prettylittleheart

So true! I think the worst part of my whole experience though has been the crushed vitamin B complex.... YUCKIES.

1) I've read about people having them just watering them down. 2) the question will be if you go through this and still have the taste buds for it or want it. (My taste buds have changed tremendously and I'm a newbie. 2.28.13 (surgery date) 3) if you can ever have one again, it will be awhile after post op. 4) there is so much gas (burping/the other end) connected to this - I can only imagine what that kind of carbonation will do. Not saying no, just my opinion. I personally haven't had any soft drinks for about a month now & I was addict - could go through a half a case in a day or two. But I'm honestly not craving them.

Mostly everything makes me burp. I did tolerate skim milk well as my guidelines were I could introduce it a few days after surgery. Protein powder is now making me gag. So I'm currently looking for another outlet & hoping at my follow up appt. on the 13th they will boost me to purée. I hear gas-x strips work very well for gas relief, but I haven't taken them. Hope it gets better! Also, want to note that not only do I burp, but it's like a mix between a hiccup & a burp. But yowza, does sneezing hurt the worst!

Crystal Light has a "Sunrise Orange" flavor that tastes very similar to OJ. Not sure if you've tried it, but it might give you the same satisfaction without the worry of causing harm/complications. Also, every Dr. Is different with guidelines - you might just want to call & touch base with the nutritionist or Dr. Good luck! Protein shakes are yuckies for me, too

Lmao I know what you mean - I feel like my emotions have ran haywire. Might help if I get out of the house, but all of a sudden this just hit me and the simplest things just make me feel like I'm not a force to be reckon with. BTW - I have two cats too and I hate them all of a sudden. Feels so comforting to know I'm not going through this alone and I'm not crazy - although I'm sorry we are going through this at all. Just feels almost like my days can't roll by fast enough right now. Hope it gets better SOON!

& depression is already kicking in. I can't even pinpoint why. I was sleeved on 2/28. My recovery hasn't been bad at all. So far I've been able to handle everything & no nausea thank God. I will honestly admit - I miss being able to get up and go out to eat with my family and being able to order what I want, but isn't because I'm hungry. It's just for so long that's been my highlight whether I was happy, successful, sad, stressed, hurt, disappointed, or whatever the emotion may have been. I go to my follow up appointment so hopefully they will talk about advancing my diet to purée because just liquids for four weeks is weighing on me & I HATE Protein shakes with a passion. & yes, I've seen a million threads on here about depression and anxiety, but I think I just needed to vent. I probably need to call my PCP and get on a temporary medication to get me through recovery. I'm just so ready to get back to normal (exercising, eating salad, veggies, meat, fish, sleeping on my side because sleeping on my back and on my sofa at that is literally getting to me, scared to drive, freaking out that there is still a responsibility of a complication, just scared in general and I don't want to live in fear anymore) I'm just so exhausted, and irritated, and sad. & not to mention, I am typically a loner - love my privacy, love being a homebody and right now I HATE being alone. I don't regret the surgery, just depressed. How long does this last?

Thank you so much! Just ready for the recovery part to be over with! Glad you are doing so well! Appreciate your time to respond over my rant!

Weighed*

Thank you so much! I feel like such a whiner. Typically not me! Glad you are doing so well! I haven't weight since the day before my surgery. I decided to wait until I go back to his office on the 13th to see my progress. good luck to you too!

Sorry in advanced, I know I'm blessed to have this opportunity. Just needed to vent.

Wow! You are an inspiration!

Lol from one wimp to another - the way my surgeon put it when I said I'm terrified. 1) he told me the risks and complications of being overweight are far more frightening. 2) every surgery has a risk. 3) you read so many stories about people who get in their car and never return home because they didn't survive a collision and then he looked at me and said - 'are you going to stop getting in your car?' Fear is normal. He also said he'd be more worried about me if I wasn't scared about the surgery. I took an anti-anxiety as needed throughout the process too. It helps.

