Back~To~Amy

Is that like sausage? If so, I'm 1 month out and can only have meats that are shredded, cooked and chopped up like you would for spaghetti and shaved deli meats. I'm not supposed to eat any meat in it's whole form until 6 weeks postop. I supposed you could put hotlinks in a food processer and break them up. Also, I'd be careful of the skin on them this early out. I'm not supposed to have fruits until 6 weeks postop because of the skin. I'm not sure how this translate to meat.

Yeah, Gas X strips. They gave me 2 or 3 at a time multiple times a day in the hospital. I don't think there is a limit on them. Also, walk, walk and walk some more. It helps. Best of luck to you. I hope you feel better real soon.

I just tried to send you a request and it wouldn't let me. You can friend request me: BackToAmy. Also, look at my other friends. They are all from here. You can send them requests too.

There are several posts on this site with lots of MFP user names. Do a search using "my fitness pal" and doing "mfp" and you can find others using MFP and what their user names are. I will send you a request though.

You know you can only absorb 500 mg. of calcium at a time so you shouldn't take more than that in one dose? You should also wait at least 2 hours between doses or you risk not absorbing it all.

I'm allowed any soft food---yogurt, refried Beans, Jello, pudding, popsicles, cottage cheese, cream of wheat, oatmeal and other sorts of things along this line. I cannot have any "bread type" soft foods like pancakes, waffles, untoasted bread, rice, Pasta, etc. I'm allowed cooked veggies except the starch ones like corn and potatoes. I'm also allowed sea food, shredded or crumbled meats like chicken, turkey, pork or beef. I'm allowed only bananas with the strings removed and fruit in a cup in its own juice except cherries or acidic fruits. Also on the mushies stage I can have well toasted bread and crip crackers. What I can't have until 6 weeks postop: bread of any kind, tortillas, nuts, uncooked veggies, pasta, pancakes, waffles, muffins, any fruit exept what is mentioned above. Chunks of meat such like a whole chicken breast or a hamburger patty such that would be on a burger. I think that pretty well sums it up. I hope this helps you.

I've lost 35.8 since my preop diet began on May 21, 2012. I've lost 21.6 since surgery 4 weeks ago today.

Updated to here

I'm 4 weeks out today. I started sleeping on my side within 3 or 4 days. Several days after that I was on my belly. Then, last Wednesday I started back to work. I had an exacerbation of extreme pain and am now back to sleeping on my back. Even sleeping on my side isn't comfortable. I so cannot wait to get back to belly sleeping. I miss it!

Calcium needs to be taken at least 2 hours after Iron and taken in no more than 500 mg. doses at a time at least 2 hours from the prior dose. My physician has told me that VSG patients need 1500 mg. of calcium a day. I usually take my multi when I'm getting ready in the morning. During the week while I'm at work, I take my calcium doses usually mid morning, lunch and mid afternoon. I hope this helps and this is what you were looking for.

I didn't have any complications. I have had issues with significant pain though. I'm 4 weeks out today. Would I do it again even with all the pain issues I've had? 100% heck yes!

I was told no straws because it causes more gas. I've had no issues at all with gas except for the first 3 days postop. I've been drinking from a straw pretty much since 1 week postop with no problems.

I was allowed mashed sweet potatoes starting day 22. I'm not allowed watermelon until after 6 weeks.

I am 4 weeks out today. I get head hunger....cravings. I never feel real hunger though. I eat because I know I have to. I still struggle getting in enough protein. I just don't have enough room in my tummy.

I hope you get what you need to ease your pain. Keep us updated.

Well that sucks! I hope you find a new physician soon.

