Bufflehead

I went back to an office job after two weeks. I was fine, although still tired. I know others who have taken more time, and still others who have taken less. Unless you have complications, you should be able to go back after two weeks. You may want to explore your options on FMLA or short-term disability just in case you do have complications -- just so you know what options you have.

@@OutsideMatchInside I'm biased against grains (including corn) generally, and will call pretty much all of them crap food for weight loss, despite the fact that most cultures have a grain-based food that is important to them. But I do recognize that many people can eat grains and be successful. I know I just finished a bowl of groatmeal myself and I consider myself successful but I do think that for many people, they are something to be avoided in weight loss and early maintenance, especially when you consider the nutritional bang for the caloric and carb buck, so to speak. That's all I mean by crap.

It depends on your surgical team's rules. My team's rules were (for all foods, not just refried beans) puree stage (weeks 4 - 8): max 3 tablespoons of food soft food stage (months 2 - 6): max 3 oz. of food

Yes, it is very normal. You might also see things like hiccuping, burping, or sneezing after eating. This is because your vagus nerve is irritated after surgery. It runs along the top of your stomach, and it controls involuntary movements/reactions in the top half of your body: things like getting a runny nose, hiccuping, or sneezing. So it is pissed off in general by surgery, and then you make it angrier by pressing food against it, and it flips out and causes weird reactions. My team taught me to see things like a runny nose as a typical signal that I ate too much. You really shouldn't have so much food in your sleeve that it is mashing up against the top of your stomach where the vagus nerve is closest. So, they taught me that if I get a runny nose after eating, I need to make note of how much I ate, and the next time I eat that type of food, to measure/weigh my food and make sure I eat less. Not everyone does that though, some just take it as a signal that "I ate enough" rather than "I ate too much."

That's perfectly normal for several weeks after major surgery. Sleep when you feel like you need to and keep following your program. You need to treat your body kindly. You will gradually start to regain your energy. Don't mess around with "energy drinks" and similar which are really just a way to pack a lot of calories and caffeine into your body. If you aren't, make sure you are getting your vitamin & mineral needs met. B12 (must be sublingual) and iron are things that a lot of sleevers struggle with post-op and that can make a difference in your energy level if you aren't getting what you need. Good luck!

Re: whole grain crackers. Personally I don't think grains of any sort are a good idea in weight loss mode or until you have been successfully maintaining for at least six months. They will still cause cravings, are very calorie-dense, and provide very little in terms of nutrition. Also, indulging things like "I want something crunchy" or "I want something salty" or "I want something sweet" is how we all got obese in the first place. For me it's been really important to learn that eating is not about entertainment, indulgence, or wish fulfillment. Yes, you should enjoy your food, but it's about nourishment and learning a healthy way to eat, not about satisfying cravings. If you teach yourself that you absolutely must satisfy your cravings somehow, then you'll always be a slave to them. The only way you can kick them to the curb is to ignore them and teach yourself that there are other ways to entertain, amuse, and comfort yourself.

I've had hand IV's a couple of times and they were never painful for me, so you may not have a bad experience with that.

What a horrible experience! Challenge whether they truly need it. I had a friend in the hospital who was very ill and weak and decided he didn't want any more ABG tests run because they were just too painful and he was dying anyway. He tried to refuse the test and the techs kept trying to give it to him over his protest -- I had to physically stand in front of his hospital bed and push people with needles away from him! Ugh! You have the right to decline any procedure you don't want, so at least try standing your ground -- though if I were in your shoes I would probably back down if it meant the difference between getting the surgery and not. I might at least try to insist on pain killers/tranquilizers if I absolutely had to get one.

Slippery slope, stay far away IMO. You don't need fake pasta or "low carb" tortillas. Adopt a way of eating that embraces the healthy choices you have, not something that substitutes a second-rate version of what is a crap food in the first place.

I'm sorry no one told you to expect a stall for a couple of weeks starting about three weeks post op, but that's what happens to the vast, vast majority of people after weight loss surgery. You aren't doing anything wrong. Keep following your program, stay off the scale for a couple more weeks, and you'll find yourself dropping weight again. Seriously, use the search function here and look for "three week stall" "third week stall" or something like that. You can even Google "three week stall weight loss surgery" or "week three stall post-vsg" and you'll see tons of people posting about it all over the internet, not just here. Don't have a breakdown! Again, I am really sorry no one thought to tell you about this but it is perfectly normal and you will do great. Keep going.

Jay Robb whey isolate uses stevia as the sweetener. It has great numbers (calories/carbs/protein) and I really like the taste. You can buy it online http://www.jayrobb.com/protein/whey-protein.asp including sample sizes. BTW if that link gets hijacked by the coding at this site, just google Jay Robb whey protein and it will take you there. Also, you can find Jay Robb at other websites and they sell it at some grocery stores (I know they sell it at my Kroger) and you may also find it at GNC, Vitamin Shoppe, etc. About Time is another protein brand with great numbers and lots of flavors. You can also buy samples from them. I didn't like the taste quite as much as Jay Robb, but that's really an individual thing so it's probably worth it to give them a try. http://tryabouttime.com/shop/single-serving-pack/ You can poke around their site and find more size and flavor options etc.