Yes, I completely agree about the pain upon standing or sitting. The pain has lessened standing up, now if it would lessen as I'm sitting I'd be rockin'! Glad everyone is doing well! I do still feel a slight tugging sensation too. I read it goes away at about 2-4 weeks. Still have trouble crouching or bending over. I haven even really attempted it but I know if I even start that way it will be painful. Praying for a speedy recovery for us all!

The sleeve was my first surgery. My date was 2.28.13 - pain is tolerable (trust me, I'm a wimp) hurts getting up or sitting down. Walking feels good also helps with gas pains. I did the liquid diet for 16 days. Nothing but proteins shakes, SF Popsicles, I could have had SF jello but I'm not a fan, powerade zero, crystal light, and broth ( I've found Herb Ox to be the best tasting one.) Pre-op I was terrified, had second thoughts, freaked out, cried, mourned - definitely a roller coaster ride. I was frightened about anesthesia - but when they rolled me in - I honestly don't even remember counting. I was knocked out by the time the was oxygen mask on. In fact, it was over so quickly I woke up in the OR with the anesthesiologist standing over and I said is it finished? Did I do it? I don't regret my decision. Pre-op liquids are the worst. I find doing liquids post op is much easier. Honestly, it takes me about 4 hours to complete a protein shake (perhaps half of that is because it's not most appetizing with water, but thinner and easier for my sleeve right now, but a majority of it being I am so full from sipping liquids all day.) Good luck guys!

I am so excited to see the scale when I go! I will update my progress! Glad you're feeling better too! I find that I am feeling better and better.

I have almost a burning sensation to just one incision. If I move a certain way, or sit down on a low lying surface (sofa) i do feel a tugging sensation. I have no redness and I was running a temp in the 99*F but never got any higher than that. Called my surgeons nurse yesterday, she said as long as there aren't any s/s of infection to my sites or burning on urination just monitor it, but it's fine. Yesterday, was my first day I didn't take any pain meds & my temp. also stabilized itself the entire day/night. I might have to take a spoonful of pain med today because I had my first sneeze which hurt like h. e. double hockey sticks to say the least and it has left me a little sore. Not bad though. I'm not in excruciating pain thank God. I've been mainly trying to wean myself off of it though but no doubt about it - if I need it, I will take it & not think twice about it. As far as fluids/protein. I find myself SO full. I'm still having a hard time getting in all my Water. Supposed to be getting in 48oz + the Protein shakes. (I've been using whey isolate powder w/ h2o.) not the most pleasant tasting one but I do find the more protein I intake I feel better. Yesterday I got in 60g of protein and a whole bottle of water, and one SF Popsicle. That was it. Couldn't go anymore. Still trying to slowly increase. Today, so far I've gotten in 30g and about 8 oz of Powerade zero. Still pushing though. One more note: congratulations on the weight loss!! I go to my surgeon on the 13th can't wait to see how much I lost!!

Also would like to add - premier protein (I've only tried the vanilla) heard chocolate was good but has a relatively high source of protein too (30g) comes in a pack of 12 and is not so badly priced also one of the better tasting ones - you can find these at Sams Club and CostCo. I also bought Atkins Advantage- they taste ok but only have 15g of protein my suggestion to use these would be to mix and match it with another high sourced protein shake. Isopure was expensive. 12 for 44 bucks and some change. Doesn't taste that great, leaves an after taste and your mouth feeling kinda 'stripped' or 'raw' maybe chalky. However, it's upside 40g of protein w/ no carbs in a bottle. Also tried pure protein shake, it was ok. Hope this helps. I have heard a lot of good reviews about unjury. They also have a chicken broth one & unflavored for you to be creative. 21g a protein to a scoop w/ 8 oz. haven't tried it yet but hope to. Good luck!

I'm newly sleeved! 2.28.13. The pain has not been as bad as I've anticipated and trust me- I'm a wimp lol. Gas pains are a little relentless though but the more you walk the easier they become to deal with and the better you feel ultimately. If I drink too fast/too much I do feel a slight discomfort that subsides relatively quickly but I know my stomach is telling me to slow down.

