Elizabeth21

Well, first of all the good news is that you are almost to the point where you are not going to need to drink Protein shakes any more. My doc/NUT specifically advise eating solids mostly once you can. Secondly, ask your doctor for anti-nausea meds if you have to continue to use shakes. I suggest that you focus on weaning yourself off of shakes altogether as soon as your food plan permits. Use a supplemental unflavored Protein powder in food/drinks if necessary. Don't suffer through the shakes if the rest is settling fine. Good luck!

Try adding unflavored powdered Protein to what you are eating and/or drinking. I ordered GENEPRO off of amazon.com and that worked well. A teaspoon of it adds 10 grams of protein. There are other similar products. On days when I am behind, I would add it to some diet lemonade or bouillon broth and enjoyed the very low calorie protein boost. It adds a little cloudiness to the beverage is all. Good luck!

I used the Slim Fast High Protein/Low Carb ready made shakes. Each shake has 20 grams Protein. Post Op I would pour 4 oz at a time and sip on it for the first week. Sometimes in addition to having it refrigerated I poured it over ice. Over the next two weeks I weaned off of shakes altogether. Good luck!

@@esskay77 Have you tried the JIF natural peanut butter with honey? It's not "pure" but it's better content than regular JIF and it tastes good. Maybe that will help you wean off the regular stuff.

How sad and arrogant of this doctor. I suppose Lasik surgery is the easy way out for eyesight so no one should do that either? There is simply no point to disparaging a weight loss tool just because it is not his preference. Maintaining weight loss is a lot like dating...you just have to keep trying until you find the relationship that works.

@@pinklady08619 Don't forget that YOU are the customer!! You deserve to have all the information and explanations you need whether the nutritionist is on vacation or not. As suggested above, you call that surgeon's office and do not hang up until you feel you completely understand your plan. If necessary, ask for a consult appointment so you can go in for an explanation. Be your own advocate! They are supposed to be serving you! Good luck!!

I have eaten around my Mom even before I could have solids. I was ready to simply tell her that my stomach was upset from post surgery meds, but she never asked me anything. When I do eat around her I keep the conversation going and she pays less attention to the food. Of course having dieted several times in my life, telling her I'm on a diet will not even hit her as unusual. Hang in there!

I had this problem with my mother. I told her I was having hernia repair surgery. Once she notices weight loss I will tell her I'm on a high protein/low carb diet and exercising. Don't feel guilty for taking care of yourself. Taking care includes your emotional wellness. If you feel complete honesty will simply stir up conflict, as it would for me, then you absolutely have the right to keep this choice to yourself. Good luck!

I had this problem with my mother. I told her I was having hernia repair surgery. Once she notices weight loss I will tell her I'm on a high protein/low carb diet and exercising. Don't feel guilty for taking care of yourself. Taking care includes your emotional wellness. If you feel complete honesty will simply stir up conflict, as it would for me, then you absolutely have the right to keep this choice to yourself. Good luck!

How frustrating! Don't they know how psyched up one has to be to start this process? Ugh!

50 But I agree that it is more about where you are emotionally with eating. There is no turning back. It has to be about more than just appearance. You have to truly want to eat differently for the rest of your LIFE. I would not have been ready for that choice at your age and personally, I think it would be difficult to eat enough while I was pregnant if I had had the sleeve. (With a normal stomach I lost weight while I was pregnant.) However, you are not me. My wholehearted advice is not "yes" or "no." I think you are doing the right thing gathering information and not rushing into anything. Research lots, search your heart. It's not all or nothing -- if you don't do it now you can do it later. If you decide that you are ready, then commit completely and don't look back once it's done. Good luck!

The other thing I believe is important is to find things that satisfy your actual craving. For example if you are wanting salty, find something salty that works, otherwise you may eat the "substitution" only to end up eating something else in addition just to satisfy that craving.

I keep some ready-to-go good but still good-for-ya Snacks around for a late night treat. Kozy Shack light puddings are very good, have some Protein and are very satisfying (rice pudding, tapioca and chocolate). They come in 4 ounce serving size so it is a no brainer. Another choice are Cocoa Almonds packets from Emerald Nature. They come in 100 calorie packets and are not sugar filled. They help with that chocolate craving while getting some protein and Fiber. They also make a walnut and almond packet variety. These are crunchy and appetite satisfying as well. On low intake days, I might have both a nut packet and a pudding. Bottom line suggestion: find snacks that will work for you. Even if it means keeping some sugar free Jello ready for a quick go to -- even if you haven't waited 30 minutes since your last drink! Good luck!

Dehydration can make you dizzy. Try to get more Water and avoid dehydrating drinks like coffee and tea until you feel better. Good luck!

Make sure you are drinking high Protein low carb shakes and that you are taking in enough. Make sure that you are drinking enough Water too.

You need to consider the demands of your job. Many here have bounced back quickly. However, your age and your overall health now will make a difference. You will be tired. There's a lot of healing going to be happening and a lot of adjustments for your body. I would say a lot of people felt ready to work in about two weeks and that four weeks was enough for most everybody. Nonetheless, although most of the time everything goes smoothly, I happened to end up with a serious complication. Fortunately my work was flexible enough for me to be able to adjust my schedule to give me some more time. So, to be on the safe side, regardless of what you decide, you might want to consider a contingency plan in case you need an extra week or two to be job ready. Good luck!!

Okay, can't help but to give the jaded perspective. The psych eval is just to CYA of the surgeon and is probably required for his malpractice insurance. Mine was a complete joke. Basically you would really have to come in waving a huge mental red flag to not pass IMHO. Don't worry.

I have also found that adding unflavored Protein powder to drinks and/or food can help add protein grams to the day. Good luck.

Remember to keep focus while you are eating so that you note how your stomach is feeling. Even after you get an idea how much you can usually eat at a sitting, sometimes the stomach signals will still vary and you actually will need a little less. I have learned that it is far better to eat a little less, remembering that I can always eat more later, than to get to that uncomfortable place of having had too much. Good luck!

@@KansasSapien, the pills should be just as effective as the liquid. If you are having uncomfortable pain despite the meds, call your doctor. You may be experiencing a complication. I ended up with a lacerated spleen and knowing what was wrong enabled me to avoid doing things that would make it worse. Also got different pain meds to help. Good luck.

I agree with @@stephh above. And, it will not be long before participating in the Eucharist fully will be fine. (A few weeks.) However, @@donnag53, you mentioned that you are a Eucharistic Minister. You may need to alert your Eucharistic Ministry organizer that you will not be able to consume any leftover Blood or Christ or Eucharist until you are further in your recovery so that another Minister can aid you. Good luck.

I found taking a small very cold sip of Water and letting it flood my tongue before swallowing helped. Also, sometimes I would take a mouthful drink, but hold it in my mouth for a moment while I would swallow it in three parts. After several weeks you will be able to take larger sips. Hang in there. Good luck.

Here is advice I give in all sorts of situations: Don't let perfection get in the way of progress!! Breathe. Focus on the Protein intake and getting enough fluids. Avoid high sugar. You'll feel better and do fine. Good luck!

@@eagersleever15 Do not be discouraged about feeling hunger. It sounds like you are getting very few calories in at all. I have found that I will still feel hunger when my calorie count is very low. Even so, it is nothing like I experienced before surgery and most importantly it takes so much less food to feel full and satisfied. Keep sipping the shakes. You will get there. Good luck!

I found the liquid at Walgreens. I'm betting you will too. If not, get the pill form, crush it and take with a spoon full of something to mask the flavor -- bouillon will work. Good luck!