CdnGirlinNC

I am at a BMI of 35, 5'5 and just over 200 lbs. I have lost the same 60-80 lbs. almost 10 times over the past 20 years and am starting to develop hypertension. I am losing the battle a little more every time I gain it back.
I am getting a gastric sleeve 4/16, and have not told anyone outside my husband and teenage son that I am getting it. I know I need it but most people I know won't understand. I am a RN and husband is in the fitness industry, and in both places there is not a lot of support for surgery at the lower end of the obesity scale.
It helps a lot to see I am not crazy to want to do this now & not wait until I am heavier.

One thing I have learned and that is just how different each person's experience can be. My friend and I had the same surgery on the same day with the same surgeon. She can eat many more things than I can and about double the volume that I can and has been able to since day 1. She can drink in big gulps, I have to take smaller drinks; she can tolerate drinks of any temperature and I have to have my fluids room temperature; she has been able to tolerate solids for a couple weeks and I still need my food mashed up. My point is that even though you've been cleared for solids perhaps your tummy isn't ready. It's okay. Just go really slow and maybe go back to super soft foods for a while. If a food doesn't feel good give yourself another week or so and try it again. For sure, though, make sure you're chewing until the food is liquid in your mouth and take small bites. Eat a couple bites then put your fork down - see how you feel. We all have to be reconditioned to eat slower than we're used to. The most important thing is keeping up your nutritional needs and you can be sure you're doing that by eating foods you can tolerate and tracking on My Fitness Pal.
Good luck.

You have had major surgery and there is a physical and emotional aspect to your healing. My surgery was July 7th so I'm just a bit ahead of you. Here are some ideas that may help:
1. Use MY FITNESS PAL.com. It is a super valuable tool and very easy to use. Enter everything you eat and that will tell you at any point in the day how many calories and Protein you've had and how much more you need.
2. At this stage you should only be able to eat a few tablespoons at a time of very soft or pureed foods. EAT SLOWLY and take small bites and chew very well. Feel how your tummy feels after each bite. It is healing after a very big trauma. Be kind and gentle with it. If you feel pressure or discomfort stop eating. Put your plate down and give it a few minutes. Then have another bite if you feel you want more. Remember - only a few tablespoons!
3. If you haven't been given calorie and Protein targets perhaps you could use these: 600 to 800 calories per day and 60 to 80 grams of protein per day. Try not to go over 40 grams of carbs. (MY FITNESS PAL will track all of this for you)
4. A reasonable target for liquid is 60 oz at this stage (I struggle to get that even now but am getting closer).
5. Exercise is not your priority right now. You need to heal. If you can get out for a 20 minute walk that's great but if not try again in a few days. It's ok.
6. If you aren't successful with bowel movements perhaps you need a stool softener such as Miralax. Harsh laxatives are perhaps not the best choice right now. Again, your body has had a trauma. Give it time to heal and be gentle with it. liquids and a stool softener can really help .
Be patient and kind to yourself. Rest. One of the best resources that I've found for bariatric surgery information are videos by Dr. Matthew Weiner. Here's a link: http://drmatthewweiner.com/eating-after-bariatric-surgery-2/
Take good care!

You have had major surgery and there is a physical and emotional aspect to your healing. My surgery was July 7th so I'm just a bit ahead of you. Here are some ideas that may help:
1. Use MY FITNESS PAL.com. It is a super valuable tool and very easy to use. Enter everything you eat and that will tell you at any point in the day how many calories and Protein you've had and how much more you need.
2. At this stage you should only be able to eat a few tablespoons at a time of very soft or pureed foods. EAT SLOWLY and take small bites and chew very well. Feel how your tummy feels after each bite. It is healing after a very big trauma. Be kind and gentle with it. If you feel pressure or discomfort stop eating. Put your plate down and give it a few minutes. Then have another bite if you feel you want more. Remember - only a few tablespoons!
3. If you haven't been given calorie and Protein targets perhaps you could use these: 600 to 800 calories per day and 60 to 80 grams of protein per day. Try not to go over 40 grams of carbs. (MY FITNESS PAL will track all of this for you)
4. A reasonable target for liquid is 60 oz at this stage (I struggle to get that even now but am getting closer).
5. Exercise is not your priority right now. You need to heal. If you can get out for a 20 minute walk that's great but if not try again in a few days. It's ok.
6. If you aren't successful with bowel movements perhaps you need a stool softener such as Miralax. Harsh laxatives are perhaps not the best choice right now. Again, your body has had a trauma. Give it time to heal and be gentle with it. liquids and a stool softener can really help .
Be patient and kind to yourself. Rest. One of the best resources that I've found for bariatric surgery information are videos by Dr. Matthew Weiner. Here's a link: http://drmatthewweiner.com/eating-after-bariatric-surgery-2/
Take good care!

