LAJ23

While I was on the call with her, she told me to get on my computer and order it. She gave me the website, walked me thru to where the powder was located on the page, and then asked "did you complete the order?". She said she wanted to make sure I was getting it and buying the right thing.

I start the next phase of my diet tomorrow and realized that I only have TWO days of pureed before moving onto "very soft" foods - is that common? I was also surprised to see that "very soft" includes fish, meat, veggies - pretty much everything - as long as it's ground-up. The following phase is "soft" which will start 9/16 includes all normal foods, and they just have to be cut small and chewed well - no more grinding up. However, a general diet doesn't start until 10/1. I went thru the bariatric program at a different hospital before changing surgeons at the last minute, and their program required liquid for 2 weeks, pureed for 2 weeks, very soft for 2 weeks, soft for another 2 weeks, then general diet. I would have to be almost 2 months out before I could eat a general diet. I'm just wondering why the variance in the timing of these phases. 🤔

Oh wow! I didn't realize it was common for things to be so varied. I just assumed that generally, we had to ease into "harder" foods as our stomach healed. I had a very small piece of string cheese the other day and was bracing myself for instant pain, but nothing...

I had surgery early on a Wednesday morning and was home by 11:00am Thursday. I'm told a one night stay is routine, however they won't push anyone to leave - especially if you don't get up and walk, aren't getting enough fluids and can't go to the bathroom (pee). I was able to do all three immediately after surgery, and even then, they offered to keep me another night if I wanted to stay on stronger (IV) meds. The first 5-7 days at home were pretty miserable pain-wise, but literally overnight, I felt better on day 7. I woke up with almost zero pain, a lot of energy, and just overall felt a ton better.

I felt much better once I started on the meds. Thankfully, it was an incision stitch that popped, nothing internal. The pain still isn't gone, but at least now I can stand & walk again without much difficulty.

So last night I sneezed and it hurt like hell! I immediately knew something was wrong. The big incision instantly hurt terribly and has only gotten worse since then. Today I could hardly walk or even stand up straight. I called the Dr. and they put me on another round of Rx pain meds and an antibiotic (she think thinks it could even turn into a hernia 🤦‍♀️.) Dammit! I was doing so well for the last several days, and now a setback. Anyone else have this happen? How long did it take to heal? I'm also down 3# since yesterday as I know I'm not getting in nearly enough fluids or "food". I have ZERO appetite and every time I try to force myself to drink or eat, I get nauseous. I really hope I get back on track soon. 🙏

These all sound wonderful. Thanks for sharing!!!!!

Mornin'! Are there any actual recipes for the "soft foods" phase besides ricotta bake (which Pandemonium so kindly passed along)? I start the next phase on Wednesday and although I've had almost no appetite, I'm hoping that with making something a little more appetizing, I'll be able to get more calories & nutrients in. Currently, I'm only taking in about 300 calories/day - if that. Thanks!

I was sleeved on 8/19. Immediately after surgery, I was up doing laps around the hospital floor. I was sore, tired, and stiff, but I made myself do it. I went home the next day and could hardly move - even with Rx pain meds. Between gas, being full of fluids & air from the surgery itself, and pain from the incisions (esp. the big one) I was pretty miserable for about a week - then everything literally changed overnight. I woke up one day and felt GREAT. The big incision still hurts, but all of the gas is gone, all of the fluids & air they fill you up with are gone, etc. That said, I'm pretty sure I busted a stitch on the large incision, as of today I'm in agony, but just in that one spot. I'm back on Rx pain meds + an antibiotic and hope they do the trick. I felt like I was doing really, really well until then. Good luck!

