Bufflehead

No, and IMO, not a good idea: http://www.verticals...pitting-it-out/

Okay I am going to be (almost) completely blunt about this. I had this problem before surgery, but it has definitely gotten worse after. I have found one sure-fire method that puts me right back to sleep and keeps me there until it's really time to wake up. Let's just say that how you might achieve this will vary depending on what's available and pleasing to you -- a partner, a toy, your hand, etc. It works for me anyway

My surgeon prescribed 20 mg omeprazole capsules starting the day after surgery and I haven't had any problems with swallowing them. I think for the first month or so after surgery I probably would have had trouble with, say, one of those giant, horse-sized calcium supplements, but regular size capsules and tablets haven't bothered me a bit.

Don't worry about how much you can drink, it does pretty much go straight through, especially after your stomach loses the post-surgery swelling. But do keep to the 30 minutes after rule, that's very important! My program's rule for soft foods is three meals per day, no snacks (other than liquids), the meals are to be no more than 3 ounces. At least 2 ounces of each meal must be protein-rich, and you eat that first. If you still feel hungry after the 2 ounces of high protein food, you can then have an ounce of cooked green veggies or soft fruit -- or another ounce of high protein food if you prefer that. We follow these rules until 6 months after surgery.

I use MFP. Goals are under 800 calories, 60 g carbs, 30 g fat. My MFP goal for protein is set at 70 g due to MFP's wonky macro setting formula, but my "real" daily minimum for protein is 75 g. Also 64 oz. water and at least 80 oz. fluids overall. I also track calcium. My goal is to get 150% of my RDA from food, more if possible. My overall goal is to get 200% RDA of calcium. So at the end of the day I know how much I need to take in the form of calcium supplements. I really try to minimize calcium supplements because of studies showing the health problems associated with taking them long term (heart attacks, cardiovascular problems, kidney stones, etc.).

I only had one day of clear liquids, in the hospital. After that, four weeks of full liquids. Things I had: protein shakes, broth (usually with added unflavored protein), Unjury chicken soup protein, skim milk, Hood Calorie Countdown nonfat milk, light juice or juice diluted 50/50 with water (my favorite was Ocean Spray light cranberry - nice and tart, not too sweet), low sodium V-8, decaf tea (usually I had chai tea and added a half scoop of vanilla protein powder and a splash of unsweetened vanilla almond milk for a vanilla chai protein latte), sugar free popsicles, G2 Natural, Powerade Zero, GNC Live Well Sport drink, Atkins Advantage shakes (I loved the Cafe Caramel - had to limit myself to small quantities of that as the numbers aren't very good), and of course, lots and lots of water.

For me the heating pad just made my abdomen feel more comfortable. Ice would have been no bueno, I am sure. All my surgery-related gas was gone less than 24 hours after surgery so I know the heating pad was not for that. Just warming things up a bit made my tummy feel better somehow.

It's different for everyone, so hard to predict. I had minimal pain. I had some gas pain that first day but cleared it out by the next morning, just walking a lot. I had some pain at one incision site. That was pretty intense the first couple of days, but the pain killers took care of it. After that it was only painful when I did something like standing up or turning to the side, and if I remembered to use my arm to brace my tummy, it wasn't bad at all. I wasn't in bed during the daytime at all after surgery, except for when I really needed to nap. If I was awake, I was sitting up in a chair or walking, starting immediately after getting out of the recovery room. I was off my painkillers, except at night, after two days. I kept taking the painkillers at night for about five days, just because my drain site pain made it hard to sleep -- every time I would move in bed, it would bother me. But taking the liquid lortab made it fine. Honestly I was more just weak and needing to get my strength back after surgery than I was in pain. I didn't think it was bad at all.

