leebick

With any luck, I'll be on to purees this weekend. How, exactly, do I make purees? I can't tolerate the idea of baby food meats- couldn't even feed them to my daughter when she was a baby. They made me gag just to heat them up! What kinds of things do you puree? Do you just throw food in the blender, or do you use some kind of liquid with it (stock?). I hear people talk about refried beans with cheese and sour cream; is that at the puree stage or the soft food stage. Same with chili- can you puree it, or is that also a soft food? I know I can have scrambled eggs and cottage cheese, but do those have to go through the blender also? Any help is greatly appreciated!

I had a similar problem. Talk to your doctor, but also try drinking PowerAde Zero to help with electrolyte replacement.

I, unfortunately, enjoy the lettuce the most. Sometimes, all I'd have would be lettuce (mix of iceberg and romaine) and cheese, with Cesar dressing. I'll manage...

That's true! As far as a taco, at three weeks, I would have been allowed refried beans, sour cream, and a pinch of cheese'. I would have been able to get down about 2 tblspns max. I wasn't allowed veggies until week 6 and that did NOT include lettuce. No nutritional value and takes up valuable real estate. Yeah, I'm kinda mourning the loss of the "Big Salad." I love a BIG salad, chock full of lettuce, tomatoes, green peppers, cucumbers, onion, broccoli, avocado, chunks of grilled chicken, with blue cheese dressing (or italian dressing and put bleu cheese crumbles or shredded cheddar in the salad). Even if I could make it in mini-portions (the Baby Salad) it still would be taking up valuable space for comparatively minimal nutrition. Sigh. Who knew I'd miss salad... but I do love protein! (just hope to be able to eat meat easily within the next few months.)

No way that'd fly with my Nut/surgeon. At 3 weeks lettuce, tomato, and jalapeños are not allowed, and the turkey needs to be pureed, not just ground. I wish... I am hoping for refried beans, but they might think they are too gassy. Sigh.

They are on MY SURGEON'S approved list, but only 4oz at a time because they are higher in calories.

@@heidikat72, @@KristenLe Thank you both so much- this is exactly the kind of info I was hoping to find. I already have the small chopper, so I'm all set there. So I don't have to puree/blend cheese into things or egg salad, just meats? I adore buffalo chicken dip and have always said the best way to eat it is from a spoon, so YAHOO!! I can have certain veggies, so I think I'll overcook them, add chicken stock, and then puree.

Why the rush on the Protein? Are you not aware of how critical the first 2 weeks are regarding leakage? ALL the protein we are discussing here is in the form of liquids. Meeting protein requirements in the first two weeks post-op is secondary only to meeting your Fluid requirements. Your body cannot heal properly, and will "steal" protein from your existing muscle mass, if you don't get the protein in.

I use Syntrax Nectars. They are whey protein isolate, so 23g protein per scoop, no fat, no carbs. I order them through lucky vitamin.com, but if you go to their website (si03.com) and hover your mouse over the "Weekly Specials"in the upper right quadrant of the home page, it'll tell you how to order a sampler pack. One serving of each of the 15 flavors they make, $16.99 shipping included.

Staples? Did you have an open procedure, or laparoscopic? I had lap-robotic and all I have is 5 small incisions, held together with steri-strips. So far, so good; 12 days post-op and the tape has fallen off two of the incisions, and they look find.

I was recently at an event that turned into a drinking party (wake for a friend). I was 10 days post-op and knew I couldn't drink. I had a cranberry juice. It was 1/3 cranberry juice, 2/3 Water, served over ice in a pint glass. Nobody ever noticed that I didn't have alcohol in my "vodka-cranberry." I just made sure that if someone bought me a drink, I surreptitiously dumped it and got another one of my "specials." My husband had suggested I do just water with a lime in it, so it'd look like a gin and tonic. You can do this! Are you on mushy foods yet, because if you are, you might find something at the party that you could eat (like the filling of a deviled egg or something). Honestly, if it gets really awkward, you could either take tiny portions of things and just push them around the plate like you are eating or use any of the "outs" Bufflehead suggested. You've got this!

