bewell

Everything tastes different to me, even Water. Most foods have a metallic taste. Fortunately my favorite Protein drink is OK.

I'd do dream about cheeseburgers and wonder if food will ever taste good again.

An experienced sleever told me to enjoy it while it lasts because at some point when the honeymoon is over, food will taste good again and I'll want to eat more than I can or should soon enough.

I'm about 4 weeks postop and still on purred liquids and a few mushies. I'm pretty new to this obviously but I think it is very individual. Some eat right away, some are on liquids for 4 weeks.

I tried mushy foods at 2.5 weeks and kept vomiting it right back up. And then, since I irritated my new tiny stomach I started vomiting liquids. I had to re-group, go back to liquids, and start all over.

My doc said if I vomit or get real naseaous it is one of 3 things.

Ate too fast

Ate too much

Introduced a food too soon.

When they say stop eating at the 1st sign of fullness they were right. A few times I think I ate a few bites more and it all came back up immediately.

Being a slow learner, now I take a small sip or bite, wait and see how it feels. Then try another and wait. And now I stop long before I feel full. I can always eat a little more later. The amount of mushy food I can eat is very little. A few table spoons, bite-wait. Bite-wait, can take 10+ minutes to eat. So WEIRD compared to the huge amount I used to inhale! It is so different.

April, so sorry you are having some challenges. Sounds like they have it figured out tho and you will feel better soon. Our bodies are amazing and it's incredible how it will heal itself. Keeping positive and trusting yourself and your docs is key. We are all here for you.

I am just about 4 weeks out from revision lap band to sleeve. Lapband was in 2006 and complications at every turn.

My revision took 3 hours. 1.5 for lap band removal and 1.5 for sleeve. My lap band was encased in scar tissue and my port was hard to get out. Two incisions are still a little sore where they had to pull the band and port out and one incision they removed my stomach. Nothing that I need pain meds for, just notice the soreness still. I was on pain meds for 5 days and happy to have them.

My Doc prefers to do the revision in one surgery if at all possible because he feels it is easier on the patient. Two surgeries involve all the pre-op diets, anesthesia twice, recovery twice, etc.

For me, starting liquids and eating mushy foods after surgery was very different than with the lap band. With the band I knew immediately if I had too much or didn't chew well enough. My experience with the sleeve is if I start to feel nauseated it's probably too late.

With the sleeve they say to stop eating AS SOON AS YOU FEEL FULL which is right on. A few times thinking it was like a lap-band experience, I ate a few too many bites and/or ate too fast and vomited immediately. (which we want to avoid as much as possible so as not to challenge the new stomach and staple line) It took me too long to figure this out and I vomited about 6 times over 10 days. Once just on Water and a pill but I expect I drank too much Water in one gulp. Also on a Protein drink that I took too big of swallow. So being a slow learner, now for me, It is sip, wait. Sip, wait. Take a small sip of pureed drink, wait a few minutes. Take a small baby spoon bite of pureed food and wait. Try another, then wait. The lap-band let me know immediately that I had goofed up. The sleeve is very different for me.

With the sleeve I literally can only eat two tablespoons of mushed cottage cheese and it can take 15 minutes to eat that. Even a Protein Drink. With the band a Protein Drink would go right thru. This is not my experience with the sleeve. I'm told that this very sensitive time will pass and it will get easier.

My doc keeps reminding me that I'm healing for 3 months or more and to be careful, go slow. It takes a while for the new stomach to settle down. It is different for each person but swelling can continue for a while, especially if we vomit. After vomiting I had go back on liquids because they were concerned I had a leak due to the vomiting. Like the band after surgery we have to do all we can NOT to vomit. I'm just hoping I didn't cause a leak but it seems OK now after a few days of slowing down, I haven't vomited.

As for energy, it is about the same as for the lap-band. I'm slowly getting back to normal.

What I am eating is very limited. Protein drinks, mushed cottage cheese/beans, Soups without the chunks, watery oatmeal, nibble on cheese. Everything tastes weird. I loved plain water before, now it tastes terrible. I have to mix some fruit juice in it. Before surgery I could drink crystal light, now it tastes very bad. Things change.

