melvin5ft2

@@solea78 I can only speak to the arthritis. I am also bone on bone in left knee and very close to it in right knee. I picked up a second hand Gazelle (Tony Little). Doesn't really require bending knees, though you can if you want. You can work up a good sweat with no impact. It is allowing me to get moving. Used to run on the treadmill (miss it). I also was doing exercise bicycle (with very low resistance) but was concerned it was just tearing up my knees more. You may want to give Gazelle a try. I tried to do Water aerobics. There are still many moves that require bending the knees, which hurts, and the logistics of doing a water class several times a week was too much of a pain for my schedule.

My husband had this from taking a particular type of antibiotic for an ingrown toe nail. While they were giving him antibiotics to get rid of it, we made sure he ingested as much yogurt or other yogurt type drink containing active s. thermophilus. He could not get rid of the diarrhea until he added that. The little 'shots' of probiotic drinks often contain it, but he made sure to drink as much as he could. Sorry to hear about all these troubles. At least you have a specific issue that can be fought and fixed. Good luck!

@@victorande My pre-op gastric sleeve class recommended soluble fiber like Benefiber and advised against insoluble fiber like metamucil (bulking agent). Not sure if that changes at some point in the future. I have been adding benefiber to hot tea the last few days. No issues.

@@chai20 Had surgery 7/12. Felt pretty bad for a week or so. Slowly started feeling better. Still not at my suggested stage (I'm supposed to be on soft food but I'm pureed for now cause its easier). Today I feel better than I have in a long while. Over 20 pounds off so far. My energy level is still not where I would like it to be and bending over hurts at times, but I'm feeling really good about this. Went to the grocery store to get some La Madeline Tomato Basil Soup. It feels like a treat after all the Protein Drinks. I'm not really missing food. I have missed so many things I used to like to do for so many years and I finally feel like I will get to do all those physical things again soon, so I'm feeling like its a very good trade off. Its super hot here in Central Texas so trying to go out and run errands or go to the store still drains me. I sweat a lot and I'm challenged to drink as much as I need to. I always drank a lot of Water before, but I could down a bottle of water in about 5 minutes in the past. As the weather changes (won't for a couple months still), I'll probably have more energy when I head out of the house. Keep in mind, for those who are newly post-op, I felt like death warmed over for over a week and had one day where I thought maybe I had a pulmonary embolism (false alarm), but overall (with carefully following the recommendations on how to eat and when to eat) I am getting better every day. I thought I would bounce back quicker from this surgery, like many others have expressed. But I realized that I need to rest as much as necessary so that I can heal well. I'm giving myself a chance to progress through the stages and master the eating habits so that I feel the best I can as soon as possible. It does get better. Much better.

My 2nd week was full liquids. 3rd week was pureed foods. 4th week is soft foods (which is where I'm supposed to be now) but I'm finding I'm still pretty much doing pureed (with the addition of scrambled eggs). I tried eating a chicken meatball this week and even with chewing it a whole heck of a lot, I felt like it didn't move for a long time. So I'm slowing progression through my stages down a bit. The paperwork I received from the NUT indicated that the timeframes were suggested but you could move through the stages as you were able to tolerate each level.

For those who are back to work, how long did you take off? In hindsight, do you think it was the right amount of time? How did you know you were ready to go back? Thanks

If the Protein you are using doesn't agree with you, I would try another kind. I am drinking the premier Protein shakes (2 a day) and that is about all the protein I can get in. I do make my meals (2 oz) with added protein if I can and that adds a little bit. Protein is important. You may want to try some of the engineered foods that are designed for bariatric patients as they have added protein. I have seen Soups, puddings, oatmeal etc. I have not purchased any of these yet myself, but it might help to use those for meals so that you are making sure to get more protein. Also, you can use the unflavored protein to mix into a beverage that you like to give you more variety. Mix it in crystal light or another zero calorie beverage. If you body does not get enough protein it will take what it needs from your muscles. This is not a good thing. Your heart is a muscle also. Hope some other members can suggest other types of Protein drinks that might help but I would definetely try some different brands. Its tough because everything is done so slowly (eating and drinking). Seems like every waking hour is consumed with remembering to constantly sip. Good luck to you!

Also wanted to.mention that I haven't felt hungry. I have been thirsty though. Made the mistake of taking 3 sips of water in quick sucession the other day. Major pain and discomfort. Will try to remain more mindful.

I had handouts from my surgeons mandatory gastric sleeve nutrition class. At 2 weeks I went to pureed from only liquids.I eat super slow using an infant spoon(purchased at the dollar store for 12 for a dollar). I also got some 1/4 cup sized little disposable sauce type cups with lids. I put my food in those, and so far I really cannot eat more than that. I was given a whole host of written guidelines for daily protein goals and water/fluid goals. Right now I'm drinking my protein between my 2 ounce 'meals'.

I checked my insurance to find out which surgeons were on it. Found a group practice with several surgeons and found their website. Went to a seminar with several others. Mentioned to a co-worker that I had attended a seminar and she recommended her surgeon. I checked the website and sure enough her surgeon was part of the group whose seminar I attended, so when I made my first appointment, I indicated that I would like her to do my surgery. Everything has gone relatively smoothly since. I am now 11 days post-op or 12 days I don't know if you count the actual day of surgery. I feel comfortable with my decision. The group had a nutrition education class (a requirement) aimed specifically at educating you about how you will eat after surgery. It was very thorough and included warnings, suggestions, shopping lists, food progression chart, recommended supplements, etc. I feel they did a good job preparing me for this and I am following all the guidelines they have given me.

