Daisee68

I sort of answered this a little in your other post, but I think we should have NUT visits included - maybe 6 months / 1 per month post-op just to hold us accountable. I really like my surgeon (I mean I couldn't have picked a better one for me), but even with that, I had to ask about if I should be visiting with NUT and how often post-op. I know it is important to her (and I am visiting with a 3rd party NUT once a month), but it just doesn't seem to be stressed like it should. Sounds like @@hockeyfan7 had a very good program and I know in discussing with @@Djmohr, that she had a pretty amazing team. It would be interesting to compare long term results from these types of comprehensive programs with some of the other surgeons who don't really have sufficient follow up care. I also think we should be required to have a couple of therapist appts pre and post-op. Not just the psych clearance but actual check-ins. My therapist has been an amazing resource and knows me WAY better than anyone else in my program. I have met my surgeon maybe 4 times, my NUT maybe 5 times but my therapist easily 20 times since I started. Maybe I am just rambling because mine was covered by insurance and I didn't really have an all-inclusive deal, but in my opinion, required NUT visits and required Therapist visits (even if both are just on the phone or Skype), I think it would go a long way towards long term success. Just my 2 cents...

I don't know nearly enough. I mean I know the basics but what I think has never sunk in is how the actual nutrition can affect my body and how to put together a healthy meal especially post-op and why those choices make sense. I personally want something more than just a "plan" but some sort "whys" behind the "whats" (if that makes sense). I have a friend who had sleeve about 4 months before my RNY and she is at a complete loss it seems and the surgeon's office is in no way offering the kind of support needed. I think we should have to agree to attend NUT visits for say 6 months (once per month) after surgery to make sure someone is seeing our food logs and holding us accountable.

LOL! That is a cool NSV if you ask me!

Not sure how far out you are so I'm not sure if these will work. Edamame? Peanut Butter? Can you eat maybe a goat's cheese or a different kind of cheese other than cow's milk (not sure if lactose if for all animal milk). Beans? I think there are some soy and some veggie Protein powders. How about trying those? eggs or maybe egg powder mixed into a Protein shake if you cannot stomach eggs? (not sure how that works, but I think I read it somewhere).

Congrats! I know that is a wonderful feeling!

I have always enjoyed massage but would lay there thinking they must be grossed out and couldn't relax. Plus I couldn't fit my arms on the table next to my giant thighs! I can't wait to enjoy one but now I am worried about the lose skin. Hmmm. Suppose it depends on how desperate I get. I have a knot in my neck that has been there 2 weeks, so I am getting pretty desperate....

​You are very welcome. If you were to go back and read some of my posts from a month ago, you would see I was just about where you were - crying and hating life. Just this last week I realized how much better I feel. I have read most don't feel more normal until about 3 months out so I have a little yet to go so I am crossing my fingers, I will be feeling even better in a few more weeks! I should say, I had bypass not sleeve, but a lot of the same issues apply (and I hate to see posts with no responses especially ones like yours so I had to answer! Glad it helped a little!)​

I really struggled at lot between week 3 and 4. (Honestly I am now 9 weeks out and just now feeling better). I felt very hopeless during this time too but I promise you it gets better. You just have to hang in there and find stuff you can tolerate. I ate a lot of refried Beans with cheese melted on top (I put some spices in too like garlic salt, cumin and cilantro). I like and tolerated hummus quite well. sugar free fat free chocolate pudding with some Protein powder mixed in. Greek yogurt (I like the Dannon Light & Fit Greek strawberry Cheesecake). Ricotta Bake from theworldaccordingtoeggface.com website was REALLY good and even though I could only eat a small amount, it made me feel more human. For protein powders, I have been using Precision Engineering Whey Protein Isolate - both Chocolate and vanilla - and I like both of them a lot. I sometimes mix in PB2 and/or some of the Torani Sugar Free flavored syrups (I especially like Salted Caramel mixed with vanilla.) For unflavored, I use Doc Hale Nutrition Whey-licious (available online). You are able to mix it with as little as 3 oz of Fluid, so I mix it with Propel Fitness berry Water and just get it done. On the Vitamins, you might try calling your dr or NUT and see which ones they suggest. I use BariActiv (not the same as Bariatric Advantage) and tolerate them quite well. It is EXTREMELY important that you get vitamins in, so you have to find something you can tolerate. I have heard 2 Centrum Silver chewables or 2 Flinstone vitamins even. Do a search for vitamins on here and see if one comes up that you could try. PROMISE it gets better!!

​I was told the same. I think gum can also stir up gastric juices - same reason you aren't supposed to chew gum before a surgery. Avoid it.