Stop drinking the pre-made stuff and try using a whey Protein isolate powder in Water. I am 12 days post-op and have started having problems swallowing the milk-based stuff. Fortunately the powders I have can also be made with water, so that's what I've been doing. It's easier to swallow. Also try Powerade zero, sugar-free popsicles, and diluted juice (1 part juice, 2 parts water). If you have an unflavored Protein Powder, try adding it to the juice and the PowerAde so you get some protein in addition to the Fluid. You could also make some broth from scratch. It's really easy and tastes SO MUCH BETTER than the canned stuff. I bought a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store and picked the meat from the bones (my husband is loving the meat). I put the bones in a pot with 2 quarts of chicken broth/stock (cheap grocery store brand), a cut up onion, about 5 carrots cut into chunks, about 5 celery stalks cut into chunks, some seasoned salt and some garlic cloves. I cover this and let it simmer for about 2 hours, then strain out all the solids, leave just the broth. I chill the broth and remove the fat layer from the top. You can make beef broth the same way, but substitute beef bones (I roast them in the over at 350 for about an hour) and beef broth. It tastes terrific, just like the au jus from prime rib!

Ten days post-op I went to a memorial gathering, which quickly turned into an Irish wake- lots of drinking, remembering, singing, crying, comforting each other. I had a glass of cranberry juice- it was 1/3 juice and 2/3 water with ice in a 16oz glass. Nobody noticed I wasn't drinking alcohol, and nobody tried to press drinks on me (which I was afraid would happen if I just had a bottle of water). It was easy to stick to my plan that way.

Week 2 post-op is more difficult than week 1! I am walking about a mile a day, but struggling to get fluids in. It was much easier than the first week, when it really didn't feel like I had a limit to my sleeve (I was actually worrying about this). Now after a few sips, I can feel pressure in my lower chest which I think is my signal for "full." I have noticed with broth if I take a sip or 2 more after first getting the feeling, it gets rather uncomfortable. It also makes me burp and sometimes hiccup. I have not felt any indigestion or acid-y feeling with this... just gee, I think I should stop putting stuff in me! However, this makes it difficult to drink enough. I keep on sipping as frequently as I can, but it's much harder this week than last. I talked with my nut and she said don't sweat the Protein, really concentrate on the Fluid. I'm pretty sure I'm dehydrated but so far haven't had to go to the ER. I see my surgeon on Friday. I have also taken one more week off from work. I figure, I need to get this under control before I go back to a classroom of kids where my time is not my own! A colleague who had bypass last year said it's almost impossible to drink enough while teaching all day, and she actually became dehydrated after going back to work, so I'm not going to push it. I have plenty of sick time! Bright side? I am down 18lbs since coming home from the hospital (12 days ago), and the pants that i haven't been able to wear since the summer of 2010 now zip and I can sit comfortably in them!

Sorry about the carbonara- it's why I don't order alfredo anymore when we go to Olive Garden, and why Chinese food has become a "take out only" experience! Some form of dumping syndrome, I'm sure, and I hope that it won't follow me with my sleeve (one of the big reasons I chose sleeve instead of bypass!).

I just re-read this, too late to edit, so let me clarify: I DID NOT order appetizers and desserts with my meals during my food farewells. That was an example of what I'd consider "going overboard!" In fact, we rarely ever order apps and desserts in addition to Entrees. But I will admit to accompanying the pizza and wings meals with beer, and there might have been a margarita with the Mexican food!

I'm lucky that my husband and daughter are 100% supportive of my surgery. My daughter came to stay while I was in the hospital, and when she was here she made 2 weeks worth of dinners for my husband, so I won't have to cook or be in the kitchen while I am on liquids. They are my rocks! I had a "goodbye food" week. I ate my favorite meals at my favorite restaurants, but I didn't go overboard, ordering appetizers and Desserts in addition to my meals. I went to 50 cent buffalo wing night at the local pub, and we had a beer and pizza night (wood fired- yum!) another night. I had Mexican food one night and Chinese another. We went to Olive Garden, (where I didn't order Fettuccini alfredo), and to a local restaurant where I had prime rib and baked potato. I ate all my favorite foods, not because I won't ever be able to et them again, but because it's going to be a looooooong time before these things are allowed in my diet, and because I won't be eating what I like in the quantities I used to. Actually, I think I had more issue with knowing I'll be limited in quantity that in worrying about "never" eating something again. I LIKED being full. I liked eating 10 chicken wings, half a small pizza, a big cut of prime rib with a baked potato (only butter, no sour cream, not loaded). I know that's how I got so overweight, and I am ready to make the change, but while I know I'll be able to have the foods I liked, I'll never eat them in quantity again (thank goodness!)- so I was happy to make that little food pilgrimage, sort of like closing the door on my old habits and opening the door to new ones!

