Daisee68

I had one (and thanks to @JamesMarusek for suggesting it when I was in the ER having not held down food or water for 4 days.). The EGD is super easy and super fast. I was asleep maybe 10 minutes. There was such a small opening at the bottom of my stomach she nearly went able ringer the tube through. But she did and they us a balloon to dilate it. First Dr dilated to a 9mm and then went to a GI specialist the next week who expanded it to 15mm opening . I felt better immediately! My first Dr required liquid for a week but searching around here, most drs aren't that conservative and most went back to regular diet right away. I took a lot if Zofran and FYI OT makes constipation worse so be sure you are taking at least a stool softener if not laxatives. So yes, take heart. It does get better and is a quick fix! Best wishes and let us know tomorrow how you are doing.

Oh girl. Your just too early. You will likely be fine further out.

Ok silly thing to be excited about I guess but at 5 1/2 months post-op, I have not even ventured towards a piece of bread out of fear of it "sticking". Honestly I know I can live without it, but I really needed a way to get my carbs and Fiber up a little and mostly have really struggled with Breakfast choices as I am savory / salty craving person and not a sweets person. ANYWAY, I bought Cobblestone Flatbread Rounds 100% Whole Wheat and they are very thin. I toasted only 1/2 of the "round" which was 50 calories, 10g carb, 2.5g Protein and topped it with a Laughing Cow cheese wedge and 1 oz of deli turkey. I took tiny bites but so far so good! Probably need to up the protein by adding some more turkey or something, but so nice to have an alternative for breakfast! And nice to know it could be used for so many things like a mini pizza crust maybe? Mostly I am happy I braved into trying something new without fear that was satisfying!

I can sometimes tolerate chicken but it seems to depend on how it is prepared and honestly can depend from time to time. I can eat rotisserie chicken warm but cold, I cannot seem to tolerate. Having said that I used it to shred up and put it in chicken salad (which is cold) and that seems to be fine. Mostly it just has to be really moist - so if cold, must be mixed with something. If warm, it seems to be okay. I didn't tolerate it early on though so I agree if you give it a couple of weeks and try again you might be ok. @@dusky goddess - how far out are you?

@@AngryViking - Just made this Buffalo chicken salad today. SO good! Exactly what I needed! I love buffalo flavored stuff! I have been craving the chicken salad I used to make but it has nuts and grapes in it which I can't quite tolerate yet. This was a good (but different) substitute. Thanks! Now to try out some of the other recipes on here. Keep 'em coming!

I never cooked before surgery. I mean I could but I rarely did unless it was for a holiday. I truly hate cooking just for one because I wasn't crazy about left-overs. I am finding post-op though that I really need to try to cook more. When I am just grabbing convenience food, I tend to stand in front of the fridge and think "hmm what sounds good?" Yea that is an old school habit and slippery slope for me, so just this week I realized I need to have some more things prepared. So, today I made buffalo chicken salad (ok that's not really cooking but preparing), Magic Crust Quiches in mini-muffins (thanks to @beachgal) and am going to make some sort of chicken, marinara, cheese, veggie stuff tonight and put in individual servings for dinner this week. If I make any more than these 3 things, I won't be able to finish it.

I saw my therapist every week for the first 4 months and have now switched to every other week. She says eventually we will switch to once a month for at least 2 years post-op to be sure to stay on top of any maintenance issues. I visit with (phone call) my NUT once every 4 to 5 weeks but am able to email her and get quick response if needed (though at 5 1/2 months post-op this more urgent need for contact has slowed down if not stopped). My surgeons office had 10 day post-op follow-up, then at 1 month then 3 months post-op then 6 months post-op. Not sure if the visit after 6 months is at 9 months or waits until 1 year. I have been in contact with them on other occasions up to about 3 months post-op for some complications (Stricture). They (including the surgeons) were extremely and amazingly available. My clinic did not have an exercise physiologist but I sure wish they had. I think that would be a great addition to any bariatric team. I am going to a personal trainer who has no clue about WLS and am really frustrated with the nutritional "advice" she keeps trying to give me. I just ignore that part.

@@Babbs - Good to know! Thanks!

Mine was 1 week of "liquids" including shakes and getting at least 60 g of Protein per day. So I had 3 shakes and then a LOT of broth and sugar free popsicles and Water and Powerade Zero. The last day was "clear liquids" so I used Isopure drinks. UGH! They were awful! But I got through the day. I lost 12 pounds that week but then gained coming out of the hospital and it took me a week until that went away and I was back to square one.

I see this is an old post but oddly it is something I have been thinking about lately. I have chronic kidney stones and have to have them broken up occasionally if they get too big instead of passing. Anyway these machines that break up the stones (called lithotripsy) are only at a few locations around. I always had to go to the only one that could hold over 300 pounds. One time the nurse scheduled me for the other location and I went for per-op and I was 3 pounds over so they denied me the procedure. She wasn't even sympathetic. Just "nope. Can't do it". I was mortified. I cried and cried. But did it change me? Nope. Well I just realized this week that at my new weight that will never happen again. I will never have to ask about the weight limit on an MRI table or lithotriosy table again! I haven't flown since I've lost but I am excited to do so. I still have a huge bottom half so the seat won't be comfortable (seriously who do they build those damn seats for?!) But at least maybe I won't have to have the seatbelt extender. I mourn the life I have let pass me by while worrying about how I looked or where I could fit. I pray this will always keep me fearful of regain and on track.

Wow! You look amazing!! Congrats!! Great work!

