heidikat72

I've been saying this for a while especially because so many people don't seem to have the slightest concept of what is actually done to create their sleeve and what the staple line is like.

At this phase it is most likely what is called "head hunger". The nerves were cut as your sleeve was made so very unlikely you are really feeling anything. Between that and the consistency of pureed foods, you might not feel restriction at this point. When you start having dense Protein like baked chicken, that restriction will kick in. another possibility for what is feeling like hunger - are you on a PPI? Even if you are, you may need a dosage adjustment. Excess acid often mimics a "hungry" sensation.

i tend to keep fish pretty simple. although with tilapia being mild, it is a great base for pretty much any seasoning you want. I bake mine in either a foil or parchment paper packet - having it completely encloses will help keep it moist. lately I've been on a greek seasoning and a little lemon juice kick. but i've also put on carribean jerk seasoning or cajun seasoning. just know that it cooks quick so don't be tempted to leave it in the oven longer.

my sleep study came back indicating i hadsleep apnea - very mild but still able to be listed as a diagnosis of sleep apnea. and they definitely did not wake me up and put a CPAP on me during the study.

Have you given deli sliced turkey a try? just watch out for the sodium level and try to find a low sodium one. Also the flavored pouches of tuna and salmon were a staple of my soft foods phase. I also baked tilapia in either a foil or parchment paper pouch which helps keep it moist - just don't overcook!

That liver panel level is nothing to worry about. Keep getting your blood work checked on schedule and you should see it come back down. During my 6 month pre-op period, I lost a significant amount of weight and first one and then 2 of my liver enzyme levels started going up. My surgeon wasn't worried, my PCP was a little concerned at one point and did some additional blood tests to rule out a few issues. I did my own research (which my surgeon backed up and said he's seen the same thing) that with rapid weight loss in women it is not at all unusual for those enzyme levels to initially increase before they fall. For some reason it doesn't seem to happen in men.

I haven't done it but I think it should be ok. I use the caramel premier as my coffee creamer and add it directly to my very hot cup of coffee without problem. I think the ready to drink shakes aren't as finicky about temps as the powder (adding powder to hot liquid above 140 degrees makes it clump and be yucky). So as long as you gently warm it, it should be fine! There is also Protein hot chocolate mix that is a powder but can be added to hot Water - I've tried that, I think the brand is Healthwise - and it was pretty good.

Regardless of what type of weightloss surgery, you should plan to use a back up method of birth control for a while. Fat cells store estrogen, as you lose fat all that estrogen gets released making oral contraceptives (which are hormone based) less effective.

it will vary greatly! Even though I was a very high BMI - I lost NOTHING the first two weeks. Please don't start comparing or stressing about the scale this early out. The first month - just focus on plan and healing. The weight loss will happen but the rate really cannot be predicted.

My hospital would not have released me to an Uber driver/taxi driver, public transport etc. So make sure you check with your hospital. They want to make sure you have someone looking out for you. Uber would definitely be an option to get you to the hospital though. If your friends want to help - let them (and this is coming from someone who hates to ask for help - I had to get over that) but don't be afraid to set boundaries too (I had to firmly tell two friends that I really did not need anyone staying with me at home after surgery). You surgeon should be able to tell you what the typical hospital stay for his patients are (mine was 2 nights). Then that morning, they should be able to give you a good idea of what time that day you'll be released. I'm sure one of your friends wouldn't mind being on "standby" that day to bring you home.

My first 14 days I lost nothing! And I don't know when the weight loss actually started because I refused to weigh myself at home during the first month and only did weighings at my post op appts with the surgeon. At my 1 month post op I was 22lbs down. Now 5 months later - I'm 78.5lbs down. Do not focus so much on weight loss in the first month - focus on healing. If you stick with the plan, the weight will come off but for some of us, our bodies fight it initially - or at least are reeling from the major surgery we just did.

it is a crazy tough stage but in the grand scheme of things it really doesn't last that long. You really do have to power through it. The sugar free popsicles were a major help for me immediately post op - satisfied the need to chew as I crunched on the ice before it melted. At 4 days out - really focus on your fluids (protein is important, but dehydration will land you back in the hospital on IV fluids and nobody wants that!). Think of it as your job - because for the first few weeks, meeting fluid and protein goals is your job, your only job. It took me until about day 5 or 6 after surgery to meet my fluid goal - almost over night it became so much easier to get fluids in. But initially i was sipping for what seemed like constantly from 6:30am until midnight to try to meet fluid goals. It was a chore. And then focus on protein - it is important for healing as well as general health - I know a lot of people don't like the shakes but think of it as a prescription you have to take instead of a meal to enjoy.

