ontoanewlife

My dietitian just went over the purée phase with me because I start it next week. He recounted to me a story of another one of his patients. This man was sitting with his family while they ate roasted chicken. He was still in the full liquid phase. He was overcome by a craving for the chicken. He rationalized to himself that he would chew it and savor the flavor' date=' then spit it out. He really meant to spit it out. But he could not control his swallow reflex and before he knew it, he had swallowed it! He called the dietitian in such a panic because he thought he was going to die. On the phone he stressed himself out so much that it came back up!

My dietitian shares this with me because this swallow reflex is part of our "lizard brain". This is not part of our human self, but our animal self. You absolutely can't put something in your mouth that is not on your plan, because when it is in there, all bets are off. You need to decide you will never tempt yourself like that, and that you will NEVER put your poor husband in the position where he is doing something for you that will harm you and could put you in the hospital. That poor man must be beside himself. You owe him a big apology.

Put your big girl pants on and learn from this. If you want something salty, have some broth.[/quote']

Oh please....quit being so self righteous!! It has been mentioned before and I'll mention it again...

We've all been sleeved because we're overweight and have food issues. Those food issues don't resolve the minute you have the surgery. Its a journey and a learning curve. Its obvious that Jeffie was crying out for reassurance and to share her fears. Where is the support? Give her a break will ya...

Geez...

Thanks for the sentiment. I actually haven't had the steak yet but when I do I'm pretty sure it will go down easy enough. I did have more popcorn yesterday. It was delicious. I suppose all of us had the surgery for basically the same reasons. If your new eating habits don't include popcorn or steak - well great. I'm sure all of us wish you nothing but success in developing your new eating habits. Fortunately' date=' some of us can incorporate popcorn and all kinds of other foods into our new eating habits with no difficulty. As far as rewarding ourselves with food, I think it's just terrible that you are unable to do so and I'm sorry that moderation in rewarding yourself isn't an option for you. Some of us can manage, some of us can't. That's why we do the best we can and try to refrain from thinking one size fits all as far as eating habits after surgery. Hopefully one day everyone can be moderate in choosing how to reward themselves. Until then, some will have their cake and eat it too and others will not.[/quote']

Whoops...

It quoted the wrong quote above...

Anyways...

Appreciate both your posts...

Thanks again for keeping it real!!

Wow. I love this. Thank you for this great post. That should silence the my diet is better than yours critics. Love you for this

Love this post.

This is reality and one size doesn't fit all.

Thanks for keeping it real!

Need some IT help here...

Question 1: how do you get your picture in the little spot for pictures?

Question 2: different people have titles such as "VSG addict" or "master" etc. How do you put this on your profile?

I have tried to figure out how to do both of these things...

I usually access from my phone...

Do I need to actually go online on the computer?

Any help would be appreciated!!

Thanks!!

Best thread I've been on!!!

Needed the laughs and smiles today!!

You look fabulous!!

Congratulations!!!

Agreed loose fitting pants for the hospital. For home sugar free popsicles' date=' things you enjoy to drink sugar free. Protien shakes etc. I would buy some gas x strips... they were a life saver for.me. Best Wishes[/quote']

Yes...Gas-x strips! They were a life saver! Don't take the pill form...just the dissolvable ones...

Definitely have had my ups and downs too. Thought "what the heck have I done?" a number of times...

It does get better but there is transitions that you will go through. My MD has told me that I can begin transferring to pureed foods. Kind of tried it out today and was so sick! I had the dreaded "slime". Went back to full liquids for now. So glad to hear from others that it takes 4 weeks or more to begin feeling more like myself....

Comfortable pull on pants with very loose waistband. Helps when doing your walking around the unit.

I took Shampoo and personals but didnt need them as I went home after 30 hours and was able to bathe at home.

January 19... 67 pounds.... after TWO YEARS! We are in this for the long haul' date=' please do not compare your weight loss with others or feel bad if your don't stack up...(even if it is sooo tempting to see if we are normal or not...), we are all different.... if we get to our goals, that is all that counts. Keep up the good work peeps![/quote']

I don't think we ask to "compare". We ask to see if our progress is average or otherwise. Most of us wonder what our weight loss will be like. That is the reason we've all been sleeved....for weight loss. I don't think we should be lectured about "comparing" because we are curious about weight loss averages.

Fabulous!! Congratulations!!!

Why would I get the slimy spit??

Ugh...I had this today for the first time. I'm 10 days post-op and ate something that didn't agree with my stomach and I think I ate it too fast. First....I had terrible pain. It felt like I needed to burp but couldn't. Then up came the slime...

I still feel horrible now. I have to remember: I cant eat fast and I have to really watch what I eat.

Its just not worth it otherwise.

My surgery is scheduled for May 21st. My life will change on May 21' date=' 2013. I am 36 years old. I will be having a sleeve gastrectomy performed in Houston, Texas by Texas Laparoscopic Consultants with Dr. Sherman Yu, MD, FACS. I am 5'8 in height, and weigh 285 lbs. I have medical insurance with United Healthcare but they won't cover the surgery. Therefore, my Medicare will be paying it. I am diabetic, have cholesterol, and unfortunately suffered a stroke back in 2010 which left me partially paralyzed. I have been overweight my whole life and the smallest I can recall was me at 220lbs. I am excited and scared at the same time, but I know that this surgery can and will improve my life. I have been a member of this site for a few months but have been hesitant in introducing myself and sharing my story.[/quote']

Thank you for sharing your story. My life changed May 7th and for the first time in many years....I feel hopeful!! Its been 8 days now and although there is definitely a transition period...I feel like I'm really getting a handle on my new life. The cool thing is...I've lost 10 lbs and have felt pretty good. Just want to wish you good luck with your surgery and with the start of a new life....

