dsmith_rn

Muscle cramps can be caused by a deficiency in potassium, calcium, magnesium, or sodium. But for us post-ops, the mineral we are most likely deficient in is calcium. That's why I recommended a calcium supplement. Make sure you're taking calcium CITRATE. Calcium carbonate is not well-absorbed.

My surgeon says take 1500 of calcium of every day. The Wallgreens "petites" aren't really all that petite but I can definitely swallow them. They are for sure smaller than the regular calcium horse pills.

For muscle cramps, increase your calcium intake. We post-ops tend to be low on our calcium, and muscle cramps is one sign of it.

My surgeon and NUT don't recommend any particular type of vitamins. They are only a supplement, most of your nutrition (minerals, etc) should come from food. I don't take viactiv because it is calcium carbonate which isn't well absorbed. I take calcium citrate, Wallgreens brand, petites. For a multivitamin I take Vitafusion gummies with hair, skin, and nail support (extra biotin, lutein, etc). I also take sublingual B12 , 2 a day because my energy has been low and my surgeon said you can't OD on it and 10,000 IU of D3 because my D was very very low. On the positive side I'm off my BP med and I've lost 40 lb in the last 2.5 months, putting my BMI at 33. I still have nausea from time to time if I don't chew well enough or eat something too greasy or just not tolerated so I have to be careful what I eat but I'm pretty happy with my diet. I'm used to the tiny portions now and I feel like food doesn't have the power over me now that it once did. That first month was pretty rough though, much harder than I expected, so you new people should be prepared for that but keep in mind it gets WAY better so hang in there and be patient! Also I was in a stall at 206 lb for 2 full weeks. My surgeon said to expect that as my body was trying to establish a new setpoint. Also I was losing fat and gaining muscle and just hang in there and stay the course. I didn't do anything different, but this week the stall broke and I lost 6 lb! The new folks: your job is to concentrate on fluids and protein. That's it. Worry about the other stuff down the line when you are cleared for regular foods, but always be mindful of your fluids and protein intake. Good luck everyone!

How is everyone doing? I had a bumpy ride 3 weeks out but I'm much better now. I'm careful what I eat but I'm used to the small portions now and happy/satisfied with it. I've had a few people call me "skinny"! It's been decades since anyone called me that.

Good luck! Dr. Boone is awesome and I'm very happy with my results. Feel free to PM me if you want.

The only thing you can do is try different ones until you find one you like. Everyone's tastes are a little different. Or you can make your own at home; there are a few different recipe books on Amazon for protein shakes. If you pre-make them in little ziploc bags they can be thrown together quickly in the morning.

I want to strongly encourage you to use this time wisely. You are setting yourself up for bariatric surgery failure. If you don't make those healthy choices now while it's "easy," you won't do it later when it's harder. You've got one shot to do this right. Make healthy eating a habit and you won't struggle with it later. You don't have to be "super-healthy"all the time. Just make smarter choices. Once a week allow yourself a SMALL indulgence, without guilt, and the rest of the time make good choices. Fill up on quality protein FIRST and there won't be room for the bad choices--easy! The sleeve doesn't give us license to eat whatever we want. It's a tool that makes it easier for us to make smart choices. Use your tool!

Don't be afraid. Just commit yourself to learning and following "the rules" and you will succeed! Use the first year post-op to really learn and reinforce your new, healthy habits when it's "easy" and it won't be such an effort down the line when you're in maintenance phase. Keep in mind you WILL have to exercise and make it a habit. Once your new, healthy behaviors have become habits, maintenance will naturally follow. Trust you surgeon's recommendations. He/she knows what works, it's what he does for a living.

It's a decision on your part. I have found that every time I am going to eat, I have a few decisions to make. It this good for me? Am I running behind on my protein today, so need to make a different choice? Am I really hungry? Once it really hit me that it's MY decision, I found it very empowering! Just because that candy dish at the satellite pharmacy is there, doesn't mean I have to grab a snack-size Snickers out of it! Some days its harder than others, and on those days I just tell myself "I choose not to eat that TODAY." Maybe tomorrow I'll eat it. Maybe not. My decision today, right now, is what's important. Tomorrow will take care of itself. Once I've made that decision I feel so good about myself! And if I want to eat but I'm not hungry, I just tell my stomach "You're not hungry, you're bored. So SHUT THE F*CK UP!" (Pardon my French)

Good girl. Stay the course, and you will win! Keep us updated. Janey is right, the first month kinda sucks but it definitely gets better!

