MTL

I'm 6 wks out from my gastric sleeve & hiatal hernia repair surgery. Pretty much still on the three shakes daily, so my protein's 90 gms. I can eat a scrambled or cooked egg, cottage cheese & a bit of soup. I'm using a baby spoon & baby fork to ensure I don't eat more than a "squashed pea size amount (SPSA)" when eating & go very slowly to make my meals last. My surgeon said to cut cut cut every ounce of food that I eat & then cut some more so all are the SPSA, arrange the food starting with the beginning of the English alphabet & then take a bite. When I'm done chewing that & have swallowed, go to the next letter in the alphabet & rearrange all my SPSA's before taking another bite & keep following this code to ensure I don't eat too much too fast. This is helping me get into a pattern of eating that will keep my food inside of me. I actually successfully ate a meatball, a fish taco, and some Chinese food this holiday weekend & kept it all in, which was pretty thrilling. When a friend I was dining w asked me if I didn't like the whole spaghetti meal, I said I just had a hernia repaired & can't eat much, but totally enjoyed the meatball! I did try a banana in my shake, but it caused the runs, so I'm not using any fruit until I'm 8 wks out & will try again. Hydration isn't an issue: I've been able to have SF popsicles (yay for fudgesicles & 50/50 creamsicles), broths, Walmart's Great Value drinks (same as Crystal Lite but you get more for much less), jellos & puddings, & just recently have been able to drink H20. As long as everything's SF, I'm feeling like I'm doing pretty well. I don't have a gallbladder, so my biggest concern has been to get my protein in & stay hydrated. I'm also a chef, but it's no longer hard for me to make meals I'm not eating: I'm not craving them or deserts thank goodness. I've been walking since the day of surgery, walking my puppy multiple times daily, use a treadmill & recumbent bike for 15 min ea & I've been teaching H20 aerobics M-F for a couple of wks now. I've just added an early am 1/2 hr walk in a park w a client & end my days at the barkpark w my almost year old Italian Cane Corso Mastiff "puppy" who now weighs 130 lbs (he's going to end up weighing 150 lbs): I walk all over the park following him or vice versa! I'm adding my Pilates Reformer exercises in this next week & yoga.

Since I had my hiatal hernia repair at the same time that I had my sleeve surgery, I told just a few people that I had the sleeve surgery. I figure it's my own business pretty much: except here, where I feel completely safe to share & learn from everyone on their journeys.

Firstly, huge props & congratulations to you. Secondly, you do look fabulous but you're the one who decides what is your best weight; however, I would give a lot of thought re: what your surgeon says. Thirdly, a great therapist will help you see what you look like vs you seeing yourself & the old fat person you were. Fourthly, Pilates Reformer workouts will lengthen your slim self & you will get that beautiful dancer's body if you're looking for that. Lastly, let us know how you did accomplish your 10 mo weight loss & fabulous goal. I'm 6 wks post-op & need all the help possible with any pointers you can share to help me reach my weight loss goal. I've lost 31 lbs since my May 24th surgery, I started at 217 lbs & my weight goal is 115 lbs. I have just begun to tolerate eating tiny bites of certain foods. Thank you for your photos & sharing with us. You look fabulous! Sent from my SCH-I545 using BariatricPal mobile app

Water is difficult to drink post-op, so try the Great Value drink mixes from Walmart, which are the same as Crystal Lite for so much less money. I also had the problem of hurling, so I tried the EAS 100 Whey SF protein powder & mixed it w H2O & then tried drinking 4 ounces in a 1/2 he & built up to 8 ounces an hr. Sorry you're having trouble & I know it's going to get better. In addition, I took the compasine my surgeon prescribed until the nausea receded. Sent from my SCH-I545 using BariatricPal mobile app

My hiatal hernia was repaired when I was sleeved, 5/24/17. What a relief it is to not have GERD/Acid Reflux or to need Rx's for these, as well as high blood pressure, diabetes & high cholesterol. I called my surgeon's office for cancellations & was able to get in two mos earlier for my surgery, which was great. Pain, stomach spasms & nausea were the greatest things to overcome just after surgery: I was up and walking the day of surgery & have kept that up. Ice chips help you right after surgery & then a little bit afterwards I had NS/No Gluten Lemon ices, popsicles & broths, which really helped me feel better. The morning after surgery, I had all these plus my 1st NS Shake & drank H20. My 1 mo post-op on the 23rd showed I'd lost just a bit over 21 lbs. I measure my NS drinks w plastic glasses they gave me at the hsp & have just been able to tolerate H20 by itself this week: for some reason H20 is harder on the stomach I've discovered for many of us post-op. I teach H20 aerobics during the summer mos & have added treadmill & recumbent bike to my exercise plan, all approved & I can begin adding in yoga & Pilates Reformer at about 6 wks. I do nothing w/o the approval of my surgeon & although my next appt. is in Aug, if anything comes up, I can discuss it w them in anyone of the 3 post-op seminars they offer we patients or ask directly. I can eat a scrambled egg, but that's about all. Tried fruit in my shakes, but boy that ran right through me, as did NF cream soups. I don't know if this is a fact that my gallbladder was removed in late 2012, but I'll retry re-introducing these things slowly 1 at a time at about my 8 wks post-op. Whatever you do, be proud of yourself & what you've accomplished to bring you to this decision, which will change your life in the best possible way. The only opinions that matter are your surgeon's & yourself, but having forums to discover what lies ahead on your journey has been a Godsend for me. I researched for over 2.5 yrs before I made the decision to move forward & I'm glad bc I found the perfect surgeon & weightloss medical group after mtg w two others for myself; yet, on the otherhand, I wonder "Why didn't I do this for myself earlier?" My answer is "all things happen in perfect timing during our life" so I don't beat myself up & now feel very happy w myself/my journey. Good luck everyone on your own journeys.