Thanks guys. I think my biggest issue is figuring out how to fit those in with Protein (and especially with something that I can take to work) when I am only able to eat about 1/4 cup of food total. A lot of the stuff sounds good (ok not brocoli or green Beans frankly) but maybe I can figure out how to cook something for dinner and then take a tiny portion of it to work to reheat. There is no one else here to cook for so when I cook, A LOT of food goes to waste. I made one of those tilapia filets last week and was only able to eat 1/2 ounce and it just didn't sound good to me the rest of the week so I had to throw it out today. I'll figure it out eventually. Trial and error still I guess... As always, appreciate all the advice! ​

@@Djmohr - Hmmm Ok thanks. Will give the carrots and some of the other stuff a try. I was surprised I like the squash so might as well try something new!

Not likely. What does your food plan say. If it isn't on there, don't eat it. Sorry. I know it's tough but you just have to get through it. Real food is coming soon!

On another post, someone mentioned Poshmark.com. it is pretty cool - like eBay but only clothes and you can search by brand. I have bought some smaller stuff and I am going to try to sell some of my older stuff and see how it goes.

Thanks @@Djmohr! So did you make other cooked veggie choices until you could eat raw or were you just not that concerned about the veggies in the beginning? I've eaten roasted butternut squash and I liked that but otherwise not a big fan of cooked veggies. I may just be struggling with my old diet mentality but I guess I am worrying about not having a little more balanced diet

@katydid86 - no there is nothing wrong with you. It's just a head hunger battle you have to overcome if it is beating you.

When is your surgery? I remember taking Imodium I think as late as 24 hours before surgery. Also Gas-X might help

Yes! I have done that already - especially with pants which are hard to fit because of my size and height, so once I found a pair of jeans I liked (not expensive), I got them in 3 sizes. But then I completely went through one size during my 2 week recovery while I was wearing only yoga pants and pjs!

Yep we have all been there and it is either a) head hunger or acid reflux. If you are having physical signs if hunger, try taking a Zantac. It helps. I promise. If it is head hunger, you just have to wait it out. Find something else to do to occupy your mind. It's hard I know but it's not worth risking your internal healing. I had a lot of broth and I actually drank a little pickle juice which helped with hydration (hey why not athletes do it) and the salty taste helped. Powerade Zero also has a bit of a salty taste and may help. Honestly I am surprised you can't have jello. Check that again. It dissolves in your mouth (if u allow it to) and is generally considered part of liquids. I will say I remember a couple of bites of jello filled me up though in that first week. Hang in there. You will transition to more foods soon. PS if you have worked with a therapist, reach out to them. They can help with the head hu get at this stage.

Week 3 was a rough week for me for some reason. I started having a lot of nausea and dr said sometimes just a week 3 thing. I got another Zofran prescription which did help the nausea, but it seemed to come and go for a while. Quite honestly I just realized today that this week has been much better and I started feeling a little more normal. I was 9 weeks post-op yesterday. So it does get better but it is slow. Enjoy the good days when you have them and rest on the bad days. I remember seeing someone say about month 3 they felt much more normal so I am really looking forward to that and hoping same is true for me!

@@Indieflickers Nope I take BariActiv calcium which is sort of a SweetTart (though not nearly as good) so that's not it. Other than it is calcium citrate with Vitamin D.

Me too! But no idea why. I figured it was not enough fluids in my case. Hopefully someone has some good advice. PS Incredible weight loss!! Great job!

I'm with @scout2014. It can be very overwhelming but you have to start changing habits one at a time. So try switching to decaf coffee for 2 weeks then add a new habit like no drinking fluids during your meal and 30 minutes after and then in 2 weeks add another habit - small bites, putting your fork down between each bite, stopping eating after 20 to 30 minutes, getting in 64 of fluid, etc. Diet soda was the last thing I gave up. I started about a month before surgery and went without for a couple of weeks (had switched to decaf soda over a year ago). Then during my ore-op liquid diet, I did have it some but 2 days before surgery was the last one. My dad always says when I have a big task ahead of me , "how do you eat an elephant ? - one bite at a time". So one habit change at a time.....

Be sure you are following the plan your Dr and NUT set out for you. It is different for everyone. I was just confused by your statement that you feel like you are eating a lot but only eating once a day. Touch base with your NUT and provide them a copy of your food logs so they can go e you some direction. If you are not tracking your food, you definitely need to be doing that. That is at least one commonality among all surgeons and NUTs.

I am diabetic but only got the shots in the hospital twice I think. None to take home.

Why are you only eating once per day? You should be trying to get at least 3 meals (albeit very tiny meals) plus protein shake if needed.