. You have to handwash or wash on gentle in cold and then let them air dry. I'll probably just pick up a spare at the medical supply. That's one of the reasons I was wondering how long everyone has worn them. I feel like it gives my abdominal muscles more support and balances out the weight of my chest area. When I don't wear it, even in the shower, my back starts aching a little. I'm thinking maybe 4 to 6 weeks will be enough and then maybe just when exercising for a while.

Tricia, I would just listen to your body and sip as much as you can. Are you taking something like Propel or G2? Are you stil on pain meds?

thanks everyone! I was just at Vitamin Shoppe over the weekend but didn't know about the PB2 then--will check it out today. This sounds like it would be good in a strawberry protein shake.

I was sleeved on Feb. 5 and gained 18 pounds in fluid in the hospital. I lost most of that within a week or so. Since then, I have lost another 10 pounds. Scale hasn't moved in a few days, but I'll take it since previously, it took me at least 2 months to lose 10 pounds. I am on a similar regimen as others--2 weeks of full liquids (no yogurt/refried beans), a few days of thin purees, 2.5 weeks of puree, a week or so of transitional/soft foods, and then full diet. So full diet about a month from now. I'm really looking forward to my 2-week post op appointment so that I can try some thinned out cream of wheat or oatmeal. I'm not physically hungry but went back to work within a few days (desk job) and sometimes that low blood sugar/weak feeling makes it a bit difficult to concentrate on complex tasks (less complex ones aren't an issue).

Any ideas for vegetarian (true vegetarian, no fish) puree foods? I have a few saved from eggface's site--looking for some others. Thanks!

If you had an abdominal binder, how long did you wear it after surgery? Thanks.

Thanks Tawnie!

Do any retail stores sell this or is it available online only? Thanks!

This is my first post but I have been reading the forum for a few weeks and it has been very helpful! Many thanks to everyone who has shared their stories and advice. I had VSG on Feb. 5th. I didn't have to do a formal liquid pre-op diet but was on a calorie-controlled diet for 6 months beforehand. I lost about 16 pounds during that time (partly from Fluid loss from a steroid regimen right before I started). While in the hospital, I gained 18 lbs (!!) in fluid. That came off within a few days post op and I've lost another 10 pounds since then. So my 12-day post op loss is 10 pounds, which seems a little slower than others I have seen (even though I shouldn't compare, it's difficult not to), especially because I have a higher BMI. But honestly, I'm very happy with that rate given how long it took to lose pre-surgery. I also am hypothyroid, which can affect the rate of weight loss. My surgeon requires 2 weeks post op of full liquids (Protein shakes, broth and liquids only--no refried Beans or yogurt like some other full liquid diets), then four days of "thin puree" (thinned out/blenderized oatmeal with peaches--consistency of applesauce, for example), and then purees. So I will be on purees in a week and am looking forward to that. The full liquid stage hasn't been bad though. I've been getting in most of my protein with Protein powder mixed into diet hot chocolate bc it is a bit easier to drink warmer temp beverages. I've been doing Water, diluted G2, hot tea, diluted crystal lite, an occasional SF popsicle, and veggie broth for liquids. I haven't had any issues with severe nausea or vomiting. Once I got through the very uncomfortable second day after surgery (my surgeon doesn't allow any liquid until after the leak test, so you feel pretty awful and dehydrated that day--I understand why he does it though), my pain/discomfort has been pretty manageable. I started taking pain meds at night only after about day 4, and then I was completely off of them within 6 or 7 days. I had incisional pain around days four to six, but it quickly passed. Haven't been bending over a lot, but I noticed today that's a little easier. I started working (I have a desk job) within about five days of my surgery. I found that I was fine to sit at my computer and type, but I just didn't have the mental focus for complex mental tasks. Although I haven't had physical hunger, I had that weak/difficult to concentrate/easily frustrated feeling you get when you skip meals or have low blood sugar. I seem to have overcome that as of yesterday and feel as if I can handle close to my normal workload. I'm assuming this is normal? Maybe this is why surgeons usually recommend you wait at least 2 to 3 weeks to go back to work even for sedentary jobs (plus getting used to the supplement/fluid routine--etc.). I have a few questions and would appreciate any insights that anyone has: * I have been a vegetarian most of my adult life (20+ years) and plan to continue with that now. Are there any resources for ideas for pureed food, mushies, or any other stages? I have been thinking about pureeing bean or lentil Soups and adding some unflavored protein powder, pureeing homemade or Morninstar veggie chili, maybe the insides of a tofu pot pie? I have eggface's ricotta bake on my list too. I relied a lot on Morningstar "patties" (vegetarian Breakfast sausage-like patties) for low-carb protein pre-op, and I had just discovered the veggie hot dogs too. I don't want to eat a ton of processed foods but these two seem to do well with my body. Do I have to wait until I'm on a full diet (6 weeks) to eat these? * At what stage can you usually start eating string cheese and Laughing Cow type soft cheese? (I will double-check with my nutritionist but curious about others). * Will check with PA/exercise physiologist, but when did others go back to swimming or water aerobics? What about the exercise bike? (I use the regular, not the recumbent). * If you had an abdominal binder, how long did you wear it? I am still wearing mine. Not sure if I still need it, but I think it's giving me a psychological sense of security. * My surgeon says that the amount of protein that you take in during the first 2 weeks affects whether you will have a lot of hair loss a few months later. Has anyone else heard this before? I've been doing pretty well, getting 40 to 60 g of protein a day plus about 64 oz of fluid. One day when I was catching up on rest I didn't get in enough fluid, and I paid for it that day and night with severe foot cramps. Learned my lesson quickly. Apologies that this intro post ended up being so long, and thank you if you have read this far! Many thanks, -TES