Cliffnotes

Thank you all for the thoughtful responses. (And the nice words about my beating cancer, @kcuster83 . I tend to forget that experience as time goes by. I need to remind myself that it was kind of a big deal and gather more strength from it. :))
Based on your responses, my takeaway is that getting to the restriction point is your body's way of saying that the sleeve is full, and anything el se you try to stuff in there is going to remain in your esophagus. I'm going to posit that THAT is the source of the discomfort.
I have a friend who has an abnormally narrow esophagus. He'll eat, the food won't go down and he'll have to vomit. At that point he can't even sip water...he immediately gets sick. This can happen with any type of food that gets lodged in there and doesn't easily break down with stomach acids, which I guess also start backing up into the esophagus. He has gotten a procedure to dilate the esophagus every few years because over time, the space narrows again. Restriction sounds like a version of this, milder and able to be controlled, but ultimately resulting from stuff being stuck in the esophagus. Does that sound close?

Hello. Jacquie here. Newbie. December 21 is my surgery date. Tomorrow I'm going full-on pre-surgical diet although I've only had Protein Bars for the past several days. I ordered a bunch of Protein Shakes and Vitamins that will be here tomorrow.
Unfortunately mine has not been the best of all possible experiences to date. My surgeon -- I really like him. Unfortunately, he has been in the process of splitting his practice with another surgeon, and he's also had some office turnover, so the brunt of scheduling all the labs and various medical clearance appointments...making sure my prescriptions have been dealt with...I feel like it's been a very D.I.Y. process, unfortunately. And subsequently I'm probably more afraid than I need to be.

Hello. Jacquie here. Newbie. December 21 is my surgery date. Tomorrow I'm going full-on pre-surgical diet although I've only had Protein Bars for the past several days. I ordered a bunch of Protein Shakes and Vitamins that will be here tomorrow.
Unfortunately mine has not been the best of all possible experiences to date. My surgeon -- I really like him. Unfortunately, he has been in the process of splitting his practice with another surgeon, and he's also had some office turnover, so the brunt of scheduling all the labs and various medical clearance appointments...making sure my prescriptions have been dealt with...I feel like it's been a very D.I.Y. process, unfortunately. And subsequently I'm probably more afraid than I need to be.

I'm going in the day after tomorrow and if not for these forums, I would have cancelled. I have been so depressed the last couple of days. I'm finding it hard to motivate.

I'm going in the day after tomorrow and if not for these forums, I would have cancelled. I have been so depressed the last couple of days. I'm finding it hard to motivate.

I'm going in the day after tomorrow and if not for these forums, I would have cancelled. I have been so depressed the last couple of days. I'm finding it hard to motivate.

I'm going in the day after tomorrow and if not for these forums, I would have cancelled. I have been so depressed the last couple of days. I'm finding it hard to motivate.

Oh good point! Yes let's DM a bit to keep in touch.
I just got the pre op info today, with the liver reduction diet and the food stages...I am feeling like it hasn't really sunk in how life will look after this surgery. Trying to get my head in gear so that I'm not totally shocked by all the changes.
Is anyone working with a dietitian after surgery? I have access to an online nutritionist, but would probably like to work with someone who has experience with bariatric patients.

Good morning, Cici. I have found that making Soups, straining them, and adding the Isopure unflavored Protein is saving me. Mostly I've done from scratch cream soups (last night was carrot) but I have done canned chicken noodle (strained) with protein, as well. I have tried almost all the sweet Protein Shakes available to me locally and don't like any of them. So, that is disappointing. If I Water them down or add some almond milk, they are better. Two days until I switch to clear liquid only!

I'm super nervous! I've never had surgery of any kind before so the unknown is freaking me out a little.

I hope recovery is easy for all of us and we meet our goals! I will try my best to get on here and give you an update after my surgery but before yours! Do you have a time set, yet?

Oh my friend, I can imagine what you're going through. I recently became single again and the thought of going through that process is a little intimidating. And I'll also have a double mastectomy to throw into the oh-by-the-ways. Whenever I get particularly stressed out about these types of questions I tell myself that outing oneself may not be necessary at first, but at some point, if the dude ends up being someone worthwhile, I'll want to come clean.

I believe I have one of those bodies that hangs onto every calorie it ever consumed in case there is a sudden famine. I'm a survivor, right? Fortunately, there is no famine, and no real need to store fat the way I store fat, but my body does what it does because it has wanted to just be prepared in case. LOL.

I just heated up a Premier choc/peanut butter shake and it is pretty good.

