Spellbound

Hi everyone, I’m 6 weeks out and 19lbs down. I’m not eating much because my tummy can be moody and the idea of eating makes me anxious. I’m trying to build my courage with recipes but I see so much cheese everywhere - and as a patient who had terrible constipation, it makes me weary. So I have two questions: 1) Why is there so much cheese out there? Is it because of macros or nutritional value or taste? 2) What are your non-cheese recipes? Thanks in advance!

I loved my old clothes. I have been a very stylish person and I have many favorite items. I’m sad that I can’t just rebuy them smaller. Some of my old clothes fit loose and flowed a lot, some of them were flattering to my figure (despite being a person of size). So now I’m struggling with shopping and dressing my new body - smaller chest and oddly pear shaped (was not a pear before). I agree with @redhead_che when she muses, “how to dress this new body?” I am going to hold out as much as I can, but even my belts are too small now.

Foods That Make You Poop from Eat This (Not That) https://www.eatthis.com/foods-that-make-you-poop/

This is a good list of foods that make you poop and many of them are my favorites for fiber. I’m big on beans, grapes, pears, chia seeds and oatmeal.

I had the same experience being sickened and I switched to flint stones last week (6 weeks out) but I’m nervous that it’s not enough nutrients. @S@ssen@ch What types of gummies do you take?

I’m so glad you shared this. I’m working to get to this point. I’m six weeks post-op now, and I’m a slow healer (always been this way) but looking forward to a year from now and encouraging others. Congratulations to you and BEST wishes on continued and lifelong success.

I had a similar situation and it was a week before I went - and it wasn’t very impressive either. My, friend you are normal. I was recommended a stool softener and Miralax, which I took regularly until I started going daily. I once stopped too soon right after moving to a stage 2 diet, and had the worst constipation of life (also, many of the stage two meals and recipes had CHEESE which made things much worse). But I got back on it for another few days and cut out most cheese. I’m still very cautious and only eat cheese if I have beans, or vegetables What helped me: 1) Eating yogurt regularly (no pun intended) 2) investing in a squatty potty 3) drinking warm beverages 4) Walking before going to the bathroom I never drank smooth move (my stomach has been really temperamental) but hot tea was great for me. Good luck.

@smm86 Everything you posted I experienced as well. I was really annoyed that I seemed to feel more bad than good and even though I was cleared to progress I couldn’t hack it with water (I liked sparkles too before I had to cut them out), I had a hard time with eggs, I ate tuna salad ok, but the lunch meats and cheese went down ok - just didn’t like them. Ground turkey went down, but sat like a ball of lead. Chicken was a major “no” and my taste buds rejected anything with sucralose. I went back to liquids and mushy foods and stayed there longer than the NUT required. I ate all kinds of soups and started smoothies with spinach, using Greek yogurt and BiPro protein water as my wet ingredient. Protein powders were a firm no to my taste buds. And for me, it worked. I had to continue Premier Protein to ensure I had enough protein and calories (was hovering below 500 when I was going through it) and still have yet to meet a water goal — but the step back was really helpful for me. After a week of going back to mushy and liquids, I tried refried black beans, turkey chili w/beans, and egg salad. Success! I’m still kind of doing wet and soft foods but I’m able to tolerate flavors and spices better and I get a better sensation in my stomach when I’m eating. I did feel terribly tired for about three weeks. Just freaking exhausted. So... you’re normal, love. I think your instincts will take you far. Still trying to figure out the multivitamin situation for myself. I vomit every time I take it.

Yep, my multivitamin makes me nauseous- and I’m sick every day going to work because of the nausea. I have been looking for easy alternatives since I started vitamins. My little sleeve is just way too sensitive.

http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2018/09/weight-loss-surgery-wisdom-from-friend.html?m=1

Thank you so much @James Marusek. I need to remember to take it slow and that the speed of my dieticians is not necessarily the speed of my sleeve.

Thank you for all the help, great suggestions and compassion.

Actually - I’m over the water thing. Severe bathroom issues have now helped my mind cross over to suck it up. I will get watermelon tomorrow though.

I'm struggling with this too as well now. Can't seem to get water to go down easily (including Hint) and the artificial sweeteners in most "sugar free" items has become nauseating. Here's what I'm drinking now, but would love any other ideas: Herbal Teas Caffeine free coffee Coconut water (has carbs so can't have it daily) Plain water (yuk) Vitamin Water 0 (but it's beginning to get to me) I know this could go away in a few months, and I wish I knew the science behind why my brain wants these things to be intolerable... but any hydration hacks? So far I've captured: Watermelon Sugarfree popsicles Watered down juices

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Aw I love that you shared it with your family and froze what you could. Berries freeze wonderfully, by the way. I'm in stage two and I'm using them in smoothies with protein water and greek yogurt. Good luck with your procedure!.

