time_2_shine

Hello again all! It’s been a few weeks since I posted. Things have gotten somewhat better, as I learn to live with my new stomach. Your encouragement was a great help! However, I’m now 6 weeks & 1 day out from sleeve surgery & can only fit about 25g (1oz?) (1 Tbs) of food at each meal. Though this does depend on what it is I’m eating (yogurt I can fit in about 60g). I’ve stopped trying to eat chicken & tuna at this point (as it was sitting really heavy in my stomach) & I am sticking to soft cheese, yogurt, egg etc. for 2 - 3 meals, along with my protein Coffee concoction & a protein shake/soup per day. I plan to try again in a week or two, thinking it might be due to swelling still? Is it normal to be this far out & not be able to eat anymore than a Tablespoon of food? I use a bariatric meal timer & chew extremely well. My plan says I should be ‘aiming for about 1/2 a cup’ Per meal, but that is impossible! TIA!

Hi there, I am so sorry that you are having such a painful experience [emoji17] I had my surgery on April 5th & I too struggled with extreme pain (exactly as you describe!) & wondered what was wrong with me, as it appeared everyone else had little to none. I was so worried that I ended up having a battery of tests all to find that everything was fine. So from there I had no choice but to accept that for me, this is how it was going to be. The pain started to get better, but then the next hurdle was changing to Purée stage. That was also a nightmare (& still isn’t where it should be). So I’ve stopped trying to make changes by the book & am doing things when my body feels ok to try. If you feel that something isn’t right, please follow up with your medical team. But please know that for some, this is normal & it will start to improve at a rate that is right fo you. Wishing you all the best [emoji170]

Hi all! Ok, so I am 2 weeks & 2 days out from VSG & am struggling... Regret has crossed my mind every day since surgery [emoji17] Unlike many of my fellow sleevers, I experienced significant pain following surgery, which was the first hurdle that I dragged myself over, along with being able to take in the minimum liquids to go home. Over the first week the pain subsided & the liquids got easier, but then bring on puréed food stage. I am constantly bloated & feel like I am going to pop, after only having taken in 1 Tablespoon of Purée. This then makes it extremely difficult to get the fluids in between. So much so that I feel like I am forcing fluids in & only managing 2 meals (if you can call a tablespoon a meal!) per day, instead of the recommended 5-6. Am I doing something wrong? I am so scared of creating a leak, due to feeling so full with air/food/liquid (whatever it is!)... Has anyone else experienced this & does life get better??? TIA!

Thank you all so very much for your replies. The support, tips & advice are so very much appreciated... Whilst the struggles are real, I no longer feel as alone [emoji173]️ I’ll keep struggling through though with hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel. @FluffyChix - thank you for pointing out the differences in protein. Yes, the powder is missing one particular amino acid, so I have just ordered a whey based protein to supplement with also. On the plus side of all of this is that I am down 18.1kgs since pre-op & about 8 of those have been since surgery! Thank you all again & thank you for being so welcoming into this community. [emoji173]️

I am so sorry that you are experiencing this too. It truly is a horrible place to be. Part of me keeps thinking... 2 & a bit weeks isn’t long, & I must allow myself more time. But it’s so hard. I am not doing so bad on the protein front as I am adding a non-dairy protein powder to absolutely everything I drink. It is called “Gelatin Health - Muscle Repair” & is the only protein I have found doesn’t actually have a taste. I do hope that maybe some other members can help keep morale up & that things get better for us soon x