CathyA

I do!! I was sleeved the 19th and although I have dropped 27 pounds my stomach seems more swollen then before. I am still sore but then again I stopped taking any pain meds a few days ago as I have to go back to work on Monday so I wanted to have a few days under my belt without so I know what it will feel like. So maybe still swollen inside too.

I was still on full liquid diet so I couldn't eat for TDay. My family went to my sister in laws where there was five or six turkeys and food galore. As I was only a little over a week post op I elected to stay home. I think it was the best decision for me. Friday I cooked all day and made a 20 lb turkey, stuffing, green beans, corn, sweet potato casserole, rolls, homemade gravy, mashed potatoes, mini chocolate & banana cream pies, tarts made with jam, chocolate cake, cupcakes, mini cupcakes, pumpkin pie, cheesecake, jello. I ate none of it! The hardest restraint was probably the skin on the turkey as that is one of my all time favorite foods. It is weird but I have cooked a lot of foods that I can not eat for my family since surgery and it kind of makes me feel better even though I have abstained. Today I consolidated left overs and put together a turkey soup that is on the stove. I will cook that all day. Figured I can puree it and have some by Wednesday when my diet changes. Unlike most I am used to having junk in the house I can't eat so this isn't much different BUT if you can't have it around and not eat it then you should throw it away. I know it seems wrong but it is better for you!

Lynn I was sleeved on the 19th and have had a pretty smooth recovery also. I had some in surgery complications, my heart rate spiked and was hard to control so they sent me home with my drain in. That stunk and was very uncomfortable but surgeon took it out a week after (five days ago) and I quickly felt better. Even with the drain I was up walking around and never had any nausea or vomiting. I looked at all the feedback and had resigned myself before surgery that I was just going to be horribly sick for the first few weeks maybe month, but thankfully NOTHING! I have followed my surgeons instructions and all has gone well. I felt bad because I looked on here and almost everything seemed to be about what is bad and going wrong... So I am glad to see all of these post from people that are glad that made this choice and it is going well for them also. I had my first egg today with some laughing cow cheese... it was great! Just go slow, follow what your surgeon tells you, small bites, chew everything well and listen to your body!

I kinda get caught up in comparing myself too. Worrying that I am not losing enough and I'm only 12 days post op. When I weighed myself the day I was leaving the hospital I as 8 lbs heavier than post op weight of 291. I was devastated as no one mentioned this might happen due to the iv fluids. Was relieved at my first dr apt to see I was at 284. If you are getting your Protein and liquids in and doing what you are supposed to, don't hold yourself to comparisons. We are all different. We have enough pressure to lose weight, eat responsibly and do what our body needs.... give yourself a break!

I was sleeved on 11/19, spent four days in hospital due to spiking heart rate but have done pretty good since I've been home. I overdid it a few days and was sore the next but nothing overwhelming. I started at 308 and was 284 at my 1 week post op dr appt. My biggest issue was coming home with my drain still in. That caused more discomfort than anything else. It has been out for five days now and I feel pretty great! I am still on full liquid diet until Wednesday when I will be able to start puree and I can't wait. I am so sick of Jello, popsicles, cream Soup and pudding! I can get my Protein shakes down to meet the full 60 grams of protein that they want but still have trouble getting in 48 oz of liquid some days. I have had three C-sections and my gallbladder removed in May so the surgical end was not nearly as painful as those were. I go back to work on Monday and I am hoping my energy level will increase with getting out!

Only you know what you can handle and unfortunately it is hard to foresee the future. I am a "just do it" person (for me personally) and I push myself regardless of how I will feel later. My daughters both had cheer competitions two days after my being released from the hospital. Although I attend EVERY event they have to support them and am usually the mom that brings whatever is needed, uses my car as a billboard of support and is there from the drop off time till the last award (sometimes this is 12 plus hours), I had to say no. I needed to put myself first. I do not do this very easily as I have never been able to, with four kids and a husband who can? I agree with the others, if you have a supportive team that will understand you will not be the one waiting on everyone else and can rest when needed, go for it, if not; don't do it!

I will be 9 days post op on Thanksgiving and still on my liquid diet. I am thinking I may have some mashed potatoes or possibly some pureed turkey. I go back to the surgeon today to have the drain removed so it will be only if he gives me the green flag to do so. Otherwise it will ff cream soup, sf popsicles and broth and of course a Protein shake. Although my family and friends are aware of my surgery, I too, have elected to stay home and pass on the festivities this year. I am still so fresh in recovering that I am more worried about the drinking component. Our families like to Celebrate with libations and I am really trying to abstain. I will cook at home also but for some reason this has not bothered me like I thought it would. I enjoy cooking for the kids even though I can't eat it.

