cabstewart

Just watched an interesting documentary from the BBC called "10 Things You Need to Know About Losing Weight." May provide some insight into why we are asked to consume so much protein. Here's a link to the online version of the show: http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-losing-weight/

Are you measuring your food? I use either a 1/2 cup or a 1/4 cup, depending on how dense the food is, to make sure I don't overeat. Also, I tend to burp, letting me know that wall is coming. Some people also put there fork down between bites to see how the last bite sits. Good luck! Looks like you're doing well! AtlantaRed: What kinds of food can you have 1/2 a cup of? So far my Dr. says 1/4 cup max on everything. I have not hit a internal full feeling on 1/4 cup of anything. Does anyone know our eventual limit or size of a meal? 1/4 cup seems very small even to my new tummy!

DeezJeanz: Praying for a safe surgery and quick recovery. You have been such a positive source of wisdom for us all. Please let us know if we can do anything for you! See you on the other side!

I am a high school career counselor, so no classes, but we go back on 1/2 and have final exams (which I coordinate) shortly thereafter. I have no official lunch break, and usually have a line of students at my door during lunch. I am very nervous about getting all the liquids and food in. I think I will set alarms on my phone to help.

I was told too much air, and the possibility of getting too much liquid too quick and overfilling your tummy. Surgeon says no more straws ever.

Meamo: I can totally relate to what you are saying and I can testify that it does get better. Keep trying different things to drink. I could not stand Water, but Propel works well for me. I could not tolerate the clear Protein Drinks, but the Oh Yeah Protein shakes work well. What turned the corner for me was to be able to have small sips of Soup. I took Progresso Soups like Wedding Soup, strained out all the solids and heated the remaining liquid. It just took awhile for my stomach to calm down. Don't be afraid to call your Dr. office to tell them what is going on. I had a scopamine patch for nausea which helped. The other thing I did was that every time I felt gas pains I would walk around my house - several laps and I could hear the gas bubbles moving around - the movement seemed to help settle my stomach. If you look back at my posts I was lost, but it did get better and it will for you. You are in my prayers for a quick turn around.

Hi All: Yeah, even though its in the 40's here today I went for a walk and covered about 7 blocks. This makes me start to feel human again! I have been walking around my house about every hour since getting home, but wasn't able to get out because of the rain. I hope you all have a very restful and peaceful Christmas!

Tarheel 79: So happy to hear from you and that you are doing well - uneventful is good! Two things I would recommend from my experience is 1) don't let them give you a flu shot before you leave (they did this to me and I think it made me weaker) 2) Ask to try out the liquid pain reliever that you will go home with for at least a few hours before you are discharged. They gave me a strong pain reliever orally right before I left, and either that pain reliever or the flu shot, or both are what I think caused me all the nausea. If you can try the oral pain reliever a few hours before you leave, you will know how well your new tummy can handle it before you get home! I spoke to the nutritionist at my Dr.'s office on Monday and he said that the 64 oz. of liquids and 60+ grams of protein are just a target, he said in the beginning to just do as well as you can and don't sweat it. This has helped with my mental attitude over the last couple of days. Merry Christmas to my fellow NC gal!

--- oh man what I would give for some goldfish or pirate booty or popcorn!!! I'm on 4 weeks liquids and probably wont get to taste tuna or flaky fish until jan 9/10... I may extend my time off from work cause this experience is too physically and mentally draining at this point ... I'm in ER Now getting fluids possibly due to dehydration and also have tested for low blood sugar Sandisleeve: So sorry to hear that you had to get more fluids., I'm sure this will help you to feel much better though. Rest up, you are in our prayers. I think most of us have been brought to tears several times during this process! When they readmitted me to the hospital for nausea last week, I was actually relieved. I'm sure you will be doing better in no time.

MGR1852 My experience has been similar to yours. I gag on most of the tastes of protein supplements. I tried a protein shake "Oh Yeah" bananas yesterday and it has gone down better. What kind of pureed foods are you allowed so soon? My Dr. has me on all liquids the first 2 weeks. I am feeling weak, and dehydrated, but doing the best I can to keep moving forward. Hopefully the pureed foods are helping you!

My prayers to you cabs! Hope you can get this under control soon did you call your dr? Hi Tam j: I called my Dr. yesterday, talked with the PA, she just said to keep trying (I think she thinks i am just being a baby). I took more GasX strips, and added a new scopolamine patch for nausea which has helped some. The analogy to a #2 pencil feels about right. Today I have concentrated on getting in 2oz. of protein shake almost every hour. Just a few mins ago I drank my protein and 15 mins. later water, which made my stomach feel that intense pressure again. I will just have to go with less liquids for now. Feeling very tired. I am so disappointed in my recovery so far, I just hope it gets better. I'm usually not impacted by pain, this has really hit me hard. Thanks to all the well wishes, I really appreciate having this group to talk to. My prayers are with all the other sleevers for a fast recovery!

