Okay now I'm totally freaked out. I don't know what to drink! I was never told I had to do protien shakes. Only Clear liquids for a couple of days then full liquids. Which was anything I could blend to a thin consisitency.

What if I've already done the damage??? I think I'm way in over my head here. I've cried all day. Not because of food, just tears. I can't take me one of my depression meds because it's time released. They made me a liquid compound but it tastes so bad I'll throw up if I try it again.

So clear liquids? I just want to crawl in bed and wake up when the mushies come around. I've never been successful in anything else, I don't know what possessed me to think I could do this. On top of that everyone in the world knows I've had it done!!!!! What the hell I'm I gonna do????

Patty

Patty,

A couple of things. I'm on thin liquids as well. I've been having 1/2 cup to a cup of slim fast optima (chocolate royale in the powder form, tastes like chocolate milk). In the afternoon I've been doing organic Soups. They sell them in cartons...I've had tomato, potato leak and butternut squash. They are all very liquidy but very good and satisfying. I supplement the rest of the day with sugar free popsicles. I would also call your doctor and see if you can get in for an appt. When is your post op check up? That will put you at ease because they can see if you're okay.

Sorry things are so tough right now, but you'll get through this. These weeks are the toughest!!

Jen

Patty,

Ditto on what Jen says. And no you havent done any damage. There are alot of varaitions on the pre and post op diets, so unless you start sticking solids now or anything that inst very liquidy you're fine. It's not too late to do the Protein shakes so I would try to start them just becuase it will help with getting in your nutrients.

I would def call your doc, not just the surgeon but your primary or whoever prescribed the SSRI and see what they can do. This is a very trying exp and there's is no shame in getting the help however it is that you can !! There is no shame in tears I've already shed my few because it is frustrating epsecially when you cant do anything about the GD gas !!!!

It does get betterand it will get better and in a couple of weeks we'll all laugh at our panicking we did now.

Unfortunetly, I had my surgery done in Mexico...because insurance wouldn't pay. I went back and reread my post op diet...and I have screwed up royally. I'm gonna go on faith that my stupidiy has not caused any permanent damage. I don't know what I was thinking. I must have read it the first time while I was stoned on anesthesia. I am suppose to be using a protien shake and getting at least 70 grams of protien and clear liquids for one week. Then full liquids for a week.

I had my cry. There is really nothing I can do about what I have already done. I'm not having any symptoms so I'm gonna believe that my stupidity has not ruined anything.

Thanks for being there for me I hope I can do the same for you someday!

Patty...the clear liquid queen!

Patty,

Good.....I'm glad that you have re-read your instructions. It is alot of information and can be OVERWHELMING! My hubby and I were so upset when we read your post that you had been crying all day and were upset. I wish I were there to hug you.

Yes, you are right. I don't believe that you have done any serious harm to yourself. Each day is a new day and we are fortunate that we can START OVER! Glad to hear that your instructions told you to do the Protein shakes. From what I have read and heard it is VERY important to get that protein in. It can wreak havoc on your body otherwise!

Keep on keepin' on!

Sarah:thumbup:

Thought I would post the homemade Protein shake that my dr. recommended. I'm getting used to it......I drank all 32 oz of it today! Yeah me!!

32 oz. 1% or skim milk

1 cup powdered milk

That's it........then you can flavor it if you want. Which I do with sugar free Nestles (well it will be TOTALY Sugar Free once I become more acclimated to it!)

A couple of hints I learned from my BFF who had LP 2 years ago. Don't buy the generic pwdr. milk. I did and I think it makes a difference in taste. And if you put the mix in the blender or Majic Bullet it tastes much better. You can also add a couple of ice cubes. Makes it a little more like a SHAKE!

Don't drink the whole 32 oz mixture in one sitting. It's meant to be (at least) split and sipped. NOT CHUGGED!

May I suggest that you call your coordinator (the one you called when you cheated on the preop diet; she sounded nice and helpful) and see if she thinks you need to be checked out or not? Have you lined up local aftercare or do you plan to return to Mexico for your fills?

