tesser85

Are you supposed to be eating so soon after your surgery? I was on liquids for three weeks before progressing to puréed foods and then soft foods and then regular foods. I was three weeks in each stage, so I wasn't really eating until about 10 weeks post surgery. Eating after just two weeks seems really fast. What does your surgeon recommend? In answer to your question, however, yes--you can go back to liquids after being on solids. I always kick back to full liquids for a few days when I hit a plateau.

Hello Colorado peeps! I am hoping someone can help me find a good resale shop in the Denver metro area? I need some nicer clothes (pant suits, blazers, etc.) for a conference that I have to attend in late February, and I really don't want to buy anything new since I'm still losing and I have a long way to go. I am between 14-16 right now, so I need a shop that has a decent selection of plus sizes. I'd appreciate any ideas that you have!

Today I am nine weeks out from surgery. I am down a total of fifty pounds - 20 on pre-op and 30 since surgery. I can't even believe it! I had hoped to make it to 50 by my birthday, but I hit that goal two weeks early. Happy early birthday to me!!! None of my clothes fit, but this time, it's because they are too BIG, not because they are too small! I can't remember ever shrinking out of my clothes like this. Without a doubt, deciding to get the sleeve was the best decision of my life (other than marrying my DH!). I am so thankful for all of the support and knowledge I have received from all of you here at VST. I wouldn't be where I am today without you gals & guys.

My top incision was exactly where the strap of my bra goes, right in between my boobs. For about two weeks after surgery I felt like all the weight of my boobs (considerable weight!) was on that incision. I tried all kinds of bras, but still had an issue until I started padding the incision. I tried a lot of different things to pad it, but what worked best was a stray sock that I cut into square pieces, folded one of the pieces up into a smaller square, then stuck between the bra and the incision. That was the only thing that made wearing any bra bearable for me.

Wow! Congratulations on this incredible milestone. You go, girl! You look great, and I bet you feel even better. I can't wait to join the century club myself...

I don't think there is a "right" answer to how much you "should" lose. Some people lose faster than others for various reasons. I have lost 37 pounds total since June 3. I lost 22 on pre-op diet, and I have lost 15 since my surgery on June 21 (4 weeks out).

Congratulations on your loss!

I had surgery on a Friday and flew home on Monday nonstop San Diego to Denver. I had no problems on the flight. I had an aisle seat near the front of the plane and I did get up once during the flight to walk a bit.

I cut up an old stray sock, rolled up one of the pieces, and used it for padding between my bra and the incision. That was the only thing that made wearing a bra bearable for me for the first few weeks.

You might also try icing the injury. Although heat will definitely make you feel better, it does not help to reduce inflammation like ice does. Ice is nowhere near as comforting as heat, and the first few minutes of icing really suck, but ice helps you heal and heat just masks the pain. I learned this from a physical therapist I saw for several months after being injured in a car accident a few years ago.

Many people lose substantial weight on the pre-op liquid diet. I lost 22 pounds in 19 days on mine.

I think it depends on when in August your surgery is and how much weight you are supposed to lose pre-op. What does your surgeon recommend? When are you supposed to start the liquid diet?

If you can pour it through a strainer, then it should be fine. At least, that's what my NUT says. Also, there are some tasty drinkable yogurts out there that will pour through a strainer with no problem. You might try one of those?

I like the recipes and cooking tips from imperfectlife.net. The author is a bypass patient, so her recipes are geared toward post-WLS patients. Lots of variety and easy, cook ahead dishes are posted.

I take my multi (w/iron) and sublingual B-12 right after breakfast, 600 mg Calcium citrate with lunch and 600 mg Calcium citrate with dinner. I use the opurity vitamins and have had no problems with them. The multi and calcium are chewable and they don't taste bad at all.

Someone posted some links to various VST diets a few days ago, and I found this guide there: http://www.brighamandwomens.org/Departments_and_Services/surgery/services/generalsurg/WeightLossSurgery/PostOpSleeveGastrectomyDiet.pdf There are a few meal schedules included here - depending on what stage you are in.

I was told that a little lemon in my water is fine. Sadly, I can't tolerate lemon yet. Hopefully, you can!

Someone on here turned me on to the Imagine brand creamy soups. Depending on where you are, you may be able to find them in your local grocery store, or you can buy them online: http://www.imaginefoods.com/. I have tried the potato/leek, butternut squash, sweet pea, and sweet potato flavors. Yum, yum. yum, and yum! I added a little salt, pepper, and unflavored protein powder each time.

You shouldn't have any problems with flying. All of us who had our surgeries in Mexico flew home within a few days. I asked about this a few weeks before I went to Mexico, and most other Mexico patients indicated that they had no problems with the flight other than gas. You are a few weeks out now, so gas is probably not an issue for you at this point. Are you nauseous? If so, then you might want to take some anti-nausea meds before the flight. I admire you for going on vacation when still on pureed diet. I see a lot of mashed potatoes in your future...

I have a three-year old who thinks I am her personal jungle gym. My husband and I really worked with her before I went for surgery to explain how things would be changing when I got home from the hospital (no more jungle gym, mommy can't pick her up, etc.) and that she would need to be very careful with Mommy's tummy. She has been really great for the most part. We still enjoy our snuggle time, but instead of sitting on my lap, she sits next to me. I'd love to hold her on my lap, but she is too active, and I am not yet healed enough for that. I tried it a few days ago and got a strong elbow poke in one of my incisions. NOT FUN! Anyway, I would recommend that you prepare your daughter (as much as you feel comfortable sharing with her) and start changing her expectations soon. She is old enough to understand that Mommy has some "boo-boos" and can't pick her up for a while. Your son will not understand, and that will definitely be hard. You will need to brace yourself for feeling like a bad Mommy if you can't pick him up, and you'll have to forgive yourself for it. The most important thing after surgery is that you allow yourself the necessary time to heal! Lean on your support people, and lean on us here at VST if you need us. Know that you're not alone!

Do you have to stick to protein shakes or do you just have to lose 10 lbs by August 1? If you just need to lose 10 lbs, I would suggest a high protein, low carb diet like atkins. Not only will this plan help you lose that weight, it will also help you get used to the type of diet you should have post-op.

I find that it is the smell of the protein that puts me off more than the taste. Lifting the glass to my mouth and getting a whiff of the protein each time got to be too muc for me. Now i drink my shake out of a travel coffee mug with lid so I can't smell it. If I blend it, I eat it with a spoon. This helps me keep the amount of each bite/sip small and helps me with the smell issue.

I am using his shakes and vitamins. The vitamins are fine, but I don't like the shakes that much. I am choking them down for now.

You definitely came to the right place to vent! Whenever I experience food envy, I come to the board and even just reading all the posts helps me a lot. I am just 8 days out and am getting really tired of liquids, so I know how you feel.