Renkoss

Tonight for dinner my husband grilled steak. I made roasted cauliflower and some steamed carrots. I took a piece of steak that was approximately 2-1/2 oz of meat along with a few pieces of cauliflower and a couple slices of carrot. I ate my meat first (Protein first always!), then had a couple small florets of cauliflower, and had to stop because I was full. After about 5 minutes after stopping, I started to feel a bit nauseous. Cleaning up the kitchen I started to feel a bit more nauseous, and was a bit worried about vomiting. But, then I started those hiccup/burp things, and instantly started to feel better. Luckily the nausea went away, and I'm just left feeling full. The whole reason for posting this is I was wondering if this was because I ate steak (first time eating it since surgery) and I know that red meat can be difficult to digest. I'm feeling fine now, but could it be my pouch had difficulty with it? I did take small bites and chewed, chewed, and chewed some more! I am 8 weeks out from surgery tomorrow, and I've eaten ground meat already with no problems. Any one out there with similar experience when you began eating steak again? Also, I had cut off all visible fat, so it was a pretty lean piece of meat.

Ambernicole, I've eaten low carb for so many years now that we don't even keep bread, potatoes, rice, Pasta in the house! If my husband wants it we buy a little for him, and I find an alternative to it. But, you are right, once in a while it is nice to treat yourself. Fortunately with the size stomach I have now, I cannot overindulge because I do not like vomiting! So, a few bites and I'm done. I also do use a few crackers in a brothy Soup too. Sometimes you just need some substance! Ashlie, how funny that we all stalled at 35 lbs! I'm hoping today to weigh myself and see at least a couple pounds gone. I worked really hard outside this past weekend and hoping it made a difference.

Thanks Daisee. I did take really tiny bites at a time, and I did chew it up really good. Maybe it is just too soon for steak. I'll put it aside for now and try again in a month.

This stall needs to end already!!! Try including at least one Protein shake a day; doesn't have to be just a plain Protein Drink either. Mix in some frozen fruit, some PB2, perhaps some spinach or kale! You can get lots of protein with steamed/grilled fish, shellfish, tuna, tuna steaks (Ahi), chicken, ground beef, pulled pork, etc. Luckily I love meat (definite carnivore) so it doesn't take much for me to eat the protein first over anything else. I do love veggies though too. I have eaten a bit of macaroni (less than a tablespoon) and I did eat half a biscuit with sausage gravy today (special occasion). Typically I do not eat carbs on a regular basis.

I also have BCBS Federal, Basic Option. I do not have a deductible, so didn't have to worry about that. I had my surgery at The Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio and between the cost of surgeons, surgery center, procedure, hospital stay, etc. I believe it was around $70,000 ($20K for doctors, $50K for everything else). It took approximately 2 weeks to hear back after paperwork was submitted. Good Luck!

Could be you just are not ready for soft foods just yet. Everyone is different. If food feels like it is getting stuck in the middle of your chest, and you eventually vomit slide/bubbles, it sounds like you either ate too much, ate too fast and it is part of dumping (I think). It happens to me too, and I really believe it is from eating too fast. I've always been a very fast eater, and it is the hardest habit to break! I'm working on it by counting how many times I chew, and also by putting my utensils down in between bites. Perhaps you need to just stay with a bit more liquid than soft food right now. Also, if the Protein shakes are sitting heavy on your stomach, try thinning it out a bit with some milk (also adds a bit more protein!). If you are feeling it sitting heavy, this may help. Hope everything goes well.

So happy to hear you are on the mend finally. All things will be more positive from this point forward.

I'm doing pretty good! 35 lbs down, but stuck in a stall right now. How are you doing?