Wow this topic really was the question I have been asking myself for months. I know what my trigger foods are and those I can not have one or rather choose not to at this time. I also do realize I can not tell myself "never" so I have worked on the philosophy that in time I may be able to try, in moderation. I also know that I can eat a bite of many things and satisfy my cravings. I can eat a chip or two and be ok. My coworker used to laugh because I would get a snack size bag of chips and they would last me a week to a month in my drawer. I think it is about knowing yourself. I am only a week post op and am having a harder time with not being able to have any solid food. I don't mind eating healthy I just hate not eating at all. I am counting the days until I can have applesauce, cottage cheese, even pureed tuna! I can only get down 3 oz at a time still but variety of a liquid diet stinks. I am mainly on Protein shakes, crystal light, vanilla sf yogurt, and ff creamed Soups. sf popsicles are also on my list.

I also had my surgery on the 19th. My hospital and Dr both prescribed nausea medication given pre-op and every day I was in the hospital, given with my pain meds. I did have difficulty with my heart rate spiking and my blood sugar was high. They also gave me blood thinners and insolin while I was in the hospital as needed. I ended up being there four days and game home with my drain still in. Although it has been pain full I haven been doing pretty well. I can only sleep for 3-4 hours at a time as I am sleeping on my reclining couch ( I am afraid I will hit my drain line and pull it out or something) and I wake up as soon as pain meds wear off. I am trying to wean myself off of them. The pharmacy did not have the liquid Pepcid the dr. prescribed so I am waiting on that but I have not had intolerable pain, although my pain threshold is very high. I do feel more motivated to walk as it does make the gas better and also try to do some of the light housework. I am finding it harder to not want to eat at times. I still can not get down all of the liquid down, 48 oz with 60 grams of protein are my goal. Right now I am at 20 oz of liquid, which is my two protein shakes, which I split now into 4 (4 oz at a time, 15 grams of protein each). I have to sip very slowly, just enough to wet my mouth and stop, it takes a good 30-45 minutes to get down. Since I am supposed to eat every two hours that only leaves another hour until I have to eat again. That's not happening so I try to continually sip on Crystal light, v-8, Gatorade Zero, or water. Haven't tried juice yet because that all seems so sweet its overpowering. I have found vanilla fat free yogurt and strained fat free cream of mushroom soup to be good meals. Please hang in there it gets better each day. Don't lose hope or get depressed! This is a new start and your body needs some time to heal. Although there is pain, nausea, & gas... this is life changing! You can do it!

My surgery is scheduled for the 19th. I started my presurgical diet on the 4th. Although I can not say I am starving I am certainly hungry and the change of eating, hand to mouth is really hard. Even on my six month supervised diet I could snack on fruits or low cal items. I am trying to stay busy so that I am not thinking about it. And I chew a lot of gum! I can have one Atkins style meal each day and two shakes. I don't mind the shakes I am using Fortress whey Protein shakes and they are pretty good. My Bariatric Consultant at the Dr.'s office recommended. I also picked up some Liquid Protein for after the surgery. I work full time and have four children (ages 4 to 22) and a 2 year old grandchild that I watch a couple of times per week so that his parents can work/go out. My husband works an off schedule and isn't home until around 10 pm so everything pretty much falls on me. At this point I am completely overwhelmed! My mood swings are brutal but I can't help it. My husband continues to spend his Sunday's drinking while he watches football and they all keep bringing food into the house that they know I can't even look at, oreos, Klondike bars, cheeseburgers, French fries, etc. and then eat the few things I can have. They have all been drinking the Protein Shakes and the other day my daughter reached over into my one meal I can eat and took food from my plate to eat. I feel very unsupported. I am so excited about this whole thing and have worked for six months to get it approved through my insurance and I feel so alone. I do a lot for others and was hoping for more from my loved ones. As you all know this is a life altering move and a complete change in our life, guess I thought it would be different.; anyone else feel like this? I will make it through I always do. So far I have shopped for everything I will need when I get home from the hospital, atleast for the first week or two. I am mentally prepared. I have had several C-sections and my gallbladder removed so I know the pain following surgery just will be an adjustment on the being able to eat side. Good luck all!