MinaT

First tip, quit soda now, quit caffeine now. Imagine having to quit while doing the pre-op shake diet? That will suck. Second tip. If you are going to have your "last dinner", don't do it the DAY BEFORE you start your shake. It will make you even hungrier if you do carb overload the day before you start the shake diet. Do it a few days before. A few days before, drink a slim fast or whatever "100% whey Protein shake" you decide to do after surgery for Breakfast. Lower your carbs as much as you can in advance. The day before you start your shake diet, do a sensible dinner with protein, and do low carbs. The people that do carb overload the day before they start the pre-op shake seem to have the hardest part sticking to the pre-op shake diet. Tell yourself you can do it and believe it before you start. Mental state, state of mind, and the will to make your sleeve work will make this much easier. If you think that it's going to suck so bad, it will. If you think, I'm doing this because I'm worth it and it may not be easy, but I'm strong enough to get through this, then you will. Keep busy, walk, drink Water and go ahead and exercise. Clean your closets, clean your drawers, find all your biggest clothes and decide if they should be packed yet. Start looking around to see if you have smaller sizes, because it's going to happen. Find as many nightgowns as you can and make sure they are freshly laundered (especially if you are going to have a drain). Make sure you have your Clear liquids, make sure you buy your Gas-X, do your hair, straighten out your bills for the time in the hospital, make a check list of the reasons WHY you are having this surgery and read it every time you think you can't do the 2 week pre-op shake. I did the 2 week pre-op shake and didn't cheat and I'm over 3 weeks out and still am on liquids. I have a 5 week liquid before I move to purees, unless you are going through my surgeon, your doctor may not be as strict. Be careful at first because liquid in liquid out, and I have only had this issue once.....once...NEVER TRUST A fart. I was in bed, I was fine, I exercised, I was doing great and I got a little gas bubble and I decided to get up luckily I got out of bed just in time....those pj bottoms were too big anyhow and ended up trashed, and I ended up with a shower again...right before bed. It only takes once. Day 3 & 4 are usually the hardest. You don't become lethargic, you aren't going to "starve to death", realize you are probably getting better nutrition than you did over the last 6 months You can do it, keep up the mantra. Walk, drink water, and realize the sleeve is only a tool and it's up to you to work the tool, you can do it.

Good Luck to the June 29, 2012 sleevers! See you on the other side! EileenFrances -- Dr. Subhash Kini Robin33 -- Costa Rica tonibugg -- Dr. Rod Juarez SunnyCox - Dr. Kelly in Mexico TinaP - Dr Rodriguez

They first told me I needed to quit all my Vitamins and some medicines 2 weeks before the surgery. They finally said one week before is fine, because some of them I still needed. I still can't go back on glucosamine Chondritan or Flaxseed Oil but i started back on some of them.

I would love a salad. I lost a lot of weight pre-surgery and I'm losing after surgery. I lost so many inches it's unreal, however, my stomach is still a football/mini watermelon. You can see my stomach is still swollen. I eat 8 teaspoons of liquid Soup and I'm full. I also had adhesions, a hernia repair, but as I get smaller, my stomach is getting smaller on it's sides - my lower abdomen is really small but above my belly button is jetted out. I think we all heal differently and I also had some major complications and after 1-1/2 hour surgery mine got extended another 5 more hours due to complications. However, everyone that goes through my surgeon's group is on liquids 5 weeks so the inside and outside can heal. Everyone needs to just listen to what their surgeon says. I would LOVE a salad, though a pickle would do, and I'm really wanting Tuna and I thought I'd be Tuna by 4th of July at least, but I got next year and the year after now

The pain will go away, you will be able to eat. Right now a lot of it is the medicine. Breathe, calm yourself down, realize you are in pain, it's going to happen. If you have a lazy boy or chair set it up with your incentive spirometer, your liquids, a small cup or med cup and sip slowly....slowly. If you have peppermint tea decaff drink some with your favorite artificial sweetener. Sip, Sip Sip, slowly. Husband, you can't do anything about that right this second. It will come to light when it does. You tune all that bs noise in your head out. Tell yourself, you will get stronger every day, you will feel better soon, you are doing what you need to do to live. Tell yourself you are worth living, you are worth it. Focus on a future, where you are in control. Bide your time, give yourself time to heal, listen to some music you like, take your naps, get up and walk around every once in a while. Take care of yourself, because only you can comfort yourself right now, and realize you are strong enough to get through whatever is thrown your way. I spent 5 days in the hospital with my husband and son and my parents visiting me. I still felt sad and depressed a little bit inside....but I forced myself to keep looking forward at the positive. It's been 4 days since your surgery!!! Of course, you are going through so much. I took naps every day for 10 days. Once the drain comes out you will feel better. SIP your Water, get your fluids in. Don't let anyone rule how you treat yourself. You take care of yourself, it's your only real job right now. You made this decision because you thought you were worth it, now prove you are worth it. Get your rest, get your fluids, and bide your time until you are healthy enough to deal with all the rest of the BS that is going on. It will be there when you are better and stronger to deal with it. For now, smile on the outside and take care of yourself. The rest will sort itself out, and guess what, you will be the one that comes out on top!