I just finished reading all the posts here and I have a few comments to add. First, those who preferred sleeve to bypass because they didn't want their small intestines cut in to, you had more than half your stomach removed from your body! I didn't feel okay with that. Second, it also can depend on the comorbidities that you have with what surgery you prefer. I am a Type 2 diabetic who had extreme insulin resistance and just continued to raise the amount of insulin I needed to even be somewhat better with blood sugars (it still didn't work). I've been on an insulin pump for 4 years and it just continued getting worse and worse. I have been eating a low carb diet for over 5 years and that wasn't even helping anymore. Because my diabetes was beginning to affect organs, this was my last effort to gain control. I wanted the RNY gastric bypass because it showed better results for diabetic patients. Although your intestines are being "rerouted" to the newly created "pouch", nothing is being removed from the body. I felt better about that too. I was warned, however, by the surgeons nurse that once they were in and they felt the bypass wasn't an option at that point, then they would do a sleeve. I had to agree to that, but everything went well and I had my bypass almost 8 weeks ago. I'm 35 pounds lighter (although I'm stuck in a stall right now), my blood sugar numbers are perfect (even though I still use my insulin pump, I only use for basal insulin and not bolus anymore). I have experienced dumping a few times; a couple times for overeating, and a couple times for eating too fast I think since I hadn't eaten enough food to be over what I should have eaten yet. Dumping is painful, it's horrible, and I try to avoid it at all costs. If I knew back when what I know now about WLS, I would have done this years ago. But, live and learn. As long as it continues to improve my health, I'm ready to live a longer, healthier, happier life! Whatever decision you make for yourself right now, feel confident that it is the right one for you. Listen to your surgeon and other healthcare people, and listen to your heart. You will know what is right for you.

About 3 weeks after my surgery, my sister had a 30th birthday party for my nephew. There was lots of food there, and I had to sit and be sociable with everyone while they were eating appetizer type foods. I did pack some food and brought it with me so I had something that I knew for sure I could have like a greek yogurt, a cheese stick, and a Protein shake. My sister did have chicken, so I took a little bit of that and shredded it, along with some pulled pork. It was only about 1 oz of each, but it worked. I also had a piece of cheese. The rest I just told myself first I didn't have room for all that food, and secondly I didn't just go through surgery and recovery for nothing! So, this is where your willpower and strength has to come in. Keep in mind at the time of the gathering, you will probably be on pureed foods, so you will be able to have some refried Beans with a bit of cheese melted on top, guacamole perhaps, smooth salsa (not chunky). So, you will have some options. You will only be able to eat about 2 oz at a time, so be careful! I hope everything goes well for you. If you are going to be there for a week, I would definitely go to the grocery store and stock up on stuff that you know you can have. Don't forget to make protein your priority.

I'm currently 7 weeks out from surgery and at my last nutritional appointment 2 weeks ago we were told we should be taking in 1000 calories. I find that to be a bit high, but I'd say I probably get at least 700-800 calories in daily. I currently walk 30 minutes at least 4-5 times per week, and am planning on adding some resistance training in the next week or two. Every body seems to have different guidelines according to who and where they had surgery. I'm through The Cleveland Clinic who works as a team with you on your journey through the WLS from beginning to end. I trust every single person I've either already had or have contact with since the beginning.

I've always been a fast eater my whole life. Slowing down after surgery is proving to be a bit difficult sometimes. I'm at work right now and unfortunately just got done with a dumping syndrome episode after eating some bbq rib meat from our picnic Sunday. Wasn't eating the fat, and was chewing it up pretty darn good, but my system just decided it didn't like it today, and off I went to the ladies room where it came back up. I just hate the horrible pain in the chest that occurs prior to dumping. It is so so painful, it makes me cry. I won't be eating anything else today for quite a while now. Gotta give my system a chance to recover from this. My chest still kind of hurts. Usually it instantly stops hurting once I vomit. Ugh. I hate this part.

Nice!

We had pizza tonight; I had the toppings only (actually didn't finish all of it) and I ordered two meatballs; ate half of one. Didn't have much today. Breakfast was a one egg cheese omelette and I tried bacon today (1 piece). It went well I was busy preparing for Memorial Picnic tomorrow with family. Had lots of cooking to do. Made a macaroni BLT salad (new recipe) and my daughter and husband said it was fabulous! I also made Memphis style cole slaw for the BBQ ribs and chicken we made today (homemade BBQ sauce that is sugar free and low carb). I actually still need to bake my husband's birthday cake! I'm exhausted from cleaning, laundry, cooking/baking. I don't want to move anymore today! I'm afraid I didn't do so well with Protein today. I may be able to get in a shake yet tonight.

