dsmith_rn

Any drug you take can have side-effects. My doc only prescribes one month of Omeprazole for his patients because of the long-term side-effects of PPIs. It's a risk/benefit kinda thing. For one month, the benefits far outweigh the risk. Good luck!

I have a friend at work who is now 3 months post op along with her husband. She is my go to for everything. Between her and all of you on here I am hoping that is enough support to help me when I am post op and needing a shoulder. I will research what type of therapy is available post op if needed. What limitations were the toughest for you to deal with? It is scary to think of how much different it will be and that this is not reversible but I so want it. I need this. Thank you for your support. The hardest part for me is that I feel I can't eat. I knew about this before surgery, but I didn't think it would be so HARD. Yes, I do actually eat. But I eat very small amounts and I can't eat many of the foods I want to eat. At this point in my journey my sleeve can only hold 1/3 C. or less, depending on the density of the food. Get out your measuring cups and pour 1/3 cup of Water in a bowl to get an idea just how small that is. I had to measure all my food for the first few weeks (and sometimes still do) because if I took a bite or two more than that 1/3 cup, I would be miserable for several hours afterwards. My stomach is finished eating WAY before my brain wants to stop. And what I did to my body is irreversible, meaning I will never again be able to eat whatever I want, as much as I want of anything, no matter how good it tastes. Ever. That realization will hit you at some point, and you will have to deal with it. Today I was at a kid's birthday party. I was able to eat a tiny bit of potato salad (the only choice I had--there was nothing else there I could eat). I eat mostly Protein, and wish I had taken a Protein Bar with me but it would have raised a lot of questions I don't care to answer. I watched everyone else eat hot dogs, mexican rice, nachos, birthday cake.......and tried not to look miserable. Those few bites of potato salad have filled me up for 5 hours, so I haven't been able to eat anything good for me--or anything at all, since getting home. It's that kind of stuff that is hard for me now. Keep in mind I am only a month out from surgery and all of these things are very likely to get better. I'm in a phase of struggle right now, and I know I need to keep my eyes on the prize and try not to think about what I'm "missing." In the end it will be worth it, but in the beginning when I still feel fat it's easy to forget that there's a very good reason I did this! You will go through all sorts of emotions after surgery; from the highest highs to the lowest lows. Knowing it's all normal should help, at least a little. Hang in there, you're almost there. There are tons of people here to help, people with a lot more experience and perspective than me. You will make it, and it will be worth it!

You are not alone, my friend. Many have us have had similar experiences to yours. For what it's worth, I agree with your decision not to tell your mom yet, given your circumstances. I did tell a few very close relatives and friends, but most everyone else, including most of my family and co-workers do not know. Some have already noticed my weight loss and ask about it, and I tell them the truth: I eat really differently now, and I hired a personal trainer at the gym. Some have asked about my medical leave, and I tell them I had stomach surgery for a long-standing health problem. Obesity is a long-standing health problem! Anyway, I'm a little jealous of you. There are days (OK, every day at some point) that I wish I could go back to my pre-op status for a day or two. This surgery plays with your mind, so if your surgeon doesn't have his/her own psychologist who works with them I would strongly suggest you find one who is very experienced with the issues you will face as a WLS post-op. I never needed a therapist before, but I have found the one at my surgeon's office to be extremely helpful as I struggle with the limitations this surgery imposes on you. I thought it would be a piece of cake. It is NOT. Some uninformed people think WLS is "the easy way out." They couldn't be more wrong. This is HARD. Very hard. The easy way would be if they could invent a surgery that cures head hunger, and lets you eat whatever you want, as much as you want, and still lose weight/maintain your weight loss. Bonus points if no exercise is required. But no such surgery exists, and our journeys will never end. Enjoy this life while you can. Enjoy eating like a normal person because after your surgery you will never be able to eat as much as your brain wants to eat again. The results will be worth it, but you will mourn what is now "normal." We only live once. Make it count.

It's true that the pyloric valve doesn't change with the sleeve surgery. But the pylorus doesn't hold liquids in the stomach very well anyway, which is why you can GUZZLE Water (at least pre-op, we could!). My surgeon says that the sleeve acts more like a funnel, as you said, and so it does not hold liquids for very long. I was SO HUNGRY while I was still on liquids, but it definitely got better once I moved to purees. I can only eat 1/3 C. or less, and I stay full for hours after eating; 3-6 hours, depending on the density of the food I ate. Do not fear, there's nothing wrong with your sleeve!

