Schmincke

What about Protein Shakes? Each has about 150 cal and maybe 25 gm Protein and likely12 oz Fluid. All good postoperative as long as they don't contain sugar. Lots of people like Premier Protein drinks from costco and SAMs Club. My doctor played them between meals.

Also some kinds you need to rinse well before cooking or they can be a little bitter. They can substitute for rice or couscous. Nice!

It likely just a stall - that happens to everyone. Don't get upset by it! You need to talk to your nutritionist if the stall keeps up. My 5 cents worth:

It might help if you look at your Water and Protein intake.

Water over 60 oz?

No more than 4 oz of fruit juice a day?

At least 80 gm protein a day ?.

I am trying to keep my carbs at 35%, protein at least 35%, fat below 30% of daily intake. My Fitness Pal helps me look at the overall nutrient profile through the day. If I get lots of protein and water, I am not hungry at all.

My hubbie came to seminars ahead of time since he does half the cooking, and then he came to hospital at 6AM and stayed through the operative day until after 10. A lot of the time he just read, letting me doze. He could have stayed overnight but I really did want him to go home so he could sleep. He was back the next day and again stayed until 10. I was glad he was there when I had a bad drug reaction - otherwise I would have been alone and unable to call the nurse. He was a big emotional comfort, and I really feel that even though he's naturally BMI 23, he's my partner in this. I am lucky.

Today's my day! Waiting for my surgeon in the pre-op bay.

MeLite - I am sending healing wishes your way. Northwestern took great care of me, and I know they will take great care of you!

My surgery is in the morning at 7:15am in Roanoke VA with Dr Tananchai Lucktong. I am so nervous I am trembling!! I have never been in the hospital before except when I was born! I trust my surgical team and am sure I will be fine, but can't stop trembling!

fotogrphr, how are you feeling today? It's Day 2, and I hope you can sip sip sip, walk walk walk as someone on this forum wisely suggested. Every day is better!

I spent 2 scheduled nights in hospital. I could not possibly have gone home the same day... Much too woozy. I am no spring chicken - I am 57 and that may be part of my slower recovery. Bravo! You must be very strong!

Excellent inspiration! Thank you for sharing!

Patience ... You have an excellent point and something I need to foster in myself. It has taken me decades to get here.

I am on anything the texture of stage 1 baby food. It's day 5. I had 1/4 cup of cream of wheat with Splenda for breakfast; this AM I had a cup of tea and a Protein raspberry smoothie with almond milk and benefiber. lunch was a full cup of tomato/roasted red pepper Soup. A big Vitamin Water this afternoon. Feel comfortably full at 368 calories, 44 gm protein, 50 oz Fluid - and still supper ahead. Lost 2.5 pounds fat and 5 pounds water since Thursday release from hospital.

I am day 5 too, and gained 5 pounds in hospital. My MD said they over-hydrate us with IV fluids so we have extra fluids in our system when we get home. That makes us less likely to get dehydrated and end up in the the ER. He said it is like watering a camel before a long trip across the desert. So - it's just Water not fat!

Brave and strong! What a great role model you are!

Me too and then I had a bladder infection with bleeding and fever. SF cranberry and antibiotics - symptoms relieved in a few hours.

Sleeved Tuesday, home Thursday up 5 pounds of fluids, but down 7 pounds this morning. I am staying on the recommended feeding schedule and getting all the Protein and fluids. Very little hunger but odd craving for crunchy tuna salad. Had a scary adverse reaction to a medication in hospital, and developed a urinary tract infection with fever last night - but the medical team was very responsive and helpful. Feeling much better now and excited to see the scale slip near the 190's!

Good luck! My surgery was Tuesday and overall I am feeling pretty good - hope yours is smooth too!

Call the surgeon. Could be something problematic. Be sure - call and see what they say.

I completely agree. Good advice.

On my way to hospital now. Hello sleeve!

Congrats! My surgery is tomorrow. Good luck.

Me too - 7:30 AM. Good luck Jan 14 sleevers!!!!

I am going for my surgery tomorrow morning. I am 57. Am I scared? Sure, I'd be foolish not to be. But as I have told my husband, my risk of dying in the next year WITHOUT the surgery is greater than my risk WITH the surgery.

