KevinS62

I just checked those out on Amazon. I didn't know. I guess I better show the wife.

You literally beat me with that by seconds!

The DS was recommended to me by my best bud. He had the sleeve and 4-5 years later he went back for the DS. He's totally happy with it, enjoying life and even suggested it to me when I asked him about surgical options. So there's that. I went to the same surgeon he got the DS from and asked about about it. As you were told, the sleeve is actually the first part of the DS, My surgeon said years ago, the DS was done in two parts. They would do the sleeve and have the patient come back for the second part. What they found out was that the sleeve was all that was needed for many/most. At least that's the story he told me and that's how he talked me into going with the sleeve. By doing so, I know we can always come back and complete the DS. Bottom line, I can only say that my best friend had the DS after having a sleeve and recommends it.

Sounds like you are doing great. Funny you mentioned your trip. I was just asking about eating on a 1,000 mile trip (Louisiana to Iowa) and got some good tips. In case you hadn't seen it, Eating/Drinking on a Road Trip: 4-5 Weeks Post-Op. Enjoy your trip!

More good tips. Hadn't thought of Chicken pot pie at KFC. I could go for some Wendy's chili. Thanks.

Meat pudding. You all are cracking me up today. Thanks.

Thanks for your response. Very good tips. Love the Chew the tar out of it.

Jealous of you going to regular food when my plan is barely letting me start some soft foods. LOL. Enjoy your trip this weekend!

@kcuster83 Thanks for your tips. Yeah, as I said, my diet plan is exageratingly conservative. It has no puree stage and very slowly introduces soft foods and meats (they say chew, chew, chew). It's probably a week or three behind others and I'm not skeert to reach into the week 6-7 menu for an item or two to try in weeks 5-6. In moderation, of course. I have learned NOT to ask the dietician anything. I won't like her answer. She goes strictly by the written guide. When I was able to speak to the surgeon, he was more open and basically said the menu was conservative to work for all patients and I could try something off plan, but to stop if it doesn't work. I'm not a huge egg salad person but I may try a light tuna or chicken salad. Taco Bell beans is a great idea.

She has not mentioned it to me in my two appointments with her and it's not even talked about in my menu/nutrition plan. In a FAQ she sent me last week, it says calories needed depend on gender, age and activity level, but a general rule of thumb is around 1,000 calories a day. The FAQ does not say when to start the "1,000 per day" thing, but I find it somewhat difficult during the liquid phase and I plan to build up to it as I increase my activity level. In the meantime, I'm concentrating on the 90g protein and 64oz fluid/water.

How are you doing? Welcome to the July Peeps. As for your question, the answer is yes. I'm 3 weeks post-op and have probably averaged one BM every 2-3 days due to having mostly fluid diet. As you graduate to more solid foods, I'm certain you will have more frequent toilet visits.

I've been having tomato soup since the first day home (water mixed in for week 1, and milk added in week 2). Then I and added V8 Juice in week 3 and have had no issues. I'd say go for it, but if it bothers your stomach, step back from it and try again in a few weeks.

Hey y'all. I just wanted to post a Three-week update. I feel good. Pretty much normal even. Except, of course, with a smaller stomach capacity Incisions are fully closed. The small ones look good and only the largest still has any leftover scabbing. I'm trying to stay positive since I've lost more than 20 pounds since surgery. But my weight loss progress has slowed more than I thought it would this early. Maybe it's the third week stall we keep hearing about. W1: -12.6 lbs W2: -5.6 lbs W3: -2.6 lbs My conservative diet plan sucks, but it improves a little this week, since I can add cottage cheese, shredded cheese, beans, canned fruit and some specific well-cooked veggies (only carrots and asparagus look appetizing). I am logging everything. I am getting 80-100g of protein, 50-90 oz of water/fluids, and 650-750 calories daily. I have not done great on my steps/walking/exercise, but plan to fix that this week now that things at work has calmed a bit. I have now lost a total of 48.6 lbs since I started losing weight in late March when I had my "Oh Hell No!" moment and contacted the surgeon's office. I am feeling pretty good about that.

Ha. Same answers, but it confirms it. Majority wins. As you said, focus on fluids and protein right now.

Thanks everyone for the responses. I listened and am going to work on this. Yesterday I added a second Protein powder/shake, raising my protein from 60ish grams to 87. This raised my calorie count roughly 120 or so to 763. I also took in close to 64 oz liquids. I actually felt better during the day yesterday and my scales moved this morning.

I feel it. I'm sitting here working in my bedroom office and adult son is making Spam and eggs in the kitchen. It's like torture. I end up eating my soup or broth at the table by myself, while wifey is cooking something nice for her and the son. I guess, I hope, I'm sure, once I get on my regular diet after another month or so, it will be easier. I will be able to eat with them, just smaller portions than I used to put on my plate. My hope is to get them to eat a little healthier as well.

That's awesome how you took care of two things with one procedure. There is a bunch of us that got sleeved in July - Come say hello! https://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/441093-july-2022-peeps/

I can't answer that one but like @liveaboard15, I'm curious why you want surgery at 25 BMI. I think I set my goal to a BMI around 26-27.

