dsmith_rn

Thanks! Next year I plan on making a small Protein "cake" with protein ice cream for my birthday. recipes are on my favorite bariatric blog/food website. If you haven't seen it, I highly encourage you to check it out! The author had a RNY several years ago, but her tips and recipes have been inspiring me for years as I have followed her while preparing myself for this big step. www.theworldaccordingtoeggface.com

After a couple of days of being blissfully full after a little soup, I find myself getting hungry a lot again. I'm guessing I've had more swelling go down in my sleeve, making more room. I think purees will make a big difference, as long as I stick to the rules and don't drink for 30 min afterwards so I don't wash it out of my sleeve. Today is my 49th birthday. My family is genuinely distressed that they can't take me out to lunch or bake a cake for me. I didn't realize it would be so hard on them. They are far more upset about it than me! I wasnt counting on how hard these changes would be on them and I feel bad about that. However, my grown daughter and my fiance both commented to me this morning that they can already see I've lost weight; it's noticeable! Wow. ....... Happy Birthday to me!

I understand the surreal feeling! I still can't believe it sometimes. I was sleeved on 4/25. I also had a hernia repair; that stitch or 2 in my diaphragm was my biggest "owie". Today is my 49th birthday. My family is genuinely distressed that they can't take me out to lunch or bake a cake for me. I didn't realize it would be so hard on them. They are far more upset about than me! I wasnt counting on how hard these changes would be on them and I feel bad about that. But, my daughter and fiancé both commented this morning that they can already tell I've lost weight, it's already noticeable. Wow!

Same here. Clear liquids for a week, now I'm on full liquids for a week before I get to start purees X2 weeks before moving on. Strange how different docs do different things. I figure I may lose weight a little faster than those who get to advance faster than me. That's my consolation.

I just swallow them whole with a sip of water, since day 2. That's how my surgeon instructed me to do it. No issues so far. Good luck!

"Never trust a fart." It's true, I think we all figured that out pretty quickly. I, too, can feel everything after I swallow go alllllll the way down. It's a strange sensation. "Full" feels a little different, but it's definitely recognizable. I had the shoulder pain for most of the first week. It was very uncomfortable, but not severe.... Then again I have a pretty high pain tolerance, or I've just been through so much pain in my life my pain scale might be calibrated a little different. I'm an RN too..... What's your specialty?

I heard of a new app today, just for tracking water. It's called "Hy" (short for hydration) and it's available for iPhone in the Apple Store. Too bad I'm an Android gal..... It's not available for Android yet.

There are 3 things that stop me when I'm tempted to advance my diet prematurely: 1) If I allow myself to start breaking the rules THIS early, there is no way I will be able to follow the rules later that will ensure my success. And I didn't do this for nothing! 2) There is a timetable for advancement for a reason. I want my stomach to heal as quickly as possible; no setbacks! 3) If I advance too quickly and my sleeve doesn't like it, I have to not eat or drink anything for several hours, then go back to clear liquids for a day, then full liquids. NO THANK YOU!!! You can probably think of other reasons, but these are what keep me in check.

My doc doesn't want me to worry about calories until I'm tolerating solid foods. I'm sure I'm well under 500 calories/day.

I found something yummy at the grocery store.... has anyone seen these? .....Greek yogurt Popsicles! I got cherry flavored. I took it off the stick and put it in a bowl, ate it with my little demitasse spoon. It was delicious, like cherry ice cream, but with high protein! It made me so full I skipped dinner. Or, I guess it it WAS my dinner. Lol

You can get it at Walmart. It's a little pricey but it actually works and a little goes a long way. Told you it wouldn't be that bad. Congrats on the 13.6!!!!!!

Seems like some people aren't hungry for weeks or months. Others are. I get hungry at 1 week out, but after eating just a small amount I'm full for hours. It's a blessing and a curse, lol. So many things I want to eat/taste, so little room in my sleeve. But that's the point, right? I just hope I can eat a little more as time goes on and swelling goes down. Right now I cant eat enough to sustain myself.

