YumiMumi

Hi, Im two weeks post op now. Have being doing short walks when the energy level allows. Was wondering when you went back to "proper" exercise like a jog or long walk. I am still a bit tender below the ribs to belly button both sides, and energy is still intermittently quite low, so Im not expecting to go for a jog this afternoon, but want to push myself a bit when its time. When did you FIRST FEEL like you were ready to do a good workout (given the obvious limitations of lifting/movement etc)? Thanks!

Thanks everyone, I've certainly not been doing as well as you guys!!! I'm 2 weeks post op and have just been pottering around the house and walking up to the street to get milk most days! My first week post op was pretty damn awful - I'm not sure I could have found my way to the mailbox let alone walk 5 miles!! I'm a band to bypass revision and had quite a lot of scar tissue dug out of me too so not sure if that has slowed my recovery a little too? I have been using my Fitbit to keep track of my steps and trying to get 500 more in every day to ensure an increase in activity level every day. I return to work next Tuesday and don't want to be taking naps at lunch time in my car LOL Well done to you all though - pretty awesome effort considering what your bodies have been through...... And congrats on all of your weight loss - simply amazing!!

I'm only 2 weeks out so am not speaking from experience, rather, from theory :-). I think if you were to perhaps de-string your celery and chop into small pieces and mix with other foods (such as a Protein such as tuna?) you would be ok. One of my favorite salad recipes is a mango salad, but I guess its more of a salsa. I LOVE it... can eat just that for dinner :-). Perhaps try something like that to slowly start adding back celery to your diet but mix with a protein so it doesn't hit your intestines as one BIG lump of fiber :-) . Hope this helps and recipe below. YUMMMM!! Finely chopped celery Finely chopped cucumber Finely chopped tomato Finely chopped red onion Small cubes of a medium-soft white cheese such as goats cheese or light cream cheese 1/2 mango chopped into small pieces A scattering of toasted pine nuts

Im day 14 today post-op. Lost 8 pounds pre-op and 12 in the two weeks since with a total of 20. My BMI is 33 and Im 40 so very happy with that. Your loss is AMAZING, well done.

I'm day 14 today......... Feeling gazzilion billion times better than when I first posted this thread. The constant low grade stomach ache has finally disappeared, but I still feel some discomfort as I eat/after I eat. The only pain i have now is very mild (below ribs), especially on the left side for some reason, and exacerbated by walking while i carry a shopping bag (few pounds). Tiny bit of pain around incision. And still a feeling of tightness and swelling around the site. I assume this will pass???? I'm transitioning to mushy food today. Will try super scrambled eggs with some puree smoked salmon for lunch :-). Going to try a bit of a longer walk today.. trying to gradually get my step count back up again. Down 20 pounds, which for me, is amazing..... I'm 40, and generally a slow loser, so pretty happy with that :-)

My surgeon advocates for 2 weeks liquids (anything you can fit through a straw), then two pureed. I have pretty much stuck to this but admit I have also had some Greek yogurt and cottage cheese but chewed both well until they were Fluid in my mouth before swallowing. The idea of the liquids is to stop you from stretching the pouch prematurely with whole foods and of course reduce the chance of blockages given the swelling. So if you are bored of liquids sure have some yogurt or creamed cottage cheese, but make sure it well "mixed" and fluid like in your mouth before you swallow.

Sorry you are feeling so bad @catjackson89 - I too am 2 weeks post-op and up until the last day or so have been feeling extremely ordinary too, but all is slowly resolving. When you say you feel like crap, what do you mean? Nausea? Tiredness, lightheaded?

The main thing about the pre-op diet is to limit carbs (I limited to under 1 oz per day but alot of the bariatric shakes/bars have up to .5 each so keeping under 2 oz per day you should be right). You also need to maximize Protein (2+ oz per day) and keep calories under 700/800 per day depending on your weight. I didn't stick to bariatric shakes and bars as they are very high in artificial sweetener which I don't tolerate well. I used a calorie tracker that showed protein, carbs, calories and Fiber (calorie king). I was then able to use normal soups etc adding natural flavored protein powders. In the first week I also ate salad and 3.5oz of lean chicken breast or white fish for some meals instead of a shake or bar. Second week I stuck to liquids/soups. Main thing is to ensure you get the required protein, and strictly limit carbs and calories. I took multi vits every day + minerals. It is the very low intake of carbs that reduces liver size. I lost 9 pounds pre-op and surgeon said my liver looked in great shape the day of surgery!!! Good luck @kathyha and please contact me if you have any questions re post op!! I'm 2 weeks out now.

10 days post op, head feeling very clear now but very tired and every so often dizzy. Still have persistent low grade stomach ache/bloated feeling which is exacerbated and gets kind of nasty sometimes if i eat/drink something that my new anatomy disagrees with. Good news.....Headaches gone, nausea gone, diarrhea gone, and I'm back to feeling alert and normal(ish). Most annoying thing right now is this low grade stomach ache I have most of the time.... Does anyone else have this????

@@nursey10465 did your stall resolve?

@@yami17leth - how did your first "real meal" go?

I'm 10 days post-op, had a coffee today with no issues at all. My surgeon said that he has had very few patients not tolerate moderate amounts of coffee so I was free to drink it.