Just my thoughts on the diff between the lap-band experience and the sleeve. Hope you won't make my mistakes.

Well, I was still vomiting almost every day on one thing or another. I felt I was eating slow and small bites. Today I got nauseous and vomited and it was just Water. Maybe I drank it too fast but I don't think so.

They were worried about a leak so had me to the swallow that crappy stuff and X-ray it going down. Didn't see a leak but told me vomiting was not good. So back to liquids for another week. i wonder if I ever will be able to eat real food. yikes

Me too!!!

3 weeks out today and the list of what I can eat can be listed on one hand.

It is impossible to get the Protein in, fluids a real struggle. Nurse says not to worry just keep the liquids going. I vomited just brushing my teeth, even a Protein Drink came right back up (maybe too big of swallow.) So I"m keeping it pretty simple and will introduce new foods one at a time, and only one little bite at a time.

So this is what they told me-if i'm vomiting it is one of 3 things

1-ate too fast

2-ate too much

3-introduced a new food before new stomach was ready.

Not sure where brushing teeth comes in but I get nauseous very easily.

I started mushies a week ago and had to go back on pured food. I was so anxious to eat some sort of real food, I ate too much, too fast. I vomited a few times after only a few bites of mushed cottage cheese or mushed refried Beans. The vomiting set me back cuz then I was nauseated and my stomach irritated. Even vomited brushing my teeth.

From my experience, take it slow, really slow. Eat a small bite, think baby spoon full, mush it in your mouth even more and swallow a little bit. Let that sit in your new small stomach for a minute then try another small bite.

I am now back with mushies but limited. And only a few tablespoons at a time and it takes 15 min to eat that. I eat from this really small bowl and use a baby spoon. I know, I know I heard that all before I had the surgery but guess I didn't believe that meant ME! 15 minutes to eat a few tablespoons of mushed up food. I could have just inhaled that pre-surgery along with a lot of other food. Well, they were right.

So my suggestion to you, don't make my mistake, take your time and go slow. Try one new food at a time.

cowgirljane, thank you for your direct and tell-it-like-it-is personal experience.

I'm 63 yrs old and FOR ME that delusional thinking that I can do this surgery AND NOT change my life style and attitude with food is just the crazy attitude that I've done all my life and got me where I was today, morbidly obese and unhealthy.

This is my last chance and I have to be serious, very serious about how I live my life from now on. My attitude with food, my asking for what I need from family/friends which includes avoiding food vacations or illiminating some foods around that are my downfall, and avoiding food fests. I have to do it, especially the first year or so until I reach my goal weight AND can maintain it. (How many just go right back up? I did many, many times.)

I won't be perfect, I know I'll sometimes challenge what or how much I eat but come on, I know what sets me off. I know what food or activity puts me on a downward spiral of cravings. I know what these situations and foods are, so why in the world would I play with the fire I KNOW will burn me, consume me and eventually kill me.

kmgaustin, I am 3 weeks post-op tomorrow. Doing OK, losing slow but steady. Feel OK but low energy still.

I have stayed on the mushy diet longer cuz some foods (even a Protein drink) came back up, fast. The last thing we want to do is vomit and challenge our new small stomach and staple line, so I'm being very careful.

When I was on the PRE-op diet and starving I NEVER thought I'd be saying this, but it is VERY hard to eat. The biggest challenge is everything tastes different and I am not hungry at all. Even Water which I loved pre-op is really hard to drink, it tastes so weird. It's hard to get all the fluids and Protein drinks in cuz I have to sip so slow and small amounts. I am maybe eating 500 calories a day if I'm lucky. I mainly do Protein Drinks and blended cream of mushroom Soup. My nurse said if I vomit it is usually cuz of eating too much or too fast or in the post-op diet eating something too soon.

A long-time sleever told me to enjoy it now (not wanting to eat) because eventually the taste buds recover as well as the capacity to eat more of the wrong things.

I bought a lot of drinks and Soups pre-surgery that I just can't tolerate now. Gatoraide, propel, crystal iight..tons of Soups. I can't use any of it, tastes terrible. So I caution buying too much of anything pre-surgery. Try one bottle and see how it tastes post-op. What I loved to eat or drink pre-surgery just doesn't work post-op. That may change but for now it's a huge challenge. Also pills, its hard for me to take a small pill, just upsets my new little stomach. Some people do better or have an easier time, this is just my experience. (I am a band to sleeve revision so my recovery may take longer.)

