OzRoo

I top up my Water with flat diet sprite. I developed an almost diabolical sugar cravings 2 years ago, as it turned out, my Thyroid was to blame. I craved anything sweet, mostly chocolate, ice cream, cheese cakes. I actually lost these cravings post op. First 10 days I had my chocolate Optifast, now 5 weeks post op, I don't even think about it. I had a couple of teaspoons of ice cream once, and don't need it anymore. I now love my jelly with custard for desert, like 2 hrs after my "dinner". And I can't finish it .... @@biglady904, I don't know if you are Pre-op right now, or in a later stage. All I know is that the hormone Ghrelin is massively reduced with Gastric Sleeve op. This hormone is responsible for hunger. My unhealthy cravings are gone post op. Good luck and best wishes.

@@FocusOnMeNow I can so relate to your experience! That Barium Meal in the hospital ..... definitely atomic! Tiny marbles much later on, yes! Nothing for a long time, especially on the liquid stage. I was advised to add Benefibre to my shakes and juices. Did not help. Finally, someone suggested Osmolax to me (very gentle, powder, mainly for children), this worked almost too well, so I don't take it often. Purees and Soft food stages are finally waking my bowels up .... still very small amounts, but at least soft! What are "FUPAs" ?

I was Sleeved 8th March 2016. Clear liquids first 2 days in hospital, then full liquids in increasing amounts for 14 days. Found out 10-14 days post op, that very acidic juices such as tomato and V8 gave me nasty Acid Reflux. Even on my PPI. Had to give that up, even though I loved tomato juice. My program changes every 2 weeks. Towards the end of the liquid phase, I was really getting bored with it, but persevered. Purees were heaven for a while, then had enough of "baby food" also, but persevered. On Soft food now for 2 weeks. Really learning to eat very slowly, as I get reflux if I eat too fast. I was always a slow eater, but now I am experiencing hunger pangs, hence need to be mindful of eating my mushies slowly. Wishing everyone a great Recovery

I was sent home with Zofran wafers. They helped!

Gosh, some people love to judge, offer unwanted advice, trombone their own opinions ..... To hell with them. Opinions are Not facts, and I usually stay clear from super judgemental people as they really annoy me. "Thank you", "Thanks for sharing", "I do not wish to discuss it", even "so you think you are God?" are some of my answers. I mainly copped few judgements (not from friends or family) when I had a rapid weight gain due to my thyroid disease. Such as " OMG, you need to get back to your size, need to go to Gym, need to diet" etc .... Consequently, I do not see these people anymore. Now, I look forward to get back to health and slimmer me. Frankly, this is my business, and if anyone would keep on annoying me, I'd quickly nip it in the bud. "What you think of me is None of My business", is a title of a book. I've even said it to some people, and watched their brains doing cartwheels, trying to process it .....

About 80g or so. I am in 5th week post op. My Proteins had to increase due to my hunger. My NUT (Dietician in Australia) advised me to get extra proteins in powder form. This is helping my hunger pangs and energy levels. Of course with more proteins than other food stuff, more Water is needed to flush it out through the kidneys. I also need to take extra fibre, in powder form as well, at this stage. I am now on Soft Food phase.

@@brookriver2014 I was taking capsules on my last day in the hospital, however, they were painkillers. Supplement wise, been taking vit B12 spray, and BN Multi Chewable soon after coming home from the Sleeve op. I started my vit D3 small capsules in week 3, larger Calcium/Magnesium at the same time. I can obviously only speak for myself. I haven't had any issues. Also, I was advised re Omega 3s, Krill oil, vit E, and anything that thins out the blood, to hold off until after 30 days. I was however on nightly self injections of an anti-coagulant ..... for at least 5-7 days post op .... I would ask my Surgeon, Dietician, and also test it slowly what agrees/doesn't agree with me. I also have to take my Thyroid med, it is a tablet, but it is very small. I am on so many supplements for my thyroid disease, as well as the Sleeve supplements. Good luck with your recovery

