BriDawn

I'm three days post op and on full fluids. My NUT wants me to "eat" 1/2 cup of food (Soup, yogurt, thin oatmeal, Jello, etc) every hour I'm awake. While also sipping and getting my ~64oz in. I'm finding this very difficult. It takes me at least a half hour to eat that 1/2 cup of food and I'm not supposed to drink within 15 minutes of it. Just wondering how you guys managed this? Also, how did you keep track of your consumption? I'm keeping a chart of the food stuff but an finding it harder to keep track of my liquids.

I'm on day three. The first day I would get that reaction with even the tiniest sip of Water. It would send a gurgle down my whole stomach, sometimes causing a sharp cramp for a few seconds. I'm home today and onto full fluids. I've had some Protein drink, tomato Soup, and a Popsicle. All is going down okay as long as I take my time. I tried yogurt but that didn't fly. Guess it's too thick for me still. Day by day! But what you're feeling sounds perfectly normal to me.

I'm post op day 2 and just got home and started my full fluids. What's the easiest way you've found to track what you're eating. Before surgery I used MyNetDiary but it seems annoying to keep entering such small amounts all day. What have you guys done?

It's the day after surgery and I've been getting it all day. There's a sudden sharp pain that only lasts a couple seconds and then passes. Sometimes accompanied by a tiny burp. I've just finally started fluids now and the same pain happens when I swallow the tiny sip of juice. I'm assuming it's gas (asked doc and she agreed) but just wondering if its normal and if you guys had it? When does it go away?

Good luck to you. I'm in hospital now, had surgery about 9 hours ago. Feeling alright. Gas pains are the worst, gives me some sharp pains when I inhale deep. But I'm up an walking now, the foggy drugginess is wearing off. Feeling quite peaceful with my decision. This morning I was a crying wreck, having panic attacks and had to be given Ativan. Glad it's over. Can't wait for some Jello

She only gave me one scrub... Hmm. I feel like she said to so it the night before but it makes more sense to me to so it morning of. I just hate having to wake up at 4am!

I just ordered it tonight and put it on a 1-2 day delivery! Surgery is Monday so hoping to have to when I arrive back home Wednesday

I was given that scrubby thing to clean my stomach with before surgery. But I can't remember if the nurse said to us it morning of or the night before surgery. I have to be at the hospital at 6 am. Anyone know?

Is there anything you wished someone had told you before you went in? Any out-of-the-ordinary supplies that you brought with you that came in extra handy? Any other words of advice or just helpful things to calm my nerves? This is happening very fast and I'm excited but mostly terrified!

I really want to try the Syntrax nectar shakes but I can't find them anywhere except online, which has outrageous shipping costs. I also would like to sample them before committing to that big barrel at the huge costs. Anyone in Canada know somewhere that ships or sells samples? Or anything comparable to these in Canada. I like the fruity ideas since I imagine I'll get sick of chocolate stuff real fast.

We all have those screaming doubts of "what the hell am I doing to myself?!" Do I really need it. Will it work for me. Etc etc. Anyways, I had a mini epiphany the other day that really made this easier for me. I'm viewing it as the first 6-8 months being diet period. It's no different from any other strict diet. A diet I *need* to be on, but haven't ever been successful with before. I thought that after those months when I'm down to goal weight, my stomach is healed and I enter the maintaining period. I will be able to eat those foods I thought I'd never taste again, only in much smaller portions. And yes, there is some stuff I'm sure I will never tolerate again and I'm fine with that. It just suddenly occurred to me that the first 6-8 months are kind of like the diet we all need, that we can't escape from, so that we will finally succeed! Then as everything is adjusting and you learn your new life, you can begin to eat some of your old favorites in *small* portions while keeping up with your new way of eating. Does this sound reasonable or am I a dreamer?

I know the first months are going to be tough. But when did you feel normal again. I mean, not having to think about every little thing you put in and worrying it was going to get stuck or come right back up. When could you go out to dinner and order a meal? (I realize you wouldn't finish it, but still!) Basically, at what point do we leave the learning stage and go on to the living stage? I know many people who are 6+ months out basically say "I can eat what I want but less of it".