Im 8 days post-op and while the pain, nausea, headaches and cloudiness has gone, I tire very easily. A trip to the supermarket needs a bit of a nanna nap afterwards :-). I have 2.5 weeks off work but can see that towards the end of that I will be bored so i will probably just do some work at home next week. I think if you have no complications and are going back to a desk job 2 weeks would do it.

I took 3 tops and 3 pairs of leggings + phone + laptop + toiletries but to be honest all I used was the clothes I walked in with, my phone and undies, oh and my toothbrush. pack light - I was in for 3 nights and only got dressed in my clothes on Day 3! You will be a lot more out of it than you think...... and wont care what you're wearing LOL

We are same just about on the same timeline lovely lady!! Firstly, yes you DO need to get out of the house and push yourself to do as many "normal" things as possible. As you know i felt like you did for days but the cloud lifted a couple days ago and I pushed myself to do some shopping yesterday. It was good to walk about and good to get out. As for the food and vitimins - YES YES order the Patches - I have!!! AND buy a tasteless Protein powder and make your own smoothly or add to Soup - you get FAR more protein in this way without having to drink as much. Hang in there! you are doing great - it is MUCH harder than I ever anticipated, and Im sure you feel the same way.

7 Days post-op..... wow what a difference. I went into the real persons world today and grocery shopped. The fog and confusion and anxiety has definitely lifted. I slept 8 hrs last night and again this afternoon for 2 hrs. Current issues: * Still have residual loose bowel twice daily * Headaches on and off * Fatigue * Need to drink more Water * HATE taking my chew-able poo flavored multi Vitamin so have ordered some of those Patches on the store. How are you all feeling?

i hear you! Have had the headaches as well up until today (6 days post op). I stopped pain meds day 2 cos they make me feel worse and contribute to the headaches. I particularly find Oxycodone gives me a cracking headaches. Could it be your pain meds?

How much are you sleeping 2 weeks out @ambermj?

Hey @Levita.... I bought my own tastless whey protien and added to high protein milk with frozen fresh (low sugar) real fruit such as cherries. there is a ton of protien in one scoop - more than most of the shakes and it tastes WAY better, far less sweet and contains zero nasty artificial sweetener. I can get 40g of protein (1 scoop of protein plus a cup of high protein milk) into one shake and then I SIP on that for hours - it has helped a lot to manage the nausea. So my advice, make your own smoothy and just sip over a few hours. :-)

Thanks all for your responses and so glad that we have all found some support here. Yesterday was a slightly better day.... had a mini emotional breakdown when my ex dropped over my son to see me - I felt so nauseous and fatigued I couldn't play with him. But the good news is that I felt mostly normal(ish) for the remainder of the day. Today most of the fog has lifted, the anxiety gone... (THANK GOD)! Current issues: * Getting enough Protein in without feeling like poo * Drinking necessary Water without feeling like poo * Fatigue - packing the dishwasher is like a run around the block * Insomnia - constantly tired but cant sleep - FYI posted a good article on "surgical stress response", the bodys hormonal and metabolic response to the trauma of surgery which covers the topic of insomnia. I hope you all are feeling a little better too! Keep posting!

@@jccanada you are NOT going insane. I was exactly the same - no focus and no care to chat to anyone. I had a big old baby cry (wracking sobs and all) in front of my ex and 3yr old yesterday cos i feel so useless and sick. But the fog is lifting..... Clearer today and (fingers crossed) slowly returning to my old self. I actually held a conversation longer than 1 minute last night with a friend that popped over. So yeh, NOT insane :-)

I'm only 5 days postop but i have had the same issue. I cant be sure but each time it seems linked to either artificial sweetener or drinks with too much real sugar. I have stopped drinking anything with artificial sweetener in it OR high amounts of real sugar. I'm opting for smoothies made with lower sugar real fruits etc and adding plain unflavored Protein, plus more Soups. If you are able to tolerate pill form take that instead. The liquid form will have either tons of artificial or real sugar, as will your Jello cup. :-)

Thanks Smashley for responding. I am so glad to hear your words... I totally don't feel like myself, almost like life is a movie or something. And the nausea very hard to handle... i would rather be in pain than feel sick HAHA. Congrats on your surgery and glad you feel great now. :-)

Thanks so much for your response. I rang doc re the anti-nausea med and he said rather not at this stage, and that nausea is expected and to try to work through it UHHH. How long were you on yours for post op? what did your doc prescribe?

Lets face it, I LOVE food. I love cooking it, looking at it, smelling it and mostly eating it! I'm not really a junk food girl, but I AM a foodie - love my farmers markets, experimental cooking, wine and food pairing.... you get the drift. :-) I felt like I was in a panic last night. Is my relationship with food dead or is it being redefined??? Will I ever enjoy food again?? I'm on day 6 of pre-op diet and feeling "head hungry". It made me think about the many lusciously long and incredibly indulgent meals I have enjoyed over a bottle or two of red with friends during the past 20 years. Having said all that, I KNOW what I want, and I want to be healthy and set a good example for my rapidly evolving 3 year old son, so in 8 days I will let my surgeon screw with my anatomy for the greater good. :-) My question to you all is............ DESPITE knowing you are doing this to be healthy and live longer, do you fear that you will "miss" your intimate relationship with food or never be able to enjoy it again?!?!?