RVAGirl

I was told no straws but I always have used them and I'm still guilty time to time of using them. It does create gas but I'm more comfy using them and I sip better as well with them.

Be careful if you choose to eat it and if you do make sure you have thin or toasted crust. The hand toss dough can gunk up in your stomach and be hard to digest.

I also had the same pains and had a hiatal hernia repair too during surgery. The pain is a result from eating or drinking too fast and gas. The best way to get rid of it is to walk. Walking helps release the pressure built up inside you that is causing that pain under your breast. When I feel it I get on my treadmill and walk about 5 mins and it helps a ton. Also when I started eating slower I don't get it as much. Be sure to eat slow and chew very good.

I get it to and my surgeon said it's most likely due to acid reflux. I'm on Prilosec but I still get it time to time. It sucks =/

I had Vertical Sleeve surgery on April 4, 2011. I am experiencing what seems to be weakening of the enamel on my teeth since surgery. I get the recommended daily intake of protein, calcium supplements, B-12, B-Complex, and a Multivitamin. I also don't eat foods higher than 3g of sugar and I don't drink any beverages with sugar, caffeine, or carbon. I take really good care of my teeth doing the whole flossing, mouthwash, brushing, and ACT fluoride rinse. I was wondering if anyone else has experienced problems like this since having surgery? I guess it's time for a trip to the dentist to perhaps get that enamel coating they put over teeth...sucks

I had my surgeon tell me the same thing about trying to stick with thicker foods. He doesn't wanting me eating cereal too often but he said once or twice a week is okay and suggested Special K Protein Plus Cereal (Can be found at Walmart). I also eat Quaker Weight Control Variety Pack Oatmeal, Eggbeaters, Dannon Fat Free Yogurt, Special K or Protein Plus Protein bars. The protein bars I choose I read the nutritional labels on to check the calories, fat, protein, and sodium. I've found Protein Plus to be the best for me. I do a protein bar if I can't stomach a "normal" breakfast but I don't make it a habit.

I've been drinking them since surgery. My surgeon doesn't see a problem with them. I like the Fruit Punch and the Strawberry Melon best.

My sleeve was done April 4th, 2011. I've lost 45lbs since the surgery with little effort, 60lbs if you count the pre-surgery diet. I'm just now starting to exercise on the treadmill so hopefully that will make me lose some more. I think it just varies based on the person and their activity levels and diet.

I'm about a month and a half out and I had horrible back pain. Turns out it was because my gall bladder had stones. It was sending radiating pain to my back. After weight loss surgery people can experience gall bladder issues. I think you are just experiencing it from the weight loss but if it turns into severe pain contact your surgeon to discuss it.

I despise all artificial sugar too. They are sooo bitter and horrid. However, I still haven't used the sugar. The reason being is it doesn't digest well and it lurks around in the bottom of your stomach and intestines. I have had to experiment in finding drinks and soups that taste good. I mostly drink Vitamin Water Zero, Arizona Diet Green Tea, Diet Snapple Peach Tea, Lifewater, Sugar free cocoa, Crystal light, and my new favorite is Mio. All of them come in different flavors and are all sugar free. As far as protein shakes Slimfast Protein, Special K chocolate shake, Carnation sugar free, and Atkins protein shake have tasted the best to me. The only protein powder I can handle is Elite Whey Protein Isolate powder in chocolate from GNC. I add a scoop of it in with my Slimfast or whatever protein shake I was having and man it's good. I blend it up like a frapp. I think you'll just have to experiment but I'd keep the sugar to a minimum. Good luck!

If they tell you to switch to gastric bypass I would def get a second opinion first. I do know people who have had issues with strictures but I've never heard of switching from sleeve to gastric. That seems very harsh to me since you just had surgery to go in and do another so fast. I do have a cousin who has had gastric and has lost a great deal of weight with it in a years time. She looks and feels amazing. I got my sleeve surgery the same day as you. I did have issues getting the liquids down to. I never had much to drink there. I was dependent on my IV's as well. I was in the hospital 2 nights and a day. I'm so sorry that you're dealing with this. Did they tell you what caused the stricture? I really hope you can get to the bottom of it but I strongly believe in a second opinion if they can't fix you without a surgery.

You really need to follow the food guidelines set by your surgeon. Just because you can eat that much doesn't mean you should. Also they give you those guidelines so you don't get things stuck in your throat, acid refux , and also don't pop your staples. I got my sleeve April 4th and I did 2 weeks on full liquids, 2 weeks on mushy, then i was allowed moist meats. That pain your feeling is most likely acid reflux or if you aren't chewing the food real good or eating to fast. If you are suppose to be on liquids then do it. You don't want to end up back in the hospital. If you feel you are hungry you need to let your surgeon know that. You may have what is referred to as "head hunger" where you feel hungry but your stomach really isn't hungry. It's a form of food addiction and there are food counselors you can see to help with that. I went to a few sessions pre and post surgery. My insurance covers it and it was extremely helpful. Good luck!

I lost 16 lbs in my first 2 weeks out of surgery then I hit a "stall" period where I didn't lost but 1 lb for a week. I was like whatttt!! Turns out the surgeon told me that's normal because the water in your body is shifting and adjusting to your weight loss. I see a lot of people have experienced weight loss spurts. You will hit weeks that you lose and then may go a period not losing while your body adjusts, but bottom line you're going to lose the weight. Stick to your new eating plan and you'll do great. Good luck!