When I was your weight, I lost pretty steadily by eating about 1500 calories per day and exercising regularly but *not* trying to track and eat back calories burned via exercise. Ratios of carbs/fats/protein has never seemed to matter much in terms of how much or even whether I lose weight except to say that if I eat high carb foods at all (sweets and grains in particular) I find it much harder to stay on track, so that has an indirect effect on my success.

I want to eat more sugar

@@silverthreads thank you for the tip on Jungles of Stone -- just added it to my TBR on Goodreads, it looks great! I'm planning on reading The Gene later this summer when I'm on vacation, I'm really looking forward to it. The Emperor of All Maladies is one of my absolute favorites.

I used Hibiclens as per my pre-surgery orders. I got mine from CVS but I remember the clerk being kind of clueless and having to do some research as to where to find it in the store.

I am 3 years post-op and have no visible scars. I tend to scar pretty easily and also have gotten some mild keloiding of some scars in the past so this is not because I have some miraculous anti-scar properties in my skin. My dermatologist can find the largest of them but only if she uses her special backlit magnifying glass and looks carefully. The other incisions have completely vanished.

For my plan, it depends on how many calories and carbs it has as well as the amount of protein.

Packets of flavored tuna, cans of sardines. Is turkey jerky considered a mushy food on your plan?

You really won't need much. An extra long charger cord for your phone, some lip balm, and a cotton, fasten-in-front no-underwire bra if you have one (and if you are one of the women who is more comfortable walking around with a bra than without). The hospital will be able to supply any toiletries that you need, but if you prefer your own tooth brush and so on, feel free to bring that. If you wear glasses, bring a case for them. Wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothes. Bring a couple of pairs of undies but otherwise you can wear the same clothes home. I wore a loose-fitting empire waist dress and it was perfect. Make sure that whoever is giving you a ride home brings a pillow for you to put between the seat belt and your abdomen.

Usually food dries out as leftovers, if you aren't already, try adding a bit more of something to moisten it -- water, milk, sauce, whatever might work for that dish.

So, the words you are using to describe yourself right now include "unhappy with myself," "avoid old friends," "struggle," "excuses," "sad," and "lost friendships" -- and somehow your husband thinks you will be *less* fun? I can't imagine that! You'll have so much more energy and enthusiasm for life (after you get past the post-op recovery phase of course). Fun doesn't mean eating and drinking, it means talking and laughing with your loved ones, enjoying their company, and venturing out to new adventures and old friends. It means being truly happy in your own skin and sharing that happiness and confidence with those around you. I think you know that -- hopefully your husband gets on board soon!

Your sandwich won't be left in your stomach. It takes food about 24 hours to move through your entire digestive tract and out the other end. Your chicken salad sandwich is very likely completely long gone. Many surgeons don't require a liquid diet. Mine didn't (hey -- since our surgeons are in the same practice, not surprising). One chicken salad sandwich is not going to derail you. Just stick to your diet from now on and you'll be fine. You should trust Dr. Boyce. He is a rock star and the New Life center is a Center of Excellence. The RD's are the best! Don't start second-guessing their instructions based on what you read on blogs from internet strangers. Trust them and follow their plans. You will do awesome. I have lost 220+ pounds following their instructions, with zero complications or problems. You are in the very best of hands, I promise.

Neither, just stick with the hospital gowns. When you leave your room to go walking, just put on another hospital gown facing backwards so you don't flash anyone. Hospital gowns are designed to deal with drains, catheters, and IV lines and poles, any or all of which you may have -- your robe or PJ's are not. Also, do you want to get oozing blood, bodily fluids, or IV fluids on your own clothes, or on the hospital's? I say let the hospital deal with that load of laundry!

It's very normal to feel completely exhausted and depleted -- physically and emotionally -- after surgery. It sounds like your team is taking good care of you and making sure you get the treatment you need. You know what I am going to tell you next . . . put the scale away! Just hide it. It is not your friend right now. It's causing you stress, which is detrimental to both healing and weight loss. Put the damn thing away and don't get on it again until you are a month post op. Good luck!

Would you be driving yourself? If so, definitely fly. Probably not even safe for most post-op people to be driving at all, let alone that long, so soon after surgery. Especially keep in mind that you need to be free from narcotic painkillers for 24 hours before driving. If someone is driving you, I would vote for the car. Remember that you'll need to stop every hour and get out and walk for several minutes to help prevent blood clots. If you are flying on your own, remember your lifting restrictions -- if you are using an overhead, you'll need assistance getting your bag into and out of the bin, as well as possibly carrying it in the airport. My vote is for one night in the hotel. Good luck to you!