moose18201

The stage you are currently in is hard! Most of us have all felt those same feelings. I promise you though it will all be a distant memory once you've had the surgery and your through with the liquid phase and your about 3 months out. Life goes back to a new normal and you will be so happy you took this journey.

Don't compare your idea of pureed food before surgery to what your experience will be after surgery. After 2 weeks of liquids & Protein Shakes, soft scrambled egg and watery mashed potatoes never tasted so good!!

Great information. Also make sure you are using a high quality source of Protein.
If you are taking 2 hours to consume the 40 grams then you are still likely using most of the Protein. Protein slows the digestive process, so it stays in your intestine longer.

So I've noticed there's been a few comments about how we can only absorb 20 grams of Protein at a time and the rest is just wasted. I never really looked into that until now. A quick google search revealed we actually absorb even less than that....
"Protein Absorption Rate in Humans
July 6, 2007
According to this study, A Review of Issues of Dietary Protein Intake in Humans,written by Shane Bilsborough and Neil Mann, it states…
Absorption rates of amino acids from the gut can vary from 1.4 g/h for raw egg white to 8 to 10 g/h for whey protein isolate. Slowly absorbed amino acids suchas casein (~ 6 g/h) and repeated small doses of whey protein (2.9 g per 20 min, totaling ~ 7 g/h) promote leucine balance, a marker of protein balance, superior tothat of a single dose of 30 g of whey protein or free amino acids which are both rapidly absorbed (8 to 10 g/h), and enhance amino acid oxidation.
Quite interesting. It drives home the point that eating smaller portioned meals of less than 15-10 grams of protein is optimal. It also tells us that ingesting 40 grams of protein whey for post-workout drink is not only a waste of money as it gets excreted or is converted into carbs and then stored as body fat, among other things."
...there's a bunch more papers and articles that pretty much repeat these same stats.
So up until now I thought I was doing pretty good on my protein goals because I always have 1 mega Protein shake (40g protein 24-32oz fluid) every morning, usually taking 1-2 hours to drink it. According to the articles, I MIGHT be utilizing 1/2 or less of that protein. So I am going to split my shake in two and drink half in the morning and the other 1/2 later in the afternoon. Guess I'll just alternate taking drinks of Water to make the shake last at least an hour and a half. I'm not too worried about my food protein intake since my meals/snacks are so small anyways and are probably under the 10g mark.
Anyways, I thought this was a very valuable tidbit and wanted to share.

My doctor says its because of pain meds. We are told to wait 1 week.

Why cant you drive after bariatric surgery and how long should you wait?

Hi I asked my gp and surgeon before my surgery about taking medication/ anti depressants. I take cymbalta and was told that the tallest would have no side effect whatsoever, however the surgery can have an effect on the medication. This is because the tablets are time released and we have smaller stomachs now, so me digest a lot quicker, we may not be getting full effect from them. I have had to get blood tests to check
Paul

Hi this is normal because you are taking in only fluids not solids it will return my return after 5 days if surgery by the wY welcome to the losers bench.

Yes there are rude and thoughtless people in this world but this is YOUR journey and you have to do it on your terms ! I'm sorry this happened to you but keep on keeping on. There will always be those that want to express CONCERN for you and don't think or know how tough this process is! Keep a smile on your face and politely tell them to BUTT OUT!

June 10th, was my surgery, did anyone experience red stuff in their stool the first time you were able to go? And sometimes with the gas? Today was my first time using it and passing gas, it looked like blood but I don't know could also be that barium stuff.

For Breakfast I blend cream of wheat, pineapple with natural juices and soy milk. You can have that cold or hot. I also live smoothies with low fat yogurt in morning. For lunch I had tuna, chicken broth to add moisture and salsa. I heated that up and it was great! For dinner I had turkey chili with cheese melted in. Make sure you pick thinjs with lots of Protein.The key is blend everything and make sure it's wet and soupy. I only can tolerate 2-3 oz so be prepared to eat off it for a few days.

I miss sausage. One bite made me barf. I loved my encased meats. LOL.
But I'll tell you what I don't miss - diabetes. My blood sugar has been normal every day since my sleeve. I don't miss feeling so full from over eating that I'm miserable.

I do miss diet soda and I do have like a few sips here and there when I am out with my family but I don't have much cause it hurts. I dont deprived myself from anything but I do control my intake. One thing for sure my appetite and cravings have diminished so for now I just stick to what I can tolerate like eggs, cheese, soy milk, ground meats, fish, Peanut Butter, Protein Shakes, yogurt and drink lots and lots of Water. I do have ice cream like weight watchers stuff once in a while or had a small scoop of coffee ice cream from my moms bowl. For me this surgery is a tool to lose weight, get rid of old habits, establish new good habits...that's the idea.

