Sadiebug

My program does not recommend gummies because of two reasons: 1. added sugar and 2. they don't contain the same amounts of vitamins that chewable ones do. The reason they gave was the gummie vitamins were formulated with lower quantities of vitamins and often no iron because the chances of a child thinking they are candy and eating a bunch is greater (i.e. potential for toxic/overdose levels.). So I would carefully check the formulation, dose and how many you would need to take to get the recommended levels if you take a gummie vs. a chewable (or patch or whatever).

I was the same way with the lack of restriction. I didn't feel it at first....I could pretty easily eat more than my 1-2 oz I was supposed to have (especially soup!) And I remember thinking how very easy it would be to go back to my old binging ways. Well, long story short, about 4 weeks after surgery I was eating lean turkey....which was ok on my plan at that time but I was eating far too fast, not chewing, not paying attention to portion size. and about 10 bites in I was in a lot of pain and ended up vomiting it all back up. Thankfully I didn't do any damage to my pouch but it sure scared me. And really showed me just how important it is that I fix my 'head'.... Now that I'm eating solid foods it is much easier to feel it too. I also think I never really understood what "full" felt like. I always thought it was the painful, uncomfortable, going to explode feeling but it's not. After talking to my NUT, I now know that full for me is more of a slight heaviness in my stomach - and when I feel that I know the next bite or two will send me over the top.

I didn't tell anyone at work the specifics of my surgery (except my best friend who just happens to work at the same place). When I requested my leave of absence I said I was having major abdominal surgery - and that is what my surgeon puts on the paperwork as well. And I just told my team I was having surgery and would be out 4-6 weeks. Anyone who inquired further was met with a blank stare because it is none of their business. Actually, that's not entirely true....if people were especially pushy I told them random stuff like "boob job" or "lobotomy".

Mix the chicken with franks hot sauce, some fat free cheese and fat free ranch. It's not too bad....not great but not horrible. I survived on that and fat free refried beans.

I'm the exact same way. It does get a little better when you are eating solids because they will fill you up faster. I didn't ever feel "full" or "stuck" though until one day like 5-6 weeks out when I was eating too fast. Then I quickly realized I really did have restriction! I agree with the protein first because it really does help. I just keep telling myself that this is better than the alternative of getting sick with everything I eat... and I am losing weight just fine.

I kept reminding myself why I made the decision to have the surgery. And made a very long list of things I wanted to do when I lost the weight and things I wouldn't miss about being fat. Looking at that over and over and over helped.

Hot tea or decaf coffee.

Maybe check your iron? My energy was pretty low so my Dr had me add an iron supplement and it really helped. I was getting iron in my multis but I guess not enough.

I wish I had brought less! But a must have for me was my iPad. I had Netflix running constantly because the noise was a good distraction. I also brought some facial wipes and baby wipes for a quick cleanup. I wasn't up to taking a shower....

I ate pickles and olives around a month out. Not sure if that was right or wrong though! I was craving something salty...

I use centrum complete chewables. They don't taste great but don't make me nauseous. My surgeon also recommends flintstone complete.

I had the exact same thing. Lost 28 lbs in the first month and then had 2 weeks where I only lost 2....but I just kept with it and am now losing again.

I had a couple days of weird nausea around 6 weeks out but it resolved pretty quickly. I chalked it up to the fact that I was trying a lot of new foods at that time since my surgeon had just let me stop the puréed diet. I think I read somewhere that strictures can show up around 6 weeks out though so if it doesn't get better it would be worth a call to your Dr to be safe. Hope you feel better soon!

Canned chicken with some franks hot sauce, fat free ranch, and a little bit of cheese. Bake it at 350 for about 20 minutes. And fat free refried beans... those two things were my staples for the soft food part.

It is scary. It is major, life changing surgery. And it's 100% ok to be scared. But for me being morbidly obese was scary and major and life changing too so I made my choice. At least with surgery I knew my life would change!

I'm post op and still have the same concerns! But what I'm thinking is that with typical diets I will lose some, really slowly and then get frustrated and go back to old habits before I really have a chance to feel the benefit of weight loss. With this, I'm hoping the restriction, fear of dumping and rapid weight loss during the first year or so will get me to a point where I can really see and feel the benefit and make some legit lifestyle changes. Then when the honeymoon is over I won't be as tempted to go back to my old ways.

I'm about a month out from surgery and am feeling some of the same things. One thing I have realized is that I don't miss the food as much as I miss the social aspect of going out to eat with family and friends. Just last night my husband and I went out to a restaurant. I didn't eat hardly anything - a tiny bit of chicken - but I could have cried tears of joy because it felt so normal to be out with him, have a great conversation and a date night. That has been a turning point for me. Realizing that I can still go out but just eat differently.

The jelly feeling will go away for sure. Early on whenever I would lay back or especially on my side I swear it felt like all of my insides would shift and tumble around. That went away around maybe 2-3 weeks?

I was able to lay flatter on my back (with a pillow fort all around me!) after about a week. I'm a side/stomach sleeper and am just starting to do that comfortably at about 4 weeks out. I discovered that if I stopped drinking fluids about 30 minutes before bed it helped me be more comfortable on my back. And if I drank during the night I would sit up for 10-15 minutes before trying to lay back down.

My dr approved me for 4 weeks but I'm going back after 3 because I'm so bored sitting at home. I prefer my routine so getting back to work and keeping busy will help with my head hunger also...

You will be fine! I had (still have) a high BMI, my program didn't have a liver shrink diet at all either, just one day of liquids. I had surgery on Jan 25 and all went well. Keep walking after surgery no matter how much it stinks. And remember that every single day will get a little bit easier. Best of luck!

I had so much trouble getting water down. Then one morning I tried peppermint tea - that's what I used to drink before surgery when I didn't feel good. And it went down so easily. Ginger flavors of tea are also good if you are nauseous. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Anyone not feel great at 2 weeks post-op? Most of the time I have read that people felt totally normal by 2 weeks but I just don't . I feel a million times better than right after surgery but I still have pretty low energy, one of my incisions is still a bit sore when I bend and twist, I'm grumpy and whiny... I'm having no trouble getting Protein, Water, puréed foods or my Vitamins down but it's frustrating to still not feel "good". Any advice?? Thanks! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thanks everyone [emoji4]. Probably the lack of sunlight here in Indiana isn't helping either! It is good to hear that others were similar though. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

My puréed diet is 3 "meals" a day. Meal 1: 1oz Protein, 1oz fruit. Meal 2: 1oz protein, 1oz starch. Meal 3: 1oz protein, 1oz vegetable. Then I have Protein shakes (about 60g) in addition to those meals. I'm struggling to get creative with it....but it's fairly easy to follow. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App