Mews

I was on liquids for a month and then soft foods for two weeks. I think the fear of getting a leak was strong enough to prevent me from eating solid foods before I was supposed to.

I'm doing the sublingual pill once a day. I just put it in my pill case along with all the others. It really isn't so bad.

I didn't have a pre-op diet. My doc has performed hundreds of VSGs and got his MD at Columbia medical school. When I asked him about the liver issue he laughed and said he can work with any sized liver. Mind you I had a BMI of 51. What I'm trying to say is do your research. Find a doctor that you feel has the right education and experience to make you confident in him/her. They're all going to have their own styles and requirements based on those factors. Some want pre-op diets because that's what they were taught or learned in the beginning. Others are going to have different opinions. If you feel confident in your surgeon just follow the plan and you should be OK. P.S. Be careful as sometimes quantity does not always equate to quality.

As I'm only six weeks out I haven't tried many grains. I was told to avoid things like pasta, rice, and untoasted bread. I've been able to eat a slice of toasted wheat bread but that's really the only thing I've attempted so far. My NUT warned me that rice maybe hard to digest so I'm waiting until I'm about eight weeks out to try it.

Besides what others mentioned above, I think the things that really helped me out were smaller containers and silverware. I bought a bunch of toddler sized bowls and silverware to help keep my portion and servings under control. I also bought a bunch of small Tupperware like containers to put my work meals into. And SF popsicles and fudgecicles. God I love those. They have been a real lifesaver in this.

The only grains I've managed to consume is wheat bread and at six weeks out I don't have much of a problem with it as long as it's toasted. I've been trying to get my carbs through fruits and veggies instead.

I couldn't eat it until I got to the mushies phase.

Remember liquid in, liquid out. It's not going to be "normal" until you get to the mushie stage.

I was on clears for two weeks as part of my doctor's standard regimen. I know it's tough, believe me. I was so sick of broth, Gatorade, and SF Jello by the end of it! I tried to spice it up with SF popsicles and watered down apple and white grape juice. You can also have cranberry juice but I can't stand the stuff. Hang in there. This will pass.

I eat 4oz meals (1/2 cup) and I get them finished within a half an hour usually. You'll be fine.

My doc just gave me clearance to swim and I'm at six weeks. Check with your doc and see what he/she says.

It could actually be not enough carbs. I felt very dizzy and foggy for a couple of weeks after surgery and my doc suggested I try to get in more carbs. Don't get me wrong. Fluids and Protein are important but if you're getting it all in you may need the extra boost to your blood sugar levels. Check with your doctor though as you may even have low blood pressure. Better to be safe.

For me it's three 4oz meals and two 2oz snacks. However because I work such long days I usually need to add in a third snack to get through the day.

Oh and there is a New Jersey group on these forums. As for specific support groups, the only one I know of is in Hackensack. Who is doing your surgery?

There have been studies upon studies that show the effects stress has on one's body. I know that pre-op I would gain weight during very stressful periods. It wouldn't surprise me if this is what's causing your stalls.

I can eat pretty much whatever I want but only in smaller amounts. There is a big focus on protein but each surgeon/NUT has different requirements. Mine allows me some carbs as long as I get my protein in. Just don't expect to eat everything right away. I'm six weeks out and I was just given clearance for everything other than salad.

I would recommend three to four weeks off as well. What's the worst that can happen? You feel better and go back to work early. I only took ten days and regretted it as I've had a rough recovery. I ended up taking additional sick days here and there because I was so weak. As for complications, I developed a blood clot in my leg. I do have a predisposition for them but I was surprised that it happened. Luckily I caught it in time. Just make sure you remain somewhat active in the weeks following surgery but if you get a weird leg pain (calve and hamstring area) call your doctor ASAP.

I only took 10 days but I should've taken 3-4 weeks off. I've had a rough recovery.

I thought that by law money could be taken out of you 401k without any penalties if it was for medical expenses. I had to do that a few years back for a different health problem. You might want to look into that.

I tend to eat late as I work late, so usually around 8pm. However, I don't get to bed until close to midnight so I do get hungry. What I have is a SF popscicle or fudgecicle. That usually hits the spot. Sometimes though I need something a bit more dense so I'll go with a string cheese stick. Those are really my go to snacks during the day.

I haven't tried any unflavored ones but I heard the unjury one is pretty good. I actually like the premade GNC Lean shakes. They come in vanilla and strawberry and have 21g of Protein. It's one of the few Protein Shakes I can tolerate. I did try the Premier ones from costco and they are OK but not as good as the others. Everybody is going to have different tastes and even after surgery your tastes may change. I used to be able to tolerate most protein shakes. Now I cannot stand most of them.

Think about it this way: do you have any comorbidities? That can play a role in your decision. If you do have them then you might be looking at it as how this surgery can get rid of them. In my case, I had a terribly high BMI (51) with only one comorbidity (sleep apnea). For me, I knew at my weight if I didn't get the surgery I would be looking at some serious issues as heart disease, diabetes, etc., which are a hell of a lot worse than what this surgery can do to me. Also, they have been doing VSG for quite a long time as part of another surgery and for cancer and ulcer patients, so it's not really that new. From what I have gathered in my months of research is that this is a relatively safe surgery that doesn't have any long-term problems. However, do your own research and come to your own conclusions.

I'm only six weeks out but I've lost 21 pounds and haven't dropped a size yet. My pants are a bit baggy but I haven't whipped out the belt yet. I'm waiting for my pants to start falling off before I buy new ones. LOL

If you're working out you could be gaining muscle mass, which is heavier, and retaining some water. Are you losing inches at all? That might be a better indicator.