Everything

Jodster- I’m glad you feel me! Well true confession (but I doubt you’ve done this either) but I did take three of my sons French fries and I chewed them up and spit them in the trash. I know, I know. I sound like I have some sort of eating disorder now. I have four kids, three of which are teenagers. Three of which are underweight and eat fast food regularly. The struggle is real. I will say chewing up and spitting out a french fry and was far less gratifying than I expected. Really not worth it. I am loving this surgery so far. I would never have done that in the past but I I knew if I ate a french fry there was hell to pay. So it’s definitely making me rethink my actions! And also, even though I didn’t drop 20 pounds the first week, I am very positive at the moment about my progress. Don’t want to screw that up or derail it!

One of my friends invited me out for a girls night on Thursday. She did not know that I had surgery but I told her about it so the situation wouldn’t be uncomfortable. I am not someone who goes out regularly but I am looking forward to this and also seeing how it is being out without drinking alcohol or gorging myself on food. Should make for an interesting evening!

I’ve decided just to do this “my way” and ever since I’ve been at a lot more peace. I may not be getting adequate nutrition and vitamins but I am giving myself a break and letting my body adapt. Vitamins were making me puke so I switched to vitamin patches. I ate HALF a scrambled egg (which foamed up in my throat) so I am mostly just drinking a protein water and a shake here and there (but never getting in the required 60-80 grams). I have been weighing myself every morning first thing when I wake up. I have been consistently losing a pound a day but now I’ve decided to stop weighing. I am sleeping like a freaking rock. After drinking a bottle of wine every single night for years (a habit that I slowly phased out during the weeks/months leading up to surgery) I am feeling and sleeping better than ever. I have no pain/no nausea whatsoever but a very very small capacity for food. I do get hungry now and last night I ate a pepperoni from my families pizza delivery order. And I squeezed it till it was bone dry with no oil and chewed it up thoroughly. No problem whatsoever with that. Figured if I only ate one pepperoni for the whole day yesterday I was OK. And most exciting I have zero desire to drink alcohol. It is actually somewhat repulsive to me. I feel good now!! The first week was a nightmare. I’m doing my post op visit this week hopefully (I may have to reschedule because my car is still in the hospital parking lot from almost 2 weeks ago - three hours away). Otherwise I’m doing great. My personal goal is to get out and walk more frequently. I have been taking only one real walk a day. Hopefully none of this catches up to me because I am not following the doctor’s orders to a T but I have had to tweak it based on what I can and can not tolerate. Please don’t judge! Anyone getting in real walks/exercise yet?

Um - that’s more than I’ve lost since 2/20! Congratulations!

I tried this yesterday. I put a whole scoop in one container of yogurt. I don’t know if it was the yogurt or the protein but it tasted pretty disgusting. I think going forward I won’t go full blast with the one scoop. I took a couple of bites and threw it away. Maybe less is more.

Hey Rocketman. I’m jealous. I also had surgery on 2/20 but I’ve only lost about 8 pounds! I think your loss is normal, but you should ask your doc for sure.

It’s normal. I believe they take a biopsy of your liver and send it off. I did not have this done because I was self-pay but the office told me about it.

So far I haven’t had any cravings for anything fattening. Wine was a big vice for me. I can’t imagine drinking a glass of wine right now. My stomach is too sensitive!. I am missing stuff like sushi and shrimp tacos. I guess there are worse things to be craving.

I haven’t done the Carnation instant breakfast but yes I have every version of this sipping soup. I started drinking them in the preop phase and they were helping me lose weight. They are delicious!

Ok thanks.

Thanks Dub and Britt. Day before yesterday I had the idea of making Tiziki. I had all of the ingredients except for mint (I make a Persian version that requires mint). 2% Fage yogurt, cucumber with no skin, lemon juice, salt, pepper. I put everything in the vita mix blender and blended the heck out of it. It was freaking delicious! 10 seconds after this I was doubled over in pain. So I’ve been scared any vegetables ever since. I may get brave and try a little sip of this. Hopefully things go smoothly! Britt is this the tomato basil soup you tried?