I'm preparing myself for the worst, so nope! I've had my gallbladder out so I'm imagining it'll be similar but with a bit more pain. I'm 23 and healthy other than my weight so I'm hoping for the best

I know someone already said Water and vodka, but try that with flavored vodka instead! That's what I drink now (pre op) because it's lower calorie and the water keeps hangovers at bay. And the flavored vodka tastes pretty good.

I'm really trying to prepare myself for my upcoming surgery next Monday. Did you wake up actually feeling like, hey, half my stomach is gone. Could you feel stuff on the inside? Or were you just overall sore? And I mean when you're consciously awake, not the first drugged wake up when you're still all loopy!

This is definitely a hard decision for you. I'm 23 and even I have that big question in my mind mostly because I am so young. It's scary to think you're permanently altering yourself at such a young age. That being said, I struggled with my weight since I was about 7 or 8. When I was your age, I really started dieting and exercising. I lost weight and was an average size throughout high school and was relatively happy. Then it just slowly started packing back on, from 180lbs when I was 15/16 to the 240lbs I'm at now at 23. And my highest was 260 two years ago. Honestly, I haven't got the surgery yet. I'm schedule for next Monday so I still have those doubts in my head. But I've seen myself battle this thing forever and it never goes away. For me, anyways. You know what, you definitely could lose the weight on your own. But the bigger issue is keeping it off. Mine started gaining back when I became independent from my parents, learned to drive, and could suddenly stop at mcdonalds whenever I wanted. I could eat out with friends all the time. You definitely need to prepare yourself for this. It won't be easy, not for any of us. But from what I've read in hundreds and hundreds of forums by this point, is that the #1 regret for people is that they didn't do the sleeve earlier. Good luck!

I'm not too sure but I do know that my doctor told me stop taking my birth control these last weeks leading up to surgery. I guess they higher your risk of blood clots. I'm not having sex right now so I just stopped taking them completely. I'd ask your doctor about it!

I'm hoping to get rid of some of my fears of hospitals here. The thought of being alone (or with another patient) in a room all night for two nights is terrifying. I know nurses come in and out but it's still quite empty during the nights. All I picture is horror movies in my mind! Are we drugged enough that we don't notice the time too much? Or will it feel like a normal day? Just spent in a strange bed and quite bored? Would like to hear some people's hospital experiences!

The one I got was from Walmart, the "Body Fortress" whey Protein in chocolate. In one scoop it has 30g of protein and 170 calories. Is this too high? I hear a lot about the nectar ones on here which are much lower in calories, but I'm not sure where to find them (Alberta, Canada) and I would also like to finish the one I bought before I buy anymore. Thoughts?

If you liked Hunger Games, here's some you might really enjoy too: -Poison Study -Bitten -Divergent -A Great and Terrible Beauty -Game of Thrones series (if you're into fantasy too, this series is damn amazing!) -Water for Elephants is one I just finished and loved. -Uglies I read a lot of books...

Awesome job!

Yowza! This seems so low to me. When I was talking with my nutritionist, she told me she'd like to see me aiming at 1200 calories a day after I'm back onto solid foods. My surgery is on April 22. I'm just curious now, was everyone told they will be in that 600-800 calorie range for good? Or do you go back up after you're at goal?

I have anxiety and am prone to panic attacks too. The fact that I'm terrified of hospitals and have a slight phobia towards vomit also won't be helping me. I had my pre-op today and discussed this with the doctors and nurses. Their plan is to give me a small dose of Ativan once I'm whisked away from my parents since this will likely be when the panic starts. That and they're going to help me through it by chatting with me and keeping me doing some deep breathing (something that always helps me in those circumstances). My advice is to talk to your doctor as well and see if they can help in a similar way! I'm very nervous just at home too but I'm on anti-depressants for my anxiety which seems to keep the huge panics at bay. That and I try to take it one day at a time and not worry about too much. Good luck!