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I had surgery 12/30 and the back pain was horrible! It lasted like that for a few days and now it is off and on but it seems worse right after I have eaten or drink anything. I'm still on yogurt and pudding and the likes so I dunno....hopefully from what I'm reading it will eventually go away completely. I do wish I would have been prepared for that though. It hurts so bad afterwards I was wondering, "What the heck did I get myself into???" Now it's not too bad.

I'm so grateful to have found this site and have read a number of stories that made me feel less alone in my own struggle. Here is my story: March of 2008 I saw a weight loss surgeon who said all the right things to convince me I was too fat to lose weight on my own and the only way to have lifelong success was to sign up for WLS which required a thousand dollar deposit. I weighed 265 lbs at the time and in my late 30s was far too tired to try another diet and exercise program that would inevitably result in another 10lb weight gain. January of 2008 my employer switched to a new insurance carrier, I submitted paperwork in March for coverage for WLS and eventually got the definitive "no" in November 2008. Fast forward to October 2009, same doctor, same spiel, weight now 295lbs and co-morbidities presented to insurance carrier requesting coverage- denied. Februaury 2011, made a "lets just see" call to insurance carrier to find out if requirements were met........found out that one more year of a documented weight and BMI over 40 and the coverage would be extended! I put my ducks in a row and within 2 weeks of my initial doctors visit in February 2012 I was able to schedule my surgery for mid March. I was shocked to find my weight ballooned to 347lbs but thrilled when I lost 16 lbs pre-surgery in a short 12 days. I took 5 days off work, gave away all the food in my pantry and bought the cutest pajamas I could find for my 3 day hospital stay. I packed my bag on Sunday and even though I was nervous and exited I slept until 5am when I took a luxurious bubble bath and set out for the hospital @ 7am. In pre-op my precious daughter sat and prayed with me, my anesthesiologist joked about just turning the big 40 too, my surgeon came in and smiled, answered my questions, quelled my fears and prayed with my daughter and I. Nothing but blackness. I barely woke to find myself in PACU alone and asked for my daughter to be allowed in.."sure honey, which one is she?"..."hmm, oh, she's the one with pink hair!". My sweet daughter came in and praised God with me that I was breathing and everything seemed fine. Fade to black again. I'm in a private room now and my daughter is sleeping on the sofa. The nurse comes in, the IV is checked, "here's your button for the morphine pump. Any time you feel pain coming on you press it." I'm not in pain, I feel my stomach and it feels flat already, stupid, it must be the drugs. My surgeon comes in with his PA and he looks flushed, sweaty and triumphant, "eveything went wonderful! no problems, a textbook case if there ever was one." we smile and I joke about calling What Not To Wear to get a new wardrobe. I get up to the bathjroom as soon as I can. I'm anxious to see how I look and change out of the hospital gown. It's been 3hrs since surgery and i'm in my pajamas, robe and snuggly slippers and my daughter takes my arm and we begin our walk around the unit. I walk and walk, smiling and thinking what a good patient I am, no DVTs for me. My stay is uneventful, day 3 my surgeon smiles and says "time to go home!" I fill my prescriptions but I haven't touched the pain medicine and feel so powerful that I drive myself home. Then the horror begins. The first noght i'm home I wind up in the bathroom with forceful diarhea that comes in waves of gut wrenching spasms. Over and over again, just foul smelling liquid, I sit there too long and now i'm sick, I pull the trash can over and vomit clear liquid until I think i'm going to pass out. My daughter gets me to bed, time to take the meds and not try to do it on my own, I slump back and its daytime now. My head is spinning and the spasms come again, diarhea, vomit.... I step on the scale, smile in a drug haze and think wow i've lost 2 more lbs! Nothing is clear anymore, what day is it? what time is it? did I take my pills? was it a dream or did I really eat a piece of chicken from the refrigerator? why won't the nausea stop? why do the Protein shakes suddenly taste like dog butt? I can't get anything in, i'm trying to force 2oz popsicles down but when I finish one its back to the bathroom with waves of diarhea and vomiting. Day 6 post-op, I manage to take a shower with my daughter holding me up, pack 2 Protein Shakes and my giant Water bottle and trot off to work. I make it 2hrs into a ten hour shift and spend most of it in the bathroom vomiting blood...time to call the doctor. I talk to the nurse who tellls me to drink as much water as I can. I can't. I call and talk to another nurse who says to try a different Protein shake. I'm weak and sick and starting to lose it...I scream at my daughter "why won't you help me?". I call the nurse again, the PA calls me back "have you been able to take your meds and get some water in?" no, NO! It's been 11 days since surgery and now we're worried for some reason and my daughter has my bag packed and we're back at the hospital where they have my room ready