I'm religiously sticking to my post-op diet (liquids only until 9/2) but today was tough - really tough. I'm starting to get "phantom" tastes in my mouth (all day today I "tasted" grilled burgers) and I'm starting to crave solid food badly. Not a lot of it - I'm really not hungry - just enough to quash this urge. Not even junk food...I was DYING for a slice of red bell pepper earlier. For lunch, I had my 1/2 cup of low-fat cream of chicken soup...went down without issue and even had really small pieces of chicken in it (which I chewed diligently). Tell me this too, passes? Do I REALLY need to wait until 10/2 before eating anything solid? Obviously, I'm not ready to slam down a 6-course meal, but OMG...what I wouldn't give for a small piece of grilled chicken, etc. As I type this, I'm making giant grilled chicken burritos and jalapeno cheddar rice for my husband and son. What I wouldn't give to just have a small bit of the burrito - don't even want rice! Having to make this stuff and not being able to eat it is cruel. 😞

My husband works 12-14 hr/day and my son works full time and is taking full time college classes. They do cook a lot of the time, but aren’t always able to, so I jump in. I don’t mind doing it, but the aromas are proving very difficult to deal with!

Yes, ma'am! Will do! ☺️ I guess I just don't understand these "phantom tastes"...are they normal? This morning I woke up with the taste of salt in my mouth - like I ate something salty and the taste lingered. Are these phantom tastes normal and do they go away? I'm also finding out that the protein shakes I've been drinking for months (and actually really like!) taste way too sweet, even though they only have 1g of sugar. Drinking them daily has become a challenge.

Wow! Good for you! I started on Rx weight loss meds in Feb. as well, but for some reason, I didn't lose a single pound until about the middle of May. Then, between May & Aug, I lost about 20# on my own. I know I'm only one week out, but sadly, I'm a type-A, impatient person. LOL! If I don't see results quickly (with anything in my life) I get frustrated. I'm going to stick to this diet plan and exercise accordingly and just hope it works. Thanks for the recipe. I'll be sure to try it!!!

Thank you so much for the kind, supportive words - I really appreciate it. You're down 112lb in 7 weeks? HOLY CRAP! Or, was some of that pre-op? I lost most of my 25# pre-op. Since the surgery (sleeved on 8/19) I'm only down two additional pounds. 😞 And, what in the world is "ricotta bake"? Sounds yummy! Is there a recipe you can share?

I'm six days post-op and I think I finally turned a corner. While the pain from the "big" incision still hurts pretty bad, it has become tolerable. The gas/bloating seems to be subsiding, and the cramping I had after swallowing seems to be going away (though not completely - it's just not as bad and less frequent, but still super painful when it does happen). I also haven't had a normal BM, but I have been "productive", which I guess is better than what I've read some of you have gone thru. In other words, no constipation! So, I guess my question now is, when does this damn weight start disappearing??? LOL!!! I'm still having a bit of trouble getting all my fluids in (up to about 40oz. water, one 11oz. protein shake and various SF popsicles, pudding, yogurt, soup, etc.), and have zero appetite. That said, while I'm not the least bit hungry, I'm starting to crave the taste of certain things. Now it's like my tastebuds are on extra high alert! Is this normal? Does it go away? I've never had food issues before and I hope this doesn't trigger something. Anyway, now that I'm feeling better, I'm looking forward to LOOKING better! Almost everything I've read, either a post or an article says the weight will literally start "falling off". I really hope that's true. I've come this far, and I can't even imagine this not working. I'm still 1# heavier than I was the day of surgery, so I'm chalking that up to the last bit of air and fluids they pumped into me. 🤞 The weather here is supposed to be super hot & humid all week, so I don't know how much walking I'll get in, but I plan to be up & about around the house...doing housework or whatever else I can to keep active. Thank you all SO MUCH for all the kind and supportive words. It really does mean a lot! 🤗 P.S. Downside of pain meds... Norco makes me HYPER (as opposed to sleepy or loopy). It's now 1:00am CT and I'm wide-the-flip awake... 4 hours past my bedtime! Argh!

