PlBren

I am 15 days post-surgery and for about the last 5 days, I've had diarrhea every day. I am at the point where I am trying soft/pureed foods and it seems to be what triggers the diarrhea. So far, cottage cheese seems to be the only thing that doesn't trigger it (but it has been a few days since I've tried it). Greek yogurt, cream Soups, soft/pureed veggies, refried Beans, they all seem to upset my stomach. Yes - I'm only eating small amounts (3-4 teaspoons) and eating it slow enough (it stays down, I have not yet vomited). But anywhere from 1 to 4 hours later, I'm in the bathroom. Did anyone else go through this? Is it simply too soon for me to introduce these types of foods? Or could it be a bigger issue?

I had an "argument" with my surgeon at my 4-week post-op visit. I told her I was hungry all the time. And when I ate something, the hunger would go away and I would get full, but the hunger would return anywhere between 30 minutes to 2 hours later (depending on what I ate). I am a very analytical person so at first, I suspected this was "head hunger" but when the hunger was waking me up at night - I knew it was real. My surgeon claims it is not real, but only head hunger. After going back and forth with her, I finally said "You know what - I don't care if it is real hunger, head hunger or toe hunger. I feel it, and the only way it goes away is to eat something". That ended the argument. They say you can be distracted from head hunger - but I think you can be distracted from real hunger too. If something exciting, overwhelming or different happens - for a few minutes or longer, even real hunger goes away. So, I don't see the point of differentiating between the two types of hunger. Our bodies are still taking in many fewer calories than it is used to, so of course something is going to say "I'm hungry!". Having said all this - how we respond to hunger is what is now different. I am now 8 weeks post op, and the hunger feeling is a normal part of my life. I don't always act on it. I simply accept it. And it isn't painful - just annoying. So, like any other annoyance that might be in your life (like my whiny cat), I've learned to "tune it out" when it isn't meal time. I don't think I could have done this with a "normal" diet. I would have caved and eaten a huge meal, to get rid of the hunger. But now, eating is much less satisfying (because of how little I am actually eating at any given meal) and I know my hunger will be back in a short period of time. So, this keeps me from snacking every time the hunger starts back up. I guess this is all good - I am staying pretty much on track. But, I really wish I had been one of those lucky ones who had no hunger at all...

I think this is what I had, though I didn't realize it was anything special. When my doctor described it to me, she simply said it would be stapled and then folded over and stitched. She never called it "inverted" though. And I had no leaks! (exactly 2 weeks post op today).

I am 11 days post-op and have yet to be able to stomach (pun intended) my Premier Protein shakes. I lived off of these shakes during my pre-op diet and I bought two cases for after my surgery. After my stomach originally rejected them (1st post op day), I figured I'd try again in a few days. I did around day 5 but it didn't feel good, and then again today. I actually got most of the shake down today with very little stomach rumbling, but then - all of a sudden - Opps! And I spent the next two hours in the bathroom. Has anyone else had a similar reaction? And did your stomach eventually accept them? I think they taste great and pack in so much protein per ounce, I hate the thought of wasting my two cases that I bought.

I'm on day 7 post-op and also struggle with the Protein. About day 5 going into 6, I found myself able to drink more fluids, so I am fine now with getting enough fluids in, but the Protein shakes really upset my stomach. So far I find that the nectar powders (fruit flavors) I can tolerate well, but they have 24 grams of protein and drinking three a day would be tough. Today, I'm starting with Isopure liquid, hoping to drink 8 oz which will give me 16 grams. Then switch to the Nectar. And I've got to drink Gatorade in between to get my carbs in too! I'll be so happy when I can just eat a serving of cottage cheese instead.

I was sleeved Tues too. Came home Thursday and so far so good. Can't get all the liquids down yet, but will be trying to increase them today. I'm very gassy today but no pain.

I'm heading home today too. Feeling much better than yesterday. Can't wait to get the IV out of my arm!