@@Nicole Kahla my doctor has me on full liquids until the 3rd week. I had my surgery on the 12th. So in a few days I will move to pureed food. Then about a week after that to soft foods. Maybe you are trying to do too much too soon. Tonight I will take a can of cream of chicken Soup out of the cupboard and heat it up and strain it to get any little bits of chicken out. I have to take small sips of anything i am eating/drinking at this point or it is uncomfortable.

@@johnbamber thanks for this great idea. I'm still on liquids and my husband and I got a chance for a date night last night. So I suggested going to Panera for dinner. Then we went to the movies. I got my soup 'to go' and had some of it while my husband had soup and salad. Then after the movie I heated up the rest at home and had some more. Great. There were some tiny little bits of tomato in it (hope it didn't hurt anything). So we actually had dinner and a movie and I had a good time and was on liquids the whole time. I can do this.

@@JKBtx my doctor gave me these sublingual tablets (prescription) for nausea. Did you get anything like that and if you didn't ask for it (Ondansetron).

@@JKBtx wanted to let you know that I felt like heck for 5 days and have slowly been getting better (I had surgery July 12). Yesterday was the first day I was able to bend over without pain from my incisions. I actually went out tonight to the movies. I have been so weak. I had used my prescription pain medication the first couple days and then only in the evening to sleep (as rolling over hurt my incisions). I did not use it last night at all. I go back to work on Monday. I think I'll actually be able to work and I'm starting to feel more like my old self. The biggest issue is that my energy level is low. I'm sure that will resolve in time as it has been getting steadily better. I don't feel quite to dehydrated anymore, the gas pain is gone and I'm feeling more functional but boy those first few days... misery. Hope you feel right as quickly as possible.

@@nakole73 I had glue. I know they are invisibly sutured also. The glue has come off one of them and it is doing fine. The other are starting to lift a bit (had surgery July 12). I had told my surgeon I wanted to be able to bathe and they told me the glue would allow me to do that. I'm trying to just let them wear off. Today was the first day I was able to bend over without my largest incision hurting me.

@@virgmora I have unflavored unjury protein powder. I have added it to tomato soup. Not bad. Also added it to chicken broth. I think I'm ready for pureed stage but can't start that for a few more days. It will be nice to have a little more variety. Tonight I strained a can of cream of chicken soup. It was good.

No. These things weren't mentioned but maybe its because they don't always happen and are unimportant in the scope of things. I did not gain weight in the hospital. What they put in I peed back out. But I was well hydrated going in. Maybe that makes a difference, don't know. Also I'm not at 3 weeks yet, but I would not be surprised by a stall when you are progressively increasing the types and quantity of food you are eating in the first few weeks. Liquids don't hang around that lomg as far as digestion is concerned. The more solid it is, the longer it will take to process. So at some point in the first few eeeks you will progress from having a little liquid in your bladder to having as many as 3 solid food meals somewhere in your system. Hence more weight. dieted so many times in my life, I doubt anything other than consistant weight loss would surprise me.

@@JKBtx best of luck to you. Let us know how you are doing

@@Crystal Ann Keister My paperwork was submitted right after I finished all my requirements and it took the insurance company a month to approve me. I started to fear that they weren't going to approve because it was taking so long. I don't know why it took so long and no one will tell you anything in the process other than it is submitted. Its hard not to get anxious and I tried to be patient and was fairly patient the first couple weeks and then as it got to be longer I got more nervous. I pretty much didn't react when I heard the approval because I couldn't believe it at that point. I was expecting it to be denied. So... You may want to find some other thing to think about (if that is possible) for awhile in case it takes as long for yours as it did for mine. It didn't help to hear on this forum that some people were approved in a week. Made me feel like there was something wrong. I guess it just depends on how many they have to look at right now. Good Luck!

@@bornthisway622 Good Luck!!! Mine was a little over a week ago. Not regretting this. Hope all goes smooth for you! @@beyondgrief Good Luck to you also! To a smooth operation and smooth recovery!

I'm a week post op today and I have my post-op appt with my surgeon tomorrow. Trying to decide if I can manage to get back to work yet. My original intention was to be out of work for as short a time as possible. However, I have been more tired and uncomfortable (incision pain, sore throat etc) than I had anticipated. I work a desk job so its not physical, I sit at a computer all day. But even sitting around at home, I have been tired and felt that I needed to nap (and also hoped it would help me heal up faster). If you work and took time off work to heal, how long did you take? In hindsight, do you feel you took the appropriate amount of time? When did you feel you were ready to go back? Thanks

George, I hope you start feeling better very soon! I had really bad gas pain and its all but gone now. I took Gas X meltable strips and I think that helped. Also the thing with your throat. It seemed like every sip I took I could hear air come up right after. One thing I'm still doing (I had my surgery July 12) is that sometimes I sit here and pat/tap my chest from the middle to my throat and help the air come up. Its kind of like 'burping' yourself. It does help get the air up quicker. Give it a try and see if it helps.

please ignore this one, I posted twice by accident. I got an error message after each attempt to create a topic not realizing that it had actually worked. See the duplicate.

Told my doctor I was the most worried about the nausea. They put an anti-nausea patch behind my ear the morning of my surgery. I felt a bit queasy a couple of times sitting up in a chair the first few times. The only time I threw up is when I coughed unexpectedly and that caused the Water I had been sipping to come up. Other than that I've been fine. I have had sublingual anti-nausea medication prescribed and took one of them at home as a precaution the first time I took my pain medication but I haven't felt the need to take it since. I've been super careful not to sip too much. I'm only a few days post op, so it remains to be seen whether I develop nausea later.

Slept a bit better last night. A little less gas today. Pain and itching at incisions sites. I obviously use my abs for more than I think. My throat hurts at my right ear. Not walking around enough I'm sure. Still feeling tired and wanting to sleep a lot. Its hard to get in enough fluids when you are sleeping though... Looking forward to the first time I actually want to leave my house.