Hi,

My surgery is scheduled for June 30th. I keep reading post where many people say they can't get all their Protein, Water or liquid in general. Why is that? Is it because it taste nasty, your throat hurts or your stomach is bloated and you just can't drink because you're full? I'm curious to know what are some of the reasons. Thank you in advance.

I have issues with taste and getting too full

I just got too full. I could only sip a tiny amount at a time and it took me all day from wake up to bedtime to even approach my goals. Each food stage would be like starting over. First I got stuffed on liquids, then I could drink more. Then I got stuffed on puréed but eventually could get in a little more, then I got super stuffed on soft foods but that passed. I didn't dislike anything I ate/drink, I just wasn't hungry and it was such a CHORE to eat and drink ALL DAY. Never had a sore throat or nausea (except from some meds I was on 2-3 months out).

But it's all temporary. I now love to eat and I can take big gulps of Water, so it's no longer an all day process. The sipping days and teeny tiny bites are behind me.

Hi Denise 73! My surgery is also scheduled for June 30th I'm so excited but I've been really emotional since booking my flight.

Taste was never an issues, although my taste buds were messed up for a few days. Flavors had to be very strong for me to taste them. My throat was never sore. It was all about the swelling of my new stomach and getting it used to processing food again.

For about the 1st month, just a tablespoon full of food would send Frankensleeve into knots and I'd couldn't take another bite for 15 to 20 minutes. It took about 6 months to work up to being able to eat 1/4 cup of food in about 15 minutes.

From day 1 post-op I never worried about getting in enough food. I focused on Water. I figured I had 150 plus pounds of fat stored on me and I could live on that for a few months before ever coming close to malnutrition!

My surgeon said that the human body can onLy absorb 25g of protein at a time. That means you have to split it up. Don't be fooled by products that say they have 60g of protein per serving. Your body isn't absorbing 60g so you're drinking it thinking you're getting all your protein in and you're only really getting 25g

I just got too full. I could only sip a tiny amount at a time and it took me all day from wake up to bedtime to even approach my goals. Each food stage would be like starting over. First I got stuffed on liquids, then I could drink more. Then I got stuffed on puréed but eventually could get in a little more, then I got super stuffed on soft foods but that passed. I didn't dislike anything I ate/drink, I just wasn't hungry and it was such a CHORE to eat and drink ALL DAY. Never had a sore throat or nausea (except from some meds I was on 2-3 months out).

But it's all temporary. I now love to eat and I can take big gulps of Water, so it's no longer an all day process. The sipping days and teeny tiny bites are behind me.

Oh my Kindle. I absolutely love the sound of being "too full". I can't wait to have that restriction, even if temporary. Some people said they didn't feel hungry for up to a year. I can't imagine. I don't like to feel hungry so this would help me a lot. Thanks for the post. I hope I have the full feeling. Thanks for your input.

Taste was never an issues, although my taste buds were messed up for a few days. Flavors had to be very strong for me to taste them. My throat was never sore. It was all about the swelling of my new stomach and getting it used to processing food again.

For about the 1st month, just a tablespoon full of food would send Frankensleeve into knots and I'd couldn't take another bite for 15 to 20 minutes. It took about 6 months to work up to being able to eat 1/4 cup of food in about 15 minutes.

From day 1 post-op I never worried about getting in enough food. I focused on Water. I figured I had 150 plus pounds of fat stored on me and I could live on that for a few months before ever coming close to malnutrition!

joatsaint, lmbooooo franensleeve. I get it, stitched tummy. Too funny. I wonder what causes some people to eat very little (which I am so hoping for) and some have no problem eating. I hope I feel restricted the way you were. I am looking forward to "not being hungry". Thanks for your response.

Hi Denise 73! My surgery is also scheduled for June 30th I'm so excited but I've been really emotional since booking my flight.

Awww Pamela69. If you don't mind me asking, why are you emotional? Are you possibly having second thoughts?

I am excited and anxious. I so want to be on the "other side" like yesterday.

All the worry is usually early on when things aren't quite going like you expected. The thing is, early on is not all that important on hitting all the goals.

If you can't get in enough Protein.....no big deal. You will later when things are better healed and settle down.

