topgun

The third day is a major turning point pain-wise. Don't be a hero, take your pain meds and, like shortypants said, stay ahead of the pain. Hang in there, it'll get better very soon.

Fluids are more important than calories right now. All fluids count, not just water. Try some Gator Ade...it has electrolytes and some sugar to help give you a boost. Little meals eaten frequently is the key, but as long as you can get fluids in, don't sweat the nutrients too much right now. Your body has a store of nutrients that would take a few weeks to deteriorate significantly. Sip, sip, sip!

Most people are on full liquids, not clears, very shortly after surgery, complications notwithstanding. There is no consistency in the medical field about diets and some surgeons took lessons in nutrition from the Marquis de Sade. I can't give you medical advice but I can tell you I probably wouldn't stay on an extended clear diet unless there was a medical reason for it. My doctor gave me a diet to follow, too, but he's okay if I deviate as long as I do it intelligently and not at the expense of my sleeve. Call your doctor and tell him what YOU want. Good luck!

Vance... you're still entitled to a life! I fully intend to have a couple of glasses of sangria (or the equivalent) every now and then, calories be darned! You're losing more than 3# per week... Whaddaya want, guy? Hang in there, you're on track you loser, you!

If you haven;t been sleeved, yet, don't stock up on anything until after surgery. Your tastes WILL change!

I usually order something from the appetizer menu. Selections are usually really tasty and the portions aren't huge. Soups are good, too.

I went shopping today to Wally World and while I was there I figured I'd buy a shirt and pair of pants for future use when I lost more weight. I've worn a 3XL shirt for years and I had a 50 waist when I started my journey. Well, I bought an XL shirt and some size 40 Levis, thinking I'd be in them sooner or later. When I got home I thought I'd put them on just to see how much further I had to go and, OMG, they BOTH fit! (The down side is that I've got a closet full of expensive 3XL Tori Richards aloha shirts that I have bought in the islands over the past few years and they're just too big for me. Oh, well, I'll take the trade off!) One NSV is that I don't have to pay the surcharge for "extra size" clothes. The elation I felt when I put these clothes on was immeasurable and it wiped away any thought in my mind whether or not the sleeve was the right decision or not. For all you newbies and pre-op members, If you haven't felt it yet, you will!

If I can't get them altered, I like the idea of passing them on to someone who will appreciate them. I'll post info later if that's the way I go with the shirts. At $85 - $95 bucks a pop retail, they are just too nice to drop off somewhere anonymously (don't get me wrong, I donate a LOT to charities).

I like that idea!

I don;t think this is a leak issue because if it was I'd be the Titanic! Issues like food getting stuck or overeating can be really uncomfortable and it takes a long time for it to pass. Learn your sleeve and listen to it. I'm still having problems realizing how tiny my portions have to be to prevent discomfort to the point that I wonder whether it's worth while to eat at all. Take a step back and reduce your portions and avoid any food that causes discomfort. Everybody's mileage is different, so you can't always compare your case to others.

Exciting, isn't it? Best of luck!

Please make sure you are hydrated. That alone can make you feel exhausted and generally sick all over. You should check with your doctor and maybe he will have you go in a have a liter or two of fluids infused intravenously. I had it done twice and it worked wonders. I think there is a nutritional reason for your feeling so low, so please check into it. Please?

You are SO right on track! I really got serious about my pre op nutrition plan and wound up losing almost 60 pounds prior to surgery. Even better than the weight loss was the change I made in my diet that has stuck with me throughout this process. I learned to love my veggies, chicken breast, baked fish and all those things that are good for you. Also, I really lost my craving for junk food carbs. I'll have a little dish of ice cream now every now and then and maybe a cookie or something but when I'm done, I'm done. I do miss eating a normal size meal, but life's just a lot of trade-offs. Great going and best of luck in May!

Surgical pain should be behind you at this time. There are other situations that can cause discomfort but not to the extent you are describing. If you are in that much pain and you think it is directly attributed to the surgery, call your doctor. You may be experiencing pain from overeating or gas, both of which can be really bad. I hope you feel better!

Surgery-related pain should be tolerable VERY soon. Most of the discomfort I had came from over eating and/or gas... they can be miserable. Pamper your sleeve and don't push it. If your surgical pain persists, talk to your surgeon asap. I hope you feel better.

Great information! Thanks!

This is a major decision, not only because of the surgery (which is NOT an insignificant procedure) but mainly because of the lifelong commitment you have to make to making it work. The decision was easy for me, I was tired of being the fat guy and nothing else I ever did worked. I love eating and I still miss it, but I am loving more the physical changes and the improvement of my overall health...not to mention the improvement in my life expectancy. Welcome to the forum and I wish you best of luck.

Weakness for a while after surgery is par for the course. Take your time recuperating, you've undergone a major surgical procedure. Welcome to the bench!!!

I fill up with so little food that eating just isn't important anymore. I'm a little over 3 weeks post op and I fill up on 1/3 cup or even less.

Yes, we can be.... just as women can be the feminine opposite. Not all are, however. I have my moments, but right at the time I just finished cleaning the kitchen after the dinner I fixed, putting away the groceries I bought today, and just now sitting down to relax with the 2 grandkids my wife and I have been raising for the past 8 years. My wife? Well, at the moment she's out of town in Maryland at a dog show and won't be back for a week, with my blessings and hopes that she has a wonderful time. BTW, I do all the shopping, all the cooking and more than most of the day to day errands and chores that need to be done. Can I be a jerk sometimes??? You bet! Could my wife have done better? You tell me. Now, I have to go and read up on posts that are relevant to VSG (or am I missing the relevant point of this one??? ) Jwelk, I'm sorry you're having a tough day and I hope every day isn't the same for you. If it is, you do have options. I hope things perk up for you.

Yeah, no sweat. Your weight loss is right in the ball park. Don't weigh every day, it can bum you out and make your weight loss seem slower than it actually is. If you know you're following "the program", weight loss is inevitable. It's just not predictable. Keep it up!

As I reduce in size, I'm getting rid of my fat clothes and my closet is emptying out. I've never done that before because I was never sure if I would need them again. I know, now, that they are a thing of the past..

I wouldn't have been able to do it. Low energy levels are among the most common of post-op symptoms. I was dragging for a few weeks.

Thanks, everyone...what a forum!!!!

I've been sleeved since 3/28/12 and I'm currently eating 1/3 - 1/2 cup size meals. At the end of a meal I am full, but it is an uncomfortable feeling of fullness and not the satisfying feeling of contentment I used to feel after a meal. I am not overeating and the discomfort I am experiencing is not really pain, it is just an achy feeling of fullness and not the same pleasant feeling as before. Am I making sense????? I know my capacity is going to increase eventually to about 1 - 1 1/2 cups which is fine with me. A 1 1/2 cup meal would be like gorging at an all-you-can-eat buffet, now! My question is will that old, satisfied feeling of contentment after enjoying a good meal ever return or is that a thing of the past and never to return? I hope this is a temporary thing... Thanks for any insight you might be able to provide and I hope I was able to explain myself.