BoilerBob

I had a very regimented 4-week liver shrinkage diet. The base was the shake but I would also get to have specific items like a low fat string cheese, no sugar yogurt, ands a few snacks of sugar free pudding or jello. The only thing was that I could add whatever I wanted if it was fat free broth, vinegar, or raw veggie after I had gotten in all protein for the day. I definitely hit the broth and vinegar hard when I just needed something that wasn’t sweet.

Thanks for sharing everyone. I actually just got back from a cruise. I definitely adjusted my diet and didn’t go crazy but I also enjoyed the food I did eat. I actually intentionally exercised several mornings and ended up losing a few pounds over the week. I’m down about 14 inches in pants size and about 50 pounds from surgery.

Hi all. Glad to hear so many doing well even with little bumps along the way. I overindulged a little in sweets around Christmas but have otherwise been doing good in keeping to the plan. I’ve been tracking weight each week and have had a few stalls but things are in a good direction. I’m down about 70 pounds from the start of the pre-op diet and 40 from surgery. I’m about 100 pounds down from my heaviest ever weight before diabetes meds, etc. It’s been about 8-10 inches in waist size on my pants. I’ve been trying to exercise more but we’ve had so many sicknesses in my house and I can’t really exercise much while coughing. My biggest goal is to get more consistent with my weekly exercise. I got a Bowflex to try to get more toning in at home.

I had my one month post op appointment with my surgeon. No big issues. Then that night I felt a sharp ripping pain in my abdomen when I turned over in bed and have had a few more instances of pain since then. Messaged the surgical team and they told me it was super common as tissue is still angry so take it easy and go back to immediate post op pain management for a few days. Other than that am on soft food and still making a batch of egg drop soup every few days. Made a crockpot barbacoa with super soft beef that tasted like the best thing ever after no meat for a few months.

Hope everyone is still doing well. My recovery is still at a good pace and I got to add the joy of a root canal to that yesterday. Woo. Trying to start an exercise routine and have been infatuated with making egg drop soup.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions and support.

Welcome to December everyone. Things physically have been going great in terms of little to no pain and virtually no nausea. I have been having back pain I can’t really explain. Mentally it’s been more of a challenge. My wife and my PCP both asked me the other day what was wrong because I wasn’t acting like myself. People assume I don’t want to do social stuff that involves food and say they feel bad for eating around me. I was getting on myself for eating too much real food now that some options are available to me. Just feel a bit of a mess right now.

I bought some Flintstones chewable vitamins with extra iron so I wouldn’t have to deal with the huge multivitamin.

Hope everyone is continuing to do well. I over indulged for Thanksgiving and didn’t feel great after (some very wet mashed potato and a few spoonfuls of pumpkin pie filling). Otherwise have not really had much pain or nausea. Tomorrow is my two week appointment and I expect to be given the green light to move to purées and soft foods. I’m down about 15 pounds from my surgery and 45 from the start of my preop diet.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! The food may not be traditional this year, but it is still time to be thankful with family and friends.

Awesome! Glad to hear you are doing well!

I’m kinda bummed I really didn’t do any last meals. I was traveling at the start of my preop diet so my actual last meal was a sandwich at the Minions Cafe in Universal Studios. Nothing too crazy. I made some hard toffee tonight for my son’s Thanksgiving party and did pretty good though I maybe snuck a lick off the spoon of melted chocolate before I threw it in the sink.

Depending on the plan you may also be able to get a waiver for continuity of care for a time immediately after the switch.

This conversation is interesting. My program stressed no NSAIDs after bypass but put no restrictions for sleeve patients. In fact, I was discharged in a Tylenol and Motrin regimen for pain control.

I went 5 days after surgery (had been on month preop before that and had some gaps as well). Was told to take still softener twice a day after surgery and that still wasn’t cutting it. Advised 7-10 days is normal but I could take miralax or milk of magnesia if I was uncomfortable. Milk of magnesia did the trick in about 5 hours.

I think my pain is mostly just over-exertion from pushing it too much. Probably need to chill a little bit. Had some milk thinned instant mashed potatoes for diner which was a great reprieve from all of the sweet shakes.

I have to wait until two week post op visit to start purée. Started some back pain today. I think I’m just carrying myself differently to be gentle on my stomach.

I got a post-op call from the nurse today to check in. She suggested either miralax or milk of magnesia though said that 7-10 days of no bowel movement after surgery is normal.

:( Hope it has gotten since.

I’ve only been doing 2 shakes since my goal is 70g of protein. Otherwise it has been chicken stock with some rosemary salt or water. I had a yogurt last night and definitely hit a wall with that one. My main worry right now is constipation. I’m supposed to take colace twice a day and have only taken a few opioid pills and still nothing since surgery. I might give my team a call today before the weekend hits. Had some decaf hot coffee from Starbucks today to see if that would help and it hasn’t so far.

Hope everyone is still doing well. I’m actually tolerating liquids well and am not having an issue getting a protein shake for breakfast and one for lunch. I get a bit gurgley with water but end up burping and not vomiting.

My surgeons said they had an easy time with my liver because of me sticking to the preop diet for the month I was assigned. I think it really does make a difference and I also think it helped condition my stomach a little bit.

Yup I’m home. Oh how I will miss the midnight blood draws. Nausea is fairly controlled. I drank one protein shake when I got home and am still nursing my dinner shake. Pain isn’t too bad and they have me controlling it with Motrin and Tylenol. They also sent me home with 5 oxy just in case but told me that if pain was much worse at home to call them. I haven’t been drinking much else at home. I was sipping water fairly decently at the hospital and they also loaded me up with IV saline to cover a few low hydration days. How are you doing ChunkCat?

They are dangling sending me home today as long as I can eat. Just had some cream of wheat and yogurt. Haven’t had too much nausea but they are keeping me on steady zofran and a scopolamine.

Good to know about walking. I’ve already done a loop around the floor but need to do another soon. BTW, final tally was down 30 pounds on the month pre op diet.