I stocked my house with lots of protein samples, different things to mix them with (soy milk, almond milk, Hood calorie countdown milk, etc.), lots of different juices and different kinds of tea and flavored coffee. I was on full liquids for four weeks and knew I wouldn't be cleared to drive for at least a week (I live alone) so I wanted to make sure I had all that on hand. I made sure I had all the supplies I would need for my pets. I got a couple of 32 oz. Bubba Kegs - they keep your drinks cold forever. I could just fill one with ice and water in the morning and work on sipping it all day long. Per my surgeon's instructions, I knew I needed a digital thermometer and a blood pressure monitor (I take bpm) so I got those. I got a heating pad. I made sure I had comfy pajamas and a couple of loose empire waist dresses and soft cotton bras that close in the front, no underwire. My parents got me an immersion blender as a gift -- that was great to have on hand for making protein shakes. I also had some RTD protein shakes on hand, mostly Premier Protein. I got my prescriptions filled in advance so they would be waiting for me at home. I also got some additional OTC type products like Gas-X, Miralax, and Milk of Magnesia -- and as it turns out, I never needed any of that. The only thing I didn't have that I wished for was a recliner. I thought about renting one of those power recliners from RAC or Aaron's and never got around to it. I wish I had! Getting in and out of bed and turning over in bed was painful for the first 10 days or so.

If it were me I'd do it in a heartbeat - and not give a rat's patootie what anyone else thinks. Shucks, I wish someone would want my eggs! At my age though, that's not going to happen.

I'm boring, I usually have (at least during the week) --tuna salad or chicken salad (both made with guacamole or mayo) or sliced deli meat - about 1.5 ounces of whatever protein and --a babybel cheese and --some form of soft fruit or veggies. Often a couple of prunes, the last few days I've been bringing a broccoli salad I picked up at the deli counter at our local natural foods store. For veggies, I can't usually eat more than a tablespoon (I eat my meat and cheese first).

I had very occasional reflux (usually at night, while sleeping) prior to surgery. My upper GI series revealed a small hiatal hernia and my surgeon fixed it during my sleeve surgery. I am 3 months out from surgery and have not had even the faintest hint of reflux. I am also on omeprazole.

I've been thinking more seriously about running. I have had bad knees for a while but they are getting better and better the more weight I lose. I think I am going to start with Couch to 5K (maybe a few months from now) and once I do that, move on to the Zombies, Run! app. I'm not good with doing smart phone things and moving at the same time either, but I gather this one is pretty simple. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/zombies-run!/id503519713?mt=8

My surgeon says once you are on soft foods, it is okay to drink up to 5 minutes before meals. In fact they encourage you to drink a glass of water before meals so that you will feel fuller and not eat as much. Then of course no drinking with your meal (that means no soup, ever, in his practice) and no drinking until 30 minutes after. They all seem to have different rules!

LBD, yes I have added PB2 to vanilla protein shakes and love it. Another favorite of mine is the Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana protein shake: 1/2 scoop Unjury chocolate splendor, 2 T. PB2 with chocolate, 1/2 packet Chike banana magic. Made with Hood calorie countdown nonfat milk and split into two servings, you get 18 g protein, 7 carbs, 2 g fiber, and 36% of your RDA of calcium for 100 calories. Back to peanut butter, my surgeon's office actually recommends it in small quantities, as long as you can make it fit into your daily macros (60 g carbs, 30 g fat). I usually have one tablespoon of Naturally More peanut butter every other day with my breakfast, stirred into Greek yogurt or cottage cheese. I really like the Naturally More brand - it has slightly higher protein (they add in soy protein) and lower calories than regular peanut butter, plus they add in flax seed for fiber.

I took: my phone and charger, lip balm, very basic toiletries (toothbrush, tooth paste, deodorant, comb), extra pair of undies, non-skid fuzzy socks, and my Kindle. As it turns out, I didn't really need the Kindle -- I only used it while waiting on surgery to start. My surgeon was running late that morning so I had an extra 90 minutes on my hands. I also didn't need the non-skid socks because the hospital provided them. I made sure that the clothes I wore to the hospital were going to be comfy to wear on the way home. For me that was a loose, empire waist dress and a soft cotton bra that fastens in front. There was nothing I needed or wanted in the hospital that made me think, drat, I wish I had packed that! My advice is to pack as light as possible.