If you have local aftercare available, call and ask. IF not, call your coordinator. Odds are you're ok but you should get it checked out; that's the medically prudent thing to do. And if you're in doubt about what you can/can't eat, all the more reason to call and get some direction.

If there's one thing many of us bandsters learn, it's that the aftercare is almost more important than getting the band itself. You need to have a physician you can go to if you have questions, problems, pains and what not.

So stick to your post op diet, but do some phone calls tomorrow and get peace of mind, or get a test (or two) scheduled; whatever your local doc or banding doc thinks may be needed. Having lasagna, even pureed, day 3 is pretty soon for most of us....but your surgeon can tell you if it was too soon for you, or not.

Don't feel bad about being hungry; many of us are. Just realize that it's more important right now to let yourself heal than to eat. And make those calls tomorrow, make sure you're ok. You don't want a slip in 9 months or so because you blew this off.

Well said Restless Monkey! Thanks for the thoughtful feedback.

great post - i am going to go check my "book" to make sure i understand what i have to do - my op is tomorrow. From memory though I havent been told to have Protein shakes(yet!!!) just liquids only for 2 weeks - was planning on continental cupasoup hearty beef and vanilla Optifast shakes.

it seems to me that just like taking a roadtrip, everyone has there own opinion as to which way to go, even if all are driving the same car, if you get my drift. Main thing is to keep heading in the right direction - which you are.

Don't sweat it though - phone your doctor - let them do the worrying.

xxx:thumbup:

Dear Patty,

Just take a moment and go over all your paper work. If you have question call your doc. You paid good money for their services. Just don't get dehydrated or try to drive right now. Focus on liquids and protein...easy for me to say! I too have been struggling with the post-op diet. I resorted to taking Flintstone vitamins and slimfast shakes...the only think I can stomach. Just remember not everything works for everybody. You may have to tweak the diet, but stay true the basics...hydration, protein and vitamins. Take care!!!

Don't beat yourself up too much. Make the calls. Restlessmonkey gave you some good advie. Now that you are going over your paperwork and getting the right info, pick yourself up and dust yourself off and consider this the first day of the rest of your life.

Call the pharmacist and ask if they can give you a flavor additive to make your anti-depressant taste better. I take lexapro. If they can make liquids palatable for children, they can do it for adults. Since you already have the bottle at home, many pharmacists won't take something back that has left the building (hygiene laws and stuff). If it's a small town pharmacists, they may make an exception. If it's a big town pharmacy, ask if they can sell you the flavor additive and just mix it a home. At walmart, it's only around $2 or $3 for the flavor stuff. If I miss a day, I'm a puddle of nerves and tears.

Take care of yourself

My diet for 2 weeks after surgery is this:

Weeks 1 and 2 post-op:

Thin liquids.

Any liquids that could be sipped through a straw are considered "thin liquids". (Do not use a straw, however. this can lead to swallowed air, and discomfort.)

No Jello. No Vitamins for these 2 weeks.

Typical day:

Breakfast

1 cup coffee

1 Protein shake

lunch

1/2 Protein Shake

1 cup broth

dinner

1/2 protein shake

1/2 cup tomato Soup

I've also been drinking a lot of green tea. It's naturally caffeine free, and I love the taste.

Weeks 3 and 4 post-op are pureed foods. I plan to live on applesauce and mashed potatoes

My diet for 2 weeks after surgery is this:

May I reiterate here that it is very important to do as your own doc tells you, and not what you read here?

Surgeons are different; different educations, different styles, different skills, different experiences, different outcomes, different client bases. Patients are different, too. Just like you shouldn't treat your sinus headache with your neighbor's migraine medicine, you shouldn't do someone else's post op (or pre op) diet. Do what your surgeon tells you.

All this "anecdotal evidence" is interesting in it's variety; but it doesn't pertain. Each one of us needs to do what WE are prescribed by OUR doc.