I am doing good. I'm on day 14 of 15 total liquid diet. A week ago I would have been jealous of you POSE2VSG because of your non-diet requirements but not now. I think being on this diet is really going to help me post-surgery. Not to mention that it is a great jumpstart on losing weight. It has been hard, but I've learned so much about myself; for instance, it is proof I can learn to not let food control my life. I know I would not be able to continue like this indefinitely - so it makes the surgery all that more welcome, in my mind.

I'm on day 13. I don't have a routine. I prefer the shakes to the broth. I've had broth a few times but not daily. I wrote down the nut info for all the different products I have and then mix and match to get the right amount of Protein and carbs every day. Don't forget the carbs! I'm allowed 30-50 grams (30 is the minimum). When I started the pre-op diet, I wasn't getting enough and was so fatigued. Now I am doing better with them. Still fatigued but not as much. After 5 days, my stomach seemed to get used to not eating and it was much better. I still have hunger every day, but not really bad. Tell yourself that this diet is an indicator for how well you will do post-surgery. The better you do sticking to it - the better your results will be. I've been there and now I can clearly see the end of the road in front of me.

Yes - the headache goes away after a few days. Drink lots of Water. I hate having to pee every hour but it does help with the hunger. Figure out what Protein drinks fill you up the most and make them a regular part of your diet. Go to bed early. I hold off on my Breakfast shake till 9:00 am or later (I am less hungry in the am.) Get through one day, then the next. Pretty soon (maybe day 6 or 7) you'll realize your hunger is no longer severe, just normal hunger that is easy to ignore. And here is my own personal motivation - I believe that how you do on the liquid diet is a reflection of how you will do after surgery. Thus if you are cheating regularly during this 2 weeks - you will likely cheat after surgery when you are allowed to eat solid foods again and have a better chance of gaining weight back. So yes it is hard, but find your distraction, challenge yourself to be good and before you know it, you won't feel as hungry and your surgery date will be near (I'm on day 13 of 15). surgery is 9/1.

I'm 9/1 too. My surgery is at 7:30 am. Yes, I get to wake up - head to the hospital and get it done. Already looking towards getting home on Thursday.

I was just thinking about all the clothes from all of us that will get donated to Goodwill or some other place, and how others on this forum might get some use out of them - for when we are in the middle of our weight loss journey. Because who wants to go out and buy clothes 2 or 3 sizes smaller than what you own, only to wear them for a few months and have to buy new clothes again, several sizes smaller? Maybe this is too complicated to set up, but it seems that if we have clothes of a certain size that we are going to get rid of because they are now too big, that we first get on this forum, describe what you have, and offer them here. Yes, I guess it would cost us the price of postage to mail them to someone, but you might just get someone else lending you clothes too. And we could keep passing them around (assuming they are still usable) to others. Dumb idea? What does everyone think?

Thanks Bufflehead! Glad to see this exists.

I hate to be graphic but I was curious if anyone else is having the same issue I am after being on the pre-surgical liquid diet. I am one week through the two week diet (Protein shakes, broth Soups, sugar free Jello, sugar free popsicles). Yesterday, I had some serious cramping, associated with a tar like bowel movement. The cramping resolved itself, but the tar like bowel movement has not, as I had another one today. Maybe this is just my intestines cleaning out the bad stuff?? I don't know but I thought I'd ask and see if anyone else had this issue.

I actually drink mostly Premier Protein shakes. And my fav is Vanilla with lemon extract. My problem is that a single shake doesn't fill me up at night (but is fine for Breakfast or lunch), and if I drink 2 of the PP's at night for dinner, then I'll have too much protein eat day (because I have one for breakfast every morning). So, having three PP shakes a day would take me to 90 grams of protein and that doesn't include what ever I have for lunch. Thus - that is why the Atkins works for me. The two Atkins shakes together are the same amount of protein as one Premier Protein Shake, so I get two full shakes at night, but don't go over on how much protein I have. And I think the higher fat in the Atkins is what is helping me stay full. Fortunately, nothing else I am eating has much fat in it (3 grams per PP shake) so even with one PP and two Atkins shakes, I think I can stay under 30 grams of fat a day. I just have to keep my lunch and Snacks limited to 10-20 grams of protein, 10-30 grams of carbs, and 7 grams or less of fat.

