Daisee68

I have never craved refried Beans until now! I still have a week of liquids left (only 1 week post-op) but I think refried beans will be my first meal - even if for breakfast!

I'm only 1 week post-op but still on liquids and really haven't lost since coming home from hospital. Did you lose a lot on the liquid diet? I lost 12 pounds in the 1 week pre-op liquids so I am trying to tell myself that my body is just catching up. You are down a total of 42 pounds? That's really good. I'm down 30 total from my first appt in January. Not sure I am of use other than to stay I feel that I am in the same boat and we just need to be patien.

Not very cool of your husband..... The diet lemonade should be fine as long as it is definitely the sugar free one. (Don't let them accidentally give you full sugar drink. That has happened to me on numerous occasions which really stinks since I am a diabetic.)

Not sure what "port thingy" you are talking about? I don't have any kind of ports or drains. I am almost a week out (surgery on June 4), and as long as I am resting, I feel fine. I ventured out yesterday for 1 1/2 hours (just a couple of errands) and I was wiped out when I got home. Planning on 2 weeks here. I can't really imagine going back tomorrow which would be 1 week but everyone is different.

I'm only 6 days out and I was really getting way overfull and nauseas because I was taking too large of sips. I still haven't gotten in 60 oz, but the best I can do is use a medicine cup, set my alarm on my phone for 5 minutes and then every 5 minutes, I drink 1/3rd of the medicine cup. That works out to 1 oz every 15 minutes or 4 oz every 1 hour. It is really the only way I can figure out to keep drinking without it bubbling back up. I am hoping when the swelling goes down, I will be able to drink better without measuring it this way. But at least I am not getting dehydrated - I hope (though I sure don't seem to be going to the lady's room very often).

Great loss!! I had bypass instead of sleeve on June 4 and I am already so done with the Protein powder! I still can't hold very much at a time, so it takes forever to drink one of those nasty drinks (which I thought I enjoyed but 1 1/2 hours in to it, I am more than done!) I have to try to figure out how to make the drinks smaller (i.e. half the scoop or something). To add insult to injury, I got on the scale this morning and hadn't lost anything since surgery. Tomorrow is another day - at least that is what I keep telling myself! Good luck to you!

So sorry you are in so much pain! I can't even begin to imagine what you are going through. Not sure if this would work or not, but what about making your own Protein popsicles with greek yogurt and some Protein powder or the pudding and protein powder? I haven't tried these yet but bought my own popsicle molds in anticipation of doing so. I guess that's not savory though...

Does your surgeon have rights at the new hospital? I did have some changes in pricing when I switched hospitals but I felt more secure at my second choice.

I'm sorry you are having so much trouble! It sounds like kidney stones to me. Maybe follow up with a urologist? I have LOTS of kidney stones (before the surgery) and in fact, passed a 4mm stone less than 48 hours after my surgery (lucky me). Also, the "inconclusive" test doesn't tell you much. I think I would follow up with some specialists.

Hmm. I hadn't heard that. They gave me all the ice chips I wanted in the hospital - still in recovery.

Swanson's broth - Beef, chicken and Mexican Tortilla. It saved me. And lots and lots of Water and tea. This is the hardest part. After the surgery you aren't hungry. If you can get through this, you can get through the post-op diet easily. Good luck!

Good luck! Enjoy the journey!

Welcome! I too am 47 and I just had my surgery 5 days ago (June 4). The process is definitely a roller coaster ride so your emotions are very normal. It is exciting to meet with the surgeon because it is starting to become more real! Make a list of your questions to ask and enjoy the excitement! Good luck tomorrow and let us know how it goes!

Day 5 (surgery was on Thursday) and I am having a rougher day today than yesterday. I feel SO full just trying to get liquids in. The mid to upper left side pain was really uncomfortable and the pain med didn't rid it. I took a Zantac (hope that was ok) and it helped a lot and finally got on top of pain with pain med after sleeping through all night without. I have just been sitting here trying to count the blessings in the pain hoping that will help mentally - so I am grateful that I have the feeling of fullness because that means this IS going to work and is going to help me eat less long term. I am grateful that the feeling of being so full leaves me not craving or mourning any food. I am very grateful that I not only have I not vomited, I haven't really even had nausea. VERY grateful for all those going through this with me at the same time so we each know what to expect for the amazing veterans encouraging us that have already lived through this. I am already a little panicked about being out of pain med and them not refilling. Trying to believe that by the time I get there in a day or 2, I won't need the pain med anymore. And desperately trying to get fluids in today. The only way I seem to be able to do that well is with ice chips. Not sure if that is a good solution or not....

Yes, I'm in the same boat - except my surgery was only June 4. I don't have any solutions for you - I am taking pain med, using heating pad, drinking warm peppermint tea. If no BM in a few days, I may try Milk of Magnesia as others have suggested (after checking with my dr first of course). I found today to be better in some ways and worse in some ways than yesterday. (Of course then I passed a kidney stone this morning, so maybe some of the pain yesterday was from that. Great timing huh?) Hang in there! At least that is what everyone keeps telling me!

@@desdeemona52 so glad it was an encouragement as you were headed in to surgery. I repeated to myself many many times the last few days.

