I am six days post op vsg and feel like I am starving!! My stomach is hurting, gurgling, and growling. Thought it might be acid but am up to two nexium per day and no difference. Question is this...my surgeon says 10 days clear liquid, 10 days full liquid, and 10 days soft. But I have found other surgeons say soft diet purée after day 3 post op. Why the big difference when it's the same procedure??? I want to do what I need to avoid complications but I am having serious hunger pains. Please give advice...I feel like I need more substance than Popsicles, jello, and broth.

It may really be acid still. Can you take MyLanta (actually, that's in recall)... I'm on a prilosec and have issues sometimes and I'm cleared to chew on a couple of Tums... gets me through the bubble times.

The bubbly,hurting, icky feeling is because your stomach is still swollen and sore from surgery. You may be interpreting the growling as a cue for hunger but it's probably just stuff churning around in there post-op. Your surgeon must have his reasons for his diet restrictions. If you want to advance more quickly, I'd call the office and see if you can get the okay. You have gone through a lot to get a sleeve and I'm sure you don't want to mess it up. If it makes you feel any better, my surgeon requires a month of liquids post-op and it was difficult to comply, but I did. You are burning fat for fuel and will never lose as quickly as this month. Make the most of it!

I wondered the same thing after surgery. But, I was too afraid to mess things up, so I didn't take any chances. As hard as it seems at the moment, this is temporary. Hang in there it's worth it.

Your surgeon makes his postop guidelines based on how HE does his surgery and on what has lead to the lowest rate of complications for his particular methods. Theoretically his complication rates were something you considered when choosing him, so to deviate from his instructions would be to expose yourself to a higher risk of leaks, swelling and problems.

I feel your pain. Just hang in there. My surgeon requires three full weeks of thin liquids. I have another week to go of nothing that can't go through a wire strainer. It stinks, but I just keep reminding myself - there is a reason for his low low low rate of leaks (one in over five years, and that person went outside the postop guidelines). The time will pass. Hang tough.