My surgeon says if we go more than five days and milk of magnesia and laxatives aren't working, we need to call his office for a prescription for something stronger and possibly have an in-person appointment. Fecal impaction is nothing to mess around with . . .

My doctor's plan calls for four weeks of full liquids, four weeks of purees, and then four months of soft foods.

The idea that caffeine will dehydrate you is a myth: http://www.divinecar...drated-say-what Caffeine does have a slight diuretic effect -- as does water. In fact they have almost identical diuretic effects, you'll retain almost exactly the same amount of fluid after drinking a cup of coffee as you will with water. http://www.nytimes.c...4real.html?_r=0

Yeah, that recommendation is based on the assumption that everyone is eating the standard 2000 calories per day or whatever that is. I didn't know it either until I stumbled on this website from the Harvard School of Public Health: http://www.hsph.harv...ce/fiber-table/ Then I did a little more research to confirm, just because not even Harvard is right all the time!

I'm assuming your weeks 4-6 are soft foods? My soft foods were later than that, but the rules we were given were: --you have to be able to cut it with a fork --no raw vegetables --no starchy vegetables (potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, etc.) --no grain based food --no sweets --eat 3 meals a day, no more than 3 ounces each, no snacking (liquids are okay between meals) --at least the first two ounces of each meal should be protein-rich, such as meat, eggs, dairy, or tofu. After you eat at least two ounces of meat, you can then eat green veggies or fruit, 1 ounce. Or you can just eat another ounce of high Protein food. --macros: 75 g protein, under 800 calories, under 30 g fat, under 60 g carbs pureed rules were to eat stuff that had the consistency of applesauce. We were allowed only high protein foods such as meat, dairy, eggs, tofu, and Beans. Some things did not have to be pureed such as yogurt, cottage cheese, poached eggs, and refried beans. Pretty much everything else did have to be pureed. Again, 3 meals per day, no Snacks, the meals to be 3 tablespoons of food or smaller. These are just my surgeon's rules. Every doctor seems to have their own nuances for their patients' eating plan. Good luck to you!

My surgeon's rule is that you should end up with at least 64 ounces of fluid each day, but it doesn't matter whether that is from water, broth, protein shakes, tea, juice, skim milk, etc. As long as it isn't alcohol, soda, or something with a high carb count (we are restricted to 60 carbs per day).

I did the same thing, stocking up on Miralax, Senekot, MOM, gas-x, etc. before surgery. Turns out I haven't needed them once (I'm 12 weeks out). I spent a lot of money on stuff that is now completely worthless. Unless you are going to be unable to shop for a while after surgery, you might re-consider whether you want to invest that money in something you don't know for sure you'll need. With respect to fiber, the standard rule is that you should get 14 grams per 1000 calories per day. So if you were eating 500 calories per day, you would want to end up with 7 grams of fiber, ideally. I usually eat about 700 calories per day and get between 7 - 11 grams of fiber, most of it from food rather than supplements and don't have any regularity issues. But it's really an individual thing - some people need more, some less.

I was able to transition to soft food eight weeks out. Some of the first things I ate were: turkey breakfast sausage link, babybel lite cheese, chicken chili, mackerel filets, tuna salad, scallops, great white northern beans, and grouper. I didn't have any problems with any foods.

Mine is the mini peanut butter cups that Trader Joe's sells in a 12 oz. tub. They are like crack to me. So, when I go to TJ's, I avoid the aisle they are on unless I absolutely have to go there. And if I do have to go there, I actually walk by them (I know where they are shelved, believe me) with my eyes averted and refuse to even look at them. So far, so good . . .