Daisee68

Between week 3 and 4 was probably my worst time. I don't know if it's because we become more active and therefore more tired or it's just a magical week 3 thing. I was so unbearably nauseated and talked to my surgeon and she said "it might just be a week 3 thing" which leads me to believe it is relatively common. I think there are quilted a few posts on here about the same time. Glad your your Dr isn't concerned. Just keep an eye on it and get some extra rest and keep drinking and eating what you can. It should pass soon hopefully.

I just had one in a shake at 9 weeks out. And only 1 ounce of it (about 1/3rd of the banana) I would say it is way too soon for you to be having that. The muscle cramps are likely from dehydration not lack of potasium. How much fluids are you drinking?

Yep definitely too big of bites and too fast. I am 10 weeks out and did it just last night. You could also try a baby spoon.

@@linzlou2000 well said and completely agree.

Call the dr. Sometimes they can give you a prescription that will help. Otherwise, I had success (sometimes) with a suggestion from another poster which was dose of Milk of Magnesia at 7 p.m. followed by 2 Colace at 10 p.m. Sorry to tell you this but at 10 weeks out, it is still an issue for me. I am trying Miralax now. This has been the worst part for me honestly.

​Nope. Not once. 1 week of only liquids. Dr. required it and figured she knew better than me. Besides you have to start following rules eventually. Might as well be one that might prevent surgery if you don't.

@@gbveteran4d - are you 6 weeks out or 6 months out? I am 10 weeks out and no way I can eat that stuff nor would my dr want me to.... Please be cautious with advice like that for those of us who cannot tolerate such things - especially bread, rice, Pasta, pizza, etc....

A few other suggestions - 1) I add in a tablespoon of protein powder in to my yogurt to bump up the protein (and thus the car to protein ratio is different); 2) eat just half the container in 1 day - again cutting down the carbs. 3) I have used Fage plain yogurt with additions as suggested above like Torani Sugar Free flavored syrups and/or teaspoon or so of sugar free pudding mix (the powder) and/or jello powder and/or protein powder. This way you can make your own flavors. Having said all that my favorite is Danton Light and Fit Greek either Strawberry Cheesecake or Key Lime.

​I have the same issue. I really hope this isn't the rest of my life. It is SO miserable. I bought some Miralax today but I hope I don't have to take that forever. I am only 2 months out and haven't added much veggies / fiber so maybe once I add that it will get better. I take BariActiv multi-vitamin (not the same as Bariatric Advantage) and it is without Iron. I do take an iron supplement and generally only take it every other day. I haven't had my first blood work yet, so hoping I will be one of those that doesn't need the iron (especially since I had a hysterectomy a couple of years ago so a little less risk for anemia).

​The only way I could do it this early was to use a 1 ounce medicine cup and set a timer for every 5 minutes and sip 1/3rd to 1/2 of the medicine cup every 5 minutes. I would do this for an hour or so at a time just to get some liquids in. I even did this with broth. I would put my broth in an insulated cup with a lid (like a travel cup for coffee) and then portion it out in the medicine cup. Remember that broth and popsicles do count towards your Fluid intake. Also, maybe try hot tea or iced tea? I got some decaf green tea flavors from Republic of Teas and poured them over ice, and that really helped me.

Can you not have pureed foods yet? Fat free refried Beans with some spices in it and cheese melted on top was really satisfing. Also the Ricotta Bake from theworldaccordingtoeggface.com website is really good and made me feel human again. I also liked hummus and low fat pimento cheese (a southern thing you may not have heard of if you aren't from the south). Oh also Swanson makes some broths that are really good - Mexican Tortilla Soup and Thai Ginger. If you are still on liquids, those might help. (I found them at Walmart though I am sure some other places carry them.) Hope that helps! Hang in there!

I had a long answer typed and then I somehow deleted it. Dang it! I was out 2 1/2 weeks and have a desk job but really wish I had taken longer. Remember this is not about whether you can physically do the job but more about getting used your new lifestyle. My first week back was brutal and I ended up having to take off mid-week and try again. Week 3 and 4 were just really tough for me. They may not be forever (though it seems Week 3 seems to be a pretty consistently tough week). If I could do it over, i would take 4 weeks. Now I was working from home within a few days of surgery but even then I wish I had taken that first week completely off.

I sort of answered this a little in your other post, but I think we should have NUT visits included - maybe 6 months / 1 per month post-op just to hold us accountable. I really like my surgeon (I mean I couldn't have picked a better one for me), but even with that, I had to ask about if I should be visiting with NUT and how often post-op. I know it is important to her (and I am visiting with a 3rd party NUT once a month), but it just doesn't seem to be stressed like it should. Sounds like @@hockeyfan7 had a very good program and I know in discussing with @@Djmohr, that she had a pretty amazing team. It would be interesting to compare long term results from these types of comprehensive programs with some of the other surgeons who don't really have sufficient follow up care. I also think we should be required to have a couple of therapist appts pre and post-op. Not just the psych clearance but actual check-ins. My therapist has been an amazing resource and knows me WAY better than anyone else in my program. I have met my surgeon maybe 4 times, my NUT maybe 5 times but my therapist easily 20 times since I started. Maybe I am just rambling because mine was covered by insurance and I didn't really have an all-inclusive deal, but in my opinion, required NUT visits and required Therapist visits (even if both are just on the phone or Skype), I think it would go a long way towards long term success. Just my 2 cents...

