McButterpants

I agree with the above - call the doctor and let them know. They are the professionals that will make the decision on best course of action.

A new NSV!!!!!!

Yes - a lot of people experience that. Some will find that the sweet in Protein shakes really bothers them. The other day I ate something and had my husband take a bite to see if he thought it tasted like it was spoiled. Can't explain why it happens, but it does.

Mine have changed since surgery. Trial and error is right. I pulled something out of the refrigerator the other day and made my husband take a bite because I thought for sure it had gone bad. Artificial sweeteners are bad for me now, too. Some of your shakes might taste bad when you get home - keep trying them. It may get better. Good luck!

Congrats! Wishing you continued success.

Oh no! Sending positive vibes your way!

This is an exciting time for you guys! You'll do great. Stick with your plan - and like another posted above me said, stay busy. Green tea (and lots of it) helped me a lot during the pre-op diet. It helped curb the hunger and helped pass the time.

Right now, at 4 weeks out, the "want" lasts a few seconds. I looked at something my son was eating the other day and I thought "that looks pretty good", then the thought went away. I really have no desire for breads or sweets right now and I would love for that to continue. Right after surgery you're consumed with drinking Water, drinking shakes. The, once allowed by the doc or NUT, you're allowed some food and then it's working to try to fit that in.

I read one of your posts right before surgery - it detailed your issues and complications (that sounds trite - it's not meant to). I then read it to my husband. I admit, he freaked out and asked if I wanted to back out. I did think about it, because I'm not sure I'm strong like you. I certainly could not handle things with the grace you have. Sending you much love and support and thanks for all you do for us here on this forum!

OMG! So, will this continue to happen or will it get better once you're able to exercise again?!?! I think they could use you for an entire case study or studies! Good grief, girlfriend. I'm praying for you!

When I went to my pre-op classes the day before surgery and after 2 weeks of pre-op diet (2 shakes per day and one meal w/ 4-6 ounces of meat), the doctor said, "Go out and have dinner tonight. Have a good time and eat. The only restrictions are, no buffets and don't go crazy with red meat." My husband and I looked at each other quizzically, like he was joking. I said, "Are you sure? This is for real?" He laughed and said, "Eat what you want." So, we went to macaroni Grill and had a wonderful dinner - we had two small appetizers, bread (which I had not had in 4 weeks), our Entrees and two Desserts. BUT, I didn't stuff myself. It was interesting...I took a few bites of each thing and I was completely satisfied. The only thing we finished was the goat cheese stuffed mini peppers. I thought I would gorge myself, but I didn't - that night really felt like the beginning of something really exciting! Even though I'm only 4 weeks post-op, I can tell you - you will be able to eat some of your favorites again - I've already had pizza. But it's sleeve friendly pizza and it's awesome (take a carb control tortilla shell and pizza sauce, turkey pepperoni and low fat mozzarella and you have a thin crust pizza - even my son likes it). Last night we ate out at a Mexican place - I had the shredded chicken and cheese from the insides of a taco. It was wonderful. You guys are going to do great on the pre-op diet - just keep your eye on the prize and keep working hard. It is so worth it. Best of luck!

I went thru a lot of food funerals before I started my 2 week pre-op diet. I had Italian dinners. I made my homemade chili. I ate ice cream. You name it, I ate it. Then it got old. It consumed me. I ended up starting my 2 week pre-op diet a day early because I was done eating this or that one last time. With 4 weeks to go before surgery, I'd like to make a couple of suggestions...practice eating slowly (set your fork down between bites), chew your food (chew 20-25 times), and start incorporating a shake into your day. These are things that helped me with the pre-op diet and really help post-op. From my perspective, you're normal or at least like me in some respects! :-) Best of luck to you!

You're doing great. "Only" 9 pounds - are you kidding me!?!? Just stick with the plan your doctor and/or NUT gave you - the weight and inches will come off. I have a love/hate relationship with my scale, so it only comes out once per week. Best of luck to you!

I started mine a day early because I was sick and tired of thinking about it and having food funerals. But, like indecision says above, it was a victory in my book - I lived thru the pre-op diet and got an extra day. I won! You will win this, too - congrats on your loss so far, don't derail it because you're close to your pre-op goal. Stick with your plan and you'll do great! Good luck!

I had the same issue - here's what my NUT had me do...Take some Metamucil and a good quality pro-biotic. The pro-biotic, while not a laxative, will have a laxative effect and should help get things going. About an hour after I took both, I was moving right along. I was at the 5 day mark when I called her and said I hadn't poo'd since before surgery - she was a little alarmed. You gotta get that poo out! :-) I'm 4 weeks out and I still need assistance with the Metamucil. Good luck!

Sacrifice: to surrender or give up, or permit injury or disadvantage to, for the sake of something else. One thing you'll find about this journey - it's a series of gives and takes. Another thing you will find out about this journey - you are stronger than you know. I was two weeks post-op at Thanksgiving - I knew I wasn't ready to be around a bunch of people eating food and I didn't want a lot of questions about why I wasn't eating (not everyone at the get together knew I had surgery). So, I went to the party before dinner and had a great time visiting with my family, then I went home right before dinner was served. I went home and had a protein shake. It sucked, but I'm still alive to tell the story. You'll do just fine with your broth as long as you have the right frame of mind - you have this great opportunity ahead of you. Not everyone is given this chance to change their lives. It is truly an opportunity for your life - something that eating for 30 minutes cannot overshadow. You'll do just fine - just stick to your plan and enjoy your time with friend and family.

