SleevedSmurf

I used to be able to drink 2 or 3 of the large bottles of water a day before surgery. Now I'm barely thirsty and HATE water. It is so weird. I tried every bottled water brand out there, and can't stand any of them. The only thing I drink now are protein shakes and Vitamin Water Zero. And even then it is barely 1 of each a day. I miss my water. - Jen, Sleeved 8/29

Have most of you started working out yet? What are you doing? Anyone doing yoga or bar classes? - Jen, Sleeved 8/29

How do you use it? Do you eat it or put it on your scars? hair? Any tips would be great. Thanks! - Jen, Sleeved 8/29

I watched Friday night Lights and Mad Men. Starting Breaking Bad now. - Jen, Sleeved 8/29

I also posted some tips that worked for me in a thread called "surgery tips" under pre surgery. - Jen, Sleeved 8/29

I All, I was writing an email to my friend who is about to have surgery about some tips and things that helped me and I thought some of you might like the advise too, so here it is ... www.Mybariatricpantry.com sample packs - A great website where you can buy everything from Vitamins, to Protein shakes and best of all are their SAMPLE PACKS. They have sample packs for everything protein! Soups, drinks, mixes, puddings, bars, pastas. The sample packs were really great. www.BariatricFoodie.com and www.theworldaccordingtoeggface.com are both great for recipes and good food choices. They both even have recipes for how to make ice cream out of your protein shakes. I had a really hard time with isopure. I called it a isopuke it was so disgusting to me. However they told us that we can also use Nektar. It is a powder that you mix with Water and they have some great flavors. www.mybariatricpantry.com has a variety pack of Nektar flavors. I highly suggest you order it before surgery. Find a coffee bean and tea leaf that has the good little pieces of ice. They are really great and saved my life while on the clear liquid stage When all I wanted to do was chew something, crunching the ice really hit the spot. Also if you put a little bit of ice in a bowl and add a tiny tiny drop of Crystal light and mix it together it's like a snow cone and taste really good and refreshing. I thought the protein soups were pretty gross and I got really tired of chicken soup very quickly and one night had my mom pick up some tortilla soup from California pizza Kitchen. It was amazing! You have to strain out the big chunks but once you do the flavor is really good and I lived on that for a while. Buy a body pillow. I borrowed my cousin's pregnancy pillow that was a giant U that went from one foot all the way up around my head on down to my other foot. It was a lifesaver when trying to sleep on my back. It let me sleep on my side while still protecting my stomach and made the nights much better. They also have a version of it at skymall but the long ones that you can get at bed bath and beyond are good too. Our doc doesn't really believe in putting anything on the scars to help them heal but I put Neosporin on them every night just to be safe and they are healing nicely. I also just started putting Vitamin E oil on them. I also found it very helpful to buy 4oz Tupperware, I got about 15 of them and store everything in them. Also some small 4 oz bowls and baby silverware was really the best. I think that's it. Feel free to bug me anytime with any questions. Good luck and keep me posted!! - Jen, Sleeved 8/29

I All, I was writing an email to my friend who is about to have surgery about some tips and things that helped me and I thought some of you might like the advise too, so here it is ... www.Mybariatricpantry.com sample packs - A great website where you can buy everything from Vitamins, to Protein shakes and best of all are their SAMPLE PACKS. They have sample packs for everything protein! Soups, drinks, mixes, puddings, bars, pastas. The sample packs were really great. www.BariatricFoodie.com and www.theworldaccordingtoeggface.com are both great for recipes and good food choices. They both even have recipes for how to make ice cream out of your Protein Shakes. I had a really hard time with Isopure. I called it a isopuke it was so disgusting to me. However they told us that we can also use Nektar. It is a powder that you mix with Water and they have some great flavors. www.mybariatricpantry.com has a variety pack of Nektar flavors. I highly suggest you order it before surgery. Find a coffee bean and tea leaf that has the good little pieces of ice. They are really great and saved my life while on the clear liquid stage When all I wanted to do was chew something, crunching the ice really hit the spot. Also if you put a little bit of ice in a bowl and add a tiny tiny drop of Crystal light and mix it together it's like a snow cone and taste really good and refreshing. I thought the protein soups were pretty gross and I got really tired of chicken Soup very quickly and one night had my mom pick up some tortilla soup from California pizza Kitchen. It was amazing! You have to strain out the big chunks but once you do the flavor is really good and I lived on that for a while. Buy a body pillow. I borrowed my cousin's pregnancy pillow that was a giant U that went from one foot all the way up around my head on down to my other foot. It was a lifesaver when trying to sleep on my back. It let me sleep on my side while still protecting my stomach and made the nights much better. They also have a version of it at skymall but the long ones that you can get at bed bath and beyond are good too. Our doc doesn't really believe in putting anything on the scars to help them heal but I put Neosporin on them every night just to be safe and they are healing nicely. I also just started putting Vitamin E oil on them. I also found it very helpful to buy 4oz tupperware, I got about 15 of them and store everything in them. Also some small 4 oz bowls and baby silverware was really the best. I think that's it. Feel free to bug me anytime with any questions. Good luck and keep me posted!! - Jen, Sleeved 8/29