I'm at 3 weeks and I still have 2 more weeks of Full liquids before I get to pureed at 5 weeks out. After pureed comes soft food then regular foods. I was told straight up that Salads and Steak will probably be 5-6 months out. All doctor's are not alike and all sleeves are not alike. I guess it's up to us to listen to the surgeon we thought was right for us.

Prayers to all that are getting sleeved today: June 28, 2012 kkm23 -- Dallas Iwannabslim -- Dr. Jaime Ponce – sleeve revision Sleevertobe Mina05pit - Philadephia, PA Apricot111 ready4change79

Added Kamrie37, carolinagirlz, houstonmama, erin6573, jffjacobs, seltyl. Welcome to the June Sleever's!

I am so sorry. Are you still in the hospital? I know the disappointment has to be so intense right now. Did a cardiologist say anything to you yet? Since you have been in this program, once you get cleared by a cardiologist, he would not reconsider? My prayers are with you that you stay strong.

Thank you for not being so emotional you took my tone of my note to you in the spirit in which I intended. We are emotional right now. I don't ever cry, but I have cried because I put my 4x favorite pants in a bin...(yeah something to cry about and I bought 1x that are getting big. I admit I get frustrated a lot more than I used to. I get on the scale and cuss and say dang, yesterday I wanted to be 209 because I was going to the doctor and that would put me at 90 pounds loss since I started the journey. I'm not eating enough to lose the weight, my body is holding on to stuff right now, because I am slowing my metabolism down a bit. I wanted to cry when I found out I have two more weeks of Protein shakes and I wasn't going to get to eat the tuna packet that I put in the fridge, but I'm fine with it. I see how swollen my belly is. Did you know that I measured myself on 5/28 - my surgery was June 4th and though my sides, my back, my hips part of my waist (my lower) my boobs, arms, legs I lost a ton of inches, I gained 2 inches in my upper abdomen (by the big scar). Even though I have indents and I have a waistline now, the middle of my tummy is like a big old watermelon. I sat there and measured myself 3 more times, made my son measure me and had an internal hissy fit. Yesterday I was told yep, you are swollen, that's where the hernia was that's where a lot of work was done, that's where your stomach was removed, 3 weeks out your tummy is so swollen on the inside and on the outside. That's why I have to go 5 weeks on liquid. Be proud of yourself for your accomplishments and more than that, be kind to yourself Jessica, at 9 days out I just got my drain out and was still napping daily and couldn't put on underwear, and if I dropped something I couldn't pick it up. Stop the negative talk, or self-doubt. We all heal differently, we lose differently, but in the end if you believe in yourself YOU will succeed.

After clears 9 days, I am on liquid diet for 5 weeks - then I go to pureed (not sure how many weeks of that) then soft then regulars. I would definitely find out what your surgeon's suggestions are first before comparing with someone else. Most people that had surgery the same day as me have been on pureeds a while and are a lot more advanced in their diet.

Like sick sick, once in a while doing it no, but you will do something worse, that's slowing your metabolism down. I am not a big eater, though I'm obese, I have a slow metabolism. I never ate Breakfast, lunch, I only ate what would be considered a sensible dinner, and sometimes I would snack at night (bag of popcorn) apple, or a slim fast or something like that. My metabolism sucked. During my pre-approval phase, I started doing shakes for breakfast, then having a piece of cheese or cottage cheese for lunch, then a dinner and then maybe a teaspoon of Peanut Butter for snack. I actually start losing weight, eating more food. Now I'm struggling once again and I'm 3 weeks out. The shakes make me ill, I'm pulling in 350 calories a day and I'm forcing myself to eat a 1/2 cup of pudding and I'm going without a lunch and my metabolism is slowing down because I am not getting enough in. Not sure what phase you are in your diet (I have 5 weeks of friggin full liquids) gag me...me which is where my metabolism is starting to slow and I have to force myself to get things in. If you don't want to eat, try a shake, try some Isopure, find a Protein bar or something. Many doctors recommend 3 small meals and 3 Snacks to keep your body running efficiently. Good luck, believe me I understand what you are dealing with. They said they were fine before with my protein intake for the first two weeks and calories but at 3 weeks I need to step it up because I'm going to start slowing my metabolism down.

