So, I'm one week postop and I have been very good for the most part when it comes to not eating anything but Jell-O or chicken broth. Today I got to start cream type soups – cream and mushroom, Cream of chicken – that sort of thing. I forgot until now that I was also allowed to go back on my protein checks. I don't know if I'm going to pay for this but, I hoping that I won't. I don't know if any of you live around Central to South Texas but there's a restaurant here called Bill Miller's – people typically like their fried chicken or brisket or things of that nature. I couldn't obviously get any of that but when my father got some chicken, -where would I… I got a couple of small slices of roasted turkey. I didn't anticipate eating both slices but, I made sure that I cut them up small and shoot them about 1 million times before swallowing. I did eat 2 tablespoons of mushroom soup to go along with it just in case but, I really felt like I needed protein. For the past week or so I felt dizzy and sometimes I had to catch myself to avoid falling. I understand the importance of following the diet and being strict about it but, I feel like I tried to make a good choice for the situation. Any thoughts?

Like I said, I wish you luck..

Hey there Natalie,

I think the point Laura (not meaning to speak for you) was trying to make was that breaking down something other than full liquids, which includes cream Soups, could be hard for and harmful to your new sleeve. I'm not judging, trust me, this is your path go go down, but I also took your post to mean that you made a bad/potentially harmful choice and knew it , or to put it another way "fell of the wagon". This forum IS about support and it comes from many voices.

Yes, you do need your Protein to keep your energy up, and you are absolutely right to be concerned that you are not getting enough. Have you tried some of the protein soups from powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury or Bari Wise? I've had the Unjury chicken, it is good tasting and 15gm of protein per 8 ounces. I found the warm liquids went down much easier for the first few weeks.

Best of luck going forward.

When I read your OP, my take was that you were having food issues due to the fact that you went into detail about the great BBQ place and how you didn't intend to eat both pieces, that's where I assumed food addiction. Then follow it up with 99% of the time you aren't hungry.

My bad. Yes, you need Protein, try Isopure or Protein shakes or nectar Protein drinks. Also, your dizziness may be from dehydration or all the medication you are taking or a combination of all of it.

I would highly recommend you stay away from solid Proteins this shortly after surgery.

Good luck to you. I hope you will be ok.

Respectfully, nothing about this post had anything to do with falling off the wagon. I was having a lot of difficulty with getting proper nutrition and cannot reach my doctors and short of being placed in the hospital again, I chose the path that wasn't the smartest thing to do hence the title of the post -but at the time it was logical because I was supposedly moving on to cream of chicken soup and I tried to think of something that I could have that I could blend with the cream of chicken soup that had Protein in it. To my knowledge, white meat chicken and white meat turkey had some of the highest protein levels and then – at least the list that I was given – so I thought that this would be a feasible option. I wasn't scarfing something down in the drive-through and I wasn't doing it for enjoyment, I was doing it out of concern. I thought that this forum was an open place to share what each of us are going through. I know exactly what surgery I had and I know exactly what risks there are– This was never an easy decision.

My understanding is that this site was about discussing this surgery with others and having the ability to be open and honest – and not make judgmental comments. Yes I screwed up but passing a judgment that I'm addicted to food and then I need a counselor is respectfully not your place. I can say that confidently as I do have a masters degree in psychology. We each come with different components, illnesses, and reasons for doing the surgery. Each and everyone of us is different. I didn't even begin to get into my fears or why I ate what I did or why I was concerned about needing to eat. I've met some really great people on here and I hope to have continued conversations with them but for now, I don't think I'll come back to the site or continue to post. Who knew that my conundrum could be taken so out of proportion? Good luck in your surgical and endeavors; I wish you well.

Well, I hope you've realized that the dizziness was probably not from a lack of protein but more likely dehydration. I've never heard of lack of protein causing dizziness but I could be wrong. I also thing your above reaction....not coming back to the site....is quite the over reaction. If you disagree with her...or me...then just say so and move on. If you have a masters in psychology then I assume you realize how the "I'm taking my ball and going home" approach will not help you in the end.

I'm glad you mentioned gum because i was wondering if that would be an issue. Sugarfree of course' date=' but I was wondering if after surgery the gum would increase gas in the stomach or not and if it is ok to chew gum while on your liquid diet.[/quote']

Every doctor is different, but for mine, chewing gum was fine. The sugarfree gum can cause excess gas but I'm a frequent gum chewer anyway and have never noticed an increase caused from it.