I'm relieved to hear you didn't go! I went to the gym today for the first time after surgery, 1 week post-op. I intended to do 20-30 minutes on the treadmill, whatever I could tolerate. I only did 15 minutes on the treadmill (0.6 mile) at a slower pace than I usually walk. I started getting a cramp in my right side, which I ignored and pushed through until my stomach started hurting so I stopped. I did a little strength training (very little), then 15 minutes on the stationary bike. I felt sufficiently tired by then to call it quits and I walked home (it's only a block away). It wasn't much, but I felt proud of myself for doing it and I know I will go further next time!

You sure it's not "head hunger"? I got actual, real stomach hunger but not until day 4 of clear liquid diet (no Protein shakes allowed). It was a raw, empty, rumbling feeling in my stomach that kept me awake at night. It went away a few days later after I got to eat a little soup, and for a minute or two if I drank something. That's not to say I haven't wanted to eat! I've been craving a Cheeseburger! But that's not true hunger for me, it's purely head hunger. If I have a little soup or applesauce it keeps me full for hours. I know the Cheeseburger would taste good, but no way am I putting it in my mouth or sleeve. .....OUCH.

I sincerely hope you have called your doctor. THIS IS NOT NORMAL! I am 7 days out, no nausea, keeping down applesauce and soup no problem (I eat slow). Please call your surgeon if you haven't already, and let us know what happens?

My surgeon told me he is removing far more bands these days than installing them. I didn't want something foreign in my body, and even though it's not "natural," the sleeve feels more like my own body than any of the other procedures. Also, my surgeon's results for VSG and RNY are identical, but the band has a lesser success rate. I went from a BMI of 38.2 to a BMI of 36.1 six days after surgery. I'm on my way, and starting to really appreciate (and LOVE my sleeve!

Some docs like staples, others don't. Mine did dissolvable internal stitches, but I've heard of many sleevers who have staples. I got my steri-strips taken off yesterday and as soon as the incisions look well-healed I will start putting Mederma on them to minimize scarring. People with staples may especially want to use Mederma, as the scars tend to be wider.

My surgery was last Friday, exactly one week ago today, at about 2pm. Today may be a little tough for you because the swelling in your sleeve will be at its peak until sometime tomorrow. It's not painful exactly, just very difficult to get your fluids down. I only got down 32 oz on both days 3 and 4, really working at it, the doc said that was OK. Day 5 I got in 50 oz, day 6 was my 64 oz. Every day gets better from here! Hang in there, you're past the worst of it. I started full liquids yesterday afternoon after my doc appt and I feel SO much better! I don't have the weakness and hunger that were plaguing me day and night on clears. I had my daughter take me to Panera Bread to get some Soup. I had her check to see what they had so I didn't have to walk inside and be tempted. I was so hungry at that point, a stale tater tot would have looked like a feast. ..I ordered some tomato soup to go. When I opened the bag there was a large hunk of some delectable-looking French bread to go with the soup. I spent a half-second mourning it, then ignored it and asked my daughter to take it away and tried not to think about it. I got out one of my tiny demitasse spoons and ate about 1/4 C of the soup in tiny bites and enjoyed it thoroughly! And guess what? I went from being so hungry I'd eat a raw squirrel to FULL after 1/4 C of soup! That was the first time I really felt my sleeve working, and it was amazing and encouraging and exciting to me. 1/4 C isn't much, but I'm sure I've still got a lot of swelling in there and the capacity will get bigger as I heal. I waited at least 30 minutes before I drank anything because I didn't want to wash the soup out of my sleeve and be hungry again, but about 1.5 hours later I wanted to try some SF chocolate pudding since it is now on my approved list. Not because I was hungry, but because I wanted to taste something chocolate. It was a tiny 3 oz cup, and I could barely eat half of it (slowly) before I was so full I realized another bite would be very uncomfortable. Seven hours later I still wasnt hungry! I did have more soup for dinner, I managed 1/3 C (that's the amount my doc suggested) and was extremely full afterwards. I never got to finish that other half of my pudding, which I realize now is totally OK! I was very briefly sad when the realization really hit me that I will NEVER AGAIN be able to sit down and eat a large portion of something, or taste everything at the potluck that looks good, no matter how good it tastes. I allowed myself to mourn that just a little bit. Then I reminded myself THANK GOD I can't ever do that again! It's not something I should ever do, and it is what got me in this mess to begin with to the point I had to turn to surgery to regain my health! This morning I had a Protein shake for Breakfast (raspberry mocha). I enjoyed it and it made me full. I am learning about my new sleeve, and each day I appreciate (and maybe even LOVE) it more!