Joann454: We're same day sleevers! I'm drinking my 3 protein shakes (90 grams/protein total), my broths, my Great Value=Crystal Lite from Walmart, and eating my jellos & puddings. I walk daily & teach H20 aerobics M-F. As of the 23rd, I've lost a bit over 21 lbs. Don't feel discouraged, just know that every day is going well for you & you will lose both weight & inches. I can eat an egg & a little bit of cottage cheese, but that's all. This is our journey & you're never alone. Sent from my SCH-I545 using BariatricPal mobile app

How do I get a body weight measuring app like Bariatric Guru? I can't figure it out...TY

It's been 1 month today for me. I promise you it's going to get better. My surgeons offer monthly ongoing support groups with a psychologist to deal with our food issues, nutrition & the huge changes we're facing after our gastric sleeve surgery. I hope you have this same support. I've lost 21.9 lbs & am still unable to eat anything except an egg. Everything else is going right through me. I'm drinking my shakes, broths, SF drinks & chewing my SF Popsicles. Today I'm making SF jello pops! I miss lots of food, especially since I'm a chef, but have not needed my diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol & stomach's GERD/acid reflux Rx's since surgery so this alone helps me out mentally. My starting weight was 218 & my goal weight is 115: but getting a healthy full life is my ultimate goal. Reading & commenting on other's stories has helped a lot. You're going to do well & congrats on taking care of yourself Charlie75. Sending you a big high 5! Sent from my SCH-I545 using BariatricPal mobile app

You're right, plus my surgeon told me that having an hiatal hernia and diabetes guarantees one will gain more and more weight until the hernia is repaired. Although I'm 5'4" and only weighed 217 lbs at the time of my surgery, I was still morbidly obese & my BMI was 35. It's been a blessing not to need any of my diabetes, high blood pressure & high cholesterol Rx's since surgery. I was told this would most likely occur, but I didn't believe it would happen immediately. My endocrinologist & internist are happy and incredibly supportive. My 4wks post-op appointment is Fri., and I can't wait to have them see my results: weightloss, inches lost, lower BMI & that I'm teaching H20 Aerobics 2x's M-F. I walk on the treadmill, ride the recumbent bike & walk my giant-sized dogs. I feel so well, although I'm just only able to tolerate an egg, as far as food is concerned. I know that will change & how important it is to follow protocols as set, and not eat big bites or quickly. Good luck everyone on your own journeys.

3 wks post-op & I tried smoothies by adding a piece of fruit to my shakes: no bueno. I have been able to get an ounce of NF cottage cheese or 1 egg & keep it in so very bueno. I'm taking the reintroduction of foods very slowly. Just want to be able to tolerate an ounce of anything right now. And, I'm grateful, very very grateful. Sent from my SCH-I545 using BariatricPal mobile app

I had my sliding hiatel hernia repaired & VSG surgery 3 wks ago, so the answer is yes to your question. What you need to know is that your stomach's actually made to beach the size of a hotdog, but shaped like a banana, another VSGer told me which helped me visually. My surgeon said he'd repair my umbilical hernia after I'd reached my goal weight, which is normal. I've not needed any Rx meds since surgery for diabetes, high blood pressure & high cholesterol, but do continue to take Achidphex for my stomach. This is normal. All acid reflux & GERD are gone, as are the Rx meds for them, except for the one I mentioned. I've lost almost 25 lbs. I' be just returned to teaching H20 aerobics M-F & was walking 15 min a day in 5 min increaments a day after surgery. At my 2 wk post-op I was ok'd to begin walking on the treadmill & riding a recumbant bike 15 min daily. Just know that getting up and walking after surgery's the best thing for you, which your surgeon & nurses will have you doing. I needed the antispasmodic & pain Rx's for 5 days post-op, if this helps you at all. Good luck with your journey. Sent from my SCH-I545 using BariatricPal mobile app

2 wks post-op gastric sleeve & hiatal hernia repair (surgery: 05/24/17). TY for all your posts. How do you get the weightloss ticker, I want that! Lost almost 18 lbs. but who's counting! No need for any diabetic insulin & meds, high cholesterol or high blood pressure Rx's since surgery: Yay! Introduced the bariatric chewable multi vitamins & calcium citrate w/D, yesterday. Have been dealing w introducing soft foods, starting w a scrambled egg & next up choc pudding. Problem: have had diarrhea off/on since just after the first week...not happy about it. Will call my Dr's nurse on Mon to see what I should do, but just took an OTC anti-diarrheal tiny pill to help. Had my gallbladder removed in 10/2012 & had this issue all the way up to surgery. Maybe I need a bariatric probiotic. Will check into that after calling the nurse. I have a Giant Schnauzer 15 yo/95 lbs) & a Cane Corso Italian Mastiff puppy (1yo/130 lbs), so been walking both multiple times daily since surgery. Will begin treadmill & recumbent bike tomorrow & I also teach H20 aerobics M-F, which begins tomorrow as well. My Drs' offices are gung ho on me giving them flyers to get patients moving: I only charge $1 per class & specialize w people who have disabilities/weight issues. If you live in Las Vegas, NV, come forth & exercise! TY.