OK you had several questions there, I will attempt to address them all. First of all, FOLLOW YOUR SURGEON'S INSTRUCTIONS! Each surgeon is a little different and their techniques are even a little different, so since THEY know exactly what they did inside you, it's critical to follow their instructions. YES you can harm yourself by advancing your diet so fast. Because of the acid content of the stomach, it takes a LONG time to heal. If you eat the wrong thing it could further hamper your healing. And can you imagine if you got a strawberry seed or a tiny chunk of a nut or something caught in your new suture line??? Please, let your stomach heal! I'd lay off the eggs if I were you. It is one of the more difficult foods to tolerate. I tolerated them initially when they were allowed for me, but then I had a problem after eating a boiled egg that landed me in the hospital for 2 days and on disability for 3 additional weeks. I'm not going to touch eggs again until at LEAST 3 months post-op now. Patience is the key. I WILL be able to eat eggs again, just not right now. You should NOT be eating watermelon, especially not right now, but probably not EVER. Why? Because it has practically NO nutrients in it. At this point in your recovery, 90% of what you eat should be protein. For you, mostly protein shakes right now (If you don't like yours, private message me and I'll give you resources for some fantastic protein shake recipes!). When you start eating soft foods, continue to concentrate on protein. At 2 months out, I eat protein and then a few bites of fruit or veggie IF I HAVE ROOM LEFT in my sleeve. There is so little room in there that I MUST concentrate on getting that protein in! No empty calories! What happens if you fill up on bananas and watermelon and low-protein soups instead of your protein sources? Your body will start DIGESTING YOUR MUSCLES for a protein source, you will increase the hair loss that is coming, and you will have very low energy! You will also have low energy if you are not getting your recommended fluid intake (dehydration). As far as knowing when you are full you have to figure that out for yourself, and it takes a few weeks. Everyone is a little different, and you will learn to understand the new cues your tummy sends you. Hunger feels different. Full feels different. You get rumblings and weird noises and sensations and lots of burps from your sleeve. For some people, they know they are full when they hiccup, or burp, or get shoulder pain, or a runny nose or sneezing, etc. I get none of those, although sometimes I will get a burp I mostly just had to learn the very subtle feeling in my sleeve that tells me to stop. If you take a bite or two more than you should, you will feel miserable for hours and not want to do it again. Please, I urge you not to push your sleeve right now. It WILL delay your healing and increase your risk of complications. Just be patient. I know the liquid phase is very hard, but it's also very temporary and when you look back on it later it will seem like no time at all, and very worth it not to delay your recovery and avoid complications. For right now your job is to stay hydrated and try to get in enough protein. That's it. If you start breaking the rules now, how are you going to keep to the path in the long-term to keep the weight off? Trust the process and your surgeon, he knows what works. Don't sabotage yourself. Keep to the rules and watch yourself get skinny. BIG HUGS,

My advice is to call your Nutritionist. They have great suggestions on how to get over the bumps we encounter, including hunger. Let us know what he/she says!

EVERYONE has had this, it is a normal part of the process. My stalls have passed on their own, but I have heard others who changed up their exercise routine or added calories to their daily total to break a stall. Call your dietician, who can best guide you through this.

You're welcome. The calcium is the hardest part because 1500 per day is a lot of volume. Like I said, whether you take the chewable (Yuck!) or "petite" pills, it's still a lot of volume so you might find it helpful to split up the dose over the course of the day. And remember, calcium impedes the absorption of other drugs so don't take them with your BP meds, etc.

Good luck to you Tabby! The first 2 weeks are the hardest, but hang in there and follow your surgeon's instructions. By day 4 I was so hungry I could barely stand it. I was on Clear Liquids the first week. When I got to go to full liquids on week 2 it got much better, and then with purees on week 3 I found out just how small my new baby tummy is! I got very full very quickly. That's when it's important to measure your food so you don't overeat, or you will be miserable for the next several hours. I don't have to measure my food anymore because I can eyeball it fairly well, but more importantly I have learned my body's cues for when to stop eating. The texture, density, and moisture content of the food determines how much of it you can eat, so paying attention to your body's signals is essential! I rarely even finish my tiny plate of food because I stop when my sleeve tells me to. Within a few minutes I feel full and satisfied for at least 4 hours. Really pay attention to your body and learn what all these new sensations mean. Soon they will become "the new normal" for you.

What kind of vitamin are you looking for? A Multivitamin? My surgeon has me taking a multivitamin, sublingual B12, Calcium citrate, and vitamin D3 every day. For the multivitamin I take "Vitafusion Multivites plus hair, skin, and nail support". It has extra Biotin, Lutein, etc. for hair and nails. These are raspberry flavored gummies, you take 2 a day and they're not bad. You can get them at Walmart or costco and I think Wallgreens has them too. I take Bariatric Advantage sublingual B12, cherry flavor. The "calcium citrate with D3 petites" is generic Wallgreens brand pill. I take 4 a day, and even though they say "petites" they're not that small so I split them up taking 2 of them earlier in the day. I have tried some of the chewables, but most of them are calcium carbonate (which is far less absorbable by the body, stay away from it), they didn't taste too great, and after eating 4 of them I would feel full, bloated, and nauseas so I switched to the pills. I had very low Vitamin D pre-op so I also take 10,000 IU of "Sunlight D3" per day, by Journey (this and the B12 can be ordered from bariatriceating.com or Amazon). Hope that helps!