and they put me back in a hospital gown. I don't see my doctor until Monday but Fri, Sat and Sun a variety of PAs mand other surgeons from the office come in and tell me things and they'll support me and some people have a harder time and just give it time, time time. Monday the first of many PICC lines come and the tests start. In 3 days I blew 11 IV lines. The PICC line sounds wonderful but they hit my ulnar nerve and the vein occluded and I went back to my room with an open hole in my arm, a second PICC and a gown covered in blood..how did that happen with a sterile drape? So I can't eat but they think I won't and they tell me all the reasons I need to and they threaten if I don't its time for TPN. I try, I puke. I try everything, Unjury- ick, water-gross, eggs-vomit, pudding, ice cream, sherbet, yogurt, Jello... the nausea wells up from my toes and never ends. The TPN starts on Tuesday, I leave the hospital 13 days later, Maundy Thursday, I beg because tomorrow its Good Friday and I can't bear to be away from daughter on Easter. Monday after Easter I have lost 8 lbs in the 4 days i've been home, somethings wrong. The doctor says to get a liter of Fluid and some Vitamins, it'll be ok, it's not. Friday the nurses come and set up the home TPN and show me how to do IV push meds, the saline, phenergen, saline, heparin, again, the zofran, again, 8 times a day. My house becomes and infirmary, boxes and boxes of supplies, dressings, medicine, saline, alcohol swabs, heparin. The dog can't be out when the dressing is changed, the TPN bag is changed once a day, add the vitamins, push the medicine. It takes a few weeks and the meds are doubled, the nausea just won't fricking stop. The TPN is my savior. another month, double the meds again, brief periods of relief, my weight stabilizes @ 317....I had WLS for this? I can't work, i'm constantly sick and besides I have a doctors appointment every week and another test, EGD, swallowing, emptying studies, another EGD, but nothing is wrong "everything is fine, it may just take time for you. You might be on liquids for 6 months" my doctor says... liquids? it's been 3 months and I can drink about 12 oz a day... liquids? i'm still on TPN?! It's been 4 months, I can't stand the TPN, we decrease the time and I try to eat what I can when I can. My weight is 318, d?@$ WLS! We double the meds, the phenergen is 4 times the dose it was when I had surgery, does anyone know this causes heart problems? We decrease the TPN, I can only eat right after I push the meds and I do it again right afterwards, then I pass out... weight loss is tough work, I manage to get down to 314. Somethings wrong, I feel sick, sicker than usual haha...my daughter is talking to the nurse at the ER, "no she feels really sick, her heart is skipping beats maybe? her blood pressure is up. look at her arm, do you think it's swollen? what's that black mark?" They tell me I have a UTI and send me home, its Monday. I can't breathe, i'm having a heart attack, I know it, its Wednesday and we're back at the ER, the doctor smiles and says its anxiety, take some Ativan and keep taking your antibiotic...are you kidding? I throw up the antibiotic, it stinks, I crush the Ativan and sleep for days. Its Friday and the nurse calls, "how are you" my arm hurts and its swollen, "GO BACK TO THE ER" I can't, I fall back asleep. Its Saturday and I can't find my wrist, my arm is a thick puffy balloon like they use to make balloon animals. My fingers won't bend, doesn't matter cause I can't feel them anyway, i'm sick, I vomit and try to push my meds, I get in 2ccs of saline and it feels like my arm is a water balloon...I push a cc and I think I see it literally filling up, theres a black gnarled line around my upper arm, looks like a barbed wire tattoo, thank God for WLS. I'm at the ER again, its Saturday night and i'm sure they'll admit me, they HAVE to pull the PICC and give me a new one, surely they'll see that, I can't breathe, please give me some Ativan and phenergan, i'm gonna puke again. A nurse comes in and says he's from Interventional radiology, doesn't even touch my arm but smiles and leaves, we hear him outside the door "you've gotta pull that PICC, it's really bad!" a tech comes in with an ultrasound machine and pushes on the outer part of my arm, over and over, slimy gel, pushing harder, my arm isn't quite so numb now, its killing me on the underside, my armpit aches and the inner portion of my upper arm feels like someone is firing a gun into it every time they touch me. "Good news!" the ER doc smiles and tells me its just a little superficlal blood clot...yay! all we need to do is apply warm compresses and it will go away, have some noroc for the pain...great, more crap I can't swallow. "What should I do if it gets worse? what if it swells up more?" don't worry "It's fine, no need to come back even if it gets bigger, warm compresses and you'll feel alot better" It's Monday and the weekend went by in a drug induced haze. I can't use my PICC, I crush the norco and ativan and try to stay asleep, no not asleep, blacked out, like anesthesia until the doctors office opens Monday. I tell the nurse, she sets up an appointment at Interventional Radiology for them to pull and replace the PICC on Tuesday, good, hopefully i'll die by then. Its 6pm Monday and I can't take it, I might be hallucinating, I know i'm dying, I moan and rock, i'm in the car, off to the ER again. I