All I would say is double check the plan set up for you by your surgical team... I know every surgeon is different... I'm on my 14th day today and have just moved to puréed food... I was very full after dinner and couldn't finish... I don't understand why you doc wouldn't have had you on Protein from day one after surgery... I had a protein Jello in the hospital - which was gross but it got 20g of protein in me at each meal... powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury makes decent line of Proteins... I like the chicken Soup and unflavored!

I wish you well in your journey!

Hey there Natalie' date=' I think the point Laura (not meaning to speak for you) was trying to make was that breaking down something other than full liquids, which includes cream Soups, could be hard for and harmful to your new sleeve. I'm not judging, trust me, this is your path go go down, but I also took your post to mean that you made a bad/potentially harmful choice and knew it , or to put it another way "fell of the wagon". This forum IS about support and it comes from many voices. Yes, you do need your Protein to keep your energy up, and you are absolutely right to be concerned that you are not getting enough. Have you tried some of the protein soups from unjury or Bari Wise? I've had the Unjury chicken, it is good tasting and 15gm of protein per 8 ounces. I found the warm liquids went down much easier for the first few weeks. Best of luck going forward.[/quote']

Thanks Jersey,

Maybe I should have clarified what I was trying to say. I was an unfortunate situation and yes, I knew that eating a solid even breaking it down wasn't the best idea but, I was trying to follow what had I been directed to do that at the same time not in the back in the hospital. I know that I mentioned the restaurants name but honestly, that had nothing to do with it (someone mentioned that earlier.) I wasn't craving it. I don't even want food. But, my health has been very difficult over the past 10 years. I can't emphasize how difficult it was for me to even have the surgery in the first place because I have dealt with so many health issues in the past and currently and I unfortunately let it all overtake me in a sense. I have been following the diet and it's the way that doctors office has a divided up, I was to start eating creamed based soups and names even though I went through as Many as I could find, I couldn't find any with protein. It truly had nothing to do with falling off of the bandwagon or anything of that nature. I do have some Protein shakes that I bought through the surgeon and I can have the now – so, I'll make sure that I do that. I will definitely look into those soups is well – thanks for the suggestions. I've been trying to find something other than Campbell's– Which is what they recommended to me. I'm honestly not too happy with the doctors office right now. I get told different things from different people and there's been a lot of dropping the ball. I and going in tomorrow and I hope I can get everything straightened out on the same page.

Well' date=' I hope you've realized that the dizziness was probably not from a lack of Protein but more likely dehydration. I've never heard of lack of protein causing dizziness but I could be wrong. I also thing your above reaction....not coming back to the site....is quite the over reaction. If you disagree with her...or me...then just say so and move on. If you have a masters in psychology then I assume you realize how the "I'm taking my ball and going home" approach will not help you in the end.[/quote']

Not that you guys really want to know all of this… LOL, but, The one thing I definitely know is that I'm not dehydrated…lol.. I drink more Water than anything. I was actually talking to someone in another thread about drinking too much water. I think one of the problems had to do with the fact that I am on a lot of medications that I had to stop for surgery and others very suddenly as well. Some of them very high doses of pain medicine and runs my doctors office told me that they would make sure that it was monitored and take care of it only to tell me that I was on my own and needed to follow up with my regular doctor who is not a bariatric specialist – go figure right? Going into it, it was my understanding that they would both communicate with one another and settle upon a treatment plan. That didn't happen. I was also worried that I was not getting enough intake for these medications to want to not only work but move through my stomach. Which I happened to find out that I was correct on that front today unfortunately. Luckily though my primary doctor and I caught it before causing any major damage.

As far as not wanting to come back to the site, you're right – that approach never works. I had spoken to several other people and other threads and was warned that there again a lot of inappropriate comments and other people they have seen and experienced a great deal of rude/attacking comments. I honestly have been observing longer than I have been posting but, I can definitely say that I didn't appreciate someone who doesn't know me, after only reading sentences, telling me that I needed to seek professional help with my apparent issue. I honestly just thought that this is a place that should be inviting to others that are getting ready to go through the process and also inviting for those that are in the process and even down the line. It shouldn't be a way for individuals to feel attacked. To me, and this is obviously just my opinion but it should be a place for individuals to discuss this find support and be successful.

While I typically don't just leave anything or even comment on it for that matter, it just immediately reminded me of other things I've seen and other people's complaints. This time it was addressed to me and I shouldn't have commented but I did. It probably didn't help things that my pain medicine haven't been working for several days either… LOL I wish it were just the surgical pain – I could easily deal with that but I have multiple chronic pain conditions and if I had known that this was not taken care of or addressed, I would not have let them rush me into this is quickly as I did.