Ah yes, I loved all my Cacique colored balconette bras size 46c. Am now down to 40 (tho they are now seeming a bit big) and I actually had to go up a cup size and my favorite balconettes don't work anymore. ???? I switched to the plunge bra which seemed to help move all the extra to the right place. I have 55 pounds to go so I can't image what size I will get to - 36 I guess? Very strange to think I might be able to buy bras at someplace other than Cacique. By the way, I donated all my bras to a place in Arizona that is able to repair / redistribute them. Made me feel better about getting rid of them! Now I only am buying 2 bras at a time - one black and one tan - but can't wait until I can have more colors when I stabilize

Fat free refried beans with some cheese melted on top, hummus (with some unflavored protein powder mixed in), pimiento cheese (with unflavored protein powder mixed in), Greek yogurt (with vanilla protein powder mixed in), sugar free chocolate pudding snack (with chocolate protein powder mixed in). I also had some soups and tried to mix in protein powder or pureed chicken and that was a total fail. (Ugh. Still makes me shudder to think about it. ). I didn't do so well with the eggs. They got cold too quick. I finally solved that with a coffee cup / candle warmer and put my dish on it. That helped. Good luck!

You will probably get a lot of suggestions and I really like the Premier Protein, so I may not be the best to ask. having said that I also use Precision Engineered whey Protein Isolate. I love both the chocolate and vanilla. (The vanilla smells WONDERFUL!) A couple of tips if you cannot find one but have to drink one of the above - use a closed lid so you don't smell the drink. That seems to be part of the problem. Also get some of the sugar free flavored syrups (like Torani brand but there are many others). Added to a shake, it will sometimes take that "protein" taste out. I really like the Sugar Free Salted Caramel (Torani brand) mixed with the Vanilla Premier Protein is really good! Good luck!

And I use Livestrong/My Plate. It will allow you to set your own nutrient goals and add foods and recipes.

@@Recycled - I understand your thinking and I can't say that I limit my Protein to only 25g per hour. (For example, Premier Protein shakes are 30g and easily drank in less than an hour.) The only issue is for those early out and maybe only aiming for 60g protein in the first place and then assuming a 40g Protein Drink in the morning or a 40g protein shot gets them 2/3rds of the way done for the day. If we aren't consuming enough protein, then it could really cause a problem. If we are getting 80g or more in total for the day, then we might be ok.

Congrats! It is nice to be in that phase finally! You will start feeling more full once you have more dense Proteins so in the meantime just measure your food and stick with 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup and then stop. Your stomach is still healing so you may not get the "full" (or better said as my therapist tells me - "satisfied" feeling). My favorite go to's during pureed was fat free refried Beans with cheese melted on top, Ricotta Bake (theworldaccordingtoeggface.com) and pimiento cheese (boosted with some unflavored Protein powder). Good luck! Keep working on it! Real food is around the corner!

I do not know how you are doing this at all without a plan! That is quite scary! I think those of us from the US forget how lucky we actually are in the way of medical care sometimes. Hopefully we can be of help and support here. I would start with logging in all your food on a website that will track your nutrients (Protein, carbs and fat). Lots of people here use one called myfitnesspal.com and I use Livestrong/Myplate.com. There are several others but just be sure it will track your protein most of all. Start really focusing on protein. I believe the Mayo Clinic does have some good info online (I feel like someone else here has posted their instructions). Hopefully you will be able to get enough info from the Mayo website and the BariatricPal website. Keep us updated and we will help as much as we can!

@@beachgal2935 - I finally made your Magic Crust Quiche! I actually made mine in mini-muffins (came out to 45 muffins but I may have overfilled a few and probably should have stretched to 48). They were really good! I used a Canadian bacon instead of ham (only because it is what I found at the store easily) and a little bit of turkey sausage crumbles. I don't think I put enough salt, pepper, etc. in mine and would add a little more next time, but I think my favorite part was the swiss cheese. It really gave it a nice bite. I am going to try freezing some of them and reheat in the mornings for a quick Breakfast on the road. Anyway thanks again for the recipes! Looking forward to trying the next one!

Please call your surgeon. Depending on which surgery you had, you may have a stricture. You need to be getting your Protein and Vitamins and Fluid.

I'm sorry you aren't able to see a nutritionist. I can't imagine that not being a part of the program. So with my limited knowledge, your menu doesn't sound too bad except you really need to be counting your protein grams and make sure you are getting a minimum of 60g (and often more depending on a number of factors). Also , that's quite a few meal times. You might consider cutting out one of the snack times and make sure you are getting some protein with each snack. The rule should be protein first then veggies then carbs if you still have room. @@Djmohr has said she was told 2 bites of protein then 1 bite if veggie. That seems like a good idea to me and what I am trying now. Hopefully other longer term veterans will weigh in here on suggestions. Good luck! Don't get discouraged. And remember not to drink with your meals. Stop 30 minutes before and wait at least 30 minutes after.

@@Dar200 - mix sum protein powder in the pudding. I generally out 1/2 of a scoop in and make the pudding a nice treat with protein. It is low cal, has calcium and now protein. Perfectly acceptable treat and way to get in protein - especially at the stage you are in

Are you logging your food? How much are you getting per day in calories, Protein, carbs and fat? Have you met with your NUT? Are you getting all your protein and fluids in? How about Vitamins? You say you have been compliant but without more info it would be tough to help you spot the potential issues. I would suggest you contact your NUT and provide them with your food logs and see if they can help you. You are right you didn't do this for minimal loss. You do need to find out where changes can be made - especially if you are having some sort of medical issue that is causing less loss. Your NUT or surgeon should be able to help.

@@TinyTink - LOL! Good point!

@@Elode - Ha! See now I feel REALLY old. When you were a kid.... LOL. But still it is kind of fun....