I'm pretty sure we all went through some moments of terror as our surgery dates approached. That's very normal (and justified). Any nurse knows that all surgery carries risks, and this is a major surgery, no doubt about it. It didn't really hit me until after my surgery just how PERMANENT it is. I knew it in my head of course, but as I struggled to get down 1/3 cup of food it really hit me that I can't EVER eat as much as I want of something, ever again, no matter how good it tastes. It was something I had to grieve, and still struggle with sometimes, but most of the time I'm thankful for the restriction and the ensuing weight loss. All I can tell you is to check out your surgeon thoroughly, and have confidence in his skills. Rest in that, and in the knowledge you will soon be sitting on the loser's bench!

Good luck! BTW it's totally normal to be a nervous wreck. Soon you'll be on the other side, joining us on the loser's bench.

I'm 7 weeks out and still don't have my energy back. It takes awhile for your body to adjust to only 500 calories of fuel a day. I get nausea periodically depending on what I eat. Some stuff that is on my surgeon's OK list, is not on my sleeve's OK list. I work 12 hour shifts. Went back to work 3 weeks post op for 2 days, then ended up in the hospital with nausea/dehydration, and 3 more weeks of disability. I go back to work tomorrow, but still don't feel ready for 12 hours. I feel better, but my energy is still fairly low.

My surgery was last Tuesday ...no pain with the surgery itself BUT unbelievable pain in my chest and left shoulder while I was in hospital. I've had previous abdominal sxs but had always experienced the normal gas in my tummy. This pain was the worst...I walked a lot and now today (Saturday) I am ravenous! I'm able to easily drink 48 oz of Water, without a burp and am able to tolerate anything I eat...shakes, Jello, broth. I went cold turkey on the pain Meds when I left the hospital on Thursday, and have been climbing my stairs without a problem. The only real problem is the pain in my chest when I breathe in deeply...and the fear that I still have the ability to eat like a horse...no gas from tummy or burping whatsoever...I can't believe I'm hungry already... Most of my fellow sleeves tell me they have to force food and water down.....I don't know who is luckier...me or them! At least they still feel restricted...... You will get hungry while on liquids only. Once you start purees you will feel the restriction. I was surprised too at first, as I wasnt expecting to feel hunger for a long time, and I was worried there was something wrong with my surgery. All worries went out the window once I was able to eat something a little more solid. It very much depends on the density of the food. Clear Liquids don't make me full. A thick Protein shake will keep me full for a couple hours. Some refried Beans lasts about 4 hours, and some chicken or fish can keep me full for up to 6 hours.

I had something similar happen a couple weeks ago. I went back to liquids only for a week, it really helped!

One more thing.... I have found that Butter Lettuce leaves tend to work best for wrapping things in. They are sturdy and have a good shape to them. I made some Asian spicy stir fry chicken, the family had rice with theirs and I wrapped mine in a lettuce leaf instead. Yum!

My surgery was 4/25. I was cleared for salad at beginning of week 5, but I only eat a few bites because I'm protein-focused. I kinda miss my salads but eventually I'll be able to eat more. I'll just be putting a lot of Protein on it. Glad you found something helpful in that. Had to type it out twice cause my phone battery died while I was proofreading before sending. Lol