Ohh Lisa I'm nervous now too, it's becoming very real!! 😧 The pre-op diet over the hols will be tough, but it means there's more years of holidays to enjoy in the future, I guess!
Very best of luck to you!

Anyone mad like me & scheduled at the end of the month? Mine is happening 12/29, all going well!
Seems a strange time to put it, but I'm single & live alone. I usually spend the holidays feeling a little down, as all of my family/friends are coupled off & hibernating together. But this year I'm excited to use my time off to do something to change my life for the better.
I'm a little scared about travelling alone, but it won't be my first time by any means, so it's more the hospital stay that concerns me. Hoping I can meet some friendly folks doing our 'laps' around the wards 😁

Thank you. That video was very informative. One week till surgery, and I'm nervous but ultimately very excited.

But... how to avoid that?

I did not have any drains after surgery. From what I understand, they are RARELY used for VSG - more common for RNY or SADI.

Congratulations to the OP on overcoming the big 'C'.
At 19 years post-op my restriction is the same was it was at about 6 months post-op. The restriction is still a very active part of my life. It was never even hinted that the restriction was temporary or not a long term part of my solution. Being a binge eater, if my restriction eased I would have returned to binge eating. It hasn't and I haven't.
I don't know if I did or didn't do something right or wrong but I'm glad my surgery is still in full force and function. Perhaps I'm just lucky.
Another aspect of restriction is that if one doesn't chew well, a chuck of food can get stuck which will result in pain and can compel retching until it is up and out. This is not as fun as it sounds. Chewing well enough was something I had to focus on for the first few months.
I had an open surgery which means I was cut from stem to stern and opened up. I ended up with a drain because they couldn't reach something related to removing my gallbladder, bile ducts IIRC, and some 30 odd staples neither of which were the joys one would expect. The vast majority of people then and more so now have laparoscopic surgeries which involve 3 small holes and rarely a drain.
Good luck,
Tek

I hope you know that there will be a drain or drains following your bariatric surgery! I found them uncomfortable but bearable.

Yeah - agree with everyone else - nothing to do with backing up into the oesophagus/vomiting, everything to do with getting a cue that my pouch is full and that nothing more will fit in easily. I've ignored it a little for various situational reasons over the last year but it's only resulted in discomfort and a renewed initiative to stick with the programme - never random vomiting. I hope you get over this mental hump and have your surgery OP!!!

Yeah. I asked my nutritionist about your diet; evidently that IS pretty hard core. My doc has me on a high, simple Protein diet which includes shakes but is not necessarily liquids. I've thrown some skinless (sauceless) chicken into the mix, along with some scrambled egg whites. Two days before is nothing but clear liquid. I plan to sleep a lot. : )

My surgery is 12/21 I’m excited and scared at the same time. Currently on a liquid diet.< /p>

Mines on the 14th. I'm so super excited. Been on liquids for about a week. My dr doesn't require that long but I don't want any problems. Tomorrow is Water day then surgery. Woo hoo!!! I'm sooo happy for you as well. Good luck to you!!!

It's official!😀 I am on for tomorrow the 14th. Been doing liquid diet since November 25th. I am so ready. I had prepped myself if it was cancelled. There was an omelet in my near future. Now it will be in the distant future but well worth the wait. Good luck and good health. Tomorrow starts a bright future!

I think the way most people use it refers to the difference between the volume of food you were able to consume pre-surgery and the comparatively tiny amount you can consume after surgery. It's definitely nothing gross; it's just that "ope better stop" feeling you get after a little bit of eating. Nothing gross about it; that's what the surgery is supposed to do.

Thank you all for the thoughtful responses. (And the nice words about my beating cancer, @kcuster83 . I tend to forget that experience as time goes by. I need to remind myself that it was kind of a big deal and gather more strength from it. :))
Based on your responses, my takeaway is that getting to the restriction point is your body's way of saying that the sleeve is full, and anything el se you try to stuff in there is going to remain in your esophagus. I'm going to posit that THAT is the source of the discomfort.
I have a friend who has an abnormally narrow esophagus. He'll eat, the food won't go down and he'll have to vomit. At that point he can't even sip water...he immediately gets sick. This can happen with any type of food that gets lodged in there and doesn't easily break down with stomach acids, which I guess also start backing up into the esophagus. He has gotten a procedure to dilate the esophagus every few years because over time, the space narrows again. Restriction sounds like a version of this, milder and able to be controlled, but ultimately resulting from stuff being stuck in the esophagus. Does that sound close?