My surgery is scheduled 4/8. I'm excited but, also super nervous [emoji27]. What are you guys packing for the hospital? Are ya'll stocking up on liquids (broth and protein shakes etc.) now?

Hello All,

I'm back from the family gathering for the holiday weekend. The drive was 4.5 hours. Prior to this journey, I would have a bag of snacks in the car with me and would enjoy snacks along the way. This time I packed water, protein drinks, edamame, chicken, and Turkey and cheese roll ups. I made the drive alone which was great. I left early in the morning so I ate the turkey and cheese roll up for breakfast at the beginning of the drive. I drank water and a protein drink. I ate a little edamame as a snack. For lunch, I ate some chicken (2 ounces) and edamame. I chose options that are easy in the car. I wanted to eat lunch prior to sewing family because I wanted to have already eaten my food so I would not eat whatever they were eating.

Man, as I drove down the highway, all I could see was fast food places one after another. My goodness. They really stood out. When I took an exit for the bathroom or to get has, it just hit me how much easy access people have to really bad options. I totally understand that when people are traveling, they may opt for fast food because they believe it's cheaper or saves time, but it really stood out. I rarely would eat fast food before surgery. Chicl-Fil-A or Zaxbys chicken are usually the only options I consider. I don't eat burgers. Now I don't consider those 2 places either because I don't eat fried food or grease.

Just sharing about my observation and I guess a concern. There is just crazy easy access to food thats bad for us.

I'm proud of myself for not being tempted when I drove past my favorite ice cream shop and when I walked into the gas station and did not buy a snack or sugary drink (juice or soda).

17 minutes ago, WanderingHeart said:

Roasting gives it a nice carmelized flavor!
Also forgot to include butter, margarine or ghee in my directions!

I love roasted cauliflower! I like mine to get a little crunchy. I spray a little olive oil to it first and give them a toss. Then i sprinkle on seasonings. Mostly the same ones you mentioned. I like a little kick, so I use a Cajun seasoning also. Very good! Definitely prefer fresh over frozen.

Edited May 31, 20215 yr by Blueslily

Hi April Sleevers,

Some of us are hitting the 2 month mark this week. Congrats! Hope you all are doing well.

I ate a tiny bit of salad for the first time and two small bites of watermelon. The salad was chopped into tiny pieces, lol. This is my first time eating raw vegetables and fruit. No problems with either. I kept the salad ingredients simple to test out just a few raw veggies at one time. Just tried a tiny bit. Its watermelon season so I'm hopeful that I can use it as a snack. I know some programs discourage eating fruit due to sugar, but my program allows a little bit of fruit. ?

Happy 2nd month surgerversary!!

Hi all I finally found my April buddies I had bypass on 4/14 and the first few weeks like other stated I didn't go to the bathroom at all. Now the last 2 week I can't stop, I was told to take immodium. I have a history since I was young of IBS and even when I was an athlete, I worked with gastro docs and I really didn't want to rely on medicine again. I just can't do anything else. It is totally interfering with just leaving the house. I started to work out again with a trainer but had to cancel 2x b/c of this. I am getting my water in and protein, I'm still on soft foods and feel week. I spend way too much time in the bathroom or if the immodium works tooting something awful.

Anyone have this problem?

40 minutes ago, DMS242321 said:

Hi all I finally found my April buddies I had bypass on 4/14 and the first few weeks like other stated I didn't go to the bathroom at all. Now the last 2 week I can't stop, I was told to take immodium. I have a history since I was young of IBS and even when I was an athlete, I worked with gastro docs and I really didn't want to rely on medicine again. I just can't do anything else. It is totally interfering with just leaving the house. I started to work out again with a trainer but had to cancel 2x b/c of this. I am getting my Water in and Protein, I'm still on soft foods and feel week. I spend way too much time in the bathroom or if the immodium works tooting something awful.

Anyone have this problem?

I found that all sugar free things do that to me!

On 5/29/2021 at 12:26 AM, Incredibleshrinkiningkiley said:

This 100% and yes mine is numb. My c section was numb for honestly 6 months to a year. It’s nerves. You are not alone friend.

Thank you I was starting to get worried.

Yes prior to surgery all sugar free did that to me my whole life. Then the sugar free pops and sugar free jello were ok. I always had a bad reaction to splenda. The only sugar free post surgery I can think of doing this is my gum (I quit smoking) so I chew sugar free gum, which must be the problem. So now what lol. I don't want to smoke again, I don't want to stay in the bathroom for hours. I guess I will have to chew on air lol.

13 hours ago, DMS242321 said:

Yes prior to surgery all sugar free did that to me my whole life. Then the sugar free pops and sugar free Jello were ok. I always had a bad reaction to splenda. The only sugar free post surgery I can think of doing this is my gum (I quit smoking) so I chew sugar free gum, which must be the problem. So now what lol. I don't want to smoke again, I don't want to stay in the bathroom for hours. I guess I will have to chew on air lol.

Could you try to find gum that is low sugar or sweetened with something like monk fruit instead of artificial sugars?
also how much protein are you getting vs fiber? When I’m super high protein and super low fiber, I have bathroom probs. I find my sweet spot is 60g protein with some vegs that have fiber.

On 5/28/2021 at 9:09 PM, Blueslily said:

i had surgery 4/27 and I’m struggling with headaches. I’m getting in enough water any idea on what I can do to help?