Please try and ignore that comment. Even if the poster was trying to be funny, it isn't especially when you are in such pain! The left side pain is totally normal. The doctor cut through your muscle. Yes, a lot of people don't have much pain but some of us do. I'm 4 weeks out and still having pain issues. I called my doctor crying last Thursday because I was in so much pain. If you don't have a compression garment, het one and wear it all the tome except while showering. It will help. Oh, you can also use some control garments like Spanx or the knock offs they sell at Walmart. Just get one that goes up high...as close to under your breasts as you can. That alone has done wonders for me. Another tip, use a heating pad as much as possible. Also, it sounds like you need a stronger pain med. I had to get one 3 days out. What they discharged me from the hospital with was like candy. It did nothing. Also, last Thursday I was prescribed Flexeril to help with the muscle pain. Try calling and seeing if you can get additional pain meds. If you can't and you don't talk to the doctor directly, I'd make an appointment to see him or her. Pain control is everything at this point. It makes all the difference in your mental outlook. When I was in bad pain, I wondered what did I do to myself. When my pain is under control, I have no regrets. Don't worry about feeling like a baby. Trust me, I've felt this way a lot! I've been told by more than one doctor in the past that I have a high pain tolerance. This surgery knocked me to my knees....and still does at times. I'm still working through healing and having some pain. One more thing, I'm going to send you a private message with my cell number. If you want real time support, pleas don't hesitate to contact me. I understand totally where you are!

Are you talking about pain on your left side onto your back? Of so, it is totally normal. I was 3 weeks and 1 day postop last week when I called my doctor in crying in severe pain. Mine is more of muscle pain where the big incision is and where they did their work. If this is your pain, let me know and I will elaborate more on this post and the helpful advice I got.

There is something to that statement. I'm 4 weeks out today and much more sensitive to sweet things. I had something fairly sweet to drink in the liquid postop portion of my diet that I used to love once in awhile preop and I could only stand a couple of drinks of. It was too sickenly sweet. My Protein shake also doesnt taste the same to me. I still cannot get one full one down. Maybe its more my brain influencing these tastes but it sure feels like my taste buds and tummy saying no. It is really hard to explain unless you've been there. Preop, I too was skeptical of that "your taste buds may change" statement. Postop, I'm here to tell you there is something to it. I support your doctor. Don't buy too much of anything. It may be wasted postop. Good luck to you!

Good luck at your consult today! Here's hoping you come back here with good news to share!

Updated to here. Gotta do this to keep up.

Okay, so I got on this chart and have updated it to here. Here are a list of members I have so far: Back~To~Me (Amy) Tonibugg (Toni) Lovemeifyoucan (Stacey) Butterflylegacy (Cindy) Amanda3.0 (Amanda) kk23 (Katie) Jana-in-Texas (Jana) DadTo2 (Eric) wannabeeskinny (Jacqi) lessofmeismore WoWGurl78 carbgrl SLIM12 Zamion19 Soggycereal For the majority of you I am missing information: If your name isn't in parentheses after your screen name, I need your first name. Also, I need an e-mail address for all of you but Toni if you want to get e-mail updates and a copy of our member list. Finally, I need a location for SLIM12 and kk23. Feel free to post the needed information here or send me a PM. As y'all know, Toni is very recently postop so we haven't had a chance to talk about this yet. My thoughts are we need to set up some sort of schedule, like meeting the 3rd Saturday of every month at a specified time. I definitely think we need to do it on a Saturday. I think it is just more workable for the majority of people. Also, we have people in the Mesquite area side of the metroplex to people out in Ft. Worth. We may need to come up with a central location or we may need to schedule a meet and greet on the Dallas side of the metroplex one month then the Ft. Worth side the next month. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Oh, if I missed anyone or anyone else wants to join, please let me know. The more the merrier!! I look forward to meeting everyone. ~Amy

Hey y'all. I hope everyone is doing well. I started a chart with the info I knew about everyone but have fallen a bit behind due to starting back to work and some issues with increased pain. I'm gonna try to get it caught up ASAP though. If you haven't alrwady included your e-mail in this post or sent me a I'm with it, please do. We will post details here but will also email stuff. Also, if you'd give me your real name and any other info about you that you'd like the group to know about you, I'll include that in our member chart. As Toni said, anyone in the DFW area is welcome to join regardless of when you had surgery. And, yes DadTo2 that includes guys.