2 week post op QUESTION-Need Advice

[guthsj 28]

I may just be freaking out but.....Today I am 2 weeks post-op. I feel great! I have been meeting my Protein requirement of 70 grams per day, I am drinking Premeir Protein. I have been meeting or exceeding the 64 oz Fluid requirement, I have not had any issues with drinking. I have not been eating much more, here and there I will have 2-4 TBSP of yogurt or cream Soup 1 or 2 times a day but have not gone over the 4 TBSP. Sometimes I eat this, sometimes I dont. I am still on full liquids until Wednesday. I am averaging 400-500 calories per day. My Surgery wt wat 257.0, came home from the hospital at 265.0, lost the Water weight and was back to 257.0 after a couple days. But.....I have been at 250.4 for the last 6 days. Not sure what I am doing wrong....not enough calories??? Is my body just adjusting?? Any thoughts or advice would be awsome..thanks!

[RJ'S/beginning 5,357]

Everything sounds right to me.....you had major surgery....500 calories a day will not let you lose weight....Your body goes into protecting itself against starving itself...That said...You cannot eat much more then you are at the moment..Your body has to catch up to what has happened and will respond once it figures out you are not starving to death...

The body is an amazing machine which will compensate for almost anything we throw at it.....You are now geared to lose weight and you will....

My advice ....keep doing what you are doing and it will happen..Don't weigh yourself too much....Scales can really discourage you and your progress....K

[candacet36 1]

Well I don't have much advice because I am in the same boat as you.....2 weeks out and down 7 pounds and the scale has not moved in days. I am just trying to remember that my body is adjusting if I do my part and follow instructions my body will do its part but it won't happen overnight.

Best of luck to you

[Mkak 251]

Hi girls! Same thing happened to me around 2 weeks. I think it took me a full week or so to lose again. I'm 5 weeks PO now and consistently losing. From the looks of other posts we may be in for a few more of these "no loss" weeks.

I switched to weighing in weekly so I didn't drive myself crazy. Weigh in on Thursday and the scale goes right under my bed afterwards. Just a tip that worked for me

[guthsj 28]

Ok, thanks everyone ...,, I've been weighing daily. I'm putting the scale away!!! I will just keep truckin and wait for things to catch up! I appreciate the replies!!! Makes me feeling better ..

[OBXgirl 21]

Guthsj (and anyone else who wants to chime in) - i have a question along these same lines...I will be three weeks post op this wednesday. I am still having trouble getting in all my required Fluid. I feel too full. I try to sip all day, but still hard to get it all in. I also can only eat around 2-3 tablespoons of food about 3 or 4 times a day (and i am still doing pureed). If i eat any more, my chest hurts. By the time i get the food in, it seems like hours before there is room for more Water. So my question is, what is your method for getting in all your fluids and do they go down easily? I'm beginning to wonder if something is wrong with me. It can take me an hour or more to drink an 8 oz Protein drink....it feels like it sits in my throat and has to slowly trickle down. Anyone else feel like this?

[kathp 81]

My team told us that we should take at least 10 minutes to eat and no more than 20 minutes, and to have 5-6 eating points (including shakes) during the day (6 for the first 6 weeks, and then only 5). So if it takes an hour for a Protein drink, that's OK, but chewing something and having it take longer than 20 minutes isn't good.

What I did notice is my chest would hurt if I ate TOO FAST just as if I ate TOO MUCH. It's hard to learn, especially when eating so little.

We're supposed to stop drinking 15 minutes before eating and for 1 hr after eating. I was able to hit my Protein goal (85 g) and Fluid goal (64 oz) after the first week after surgery.

If you're still struggling, I wonder what you're actually eating? Are you doing high protein foods? I had very little other than meat and protein in the first 6 weeks, to the point where I was craving a salad. I have learned to add veggies back in, but it did take a while before it wasn't just the tomatoes or Beans in the chili!

And if you're eating the "right" type of food, I'd call and ask your team if you still struggle to get the food in. Maybe there's something wrong, because I don't recall it being that difficult. It got tricky the first day or so of a new diet phase (liquids to puree to soft to regular) because I could eat less than the day before again, but other than that it was pretty straightforward.

Good luck everyone!

[OBXgirl 21]

kathp - thanks for the response. I have been eating cottage cheese, string cheese, soft eggs, Jello, pudding, refried Beans, mashed potatoes. That's about it other than Protein Shakes. Some days are better than others. It normally takes me about 15 minutes to eat 3 tablespoons or so of food. Is that normal?

[guthsj 28]

I am still on full liquids but if I have a cream Soup or yogurt it probably takes me 10 minutes to get 3-4 tbsp down. I have not had any issues with drinking, that may change when I get to softer foods and start the 30-30 no drinking rule...