wait for hours while people scream and cry, everybody is taken before me, I pull my sweatshirt and cover my head, I moan and lick the blood from cracked lips, I can't even stand up to go to the bathroom and vomit, 4 hours later and they wheel me back. Nurse after nurse comes in to try to start an IV, "she's dehydrated and a tough poke" "I KNOW! she's so ill tho, what are we supposed to do???" check her feet, no veins, we're gonna have to go in thru the femoral.....God no, I can't remember if I have underwear on and they're gonna cut into my groan to find a vein. "Great news!" we found a cluster of blood clots under your arm, no not one, there are several vericose veins bulging out of your arm, the PICC went bad and they strangulated and now they have clots in them. You're gonna die if you throw one to your heart or lungs, we're starting the lovanox, you're gonna be fine. 3 days of terror, I'm admitted to the hospital and the doc upstairs decides she knows what I need, they pull the PICC from my grossly swollen arm and I beg for some dilauded "this isn't a painful procedure, you don't need anything for pain." and she teaches the student nurse how to yak=nk 4 feet of tubing and wire from my arm while I sob, my daughter cries and starts to yell. The doctor leaves, she won't come back or write orders, i'm sick, no pain meds or nausea meds, try some tylenol, f**** you. I cry and demand to see another doctor, I call my doctor and the oncall doctor screams at the charge nurse...they give me ativan and phenergan, my daughter yells and threatens, the nurses hate to come in my room. Wednesday morning is the first and last time I see my surgeon, he pops his head in and smiles "so your PICC is gone now, thats what happens" when you screw up and get a blood clot is what he doesn't say. I'll see you in my office next week and we'll talk about a feeding tube. What? I had WLS 4 and a half months ago... I cry and turn and face the window, I keep the shades down. I'm sick of this, I finally get to leave @ noon on Wednesday. I have a script for Warfarin and an order to have my blood drawn every day, I have no PICC line, no IV push meds, no TPN and my arm looks like I was going for a Popeye look. I sob on the ride home. When I go to the lab the next morning they stick me 6 times and still don't get enough to run the PT/INR to check my clotting times. I fall out of the car as I try to go inside, I just sit on the grass and contemplate throwing up on the lawn, I see the neighbor and when she waves I think I should strip off my clothes and just run shrieking down the street... I need a laugh, otherwise I just cry. I'm so depressed, I see my primary doc, he orders me oral nausea meds, a compression sleeve for my arm and listens to me cry. I tell him my heart is skipping a beat, he says "phenergan can cause permanent heart damage" f*** phenergan. It's 12 days since I left the hospital without a PICC. The last thing my surgeon said was that they couldn't find a reason for my symptoms, he even asked the doctors at a seminar in California and they were all puzzled, oh well, too bad for me. My weight is down to 300 lbs now, it was 312 when I left the hospital. I made the mistake of going back to the ER last week Tuesday because my chest hurt and I was coughing and that same shortness of breath and heart thing came back. they said I was fine and were sending me home when I looked the ER doc right in the eye and said "with all due respect, the last time you said I was fine I had a blood clot that almosgt killed me, please, can you just check everything to make sure i'm ok?" tears in my eyes, he smiles, lets run another test. Theres a shadow in my lung, likely pneumonia but we can't be sure the clots haven't moved. We'll keep you for observation but we won't admit you, you're probably fine buit we'll do some IV fluids and antibiotics to be sure. They take me upstairs, I know whats coming next, nurse after nurse tries to start the IV, IM pain meds, I ask for nausea meds at 6:30 am and by 2pm I still haven't gotten any. I can't stand it so I leave, they chase me and try to make me sign something saying if I die its my own fault. I get home and chew a phenergan, drink some lortab and pass out. My primary doc said he would figure out how to get me seen by a specialist, I won't return the calls from my surgeons office, if I could put a stop payment on his check I would but insurance has already paid his fee. Maybe he's right, there's nothing to explain my symptoms, I doubt that, my skin is grey and I look like a chemo patient because my long thick brown hair has fallen out in Patches and I have a kind of crazy eyed look to me. I'm hungry and thirsty, I think I look like I could be a victim of starvation but then I laugh because i'm still so fat. I knew the risks of the surgery, pulmonary embolism, DVT, sleeve leak, infection. I was a nurse for 10 years and took care of hospice patients who looked better than me. I signed on for a magic pill, a fantastic surgery that would finally help me get to a healthy weight so I could see my daughter graduate from medical school, get married and hold my grandchildren. I wanted to avoid diabetes and stop heart disease, funny how it all worked out. If you have experienced any of the pain, nausea, depression, sadness, fear, frustration, anger or disgust like I have, tell me your story and let me know i'm not alone, i'm not crazy and it does get better. :-)