You have had major surgery and there is a physical and emotional aspect to your healing. My surgery was July 7th so I'm just a bit ahead of you. Here are some ideas that may help:
1. Use MY FITNESS PAL.com. It is a super valuable tool and very easy to use. Enter everything you eat and that will tell you at any point in the day how many calories and Protein you've had and how much more you need.
2. At this stage you should only be able to eat a few tablespoons at a time of very soft or pureed foods. EAT SLOWLY and take small bites and chew very well. Feel how your tummy feels after each bite. It is healing after a very big trauma. Be kind and gentle with it. If you feel pressure or discomfort stop eating. Put your plate down and give it a few minutes. Then have another bite if you feel you want more. Remember - only a few tablespoons!
3. If you haven't been given calorie and Protein targets perhaps you could use these: 600 to 800 calories per day and 60 to 80 grams of protein per day. Try not to go over 40 grams of carbs. (MY FITNESS PAL will track all of this for you)
4. A reasonable target for liquid is 60 oz at this stage (I struggle to get that even now but am getting closer).
5. Exercise is not your priority right now. You need to heal. If you can get out for a 20 minute walk that's great but if not try again in a few days. It's ok.
6. If you aren't successful with bowel movements perhaps you need a stool softener such as Miralax. Harsh laxatives are perhaps not the best choice right now. Again, your body has had a trauma. Give it time to heal and be gentle with it. liquids and a stool softener can really help .
Be patient and kind to yourself. Rest. One of the best resources that I've found for bariatric surgery information are videos by Dr. Matthew Weiner. Here's a link: http://drmatthewweiner.com/eating-after-bariatric-surgery-2/
Take good care!

Totally disagree on the bean thing. Great source of Protein, healthy carbs and fiber!
There are good carbs and bad carbs. These are the good guys.

You have had major surgery and there is a physical and emotional aspect to your healing. My surgery was July 7th so I'm just a bit ahead of you. Here are some ideas that may help:
1. Use MY FITNESS PAL.com. It is a super valuable tool and very easy to use. Enter everything you eat and that will tell you at any point in the day how many calories and Protein you've had and how much more you need.
2. At this stage you should only be able to eat a few tablespoons at a time of very soft or pureed foods. EAT SLOWLY and take small bites and chew very well. Feel how your tummy feels after each bite. It is healing after a very big trauma. Be kind and gentle with it. If you feel pressure or discomfort stop eating. Put your plate down and give it a few minutes. Then have another bite if you feel you want more. Remember - only a few tablespoons!
3. If you haven't been given calorie and Protein targets perhaps you could use these: 600 to 800 calories per day and 60 to 80 grams of protein per day. Try not to go over 40 grams of carbs. (MY FITNESS PAL will track all of this for you)
4. A reasonable target for liquid is 60 oz at this stage (I struggle to get that even now but am getting closer).
5. Exercise is not your priority right now. You need to heal. If you can get out for a 20 minute walk that's great but if not try again in a few days. It's ok.
6. If you aren't successful with bowel movements perhaps you need a stool softener such as Miralax. Harsh laxatives are perhaps not the best choice right now. Again, your body has had a trauma. Give it time to heal and be gentle with it. liquids and a stool softener can really help .
Be patient and kind to yourself. Rest. One of the best resources that I've found for bariatric surgery information are videos by Dr. Matthew Weiner. Here's a link: http://drmatthewweiner.com/eating-after-bariatric-surgery-2/
Take good care!

You have had major surgery and there is a physical and emotional aspect to your healing. My surgery was July 7th so I'm just a bit ahead of you. Here are some ideas that may help:
1. Use MY FITNESS PAL.com. It is a super valuable tool and very easy to use. Enter everything you eat and that will tell you at any point in the day how many calories and Protein you've had and how much more you need.
2. At this stage you should only be able to eat a few tablespoons at a time of very soft or pureed foods. EAT SLOWLY and take small bites and chew very well. Feel how your tummy feels after each bite. It is healing after a very big trauma. Be kind and gentle with it. If you feel pressure or discomfort stop eating. Put your plate down and give it a few minutes. Then have another bite if you feel you want more. Remember - only a few tablespoons!
3. If you haven't been given calorie and Protein targets perhaps you could use these: 600 to 800 calories per day and 60 to 80 grams of protein per day. Try not to go over 40 grams of carbs. (MY FITNESS PAL will track all of this for you)
4. A reasonable target for liquid is 60 oz at this stage (I struggle to get that even now but am getting closer).
5. Exercise is not your priority right now. You need to heal. If you can get out for a 20 minute walk that's great but if not try again in a few days. It's ok.
6. If you aren't successful with bowel movements perhaps you need a stool softener such as Miralax. Harsh laxatives are perhaps not the best choice right now. Again, your body has had a trauma. Give it time to heal and be gentle with it. liquids and a stool softener can really help .
Be patient and kind to yourself. Rest. One of the best resources that I've found for bariatric surgery information are videos by Dr. Matthew Weiner. Here's a link: http://drmatthewweiner.com/eating-after-bariatric-surgery-2/
Take good care!