I gave up soda and don't regret my decision living for my children is more important than any soda. I can't wait for my surgery at all

For the first time in two decades I am not on a diet or about to go on a diet. I was very restrictive and feel so liberated now. I am just living. I don't miss anything because I am not missing out on anything. Gone are the days of disallowing whole food groups or planning out diet menus. I eat when I'm hungry and -- here's the key -- I don't eat when I'm not hungry. It's working!

Not a thing!!! Nothing and I do mean NOTHING is worth the miserable hell I lived in before getting this wonderful tool!! I was a soda drinking fool, I would have 6-8 cans of soda a day and quit cold turkey because I reached the point mentally that enough was enough and I was done and I can honestly say I don't miss it one bit! I've gained my life back and that's worth giving up whatever is necessary.

Surgery yesterday, I just made it home. Overall I'm feeling alright. A bit sore but better than expected! Not sure if things will get much worse when the morphine wears off but I will keep u posted! I just wanted to say that I really love this site and all the wonderful support you encounter with people going through similar experiences. My new journey has begun and I am so grateful!!!!

My hunger was back full force on day 5. Things will get better once you are on pureed, and especially when you start solids. Also, I hadf no feeling of fullness til 5 weeks out. On the 6th week I suddenly got incredible restriction. Its amazing!

Yes, sit tight, it will be all good. First weeks are the hardest. Congrats on your weight loss! oh and yes, I had RNY. Loads of us feels the hunger, and I do not talk about head hunger, but it is actual painful hunger. If you feel hunger drink first. Then wait half an hour and if you are still hungry then eat. (I don't know when will you start pureed stage, I was lucky and my doctor progressed me fast, on day 5 I was on pureed, day 10 solids, and thank god for that!)

I am just joining but I had a gastric bypass in 2008. I weighed 342 on the day of my surgery and now weigh 198. I know that is success but I would like to weigh 145. I have a large amount of loose skin everywhere and it is ugly. I am severely disabled and my exercise regime is very limited. I have trigeminal neuralgia, arthritis in all joints except elbows and several auto-immune diseases. I am bound to a wheelchair and live in constant pain for which I am heavily medicated. Don't get me wrong ! I don't ever feel sorry for myself. I have a great family and the best husband in the world. I am so full of love for them I could explode.
I developed a large blood clot in my knee right after the surgery so I deal with that daily and esophageal motility disorder that is making swallowing hard. Surgery will be soon. I know this is not uncommon and I have the best doctors possible. The problem I have had is holding down lean Protein and Constipation from my medications. I use meds for it but Fiber bars really help and softer foods help the swallowing problem. I can't do Water aerobics for several reasons so exercise is limited. I just want to lose enough to feel better about myself. I'm probably asking for too much but it would be so nice. I can only drink 1 liter of fluids a day because the surgery left me susceptible to hyponatremia. The list just goes on.
I really am a very happy women and the 57 years of my life are getting better everyday. Even if I'm crying in pain I can look at my husband and thank God for my life. Kind of a wacko I guess. I'm happy to have found this group and have the anonymity to share my story and read the stories of the others. Thank you if you've listened to me ramble on. I hope you are having great success and feeling wonderful. Have a great day!

"All my doctors say everything is great with me!"
They can't argue with a doctor, because they don't have a medical degree. My friends and family are still all upset about how many calories I eat. They just can't wrap it around their heads that I have a much smaller stomach and I don't absorb as many calories. They don't understand because they haven't been through it themselves. I hope everyone will just let you be.

Well if i end up better then i was in my teen yrs my wife better run fast she will be one tired gal my excuse they told me to get a lot of exercise lol

Your skin will adjust somewhat after surgery. This will happen in the first year. Beyond that, plastic surgery is the primary option. I am 65 years old and for the most part this problem did not bother me. The exception was in my face. It became so wrinkled that it began to look like crinkled paper. Overnight, I began to look like I was 100 years old. My wife said to use Bio-Oil (available in CVS) on my face and this corrected that problem.

Really there's no a lot you can do....time the underlying muscle (this won't shrink the skin), keep the skin moisturizers....the vast majority of it is going to depend on genetics, age, how long you've been obese, where you carry your weight, etc....but choose, healthy and saggy or unhealthy and not saggy?

I eat Gas-X chewables as if my life depends on it