1 hour ago, Incredibleshrinkiningkiley said:

Hi, I also had my surgery close to your date(April 28). My headaches came intermittently but not often so I bought liquid Tylenol. I thought maybe it had to do with coffee withdrawals or because I can NEVER get 64 oz. Of water into a day. I then started exercising; working up a sweat and oxygenating my brain and body. Things got a lot better afterwards. Not saying this would be the problem for you but it might help to troubleshoot these things. I also noticed that I feel awful when I don't get a bowel movement as often as I feel I need it and my head starts to hurt so I use Soylent Protein drinks (just a few sips) to get things moving. You can buy on Amazon. Now that I'm ending the 5th week, I've found that just a few sips of espresso with cream helps to regulate me too. As a previously heavy coffee drinker, this has become my wonderful heavenly treat.

On 5/30/2021 at 5:35 PM, HealthyLifeStyle said:

Don't mean to sound stupid, but what does Onederland mean?

8 minutes ago, TriciaC. said:

Hi, I also had my surgery close to your date(April 28). My headaches came intermittently but not often so I bought liquid Tylenol. I thought maybe it had to do with coffee withdrawals or because I can NEVER get 64 oz. Of Water into a day. I then started exercising; working up a sweat and oxygenating my brain and body. Things got a lot better afterwards. Not saying this would be the problem for you but it might help to troubleshoot these things. I also noticed that I feel awful when I don't get a bowel movement as often as I feel I need it and my head starts to hurt so I use Soylent Protein Drinks (just a few sips) to get things moving. You can buy on Amazon. Now that I'm ending the 5th week, I've found that just a few sips of espresso with cream helps to regulate me too. As a previously heavy coffee drinker, this has become my wonderful heavenly treat.

Thank you! I tried just about everything so I decided to try to eat a strawberry since I haven’t had a carb in almost 2 months and that actually helped a lot. My program is not allowing fruits carbs or veggies yet. No way I’m gonna get fat from 2 small strawberries lol. And my stomach handled it way better than most foods.

8 minutes ago, Incredibleshrinkiningkiley said:

Thank you! I tried just about everything so I decided to try to eat a strawberry since I haven’t had a carb in almost 2 months and that actually helped a lot. My program is not allowing fruits carbs or veggies yet. No way I’m gonna get fat from 2 small strawberries lol. And my stomach handled it way better than most foods.

I don’t get the no veg/no fruit thing! They’re in my plan, thank goodness!

That's great about the strawberry and honestly, I consider my plan overly cautious. I figure I know my body better than anyone and one plan doesn't fit all. Some soft foods I've handled well include tuna salad on lettuce leaves ( just chew, chew, chew like crazy), very flaky halibut, tiny pieces of shrimp mixed with cocktail sauce and bits of avocado, 1 egg mixed with egg white, lactaid milk and salsa (cooks up very light and wet). That's my soft protein go tos.

Frozen fruit and fresh fruit like Strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries blended with Glucerna vanilla protein powder, lil Spinach, almond milk or coconut water comprises my smoothie mix.

Dairy is usually cottage cheese with blueberries or baby bell soft cheese. Sooo good. I'm down 35 #s in 38 days now.

Veggies are soft string beans in can and boiled carrots. Can't stomach cauliflower for some reason.

I eat every 3 hours or so and exercise every day; weightlifting, treadmill, recumbent and flex bike. Trail walks. My problem though is eating too late. Feel full till next day afternoon.

Sugar free hard caramel candies by Werthers are also my treat.

I guess my whole point is that everyone is different and we just have to find our own happy place which I do with tiny bites of new things.

Good luck!

My plan allowed fresh fruit starting at Week 8. I was fine with waiting until then. I had been focused on protein for meals since I only could eat 2 ounces per meal. I'm not a smoothie person so I wasn't mixing in a little fruit in those prior to Week 8. I mainly eat whole foods versus stuff mixed together. I think I must be a simple eater, lol.

My lack of BMs recently improved by eating fiber chews. (Thank you sleevers who shared about them). Stuff like adding Miralax to my drinks worked when I used it, but I just didnt like that option for frequent or ongoing use. Taking Senokot works also, but I just didnt want to do that frequently either. Fiber chews are simple and easy to add to the day and eating them seems like a treat, hahaha. So far that's the only kind of treat I have. Hahaha. I haven't used any type of candy or treat yet. I'm kind of scared that I might trigger a sugar craving this early on and possibly have to then fight it off. If I need an afternoon snack, I eat a cheese stick or the recently added option of cucumber slices which I enjoy.

I mainly need to work on increasing water intake. During the past 2 weeks, I've been so busy at work, that I fall behind with intake during the day and it's hard to make up that slack when I get home at like 6-7pm. It's just not enough time left in the day to get everything in. So, I'm working on being more mindful of water intake during work.

Sounds like you are just like me! I’m almost at week 6. I won’t be able to do any soft veggies until next month. My nutritionist did say soft fruit is OK if you absolutely need it for BMs. That’s why I felt ok eating the strawberry. It’s the lack of carbs that’s the issue for me and carbs are healthy and good in moderation. As for the bms I take 2 stool softeners in the morning with my morning meds and a fiber chewable(they make sugar free ones) and I am regular every morning. And my program advises against straws but I need one to get my water intake in. I did a ton of research on them And the non use of straws is kind of a myth based on studies the straw doesn’t do much except very early on after surgery and it has to do with air and gas. Many people use them and are fine.