DeniseM

I had my sleeve done here on 6/4- just wondering if there were any other Bragg wives on this site?

I have no problems eating salad or any other raw veggies or fruits except that I get full very quickly if I am not careful with eating my protein first.

Mine was a life-saver for me! It really helped with my pain, especially in my large incision.

I wish I did! I had four incisions with my sleeve and then six weeks later had my GB removed and that was four more incisions, so I basically look like a slasher victim!

I started feeling hungry at about five months post-op, and I get hungry 3-4 hours after eating, depending on what I have eaten, sometimes longer.

Are you wearing a compression garment? Mine was a life saver! My large incision was like a knife in my side for three weeks, and wearing the compression garment every day really helped. I got mine from my surgeon's office, but you can buy them from a local medical supply store, or online like this one http://www.amazon.com/Style-Abdominal-Adjustable-Compression-ContourMD/dp/B004A6N5RA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385851352&sr=8-1&keywords=velcro+compression+garment

Have you considered Gelatin Protein? I'm not sure if you are still vegan, so this might not work, but I am going to try gelatin protein instead of whey protein for health reasons- I found a recipe for an after work-out shake that sounds really interesting. I don't use a lot of Protein powder anymore as I get most of my protein from food, but I am very into Paleo and organic foods, so I thought the gelatin protein was really interesting. I just ordered all the ingredients, so I haven't tried the shake yet, but I will this week. http://www.primallyinspired.com/protein-workout-recovery-shake-using-gelatin/

The main problem with soups is that they don't contain much protein because of the liquids. I have had soup here and there since surgery, like when I am sick or it's cold out, but I count it as a snack and not a meal due to the low protein in the amount that I can eat. I have read that people have added protein powder to soup, which can also be an option if you are really craving soup.

I second the binder- it helped me SO much my first three weeks after surgery. I got mine from my surgeon's office but you can buy them online and at medical supply stores.

I had this too after my gallbladder surgery. What I suspect is that I had an incision in my belly button that should have been sutured but was not. The first two days after surgery I was bleeding from my belly button but then it stopped. After four weeks, I was still seeing crust and oozing from my belly button so I had it checked out and found out that the wound had never healed. I then needed to have it packed and treated with silver nitrate and after another month it had finally healed. My surgeon told me that she sometimes uses a tool to lift the abdomen when putting gas in the abdomen before surgery. Of course she said she didn't use that on me, but clearly she did since I had the non-healing wound to prove it. She said it also could have been a cyst or abscess, but I pointed out that I was bleeding from my belly button for two days after surgery. Anyway, I had to have a month wound care treatments to get it to clear up, so you should have it checked out. A non-healing wound can become infected, so you need to be careful with that.

Interesting. I am a federal employee and I just looked up what my benefit is, and I can also get my gym membership paid with a doctor's note. I am spending a small fortune on my personal trainer, so I am definitely going to do this next year since I have no money left for this year! Here is what the website says: https://www.fsafeds.com/fsafeds/summaryofbenefits.asp#HowdoIsubmitGym

You might be feeling great and have no pain but it takes 30 days for your muscles to heal on the inside. By not listening to your doctor and exercising too early you could disrupt the internal healing process and set yourself back weeks or even back in the OR. Just keep walking and taking it easy- before you know it you will be cleared for all exercise and breaking in the new eliptical.

I had a few bites of pizza at about eight weeks. I have only had it a few times since surgery since I do mostly Paleo, but I usually just eat the toppings because even thin crust is too filling and I don't get in enough protein. But you would be amazed how good just the pizza toppings taste- I never even miss the crust!

I ate a lot of soup from restaurants- my fav was Panera Bread's Broccoli Cheddar soup. I blended it up and ate it several times a week for my weeks on puree. Also Wendy's chili with a few saltines is really good too. I also experimented with many different versions of smoothies adding in whatever I thought might taste good- my fav was pineapple, mango, and coconut. (I pretended it had rum in in and that I was on a beach somewhere...) The last few days are the worst because you are SO sick of eating the same things over and over, but hang in there, you are almost through this!!!

Try different temperatures like really cold or warm. I sipped a lot of hot herbal tea the first few days. I couldn't tolerate anything super cold. But then week 2 all I wanted was frozen slushies.

Depends on what your surgeon told you. I could only walk (regular or treadmill) for the first four weeks, and then I was cleared for all exercise, but you need to do what your doctor says since we are all different.

These are the ones that I take: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0040MHAUM/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1 At my three month follow up, my Iron, B-12 and Niacin were low on the children's chewable, but one month later on these Vitamins, I was back to normal. I know there are hundreds of different vitamins out there and it is hard to pick! I tried three different kinds until I found one that didn't make me too nauseous and gave me energy.

My doctor told me to not even worry about carbs for the first few months, and just concentrate on getting in protein and water. So I eat my protein first, and if I have room, a few bites of carbs/side items. It can be overwhelming in the beginning, so I would recommend just focusing on the post-op plan your doctor gave you as far as your food progression, focus on protein and fluids, and in a few weeks, this will all seem easier to you.

I have been working with a trainer four days a week for the past month and have really begun to see changes in my strength and endurance, and today, for the first time since I was 18, I ran 1/4 of a mile! I know that might not be a lot to some, but it was amazing to me. I have been doing sprints for the past few weeks, but today I really pushed myself and I was amazed that I could run that far. Not only did I run, I then did 15 minutes worth of free weights, 1000 crunches (yes, three zeros after that 1) and ended with 15 minutes on the stair master. Today was the hardest workout I have had in my life, and it was amazing! I still have a LONG way to go to get to my goal of participating in a sprint triathlon with my hubby, but I think that I might actually get there by next summer.

Mine was removed from a large incision on the right side of my abdomen- it was definitely the largest and most painful of all my incisions. The rest of my incisions were tiny and didn't bother me at all after a few days. The large one bothered me for almost three weeks.

I have never heard no deodorant three days before surgery. When I had my surgery, the day before surgery I had to shower twice with antibacterial soap, and then the morning of my surgery I had to shower again with antibacterial soap and no deodorant, lotions, hair products or anything whatsoever on surgery day, but not the three days leading up to surgery.

I had to wait two weeks to start pureed food.

I am almost five months out and I eat between 6 and 8 ounces per meal, depending on what it is. As with Arts137, I don't count the bites, but I do know by sight how much I can eat, and I know how my stomach feels when it is full, so I focus on eating until I am full but not too full, and I do not count how many bites. I guess if they were big bites, it would be 6 or 8 bites, but I take really small bites and chew really well so that is not really a good measure for how I eat.

An EGD and an Upper GI are the same thing. Technically, and EGD is an Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, which is not so easy to say, so the acronym EGD is how is what it is commonly called. But and EGD is an endoscopy exam of your upper gastrointestinal track which is why it is also called an Upper GI. (A lower GI is done via colonoscopy)

I lost very quickly on a low-carb pre-op diet. I could eat whatever I wanted, but I could have no more than 20 grams of carbs per day. So that is basically meat, cheese, and vegetables. I lost 19 pounds in two weeks and I used MFP to track my carbs.