Hi,

My surgery date is next week Tuesday, December 23rd. I have read many different opinions about the first 2 weeks post-op. I'm a realist and would like to know what most found most difficult in the first 2 weeks, and what you did that helped.

I hear from suffering really badly with gas, hiccups, painful swallowing, being hungry on liquid diet, not getting in enough Protein.

Please share with me your challenges and how you overcame them and any other helpful hints you think I can benefit from. Also has anyone tried the Bariatric Advantage Protein shakes? I ordered a few of those to see if they will agree with me.

Honestly I didn't have a lot of problems. I think most people don't have a lot of problems, but you tend to (understandably) hear more from those that do. So, of your list of potential problems, I suffered from exactly zero of them. So my first bit of advice would be to not borrow trouble -- and if you don't have any problems, don't come back here and post about how you are worried because you aren't suffering enough! You are fine!

I did try the Bariatric Advantage shakes and thought they were horrendous, but I know lots of people like them. I would suggest buying samples of many different brands - here is one place you can buy samples:

http://www.nashuanutrition.com/store/protein-powders/protein-powder-samples-1-serving.html

If you are going to sample them before surgery, make sure you buy at least 2 samples so that you can sample again after surgery. Your tastes and tolerances may very well change with surgery.

Maybe have thought through some alternatives for warm/hot protein drinks such as Unjury chicken soup, the hot soups and hot drinks (HealthSmart brand) you can buy at Nashua Nutrition, or adding plain, vanilla, or chocolate protein powder to tea or coffee, or plain powder to broth or soup. Remember that for hot drinks (except the HealthSmart brand) you'll need to use a food thermometer to keep the liquid under 140 degrees.

Do you know what you plan to mix your protein drinks with? You may want to test out and consider your options - skim milk, water, soy milk, almond milk, etc. If you have a Kroger near you, check out their CarbMaster milk, which is ideally formulated for wls patients.

Other than that, walk and sip as much as you can, take care of yourself rather than letting other people wait on you, stay sitting up in a chair rather than lying down in bed when you are in the hospital (unless you need to sleep), and give yourself permission to rest and feel tired when you get home. Take your painkillers - don't be a hero. Suffering isn't going to help you recover

That's my word vomit on the first two weeks . . . good luck!

@ Bufflehead thank you sooooo much. Yes, I do hear alot of "common" things some say the experienced. But your point was very well received. We are all different and may not experience any of that junk. Good to know. Trust, I will not try to be a hero, and good tip about the sitting up and waiting on myself. I had already envisioned myself in bed, in pain, helpless... Lol

One of the most helpful things I got was one of those reachers at the hospital - I found it hard to bend over for stuff the first couple of weeks. Mine came from the hospital but you can get them at the pharmacy too (if you go to the CVS website and just search for "reacher", you'll see what I'm talking about). Especially since my dog was a little out of sorts after I got home and kept getting into the trash.

No problems, up walking as soon as they'd let me, no pain, no problems (okay, it did feel like I had done massive amounts of sit-ups, but that was it). Still haven't found a Protein drink I like, but that's about the worse of my problems and woe's. I was able to drive, shop, etc a few days after surgery, and sadly doing laundry and vaccuming right away as well. I'm not one for laying around so I was back to my normal life as soon as I got home (I went to Mexico). Everyone is different, but those that had it done on the same day I did, we were all up and mobile in just a few hours and have had absolutely no problems.. Good luck!

I'm just over two weeks post op (11/28). I didn't have any problems once leaving the hospital really. In the hospital the first morning after surgery was rough (because I was anti pain meds so I didn't want to take them the first night, don't grin and bare the pain, take them!), also had a lot of nausea but just from the anesthesia. Was released from the hospital on Sunday afternoon and had my brother drive me all over cause I missed black Friday and wanted to go shopping. I returned to work on Wednesday, would have been Tuesday but that's when my surgeon meets with those who had surgery. I'm meeting my Protein requirements but still working on my Fluid intake (had trouble with that initially but like somebody else told me, you're healing and swollen). Never had any serious gas pains. I got the hiccups once because I guzzled too much Water in one gulp. Really no horror stories. I'm getting tired of liquids but definitely not hungry. So far so good! I drink Pure Protein or Premier Protein shakes (ready made shakes), haven't ever tried Bariatric Advantage. I know lots of people also like Isopure (I did not!). But this whole process is trial and error and find what works and is agreeable to you. :-) Good luck!

I too am having no real problems. Never had to take any of the pain pills they sent me home with. I have had no problems drinking and I am wondering if there is something wrong with me because I can't tell if I am full or not. Still have this anesthesia gas inside and still trying to get it out. Drinking protein shake and creamed soups. Haven't gotten all my protein or water in since surgery. Had surgery last Thursday and no complaints. I feel hunger pains, but really can't tell dif between hunger and gas.