Hi Jaime...I was sleeved on the 11th, and am scheduled to return to work on Monday. My boss said that if I needed more time, it wouldn't be a problem....but I don't feel ready to go back. Right now I am able to get my 10 minute walks in, but the pain in the large incision starts after about 5 or 6 minutes. I can't imagine being on my feet sitting for 8 hours. Also, I am able to get in only 3 shakes a day for a grand protein total of about 50 g a day. I am SO full all of the time, the I just don't want to drink anymore. It's tough for sure! Good luck to you...glad that you are here...if you want to participate on the pounds lost forum, jump over to that thread...we're having a blast over there already! Hi All: I like MnWin am having a terrible time getting the liquids in. After following the plan for liquids for only one hour I feel like my stomach will burst from pressure. Been trying gas x strips. Due to the nausea I had day 2 and 3 I won't take any pain meds stronger than liquid tylenol. Is there anyone else out there that encountered this at the first and saw it get better? I very discouraged and teary because I feel so much pressure in my stomach. At this point if I could undo this surgery I would in a second.

The most common reason for the shoulder pain is trapped gas from surgery. Walking is supposed to help but since you're not getting a lot in, I've seen others talk about using a heating pad to the area. I'm 6 days out and declining in recovery (not serious, just feeling worse than better). Drinking the fluids seems like a full time job. Just today I started with the suggestion of literally setting a timer on my phone to take in 2 oz every 15 minutes. I've been feeling so full and didn't know if I was drinking too fast or too much, so following the timer guideline, I feel better about that. HI: I am having similar issues. Dec. 16th sleeved with a hiatal hernia repair. Just got home from the 2nd hospital stay yesterday afternoon (went back in for severe nausea). It has been nearly impossible to drink the fluids on the plan (2 oz every 15 min.) My stomach feels like it could burst at that rate after about 1 hour of consuming at that level. I have been timing everything I drink and it is a full-time job. Not at all what I expected this would be like. I am going to cut back to give my stomach more time to process. I am having a lot of regrets after all that has happened this week. Hope it will be better in the days to come. Pain is not that bad, I am on liquid tylenol, I am passing gas fine, no BM yet, but I've only been having water and IV fluids until today. I am not hungry at all. I usually sail right through pain and don't usually have this many set backs, so I think it has been very difficult mentally causing me to be very teary. Would love to hear if others who were like this during the first 5 days, have seen improvement as it is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel right now.

Hi all: Dec. 16th sleeved. I was released the next day from the hospital where I had the surgery. Went home became very nauseous threw up 5 times could not keep water or anything down, so I was readmitted to a different hospital to try to get over the nausea. I'm doing better this morning but I haven't had anything to drink, they told me not to drink anything so we could get it under control. Will know more when Dr. makes rounds.

Yay, I had my sleeve and hiatal hernia repaired yesterday and am feeling very well. No problems. I am still in the hospital, gong home today. I am so happy to join the other slleevers on the other side! No regrets whatsoever. Thanks for all the well wishes. Very excited to start my new life!

Lol, I've been watching them since I started this journey on 06/19/13! They're so interesting to watch!! Well tomorrow's our day Cabstewart! Are you ready to join the Losers bench with the rest of the crew???? Yes, bring it on! I'm ready. Best wishes to SoPeachy28 and all the Dec. 16 sleevers!

Something the nurse told me at the pre-op visit… she said that women should not shave their legs or underarms the day before or day of surgery because the razor causes tiny cuts to the skin which can make you more susceptible to infection. I don't know if this applies to men shaving their face, but it would seem that it would. That was a surprise!

Prayers to Andrew. We are all thinking of you.

Hey - good luck. I am in Cary, NC and my surgery is bright and early tomorrow. Have to be at the hospital at 5:15 a.m.

Don't know if anyone else is like me, but I watched a whole gastric sleeve procedure (from a Dr. in Marietta, GA) on youtube last night. I couldn't believe they had such a thing on youtube but they do. It was very interesting.

Welcome, you'll find our December group a very friendly and helpful group. Good luck on your pre-op, many of us had 2 weeks and it really goes faster than you would think!

I'm sorry to hear that you are feeling more pain that you expected. Will that keep you in the hospital longer? My surgeon said he was going to fix my hiatal hernia as well. Surgery on Monday 12/16. We'll see how it goes... Hope you are feeling better every minute of the day.

It will get easier on the pre-op diet and just think about what you are making the change for! I have had food fantasies throughout the pre-op - but I just think - "Later, I can have that later!"