Thinner1Day

Jo, When I started this whole journey I was 211. There was a delay in waiting for my surgery to be authorized so I stayed on the pre-surgery diet for almost a month and lost about 20 pounds! By the time I had surgery I was 190. That month of pre-surgery dieting was AWFUL! I'm sure if I hadn't had the surgery as my goal I couldn't have done that. And for sure I couldn't have kept the weight off!

Just checking in! Down to 160 and holding for the last month. I feel great, still taking my Vitamins of course. I started having some hair loss about a month ago. I hear it starts to come back by 8 months. I hope they're right! I would like to lose another 15-20 lbs, but honestly I have not tried. I think my sleeve has stretched a bit and I've been enjoying eating whatever I want. I'll have to put some rules on that! I still can't drink large amounts in one swallow. I use those skinny little coffee stirrer straws to limit the amount I drink at one time. I had gotten so burned out on Protein shakes I haven't been able to touch them for a while. I had my first one in 2 months yesterday and it wasn't bad. I think my plan will be to start back on Protein Shakes for Breakfast (and stop eating anything I want...ya think!) to get some more weight loss going. I'm SO glad I had this surgery though. I have a lot more energy and a much more positive attitude about my looks and increased self confidence! Hope everyone else is doing well =)

I was SO sick of sweet Protein Shakes I started experimenting with "real" food on week 3! So far I've had success with cottage cheese, scrambled eggs, veggie hamburger patties (lots of Protein in those), milk and cheerios and even Peanut Butter on toast! Small amounts of each like half a piece of toast, half the veggie patty, 1/4 c of egg and cottage cheese. NOT so successful: lobster bisque, gelato and a few bites of some particularly rich appetizers! I had 4 sips of wine on my birthday yesterday and did ok. I listen carefully to what my sleeve is saying, if she says stop...I stop! (Mostly because I learned the hard way on the gelato!)

I never took my temperature, but the week after surgery, I felt like I was getting over a bad cold. The feeling went away by the 2nd week.

I'm in the same boat - will be traveling 2 weeks post-op. Some ideas (and will look forward to others): Starbucks has greek yogurt. Wendy's has chili that can be mashed up. McDonalds has oatmeal (prob not much Protein though). Premier shakes are pre-made and can be bought at costco - high Protein, low carb. Although you said you'll be bringing powder on the road, I think I will pack some pre-mades for when I'm not in a position to do the mixing. With regard to the mixing, at Target/Walmart, you can get a mini-blender that holds 16 oz and is very travel friendly.
To the extent you'll have a refrigerator, cottage cheese, string cheese might be good options. Same mashed bananas.
Good luck! Let us know how it goes!

If you can do bars, maybe try and take some of those. You'll be in a good stage by the time you travel so you should get lots of suggestions from the other post-ops on what you can take/have.

Drink more Protein.< /p>

I woke up in post op with mine on already. Feels nice while indoors. I'm in hot steamy Texas. I'll start back to work on Thursday and plan to wear it for extra support. I don't think it's like a Lipo compression garment you HAVE to wear for so many weeks after. Just your personal preference I guess.

I had surgery April 30 and can barely drink my Protein Drink or Water and have bad very little puréed food. But when I do have any of the above I too feel burning and pain. Like a ball stuck in my throat, and acid reflux, heaviness. I regret surgery. I'm also having a very sore sharp pain right below mid middle incision internally and if ya barely press there you feel a big hard ball. Is this normal?

Thanks for the encouragement everyone! I read a lot and searched this website before the surgery and never came across the "choking feeling". Glad to hear it's normal but will mention it to my MD on Tuesday. I'll also try the Unjury Protein chicken broth. I've already tried adding sugar free flavorings to the Water, still makes me nauseous. I plan on adding SF popsicles to the menu too! Thanks again!

Remember your doc knows best....
Drinking for me was very hard in the beginning. I needed my liquids room temp for several weeks. Plain Water is harder. Try flavoring the Water. I've read on here that it helps the water molecules separate.... weird but it helps.
Tiny sips! and I mean small. For the first several days I had many measuring cups lined up on the counter and I would fill with barely an oz. and sip 1 every 10 minutes. VERY time consuming, but this is all there is at this point....
I'm about to start my 3rd month and my stomach STILL cramps if I drink too fast or I shock it with a big gulp and it is super cold. It does get better a little bit every day.

I'm 11 days out and experienced the same discomfort with drinking. The easiest to get down was powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury chicken Protein drink. Warm and soothing. It gets easier. hang in there.
KimberlyU sleeved 7/24/13

If your liquids are ice cold, you might find it easier to swallow them warm, or even room temperature. It may lessen the nausea, too. Also, some people have a problem with plain Water at first. Adding some flavorings like Mio or Crystal Light may help reduce the surface tension and help it go down more smoothly. I also found tea was soothing, if you are permitted to have it.
Hang in there. It really does get easier! I'm a month out and drinking and eating much more normally (albeit in massively smaller amounts :-D )
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 2 using VST

Hello Thinner, I am post op day 6. I am on Clear Liquids. I, too , had that sensation of pain, Fluid getting stuck, and cramping when I sipped on fluids. It is normal. Just take small sips, take time between sips, and take deep breathe in and out if it feels like fluid is stuck and won't move.

Try taken smaller sips and a lots of them. It's important not to get dehydrated. If your not able to call your doctor.

At 3 days post op all sorts of discomforts make themselves known. All of these are mentioned in posts here frequently. As always, your docs are experts we are just far separated observers.
Water drinking was very difficult for me for the first 2 weeks. I still feel like things stick in my throat at a year and a half out. I don't know what that is. When I get to a doc I will have him/her look at it.
On the positive side I have lost oodles of fat, am as healthy as a race horse, and get pinched by my wife.

Hello experts! I'm post op day 3 and having trouble with liquids going down. My throat feels tight like there's a pill stuck in there. Of course have not swallowed anything solid. My sleeve cramps when I drink liquids and I feel slightly nauseated. Is this normal?

I try to follow this...
7am -8am (8 oz h2o + MTV & B12) pain meds if needed.
8:30am - Breakfast
9:30am - 8oz h2o
10:30am - 3oz Protein shake
11:00am - 8oz h2o
12:30 - lunch (after lunch I take a nap)
2:30 - 8oz h2o
3:30 - 8oz h2o
4:30 - 3oz h2o
5:30 - 8oz h2o
7pm - dinner
8pm - 8oz h2o (MTV & IRON)
9pm - 8oz h2o + pain meds if needed

Happy Sleeve Day to you!!

2 days post op and forcing those liquids down. On the day of surgery on couldn't have anything, yesterday after abdominal X-ray I was allowed liquids. I barely got down 2oz of broth and 1oz of some Protein and Vitamin fortified juice. Just woke up around 5:30am and could barely get down another oz of juice. I feel each sip going down and almost at the same time air and a burp come up. Is this normal? It make me feel like not drinking at all but I know I have to. Just don't want to stretch out stomach by forcing liquids.

On my way to the hospital.....SLEEVE DAY!!! yaaaay!!!