I'm going in tomorrow to see my surgeon. I followed him for several years now and's he had always had positive feedback but they recently just switched offices and I don't know if it's just a matter of people falling through the cracks or what have you but, the fears that I had going into surgery were not addressed or taken care of as I was promised that they would be. My bad – another experience to live by right?

All I would say is double check the plan set up for you by your surgical team... I know every surgeon is different... I'm on my 14th day today and have just moved to puréed food... I was very full after dinner and couldn't finish... I don't understand why you doc wouldn't have had you on Protein from day one after surgery... I had a protein Jello in the hospital - which was gross but it got 20g of protein in me at each meal... unjury makes decent line of Proteins... I like the chicken soup and unflavored! I wish you well in your journey!

It's honestly a little worrisome how different each surgeon this. I was given a booklet to follow only to find out that they were in the process of working on a new booklet and that particular information was no longer valid. The Dietician did the same thing. Then of course you have to see their Dietician because they're the ones that supposedly specialize in it. I'm not saying that they don't, don't get me wrong but there should be a bit more uniformity to a procedure like this and everyone should be on the same page.

Congrats on your 14th day. You're ahead of me… LOL. I know what you are saying about being full. They've actually told me twice not to eat at all if I wasn't hungry but if I actually followed through with that, it could be dangerous. I'm not hungry at all but I still made myself at least get something small down tonight – just broth.

I didn't even know they had protein Jell-O! – That's a good amount of protein – it's what I was going for without the idea of the physical turkey… LOL i'll have to look into these. The doctors offices didn't want us to really go outside of the proteins that they suggested. I should have looked into it more though. I just had IV fluids in the hospital and I was discharged, I was told I could eat sugarfree Jell-O or chicken broth. I didn't really have an issue with that except for my reaction to it.

Hi I've been following your thread all day. I'm in Austin and I was sleeved on 9/10 2013. Today is my first day of week 3. I had a lot of dizziness the first week, was better the second week and it's gone now and I have a ton of energy now. I'm eating Campbells cream soups & tomato soup added to my broth. But there's no way you're going to get the Protein that you need with the food we are allowed to eat right now. I highly recommend getting a Protein powder to add to your soup. I use unjury chicken soup flavor because the first two weeks it was only Clear Liquids and that one counts for clear. I add at about 4 tsps of tomato soup or cream of chicken soup to 8 ounces of Water and it takes me about an hour to get it down plus my protein powder. But it has 21 grams of protein! and in the morning I do a premier Protein shake vanilla or chocolate. You can get them at Sams or costco. 30 grams of protein 1g sugar... and so tasty! Dannon makes a yogurt called light and fit vanilla flavor with extra protein I've been having one of these a day its 12 grams of protein and 9 carbs.

I'm also a recovering pain pill addict. I have two years and 9 months sober from pills and all other recreational drugs and alcohol. Let me know if you'd like to talk more about this.

I think the main thing is that every person is different every medical history is different in every doctor is different. So there can't be just one plan for everyone.

Can you get a canned lentil soup and purée it it? Add some milk or Greek yogurt. Amazing and high in protein. Also, my surgeons office also has medically supervised diet foods. Everything has a ton of protein. See if you can find an office near you that sells medically supervised diet foods. My broth has 15 grams of protein. They sell protein jello, puddings, shakes, etc...all with added protein. Also, if you are allowed, Costco and Sam's Club sell ready to drink protein drinks called Premier Protein, 30 grams of protein. You can dress them up with sugar free Torani syrup, instant decaf coffee, etc...

As Goldie and rjs, u must stick to the prescribed diet exactly as instructed, u cannot pick and choose. The symptoms described are as they said dehydration. Changing up the diet b4 healing will set u up for failure and future medical problems. U can do this. Repeat u can do this

Natalie, u r precious, I love your honesty & the courage it takes to reach out. Hug yourself for that. There will b lots of opportunities for turkey etc when your diet stage dictates. I guess we cld ask ourselves this... Is eating this xxxx worth causing a leak or other medical issue? I had a conversation inside my head not too long ago b4 starting this journey. Someone brought a box of sees candy to work I had lost 40 pounds and was on a sugar free streak. The box of candy knew my name, it beckoned me to the break room, we were all alone. I walked out and made it a point to avoid the break room the rest of the day. Once I start I act like I am never going to get another piece of candy in my life, like there's going to be a candy shortage. I literally gave myself a pep talk and said... Is eating all that candy going to help me get to my goal? Will there be another time and place that I may enjoy a piece of candy down the road? For that day, that instant it helped. Alcoholics, drug addicts can avoid encounters with those items, as food addicts( I use this term loosely) we must face food ever single day. We are confronted 24/7. Being able to rewire our thinking and behavior is where it's at. Small steps.....falling down, reaching out.....small steps. Hope this helps. Remind me of this when I am struggling k?