PLEASE listen to your body! I'm a week out, feeling great, but no way would I attempt a 2-mile walk! I'm going to the gym today for a 20-30 minute treadmill walk, whatever I feel my body can handle. I usually walk at a fairly quick pace, which gives me a mile in just under 30 minutes, but I know I won't be walking that fast today.

PLEASE listen to your body! I'm a week out, feeling great, but no way would I attempt a 2-mile walk! I'm going to the gym today for a 20-30 minute treadmill walk, whatever I feel my body can handle. I usually walk at a fairly quick pace, which gives me a mile in just under 30 minutes, but I know I won't be walling that fast today.

Thanks for the clarification. Seems like most of the "gas problems" post-op are from the CO2 pumped in during surgery. I know that was responsible for most of MY post-op pain. I had it in both my shoulders. ... owie. Intestinal bloating or gas hasn't been an issue for me, thank goodness. I see so many people promoting the Gas-X strips for post-op "gas pains" and I think some are misled. I took some but they didn't help with the shoulder pain at all. Walking helped a LOT though.

It's not that bad, but also not a bad idea to take pain meds an hour ahead of time, especially if your pain tolerance is low. Make sure you have someone to drive you if you're taking meds! They just use a little instrument (staple remover) and it clips them out one at a time, real quick. Really not a big deal. Good luck, let us know how it goes!

Kate, I'm sorry to hear it sounds like you had a very difficult time. I had problems with my BP being too high in the hospital, 177/98 due to all the extra fluids they pumped into me. It was a little scary, but resolved in a couple of days after my kidneys got rid of the fluids. I was on oxygen for the first 17 hours after surgery at 4 LPM. My oxygen levels went lower when they took it off so I could walk, so had to keep putting it back on. I attribute it to the anesthesia and the extra fluids. I couldn't take a deep breath because it hurt in my chest from the hernia repair, so that certainly didn't help. By the next day things were much better and I went home and haven't looked back. You have passed the hardest part. Days 3 and 4 post-op were when my inflammation peaked so it was harder to get fluids down those days, but I still managed to get in 32 oz. After that, all smooth sailing. Smile, you're on the other side now. It only gets easier from here!

Post-op appt today. ....I lost 13 lb in the first 6 days after surgery! Wow! The PA gave me instructions on what I can and can't do or eat for the next few weeks. Told me to start taking my Vitamins now. Advanced my diet to full liquids (Thank God! ). Told me to take the steri-strips off when I get home. I'll start putting Mederma cream on them to minimize scarring, even though the incisions are so small. I know I'm not going to end up looking like a supermodel, but might as well control what I can! After we left the office my daughter drove us to Panera Bread. I had her go in and see what kinds of Soups they had today. ..I didn't want to be tempted by all their delicious food. I ended up getting a tomato Soup and a black bean soup to go. They put some luscious-looking French bread in the bag with the soup; I ignored it (with great difficulty). I had been ravenously hungry for the past 3 days, so much so it was difficult to sleep. I had brought one of my tiny demitasse spoons from home, and I had some of the tomato soup right there in the car (I will puree the black bean soup later). I had tiny spoonfuls of soup, maybe 2-3 tablespoons total, and I was full and satiated. I waited at least 30 minutes before drinking because I didn't want to wash the soup out of my sleeve and be hungry again. After about an hour and a half I tried some SF chocolate pudding, since it is now allowed. I wasn't hungry, but wanted something chocolate. It's a tiny 3 oz cup and I slowly ate half of it and couldn't eat any more. Too full! If I had eaten 1 tiny bite more it would have been uncomfortable. It's been 4 hours since I had the soup; I am still nice and full. Wow I love my sleeve!

Wow, good point, didn't think of this. I've never done it, just cause I know I wouldn't have the strength to spit it out! I'd swallow that sucker down.