BLERDgirl

I drank ice water. Not much of a Popsicle person. They gave me ice chips in recovery, can't see how a cold drink would be any different.

Every program is different. How much did your program recommend you eat? At 4 weeks you would still be on the pureed stage. 600-800 calories a day, 64 oz of Water and 60gms of Protein. Mine recommends 3 meals and 2 Snacks a day. Are you keeping track of what you are eating/drinking?

I was told to avoid citrus and spicy food since it might aggravate the sleeve. I too like a bit of spice and I LOVE citrus, but I didn't want to cause any problems.

I like reading all the interesting experiences on this board. I've gotten some helpful tips from many, but most importantly I enjoy having a community that has this in common.

Depends on your hospital. The only thing I bought to the hospital was my toothbrush, larger panties and my iPad & charger. I didn't need anything else. The hospital started me on colace and generic prilosec in house and discharged me with a prescriptions for both. At home I stocked up on a week's supply of several different Protein drinks, powders and liquids. Once I got home and decided which ones I liked, I order larger sizes. I also had kefir, almond milk, vegetable broth, decaf coffee and herbal tea in preparation for the full liquid phase. If you know what Vitamins and supplements they will want you to take, buy them . House wise I put fresh linens on the bed, and made sure there was enough food for the cat. There really wasn't anything else to do. Family was a phone call away and the hospital arranged for a visiting nurse.

I have a bug out bag but I don't keep food in it. I do have some premade Protein shakes in the fridge, but I guess I'd just get real skinny until I found some food. I have multiple life threatening allergies. I already wear a medic alert bracelet, but I've been wanting a new one with a more prominent Caduceus on it. This one looks *too* much like a bracelet. I'll just add the bariatric info on to it.

My program gave us a handbook at the first appointment. It's a loose-leaf notebook. I consider it my bible. It has each step broken down from pre to post op. I have 4 pages front and back on pureed food, including sample menus. In addition to the things mentioned Quaker Weight Control Oatmeal and regular Cereal without nuts or dried fruit are allowed. It makes it easier to have this to refer to .

I had none. No pain, no gain, no nausea. Walking in recovery. Hospital staff were lovely. Feeling great and losing weight! That's why I wanted to start this thread.

I've been seeing a lot of post about people struggling. There are post about bad hospital experiences, people dealing with crazy pain, gas, constipation, nausea and the like. I think if I was a pre-op newbie I would be scared silly. So how about a thread with some positive tales? Lets let people know it's possible? I know they happened, I've seen a few random post here and there. I'll start: I had my surgery on 9/18/14. Other than not being able to locate a vein for my IV in my arms everything went smoothly. I was up and walking in recovery. I had no pain and required no pain medication while in the hospital. I told them to take away the morphine pump after the first day. I was a little sore, but no worst than something between a menstrual cramp and what your abs feel like if you have a really zealous day at the gym. My doctor had me on prophylactic stool softeners and generic prilosec from the first day in the hospital. I stayed on the colace for 30 days and the prilosec for 90. I've had no constipation and no gas pains. I was able to move my bowels by 2 days after discharge. I have had no nausea. I was cleared to drive at 2 weeks. Cleared to resume Water aerobics once my incisions scabbed (~3weeks). Until then I walked for 20 mins once a day. Overall I feel really good and I'm happy I made this decision. My doctor's protocals are a bit more on the conservative side, but I think they helped make my experience go smoothly and positively. So let's hear it! What's your surgical tale?

That was me! Glad they got yours in. They used my neck! @@mz.newlife54 - There's a thread on pureed foods here.

Nut butter, yogurt, soft boiled eggs, applesauce. I purred peaches because I don't care for applesauce, creamy soups, hummus.

It's the past, let it go. Forgive yourself for forgetting to love you first. You've made corrections to that and from now on promise yourself that you won't forget again.

Sorry to hear that. At least she's still in the hospital where they can monitor her and keep her hydrated. I hope they figure out what's happening soon!

You're fine. Your body is adjusting and holding onto those calories. Keep doing all the right things and the scale will move soon.

Yeah my 2 week post op showed a 26lb weight loss. I blinked when I saw that number on the scale and asked the nurse what it said to confirm. They may not all be this easy, but what a lovely boost. Keep up the good work!

You have to build up to the Protein and Water levels. Do the best you can. In the hospital they gave me these little medicine cups like the ones on the bottle of Nyquill. I took a bunch of those home and for the first week I'd sip from that. I think it helped me slow down. I never had the gurgling or the slimes (knock on wood)

Dairy works for me. String cheese, a baby bell or even a glass of milk, even almond milk.

I wasn't trying to be sarcastic. I'm honestly trying to figure out why you would weigh yourself daily when it frustrates you. I did 2 weeks on full liquids and logged every day. Why? Because I did 3 different Proteins, (a powder, a liquid and a protein) and I made my own Soups so I still wanted to make sure I met my protein requirement. Why? Because that was something I could do. I don't repeat actions that frustrate me. Even though I only weigh myself once a month, I under some people need to weigh more frequently. I can understand the weekly weighers. I really don't understand the daily weighers or rather I don't understand the people who weigh themselves frequently when it frustrates them if the scale doesn't move. I just choose to work my program in a way that provides the optimum positive reinforcement.

@@dsmith_rn - Those aren't complex carbs. Process flours, white rice, etc... are simple carbs. They don't pack a nutritious enough punch to be worth the calories and because they are processed they take your body longer to break down. Complex carbs are things like whole grains and veg. In addition to the carbs they bring to the party, they also contain Fiber. The body can process them easier. As for being nervous. That's normal. This is a major life change. If you are up for making a permanent change, perhaps this isn't for you. It's not just smaller meals, it healthier meals and out attitudes about food in general that have to change. An occasional sandwich won't hurt. But on a day to day basis, we probably need to reach for a lettuce wrap instead. Instead of soda we need to commit to Water. It takes a bit of determination. I think most of us can do it. Don't let your fears hold you back from living a better life.

Maybe the key was that you typically over ate. Just make sure to stop eating at the very first signs of fullness and hopefully you won't have this issue.

Can I ask what you did with that information other than feel frustrated? Did you increase your Protein, increase your Water,exercise more? Did you take into account water weight, hormonal changes? See for me that's empty info. However with my food diary, I look at what I ate. Was it processed food? Was it high in sodium, high in carbs? Was it mostly complex carbs or an overabundance of simple carbs? Did I drink the bare minimum of water? Those thing are more concrete for me. I can't change my hormones, but I can make sure to avoid processed foods. I can make sure that my carbs are modest and mostly complex carbs. The effects are almost instantaneous. When I regulate my sodium, mys feet and legs don't swell. When I meet my exercise goals, I have more energy and my knees don't hurt. Best of all when I do all these things that I monitor in my food diary every time I get on the scale I show a loss.

Have you tried bento boxes? Another good and inexpensive alternative are the snack boxes and sandwich boxes that Target often has in their dollar bins.

I can stress this enough. Chew until it dissolves in your mouth. Your tummy will thank you.

I do. At 2weeks post op I was down 26lbs. However at 6 weeks I had only lost another 6 . Now it's possible I stalled at week 3 but I didn't weigh myself so I have no idea. I do know if I only lose 6lbs a month that's 6 less pounds on my body. That's 6 lbs my knees don't have to carry. If I only lose 6 lbs a month from here to goal, I am absolutely ok with it.