Bridget312001

I like the Wellnesse liquid vitamins. Chewables are so chalky and bulky when you first start out.http://www.dietdirect.com/wellesse-liquid-multivitamin-supplement.html?a=1&gclid=CJ-u1LGT3rYCFY9eQgodiXQAHg They also do a liquid calcium citrate which tastes like orange creamcicle.

Good luck, and best wishes for a speedy recovery! I am two weeks post surgery today and feel really good. You can do this!

Each doc's nutritional requirements are different pre and post op it seems. I was on a low carb diet for two weeks before the surgery and was just required to have a light dinner before 6pm with no liquids after midnight.

Definitely noticed my sense of smell heightened. Also visual things that used to not gross me out turn my stomach now.

Supplementing your diet with a good all round multi-vitamin and possibly calcium supplement will help with your lack of energy. I prefer the Welnesse Liquid kind, but its your call. Taking a sublingual B-12 (one that pops under the tongue) will give you a little extra lift if you need it. You may need some iron too, but do check with your doc before taking it.

Too often we feel we have to be everything for everyone in our families, and at the end of the day we end up feeling hurt and angry with them for letting us do too much. This is our time to take things a little slower post op, and if it means THEY have to do a little work to take care of themselves, then so be it!

Just remember its the meds making you wacky, not you! Cymbalta works great when you take it, but OMG dont go off it cold turkey!

Talk to your surgeon as soon as you can about your meds and your concern over the risks of not taking them. I would also ask your pharmacist if there are any options you could explore on how to take this medication when you are newly post op and cannot take it in the whole pill/capsule form that you have now. This stuff is so serious, and must be addressed as such.

This is a massive adjustment in our lives..Almost too big to comprehend before actually going through it. Right now you are tired, hungry and angry. I feel your pain as I am seven days out from surgery. This will all get better. It has too, right? Perhaps your boyfriend needs to be a little more supportive and fend for himself while you are transitioning?

My doc told me I "may or may not" need my anti-depressant Cymbalta after surgery..So three days after surgery of quitting cymbalta cold turkey I had the most horrendous headache, diarrhea, slurred speech and confusion. I was re-admitted to the bariatric clinic and given three liters of saline for what they considered dehydration. I told them over and over this was due to withdrawals from Cymbalta and that I needed to go back on it ASAP. I received a blank stare and no answers. As soon as I got home I contacted my pharmacist and she said it was ok to open the extended release capsule and take the contents with a little food. Two days later and I am now feeling normal and my diarrhea stopped. This all happened last Friday. I am so upset with my doc to ever think he could just have me quit this damn drug without weaning me off! Its DANGEROUS to do that! Ask Any Doctor (but mine)!! The ironic thing is I have been going through the motions to get approved for surgery since last July. We had months and months to address this issue and get me off this nasty drug!! the subject of weaning me off of Cymbalta should have been brought up then, not just arbitrarily telling me with a wave of his hand right before surgery that I had to come off the drug. Today I go for my one week post op appointment and oh boy oh boy is my doc going to get an education!

Thanks everyone! I will hold off standing on the scale scratching my head for now.

I started the pre-op low carb diet and lost 16 lbs in two weeks. Its been 6 days since my VGS and have retained four pounds since the day of surgery ! My stomach is still super swollen so Im hoping this is due to my new sleeve healing and this is just fluid retention. I have been following the diet plan religiously…am I being impatient?

Thank you Kirk, I feel mucho better now. My diet allows a little (1/4c) greek yoghurt at this stage, and I found I could ninja a half a scoop of Protein powder in to it and it didn't make me gag getting it down. *Doing a happy dance right now*

Haha! Damn! :-P I caught myself in the mirror earlier and I swear i look 8 months preggers right now.

Now if i could only figure out how to make a ticker under my posts Id be a happy bunny :-)

I wanted a different taste to my protein drink and made a sort of Chai version by adding 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/8 tsp ground cloves and 1/8 tsp nutmeg to 16 oz (two servings) of vanilla EAS made with non fat milk. I didnt add black pepper as most normal chai recipes require just because I was a little scared that it would irritate my sleeve. The result was a palatable protein drink that had 21g protein in 8oz and tasted pretty damn good. Since i am a bit too weak to go out shopping yet only four days since surgery) I liked the fact I could use stuff i already had around the house so it was easy and cheap to make something that tasted good.

I was Sleeved 04/08/13-- I was convinced the sleeve procedure didn't work on me and that I was feeling hunger pains when in fact it was acid/gas rolling around in my poor wounded stomach! I couldnt understand why adding more and more to my stomach wasnt making it feel better, but worse! If I've had a bad day I remind myself that tomorrow will be a little better. Warm liquids helped with my gas, as did extra strength Mylanta (Id like to kiss the feet of whoever invented that stuff, it has been such a lifesaver), and when i got super thirsty letting small pieces of ice slowly melt in my mouth helped my craving to chug Water. Follow your doctors recommendations and be patient with your body as it heals. If you think about it, this procedure we have had has almost made us "born again" with not only the physical aspect of our nourishment, but also our mental hunger. Anyone who says this is the easy route has no idea the mental and physical trials we face. When you look in the mirror you should be very proud of the woman looking back at you. YOU are amazing and brave! Remember that!

Hi Katie, I also had the VGS on April 8th! Yesterday I didnt keep up with my pain meds as i "seemed" to be fine. Next thing i know im sobbing like a baby after overdoing it. Wont do that again!!! . Have you been super thirsty? I was never a Water drinker before this, but i swear just the thought of ice water makes me drool. Take it easy! Bridget

My final straw was just being flat out tired all the time. Even a trip out to the shops required a break on the couch for a few hours afterward. Also when my sister, who is 18 years older (and much slimmer) than me could run circles around me all day, while i was huffing and puffing to keep up with her schedule. Once I found something i would like to wear id look at my body in sheer horror in the changing room mirrors and just put it back in disgust. No matter how cute the clothes were, once i had it on i looked terrible. My knees were also doing the "rice crispy" crunch every time I moved. It was time to do something about all this weight instead of ignoring it. At 42 I was not about to give up on life. No more blood pressure pills, water pills, or pills to stop how depressed I was with my body. How liberating is that!

Day three after VGS operation. I had a good sleep and a shower I am feeling quite a bit more normal. My bladder has woken up, which makes me very happy. i don't feel as gassy and uncomfortable as yesterday, but i think its because i am going much slower taking in my clear liquids. Kind of dreading tomorrow when I can start on milky liquids, but again, slow is the key I think. Thank you all again so much for taking this stranger in and comforting me with kind words and advice, its truly appreciated. X

Hello All, I had my gastric sleeve surgery yesterday and im feeling a little overwhelmed right now. I cant feel when Im full and just made myself completely uncomfortable with 1/4 cup of sugar free Jello. I cant feel my bladder, so i just keep plodding along to the toilet every few hours. I really hope I will embrace this new life I have chosen. Right now I am tired and hungry (at least it feels like I am hungry). I was told i wouldnt feel hungry yet. As I said, im feeling a bit overwhelmed and wondering if I should have had the surgery. Please tell me it gets better. I need to hear it!

Thank you all for your words of encouragement. I feel much better knowing I am not alone. Im going to have to re-learn how to listen to my body so i don't take too much in at once. Mokee, I am on a prescribed antacid, I think all the noises and uncomfortable feelings Im having comes from my stomach beginning to heal. My daughter said I sound like i ate a monster when it squeals and rumbles. Its just gas and i know eventually it will pass (excuse the pun).