shevek.annares

Yes - avoid straws. On day 9 for me I had to go to emerg for some stomach pain. They wanted a urine test so they gave me a large styrofoam cup of water, with a straw, and I started drinking from it because I completely forgot. After about three or four sips I was feeling bloated, and then I remembered about the straw. Because I was in a hospital, I guess I just assumed I would do whatever the doctors asked me to. They knew I had had RNY but they didn't know about the no-straw rule. They know now!

I'm also at about 600 calories per day, and can't eat any more, but the problem is a huge lack of energy. Went to the gym for the first time (I'm day 21 today and was just approved for "light" gym work) and it was hard to do more than 25 min. But as far as food goes, I'm still following the purée stage rigorously because I'm worried about dumping. My biggest craving-time is in the evening - 7-10 pm especially. But I've discovered that a poached egg with a piece of Melba toast works. You're right about moderation - being 2 months out you should be able to introduce some of the carbs you crave, but pay attention to how it makes you feel.

Get that protein in, however you can. Had my 2 week post op on Friday, and I have been getting in all of my water and protein, and have healed very well. Doc attributes it to getting in the fluids and protein which help with the healing process so much. The pain could be siping too quickly or drinking something too cold. I only drink room temp because I did notice a pain when drinking something too cold. The pain will get better. About Day 9 for me, I noticed a different, consistent pain in my ribs on my left side. It seems to be that's muscle pain, and it's normal, as the muscles that they went through for the surgery begin to heal.

Just came back from post surgery check up and I asked the doctor this question. I was just over 2 weeks since surgery; the doctor said that it was fine to sleep on stomach, if it was comfortable. He said that it wouldn't be a problem with the surgery (i.e nothing would burst open). Still some discomfort for me, but using pillow for side support helps - kind of like how I slept when pregnant.

Are you stopping your fluid intake before eating(15 min or more) and then not resuming fluids for at least 30 minutes after eating? If you’re drinking soon after then it pushes the food through the pouch faster and you feel hungry much quicker

All of my vitamins right now are chewable, as per my NUT team. Weak, definitely, because right now I'm only taking in 600 calories per day. Getting used to it. Am about to cross over to puréed foods and am so excited - have already prepared my puréed yams, carrots, and butternut squash. I started feeling better on Day 5 - went to my family doctor, whose office is in a small mall, and was able to walk around the upper level once (with the senior mall walkers - such a friendly group!). I felt little pain until day 9-10 when I started feeling my stomach muscles start to heal. Am down 46 since beginning of December. Looking forward to being cleared to start exercise. You'll get there. Pay attention to your pain, though, and don't be a hero - too intense, get back to the hospital.

The first few days out are the gas pains - we were pumped full of it, and it can be painful. Start getting your vitamins in. Do what everyone else is saying and get off your feet, even if it's just to make a lap around your place. My most painful day came on day 9. I was worried about there being a leak or that something was wrong with the stitches inside so I went to emergency. My emerg doctor was a woman in her early thirties who just happens to be starting her own bariatric journey, so she knew EVERYTHING to look for. I ended up having. a bunch of tests taken, x-ray and ultrasound. She was convinced nothing was wrong and that the pain I was feeling is the muscles in my stomach starting to heal themselves (after all, they were drilled through for the surgery). Do your research - get a bariatric cookbook so you can start thinking ahead about planning your meals (that will get your mind off the pain).. And good luck!

Thanks for asking that - I had the same question. I was never explicitly told by my doctors not to sleep on stomach, and that's normally how I sleep. I've been getting by using a duvet as a wedge to keep me on my side, and a couple of pillows. It does make sense to stay off the stomach for at least a couple of weeks. I have my 2 week post op meeting with doctor tomorrow, so I will double check with him and post answer here!

Yeah - meant to add a different pic but couldn't edit post after! The chocolate is with skinny syrup (skinny syrup - flavour Irish cream) and a teaspoon of decaf coffee. It was VERY nice. Then added foam to it to make the texture light.

Agreed. Add a little dillweed to it for a bit of a change. My 16 year old inherited my love of cottage cheese, so we keep well-stocked.

The optifast is powdered. Instead of making it a drink, I added a lot less water and adjusted it until I got to the right consistency. Then I added either Torani or Skinny syrup - not a lot, maybe 15ml, and then a tablespoon of decaf (depending on what kind of skinny syrup I was adding). If I was adding the raspberry, then I'd skip the decaf coffee. Skinny Syrup also makes fat free sugar free foams meant to go on hot drinks. I added it to the opti and it made the texture light, like a mousse. Much, much more bearable for me than drinking it. After I discovered the mousse/pudding option, I used this method for the rest of the 4 weeks. To be honest, the taste was fantastic. I also added Mio orange to the vanilla and the taste was similar to a creamsickle. The only problem is that you have this 4 times per day, and for me, it was 4 weeks. While it was good, I *really* looked forward to something savoury, like my beef broth that I was allowed once a day.

Definitely had same thoughts (but not about insurance because I’m in Canada and it’s a little different here). Thought they’d go in and discover that the Opti hadn’t shrunk the fat around the liver enough or something like that. But all is done now and so far I’ve been lucky (although feeling a little nauseous right now)

Hey February folks; my RNY was Feb. 1. It was actually supposed to be a week earlier but it was delayed. I was on 4 weeks of Opti so when the surgeon office called me at the end of week 2 and told me to take a one week reprieve from Opti I was excited. They were concerned about my being upset about the delay. I was thrilled to be able to have a whole wheat tuna sandwich with cottage cheese for lunch. Optifast was difficult but I got it done. Survived it by making it pudding style with no calorie skinny syrup and decaf coffee. Noticed right after surgery that even water tasted sweet. I remember asking the nurses if they put something in the ice chips.

My bariatric centre also approved low fat cottage cheese in liquid diet stage. Which is great for me since I happen to love it!