@@breezy25 Only on my last day in the hospital, I had bad runs .... Had my Leak Test day before, barium meal can cause diarrhoea ..... Then nothing for 10 days. My NUT put me on Benefibre. Didn't work for me. Finally I was advised to try Osmolax (very gentle powder, used for children, and post surgery). This finally worked for me. The combo of Benefibre plus Osmolax. Now, I don't take Osmolax too often. With more textured diet, my bowels are waking up. First 2 weeks post op are fluids only, (if on a strict regime of change/progression to another stage every 2 weeks) With the fluids, there is not much there for the bowels to work. Passing farty gas is good, this means there is no blockage. Good Luck

@@ssflbelle Yay, great news re more weight loss, and that you got over this stall hump! Good luck with losing more, and getting your other surgery done. The waiting can be frustrating. I had to put off my WLS for 8 months due to my thyroid issues .... Fingers crossed for you.

@@Lacey09 Great to hear! I makes sense what you said re swelling, food getting through faster .... Great that your sugar cravings are gone! Like my chocs! Yes, the surgery removes the portion of the stomach that produces a hormone Ghrelin. This hormone can make us feel hungry, so we won’t want to eat as much later down the track I'm still waiting for the normal food progression, heavier texture, etc Softies are better than purees, however I am looking forward to eating non mashed food. 2 more weeks ..... I ate my little lunch way too fast yesterday ...... Acid Reflux afterwards reminded me that this is one of my consequences of eating too fast ....... Just keep swimming ....

@@frannydee there is nothing wrong with you !!! Sounds like you need more Proteins, and perhaps more Water. Check with your NUT. Add Protein powder, (whichever is recommended to you) to your drinks. I had to do that, in order to get through the liquid stage. I was told not to count calories, just measure everything to ensure it was within the guidelines. I also added runny yoghurt to my Soups.

I don't know how my "Protein Powder" somehow changed to "Protein Shakes" in my earlier post. Anyway, I was advised to add Protein Powder to my yoghurt, or to a non-acidic drink. Great advice re: Not stocking up Prior surgery. Getting smaller containers is a much better idea. I still have a massive Sustagen container, almost full ......

@@JamieLogical Thank you! Fantastic answer. I forgot re post op nerve damage. I too went through little burps, hiccoughs, weird feelings, funny oesophagus etc The whole healing process is a complete new experience for me .....

Early post op I sipped and sipped, was more thirsty than hungry. In the past 2 weeks I have been experiencing real hunger, hunger pangs. Every 2-3 hours. I am in 5th week post op. NUT advised to up my Proteins, and ensure I eat Snacks in between. So, the real hunger for me is like a feeling that I could eat a whole cow, bit painful and strong sensation. I had a couple of head hungers, these were thoughts "gee, it would be nice to have some ice cream" or "I wouldn't mind munching on something" Feeling full for me is: "I can't finish it, I've had enough" type of feeling. If I push it, I then feel tired and uncomfortable. Hence, I don't push it. Tried it twice and paid for it. As for my pills, mainly chewable BN Multi, bit B12 spray, small capsules etc I tried once crushing a Multivit, tasted horrible and was uncomfortable to swallow, even crushed. Gonsky! I have to take my thyroid med each morning, but it is very small, oblong shape and slippery, so no problem with it. @@autymn Glad your chest pains are the normal variety! As for Calcium chewable, have you googled it, or is there a liquid Calcium ? I take my calcium Capsules, they are bigger in size. I now can take them. I didn't in my first 2 weeks post op. Good luck!

@@Lacey09 Thank you It gives me hope. I will wait till the real food stage, and see what happens. Frankly I am now sick of pureed and soft food. My post op abdominal swelling is still quite pronounced. I'll "just keep swimming" like Dory in Finding Nemo On the good side, my chocolate cravings disappeared since my op! No longer do Dory's "Ooooh, look, Chocolate!"

