pnw218

I am 5 days post op. I am also having problems with Protein. Isopure is horrid, and makes me want to hurl when I taste it. I bought Muscle Milk, and that is a little better but gives me diahreah. So far only getting about 10 grams of protien in a day. But my doctor did not give me restrictions on Water intake. In fact, I have caught myself gulping water! (And yes! It hurts sometimes) I am facing "head hunger". I want some refried Beans and cheese really bad. I want some potato Soup really bad. I still cant stomach a protien shake and I want to eat these things. I also want a mcdonalds hamburger. Just to chew up and spit out, not to swallow. God Im a fat girl at heart

As soon as I over the initial surgery, I was ready for something more substantial. I had yogurt on the flight home - 3 days post op. I didn't go crazy but did move to thicker foods the first week. For me, I needed more than Clear Liquids to feel better. I did the premade shakes (Atkins, Nutrilite, Premier), cottage cheese, potato soup, mashed potatoes.

I tried a couple of Protein powders and thot they were horrid. I tried mixing them into my hot farina Cereal in the morning. Not great, even with baby fruit added in for taste.

A nurse who had surgery at the same time, wrote to me that the drs she worked with said anything mushy and tolerated was ok. I did stay away from crunchy, seeds, etc.

Have you seen this link yet? http://www.cornellweightlosssurgery.org/pdf/dietary_guidelines_sleeve_gastrectomy.pdf

It is a difficult adjustment; the entire experience has been harder for me mentally than physically. I crave Wendy's tho, not McD's! lol

It will get easier

Iwat80 ~ congrats on your surgery! You made me laugh - we are all so similiar. Its like, uh, we are the way we are because we can't control our food and now you are telling us to control our food? ? And in a few short days we can't have any of our favs?? ya right! LOL

Good for you tho for coming clean to your doctor. That way he could make a schedule adjustment if needed.

There are definitely times, due to medical issues, that the pre-op diet seems to be more important. I think most of the time tho, drs know that we aren't going to be perfect, so they might tell us 7 days hoping to get 4 or 5 : )

good luck to both of you!

I'm eating soft food now and I

scared... the reason is my sleeve does not hurt anymore.. so its really up to me to choose the right foods and control my portins. it allows me to eat more now. I can eat about 4-5 oz without pain:blink:. I notice when i eat fast , i feel like throwing up. I can't drink while I eat at all. I'm learning the eat slow method . I guess i'm learning all of it and that a good thing. I exercise daily. Walk., swim, work out videos and more. I enjoy working out every morning. I've lost a total of 32 lbs since I got my sleeve. WOW.... That is amazing!!!:thumbup: I'm scared because I keep thinking I may be stretching my sleeve since it allows me to eat more. What are the symptoms of a stretched sleeve??. HELP ME... I am so confused on that .:bored0:

I felt back to normal very quickly, probably in less than two weeks?? I had to remind myself that I had surgery.

You are eating more at a time than I was but it also sounds like your stomach is letting you know as well. I still feel uneasy if I eat too quickly or too much. I am able to sip during meals; I certainly don't drink alot but there are times a little liquid is needed : )

You are doing great by exercising! I have been on restricted activity since before my surgery. I could be walking but haven't done alot. I have had PT 2x a week for 6 weeks and feel good tho. Thinking the back dr might release me on my next visit.

Supposedly the stomach portion that is left isn't very stretchy so you shouldn't be able to stretch it too much. There are others who are able to eat/drink similar to you. Talk to your doctor and see what he/she says.

Use caution and common sense, you should do great!

The staff you meet with upon arrival speak fluent english. The nurses, however, don't. When you arrive they give a sheet of paper with common phrases in spanish that a nurse would ask you and it tells you how you can answer so that is helpful. If you can't say it you can point to it and they can read it.

I printed sheets with common and medical English/Spanish phrases before I went down thinking it might be a good idea, but never had to use them. Nice to have on hand tho!

Did you ever find out if the spinal had anything to do with the back pain?? My "too full" pain has always been in the front, so was just curious.

Hope your recovery is going well!

you got it girl!

I could always bring you out to the PNW for a few days and then send you south for surgery! I do have an extra room! : )

PNW218........you picked this fight. Chillax

hey sweetie! all is good! I am eating lunch, watching tv, doing a few searches online ....

tell your friend to respond nicer and she won't hear from me.

I have always looked out for others and have no intention of stopping now. You may think you outnumber me, but I get plenty of pm's that show otherwise.