In my personal experience with the sleeve the first 3 days were pretty bad for me. Not so much pain just nausea. They did give me pain and nausea medication and it does help. Around day 4 which was when I got my drain removed I was much better. I really despised the drain hanging off my body and was glad to see it go. You'll experience nausea time to time the first few weeks but pain shouldn't be a issue. If you're in pain let your surgeon know and they'll prescribe you something for it. I was so scared to have my surgery from reading things other people wrote and it wasn't bad at all. I almost felt embarrassed that I got so nervous and bent out of shape before it, lol. You'll be fine as long as you just take it easy and stick to the diet and meds they give you. Well wishes.

I read your post about going back on liquids to "kick start" the diet again. You shouldn't do that. I had a stall in my weight loss and I had that same thought of just going back to liquids but I discussed it with my doctor first and he told me absolutely NO! He said that when you are past the whole shake stage and get into solid foods you need them. Eating food will make you lose more weight then the shakes. It's hard to believe but it's true. The thing is eating the correct foods like turkey, fish, sirloin all 90 % fat free and steamed veggies, yogurts, cottage cheese. I went to see my surgeon yesterday and he was fussing at me because I still do the shakes time to time and soups. He told me I needed to get off the liquids and eat food. If you want to make a change do it with your activity level, but stick with your solid foods. It sounds like you're making the right choices measuring now. Good luck!

I can't believe your eating bread. I'm almost 2 months out of sleeve surgery and my surgeon wont allow any bread, chips, or crackers. The reason is the bread fills you up and you wont be able to get your protein in. Also you shouldn't be eating anything over 4 ounces in a meal sitting. It should be taking you about a hour to eat your meal. I can also eat mine faster if I wanted to but the thing is you have to pace yourself. You are in control. You have to teach yourself new eating habits that will make your weight loss successful. The slower you eat and the more you chew your food the fuller you feel. Just because you can eat normal and fast doesn't mean you should. You could make yourself really sick doing that. The surgeon should have gave you guidelines to follow for each week. The first 2 weeks out of my surgery I was on liquids only, the next 2 weeks I was on mashed or mushy foods. Then the 2 weeks after that I was allowed moist meats. Each meal was to be no more than 4 ounces. You should be measuring everything you eat. I can tell you aren't because I'm pretty sure you're not stuffing your Sub into a measuring cup. I was in the hospital with a lady that ate food she wasn't suppose to and it caused some problem with her and she had been in the hospital for 4 months because of it. She scared the crap out of me. I didn't want to be that person. If you're going to be successful with your weight loss and lifestyle change you MUST follow the measuring and food guidelines set by your surgeon. If you find you can't then you may have a food addiction or what they call "head hunger". It is when your head is telling you that you are hungry and you see all the "no no " foods and want them really bad, however your actual stomach isn't hungry. You can pop the staples in your stomach so I urge you to be careful and discuss with your doctor everything you're doing, your hunger level, and how you're feeling. Go to a food addiction counselor if you have to. I went a few times pre and post surgery to help with my head hunger and it made a huge difference. I wish you the best!

I'm a month and a half out of surgery and I think my surgeon would go nuts if I told him I ate pork rinds. I've eaten them pre-surgery time to time but never post. I stick straight to the diet and eat only the foods given to me on the approved list. I'm just now getting into the "moist meats." I think chips and stuff like that are so high in sodium and personally I wouldn't want to go back to eating things that really don't serve my body any nutritional purpose. I can get protein from a source with way less sodium then pork rinds. I personally don't think it's a smart idea. It's like resorting back to pre-surgery eating habits. I'm trying to use my surgery as a tool for a change of lifestyle and don't want to go back to all those old snacks. I don't think I'd even be able to swallow one down even if i chewed it up to crumbs anyways.

I was sleeved on April 4th and I had them to. The doctor told me that when you take Calcium Citrate it can cause hot and cold flashes and also mild skin rashes. I am lactose intolerant so I have to take them. I'm constantly turning the fan on and off and recently invested in the remote control fan so I wouldn't have to keep getting out of bed to turn it on and off. Bottom line the body is changing and adjusting, the water is moving around in our bodies and weight is shifting. It's prob a side effect of the trauma on the body or either the calcium citrate. I'd talk to your surgeon about your concerns with it.

I get pains to and turns out it was acid reflux. I wasn't having it come up where I could taste it, but it was further down. So when I would eat I would feel like things weren't going down. I had to start taking a daily prescribed Prilosec. This has helped some but I still have probs time to time especially with meat. Just make sure you are taking small bites and not eating fast. I would talk to your surgeon about it. Also, you may want to be careful with the milk. I developed Lactose Intolerance after the surgery. I take 1500mg of Calcium Citrate now to make up for it. The milk was getting me really nauseated.

I had the same thing happen and it sucks. I talked to my doctor who explained to me it is totally normal. He explained that the body may lose weight in one two week period then you may go another week or two with little to no weight loss. He said this is because the body is shifting water weight inside you to adjust to the weight loss. He said the scale is also not very accurate about actual weight loss sometimes. He explained to just stay on the diet I was given, make sure I'm getting my protein, and continue exercising. You aren't done losing weight. The body is simply adjusting to all the changes and will from time to time. Trust me you don't want to lose the weight super fast anyways or you'll lose chunks of hair and be weak.