Freckles70

No purée specific stage on my plan. I had to do 1-2 days Clear liquids (in hospital), full liquids for two weeks which included yogurt and pudding, then 3 months of soft foods, followed by a return to "normal" with no restrictions (other than Protein goals and carb/fat limits). For the soft food phase, it was recommended to move slowly. I never actually puréed anything; I just chose naturally soft foods like refried Beans, tuna with ff mayo, soft scrambled eggs, etc.

As long as my incisions weren't submerged I was cleared to take a bath whenever I wanted. I think I had a bath within a week or two of surgery. I also have a regular old bathtub. Not super deep so my belly incisions were never below the water line.

Yep. I had a dent too where my biggest incision was. It went away after a few weeks as I healed up.

If I'm drinking my meal, like my breakfast protein shake, I will wait the 30 minutes. I figure anything with nutritional value I want it to have as much time in my stomach so that I can absorb the vitamins and nutrients. Water will flush everything through your system more quickly.

Is it on your surgeon's plan? For me it was and I enjoyed a wedge for a birthday treat at just about one month post op. But plans differ on when they allow fruit and other carbs. Even if they are relatively healthy. The suggestion to have a SF popsicle is probably a better idea for a few more weeks.

I think WW made a big mistake switching to the points program. I was never successful at it. Too easy to cheat the system. I liked it better when they had checkboxes for real food: 3 protein, 2 milk, 5 veggies, etc.

I was allowed to count 16 oz of my protein drinks towards my water, so counting that I was making my goal by day 3 or 4. But really I was only getting 48 oz of water in. I gradually was able to do 64 oz of water by the time I started soft foods/puréed during week 3.

Or justify it by using up all the WW points in that Big Mac, am I right?!?!

My birthday was about a month post op and I chose to have a small wedge of watermelon (allowed on my plan) as my treat.

I was told I could count up to 16 oz of my shakes toward my water goal.

I took it for about 6-8 weeks. I was on a daily dose for the first month and at my one month appt the surgeon told me to go to every other day to wean off and see if I developed any reflux. I finished off whatever I had left from my prescription and never had any problem. FWIW I had occasional reflux presurgery especially at my highest weight and when I was pregnant. I'm 68 lbs down and no problems.

@@kmorri @DonnaJeanne. My stats are also very close to yours. DonnaJeanne, I think it sucks that your NUT burst your bubble. My surgeon has been extremely pleased with my progress. I'm 5'6" my HW was 254, surgery weight was 229 on 5/10/16 and I hit Onederland on Sunday which was exactly 2 months/nearly 9 wks postop . Today my weight is 196.5. My next goal is 185 which will make my BMI *only* overweight (instead of obese).

I had occasional reflux and took Zantac as needed. I lost about 25 lbs pre-op and hadn't had any reflux during that weight loss phase that I remember (I had pretty severe and regular heartburn and reflux when I was pregnant). My doctor wasn't too concerned and at my one month appt told me to start weaning off my once daily Prilosec. I'm at 9 wks now and I take Prilosec every third day. I have not had any issues and expect my surgeon will tell me to come off the Prilosec entirely at my 3 month followup.

My program allowed me to add some fruit including watermelon (not juiced and strained) beginning at 2 wks. I'm only allowed to have a little fruit if I'm meeting protein and water goals already.

Are you avoiding drinking Water at least 30 minutes before and after dinner? Are you drinking from a straw during the day at work? I was sleeved on May 10 and the only time I have issues with gas is usually because of the above. (Or because I wore pants that were too tight all day.)

I was told I could take any pills that were smaller than and M&M starting right after surgery. However, my doctor had me opening capsules for the first month and mixing with applesauce or yogurt (for example, my Prilosec and gallstone preventative, Ursodiol). I do chewable multi Vitamin, calcium and sublingual B12. Other than that I'm now swallowing all pills at almost 6 wks post op.

I did not have any gas pains.

My hospital would not have allowed heating pads due to fire hazard and burn risk. However they did have chemical heat packs that they gave me for some back pain I had due to bed positioning.

I added hot sauce to my refried beans at two weeks post op. No problems. I was not given any restriction on it. My NUT just told me to go easy at first to see if I had reflux or heartburn issues or any other problems.

My doctor approved me to drive once I was off pain meds. For me that was about 5 days post op.

I wish I hadn't stocked up on so many protein powders. I really like Unjury (both pre and post op) but I bought a full container in each flavor so that I would have enough variety to get me through. Luckily I had a very easy recovery and my doc approved soft foods starting at two weeks post op. I still rely on at least one shake a day but it is still going to take me a loooooong time to use up my supply.

I found myself feeling "hungry" during my first two weeks post op too. Looking back I'm fairly certain that was due to two main reasons: 1) gas bubbles gurgling through my system mimicked the rumbling of an empty tummy and 2) lack of food diversity. My plan did allow cream of wheat (very thin and supplemented with protein powder), yogurt and pudding during the full liquids phase. It helped to alternate protein shakes with something like Greek yogurt that has more substance. Are you meeting your protein goals everyday? When you feel hungry you should be reaching for a ready made shake or a cup of broth or even a v-8 if you need some diversity in your diet. Please reach out to your NUT or program for help.

I had surgery on a Tuesday, went home on Weds with oxycodone and Tylenol. I alternated taking them about every 4-6 hours a directed for a few days. On Sat and Sun I only took the oxy before bed and I was totally off pain meds on Monday following surgery.

I had to stand in order to drink comfortably when I was in the hospital.

I make my egg salad like Elle above but also add a splash of vinegar and a dash of paprika to make a "deviled" egg salad.