IT IS NOT OK TO SKIP IT!!!!!!!!!!! You are not taking the PPI to prevent hunger. You are taking it to prevent acid formation in your sleeve TO PROMOTE HEALING OF YOUR SUTURE LINE!!! Your stomach cannot heal in an acid environment, or at the very least it will take MUCH longer. TAKE YOUR MEDS. I have taken mine in capsule form since day 1 after surgery; ask your doc if you can switch to capsules. But please, do not skip it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm surprised your surgeon's office didn't give you a printed list of foods you can have at each stage? Tuna salad is OK if it's very moist. I'd use mostly Greek yogurt to moisten it with just a touch of mayo for flavor, otherwise it can rack up calories fast. Chicken is harder to digest, I'd wait a little on that, although a tiny bit in some cream of chicken Soup should be OK. Beans and peas are ok if they are PURÉED like baby food. That option didn't appeal to me so I just waited a couple more weeks till I could have them whole, cooked. I still can't eat raw veggies yet, this week I am able to start a few tender greens and I'm happy because it's been more than a month since I've had salad but I won't be putting carrots or celery or anything like that in it. Grits should be OK as long as you don't load it up with sugar and fat (so what's the point of eating them? Lol). If in doubt, don't eat it! The pain isn't worth it. Call your docs office if you're not sure about something, each surgeon is a little different in their requirements.

I've had to face the fact that items like pasta salad and Mac n cheese are things that I will no longer eat. For one thing, my surgeon says I can't have any pasta (or bread, rice, tortillas, English muffins, crackers, etc) for 6 months after surgery. That is because these kinds of refined carbs can form a gummy, sticky ball in your stomach and cause a blockage. Secondly, even after 6 months, if I eat pasta there won't be room in my sleeve for the Protein my body NEEDS, and eating carbs makes you crave MORE carbs and doesn't keep you full as long as protein, so it will lead to weight regain. I didn't go through this surgery just so I could gain the weight back! You should definitely check with your doc or NUT on this, but I suggest you seriously reconsider adding pasta back to your diet for these reasons. I MAY have one or two bites of Mac n cheese down the line AFTER I have eaten my 3 oz of protein and few bites of veggies IF I still have a little room in my sleeve, but then again I might not because I don't want to start craving carbs again. I don't want to regain! I did make a steamed cauliflower, covered it in homemade cheese sauce (the same sauce I used to make for Mac n cheese) , sprinkled it with buttered bread crumbs, and baked it in the oven until the crumbs were crispy. .... It satisfied my craving for Mac n cheese, didn't sabotage my eating plan, and was guilt-free! By the way, it may be some time until your sleeve can tolerate corn, but mashed potatoes are ok during the soft stage, and so is oatmeal as long as there is no sugary fruit/flavorings in it. I'm glad you could find some suggestions here that will help you with the soft phase. Good luck!

I measure all those and the thickest part of my calf also. CONGRATS on your weight and inches lost!

Today is my 4-week post-op surgiversary. I don't have a scale (on purpose) so I took all my measurements. I've lost NINETEEN INCHES since surgery! I was stunned and recalculated 3 times because I couldn't believe it! I lost the LEAST amount (1.5 inches) in my bustline. Yay! Anyone else tracking their inches lost?

Today is my 4-week post-op surgiversary

I'm 4 weeks out and burp a lot after meals. The first burp is usually my signal to stop eating so I don't really mind it. I just cover my mouth and try to keep it quiet.

One thing you veterans have is the gift of experience. What advice would you give me as a 1-month PO VSG? Anything I should know as I go through this first 6 months, first year, and beyond? I know there are a few things I would have already done differently if I had the benefit of experience. Any of you care to share what you've learned, or what was important for you to understand in the beginning of your journey? I'm very grateful for any wisdom you would care to share!

My doctor thinks so, therefore I do too. I've last 20 lb in the 4 weeks since surgery. The PA told me that since I started out at the lower end of BMI at 38 I won't lose as much initially as some others. My BMI is now 35 so definitely some progress. She told me to expect to lose 1-2 lb per week at this point. My clothes are definitely loose, and people who don't even know I had surgery have noticed my weight loss so yes I think I'm where I should be at this point. So far I've had zero complications, and no trouble with my sleeve until today (I ate a hard boiled egg for breakfast; I think it was just too dry, it has sat in my stomach like a rock all day and made me nauseas). Lesson learned. Texture is important, so is moisture! It can make the difference between a happy sleeve and an angry sleeve. I'm hoping that stupid egg will pass sometime during the night. I haven't eaten much today and it's difficult to even drink when your sleeve feels so icky.

