jm726

I'm alllllmost 2 weeks out and it took me a week and a half. The more I walked to more it "exited" the system! So I tried to walk about 15-20 min, every 2-3 hours.

My favorite was Campbell's condensed chicken both, mixed with water. I didn't like Swanson's or beef. ????

Yes!!! Totally! It drives me nuts! My husband has to pat my back like a baby. He gets a kick out it. We don't have kids yet, so he says it's his practice. Lol

Typically catheters are place for two reasons intraoperatively. To deflate the bladder, or to mange the intake & output if your surgery has the possibility of being rather long. Since the stomach is higher than the bladder, it's typically placed for the latter reason... Oh and additionally it's dependent on age...health...comorbidities, ect. But if your young, healthy, ect... Talk to your surgeon (they all have their own preferences though), see if he'll agree to bypass the catheter if you promise to get up and pee right after surgery. They let me get away with it...however, if I couldn't pee, they were gonna cath me awake ????. It was hard to pee at first, all my organs were sleepy and I really hard to push it out (not recommended), but that was just my case. Best of luck! Hope that helps a little...? Take care. ????

Thanks for the advice! I've noticed I started getting hiccups now that you've mentioned it... They drive me nuts! Lol. I seem to get them especially after I drink a large amount of fluid. I also had a hiatal hernia repair... Wonder if that has anything to do with it?

I'm assuming that if a suture has ruptured he's not wanting you to move a lot to keep that muscle semi immobile to allow it to heal, without being stretched and pulled too much. So rest should help it to continue to improve. Also, a muscle can take any where from 3 weeks to 3 months to heal. But since it felt better after a few days, I'm leaning more towards weeks for you (at least I really hope so!). Just be sure that while you're resting you do some foot pumping exercises, by pushing the feet forward and bending them back, it helps to keep the blood flowing (aids in blood clot prevention). And last but not least! Keep your doctor informed, and go in if needed! Hope you feel better soon!

No...but I've never been able to ride in the backseat for that reason...and my 30 year old husband drives worse than my 85 year old grandmother. ????. Did any of your meds change? Are you dehydrated? Do you notice that it only happens after you take a medication? And lastly, any ear problems, like does it happen outside of the car? I know it's lame, but don't watch out the side window. Concentrate straight ahead, see if it helps. Sorry I'm not much help... Just throwing some ideas out there. ☺️

Just wanted to congratulate you on your diet advance. I read that another member, also had the chili @ Wendy's and it was a successful meal. It's really nice to be able to eat "normal" foods, while still staying on track. I'm only allowed eggs, yogurt, string cheese, and Protein shakes. Which is no problem, but I think I'm going to turn into a stinkin a giant piece of protein...chocolate flavored. ???? lol

That makes me feel TONS better! Thank you so much for sharing! ????

Hey friend, I'm 30 and my surgery was also on the 11th. We're in the same boat!! I have no clue when I'm full... But others suggested just to keep measuring, so you know you're still in the safe zone. Also, one member mentioned that it took her about 2-3 months to regain that feeling. So the responses I received varied from... Full at first bite, to 2-3 months. So very individualized. I think as long as we stick with the basics & measurements we'll be OK. ????

Thank you for the advice. I'm being super careful with portion sizes. I guess I just keep basing everything off of other people's experience (I know I shouldn't). I just don't know what to expect... I guess I thought I'd have the surgery, take 2 bites of food and ????BAM???? be suddenly full. But since that's not happening, I was getting really worried, that I was doing something wrong. ????

Figured it out! I pick Marilyn because she was one of the first beauty icons, and sister wasn't a size 0, but more a 12/14. She's an awesome reminder that it's society who views have changed, and frankly don't matter. ????

I remember months back I saw a fork with a timer on it on amazon.com. It was simple... Just had like a 20 second timer for in between bites. Of course now that I'm interested I can't find the dang thing! I've seen the hapifork, but it's an expensive Bluetooth contraption... Anyone else ever heard or seen this? Thanks!

Thank u!! It's just crazy when I read people get judge saying that they are taking the easy way out by doing surgery and those people have no idea what we go threw! My #1 pet peeve comment is, "Well, I'd lose weight too if I ate like that!". I just smile politely & remind myself that jail stripes don't look good on me. ????. Because honestly, we have more strength than anyone knows...cause guess what? We can totally eat like that & rock it! ????