I am 3 1/2 weeks post op. I have never been one to nap and usually have good energy. However, for the last week and a half (since I went on pureed foods) I am struggling. Yesterday I slept so much I missed a meal and some liquids. I am bone tired. I am out of work until the beginning of January so I have time on my hands. This morning I slept until 1030. Usually I'm up by 730. I am taking all my Vitamins. I admit Protein has been a bit of a struggle so I have gone back to one Protein shake a day with added greek yogurt to up the protein grams. I am pretty close to 60 grams a day as recommended. I have been Water jogging with weights every day except today when I went in to lie down for about a half and hour and wound up sleeping 3 and a half hours. This is so not me. Anyone else experience this?

Make sure that they are all actual meals and that the other 2 aren't "Snacks." And also, eat them on a schedule when you're actually hungry or getting hungry, not just because they exist and you were told to eat them. Somedays (especially after a good workout) I am starving and feeling hungry many times a day. Other days (rest days usually) I'm not that hungry and normally eat maybe twice, with a string cheese or a yogurt in between to stop me from having any headaches. You're grazing when you run to your fridge, take a bite or two of something and then go away...then return 15 minutes later to do the same thing. If you're sitting down and focused on a balanced meal, comprised mostly of Protein, and you're treating it like a meal, then it's a meal.

I have a hard time with breakfast as well.. but I force it even if its sipping on my protien until its all gone around 10 am. As for yogurts, I like Siggi's its high in Protein and very little sugar. http://siggisdairy.com/