LOL You always only see it your way. As I have asked you before, just make your posts positive without saying or insinuating that someone else is wrong. It really isn't hard to do. Even I have done it!

There are as many different guidelines, etc etc as there are paint colors.

Re-read what you wrote:

I'll just ditto to what they had to say. It's just not worth it. Whatever your surgeon guidelines are, please stick to them. They have way more experience with these surgeries than any one member on this forum. (does that include you???) Just because some other guideline is out there doesn't mean it's okay to follow it. (directed at me even tho you have posted it as well) We trusted the surgeons to remove 75-85% of our stomachs, trust them with their post-op diet recommendation. (and what about the dr who says anything you can tolerate is ok, shall we trust them??? would be totally contradictory to your advice and admonishments to those who do move past some stages faster)

In his book, "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff... author Richard Carlson says, "Needing to be right - or needing someone else to be wrong - encourages others to become defensive and puts pressure on us (you) to keep defending."

Try it, you just might like it. I have always said what worked for me and that it was my opinion. I have never said that someone was bad, wrong or crazy for doing something different. I have offered others who asked different options so they could see what works best for them.

liquids didn't work for me. Was I wrong to move to something that did? I don't think so but you sure lectured me at the time. I had to find foods/beverages that would help me to recover and feel better. Thank God there were open minded people out there who offered me help and choices, and didn't just insult me and tell me to buck up.

I am done here. Will watch for your next rude email and jump in there. People need encouragement, not discipline. Think about it.

Good Luck Jerry with your surgery and recovery!

Failure is also a word I don't take lightly. I was so frustrated when I was gowned up and prep'd for surgery that I could not stop crying. How could I fail at something so easy as losing 50+ pounds???? I have had few other failures in my life, why couldn't I do this on my own?? Fortunately, the gal I was sharing a room with at the time was amazing - almost like the mother I never had, and she held my hand and talked me down. Then the nurse walked by and the valium in my iv helped too! LOL

Congrats to you for taking the plunge! I am sure you will be glad that you did!

Thank you for your service as well. My grandfather was a Major in the Army, my father retired Air Force and my 22 yr old son will graduate from flight school next month and serve as a Black Hawk pilot.

awesome job! you are a 5k up on me and I am almost 3 months post-op! LOL

You have shown yourself what you can do! Next year you will run it and not even sweat!

Congrats!!!!

Yes, stay positive : ) Patience is much more difficult to work with!

Your body might need to be shaken up a little. Add calories for a few days, then add carbs for a few days, then back to your plan.

I have definitely had slow weeks and can look back at my calendar and there was hardly any movement. If I wouldn't have had that cookie or pizza or whatever! : ) For me, I do better to have a bite of something if I am craving it, rather than depriving myself.

Hang in there! It will happen!

I initially only told my husband, sister and daughter, who still lives at home. At first, I didn't think I would tell very many people about the surgery. Then it changed to - I would tell some people but not until I had lost at least 20 pounds or so to make sure it was working.

Later, I totally changed my mind. I tell almost everyone I come in contact with - friends/family/business contacts who notice the weight loss or even the gal at Starbucks! I was just there to buy gift cards and she was trying to hard sell me on a coffee drink! LOL sorry, I don't drink coffee. ok - how about this? or that? Finally, I said sorry, I had weight loss surgery and really can't have any of it! Then you have their total attention and they want to know all about it! haha!

I also decided that my embarrassment over telling people that I had the surgery did not outweigh the benefit it could be for people who had never heard of the surgery. I didn't know anything about it until one month before my surgery! I had truly only heard of the bypass and found out about the lapband while desperately searching the internet for "something" to help me.

My other main issue was in regards to people I knew who had also struggled with losing weight. I felt that I would be lying to them if I only said that I was losing weight by eating smaller portions and exercising - even tho that was true. I didn't want them to feel that I was any better than them, because they weren't able to do it that way alone.

I have received a variety of responses. Friends saying that they weren't ready to take the easy way out yet, and would keep dieting and exercising. Those who say that they could never afford it like I could. (yes I paid cash but that doesn't mean the money was just sitting there waiting to be spent). I always just smile, wish them luck, tell them to feel free to share my info with anyone they talk to who might be interested. Then I email them a general surgery description, post op diets, etc.

Most people tho are very supportive and say they never thought of me as fat or needing to take such a drastic measure to lose weight. Kinda true but I also explain to them about the sleep apnea, back probs and other medical issues.