it isn't uncommon to have nausea that early often spurred by the anethesia trying to clear out of your system. I had it that first night after surgery and they put an anti-nausea med in my iv line and it took care of it. I did have a few mild bouts of nausea (never actually vomitted and they only lasted about 10 minutes) through the first week, typically only one a day in the morning. The hiccups when you get up is probably the gas moving around as you move around - it will get better as the gas clears out of your system. Get up and walk as often as you can, that really is the only way to dispel the gas. As another poster mentioned, hold a pillow against your abdomen when you get up or back into bed/seated position. The mild pressure when you move really does help.

were the peaches fresh or canned? I ask because when I was transitioning from puree to soft foods, I bought some of the little fruit cups of peaches to add a few chunks of peach to my cottage cheese. They were marked no sugar added and I didn't really pay attention when I picked them up as to what sweetener was in them. It took me a few days of getting sick to realize it was the monkfruit sweetener in them that did not agree with me AT ALL. Amount wise I don't think you ate too much. And with the number of hours that had elapsed before you felt sick, it may be completely unrelated to what you ate. eggs do give a lot of people trouble early out though. Maybe to narrow it down, just try one new food a day to make sure you are ok with it and then the next day you can add another new food and so on.

are you on solid food yet? at 4 weeksI was transitioning from purees to "soft" solid food. The flavored tuna and salmon pouches were a big part of my diet at that stage. They don't require refrigeration either so they would make a convenient road trip Protein snack/meal. If you can take a small cooler or insulated bag - maybe some string cheese and yogurt? and lots of water/noncaloric beverages.

Take a deep breath. It won't be bad. At my appointment we went through my history of weight problems - I had to fill out a questionnaire before hand. They really just wanted to make sure that I understand the risks of the surgery, why a lot of the post-op guidelines are there and that I understood the surgery isn't a miracle cure and that I needed to commit to some major lifestyle changes along with it. They also wanted to make sure I had a support network (doesn't have to be family, just a couple of people who are in your corner). They also wanted to guage whether there were any issues that might impact my success that I need to deal with (eating disorders, depression etc). They may recommend you get professional counseling depending on your specific info but see that for what it is - a way to set you up for success!

and initially you might not be able to get 4oz of purees in in one sitting. Start with small amounts and slowly build from there.

At 13 days out - you should be able to drink more than 1oz every 15 minutes. On my plan (again my plan, and different programs have different plans) we were to start out at 1oz every 15 minutes so we didn't go too fast those first few days and end up with discomfort/pain. But we were told to progress to more than that as we could tolerate it. And yes, it was a full time job at first to get in fluids - seriously from the time I got up at 6:30am until I went to bed (which usually wasn't until midnight because I was still trying to get fluids in!). However since you are 13 days out - try drinking faster - but still sipping initially - and see how you do. It should be getting much much easier to get your fluids in.

I lost nothing in the first two weeks. You likely came out of the hospital weighing more than when you went in thanks to the IV fluids. Plus you just had a major surgery - your body is focusing on healing not weightloss. This first month focus on healing and hitting your protein and fluid targets and don't worry about the scale yet. Plus, 5lbs in a week is pretty decent weightloss.

It really completely depends on what pre-op diet your bariatric practice prescribes. Mine didn't require "only liquids" - just that I keep my calories to no more than 800 while getting at least 80 grams Protein. So ask your team at your next appointment - they should be able to give you clear guidelines. I know all of the information can be overwhelming but as the person above said- just breathe, you can do it. It may seem like an awfully long time and yes, the first few days of it will be challenging but just keep your eye on the prize and remember why you are doing this.

I second everything @@OKCPirate said. And would suggest you find a counselor/therapist now. You are embarking on two very emotional journeys and having a therapist for support as you work through it will be a help.

yes. depending on how far out you are and your particular surgeon's suggestions, they may prefer you do decaf tea for a while. an iced herbal tea (naturally caffeine free) might be a good option if they want you to lay off caffeine for a while. note: the whole no caffeine thing tends to become a heated debate on here. So I will just say follow your practice's guideline on that.

I just recently went under 300 myself - and it feels awesome! seriously it has been at least 15 years maybe even 20 since I was under 300lbs. Congrats on your accomplishment - this is hard work!

most likely fluid retention - even pre-op when I would have more than one drink, I'd retain fluid for a couple days. Just drink tons of water to flush it out. and definitely don't weigh at night! lol Seriously, I am routinely 2-3lbs heavier at the end of the day (sometimes as much as 5lbs!). We hold on to stuff during the day and at night while sleeping, our bodies reset. So I always compare morning numbers on the scale.

a lot of nonfat greek yogurt - just make sure it doesn't have fruit bits in it. refried Beans with a little cheese melted on it tuna, chicken, or salmon (the flavored pouches of tuna and salmon are great for this) pureed with a tablespoon or so of plain nonfat greek yogurt. ricotta bake (the recipe is on the blog "the world according to eggface" - she also has a whole post dedicated to what to have on the puree phase, and later when cleared for "all food" she does posts called "A day in my pouch")