In addition to what has already been mentioned, I ate egg salad, canned corned beef hash, applesauce, cottage cheese with applesauce, apple butter, or crushed pineapple in it, pureed canned pears (in fruit juice or water), mashed avocado. My favorite dinner during that phase was when I made 4-cheese manicotti for my family. I can't have Pasta for 6 months, so I took a little of the fresh, homemade tomato sauce and put it in a ramekin, topped it with my 4-cheese mixture (ricotta, mozzarella, parmesano-reggiano, asiago, and fresh italian parsley), then a little more sauce and mozzarella/asiago on top and baked it in the oven. YUMMY. When I made tacos for the family, I had homemade refried Beans with salsa, cheese, and a little dollop of greek yogurt and avocado on top. I made potato leek soup and rounded out the meal for the family with grilled cheese sandwiches. Black bean soup with cilantro, cheese, greek yogurt on top, and make quesadillas for the family to go with it. You have to be a little creative during this phase, but it can be done! Hope that helps!

I am 4 weeks out tomorrow, and tried to eat a hard-boiled egg this morning. It didn't sit well in my sleeve. It felt heavy and I felt full and nauseas for several hours afterwards. Funny thing is, I can eat egg salad with NO PROBLEM! So I think the problem was that a hard-boiled egg by itself is TOO DRY. I have eaten soft scrambled eggs with cheese and salsa with no problem also. I have to remind myself that the foods I eat not only have to be soft, but also MOIST. The moisture content in a food can make all the difference between happy sleeve and MAD sleeve! As to your other question, dumping can include diarrhea, but just diarrhea by itself does not mean you are dumping. If you ever dump you will definitely know it and never want it to happen again. People say it feels like you are dying. You get sweaty, heart racing, severe cramps, some people even pass out. It lasts around 20-30 minutes and passes on its own. My NUT says eating a handful of nuts MAY help it to pass sooner, but basically you just have to wait it out. I've never dumped (yet), but I read a thread on this site earlier today by a sleever who was eating sugar-free, fat-free frozen yogurt. She ate it regularly, but this time she wasn't paying attention and ate about twice the amount she usually ate. It caused her to dump, even though it was sugar and fat free; it was that she ate too much of it. Frozen yogurt is a "slider food" that we could all probably eat too much of because it doesn't stay in the sleeve for long. Good luck to you, and remember to keep your food MOIST!

You might want to call your surgeon's office on this one. I know for me, ANY carbs like that (bread, english muffin, tortillas, Cereal, crackers, etc.) is forbidden for 6 months. They tell me those kinds of carbs tend to form a sticky blob in your new tummy that can cause a blockage. If in doubt, don't eat it!

I want to thank you all for your replies. As a 1-month PO it was fascinating for me to read. It's difficult for me to even imagine eating more than my 1/3 cup of food without feeling the restriction. I feel kind of "freakish" around others while eating as my tummy is so small. It's nice to know it will normalize somewhat. My diet is extremely protein-forward and I don't see that changing as my health is very important to me. I just hope I have the same success as you folks!

I suspect the consent is so detailed BECAUSE it is an "elective" procedure. Mine was only 3 pages, but scary nonetheless. They also wanted to be sure I understood that unlike the lap band or RNY, the sleeve is irreversible. There are days that I think about that, how I can't ever go back, how my stomach will never be what it was, I can never just eat what I want, as much as I want, ever again and it plays with my head sometimes. But I feel good and already look better not quite a month out and I don't regret my decision. I've had zero complications and no trouble with my sleeve not liking anything I've eaten. I've adjusted to the new, strange sensations of my baby stomach and have learned to understand what they mean. My relationship with food is very different now (which is a good thing!) and it gets easier every day to pass up the foods I once loved--yes, loved. Food is now fuel for my body. Since I can eat so little, every bite counts and has to be something that's good for me. Before surgery I figured I could have a little bite of something sweet after my meal now and again after surgery (I tended to crave a little sweet after dinner) but I was fooling myself. There is literally no room for even a single bite more after I finish my tiny portion of food. One bite too many will mean hours of discomfort, and so I have been forced to give up my sweets. I know I should have a long time ago, but it messes with your head when you no longer even have the choice to do it. I'm doing well and people are already noticing my weight loss. I need to buy new scrub pants (I have a few "smaller" scrub tops I haven't been able to wear in awhile). I feel good, starting to get my energy and strength back thanks to my trainer at the gym. All I have been through has been worth it, and will seem like nothing when I reach goal. Good luck to all of you. Keep us updated throughout your journey!