I've found that I really like my chicken either grilled or boiled with a little Water and some spices. I also am a fan of salad dressings now in a way that I never was before! I keep some ranch, vidalia onion, and italian dressing in the fridge at all times. The italian dressing is great to use instead of oil to cook chicken. Egg Face says that the key to eating meat after WLS is moisture, and she's right. She makes tons of different sauces/dips for her meat and that inspired me to keep the dressings on hand. I also like yogurt (unflavored greek right now) because I can mix in seasonings if I want something "italian" or "mexican" flavoried. There are tons of pre-seasoned meats for sale in the freezer section, but I usually will read the ingredients to see how something is prepared and then try to re-create that item at home. I also buy frozen wings, legs and thighs and will cook one or two at a time because I find the serving sizes on most prepared frozen dinners are too big for me now. THAT's a huge change from pre-op when I felt like they were way too small! Oh, and I really love Beans now. They weren't my favorite before surgery, but now I'll throw some beans in the crockpot and eat them alone or with a small piece of meat for lunch or dinner. Yummy!! Each of us learns what works for us by trial and error, so don't be afraid to experiment.

I feel compelled to add that I struggle with getting all my protein in still & am unable & unwilling to give up my coffee!! Most days.I.drink one shake & eat one protein bar but today I just haven't been hungry at all so I've forced everything I can in....I'm a puker unfortunately so I can't push too much or I am sick & miserable! I do drink water all day. I cannot stomach eggs & peanut butter sticks in my throat & I throw up which really sucks!!! I eat a ton of fish & seafood. Little to no chicken, beef, etc because I can't seem to get it down. I looooove seared ahi & eat it almost every other day, if not more often. It's my favorite! Smokes salmon, cream cheese & capers on whole wheat flat bread is my go-to lunch. Yum! I also eat Greek yogurt w/ berries a lot. Ok, done!!

Sugar / carb. I'm so down with yogurt bites.

Hi - I agree with all of the info in the previous posts. Also, please try not to drink anything while eating or it will flush things right through and prevent you from feeling full. Anything that just crumbles up will go through also. You really need to focus on protein items. I know yogurt, cottage cheese, etc. isn't exciting but it stays with you longer. After awhile when you are eating regular foods you will notice that regular food items like potatoes, meats, breads, pasta will def fill you up and possibly get stuck so make sure that you don't forget and take big bites and not chew. The problem is that when you get these items stuck in there drinking will not flush them through, it will make them come back up. It is a learning game and it really takes awhile to learn all of the dos and don'ts. Don't give up!!!

I don't eat crackers, bread, Pasta, carby veggies like potatoes and while I do eat fruit, it is limited. I mostly eat berries as fruit. I eat alot of meat, cheese, low carb yogurt, green/low carby veggies. I do eat nuts which have a fair amount of carbs Since I am in maintenance - I do allow myself carby foods sometimes, but on a daily basis, try to keep it moderate.

This is unusal, my doc recently told me the band doesn't loosen after you have lost the fat that was under the band. Maybe you have replaced that with muscle as you work to tighten up. If you are able to get lunch and dinner in I don't think I would worry. Maybe the coffee can be replaced with tea, no creamers and it's more "water like". Also, maybe yogurt in the AM for the protein. If you can"t eat lunch, at least call the doc. Good luck.

Not sure if that question is to me, but I'll answer just in case. Basically, I can only eat a few ounces at a time. My meals I eat mainly protein which is basically carb free and then I snack on cheeses and I consider cottage cheese mixed with Greek yogurt as dessert. Like I said though, I can't eat much at all so sometimes it's just a few bites and I have to come back to it for a snack. I don't have hunger or cravings or I'd eat other things I'm sure. So far I've lost my appetite for sweets.. Including ice cream, which I would eat by the tub full.

Not only do I have the lap band but I work in surgery and see patients all the time have this procedure done. I have run across old and new threads about all three being months post op. Well here is the thing and I hate when people get frantic because they dont know what is wrong and want to take their band out or get the by pass done just sayin. I am 10 months post op. I often had and have shoulder pain but shoulder pain comes from over eating. Everyone has a nerve in their stomach that runs from the stomach to the shoulder when you have over eaten and the band presses on that nerve you will have pain. If you are havng this problem then whatever you are eating cut it in half. You also might have inflammation in your stomach so give it a rest of 72 hours. Go back to the diet you had when you came home from the hospital and start over. For gas and bloating my culprit was cinnamon in my coffee and spices and talking while eating, chewing gum, after I stopped all that the gas and bloating stopped. Also start drinking some probiotics dan active, eating activia yogurt, and use gas x until the symptoms stop. You probably are going back to your old eating ways at some point and you just cant. We have to stay on the diet, follow the diet or else you start having side affects you didnt have before. But dont talk about taking out your band until you have tried what you were doing before all that started. Hope it helps I really do.