Definitely another one of those personal choices. There are probably some people I don't care for much and I might not tell them right away! LOL

The restaurant thing is funny! A couple of times, I have actually asked them to bring my meal in a to go box! I usually just say that I had a late lunch or whatever : )

You are the one to get over yourself sweetie. My post was the only one you didn't acknowledge as being "good advice" and your comments were with the intent that "just because the guideline is there" doesn't mean it is good. It is from Cornell University, a pretty well known place. And you have posted it yourself. Don't try to act like I am posting something that might kill people or cause them serious problems.

You are not queen bee of the board even tho you try to wear the banner of Miss Know it All.

I have already apologized personally to Maravilla for the drama in her thread but I refuse to allow you to push your narrowminded opinions on people when there are other options that might work for someone.

Try posting in a less negative mode with a backhand slam to someone else. Everytime I see you or your group do it, I will respond. Getting attacked by ya'll doesn't deter me at all. Even tho I am losing weight, I still have big shoulders.

I was sleeved on March 19. So far I have lost 20 pounds and most of that was nearly immediately. Once again I fear I will be the only person who had this surgery and loses 20 pounds and maybe that is it. I am concerned because I feel the same hunger as before surgery only now I can't eat as much so my only choice is to be hungry or eat more often. Today I am in a self pity place. I think I will get on the treadmill instead but I am sure kind of depressed right now.

It is the one thing you aren't supposed to pray for: patience! : ) Cause you just might get it!

Take it slow and steady. I get on the scale almost every day - unless I am not at home, and often the scale is up a pound or juggles by half a pound up and down. It certainly is one step forward, two steps back. And back and forth. The scale will move downward, just not constantly or as fast as you may want.

It will work. Give it a chance. Your body needs to adjust to the changes. Trick it once in awhile. Add calories for a few days. Then add carbs for a few days. Then go back to your plan. You will likely see a change.

Hang in there! And stay positive - the better "p" word! :001_cool:

I'll just ditto to what they had to say. It's just not worth it. Whatever your surgeon guidelines are, please stick to them. They have way more experience with these surgeries than any one member on this forum. Just because some other guideline is out there doesn't mean it's okay to follow it. We trusted the surgeons to remove 75-85% of our stomachs, trust them with their post-op diet recommendation.

Hang in there, it gets easier.

Hmmm, was that directed at me??? LOL

Seems you have even posted the Cornell guidelines a few times.

Thank again guys!

I guess her "points" were getting inside my head making me rethink myself.

I have this HUGE fear I will be the ONE person that this surgery doesn't work for. I fear I will lose 30lbs and that will be it and I will struggle to keep it off like so many times before. Thanks for everyone's help

note to self: while in Dothan, kidnapp Sam and put her on the plane a few days early with a note to her dr: sleeve only, no lapband! lol

I am also one of those who intended to do the band, primarily because it "was reversible". I do have my doubts about that now. I had even scheduled my surgery as the band, and then switched to the sleeve a few days later - thank goodness!!

Our area is inundated with band commercials right now (or maybe I am just now noticing them??). I haven't seen a single one for the sleeve. I am working on an article that I will try to get published ..... the only thing that is holding me back is going "public". I don't mind it on a one on one basis and freely tell those I come in contact with. Just not sure I want the entire Puget Sound area to know! LOL And not so sure it would get published if I don't use my name.

Seriously Sam, I understand wanting your familys' blessing, but in the end, it is your decision. You are trained in the medical field so have alot of knowledge and experience that others should respect : )

I would have gone crazy on a pre-op diet, so I congratulate anyone who makes it thru!

You could have eaten something much worse than oatmeal : ) Get thru the next couple of days as best as you can. Don't drive yourself crazy. After surgery, it will be much easier to stay on track.

For safety's sake, don't eat after 11pm or midnight, whatever your directions are for the night before surgery. That is important not to mess with : )

Good luck with your travels, surgery and recovery! It is amazing!!

Okay all! It's been a while since I posted. Life has been taking too much time. Anyway, I have two NSV's that happened to me recently.

1. I had a size 10 dress from my wedding - I wore this dress as we left our wedding reception on the way to our Honeymoon. Cute little ivory thing - loved it but only wore it once cause it was getting a little tight. I wore this dress easily for my son's First Holy Communion last weekend. I've been able to wear it for a couple months but didn't have a reason until last weekend. I promised myself I would wear it more than once. TaDa!!! I posted picture in my album.

