Almost Here...

[DogMom3 11]

I am really enjoying my tablespoon of egg salad and tablespoon of cottage cheese today. It's amazing how fast it fills me up..love it!

I think the reason they are allowing Pasta is because it's a whole wheat and you would probably need to really overcook it...to the squishy point. I bought a box of Annie's organic whole wheat shells with white cheese sauce and surprisingly it has like 10 grams of Protein per serving (even though there's no way I could get in a whole serving) I thought I could make that someday and add some tuna to it and get a decent amount of protein.

I remember my surgeon telling me that nothing is "off limits" it's just that I need to find healthy alternatives to old favorites and if I just have to have an old favorite...have just a little bit, that it's all about portions and exercise and that the sleeve will make the portion part much easier! Have a great day!

[sheila5497 9]

Hey guys... Sorry I have not been on here in a few days. The first week I had some help with my 4 year old son but, this week has been crazy busy with him since he has tons of energy. I'm exhausted. I too am on puréed for another few days. I have been having trouble getting all my Protein in and as far as the meds I have to take well, can I say yyuucckk! Most of my meds have to be crushed or come in liquid form. I did find that most of my meds go down a little easier with baby food bananas rather than applesauce. My Dr. Says I have to crush them for a another 2 weeks before taking them whole. I really am having a hard time choking them all down twice a day. For the first week I had to crush coreg twice a day and now he added actigall twice a day which also needs mixed with applesauce (anti-gallstone) I guess because the risk of gallstone increases significantly after WLS because of the rapid weight loss. He also started me on Calcium and 2 flinstone chewables a day. The highlight of my day has been the flinstone chewables... Is that sad. As a nurse I have been checking my BP before every dose of coreg praying that I don't have to take it but, no luck yet. Can't wait till I can take the pills whole. It would definately make life a whole lot easier (and better tasting).

On a lighter note, I had my 1 week follow up visit yesterday. He said that things were going as expected and that I am doing great. I can start soft foods on Monday. His version of soft is anything I can squish through a fork is ok. I will do that for 2 weeks and advance to regular foods that can be moistened in Water or broth. I lost 10 lbs since discharge (would have been more had I not gained 7 lbs of fluids in the hospital). I started my journey on March 5,2012 at 242, April 5, 2012 at 236 and yesterday I weighed in at 216. I am feeling pretty good about that. I figure once I can do more than just walk for excersize I will lose more and gain more muscle.

The burning question I have is: how long does you docs tell you you should crush your meds?

[Joni 94]

That's funny because last March when my husband had the sleeve (same place as me - University of Michigan Hospital), he had to crush his pills for almost 2 months; and I remember how hard it was for him to choke them down. Now, this year they changed that policy and we can swallow pills right away. Go figure. So, it's another one of those "every surgeon is different" scenarios. Sometimes a pill feels like it gets stuck and hurts for a few minutes so you don't have that problem!

[notime 340]

The people at my doctor's office have said to crush my large pills (they consider anything larger than pepcid to be large). Whether that is for life or until some specified time I do not know. I will find out at my next bariatric surgery class. I have been taken off three medicines, but now have pepcid, Vitamins and Calcium to take. I have opted for the opurity Vitamin because it is only once a day, but it doesn't taste well. Maybe when this bottle is finished I will try something else.

My one week appointment with the surgeon was today and he said all is well. I am older (62) and had expected to have more problems getting over the surgery than younger people, but apparently that is not so. Of course, I do not have children to care for and I am retired. That makes for a less complicated recovery.

[DogMom3 11]

I too was told that I could swallow my pills whole. Two of my pills are fairly large too (Omeprazole capsule & Celebrex caplet) I think Joni is absolutely right that it's surgeons choice!

Glad to see you're back Sheila Bless your heart for doing your recovery with a 4 yr old!!

I go back to work tonight so am a bit nervous...but what better job to be at than a hospital ER!

I went onto Eggface and am so looking forward to when I can have cucumbers....she has amazing ideas for cucumber sandwiches!

[Joni 94]

Hi all! Oh that eggface is great! I am going to make the ricotta bake asap. It sounds so good. I'm thinking about buying an ice cream maker just to make her Protein ice cream.

Yes Sheila, running after a 4yo would definitely tire me out! You must get exhausted. So glad you posted here again.

notime, I'm 56 and work on the computer from home, so I don't have much to complicate my recovery either. And I bought some Celebrate MVI for postop. I considered them expensive but they taste good so I though I would treat myself for a month postop. They have everything and chewable Calcium too. I received a sample pack from them so I was able to try the flavors.

dogmom - good luck going back to work. I used to work midnights but finally had to give them up cuz my sleep cycle got so screwed up and I turned into a walking zombie. Like you said, you'll be in good hands if needed though!!