So, I just had to share this in hopes it would encourage others as it did me. I started my liquid diet yesterday. I made it through the day (barely) without cheating. This morning I woke up and first thing I do is check my phone for email for work. I had an email that appeared to be spam - from someone I have never heard of and blank in the "to" field (i.e. they just cc'd a bunch of people) and the subject field only said "hi". Then all that was in the message was this.... Matthew 6:25-34New International Version (NIV) Do Not Worry25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ I am sure it was some kind of spam though I didn't see a link or anything they wanted you to click on. (We get a lot of that at work.) I didn't want to forward it or print it in case it was some sort of virus but regardless of whom or where it came from, it was a scripture I had long forgotten and could not believe how EVERY SINGLE WORD was exactly what I needed to hear. Hope others will be blessed by this as well.

I am not there yet since my surgery was just yesterday but this is something my therapist and I have talked about extensively. It is, unfortunately, very common to transfer your food addition to another addition. (Some even still have food addiction but in the opposite direction and become anorexic .) The fact that you are aware of it is a very good thing, but you might check in to some addiction counseling to make sure you are dealing with it upfront. That's my plan anyway to continue with my current counselor.

Ugh! I feel your pain - literally. My surgery was yesterday. Surgeon said everything went perfect. My pain with the PCA pump in the hospital was totally controlled and I even got up and walked 5 or 6 times. They released me and I feel AWFUL! The liquid pain med tastes awful and I don't see that it is helping. Maybe the pain is mostly gas and the pain med can't fix that? I don't know but I am certainly much less enthusiastic today than I was yesterday or even this morning while still at the hospital. Using heating pad and Gas-x strips but to no avail. Tomorrow has to be better, right?

Thanks all! I survived the pre-op diet (almost - last day today - clear liquids only). Just thought I would check back in and let others know what I learned about my T2 diabetic medicine. I only take Metformin (4 x 500mg). I was told to check my blood sugars 4 to 6 hours apart and or anytime it felt too low and only take the Metformin IF my sugars were above 150 and then only start with 2 tablets. Luckily, the highest my sugars have been thus far is 124 and lowest was 84 and that was without my Metformin so I haven't taken any since I started liquid diet. NOT A DR SO I AM NOT SAYING THIS IS FOR EVERYONE. Just thought I would share my experience. Truly hoping that was the end of my days with T2 diabetic meds! Woohoo! My biggest reason for the surgery! Surgery is tomorrow at 8 a.m. SOOOOOO READY!!!

So, I start my 1 week liquid only pre-op diet tomorrow but I am a little confused. So PA at dr's office said 3 Protein shakes per day and ok to have chicken broth in between. I told her I had the unjury Chicken Soup flavored protein also and she said that would be fine since it is a "clear liquid". Do you suppose that is in addition to the Protein drinks or in place of? I have the Premier Protein Shakes which are 30g protein each and the Unjury is another 20g (or maybe 30g - don't have it in front of me). NUT said to target 80 to 100 g protein during this time, so I am guessing the Unjury should replace? Also, on the last day before surgery no shakes - just Clear liquids but would you think I could still have the Unjury Chicken Soup? And should I mix some unflavored Protein powder in to my drinks that day? Last question, I am Type 2 diabetic. Would you think I need to try to get in some carbs during these days? I know I should have asked the PA or NUT, but I got a little overwhelmed at pre-op appts yesterday and didn't. Any advice?

So glad it was an encouragement to you and others! I had it printed out and hung it in my bathroom where I get ready every morning. I have repeated parts of it to myself many times over the last 7 days. Today is my last day of liquid and tomorrow is the surgery! Best of luck on your pre-op diet. You can do it! (Trust me if I can you can. Though I have questioned that several times over the last few days, I made it!)

What a cool story! And YAY for BCBS for doing something like this! (I have had BCBS insurance for many years until employer switched us this year.) I started my 7 day pre-op liquid only diet yesterday. Surgery is on June 4 (LESS THAN 6 DAYS!!). Three weeks is a pretty long time to do liquids only. Some drs with time that long allow Protein bars and/or 1 small meal a day (3 or 4 oz. lean protein and a veggie), so just be sure you know what your particular surgeon requires. Quest Protein Bars are great if you can do protein bars. Premier Protein premixed chocolate shakes (Walmart, grocery stores, etc.) are really good and have 30 grams of protein and only 2 g carbs each. unjury chicken Soup flavored powder is actually pretty good - tastes like Cup O' Soup. LOTS of broth is what is getting me through. I found one today at Walmart that was Tortilla Soup flavored broth and it is WONDERFUL! I think I will try mixing in some unflavored Protein Powder. (I use Whey-licious (online order) which can be mixed in as few as 3 oz of Fluid and still give 20 g protein which will be really helpful after surgery when pouch doesn't want much.) Lastly I have heard Isopure is pretty good but kind of sweet. GNC is expensive but Vitamin Shoppe has better prices. If you get to eat real food, look for lean protein like fish (tuna, salmon, etc.), chicken (for some reason thigh meat is supposed to be better tolerated after surgery because it is more moist but as long as it's lean and not fried before surgery should be fine), even pretty lean beef I think would be ok. Just keep the servings small - 3 to 4 oz. only. I hope that helps! Good luck! Let us know how it's going!

There is a new unflavored Protein powder I was referred to that is pretty good and it can be mixed in as little as 3 oz of liquid. It's called Whey-licious. Or try another unflavored one and mix it in some of your food like applesauce or SF pudding. Not getting in protein is detrimental to your health - hair loss, loss of muscle, etc.

Woohoo!! Congrats! Just imagine - you will be post-op so soon!