I saw the NUT in my surgeon's office on Tuesday and I told her I was having trouble getting all my fluids in, and I also told her I drink until just a few minutes before eating. She said that's no problem as long as I don't drink with or 30 min after meals (luckily I can't do either, there just isn't enough room in my sleeve). My point is, if getting all your fluids in is a problem for you, it doesn't hurt to ask your surgeon or NUT. Hope everyone is doing well. Very few people know about my surgery, but I've had several people at work comment that they have noticed I've lost weight. Yay! Has this happened to any of you yet? I've gotta go buy some new scrub pants.......

I agree. Follow your own docs rules! I also had mine at a Center of Excellence. I'm just saying that Water does not stay in the sleeve, it funnels out quickly. I do not ever drink with or after meals, but drinking right before does not affect my sleeve. I am quite full after my 1/3 C of food and I stay full for 4 hours or more afterwards, which is what my doc wants. For ME, it helps me a little bit with getting my fluids in, which I still struggle with. It may be something you can ask your doc about if fluids continue to be difficult to get in. The psych who works in my surgeon's office is 4 years post-op VSG and he drinks with his meals now, no problem. That's something I can't imagine doing now, but things do change as we get further out. The more information one has, the better. It never hurts to present another perspective to our docs and ask questions. I ask my doc to back up his information if it doesn't make sense to me. But I'm a nurse, so I guess I'm used to questioning docs if their orders don't make sense to me. It has saved a life or two.

Welcome, and CONGRATS on the weight loss so far!

I wouldn't recommend anyone go against their doctor's recommendations, but I will tell you what works for me. My doc says no drinking 30 min before and after meals. I read somewhere on this site that they drink right up until they eat, but wait 30 min after eating, and that has worked for me. Water goes through the sleeve very quickly; as my doc says, the sleeve is more like a funnel than a storage pouch at this point. I drink up until a few minutes before I eat, and I wait at least 30 minutes after, which is easy because my sleeve is so full after 1/3 C food I don't WANT to put anything else in it for awhile. I stay full for about 4 hours after eating, and this is what my doc wants, so this works for me as it's always a struggle for me to get my water in.

I feel pretty good as long as I'm not doing much. If I'm walking a lot or go to the gym I get fatigued very quickly. It's to be expected as my body is trying to adjust to functioning on around 600 calories/day. I hope my body can make the adjustment soon. Surgery was 3 weeks ago and I go back to work tomorrow (12-hour shifts).

My surgeon sent me home from my pre-op with the disinfecting soap with instructions to shower with it the night before and morning of surgery. You leave it on the abdomen for 2 minutes before rinsing off with plain Water and use no soaps, perfumes, deodorants, lotions, etc afterwards. I got IV Levoquin in surgery and again 24 hours later right before I went home. No fevers or issues with infection.

The time does fly! I had my sleeve 3 weeks ago and sometimes it all feels like a dream and I can't believe it's over. Life is different now for sure. Some things I expected and some I didn't, but I've had no complications or problems with my sleeve whatsoever and I'm happy. I've already lost 18 lb since surgery. Some lose more, but my BMI was only 38 to begin with (I had co-morbidities). I guess those with a higher BMI lose more initially, but I'm very happy with my results so far. Now my BMI is 35 and dropping. My doc expects me to lose 1-2 lb per week now, which is very doable. I am only eating about 600 calories a day. I eat when I get hungry (only 1/3 C at this point) and I'm full for the next 4 hours or so. No room in my sleeve for Snacks or sweets so that part has been pretty easy. I'm exercising to prevent my body from using my muscles as a protein/energy source, I saw a personal trainer and it was a huge help! I wish you the very best of luck. Your date is coming soon! Be sure to post any questions you might have, and let us know how you're doing!