Ohhhh lawdy! You're NOT alone at all!!! I feel the exact same way. I even opened up a board about it yesterday. The bottom line as one member said, don't compare yourself to others because we're all different, and things will happen to us differently. You are absolutely OK! The board is called "Normal Consumption...?". Check it out, lots of good advice from fellow members regarding our feelings on the subject.

I don't have one because I don't know how to create one! Lol. Any suggestions?

Congrats to you all! I'm not there yet, but love reading the awesome emotions you have experienced.

My post op instructions said that if I hadn't had a BM by the 3rd day post op to start taking miralax. It's an osmotic laxative that softens the stool by hydrating it so it'll pass. May make you a little gassy, but it dissolves clear and tasteless in water. A little pricy, so I buy the off brand. Worked the same day. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

You're right! I've lived under black clothes and long sleeves for so long trying to slip under the radar, it's time I stand up for myself. I appreciate your advice, and it will be taken.

So, I'm one week out today and went in for my post-op appointment...and the provider I saw (who I usually see, not my surgeon) is totally giving me a complex! So I seriously just need some reassurance here, cause if not I'm gonna end up with more issues than I have... First off, I've been on a liquid diet for a month. At my last appointment before surgery, I weighed 305lbs. So, two weeks later at my first post-op appointment I weighed 291lbs. I thought I'd get some encouragement from this... Instead I got a little speech on how "it's not uncommon to not like that much the first week, because of IV Fluid ect..." I thought I had done OK, but they totally made me feel inferior... My diet was also advanced & I was informed to start with an egg. However, "most patients don't finish the whole egg, and if I did, I would be the first one ever"...same song & dance from the NUT about the Protein shake. Now don't get me wrong, I'm a sensitive person, but I think it can be quite detrimental to a person (especially one in my situation), when things come across more derogatory than positive. So now I find myself criticizing everything I do... I ate half the egg, because I was scared if I ate or was able to eat the whole one it wouldn't be "normal". I drank a little less than half the Protein Shake, for fear I might drink the "whole" half and not be "full". Also, yesterday over about 15 minutes I was able to eat the pre-portioned SF jell-o serving, and didn't hurt...to which got me a look from the NUT. So basically, here I am now. Typing and feelings hurt... I'm sticking to this to a "T", and am already worried I'm either not "normal" or have done something wrong... Anything you can offer is greatly appreciated... ????

That sounds amazing! And very supportive! I'm thankful that you have such a good circle for your providers. Now, don't get me wrong, my surgeon is the best guy I've ever known! He's insanely supportive and considerate...everything you'd want in a doctor. He even called me several times at home just to check on me. I guess, from working in the health care field, I just expect a little bit different attitudes from the people I have seen post-operative. Kind of a treat others how you'd want to be treated you know? But thank you again so very much for yours & everyone else's support. It's such a blessing right now. I'm 30 years old and don't have a Facebook page!!! Crazy right? So this was a big deal to join a chat group, and praise Jesus, I'm glad I did.

I don't think OP eating an egg is a big deal. Different doctors progress their patients to real food at different rates. I had my first egg at 3 weeks post op. because my doctors protocol was 2 weeks full liquids, 2 weeks purees, 2 weeks soft food, then everything as tolerated. My hope is that OP find a way to communicate with her medical team. I didn't mean that it wasn't on my plan I just literally couldn't take in but only a bite or 2..sorry for the confusion my bad..it was the heaviness my tummy wouldn't handle..some can tolerate it I like eggs I eat them all the time now.. No trouble, thank you for sharing your experience with me. It's all so new, and such a sensitive subject. I guess that I've been so used to criticism, that I tend to overthink things...

Thanks! Maybe it's the hapifork I'm thinking of after all, but that sucker is $65!!!!

Thank you all SO much for your kind words & advice. It is greatly appreciated that you took time to read my drama and respond. Again, thank you.

Yea, my doctor told me the pill was no longer as effective post op because your absorption is decreased. So I had to get an IUD. ????. There are some articles on the subject throughout the Internet... So maybe that's what's going on? Either way, I'm sorry you're not feeling good, and I hope you do feel better soon.