Agree with @Biddy zz go see the doc ASAP and document what’s going on.

Feeling discouraged by trying soft foods. Eggs and tuna, were my go-to but every time I eat them I have to lay down for 30 minutes. I don’t enjoy cottage cheese, but enjoy yogurt and some fruits... but none of this is protein. So I’m going back to my blender... this is still my first 4 days of soft foods but I’m feeling discouraged. I’m sipping a homemade smoothie currently and feeling much better. Any other ideas?

Hi there, not an a Eviva patient but I started with them before I switched to Swedish. Congrats on getting this far. I’ll follow you and see how you’re doing - and let you know if I find any neutral support groups.

We all do! The surgery wipes you OUUUUTTT

@sleevemebaby7781 Feeling miserable: yes normal. Chest pain: For me it was 3 days of chest pain which went away day 3 after I slept on my left side to get the gas to move through. Walking helps too (still does). Water intolerance: I couldn’t consume any fluids or swallow anything until the chest pain dissolved. Consuming water can be difficult, but I liked caffeine-free hot tea, vitamin water zero and other things. Dehydration? If you don’t get something, yes. But take your time and be patient. Take SMALL SIPS. Also try sugar free popsicles to get fluids in. Room temperature beverages still nauseates me (sleeved 9/19). Tired and constantly sleepy: 100% normal! #1 side effect of the procedure is fatigue. I was constantly tired for about 2.5 weeks. I just started to perk up after moving to soft foods. Good luck

You don’t have to wait 30 min to drink liquid after liquid. The 30 min will apply to protein jello, yogurt, pudding mixes. I’m just a week ahead of you and am figuring it out too. Good luck!

Folks, does jello count as a clear? Sugar Free with protein added?

I agree with @MargoCL so much. The first clinic I went to (not as medical as claimed) was going to fast track my surgery for 3 months. There was a very limited concept of prep. They also kept focusing on how I was gonna die young because of my weight and forged a lot of false conditions in my chart. I left them after 2 visits. Second place was associated with a hospital, they were doctors, weight management and endocrine experts, by the book, and helped me pace myself by learning (and unlearning) during my 6-mo insurance mandated period. I learned SO MUCH st a speed I could consume it. All of those questions you had, I had. The time frame really wrapped my head around this. I joined this group three months into that process. Once I found my stride, from April to September - I lost 28 lbs on my own (including vacations, dinners out, and more cooking at home) BEFORE surgery. It wasn’t easy and my family and friends know that. I learned what protein rich meals looked like. I learned how gooood healthy food can be. I met with my surgeon 3 times and my psychologist who prepared me for: (1) deciding on this step (2) side effects to consider and hobbies to start/maintain (3) options for support since my loved ones are 3,000 miles away (4) managing other people and how to not care (5) how to get help if traumatic memories resurrect. You have to do what’s right for you, but I’ve been in those shoes and I could have easily posted your post in February when I started. Just know that whatever you decide, choose health. You want to make a change - make the change that’s right for you. And BTW, it’s *not* easy. Once you put in the pre-surgery work, you’ll soon realize that. Lastly, my mind wasn’t TRULY made up until the week before surgery. In March, I said “I’ll go through this prep time and see how I feel. If I feel like I want to continue on my own AND BE SUCCESSFUL, I’ll call it off.” But the most important thing was to just start. I knew I’d need a support group no matter what though. I realized that I wanted to be out of pain and wanted to be able to start working out again. So, I was sleeved 9/19. I’ve had some recovery bumps because of co-morbid conditions, but my plantar fasciitis and knee pain is gone. Good luck! ?

I had post-nasal drip. I believe it was a side effect from the anesthesia. I didn’t have it when I went in, but when I came out I did. Also the nasal tube of oxygen was such dry air that it gave me lots of nose gold. I got through it and didn’t even notice when it went away - probably after three or four days without allergy pills (I couldn’t take pills until day four... I was in the hospital for three days and two nights). I do have asthma and I also often have sinus blockage so I’ll bet it was all draining due to the cold temperatures and oxygen tube. You're not crazy and some random one off.