I made sure to go to "Bariatric Center of Excellence" and I am grateful they exist. For us older and/or more complex patients I think the quality assurance measures they promote far offset any additional costs. Good luck to you!

My surgery is the day after yours. Good luck to us both! Here is what I am allowed the first week after surgery - but remember every surgery/surgeon may be different and require different things:

• Priority #1: 64+ ounces of Water a day.
• Priority #2: 60+ grams of Protein a day, using liquids like pre-made Protein shakes (>15gm Protein, <5gm fat, <5gm sugar per serving). Main ingredient must be whey, soy, casein, milk, hemp, or albumin (egg) protein. Cheapest source is "Double Protein Milk" which is 1 cup low fat milk + ⅓ cup nonfat dry milk/powdered milk.
• Week 1: pureed liquid diet - high protein, sugar free, low fat. Sip on liquids, food should be the consistency of applesauce or even runnier. No fizzy drinks. For example:
  • Protein:
    • shakes or double-protein milk
    • pureed fish, seafood, poultry, meat
    • pureed eggs, egg substitute
    • pureed cottage cheese, yogurt (no sugar),
    • cocoa (sf)
    • pureed beans/lentils, pureed/strained black bean Soup
    • strained low fat cream soup
  • Vegetables and fruits:
    • No raw or uncooked vegetables or fruits
    • Baby food "Stage 1"
    • Pureed water-packed fruit or cooked vegetables
    • V-8 or Tomato juice as long as NO sugar (i.e. V-8 Splash may have sugar)
    • fruit juice <½ cup per day
  • Starches
    • Cooked strained Cereal like baby food
    • Mashed sweet or white potatoes - can add yogurt or milk to make them more mushy
  • Soup mixed with Protein powder
  • sugar-free popsicles

Now please keep in mind that I have not had my surgery yet either! A lot of sleevers swear by the sugar free popsicles, and they count as Fluid by my doctor. And some people say Water is hard to swallow unless you add Mia Drops.

Good luck!

Alcohol gets metabolized in your liver, and drinking booze can cause a fatty liver the next day. Plus a margarita is full of sugar, and that also enlarges your liver. I would not chance it. In a few months you can indulge more safely! ONE... SMALL... SIP... well, it's your call. I wouldn't even do that. But I am a chicken!

At my pre-op appointment 2 days ago they ordered a sleep study. It seemed kinda sudden, considering I have probably had a dozen visits to get ready this fall, and surgery is in 5 days. Me and my jammies were headed to the hospital tonight for the sleep-over when they called and said insurance had not approved it - so the sleep study is canceled. They said it will not delay my surgery; we're still on for Tuesday. I don't think I have sleep apnea anyway, although 17 pounds ago I might have.

Also - it's day 8 of the pre-op diet and it's so much easier! 1000 calories seems like plenty now. And the headaches are gone.

OK - now I am going for a walk!!

I'm back at the hotel and I must say I feel 20 times better. I don't know if it's all the room and privacy I have or what. But I'm feeling awesome. I guess the removal of the drain has a lot to do with it.

Speedy recovery shugsleeve!!

My surgery is one week from tomorrow - the 14th.

Pre-op diet is okay, but my surgeon's recommendation is not as strict as many others. High Protein, low carbo. I'm making chicken Soup (no noodles) for dinner but craving fruit. Cleaned the bad stuff out of the kitchen today ... and DID NOT EAT IT!

MyFitnessPal and my new Fitbit are ultra-helpful but today it's too cold here in Chicago to go walking for very long.

Tomorrow is pre-op test day, and my last pre-op nutrition class.

I'm a bit nervous, but more excited than anything. This forum really helps.

You should be fine. I gag too and it has never been an issue. I've had 2 open abdominal surgeries, 3 laparoscopic surgeries, and 2 other surgeries with general anesthesia. I have NEVER woken with a tube in my throat; no breathing tube or feeding tube would be expected at all.

As for pain, the pain from laparoscopic surgeries is much less, and different, from open abdominal surgeries like C-sections or hysterectomies. The small incisions do not hurt much after laparoscopic surgery. The pain is mostly intra-abdominal gas that they pumped in to give them room to work, and it goes away after a couple days. The incisions are tiny and moving around is soooo much easier than it was when they did the surgery the old open-abdomen way.