I think you’re asking a broader question but I’m going to answer in terms of what I’ve experienced in the first week post op. I should’ve had a more realistic picture of what the first week would look like post surgery. The diet they gave me advanced too quickly for me. If it weren’t for these items I would not have made it through week one as comfortably! When I couldn’t get the vitamins down I had the patches. When I couldn’t get the minimum water AND protein shakes down I had the protein water. When the only “food” I could possibly consume was broth, these K-cups were quick, easy and helped me get in a little extra protein. (And the Genepro is probably just good to have all around. You can add it to the cream soups when you’re ready for extra protein.) Most people probably knew this stuff beforehand but I learned all this the hard way. In the hospital a few things and I really appreciated bringing were my extension cord, my heated blanket, robe and a change of pajamas. I actually brought full blown make up bag with eyeshadow palettes and everything which I didn’t even touch. The only cosmetic or toiletries I used was my toothbrush and toothpaste! Comparatively I feel like I’ve had a more difficult first seven days than others but I have had zero regrets and no regrets phase. I went in after doing a lot of self education and knew it would be challenging. I’m excited for the prospect of looking and feeling better and things are improving daily! I think you will find the same is true for you.

Has anyone else been told to avoid tomato-based foods? I have my eye on some tomato soup but I recall my paperwork saying something about avoiding tomatoes.

I was NPO after midnight. Got up at 5 am and drove 3 hours to the hospital where I was alone until I was released. Husband drove me home so my car is sitting in the hospital parking lot 3 hours away from home!

This is the only surgery I’ve ever had before I went in feeling good and came out feeling bad. Most surgeries I have a problem and then I come out feeling good on the other side. Or with some kind of cosmetic improvements. This one is definitely tough but hopefully worth it in the long run. I was getting scared about dehydration but I have more under control now. Things get better day by day!!!

I was also sleeved last Wednesday 2/20. I was losing more weight, faster, on the pre-op diet than I am post op. This first week was very very difficult for me adjusting. I have basically been living off of protein water and nothing else. I had to remind myself yesterday that even the little bit of weight I have lost was more than I’ve probably lost on my own without the aid of diet pills in years. And, that weight that’s gone- I’ll never see it again. So I guess Patience is key. Yes I was looking forward to that big first week of drop off in weight. But it is coming off slowly but surely and more importantly I am functioning better each day. I am not having pain every single drink I take anymore. That’s a win for me! Just try to stay positive and keep following your doctor’s directions. Like other said before — it will happen when it’s supposed to happen!

Embzee I have been thinking about you and hope you are OK. How have things been going since your last post? Any better?

So anything I eat or drink causes pain when it hits my stomach. The pain is strong but brief and passes until the next bite. I do think it’s getting slightly better with time but I’m also afraid to drink/eat now so I’m barely consuming anything. It’s an aching pain, feels like gas but a little different and is directly related to eating/drinking. That’s normal, right? I’m supposed to be going into stage 3 on the 28th but I’m still fighting with broth... One of my menu options coming up day after tomorrow is scrambled eggs. Sounds delicious but painful!!!

Same. Painful for me in fact. Even the smallest sips! And I’m 6 days out now.

Congrats Goody!

Hope those with surgeries today went well. Get lots of rest!

Oh! And I have on one each of these patches so hopefully I’m getting some vitamins! They want me taking one Horse pill vitamin each day this week with three calcium chewables. So I Put the patches on to cover my bases. Hopefully that’s good enough and now I’m going to focus on water water water

This has a little bit of protein already in it which is why I was going this route. I have tried adding Genepro to some soups but it grosses me out for some reason...

Thank you so much everyone for your positivity, comments, suggestions and feedback. It is greatly appreciated! I was given a standard printed diet which I’m sure they give to all patients. I suppose it makes sense to make adjustments accordingly- I’ll speak with their office about that. No constipation here – quite the opposite! Finally took an Imodium this morning and getting some relief. Was very worried about not getting fluids. I actually have a “resource” on standby with IV bags if I start feeling dehydrated. Dehydration is definitely my biggest concern! I am a little weirded out to have someone I don’t know put an IV in my arm at home but glad to have that option available. It’s a friend of mine‘s husband (a paramedic) so I don’t know him personally. So that’s a last resort. I may go to an IV hydration clinic tomorrow just to be on the safe side. Glad I’m not the only one who couldn’t meet those goals right out the gate. I guess we are all different and heal at different speeds!

I hate to be a Debbie downer but I’m struggling on every point - vitamins cause nausea, can’t get enough liquids, way off on protein... every swallow I take makes me feel like I’m going to explode! I’m focusing now on Premier protein waters and bone broth soup.... is it possible I’m just still sore from surgery? I’m 5 days out.