Jessica, Approximately 3500 calories equals one pound of body weight. This means that you'd have to take in 3500 fewer calories than you usually do, over a period of time. This is a theory and can depend. When you went on the pre-op shake diet, or if you lost weight "pre-surgery" that weight was Water weight. There is no note on how much you lost pre-surgery, there is no note on if you did a pre-op shake diet. The less weight you have to lose, the harder it will be to lose. You had surgery 9 days ago. I lost 70 pounds pre-surgery. I went into surgery on a Monday and I weighed 229. I came home Friday and on Saturday morning I weighed 235. I gained weight. (very very normal). I had water, tea, and I faked a bite or two of Jello, I drank about 3 teaspoons of broth, I took about 2 sips of Isopure frothy strawberry crap in all the days in the hospital. 9 pounds in 9 days is fantastic. The issues you are having right now are emotional issues. Once your body starts burning fat you become more emotional. Here is a pound of fat... nice huh. http://www.efficientfitnessllc.com/images/pound_of_fat.jpg?89 The weight is not going to melt off you, this is something your doctor should have explained to you. I have weighed the same for 3 days in a row. I eat 350-400 calories a day right now in liquid form and I walk about 3 miles a day total. Your body gets rid of the carbs first then goes after the fat, but sometimes you lose inches. You aren't any different than anyone else, there is no guarantee of losing 1 pound a day. Just do what you are suppose to do, follow the rules and the weight will come off. Being female, be prepared for a day that you gain a pound or two because of hormones, it happens, it comes off eventually.

Here's the list I typed up directly from my Dr.'s office. I had to do a search for the word pureed and French Toast lol thank goodness not too many people used the word in their posts on all of the forums lol. PUREED DIET - SUGGESTIONS AND EXAMPLES Breakfast 1/4 cup high Protein cooked Cereal 1/4 cup pureed low sodium/low fat meat 1 chewable sugar-free complete Vitamin Snack 1/2 cup pureed fruit lunch 1/4 cup cottage cheese (lowfat) 1/4 cup pureed fruit snack 1 cup High Protein shake dinner 1/2 cup mashed potatoes with low fat gravy 1/2 cup broth 1 chewable sugar free complete vitamin snack 1 sugar-free fudgiscle This sample menu provides approximately 80 grams of protein and 885 caloires - SIP Water throughout the day ------ High Protein pureed Diet recipes Cheeseburger 3 oz. lean chicken or turkey 1 slice fat-free cheese 2 tbs.p warm beef broth 1/2 hamburger bun Cook meat and drain fat. Add all ingredients except broth to blender and puree on high. Gradually add broth to desired consistency Yield 1 serving Calories 309 Protein 27.0 grams Chicken Stew 1 Cup Chicken, cooked and cubed 1/4 cup rice, cooked 1/4 cup mixed vegetables, cooked 1/4 cup chicken broth 1/4 cup skim milk 1/4 cup nonfat dry milk Blend together Yield 3 servings Calories (per serving) 120 Protein (per serving) 15.0 grams Fish 4oz. Whitefish fillet 4 tsp. nonfat tarter sauce Warm skim milk (as needed) Cook fish by baking or broiling. Place fish and nonfat tarter sauce in blender. Puree on high speed. Gradually add milk to make mashed potato consistency. Yield: 2 servings Calories (per serving) 116 Protein (per serving) 15.0 grams French Toast 1 slice frozen French Toast "I can't believe it's not butter!" spray 3 tbsp. warm sugar-free syrup Warm French toast according to package. Spray with I can't believe it's not butter. Cut into quarters. Place all ingredients in blender. Puree on high until smooth consistency is achieved. Yield 1 serving Calories: 171 Protein 4.0 grams Grilled Cheese 1 slice whole wheat/high Fiber bread 2 slices fat-free American cheese I can't believe its not butter spray 3 tbsp warm skim milk Heat non-stick pan over medium heat. Spray one side of bread with I can't believe it's not butter side down on pan, top with cheese and heat until cheese melts and bread istoasted brown. Fold sandwich in half and cut into four pieces. Place in blender and puree on high, adding milk until smooth. Adjust the amount of milk used for thicker or thinner consistency. Yield 1 serving Calories 146 Protein: 12.0 grams High Protein Breakfast Shake 1/2 cup fat-free plain yogurt 1/4 cup skim milk 1/2 small banana 1/4 cup non-fat dry milk Mix all ingredients together in blender Yield 1 serving Calories 125 per serving Protein 12.0 grams per serving High Protein Mashed Potatoes 2 tbsp mashed potato mix 1/2 cup hot skim milk 2 tbsp. nonfat dry milk Mix nonfat dry mil with skim milk and heat to a boil. Add mashed potato mix. Mix well with a wire wisk. Mix thickens as it stands Use Butter buds or fat-free gravy to add flavor Yield 1 serving Calories 148 Protein 10.0 grams Chicken/Fish/Turkey 4oz meat cooked 6 tbsp. low fat gravy Chop meat into small pieces, blend on high speed, gradually adding gravy until desired consistency Yield 2 servings Calories (per serving) 126 Protein (per serving) 16.0 grams Tuna salad 1 6 oz. can light tuna in spring water, drained 2 tbsp. fat-free Miracle Whip 1tsp mustard 1/2 tsp. onion powder 1/4 tsp. celery salt Add all ingredients to blender. Puree on high until smooth. Refrigerate Note: May substitute canned chicken for tuna Yield: 3 servings Calories (per serving): 60 Protein (per serving) 11.0 grams