I done mine in 12/21. I still have pain when I swallow anything. I am still eating faster than I should be , I think. I drank my way through week 1 and had Greek yogurt. I can't tolerate the taste of any sweet liquids.

I get in at least 65 a day and it was probably around 4-5 months out before I could do so without a shake or Protein supplement. I eat greek yogurt for Breakfast every day and that really helps. I still need a protein shake sometimes when I'm traveling. here's a typical day for me at 9.5 months: Wake up and have a soy latte (8-9 grams of protein, depending on the soy milk I use) Breakfast: Cup of non-fat Fage plain greek yogurt, 1 slice whole wheat toast, 1/3 cup fruit (23 grams protein for the yogurt, 3-4 grams for the toast) lunch and Dinner: 3 oz. of solid protein and some vegetables. A little starch if I have room. (15-22 grams of protein depeding on whether I eat lunch meat, light cheese, chicken breast, shellfish, etc) Favorite protein snacks: light cheese, beef Jerky, light salami, soy milk in a latte or sweetened with sugar free syrup. Lynda

I ate that every day for a week! I also loved the black bean puree with greek yogurt on top! Yum!!

Hi @@Kim Smith. When your doctor says you need 150gr/protein/day; it doesn't matter how much your body is absorbing. We all need a great deal of protein each day. I probably eat about 150gr/protein/day and I'm almost 11 years out. I don't eat shakes, bars, etc. Haven't for years. Just food. That's the best way a DSer can get his/her protein in. I would be so hungry if I were doing shakes or bars to replace food. I eat every 2-3 hours (even at work). eclecticwingtips has a good idea. I cook every few Sundays: turkey burgers, inexpensive steaks, lamb chops on sale, hamburgers (80% fat). Then I freeze them and just heat them up in the microwave when I get home. I take tuna to work, or get a double meat sandwich in the cafeteria (I generally don't eat the bread, though; too filling and I don't want the carbs). I also buy a cooked roast chicken. It's isn't costly and I get 3-4 lunches out of it. I have nuts with me at all times. I keep Greek full fat yogurt (plain, I add what I want), cold cuts and cheeses in my refrigerator. I don't eat many carbs. Besides making me gain weight, I get foul smelling gas and I don't want that in public. When I do eat carbs and sugar (and I do!) it's done in the privacy of my apartment. Really, what you need to do is cut out those carbs and substitute protein. You'll feel better and lose weight. Try this: As I take classes, too; I often go to McDonald's or another ff place for a snack. I get a triple with catsup and cheese. I don't eat the bun (too filling and too many carbs) but I eat inside the bun. So I'm full, happy, satiated, don't feel deprived, etc. Also, when did you last do your bloods? You said you're not feeling well and it hasn't gotten better. You need to known your Iron, zinc, etc. As you said, you really shouldn't be giving plasma. I used to give blood 2x/year, but was told by my surgeons that ended with the DS.

HI Newbie! As you know, I am day 5 too. I have done liquids with some FF pudding or yogurt. (which is on my drs plan). I am not suppose to start mushies until Day 7, but I have not had any problems at all and am ready for the next step. But to make sure my inside's heal properly I am going to follow my docs plan exactly and try not to overdo it. Keep posting. I like seeing how we compare You are my lap band twin, both born on the same day

Hi crystalintville, With all my research, I think all the doctors are good in tijuana. What made me decision was the pre op diet. Dr Pronce only requires a three day nothing but yogurt diet. That was a piece of cake. And Trish is amazing. , With all my recerch, I think all the doctors are good in tijuana. What made me decition was the pre op diet. Dr Pronce only requires a three day nothing but yogert. That was a piece of cake. And Trish is amasing.