Did you see the doctor and did they offer any help? Again, I'm thinking it might be drinking too fast or the temperature of the liquid. Also, where is the pain located after swallowing?

I know as a diabetic that too much Protein can be converted to glucagon and stored in our bodies, hence a diabetic should typically eat moderate protein rather than high. This of course never worked for me and is why I had gastric bypass. Many diabetics (Type 2) can eat a low carb/moderate protein/high good fat diet and lose weight and have tight control of their blood sugars. I attempted to do that for a few years, and I had to use insulin because of my extreme insulin resistance. The insulin causes a lot of fat storage around the abdominal area and why I had to have WLS. Just my understanding of too much protein with a diabetic.

I would see what the doctor can offer. Hopefully you do not have a leak or anything like that. Are you drinking too fast? Perhaps it is the temperature of the drink? I know in the beginning I couldn't drink really cold things; had to be a bit more room temp. Keep us informed on what you find out.

You are just barely over one week since surgery. Whether you believe it or not, this surgery is a pretty major surgery. Parts of your insides have been moved, removed, stapled/stitched, and bypassed. Your insides are going to hurt and feel like pulling. In essence, you have at least 5 stab wounds on your body. If you still have your drain tube, that was the worst part of it all for me. I hated the drain tube. Once it is removed, please keep the area clean and covered until it scabs over to avoid any type of infection. Walking is very important every day, but try not to overdo it. Definitely rest; your body needs to rest to heal. I am 6 weeks post op and feeling pretty good. I don't really feel like I had surgery 6 weeks ago so the pain will subside. If you have pain meds, please take them so you don't have to suffer. You will be completely off them before you know it.

I purchased both; PB2 and the chocolate PB2. I've tasted both, mostly in my shakes, but they do put a nice spin on just plain chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry shakes. I will have to try it in other things as I move into regular foods.

I usually just drink my Water plain, or when out I ask for a lemon. I've had cucumber infused water before and that is rather refreshing, but I'm a pretty plain jane girl when it comes to flavors; kind of a vanilla or chocolate kind of thing. I don't really like flavored drinks like iced teas and such.

No, I don't think that is a symptom of gastritis. Gastritis is basically your digestion/stomach. I would perhaps call and get in to see a gastroenterologist; or at least your primary care doctor as soon as possible. I'd be concerned with something that feels like it is getting stuck in my throat, and moving to the back. That does not sound normal.

Mine doesn't create a problem for me walking, it just causes some discomfort. I continue to do as much walking as possible as well as being active with housework and cutting grass. I must push forward. I'm sorry that you are experiencing so much pain that it is causing you problems with walking. Hope it gets better quickly.

I've had a few doozies in my life where medical personnel are concerned. I would have told her how rude and uncompassionate her behavior was, and how hurtful and non-encouraging it was too. This person takes being coldhearted to a new level. What a B**tch, with a Capital B! You are doing great. Don't let anyone take your sparkle from you!

Cuchas, what antibiotics were you on, and if not too personal, for what? Antibiotics can do a number on your system. Any time I'm prescribed an antibiotic, I take Florastor probiotic with it. Florastor is the only one that the antibiotic will not wipe out of your system. I've had great success with it in the past. I usually take Align daily (I've had IBS for several years. The Align keeps it all good). Hope you heal quickly!

Don't feel bad Elle Marie. I have nerve damage in my right leg (side of thigh) as well (nerve damage was from my hysterectomy 16 years ago). For some reason this surgery caused it to flare up. It's been 6 weeks now and everytime I walk it gives me a burning sensation into the middle of my thigh! It has gotten slightly better since surgery, but Ugh! I hate the feeling! I have never found anything to help with mine, present or past. Good Luck. Let me know if anything helps.