You have had major surgery and there is a physical and emotional aspect to your healing. My surgery was July 7th so I'm just a bit ahead of you. Here are some ideas that may help:
1. Use MY FITNESS PAL.com. It is a super valuable tool and very easy to use. Enter everything you eat and that will tell you at any point in the day how many calories and Protein you've had and how much more you need.
2. At this stage you should only be able to eat a few tablespoons at a time of very soft or pureed foods. EAT SLOWLY and take small bites and chew very well. Feel how your tummy feels after each bite. It is healing after a very big trauma. Be kind and gentle with it. If you feel pressure or discomfort stop eating. Put your plate down and give it a few minutes. Then have another bite if you feel you want more. Remember - only a few tablespoons!
3. If you haven't been given calorie and Protein targets perhaps you could use these: 600 to 800 calories per day and 60 to 80 grams of protein per day. Try not to go over 40 grams of carbs. (MY FITNESS PAL will track all of this for you)
4. A reasonable target for liquid is 60 oz at this stage (I struggle to get that even now but am getting closer).
5. Exercise is not your priority right now. You need to heal. If you can get out for a 20 minute walk that's great but if not try again in a few days. It's ok.
6. If you aren't successful with bowel movements perhaps you need a stool softener such as Miralax. Harsh laxatives are perhaps not the best choice right now. Again, your body has had a trauma. Give it time to heal and be gentle with it. liquids and a stool softener can really help .
Be patient and kind to yourself. Rest. One of the best resources that I've found for bariatric surgery information are videos by Dr. Matthew Weiner. Here's a link: http://drmatthewweiner.com/eating-after-bariatric-surgery-2/
Take good care!

You're right about measuring. I measure out 3 tablespoons of the scrambled egg and use a little spoon. I am so careful!! I think eggs are going to be taken off the menu for now as it is the only thing I can think of that my body may be reacting to. If it was a more immediate reaction I'd be more confident in that but this horrible feeling along with the "sliming" and inevitable vomiting happens hours after I've finished my few tablespoons. Oh well, I'm okay with just setting eggs aside for now. No biggie. Thanks for your help on this. It's great to be able to check in with people who've stood in my shoes. Much appreciated.

I'm 15 days post op and managing well with mostly liquids, pudding, yogurt, custard etc. Started very soft, milky scrambled egg a couple days ago and it goes down fine - but only 3 tablespoons or so. Four times in the last 10 days I have experienced a feeling of a lump in my chest, salivating like crazy and after an hour or so of suffering I throw up. Last night and tonight it happened a couple hours after eating when I took a sip of a drink. Since it happened last night I was super careful tonight to be very aware of each spoonful of food, eating slowly and not going one spoon more than what was comfortable and it still happened.

I have wondered about the egg as I've heard it can be difficult for some people but I can have a couple tablespoons earlier in the day with no problem. The evenings seem to be the problem time for me. What do you think? Any ideas or advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

Trudy

Egg is hard to start with. You are only 15 days out, so try the solid stuff early in the day and closer to bed time / night, do a Protein Shake just to keep things easy until you are better healed. Go slow and truly take 1 bite less than you think you should as I went through the exact same thing

I am with you on this. I am also in pre-op diet stage eating what is on the list from my surgeon - sugar free puddings, Jello, Protein drinks etc - and ended up in a mental mess! All those chemicals make me "headachy" and craving carbs like crazy. So yesterday was a write off but today I'm staying away from all fake foods and am making my own Protein shakes with almond milk, ice, unflavoured whey Protein isolate (Bulk supplements from Amazon), a couple strawberries and vanilla. Delicious, healthy, good quality protein and I feel sane today. My surgeon also said eating good protein foods such as eggs and lean meats twice per day is fine. Funny how every surgeon has his/her own views on the pre-op diet. I didn't eat chemical sweeteners before and I don't plan on starting now - lesson learned. Good luck.
Trudy

Hello all. I'm scheduled for June 30 and I'm on day 4 of pre-op diet. Artificial sweeteners are a Migraine trigger for me and I can't stand the taste of stevia. So...I'm having a hard time finding Protein powders and drinks without anything artificial. I love Orgain (completely organic), but my nutritionist was hesitant because they are 255 calories each. I've tried Unjury ( the unflavored may be my only option), nectar, Isopure, Muscle Milk, and Celebrate. Any suggestions?