I'm not sure what sorts of ideas you are looking for, but I'll take a stab at it.... First of all, CUT THE CARBS. Don't eat crackers with your tuna, they are useless nutrition-wise, will make you crave more carbs, and takes up valuable space in your sleeve that is needed for food with nutritional value. Just eat the tuna salad alone, or if you must have something else, use slices of cucumbers as "crackers" or put your tuna salad on a slice of tomato--there's some GOOD carbs! As to your fluids, try drinking things with different temperatures. I have had trouble with getting the fluids in myself, partly because I had some severe nausea the first several weeks. I drank so slowly that everything ended up room temperature. I have found that if I drink some hot coffee or tea, I drink MORE of it. I have a little heating plate that keeps it warm for me: http://www.amazon.com/Norpro-5569-Decorative-Cup-Warmer/dp/B000E3DTG0/ref=pd_rhf_se_p_d_5 Protein coffee is an excellent way to start the day! Great with a few low-carb protein "cookies": http://www.amazon.com/Kays-Naturals-Protein-Cookie-Cinnamon/dp/B0086UI36O/ref=sr_1_4?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1402081459&sr=1-4&keywords=protein+cookies Also, if something is ice cold I drink more of it, so a frosty chocolate banana protein shake from the local smoothie store not only helps with my protein goals, but also my fluid goals. If I put my Crystal Lite water in the freezer and get it partially frozen, I drink more of it too. Experiment to find out what works for you. As for your protein goals, just make sure that every meal and snack you have is protein-focused. For Breakfast I have greek yogurt 2-3 times/week. I'm really not a yogurt person, but the health benefits (protein, Calcium, and probiotic-wise) are enough to make me choke some down a few times a week. Be careful of the brand; some are full of sugar and some don't have many (or any) Probiotics, and it's not a good source of protein if it's not greek yogurt. For breakfast I will also have the aforementioned protein shake, cottage cheese, egg salad (I can't tolerate scrambled eggs yet), or some corned beef hash. This morning I had a scoop of chicken salad. lunch is often last night's dinner leftovers, but sometimes I will have a deli roll-up (take a slice of lean deli meat--chicken, turkey, ham, roast beef--and wrap it around a slice of cheese). Eat it cold, or as I prefer, throw it in a hot pan for a few minutes to lightly brown the outside and melt the cheese. Yum! Tuna salad, chicken salad, egg salad, ham salad, all work for lunch--just stay away from the bread and crackers. You are establishing new healthy eating habits for life right now...do it while it's "easy," during the honeymoon period. Not later when you're struggling with weight re-gain. If you like crab, a crab salad would be great too. I know it's kinda pricey, but you're eating so little it will stretch a long way. Shrimp is an excellent protein source, with a 4-oz serving having 23 grams of protein! I always keep a bag of shrimp in my freezer. I grab about 4 of them, rinse them under cold water for a few minutes to thaw them, then either saute in a skillet, cook in boiling water, or if I'm really in a hurry, nuke them for 2 minutes in the microwave. Chill and serve with a lemon wedge and a dab of cocktail sauce, or chop them up and make shrimp salad. Dinner is something I make for my family and adapt for myself. If we're having tacos, I either eat mine wrapped in a lettuce leaf instead of tortilla, or I make myself a "taco bowl" with my favorite toppings, but heavy on the meat and Beans (protein sources). I'll make a homemade MEAT sauce and serve it over spaghetti squash instead of noodles (my family actually PREFERS it that way now! wow!). I'll bake or grill salmon and have a 3 oz slab of it with a few bites of veggies. Always the focus is on protein first. I made manicotti for the family, but I choose not to eat Pasta anymore (uselessly takes up valuable room in my sleeve, high carbs/calories, makes me crave more carbs), so I put a spoonful of homemade meat sauce in a ramekin, added a scoop of the cheese filling, more sauce and mozzarella on top, then bake it. Totally yummy! I just try to think and be a little creative; my family has had to make some changes on my behalf, but not big ones and they still get to eat stuff they like. OK snacks.......I don't eat a snack every day; only if I'm hungry between meals and I really try to never snack after dinner. Some snacks I use: unsweetened applesauce, half a small avocado, sugarfree pudding, half a frozen banana. Those are all low in protein, and most of the time I am protein-focused so those snacks include: dry roasted, crunchy, lightly-salted edamame (http://www.amazon.com/Seapoint-Farms-Roasted-Edamame-Lightly/dp/B0094IXKME/ref=sr_1_1?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1402080556&sr=1-1&keywords=edamame), greek yogurt, string cheese or other various cheeses, protein shake, a few tablespoons of nuts (cashews, almonds, pistachios, etc.), a slice of deli meat, half a Protein Bar. Most Protein Bars taste like dookey to me, so I had to sample a bunch of them to find ones I actually like. My #1 favorite is Premier Protein Crisp bar in mint chocolate...tastes just like a thin mint cookie! A totally guilt-free dessert! http://www.amazon.com/Premier-Nutrition-Protein-Crisp-Chocolate/dp/B00AINLC5G/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1402080929&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=premier+protein+bars My other current favorite is the Quest bar in chocolate chip cookie dough (yes, it actually tastes like that!). These are great because they're not covered in chocolate so they keep well in your purse. I always have one of these in my purse for emergencies so that I'm never caught in a situation where I have to make a bad choice. My NUT says to ALWAYS be prepared so that you can make good choices! http://www.amazon.com/Quest-Nutrition-Protein-Chocolate-Cookie/dp/B00DLDH1N2/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1402081110&sr=1-1&keywords=quest+protein+bars Both companies offer several flavors of their bars, I'm just sharing with you what my current favorites are. I can only eat a half a bar at this point, but these are so good they definitely taste like I'm eating something sinful, only they are 100% guilt-free. I hope that helps you some. Please come back and update us on how you are doing. HUGS to you!