Powerade Zero helps. I froze it and ate it like an icee(made me pretty full) Strawberry, Orange, Lemon Lime were my favorites. Sugar free Popsicles, yeah, I stocked up on those. Crystal Light is good too. Mio. Also Dasani has the flavor drops too, they have a pineapple coconut (only flavor I tried) & I'm not a fan of piña coladas but it was really good ice cold. For broth - I recently just found one I liked called Herb Ox (Beef and Chicken) taste really good. (beef if high in sodium though*) still the best I've found. Not a fan of jello, but did try consume some. Most people say 1-3 days are the hardest. However, I breezed through those and had a rough night the fourth night. Best protein I found was Muscle Milk Light (30g of protein) & I also used Body Fortress, relatively cheaper than the ready made ones and with skim milk tastes pretty good especially when blended with ice. Almost like a milk shake and made me feel full. Throughout it all though, I only remained full for a short period but I think a lot of it was head hunger and needing to chew something.

I had to do a liquid protein diet : protein shakes getting in at least 80-120g of protein a day. 64 oz of water and could have broth, SF jello, SF Popsicles, Crystal Light, Powerade Zero, Propel, etc. I started that on 02.13.13 & my surgery date was 02.28.13 - I weighed in at my surgeon's office on the 27th and lost 23 pounds. SW 326, weight the day before surgery 303 pounds. Not sure what my weight is since surgery because I don't want to become obsessed with the scale. I weigh in again on the 03.13.13 at the surgeons office.

Feeling slowly better day by day. I am still a little sore, but up and moving around a little already this am. I find gas pains are a little bad this am, but I've not taken anything for them hoping they will just pass. Sitting up to get up still hurts worse for me as well. Temps fine this am too. How are you feeling? Hope you're well!

Congrats on the weight loss! I'm having a hard time getting in all my fluids too. At night, I've been running a low grade temp. Highest I've gotten is 99.8F that has me a little stressed out. I think I may over done it today though - took a shower, walked a lot more because I was feeling better. Minimal pain- on the scale 1-10 it's probably a 1-2. I think I'm just stressing myself out. Hope you feel better though! Keep us posted please!

I am comfortable but VERY new to this forum & stats! Just a baseline and little history - I'm 21, co-morbidities: hypertension, elevated lipids, and poly cystic ovarian disease. SW: 326 My weight the day before surgery: 303 - I haven't weighed myself since but am going for a follow up on 3/13. I'm a nurse, but have a desk job so I only took two weeks off. I am so excited to but new clothes from the actual store & have people look at me and want to explore me further! I think it helps to keep each other motivated and stay focused one day at a time! I also did a liquid Protein diet that consisted of - Protein shakes, SF Popsicles, broth, crystal light, Powerade zero, etc which I had to do for 15 days (16 counting the day of surgery, but some people don't do that) I'm thinking of getting a myfitnesspal account when I actually get to the food phase lol and starting to work out but YES - I completely agree I cannot wait to get the recovery part behind and am hoping for a speedy recovery for us all!

Jacee, I really hope you will be able to get a good nights rest soon! I agree with the gas pains. My sleep is mainly broken up. I however am not walking a mile and haven't been to a store! I can't speak on behalf of everyone but I am certainly not a petty person and I am here to listen - vent away! I've not gone to BR yet for #2 (TMI), but I think I'm going to call my dr soon so he can prescribe something for me. I might be a little afraid to go too, not sure. Hope I go soon. Our surgery dates are very close in range so it might be nice to keep each other updated as well. Keep me posted on how you're doing. Good luck in March! Let us know how you make out! Prayers your way!

If you are still on clear liquids/full liquids I wouldn't till I spoke with the doctor. That's more of like a food that should be soft/puréed and you are almost there! You honestly don't want to risk hurting yourself without consulting your MD first. If you are looking for a chewing sensation trust me the sugar free Popsicles help. I think you will feel sooo much better with walking more frequently. Although it is discomforting to get up and get going that also gets better the more you walk. Try walking during commercials on TV even if its just a lap through the kitchen and living room or a circle in either. Nothing strenuous. You are completely welcome! Always nice to have someone who knows what you are going through! Anytime! I really hope you start to feeling better soon. When in doubt - always call the doctor. Also maybe you aren't getting in enough protein. Increasing your protein may help you curb the appetite and feel more full!