If you can't make 64 ounces of fluids......no big deal.....just get enough so you don't get dehydrated. (ya don't want dark pee)

As time goes on, you'll figure out how to do things that work for you. Just set some daily goals and shoot for them. But don't get discouraged or upset if you don't reach them at first. It's a process that takes time to get adjusted to. Good luck.

My surgeon said that the human body can onLy absorb 25g of Protein at a time. That means you have to split it up. Don't be fooled by products that say they have 60g of protein per serving. Your body isn't absorbing 60g so you're drinking it thinking you're getting all your protein in and you're only really getting 25g

I've heard that before, but what does "at a time" mean? What if I take 2 hours to drink a 40g Protein shake? What's the absorption timeline?

Denise, yes, it was so great to not be hungry and to get full on so little. Preop i almost never got full. I do get hungry now, but a very small amount of dense protein still fills me up quickly. Other "soft" post op staples like Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, etc. slide through my sleeve pretty quick, leaving me hungry again after a short time. Oh yeah, and I forgot to mention, as for taste, everything seemed way too sweet to me immediately postop. I had to dilute everything I drank....vitamin Water, Protein shakes, juice, G2, etc. Even tomato Soup was too sweet until I added puréed Italian sausage to it. weird.

Kindle, I'm not sure you're going to see this without me quoting you but oh my goodness. Congratulations on your 78lb. weight loss in just 5 months. You go girllllll! I hope I do at least half as good as you.

My surgeon said that the human body can onLy absorb 25g of Protein at a time. That means you have to split it up. Don't be fooled by products that say they have 60g of protein per serving. Your body isn't absorbing 60g so you're drinking it thinking you're getting all your protein in and you're only really getting 25g

I've heard that before, but what does "at a time" mean? What if I take 2 hours to drink a 40g protein shake? What's the absorption timeline?

Denise, yes, it was so great to not be hungry and to get full on so little. Preop i almost never got full. I do get hungry now, but a very small amount of dense protein still fills me up quickly. Other "soft" post op staples like Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, etc. slide through my sleeve pretty quick, leaving me hungry again after a short time. Oh yeah, and I forgot to mention, as for taste, everything seemed way too sweet to me immediately postop. I had to dilute everything I drank....vitamin Water, protein shakes, juice, G2, etc. Even tomato soup was too sweet until I added puréed Italian sausage to it. weird.

Kindle you have me even more excited than I thought I was. lmbo at the "I almost never got full". That is me for sure. Don't let the food taste good, I feel like I can eat for hours on end.

You make hungry sound good with the outcome being "but a small amount of dense protein still feels me up quickly". I can't even begin to imagine. I won't believe it could happen to me until.....it happens to me. lol Did you ever think/believe you would eat so little and be satisfied? Thanks for all the information. You have given me more hope.

He suggested to me to do a shake or drink every 4 hours.

I re

Hi Denise 73! My surgery is also scheduled for June 30th I'm so excited but I've been really emotional since booking my flight.

Awww Pamela69. If you don't mind me asking, why are you emotional? Are you possibly having second thoughts?

I am excited and anxious. I so want to be on the "other side" like yesterday.

Denise, glad I could be of help to you. I am by no means a veteran, and it seems I can eat more everyday, so who knows what will happen in the future. But those few months of (finally) not being hungry and really not wanting to eat showed me that I don't NEED food. (Of course we need food, but not in the emotional and mental way I needed food before). Now when I want to eat more than I think I should, I just don't. I do something to distract myself for awhile, or I say, "let's wait for an hour, have something to drink and THEN if you still want to eat we will". Being able to say no is very empowering and just makes it easier to say no the next time.

I'm also growing to appreciate healthy food and making sure everything "counts". I am single and don't really like baking or cooking. I'm a pick it up at the deli on my way home from work kind of gal. But if I get the urge to cook, I make sure it's something super yummy and the leftovers get frozen in individual portions and I'm set for MANY quick microwave meals.

This is truly a head game we have to play with ourselves for the rest of our lives. But right now I feel like I'm 20 years old again, and I hope this feeling keeps me motivated to keep winning the game. I wish you all the best of luck and PLEASE don't get frustrated with stalls or periods of slow losses. I had both, and look at me now!