I'm in my 5th week post op. In a stall for 2 weeks, haven't lost any, and haven't gained any weight. Expectations are bad for me ..... as I was expecting loss each week. Yes I was warned re: stalls ..... I was advised to up my Proteins, as my hunger is getting worse at the moment. I also have a post op abdominal swelling that is so, so slowly going down. Rather frustrating, but I know I have to persevere and be more patient.

@@farfalla1 What is your dietician recommending? Initially I was on Optifast plus Sustagen, Now a high Protein shake for women. The regular high Protein shakes were in too large containers and too expensive for experimenting with. I am in 5th week post op, and upping my Proteins. Good luck

@@animallover1247 I too ended up with acid reflux, I am on PPI also. Used to take it in the mornings, switched to taking it at night, as 2-3 weeks ago I woke up choking and coughing up yellow acid ..... horrible! I also elevated my pillow. Alas, it does not (PPI) help with my hunger pangs ...... annoying .....

@@hifigli, Hi, Yes, I was and I do get hungry also. Seems to be at 2 hours intervals, for me. Was hungry during liquid stage, was hungry during purees, now soft foods ..... hungry also If I don't have my allowed snack, or go longer than 3 hours, I have real hunger pangs. Mainly later on in the afternoon. I have read on this board that it could be due to our stomach acid still being active without having the "old" food. Also, I have read here that it goes away when we get to the regular, allowed food and portions. My dietician advised me to increase my Proteins and also to take a small Protein drink at night, if I can't fall asleep till late. I have been doing this for the past 2 days, and it seems to help. Have you asked your dietician about it? @@dd817 I was diagnosed with hypoglycaemia years ago (low blood sugar level), this was making me hungry if I had more carbs than proteins, and didn't have Snacks between meals. I also have thyroid disease, however I am assured by members here that they still keep losing weight despite this. I wonder if you have this as well ..... I too thought I wouldn't feel so hungry, the real hunger (not the head/emotional hunger) I am now in my 5th week post op

@@bellabeans I bought the allowed foods, cooked them, then pureed with Nutri Bullet. I made few batches, that I froze for later in small containers. This way I had week's supply that I only needed to defrost and re-heat. Personally, I prefer non tinned food, and my body was craving "fresh" (cooked and pureed) food. Each stage prepares the stomach for the future, so the Sleeve doesn't get stretched, damaged, and to prevent nausea, vomiting, bad reactions, etc You will get full recovery instructions pre and post op.

I asked my Dietician yesterday re Raw pureed bananas and pawpaw. She said these are fine raw, because they are very soft already. Apart from the printed guide I have for each stage, I also get her written instructions. All I saw was "cooked fruit". Anyway, all good. I started on Soft Foods yesterday, week 5 post op. I had 2 cruskits with low fat cream cheese, topped with tinned, mashed tuna mayo. It was Heaven!

@@bellabeans Yes, you can buy baby food. I prefer the fresh variety, as I need all the Vitamins and "normal" foods now. After weeks of Optifast, canned Soups, etc, I had enough of it. Also, freshly cooked and pureed food has little more fibre in it. I started Soft Food yesterday, I am in week 5 post op.

@@mirVSG Pawpaw is a type of Papaya. It is larger and less red/orange than papaya. Very soft fruit, just need to peel it and remove the seeds

@@Daisee68 Thank you! It is wonderful to hear from others that also have Graves disease. To share experiences and support. Yes, frequent blood tests. Mine were every 30 days, now every 6 weeks. Congratulations on your fantastic weight loss, despite this thyroid disease! Well done!!! It is a relief for me to hear that Good luck with your lab work!

Yes, it makes good sense to keep re-reading the instructions ..... Next week I'll be progressing onto soft foods, so more instructions, and more reading Did lot of purees today, and froze most of them. No mistakes this time