2. My favorite NSV recently happened last night. My husband has a group of guys that have played Texas Hold'Em for years. They rotate whose home, etc. Anyway, last night, this guy I've known for years but haven't seen in almost 11 months, Reggie, comes in and doesn't really say much to me as he proceeds upstairs to the gameroom. This morning my husband told me that Reggie asked him, "who was that women answering the door, where's your wife?" Apparently, Reggie thought we either split up or Patrick was having a scandalous affair - he didn't recognize me. I loved it!!! :tongue_smilie::thumbup:

LOL!!!

Congrats on the "who's the hot babe answering the door" comment! That is awesome!

oh, and the dress is good too : ) I am getting close to the size when we got married and it feels great!

Congrats again!!

It definitely is mind over matter. You need to have small goals and victories along the way.

I can relate to the mirror issue from a different direction. For most of my 'fat' years, I still felt like my old, slender self and then would look in the mirror and be totally shocked and disgusted with what I saw. Now, even as I lose weight - there are days that I am feeling better and more confident - and other days that I still feel heavy.

The mental is a very strange aspect for sure!

Congrats to you for your weight loss so far and the positive attitude!

Thanks all. I will definalty call Dr 1st thing on Monday. I also had gallbladder removed but don't think that is a factor in this. Will post his response.

Your swelling may just be taking longer to resolve, so don't panic : ) Everyone has a wide range of recoveries from pain, to what they tolerate, etc.

I had my gall bladder removed a few years ago and it didn't affect how much I ate, only what I ate. My system didn't adjust well to the increase of bile so it was food in, food out. Not pleasant. There are a couple of meds out there that will help that - if it becomes an issue for you. My issues totally went away after sleeve surgery and I have quit taking my "gall bladder" med.

I still eat quite slowly at two+ months out. At two weeks, it took 45 minutes - hour to eat 2 ounces. It seemed like it took forever to take a real drink of water! Now it is pretty much normal.

Hope you get good advice from your doctor in the morning!

At eleven days, I was eating most anything I wanted - within reason and either mushy/soft or chewed very well.

I found the Cornell guideline before my surgery and it worked great for me. I think the most important aspect is not to eat anything that will damage your stitch line - like nuts or anything that could stay crunchy and get stuck, causing an infection.

http://www.cornellweightlosssurgery.org/pdf/dietary_guidelines_sleeve_gastrectomy.pdf

I also think it depends alot on what your stomach will tolerate. Many patients here talked about eating chili early on and I could never have done that! LOL

My fav is the Premier chocolate Protein premade shake, I buy it at costco. It has 30 grams of protein. I do at least one and often two of them every day and pretty much takes care of my protein for the day with only 5 carbs each.

I used my fork and it worked great! : )

at 12 weeks .... 156.8 a loss of 36.2!

It has been encouraging to see the 2lb a week loss continue even tho the past week or so hasn't been "normal". Life in general has been busy and stressful, I was sick last week and didn't sleep well this week.

Being sick - wasn't sure if it was a "flu" bug or something I did (or didn't) eat. I spent about 4 days with blurry vision, dizzy, hot/chills, shaky hands. I spent last weekend Protein and carb loading, drinking as much as possible. Finally went away - but then I couldn't sleep! Sunday thru Wed nights were terrible. I finally went to the acupuncturist on Thursday afternoon. Have been sleeping about 12 hours per night since then! LOL Feels great! :tongue_smilie:

Friday - Saturday I took our club volleyball team to Great Wolf Lodge as a reward for winning a difficult match. The good part - they are all 14-16 yr old teens so didn't need supervision - well, except for the boys! lol I would have felt very comfortable putting on a swim suit and hanging out in the Water park, however the mom who came with me, wasn't - so I just wore a tank top and shorts, and we sat outside in the sun. It wasn't too hot and was very relaxing!

I am over the halfway point to my goal - again, a goal I pulled out of the air. LOL It is actually the mid point of the weight range for a female with a healthy bmi, medium build and 5'4".

My next short term goal is to hit the 40 pounds lost mark. Getting close!! I should be there before I go to Alabama the first part of June.

I have never had such confidence knowing that I could set a goal and actually have a reasonably strong chance of hitting it before in my life. It is a feeling you can't describe, but those who have done it, will understand.

Judy,

I don't know of any reason why you wouldn't be allowed to sleep on your side, other than it might not be comfortable.

I was sleeping on my side by day 2 post-op, and used a pillow between my knees and a pillow along the length of my side as a cushion. I did lay on my right side - my drain was on the left.

Good Luck and happy planning!

My guess is not much.

I saw the amount removed and it looked like less than a handful.

Are you pre or post-op?