Have a great day ladies. I'm going to venture out with hubby to Walmart today. Hugs.

[sheila5497 9]

I looked up some of her recipes too! Since I love corned beef hash I managed to cook some up and tried it. It has 21 grams of Protein per cup but of course I could only eat a couple of teaspoons it was heaven! I have also been eating stonyfield OIKOS 0% fat caramel yogurt which has 10 grams of protein in 4 oz. I am not too concerned about the carbs at this point as my 4 year old keeps me pretty busy and I do lots of walking! The nectar Protein Drinks are ok however I have noticed that the powder seems to want to settle at the bottom. At the end of the day if I have not consumed enough protein I will use the Liquid Protein to boost my intake but only as a last resort. It tastes like cherry goo. Not very good however, only 1oz. Gives me 15 grams of protein. I did just get some pudding mix I ordered from Bariatric Choice and surprisingly it did not taste bad. That is 12 grams per 4oz. Well my son is starting to stir so off I go! Back to his world!

[Joni 94]

Hi Sheila - are you talking about the Protein shots? I resorted to those too. It is like cherry goo or medicine Syrup in a way. I ordered the Protein to Go vanilla latte shots, and they finally arrived. I'll let you know how they are when I try it. Everything is suddenlly turning me off - major. I got my vanilla unjury today which is going to help. I like that mixed with orange crystal light, and that's what I'm trying to drink right now.

Went on my first real "outing" today - Walmart for groceries. Well, it was a bit much and I had to sit down a few times and also felt like I was going to faint. Not a good feeling at all. At least I was with hubby to watch over me. It was still good to get out and feel back ini the real world again. Now if I can get this diarrhea to stop and not be turned off all the protein, life will be grand!!

[notime 340]

How much Fluid and Protein does your doctor require? My doctor says 64 ozs liquids and 60 grams Protein. It is tough getting there, but now I can do it. I'm not drinking protein drinks, other than my one fallback of lime or orange Jello mixed with pina colada flavored Protein Powder. I get a lot of my protein from my Greek yogurt, which has 23 grams per cup. It also counts as a liquid.< /p>

For a few days, I was not getting the full 64 ozs of Fluid and developed the signs of dehydration. Stepped up the fluids and I'm good to go now.

[Joni 94]

I'm supposed to get 70 gm/protein and 64 oz Fluid. Wow that's a lot of Protein in your yogurt. I'll have to check out OIKOS. Don't know that I've ever paid attention and seen it. What flavors do they have?

[notime 340]

My Greek yogurt is Fage. If you can get it, go for it. It tastes wonderful. I eat it plain and don't know if there are other flavors.

[Joni 94]

I got messed up, I didn't mean OIKOS - so Fage has 23 gm of Protein in a cup??

[notime 340]

Yes and it tastes wonderful.

[DogMom3 11]

Made it thru my first 12 hour shift back to work and everything went well except it kinda sucked to have to sit upright for that long....felt like my fat was squishing up into my stomach which was a bit uncomfortable, but I was able to take some small breaks and enjoy the recliner which helped.

Can I get another reminder as to how you are all managing to get your Protein in....I will be trying that Vanilla Unjury with Orange Crystal Light...that sounds wonderful and I already have the Unjury. I just get so full so fast that it's hard for me to get it all in. Also I am currently eating egg salad, tuna salad, cottage cheese, applesauce and mashed potatoes. Getting a bit bored with it and still have 1 1/2 weeks of it to go....what are you all eating? Take care and will talk to you soon!

[Joni 94]

Oh dogmom - talk about bored!!!

But first, that most have been pretty difficult sitting like that. My desk chair has adjusters so I can choose to have the back firm or go back when I push on it. Just being able to change your position more often might help a little. Could there be any way they could give you one like that temporarily to help you along?

It is all getting so hard, Protein and fluids. I have resorted to some Protein Shots as talked about elsewhere. You can just do a search for those or let me know if you want more info on them. 2.5 ounces gives you 26-28 gm of Protein. I have been able to do vanilla unjury and crystal light today. NUT told me to get some ready to drink singles and experiment, as well as adding nonfat dry milk to everything. Carnation instant Breakfast with 4 TBSP dry milk (haven't tried that yet). I got some Muscle Millk Light drinks but can't get myself to drink one yet. I pureed some bean Soup and added Water making it very thin, and got 9 gms that way. Yogurt still goes down okay but I'm so sick of it. Have you tried the Greek yogurts? Good luck. let me know how you're doing.