I believe there is more of a problem with "dumping" when it comes to gastric bypass. I also believe at first when you get the sleeve it's liquid in and liquid out. I can tell you though, I would rather have liquid in and liquid out then liquid in and then nothing out. I'm 3 weeks out and daily it was liquid in and out - and it was almost a relief. At first you are recuperating so you aren't out and about traveling. At 3 weeks, things are slowing down to the point, I miss the liquid out and I am now using colace and got approval to when I have issues go back on my amitiza prescription. Again, Artificial Sweeteners can cause an issue with a lot of people, but if you are going to push your luck with greasy or high sugar foods, then I'm sure you will experience more. Spend your time wisely pre-approval stage trying to rid yourself of the carb addiction, start working the high Protein, start working the 64 ounces in start workingo n getting in a shake a day and trying different artificial sweeteners until you find one that works for you. I do try to get a sf pudding once in a while but I avoid sf jellos myself. I try to stick with as much things that use Truvia, because I don't handle aspartame, or sucralose well. All bodies are different, that's why I believe patients should use their pre-approval time - whether it is 6 months - 4 months or whatever wisely instead of spending their days doing "last suppers" they need to dig deep and start working on their food issues, addictions, in advance. It definitely makes after getting sleeved so much easier.

shakes and I are not agreeing with each other. I thought I was getting through the hump, though I LOVED my Protein shakes pre-sleeve, but this morning was 2 sips down one wanted to come up and I battled it. Not sure what it is, but hoping I wake up one day and the issue is gone and I can go back to my shakes. Glad the tuna went down well.

I just had my 3 week surgeon meeting, got a few stitches out and was told 2 more weeks of Full Liquids. I knew internally that I had more weeks of full liquid, but I threw some packs of tuna in the fridge in long awaited anticipation. I of course eyed the jar of pickles longingly, but thinking I may get to have tuna tonight I almost got over my pickle fascination. July 9th I'll be 5 weeks out and then...I'm going for the Tuna. It will be the first thing I try for sure. She is allowing me 1% cottage cheese pureed and lightly cooked scrambled eggs. She said just a little bit to see how I do. Unfortunately, I'm struggling with Protein shakes, and I am back to having to do Isopure. So hopefully in 2 weeks I'll get to make a yahoo it's Tuna Day post!! Enjoy your tuna!!!

Jane very good I'm so glad to hear that you are doing well. I know it comes off as I am preaching, but I've been there and done it and spent so much time seeing what works for others and also seeing those that have had a lot of issues and nothing seems to work for them, and you can see why it doesn't work, once you have been in their shoes. Try staying positive and know that every day gets better, and you are going to have ups and downs in your day. I'm glad you are enjoying the cold fluids, I wanted some at first but they were hard on me. The way I was able to get used to cold, was letting my peppermint decaff tea go cold, it allowed me to be able to eventually handle cold fluids. I still hate drinking out a Water bottle 3 weeks later because I pull too much air in. I am now trying to use regular glasses to drink, to try to get used to not depending on the med cups, but everything goes down better in the med cup lol.