Ok this post op is getting me! I'm suppose to be clears for two weeks. Full liquids for one and then puréed. I am one week post op today. I have no problem with getting my fluids in but not my Protein. I am sick of the shakes (after the two week pre op and now post op - it's just too long). I have looked for variety but haven't found anything I could stand except the premier and I am over chocolate at this point.

I feel like I am obsessing about food. I'm not hungry but I'm not full either. So far nothing has been a problem. It's like I need variety or something that makes me feel fuller. I can't sort it out. UGH!!!

I can totally relate. I'm 8 days post-op today and have struggled with variety. My MD told me that during the 2 weeks of full liquids you can have anything that you could potentially drink through a straw (but you don't use a straw).

So I have made: smoothies with 4 strawberries, 1/2 a banana, 1/2 cup cottage cheese, 1/4 cup Greek yogurt and 1 choc premiere shake or just by itself without the premier shake. I have made cream of chicken Soup. I have had cream of rice mixed to a thin mixture with Trader Joes strawberry smoothie. I'm sure you could also try other cream Soups as well. I eat a couple of popsicles a day. I personally don't eat the sugar free ones because they have Aspartame and the calories are not that different if you ask me. Trader Joes has a fabulous Red Pepper soup and other soups such as butternut squash and carrot. Just some ideas. Hope it helps. Good luck. I'm also looking forward to pureed foods so I can have even more variety.

It Is My Turn! At the Hospital & Ready to begin my walk into healing! See you on the other side! Blessings!!!

Good luck!!

Thank you to everyone!!

I feel very inspired by all of you!!!

Planned to take mimimum 4 weeks...I'm the same way....don't want to be bored at home...

I had my surgery May 7. I have a JP drain and my abdomen is stapled in 5 different spots. This stuff won't be out until 10 days post-op. Not sure how others go back to work so soon?

I want to make sure I'm fully healed and have the eating/drinking schedule organized so I stay on track when I go back to my busy job.

I'm 5 days post-op and feeling better each day. My surgery was May 7th.

When I woke up in recovery I was in excrutiating pain. The MD decided that since I have a reaction to morphine that they would basically give me nothing at all. I couldn't believe it! After time in recovery where I was crying out in pain, they then took me to my room. My pain is now a 15 on the 0 to 10 scale. I was crying and pleading for pain relief. RN first gave me a Percocet pill which I choked on and gagged back up after it got caught on the NG tube in my throat. RN then gave me Tordal. Can I say in no uncertain terms how useless that medication is!! Now its 3 hours post-op and I'm crying in severe pain. Finally RN says "MD says I can give you Dilaudid". Within a few minutes my pain was at a 2 and then at a 0.

I still do not understand why I was forced to endure such horrible pain and for such a long period of time.

I went home on the 8th and have been able to control my pain at home. I'm getting to where I will no longer need the pain meds much longer.

It gets better everyday...

Soon you'll begin to feel more like yourself.

I wish you the very best and a speedy recovery!

My surgery is scheduled for May 21st. My life will change on May 21' date=' 2013. I am 36 years old. I will be having a sleeve gastrectomy performed in Houston, Texas by Texas Laparoscopic Consultants with Dr. Sherman Yu, MD, FACS. I am 5'8 in height, and weigh 285 lbs. I have medical insurance with United Healthcare but they won't cover the surgery. Therefore, my Medicare will be paying it. I am diabetic, have cholesterol, and unfortunately suffered a stroke back in 2010 which left me partially paralyzed. I have been overweight my whole life and the smallest I can recall was me at 220lbs. I am excited and scared at the same time, but I know that this surgery can and will improve my life. I have been a member of this site for a few months but have been hesitant in introducing myself and sharing my story.[/quote']

Good luck to you. Hope all your dreams come true...

Thank you all for the great answers...

Gives me great hope...

I'm 4 days post-op and find myself craving certain foods (cheese and crackers last night) but the good thing is the sleeve prevents you from returning to old bad habits....

I'm glad that I still have hunger and cravings but also glad to know that when I can eat regular food again some day....I would only be able to eat one or two crackers with cheese instead of half a box...

I will do this one day!!

And it will feel fabulous!!!

Congratulations!!

I'm new to this forum but feel that

everyone has to do what they feel is best in their particular circumstances. The rest of us need to respect that.

We are a community here. We need each other. If we didn't we wouldn't be here.

There is plenty of judgement and condemnation that we may have to face in our own personal lives as we are on this journey.

There's a saying I've read on this forum that I think is powerful...

"Sleeved and Freed".

Today as I read all your posts...

I just want you all to remember that you are "Sleeved and Freed"...

That's all that matters...

I'm 4 days post-op and I have been walking 2-3 times per day for about 10-15 mins each walk. Anything more tires me out too much. I know that recovery takes some time and I know that each day I will feel a little stronger than the day before. In a couple of weeks I figure I'll be moving along quite well...

Glad you asked this question. I was wondering the same thing. I was so excited about having surgery and then the minimal diet afterwards so when I got home I got on the scale only to find that I had gained 7 lbs. I know its from the surgery and IV's etc but was also wondering when it finally goes away.