I’m 4 days post-op (VSG) and starting to somewhat feel better. I’m able to get around better although the big incision still really hurts. My biggest concerns right now are: pain/cramping after swallowing. It’s not the actual swallowing that hurts, it’s when the Fluid hits my pouch. Doesn’t matter if the liquid is cold or warm - but it hurts like hell every single time for about 2-4 seconds. When will this subside? Secondly, my whole abdominal area is still REALLY swollen & hard - I look like I’m 6 months pregnant. It’s been like this since the surgery and hasn’t gone down at all. Lastly, I haven’t had a “real” bowel movement yet. I had very gassy diarrhea twice on Friday and once yesterday, but that’s it. I’ve been taking a stool softener, but I’m not sure it’s really doing anything. Then again, I haven’t eaten anything solid so...? I’m guessing most of all of this is normal, but I’m looking for reassurance - especially about the pain after swallowing as it’s really uncomfortable. Zero issues with nausea or vomiting.  ETA:  I’m also having trouble getting all my fluids/“meals” in. Again, bc of the cramping pain, but also bc I ALWAYS feel full. I’m able to drink about 30-40oz water, one protein drink, my 1/2C soup/pudding/jello twice a day and that’s about it. 

I just posted, saying how I think I turned a corner - literally just happened this afternoon. LOL!!! Hope you feel better too. It DOES get better! Hang in there! XOXO

I'm so sorry to hear that! Between my incision hurting and the awful pain after swallowing, this really sucks. The only thing keeping me going is the supportive words of people in this group telling me it's all pretty normal. The only thing I can suggest to you is that you absolutely continue with your pain meds. I just got a refill (granted, they only gave me 20, to begin with), and COULD NOT WAIT to take them. The majority of the pain was gone within 30 mins of taking my meds. I would also suggest taking a stool softener as the pain meds can be constipating. Good luck!!!

Wow - we're almost surgery twins! (Mine was 8/19.) I'm glad to know this is mostly normal. I thought about the yogurt, pudding & Jell-o being too much, but it's on my list an encouraged in order to get calories in and promote digestion. I'm sure those fudgesicles tasted heavenly! I sent a note to my Dr.'s team last night (hoping they'd see it first thing this morning & reply ASAP) but I haven't heard from them yet. Tylenol does NOTHING for any type of pain and that's all I'm on at this point. Also, the bloating, distension and all-around discomfort are getting old fast. I understand needing time to recover, but I've had a c-section, breast reduction, a tumor removed from the base of my brain, and other "minor" surgeries, yet I don't recall any of the recoveries being this drawn-out or uncomfortable. As for the , today was a beautiful day! LOL! Not quite a full-on BM, but enough that I got A LOT of relief. Hope it happens soon for you too!!!

Thanks - good to know the cramping is not unusual, especially since it's super painful. I did just email my dr. about my concerns, so hopefully they'll get back to me first thing in the morning. 🙂

I'm so sorry that you kept getting sick in the hospital. 😞 Thankfully, I haven't had any issues with nausea or vomiting, but I do constantly feel full, making it difficult to get all my fluids in. Plus, I get this horrible pain when the liquid/food (yogurt, pudding, etc.) hits my sleeve. It's like a terrible cramp or spasm that lasts a few seconds, then passes, but it's BAD when it happens. I haven't tried a heating pad yet, but I just took the last dose of my pain meds, so I sent a note to the dr. requesting a refill. I tried to go a day without them, but I could hardly stand up. With them, I can get up and walk around without issue. Hope you feel better soon!

I have dissolvable stitches with steri-strips. Also, as of this morning, my stomach is making a TON of noise! Ugh!!!

I’m taking pain meds, but I was only given 20, so I’m trying to ration them! Thankfully, I haven’t had any nausea. Just took a shower and feel slightly better (I think the water may have loosened the steristrips or scab and that seems to have helped. Now, if I can just get this gas pressure & pain under control! Ugh!!!!

WTH? How can this be? Day of surgery I was 223.2. This morning I’m 232! I’ve had nothing to eat or drink except sips of water & meds. I don’t get it! Please tell me there’s some crazy reason for this that I wasn’t told about and that it’ll drop quickly!!!! I honestly couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw those numbers. Been walking quite a bit too! 😖

So, I did it! Barely spent 24 hours in the hospital from the time of surgery until I was back home. Managed to do two laps around the hospital floor yesterday & last night and haven’t had any nausea. That said, I’m in a WORLD OF PAIN! The largest incision feels like it’s ripping apart every time I move. My insides feel the same. I have ZERO appetite and have more or less been forcing myself to sip Water, but I know I’m not getting enough (it hurts when it it’s the sleeve). How long until I start to feel some sense of normalcy???