I never thought about chewing gum. Good suggestion. Thanks Dream4tc. I have between 70-80 grams of protein a day, 30-50 grams of carbs and no more than 30 grams of fat. Tonight went well, I figured out what to eat (drink) during the day so that I could drink 2 Atkins Dark chocolate shakes for dinner and they filled me up (I was still hungry after 1 shake - waited a while and then drank the second). These are my favorite shakes but they have a lot of fat in them (10 grams each) and not as much protein (15 grams) so I have to make sure my other Protein drinks during the day are pretty much fat free or close to it in order to have two in one day. So, I am going to continue that for the rest of my pre-surgery diet to better control my hunger (drinking the 2 shakes at dinner time). I drank them almost three hours ago, and am still quite content, no hunger at all.

I had my pre-surgical doctor visit today and asked her about it. She wasn't concerned after asking me a few more questions. Yay! I've just got to get through this second week on the liquid diet. Funny, I feel fine from when I wake up till about 10am. Despite when I drink my first shake. No hunger at all. From 10:00am to 2:00pm - moderate hunger that is not a big deal, I can work through it. From 2pm to 8:00pm - I feel as if I am starving and nothing I can do seem to be able to distract me from how hungry I am! Even if I eat all my shakes and Jello Snacks in this time period - I still feel starved (not that I've done that with my intake, but I've come close a couple of times). Then, after 8:00pm it goes back to moderate hunger until I go to bed. What is everyone else's experience? Do you have bad times? How long do they last? I'm gnawing on my arm right now...

So good that worked for you! Good luck with the insurance stuff!!

3 to 4 weeks? That is crazy! I thought it was bad when my doctors office took 11 days to submit. Maybe you should call your surgeon directly, explain that if they are too busy to file paperwork that you would like to come in, get a copy of your complete file so that you can either file it to the insurance company yourself or go to a different surgeon and have them do the surgery and file the paperwork. If you talk to the surgeon directly - that may help. They may not realize how backed up this one person is.

I too am having my sleeve done on 9/1! We should keep in touch and support each other throughout the recovery process. I find it amazing the vast differences in pre-op diets. I know that mine (2weeks clear liquids and protein shakes) is the most severe and is for all my Drs patients (meaning it was not customized for me). And to the best of my knowledge - that's what other doctors do - they have a single protocol and is not customized for the patient. Since the surgeries are all the same, thus just doesn't make sense to me. I wonder if doctors like mine (who have dictated the strictest protocol) know that a lot of patients will cheat so that is why they make the diet harder than it really needs to be?

LynnAlex - How did your surgery go? I am on day 2 of my pre-surgery diet and it sounds identical to what your doctor said to do, and I am also thinking about changing it some to add in some chicken and soft veggies, or cottage cheese or other soft cheeses. At least for the first week. So, I am curious about if you did change your diet, and if so - how? And when did you go back to all liquids?

I just got approved!!! But I have to wait until tomorrow to get my surgery date. Here are my stat's -History of over 35 BMI for 2+ years Moderate sleep Apnea Hiatal Hernia Arthritis in both knees (though my Dr. said they don't consider this) Current BMI of 38 (started at 39 before I did my three month weight loss consulting). So happy, it is in site. Starting my liquid diet today just in case I can get the surgery date of Sept 1st.

I'm in Rockville. Waiting to hear about insurance approval.

Good to know Scoutmom - that makes me feel much better. Still - it will be two weeks on Monday and my insurance coordinator told me that BCBS is the quickest and they always here between 3 days and 2 weeks. I worry that denials take more time and thus I'll be getting bad news. Has anyone been denied by BCBS and then accepted on appeal?

Today is day 12 for me since my paperwork was submitted and still no word. Though according to customer service at BCBS, they don't have any record of any paperwork at all. But the insurance coordinator tells me to ignore them- that they don't know what is going on. So - who to believe?