Best wishes to all of you about to have surgery. Even with the challenge, I'm happy I had the surgery. It will take some time to get used to a new way of eating and drinking but I feel better already.

I voted yes, back in hospital. To clarify-

2006 Lap-Band 2006, slip before I left hospital and had to have 2nd surgery to replace band. Never felt OK from that day on, lots of pain and nausea. Lap band did not work for me.

Jan 13 2015 Lap Band revision to sleeve. No problems so far. Some dehydration. Feel much better than lap band surgery. Recovery so far much easier.

My opinion- lap band works for many but not all. And from what I understand there is no way to determine that before hand who the lap band will work for. (may be the same for all WLS) I have always had a sensitive stomach and the lap and just never felt right. The lap-band is gone for me now and that tightness and nausea in by belly is gone.

BELLINGHAM, WA----just had a revision lap-band (2006) to sleeve on Jan 13 2015 at Northwest Weight Loss Dr Montgomery. He was amazing and so is the staff there. Many with WLS themselves. I also like and agree with his realistic pre-op and post-op food plans.

Glad to find this thread for Washington folks. I have so much to learn.

QUESTION: Does anyone know why EVERYTHING tastes so different now? Even Water which I loved pre-surgery and now it's all I can do to get past the weird taste of water. And well everything else too

Best wishes to you all and GO HAWKS!!!

HMR Protein is my favorite. 25 years ago I lost 100 pounds drinking it and it was amazingly satisfying. Of course gained that weight back but I still drink the HMR Protein.

HMR is the ONLY Protein Drink I can tolerate post-surgery. The pudding HMR70 actually does taste a bit like pudding.

(yep nursemate2-taste changes dramatically WHY?)

HMR doesn't have as much protein in it but I add some unflavored by Rob Roy.

The HMR Weight-Loss shake Family

• HMR 120 Shake – 120 calories in each scoop, with Vitamins and minerals right in the mix
• HMR 70 Plus Shake – Make shakes or puddings with this 110-calorie, lactose-free mix
• HMR 500 Shake – Our original 100-calorie shake in convenient single-serving packets
• HMR 800 Shake – Smooth, rich shake that provides extra protein with just a few more calories

Thank you so much for having the courage to share your story. It is one I needed to hear. I wish you the best, you deserve it. I hope you can be gentle and kind to yourself. Why not, beating ourselves up didn't work in the past, it won't work today.

This is just my take on my disease. I do have a eating disorder. I needed WLS to help me have any chance at a normal life, a normal weight. But I also need a lot of help and support and yes, a shrink to help me with my crazy habitual and lifelong relationship with food. Any WLS can be beat and the same thoughts that got me into trouble and obese don't magically go away when I have WLS.

2 weeks postop. Same reason as stated, so not to challenge the staple line. I only just started puree and I can't eat much. Just a few spoon fulls.

I am 14 days and still have diarrhea but not nearly as bad as the 1st 10 days. The nurse told me as long as I was doing liquids there is a good chance of diarrhea. liquids in, liquid out. Imodium helped to limit it to 4 times a day instead of 10. I'm starting mushy food now so my stool is beginning to get less liquid and only once a day do I have to race to the toilet.

I did have to go to the ER on day 5 because of dehydration. I felt better immediatley. It was a catch 22, I wasn't able to get the liquids down because I was sleeping for hours at a time and not awake enough to drink enough fluids. Water just doesn't taste the same as it did.

I'm pretty new, only 15 days out. My doc gave me a lot of meds for anti-nausea. A shot pre-surgery and again before I went home. Also gave me some to take home and I used them. Worked great. I don't think a lot of vomiting is preferred but I'm sure they are on top of it. Hope you are still under their care and they get it under control right away. Best to you!

I bought a children's Multivitamin online. Liquid Health childrens multi with no sugar. it was hard to find some without sugar. Got it on lucky Vitamin.com

Surgery clinics are all different but my doc said not to worry about Vitamins for a couple of weeks, just worry about getting better and getting liquids down. I'm 2 weeks out today and just took the liquid Vitamin today.