Natalie, please don't leave this forum or stop posting. While I'm not a doctor, I will say you probably did not harm your sleeve and are just .... Protein deficient. When I went home from the hospital, I was told to be sure to continue to drink my protein shakes every day. I always have one in the morning with my pills. Yesterday I started taking my pills with Water and felt a little ill. I immediately went and got a protein shake to take the rest and instantly felt better. I guess I needed to have that stomach coating for all those pills. Maybe that would help you. I always drink two a day even though I am on mushy foods and do have soup n eggs n stuff like that.

Congratulations on the water though. I really have to work to get that in now that I'm eating and having to wait before and after eating. Sometimes I have to stay up just to finish drinking my 64 oz. How do u drink so much?

Every post-op diet is different. I was told by my Nutritionist 'clear fluids only for the first week-two weeks. I'll be sending you a post operative diet book shortly'. This never arrived and I received it the morning after my surgery. Which, when it did arrive, stated that in weeks 1-2, I could 'eat' (amongst the other usual suspects of fresh air and water): Creamed soups, Yoghurt, Protein shakes. As it stood and on morning one, the hospital delivered me natural yoghurt and jello (or jelly as we like to call it in the UK) for breakfast. So much for clear fluids for 1-2 weeks then?!

Anyway and that aside. Because I was legitimately provided these things on day one, I have continued along that path, whilst consuming bottles of clear Isopure Zero to get my protein in. I find them rather boring to taste (we only get three flavours in the UK), but it's easy on the stomach and makes me feel like a good student for glugging my way through them.

Pain meds are hideous and always require something to line the stomach first before ingestion to prevent all the usual nasties which can happen. How in gods name you were supposed to manage that on clear fluids and without any form of PPI or stomach lining protection, I don't know?

As for eating the turkey? This is the way I see it.

You're on your own and you haven't been guided particularly well. Although with reference to the pain meds on an empty stomach - you probably new this would be an issue pre-op and maybe should have asked some more probing questions for a definitive position? After all, most healthcare systems, irrespective of which nation it occurs in, couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery, so it falls to the patient to be annoyingly 'on top of it'. Which, after paying exorbitant amounts of money no one feels they should have to do, but however, they invariably end up doing, because the administrative coordination systems in these institutions are, for want of a better word, so crap, you need to end up effectively taking charge of your own healthcare. <minor rant over>

So, you had a couple of slices of mashed up turkey in some broth and you chewed it like an obsessive?!?!??!! Did the world stop turning? No. Could you have hurt yourself? Yes. Will you do it again? Course not! (well, you might, if that's your food of choice in the mushie stage!). However, everyone can fully appreciate why you did it. Hell, if I'd had such a lack of medical clarity, cohesion and guidance in how I should approach things, I'd be making my own executive decisions, too!

The way I see it; you spun the barrel in a Russian Roulette game of 'oh my god, I need protein, oh my god how am I going to get it? Maybe I should just eat some meat directly?' kind of thing. After one week of nothing but clear liquids and a bucket load of pain meds - no person, however well 'schooled' would be making the most cogent of decisions.

That aside, you were lucky, you didn't sweat out and black out and vomit and are not (hopefully) experiencing abdominal pain, heart palpitations and all the other nasties that can happen. You spun the barrel and nothing was thankfully in the chamber. Consider one of your 9 bariatric lives lost and carry on with renewed vigor and determination! You can do it!

As for me and to illustrate we're all human; I strayed waaaaay off the path last night. I had four teaspoons of mashed potato drowned in baked bean juice so it was like, well, soup. It tasted amazing and before I get a rollicking for the fact I'd eaten a carb in week one - I'd got permission from my bariatric nurse first - so there! <insert tongue poke out here>

I often find that a lot of things on this site, particularly nuances, when posted in text, are lost in translation. This leaves the doors WIDE open to misinterpretation and people taking conversations off into completely different realms and tangents; making reference to things which aren't immediately relevant, you feel are not immediately warranted, or even on topic. Although it is annoying and you're left thinking 'WTF?!' Most of the time, it is well intentioned. Sift through the 'blah' (which is the majority of my posts) and look for the 'ahh - eureka!'.

Either way and on this site, it's usually either the 'carrot' or the 'stick'. All valid, if you know how to detach your emotions and look at the information proffered critically and objectively.

You'll be great and you'll do great. Put this behind you, grasp your own medical coordination by the balls and go get 'em, tiger! x