This rattled me so badly, I created an account to come and get some advice...

I am two weeks post-op, everything going fine though I can't seem to get more than 500 calories a day. I had a tsp of peanut butter yesterday that got me up to 800, but...you know. 500 isn't great. I'm drinking my protein shake/water today, and I'm dizzy, and after bending over, I nearly blacked out; my coworkers (who don't know I had surgery; they just think I'm on a "strict diet") declare that I am starving myself and give me one of the folks' mashed potatoes to get in some calories. I gobble down like...a half cup? A bit more? Without pausing. SO hungry. (And I do feel tons better, just FYI. That awful dizzy, pass-out feeling is gone.)

What has me rattled is that my stomach...has done nothing. No discomfort. No sign that I overate. Hell, it's taking the mashed potatoes as easy as if it were a protein drink. It's pushed back on having too much soup, but not this. What?? While I'm going to contact my nutritionist because I need to figure out how to get in more calories, right now I need some feedback on...what, did I stretch out my stomach suddenly so much to accommodate all of what I ate? Why am I just dandy? I don't know. I'm so unnerved, I'd rather be weak and dizzy than scared that I ruined everything.

Mashed potatoes are what we call a slider food. You're able to eat more of them cause they don't stick to your stomach, they just slide right on through, so you are able to eat more. That's generally why those of us who had the surgery a while ago stay away from foods like that, because we don't want to be able to eat too much. There's nothing wrong with you or your stomach; it's just that mashed potatoes are a slider food.

Thank you SO much! I was trying to hide from everyone how freaked out I am; this has helped me relax a lot, instantly.

5 minutes ago, FancyChristine15 said:

Mashed potatoes are what we call a slider food. You're able to eat more of them cause they don't stick to your stomach, they just slide right on through, so you are able to eat more. That's generally why those of us who had the surgery a while ago stay away from foods like that, because we don't want to be able to eat too much. There's nothing wrong with you or your stomach; it's just that mashed potatoes are a slider food.

Agreed.

Oh I remember having that feeling of getting dizzy and nearly blacking out. I don't know what changed to make it stop but that has stopped for me. Maybe it's the calorie increase, maybe the addition of some more carbs, I'm not sure. Hope it ends for you soon, too.

You can totally eat past the capacity of your sleeve if you don't pay attention to your diet.

Since you are super fresh out of surgery perhaps try to stick super close to the dietary plan provided to you.

If you decide mashed potatoes simply must stay in your life prepare for the possible outcome of slowed weightloss and perhaps add unflavored protein powder to them so they are at least nutritionally valuable.

But i would say as soon as you can go back to the plan of protein first/forward (whatever sources you choose: animal or plant) In the long run you may be happier.

Good luck and congrats on a safe surgery

34 minutes ago, comingupmilhouse said:

This rattled me so badly, I created an account to come and get some advice...

Since you came, you should stick around a while! It's nice to have a place to get advice, support, or just rant. So welcome to the forum!

500 calories isn't too few. Most get between 600-800. Your blood pressure might change and you might be getting sugar (lack of sugar) spikes to account for the syncope (near-fainting) episodes. I've had them too when I stand up and start to walk, but they pass quickly. My surgeon said to eat a little more salt.

12 minutes ago, GradyCat said:

My surgeon said to eat a little more salt.

I was told this as well.

As far as getting dizzy goes try to stay as hydrated as possible. I still get dizzy spells and i'm almost at 4 months post op but it doesn't bother me too much, i just pause and hang on to something for 5 seconds and go about my business.

2 weeks post surgery i couldn't even eat an ounce of food. I did a hardcore low carb diet since i've had surgery and my BP the last 4 times i've had it checked was 117/69 and they cut my BP meds in half. So if you had high BP that could also be why your getting dizzy, your body is adjusting.

It's all part of the surgery, it will come and go. I would urge you not to try to over eat. 4 months out an appropriate meal size for me is 2 slices of swiss cheese and 2 slices pepperoni's from the deli. I'm not sure what that comes out too but it's not much and fills me up for hours.

I understand your concern about gobbling down some delicious potatoes. This is the very reason why my nutritionist and surgeon excludes potatoes and grits from the first part of the soft food stage.

I wish you the best and hope your nutritionist will be able to help you figure out how to combat your dizzy spells.

My office mates were all so freaked when I caught myself from blacking out--and honestly, so was I--I am kinda impressed of how quickly I was able to spin a story as to why I couldn't eat their offered sandwiches, fruit, and cookies (oh, the cookies!!) and needed to stick with very, very soft foods. Too bad no one had some nice, cream soup in the fridge, huh??

Thanks for the blood pressure tips--I'll call my doc since I am being medicated for that, see if she has some insight. I'm for sure not eating a lot of salt, since I'm just doing protein shakes/JellO/a little soup/protein water, that would make a LOT of sense.

It's for sure been a MAJOR struggle to stay to the plan, but I've been doing it every day before today; my appetite is tiny, it's my brain that's the issue. But it's nice to come here and read that I'm not alone. Thanks, everyone, so much.

One other thing - are you taking your multivitamin consistently? I am two weeks out from surgery also and I find that I feel very weak and my muscles hurt with the slightest exertion if I miss taking it. Just another possibility.

Milhouse, I'm grateful for your post. I'm 2 weeks out and just started pureed diet and was wondering the same thing. Slightly dizzy, low-energy and I don't seem to have issues with 'overfilling'. I mushed up about half a cup of veggies/broth last night and had no issues wiht the amount, which got me wondering.

I'm doing great, lost 30 so far and very happy, but I had the same concerns. Thanks to all who added insight.