dsmith_rn

Hi, my name is Kelley and I have been an RN for 14 years. I have only ever worked in peds. First as PICU then critical care internal staffing, so PICU, NICU, ER, etc. for the last 5 years I've been in our endocrinology sub- specialty clinic. I have not been sleeved yet, and don't have a surgery date. Still going through that process. I laughed when I read some of the comments in this thread, because my husband swears I'm the worst patient ever! I am glad to have found this thread and will keep in touch as things progress.

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,

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!

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,

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!

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.

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!

Reading some of the posts on here have helped immensely I am a RN who shared my surgery anxiety with a friend and was told my thoughts of dying were over the top and unjustified heartbreaking to say the least now I know I am not the only one to feel that way about wls

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!

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!

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!

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.

Hi. I'm a nurse in TN. I work for a major healthcare insurance company. I'm undergoing lapband to sleeve revision surgery on June 23rd and frankly I'm a nervous wreck. So glad I found this group.

Such great advise from some successful sleevers! @@M2G, it's good to hear your take as well.
Along the lines of feeling hunger after eating...One thing I've been playing around with the past couple of week is drinking after my meal...sometimes it's hard to wait that 30 minutes. I have found that if I can stretch that 30 minutes into 45 or 60 minutes, I don't get as hungry as fast. It makes sense if you have watched the YouTube video of the guy with the funnel explaining why you shouldn't drink during or immediately after eating.
I'm envious of those that can eat salad. I can eat about 1/4 cup - it has to be finely chopped and I have to eat it very slowly. I used to love sitting down to a nice big cold salad on a summer day.
This is a great thread!

I can eat a lot of salad. That is my go to food when I go out to eat wtih anyone who doesn't now I am sleeved. Lettuce chews down to nothing. Now if I am eating one with chicken mixed in, of course I can't eat as much of the actual salad.

Okay, maybe I said this already. I have restriction BECAUSE of behavior. So, they are interrelated and indivisible.
I have restriction due to a pattern of "eating small" and being used to small portions and being used to absence of hunger rather than being stuffed. I also have it from the pattern of eating dense Proteins and veggies. Like most, I could probably eat a whole box of crackers or other sliders... I don't want to find out.

Yes it will change. I had the same worry when I was on liquids.
I get full on very little food, and I stay full for 4-6 hours after I eat, depending on the density of the food. It is so important to learn your body's new cues after surgery. "Hungry" feels different. "Full" feels different. The sensation that tells you to STOP EATING feels different, and in my opinion it is THE most important cue to learn. If you take even 1 or 2 bites more than you should, you will feel miserable for HOURS.
At first I found it very helpful to MEASURE out all my food. 1/3 Cup was my capacity, no more. If I didn't measure my food and ate even a little more....ouch. Now I can eyeball it better, but even more importantly I have learned my body's signal "that's enough," and I stop. Unfortunately, your brain still doesn't catch up to your stomach signals for several minutes, so you can't rely on your brain to tell you when to stop. For some people, they burp. Others, hiccup. Some get a pain in their chest or shoulder, or sneeze, or get a runny nose. You will have to learn your own body's signals. For me, it's very subtle and not a feeling I can really put into words, I just know I have to stop--not one more bite. Sometimes I burp or hiccup, but not usually. I push my plate away, and within 5 minutes I feel the tightness in my sleeve and that feeling of fullness and I'm glad I didn't try to eat another bite.

My surgery was last Friday, exactly one week ago today, at about 2pm.
Today may be a little tough for you because the swelling in your sleeve will be at its peak until sometime tomorrow. It's not painful exactly, just very difficult to get your fluids down. I only got down 32 oz on both days 3 and 4, really working at it, the doc said that was OK. Day 5 I got in 50 oz, day 6 was my 64 oz. Every day gets better from here! Hang in there, you're past the worst of it.
I started full liquids yesterday afternoon after my doc appt and I feel SO much better! I don't have the weakness and hunger that were plaguing me day and night on clears.
I had my daughter take me to Panera bread to get some Soup. I had her check to see what they had so I didn't have to walk inside and be tempted. I was so hungry at that point, a stale tater tot would have looked like a feast. ..I ordered some Tomato Soup to go. When I opened the bag there was a large hunk of some delectable-looking French bread to go with the Soup. I spent a half-second mourning it, then ignored it and asked my daughter to take it away and tried not to think about it.
I got out one of my tiny demitasse spoons and ate about 1/4 C of the soup in tiny bites and enjoyed it thoroughly! And guess what? I went from being so hungry I'd eat a raw squirrel to FULL after 1/4 C of soup!
That was the first time I really felt my sleeve working, and it was amazing and encouraging and exciting to me. 1/4 C isn't much, but I'm sure I've still got a lot of swelling in there and the capacity will get bigger as I heal.
I waited at least 30 minutes before I drank anything because I didn't want to wash the soup out of my sleeve and be hungry again, but about 1.5 hours later I wanted to try some SF chocolate pudding since it is now on my approved list. Not because I was hungry, but because I wanted to taste something chocolate. It was a tiny 3 oz cup, and I could barely eat half of it (slowly) before I was so full I realized another bite would be very uncomfortable. Seven hours later I still wasnt hungry!
I did have more soup for dinner, I managed 1/3 C (that's the amount my doc suggested) and was extremely full afterwards. I never got to finish that other half of my pudding, which I realize now is totally OK!
I was very briefly sad when the realization really hit me that I will NEVER AGAIN be able to sit down and eat a large portion of something, or taste everything at the potluck that looks good, no matter how good it tastes. I allowed myself to mourn that just a little bit.
Then I reminded myself THANK GOD I can't ever do that again! It's not something I should ever do, and it is what got me in this mess to begin with to the point I had to turn to surgery to regain my health!
This morning I had a Protein shake for Breakfast (raspberry mocha). I enjoyed it and it made me full. I am learning about my new sleeve, and each day I appreciate (and maybe even LOVE) it more!

I have went back to liquids now for 2 days seem to help some. I am regular on my BM so I don't think that is it. I am just very frustrated been great up to 5 weeks and now for a week miserable...thanks for the comments!

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!

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......

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

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!

I was hoping to find a thread about this on the forum, but so far haven't been able to find it. If there is one, I would deeply appreciate it if someone could share the link to it!
I'd like to know what sorts of things I need to buy before surgery to prepare for my new life. From reading various books and posts on BP I have come up with the following list...please share if you know of other helpful items!
*Bathroom scale (no, I really don't have one!)
*kitchen scale (for measuring food)
*set of measuring cups and spoons (I have some, but ordering a better set from Amazon since I will be using them ALL the time)
*small, demitasse spoons (to help with taking smaller bites)
*set of rubber spatulas to help wipe food out of measuring cups
*tiny skillet, just right for cooking one egg
*blender
*small food processor
*several different flavors of Protein Powder
*several different flavors of sugar-free Torani syrups
*case of ready-to-drink Protein shakes and Protein Bars, for grab-and-go meals
*ice cube trays (for freezing small portions of food)
Those of you who have used a small food processor, which one do you like? Is the "Magic Bullet" more of a blender or food chopper, and do you like it? Anything else you have found helpful?
Thanks so much for your help!

How far out are you? I'm also sleeved on 4/23 and you gave some helpful info but right now I haven't been cleared for lettuce but can't wait to wrap everything in lettuce instead of wraps or bread. Great idea. That's going to be extremely helpful and still yummy.