My surgeon doesn't use drains, at least for straight gastric sleeve surgery. I am not sure what she does for people who are having other things done at the same time, like hernia repairs. You should call and ask (that's what I did!).

I tried the Quest protein bars before surgery and I'm not a fan. Besides, 240 calories seems like a lot of calories for an evening snack, even if there is a fair amount of protein in there.

This is going to sound stupid, I know... but how do I know if I am too dehydrated, like dehydrated enough to call the doctor? I am 10 days post-op and just feel like I cannot drink enough. I'm sipping all the time, it seems, but among other things I still have a terribly dry mouth- dry enough to make it hard to carry on a conversation without sipping before speaking. What symptoms of dehydration would necessitate a call to the doctor?

No, it stays pinched. I just found that test last night and checked mine, then compared with my husband's. I'm dehydrated, I bet. I am working on the fluids.. but I really thought I was getting enough in. Apparently not. I've had 28oz this morning, between my Breakfast shake and Water, and it's almost time for my lunch shake. After lunch, I'll swap onto Powerade Zero for awhile, for the electrolytes, as I've been having issues with my leg muscles "fluttering." I'm working on it...

I'm so doing this! Me, too! Well, not for awhile, but my husband will LOVE it!

Hmmm... I didn't think about that. On first pass I'd think that, as bypass patients are missing the beginning of their small intestine, they'd absorb less alcohol, as the majority of absorption happens in the upper small intestine. However, I'll need to read and look more (Yes, I am a nerd, and formerly a scientist, so I like this stuff! It's keeping me busy while I sip and recuperate from sleeve surgery on 9/15!)

Uh, I eat full fat cheese, mayo, sour cream etc and I have lost all my excess weight and have been maintaining for a year. I eat very Atkins like. Lots O' meat, green veggies, very low carb, and full fat everything. Even real butter. I find this way of eating keeps me satisfied in between meals. I also try to mostly eat real food. No fake, processed, or pre packaged stuff. I think that's the key, also. That's actually my goal, although I hope that for "special occasions" (Thanksgiving comes to mind), I can sneak in the occasional spoonful of mashed potatoes or baked squash!

I found this on the Michigan State Appellate Defender Office's website. Not necessarily a "scientific" site, but this is a concise explanation of what I've been reading: Gastric bypass surgery results in alcohol moving much more quickly from the stomach into the small intestine. Because 80% of beverage alcohol is absorbed in the small intestine, this surgery results in a much higher peak BAC than with the equivalent amount of alcohol consumed before the surgery. Additionally, there is far less gastric alcohol dehydrogenase available for the approximately 20% of initial metabolism of alcohol which normally occurs in the stomach. Due to these anatomical and physiological changes, drinking after gastric bypass surgery is similar to drinking on an empty stomach, but creates an even higher peak BAC because there is almost no opportunity for the alcohol to begin to break down before entering the bloodstream. An even better comparison would be to look at the differences in oral consumption verses intravenous consumption. Because a gastric bypass patient has so little stomach left after surgery, alcohol enters the bloodstream almost as if it was injected by a needle. This is borne out by the scientific research. According to one study, alcohol metabolism was significantly different between the bypass patients and the control group who had no stomach surgery. The bypass patients had a greater peak alcohol level, and it also took them longer to reach zero or no alcohol. The difference in peak BAC is significant. The bypass patients were at .08 or unlawful when the control group only had a BAC of just .05.2 This is a nearly 40% difference!