I had my first scrambled egg this morning, 16 days post-op. No problems.... Just don't tell my dietician. A scrambled egg is in week 5 of my very conservative plan.

Amanda, I had one week off, but worked some. I am mostly working from home as well. I requested one week off, but with my office in the spare bedroom and work piling up, I just couldn't stay away. That was my choice. My surgery was on a Thursday and by Monday I was working 4 to 5 hour days. I went back to full time work on Thursday, 1-week post-op. On those half days I probably could have worked full 8-hour days if needed. But wanted to relax a little and use some of the leave I was approved to use.

I'd like to know the reasons/purposes of the post-op diet and the different stages. I am following my instructions exactly. I think. I hope I'm doing it right. Now, likely all y'all know that a clear liquid diet sucks. The guide I was given says I have to be on the clear liquid stage for week 1 and I have 2 days left. But I have heard others only having clear liquids for 1-3 days. I'm doing well and I'd like to try a few things that are on my list for week 2 if it isn't going to hurt me. Which leads me to the question. What is the purpose of the clear liquid diet? Am I on a clear liquid diet to allow my new sleeve stomach to heal or is it so I won't have issues with reflux, heartburn, nausea or gas? If I knew, maybe I'd try a little of the food from the next stage. Or at the very least, not worry as much when I try to decide if my soup is as clear as it's supposed to be. In two days I graduate to a week 2 full liquid diet. The guide doesn't use the word puree', just full liquid. Is this the same thing or no? According to the guide I can add cream soups (strained). premade Protein shakes, sugar free pudding, V8 Tomato juice, low fat yogurt and Fat free milk. This is much better than week 1, but by the end of week 2, I know I'm going to start looking ahead to week 3 and want to try something from it. Week 3 is really not much different. Just adding bananas and oatmeal. But I can add unsweetened fruit to my smoothies. And, then I see this. NO GRITS & NO POTATOES. Really? Don't just say I can't have it without telling me why. What harm is going to come from potatoes, other than carbs/calories? In week 4, I am finally allowed to have cottage cheese. Not that cottage cheese is something I have to have, but I would love some right now with my clear liquids. I can also finally have well cooked beans and veggies, as well as 2% milk. Then I see, NO RICE & NO GREEN PEAS. Why? Again, I assume its starches and carbs from the rice, but tell me why... Week 5 I can finally have a scrambled egg.. Finally I can have an egg? In week 6 I can finally baked fish. Why not week 5? And then they say, NO HONEY & NO DRIED FRUIT. Why? Again, this is mostly my curiosity. But it frustrates me that they did not give me much (any) background information. I will continue following the guidance they gave me, I mean I'm dropping weight daily so it's working. But when I go to my follow-up appointment next Tuesday, I'm going to bring up some of these specific questions. I know this was a long post, but if any of you can shed some light on any of the questions I have, please feel free.

Welcome Steve. I think you made the right decision. I've said for months (even before surgery) that my only regret was not deciding to do this sooner. The pre-op and post-op diets suck some, but I just tell myself to keep my eyes on the prize. It's going to be worth it.

Cay, Sounds like you are doing well, as am I. You are one day ahead of me, and I'm jealous of your diet plan. I met with my surgeon's group's dietician and she wants me to follow the plan to the T and it's super conservative. When I questioned anything on the plan, she told me to stay off the internet. Yeah, right. The only soft food I graduated to today (week 3 plan)is I can have a half banana, cream of wheat, and oatmeal. In week 5 I can finally have Cottage cheese, cooked beans and soft veggies. Scrambled egg in week 5 and baked fish and tuna in week 6. Ugh. You know, the stricter they are with these things, the more patients are going to "cheat".

Good morning July 2022 Peeps. Sounds like there's a lot of the group doing well. Hope to hear from the ones that just had surgery in the last couple days. I am at 10 days post-op. After losing 12.5 lbs in the first week, I stalled out for a couple days. Instead of losing my normal 2-4 lbs, I lost 0.0 and 0.4. This was a bit frustrating since I am only taking in about 500 calories per day. But it is what it is. From what I read, this is how this is going to go. I am happy that my plateau or whatever, may have been a small one and this morning I showed a 2.2 lbs loss. For those that believe a person shouldn't weigh themselves daily, I normally don't, but I wanted to record my first 4 weeks in a journal on my laptop.

Just when I said this forum was a great place to get answers, I get another great response. This helps a lot. TayTay - Thanks so much for your views! I wish my dietician/surgeon (surgical office/team) would have taken the time to explain some of these things better. As I said, just saying NO POTATOES does not help someone trying to make the right choices to make the surgery and recovery go well. I just started the "Full Liquid" stage yesterday, but have been slow introducing new stuff in my diet. They said I could have cream soups, so I did have Campbell's Cream of Broccoli for lunch, after running it thru the blender. OMG it tasted so good after having nothing but broth for so long. I also had 12 oz of V8 juice which was also great. Unfortunately, my plan does not include anything called Pureed Stage, It just slowly progresses for 7 weeks and drops you off with an 8 Weeks and beyond (my new normal) diet. I will ask about pureed foods on Tuesday when I go in for my follow up. Thanks again TayTay!