Hmmm, this is a duplicate post, so since nobody answered the other one, and are posting here I will post here: Yes I was still sore, it is major surgery. I was in the hospital for 5 days, so up until almost 10 days out, I had a lot of issues. Though I am 3 weeks out and my entire lower stomach is bruised mostly because of all the Lovenox shots I received (like heparin) so I didn't get clots. I had a drain for 9 days and that was a bit infected so that hurt for the first two weeks. It's now just red. My large incision is still sore. Even though I was sore, since I came home, I put my crocs on and I walked for 20 minutes = 3'x a day from my living room, dining room & kitchen making a circle. I used my incentive spirometer still. I went outside. I changed positions often. I noticed that if I sit at my office desk I scrunch my belly more often. I find it was easier to rotate where I was, office chair, lazy boy, rocking chair, walk. I napped for the first 10 days every day. Getting in and out of bed for the first week was very hard, so oftentimes I would get up and sleep in the lazy boy about 1:00 am ish. I feel better every day but there are times I may sit too long and for some reason my bigger incision is hurting me more, though it's not infected. If I drop something, I can now get it by literally doing some sort of weird pleat. I needed help when I came home so days 6- 10 reaching the faucets to turn on the shower. I have had several abdominal surgeries in my past, plus this time I had a hernia repair with mesh & lots of scar tissue and adhesions removed. Everyone is different, but know that every single day gets better. I can get on my sides now at 3 weeks out, but it's only comfortable for a short period of time. I HATE sleeping on my back, thank god I lost enough weight and can handle sleeping on my back now. I am a stomach sleeper and I long for the day my stomach is not bruised and sore and I can sleep on my stomach. I have read other's sleeping on their stomach the first days. It seemed to me those posts were men that never had stomach surgery in the past though, and they were also carrying more weight around the middle than I am.

I went home with the drain and I had to strip it myself. I was in the hospital 5 days and I had the drain for 9. Getting the drain out was the biggest relief because I could barely breath because it was up against my diaphragm. Good luck to you all and best wishes for an easy recovery. Every day is better than the day before.

Are you using a med cup to sip? If so you can test. I normally take 3 sips out of a med cup. After my third cup in a row, on my 4th one, i feel a little discomfort. Meaning going on 4 consecutive ounces I feel a slight discomfort. This means I have to sip & pour continually 4 ounces though. If you are just sipping with little breaks you aren't really going to feel "full" remember your sleeve is truly so swollen inside and outside but liquid in liquid out, and it slides through. If you feel grumbling (to me it's a tightening, or a wave, or a turn/flip in your stomach, it could be acid, it could be fullness, it could be gas, it could be just healing pains, it could be hunger. At first there is no real "definition" of what these pains are. It's up to you on how you interpret these signals. I made a conscience choice when I first felt them to realize, that it's my stomach healing, gas, acid etc. If I'm sipping or drinking my shake and I feel it, I know it's full. If I haven't had anything to eat or drink, then I drink. If you want to look at it that each pain or rumbling you have is hunger, then you will be like others that constantly complain of head hunger. In the end the sleeve is a tool, it's how you perceive things and how you look at it, that will help you through this process.

Prayers to all that are being sleeved today: June 27, 2012 herewegoagain Edward Mun -revision GivingItMyAll pkehrer mcsleevy - Dr. Sherman Yu in Houston, Tx Joyce Ellis-joy686 - revision MoreganK Praldous - Saranac lake NY Dr.Hill Carlashooter- Aworkinprogress - spider single incision with Dr. Robert Marema Ris26 kymwalla

wtg Jane, I'm happy to hear that you are doing well!

Prayers and good luck see you on the other side.

Three weeks out and without the pizza, I am not to as much as you are without the pizza. I would definitely speak to your surgeon, your nutritionist etc. and perhaps get some therapy too, because at your stage, if you don't get some help it could cause more issues down the line. Yesterday I had a poached egg and 2 teaspoons of cottage cheese, all blended and didn't finish it, and I spent 2 hours praying not to get sick because it felt too heavy on my belly, worried that I may have hurt myself, admittedly I'm suppose to be on liquids still after 3 weeks but I had one shake all day and didn't think I could get another shake down, because shake tastes are making me gag lately. It stayed down but today I see doc and I'm going to let him know my issues with the shakes. Of course a piece of pizza sounds good, not as good as a pickle to me, but after going through such an extensive surgery with complications and everything I have been through, I know better. Hopefully you can get some help to help with your head hunger. The sleeve is a tool and it's up to you to use it correctly.