FYI the Jay Robb Protein powder was the best. But still having a hard time getting any Protein Drink down, even the ones I loved pre-surgery.

You probably know this too, but I got liquid Tylenol.

And gotta say, EVERYTHING taste different post surgery. Pre- I loved Water. Today I can hardly get it down, it tastes weird. It takes some getting used to.

Best wishes to you! And can't wait to hear how you are doing.

I'm just 1.5 weeks post-op and doc said this period is about healing and not to worry about calories. Keep to the liquid regimen they proscribe to avoid complications. Also told me to drink the liquids (especially broth) anytime I feel hungry and also to keep my fluids up.

My hunger is clearly head hunger. I miss real food, I've said goodbye to all my favorites and during the recovery days, I sure wish I could have just one comfort food. BUT that is the attitude that got me here. So I'm sticking to the plan, healing and getting well are my primary focus. This is for me....eating something that isn't on the prescribed list just isn't worth the chance of complication on my new greatly reduced stomach.

BTW- After 3 weeks including the pre-op diet, I never thought a watered down, blended bowl of mushroom Soup could ever taste so good! I have a small amount twice a day along with my Protein Shakes. That's about it until next week.

I also used GNC's Isopure. you can also get it on Amazon. The grape isn't to bad. The good thing is you don't have to drink much to get some Protein in.

I tried it before surgery and it tasted OK but since surgery, EVERYTHING tastes different even Water. So the ISOPURE does taste a little weird but I drink 1/4 cup and then try more later.

Best wishes and I'm told it gets better. I'm sure you will too. You just had a bumpy start.

I'm only 10 days out and I'm just so relieved that so far I am healthy, without major issues and feel reasonable OK for an old gal.

At first I was shocked that I was only eating 2-300 cal a day and not losing weight. How could that be...but then I thought about it and really rapid weight loss isn't good for any body, that's starvation!

And when I read some others stories about the compilations they had right after surgery, well I'm just going to be happy with where I am. And as an experienced person on here told me don't weigh every day. Once a week or even once a month. I can tell when my body has lost weight even when the scales don't show it. I feel it.

Hanging in there!

Just had a revision band to sleeve Jan 13. It was done in same surgery. It was my preference and also of my surgeon. It took 3 hours. 1.5 to remove band and 1.5 for sleeve. There was a lot of scare tissue around band, the most doc had seen but he got that bugger out.

I am also 64 and was concerned. I had a few rough days but at 8 days out now I'm doing oK. Still a little sore and tired but getting around OK. Slept a lot the first 4 days and had a few other issues but so far, so good.

Would be happy to answer your questions anytime. Best wishes on your process.

I just had a lap band to sleeve revision Jan 13. With my lap band (9 years ago) I told most people who knew me. Later regretted it as I had a lot of problems with the lap band and even tho it may have been my imagination I felt all those eyes on me wondering why I lost weight and regained it. A few would ask and some were sincere and some were just plain nosey.

So this time the only two people know outside of the clinic I went to: my husband and my niece who took care of me the first week.

WHY?

There is plenty of time to tell them later.

I can decide on an individual basis.

It's my business.

When I lose enough to show, I can revisit it.

If they are my best friends family they will understand and care about me no matter what.

I'm 7 days out and no regrets that I didn't tell anyone.

In the end it's an individual choice.

Eli, congrats and I'm so happy for you! We are here for you when you get home! All the best!

I'm staring my 2nd post up and I have a lot of pain around m incisions where they worked in that area. Also sever pain when walking.

Hard to get liquid now. When I do swallow just a little, I feel like everything in my stomach and surrounding organs all cramp up. Anyone know if his is normal? The cramping

Hoping it gets better soon,

kym, glad you posted. I'm just letting my mind go wild when I read some of this and assume EVERYTHING will happen to me. Silly and very self centered. I'm about 6 hr away and feeling good. I'm ready and feel confident everything will be OK.
This is an important blog allowing people to share there stuff, no matter what. Thanks and see you all on the other side of a healthier me!