Today was really weird. I could eat. Not a ton, but a lot more than I have been eating. I was hungry all day. I was able to eat a full protein bar without feeling full and ate every 2 hours. I ate quite a bit. Not as much as I could before surgery, but it was a big hungry eating day. I wondering if it has anything to do with maybe finally getting my period, but I don't like this. I like getting full fast and not being able to eat much. Has anyone else had a day like this? - Jen, Sleeved 8/29

Today was really weird. I could eat. Not a ton, but a lot more than I have been eating. I was hungry all day. I was able to eat a full protein bar without feeling full and ate every 2 hours. I ate quite a bit. Not as much as I could before surgery, but it was a big hungry eating day. I wondering if it has anything to do with maybe finally getting my period, but I don't like this. I like getting full fast and not being able to eat much. Has anyone else had a day like this? - Jen, Sleeved 8/29

Hi, I was sleeved on 8/29 at Kaiser West LA and went through Options. I am so happy I did it. The options class was good, but to be honest, since surgery I haven't looked at the book once. They give you better information after surgery before you leave the hospital. The options program seemed to be more for people that really know nothing about basic nutrition or how to eat well. Also, the class is designed to scare you. They tell you all kinds of crazy things and new ways to live that you "must" follow. Don't let it scare you. My surgeon said most of that stuff was not necessarily true and since surgery I hadn't had to do any of those things. Examples: They tell you that you can't swallow pills for at least 6 months. My doctor said that as long as they were smaller than an M&M, you can swallow it. I am 1 month out and hated my chewable multi Vitamin and my doctor told me I could swallow a Centrum. Centrism are HUGE and I have no problems. They tell you you have to drink 2 ounces of Water every 15 minutes. I get why they tell you that because they want you to stay hydrated but you will never have to drink your water by a timer. Your body will tell you when to drink and when you are full. I had one girl from my options class completely decided against surgery just because of that one rule. I was a huge water drinker before surgery. I had at least 2 L a day and would chug them. Since surgery I am drinking, not nearly enough but I don't need to set everything to a watch. I have not been dehydrated and I'm feeling great. There are some others that I can't really remember, and by no means am I telling you not to follow their directions. I was very lucky and had a great surgery and have felt wonderful since day one. Some days I even forget that I had surgery except for when it comes to mealtime When I am reminded that my eyes are literally bigger than my stomach Good luck to you I know you will have a great class and make some great connections. That was the best part of my class. Meeting wonderful people to go through this journey together with. - Jen, Sleeved 8/29

Anyone know when we can have cheese like string cheese or sliced cheese? - Jen, Sleeved 8/29

I bought One of those pregnancy pillows/pillows you see in sky mall. It is a giant U it's called the comfort U and it goes from your feet all the way around the head down to your feet again. it has been amazing. I actually have been using it upside down. I use a pillow under my head and put the U side under my feet and have the sides next to each side of me so I can move them around. It saved my sleep I can move it to between my legs, behind my back or under my stomach it is awesome. Highly recommend getting something like that - Jen, Sleeved 8/29

Hi all, I hope you can help me. I've been trying to reach my friend all week who had surgery on the same day I did. I finally heard from her today and she is still so nauseous. We had surgery on 8/29 and she has been nauseous every day since. She's throwing up every day since also. I told her to go get some Gas-X and even try some Pedialyte but was wondering if anyone else is had that experience and has any suggestions. I haven't had any nausea or any problems so I feel bad that I don't have any advice for her. She's really having a tough time so any advice would be great. Thank you! - Jen, Sleeved 8/29

I actually liked both of those much better, but my NUT said that they were not complete proteins so I couldn't have them - Jen, Sleeved 8/29

So happy I found this thread. I had my surgery on 8/29 and I haven't had a bowel movement yet. However every time I do go to the bathroom when I wipe my behind something is always there even though I didn't have a vowel movement . That worries me. Anyone else have that experience? Sorry to be so gross

I had a great experience with my sleeve. Not much pain and thankfully no nausea. I just had a little incision pain and lots of gas. But today, I ran out of my liquid Vicodin and everything changed. My doctor doesn't want to refill it and wants me to just use Tylenol. It's not working at all. Had a horrible night sleep and just cannot get comfortable. Now besides incision pain I really think i do feel my actual stomach and the inside pain. I am taking gas x and walking everyday. Any suggestions?

I had my surgery on 8/29. I'm swallowing regular Tylenol pills. Haven't had any trouble swallowing pills from day 1, but taking chewable gas x.

NONE! Isopuke has been the worst part of this journey for me. I absolutely hate it and have tried every flavor. I even tried to trick myself by making Jello with it or mixing with juice or Vitamin Water zero and making a Popsicle. There is no hiding that vomit after taste. My doctor said my 2 clear liquid options were isopure and nectar. Nectar has been my savior! It's a powder that mixes clear with water. I went to mybariatricpantry.com and ordered a sample pack of it. It is sooooo much better than isopure. Starting full liquids today thank god! Can't wait to get as far away as possible from the clear liquid Proteins. Anyone have creative recipes or ideas to mix things up for the next 10 days of full liquids?

Hi Brett, me too. The shower today was great, did laundry and even went for about a 6 block walk. I feel so bad reading about people having so many problems, I actually feel great and have since I got home. I'm really sore, but other than that no real complaints. I'm so happy I had it done.

Hi, I had my surgery on Thursday 8/29. New here and would love to connect.