Hey all! I've had my balloon in for almost a week now and am travelling a pretty standard path, I was nauseous and throwing up for 2-3 days, barely kept juice/meds down. Day 4-5 I braved broth and tea and today I graduated to half a Protein shake as well. I'm expecting to be on liquids until week 2 is done and then have another follow up with my dietician to look at the puree and beyond stage.

Right now food isn't massively appetising to me, I'm very much 'eating to live', which is a strange adjustment after 30 years of Food Food Food. I have a fair idea of what the puree/real people food stages will entail and have done stacks of research but I'd like to hear from the 'front line' what a day in your food diary looks like? Oh and also, have any of you been out to dinner since getting your balloons? How did that go?

@@Sailor Doom - sounds like you're right on track! :-)

I started with a lot of Protein drinks, Soups, Greek yogurt, string cheese, scrambled eggs, hummus, and frozen Pasta Entrees (although I have not heard a lot of people say the latter, it worked for me). I actually still do a lot of all of them - they are easy to make, easy to track nutritionally and packed with protein. Since then I have added a lot of Cereal, chicken, and nut butter or turkey sandwiches. But I really do not restrict types of foods since I tolerate just about anything - I am more concerned with its nutritional content than what it is.

I had my procedure on Wednesday and I had to go out to eat that Sunday! I stuck with Soup and I was fine. I actually did that the first several times I went out. Now I eat out a few times a week and, again, am less concerned about specifically what I eat than how many calories it has and how much protein. I try to stick to restaurants that post nutritional information so that I can determine my meals in advance, but if that's not an option I gravitate to things that I know are pretty safe nutritionally, and/or I order off of the children's or appetizer menus (ex: filet mignon without sauce/sides, children's portion of spaghetti or shrimp cocktail ... I've had a lot of shrimp cocktail :-)).

Glad to hear things are progressing. Hang in there - it will only get better!!

@@Wayward Traveler thanks for that! As much as I'm a bit 'meh' about food right now I am looking forward to maybe a gooey poached egg. Odd how things like that become something to look forward to!

And I'll keep the shrimp cocktail in mind, I do love them.

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@@Wayward Traveler thanks for that! As much as I'm a bit 'meh' about food right now I am looking forward to maybe a gooey poached egg. Odd how things like that become something to look forward to!

And I'll keep the shrimp cocktail in mind, I do love them.

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Ya - I was surprisingly jazzed about a scrambled egg - lol! I talked to someone who had the procedure the week before by the same doctor and he felt the same way - lol! I still feel that way about Popsicles ... Who knew after not having one for decades that I would find so much pleasure in a simple Popsicle?!? :-)

Shrimp cocktail is something else that, while I've had it in recent years, I've never eaten it regularly. It's surprising how delicious and satisfying it can be, and what a fantastic option from a low cal / high Protein perspective. I've had that with a very small side salad and been more than satisfied.

Some people really struggle with food after the procedure. I did at first (the thought of everything made me nauseous), but after a week or two my appetite came back. Hopefully it will for you too, and you will be able to find healthy ways to satisfy it. :-) It's still work for me, but it's easier with the balloon, and I'm hoping that after six months my new healthy habits will be firmly established. Fingers crossed!!