I don't know nearly enough. I mean I know the basics but what I think has never sunk in is how the actual nutrition can affect my body and how to put together a healthy meal especially post-op and why those choices make sense. I personally want something more than just a "plan" but some sort "whys" behind the "whats" (if that makes sense). I have a friend who had sleeve about 4 months before my RNY and she is at a complete loss it seems and the surgeon's office is in no way offering the kind of support needed. I think we should have to agree to attend NUT visits for say 6 months (once per month) after surgery to make sure someone is seeing our food logs and holding us accountable.

LOL! That is a cool NSV if you ask me!

Not sure how far out you are so I'm not sure if these will work. Edamame? Peanut Butter? Can you eat maybe a goat's cheese or a different kind of cheese other than cow's milk (not sure if lactose if for all animal milk). Beans? I think there are some soy and some veggie Protein powders. How about trying those? eggs or maybe egg powder mixed into a Protein shake if you cannot stomach eggs? (not sure how that works, but I think I read it somewhere).

Congrats! I know that is a wonderful feeling!

I have always enjoyed massage but would lay there thinking they must be grossed out and couldn't relax. Plus I couldn't fit my arms on the table next to my giant thighs! I can't wait to enjoy one but now I am worried about the lose skin. Hmmm. Suppose it depends on how desperate I get. I have a knot in my neck that has been there 2 weeks, so I am getting pretty desperate....

​You are very welcome. If you were to go back and read some of my posts from a month ago, you would see I was just about where you were - crying and hating life. Just this last week I realized how much better I feel. I have read most don't feel more normal until about 3 months out so I have a little yet to go so I am crossing my fingers, I will be feeling even better in a few more weeks! I should say, I had bypass not sleeve, but a lot of the same issues apply (and I hate to see posts with no responses especially ones like yours so I had to answer! Glad it helped a little!)​

I really struggled at lot between week 3 and 4. (Honestly I am now 9 weeks out and just now feeling better). I felt very hopeless during this time too but I promise you it gets better. You just have to hang in there and find stuff you can tolerate. I ate a lot of refried Beans with cheese melted on top (I put some spices in too like garlic salt, cumin and cilantro). I like and tolerated hummus quite well. sugar free fat free chocolate pudding with some Protein powder mixed in. Greek yogurt (I like the Dannon Light & Fit Greek strawberry Cheesecake). Ricotta Bake from theworldaccordingtoeggface.com website was REALLY good and even though I could only eat a small amount, it made me feel more human. For protein powders, I have been using Precision Engineering Whey Protein Isolate - both Chocolate and vanilla - and I like both of them a lot. I sometimes mix in PB2 and/or some of the Torani Sugar Free flavored syrups (I especially like Salted Caramel mixed with vanilla.) For unflavored, I use Doc Hale Nutrition Whey-licious (available online). You are able to mix it with as little as 3 oz of Fluid, so I mix it with Propel Fitness berry Water and just get it done. On the Vitamins, you might try calling your dr or NUT and see which ones they suggest. I use BariActiv (not the same as Bariatric Advantage) and tolerate them quite well. It is EXTREMELY important that you get vitamins in, so you have to find something you can tolerate. I have heard 2 Centrum Silver chewables or 2 Flinstone vitamins even. Do a search for vitamins on here and see if one comes up that you could try. PROMISE it gets better!!

​I was told the same. I think gum can also stir up gastric juices - same reason you aren't supposed to chew gum before a surgery. Avoid it.

Thanks guys. I think my biggest issue is figuring out how to fit those in with Protein (and especially with something that I can take to work) when I am only able to eat about 1/4 cup of food total. A lot of the stuff sounds good (ok not brocoli or green Beans frankly) but maybe I can figure out how to cook something for dinner and then take a tiny portion of it to work to reheat. There is no one else here to cook for so when I cook, A LOT of food goes to waste. I made one of those tilapia filets last week and was only able to eat 1/2 ounce and it just didn't sound good to me the rest of the week so I had to throw it out today. I'll figure it out eventually. Trial and error still I guess... As always, appreciate all the advice! ​

@@Djmohr - Hmmm Ok thanks. Will give the carrots and some of the other stuff a try. I was surprised I like the squash so might as well try something new!

Not likely. What does your food plan say. If it isn't on there, don't eat it. Sorry. I know it's tough but you just have to get through it. Real food is coming soon!

On another post, someone mentioned Poshmark.com. it is pretty cool - like eBay but only clothes and you can search by brand. I have bought some smaller stuff and I am going to try to sell some of my older stuff and see how it goes.