Wow - great post! Congrats to you on your loss, but better yet, congrats on getting your smile back. Wishing you continued success.

Congrats on your success. I weighed this morning and I'm down 2.2 pounds. I'll take it. Slow and steady...I know! :-) Best of luck to you!

Wow - true success. Thanks for sharing!

Wow - congrats!!!!!!!

Only you know that for sure if you're doing the right thing... I was scared to death - signing the consent forms the day before surgery actually made me feel better because they put in the rate of incidence of the particular complications and I thought, "OK - that's not such a bad average." I had second thoughts the days and weeks leading up to surgery. The day before surgery I almost backed out. The day of surgery, sitting in admitting, I almost backed out. But what kept bringing back were the reasons I searched out this surgery n the first place. I saw a future of unhappiness, unhealthiness, and misery - I chose have the surgery and not let my fear get in the way. I had a little buyer's remorse the couple of days after surgery thinking, "Oh my god, what did you do?" Then I started to feel better and my attitude changed. I haven't looked back since - I'll be 4 weeks post-op tomorrow. I'm feeling great, I'm losing weight, I'm off all meds except for 1, I'm exercising and I can actually see my jawline forming (I haven't seen said jawline in probably 15 years). You will know deep in your heart what the best thing for you is - you have to listen to that inner voice. Best of luck to you!

Oops, i didn't realize this was on Vet's forum - I thought it wouldn't allow us to. Sorry!

You rock! Now go get you some iron!!!!!

My surgery was 11/14/13 - 4 weeks ago tomorrow...Here's an update on what's going on with me. The Protein shakes are really getting to me. I’m so sick of them!!!!! I know it’s time to start changing it up – I have to the break the vanilla, strawberry and chocolate barrier. This week I found a sample pack of Health Wise Soups that I forgot I purchased before surgery. Jackpot!!!!! The Cream of chicken was so good – it has a little less protein (15 grams vs. 20 with a shake), but that 5 grams of protein was worth my sanity that night. I have also had the chocolate mixed with warm 1% milk and some sugar-free peppermint syrup. That was a nice treat on a cold, snowy night reading my book. This morning, I mixed a chocolate with a cup of decaf coffee, a splash of 1% milk and some sugar-free salted caramel syrup – Caramel Mocha, anyone? Yum! I also have some products on order – hot chocolate (high protein), oatmeal (high protein/low carb) and some Click decaf coffee. I need to get out of this rut – getting your protein in is so important and it’s difficult to get that last shake in, mainly because I just don’t want it. I haven’t stepped on the scale in a week – tomorrow is weigh in day and I’m a little scared. I feel really good physically – I still get tired easily, but for the most part, I feel good. I’ve been exercising at the gym walking at least 2 miles per day and usually 2.5 miles or more. Yesterday I did a personal best of 60 minutes and 3 miles (thanks to the hubs for saying he had a few more minutes of his workout left, so I ended up going a whole hour!). I’m more worried about the mental aspect of weighing and not getting the result I’m looking for. I feel like I’m getting smaller – I didn’t feel like that late-last week or early-this week, but I do now. I don’t know if that is Water retention or me just being psycho… I am still in the same jeans I wore pre-op, which is a little depressing. I think I was in denial about how tight those jeans really were pre-surgery! Plus they are made out of that stretchy jean-like material, so about 10 minutes after you put them on they will stretch to your bulk – a great characteristic if your fat and lumpy. They certainly aren’t tight now and they are a little loose in the waist. I will probably need to get new ones in a couple of weeks. I can’t wear my 2X Old Navy yoga pants any more – they literally fall off me. I am keeping one pair as a reminder of how big I really got. I should burn the rest of them. Tomorrow I move to a “soft foods” diet. I have been on puree foods the past two weeks, but I’ll be honest, I didn’t puree a lot. I let my chompers do the pureeing for me. My surgeon and my local doctor are polar opposites when it comes to food. My surgeon said, “Introduce foods as soon as you can and no need to puree if you have teeth and saliva.” You could almost hear my local doctor gasp when I told her that – she is much more conservative and I think if she thought she wouldn’t have a mutiny on her hands, she would make patients wait a year before trying Greek yogurt. So, I’ve been doing a hybrid mainly for my sanity. I chew, chew, chew and chew some more. The Eat Slower app is also a helper – it slows you down and helps remind you to chew your food. I purchased the Carb Balance Tortilla shells – the whole-wheat fajita size has 3 net carbs. I have had dreams about those shells! I want a taco (small, baby taco) and a pizza with the shell as the crust. Mmmmm…can’t wait.

Great news about your clothes. I'm still in my same jeans which is a little depressing, but I think I was in denial pre-op on how tight they really were. Plus they were that stretchy jean-like material. My tops are a different story - I have a couple that were tight one or two weeks ago that fit me now. That's a great feeling, isn't it? My stomach growled so loudly the other day, my dad thought it was the dog growling. He looked at me and said, "What is she growling about?" I had to admit it was my tummy! Take good care and keep in touch!