Me too! Goodluck! Me also, how are you feeling? A day before me, wow , So close, how are you feeling? Day before me The pre op diet is interesting, I was on the low carb under 800 cal pre op but I swapped to the milk diet , which my dietician said was fine , 3 pints of milk, two diet yogurts, allowed low cal drinks, unlimited coffee and tea, one salt drink. I prefer this than measuring food, and I drank abit of alcohol before the pre op diet, and feel I need a boost to shrink my liver! . Goodluck Goodluck Day before me, I am not excited, I am just worried lol just want to get it over with Lucky you have no pre op diet ! I am one day before you Happy birthday and goodluc The day after me Lucky you have n pre op!!

I'm so jealous! I can't wait to eat again! Haha. Today is my last day on clears and tomorrow I'm good for full liquids. I know I can't eat any of it, but everyone's food has been smelling so good and making me miss eating ANYTHING. I'm very excited to have a little yogurt or oatmeal! That incision (where they pull your stomach out) is the worst for me too! All the others seem to be fine. I don't even feel them anymore. I also had a hernia repair during the surgery, so internally I'm super sore. It's not as bad as I expected though. I had a c-section with my son, and I feel like that recovery was agonizing in comparison. I have a post-op appointment tomorrow, so I'm going to mention some of your suggestions to see if I can try them too! All suggestions are definitely appreciated. We're in this together! Meg xoxo

@@MaggieinNC - I'm not that far out from my surgery (just over 4 weeks) and most foods that I've tried at this t don't give me any problems. Every doctor varies their plan a bit with foods and timing but this was/is my post-op schedule. Once cleared with the swallow test you begin days 1-3 on clear liquids. broth, SF Jello, SF popcicles, Water (you can add crystal lite, lemon, etc...) Days 4 -14 Full liquids. Cream of wheat or rice, SF applesauce, yogurt, Protein shakes, cream soups (strained), ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, milk, some pureed fruits or baby food, scrambled egg, mashed sweet or white potato Days 14 - 31 Soft foods (think things that can be cut easily with the side of your fork or spoon). Shredded chicken, tuna, egg salad, crab, fish, shrimp, scallops, mango, soft fruits without skin or seeds, softened veggies (cooked carrots, green Beans, squash). NO raw veggies, nuts Regular diet - Try only one new food at a time (chew, chew, chew and eat slowly). Remember to limit carbs and focus on protein first, veggies, then carbs. I have sampled several things but I haven't tried steak yet. I still seem to need my meats very moist. I usually eat chicken breasts or seafood. I did have boston market meatloaf the other day and my tummy wasn't happy afterward. I'm guessing they use a lot of fillers in their meatloaf mix. I was at the Kennedy Space Center yesterday and for lunch I ordered a cheese burger, no bun, with grilled mushrooms and onions. It was a bit dry so some mustard and mayo helped. I was able to eat about 3-3.5 oz. Feel free to message me if you want to talk directly. Congratulations on your decision! Best, Shell

I thought long and hard about it, but never did it. I really, really came close. I had Chipotle once, steak and veggie burrito and frozen yogurt, but that really wasn't out of the ordinary for me at the time after a big workout, lots of protein, 60g protein in that one meal. But didn't do the whole all out binge fest, and I felt tons better afterwards.

Congratulations! I understand that not tracking seems to be working well for you, but how do you know whether or not you are getting enough Protein? Just curious. My surgeon suggests only 40-50 g of protein a day so it's really easy to get into that ballpark without obsessing over grams. A cup of yogurt, a handful of nuts, Collegen powder in a green smoothie or a cup of coffee and some cheese usually does the job.40-50 grams of protein seems really low. Is that the protein target ongoing or was that just the target in the few days after surgery when it was harder to get in protein? This is first time I think I have ever seen a protein target under 60 grams, and most are closer to 80-100 grams. Mine is 100. I was surprised when he said that to. 40-50 grams of protein per day is my surgeons recommendation as of Monday. I thought it was supposed to be 60-80. Fifty grams is very attainable for me. I'd have to eat all day to make 100.

I don't see why not - I used to mix in some of the unflavored whey isolate as it cooled. I never tried mixing in the yogurt but that sounds like a good alternative/addition if one isn't restricted to clear liquids at the time.