Orchids&Dragons

I'm supposed to start over through all the food stages because it's a new surgery and it all needs to heal. There's the same danger of damaging a suture line, etc. After a new surgery, the pouch is supposed to be tiny and inflamed, just like the first time, so you have tiny bits of food because that's all that is supposed to fit. And, to avoid all the things like nuts/seeds that can get stuck in the suture lines. I confess, I've even been into sunflower seeds. BAD Dragon!

Noooo, it wasn't sugar-free candy!

OK, I'll give it a go. Take all with a grain of salt, please! #2 (Helps explain #1) They turn your stomach into a "funnel". There is no valve at the bottom, but they control the size of the opening between the pouch and the intestine. So the food collects in the pouch until it has time to dribble through the opening into the intestine. Liquids pass right through the pouch. I'm not sure how long solid foods stay. #1 If you drink while eating, the food in the pouch becomes much more "liquidy" and slides through to the small intestine more quickly. Hence, no feeling of fullness and the food has less time to be broken down by the grinding action of your pouch, so you can increase your malabsorption tendencies. If food gets stuck, a sip to clear it is fine. Straws - some doctors allow them, some don't. They don't cause me to swallow any extra air, so I use them. But, that's the main reason given to avoid them. #3 Your Intestines have muscular contractions that move food from your stomach down through the intestinal tract. That's what keeps everything moving in the right direction. Hope this helps!

Yes, I'm sure the drinking will play a part. But, I wasn't drinking much, nothing like I did pre-op. Maybe 1/2 glass of tea compared to 2-3 glasses with a meal before WLS. Just going to have to feel my way along! Not sure if this is a celebration or a complaint, but also haven't found anything that causes dumping. I've eaten some small candies, nuts, peanut butter. All good (or bad, depending on your perspective). Yes, I know eating crap is bad and some of these things at 5 weeks are insane, but as I said, I'm really struggling with the "do-over." My head is not in the game this time around.

@GreenTealael Who is that on your avatar?

Per my cardiologist, the 64 oz. was the result of a single study, and used people who worked both indoors and out in the heat. That's why he doesn't hold to it.

Friday evenings also tend to be low attendance at the gym. You can do this!

I have been told that I should feel significantly more restriction now. NOT happening. To be fair, I think you and I were on the "abnormal" amount of restriction for the sleeve, but I was OK with that, as are you. I want my restriction back, now!

My brother's hematologist is also a chemo doc. Must be a common tie-in. Hope all your results look great!

So far, no change to esophagus issues (and didn't expect any) although if it becomes less inflamed (I'm on Carafate 3x/day) maybe the food will go down easier. My concern is that it was a reasonable amount because I purposefully stopped eating and put the rest in a box. However, I felt absolutely no restriction and could have kept eating (and seriously considered it.) I'm eating 1/2 an apple now for breakfast. Never could have done that with the sleeve - not at 5 weeks, not at 8 months!

But I'm only 5 weeks post-op. With the sleeve I could maybe have eaten one shrimp at 5 weeks, yesterday I had 3-4 shrimp, 2 slices of chicken and some noodles! No foamies, no stomach ache, nothing. Scares the bejesus out of me.

It looks nice but it's hard to see the color because of the back-lighting

Romano's Macaroni Grill penne rustica:

Cute top!

It's tough in the beginning because you will never feel full with liquids (or even purees). They just slide right through your pouch. Once you get to more solid foods they stay in the pouch and give you a feeling of fullness, although it is not the same feeling of fullness as before. Good luck, we know how you feel.

So, per the doctor's scale, have you lost all that weight recently?

You're looking fantastic! And omgosh, those legs!

Fortunately, I give my left-over tilapia to hubby who makes a fish taco out of it.

I chose the sleeve for the exact same issues and it worked great for me. I lost 100 lbs. in 8 months. It's all about the best solution for your personal issues. Best of luck! (I revised to RnY later because of reflux issues, but that's a whole other issue. I'm finding it very hard to adapt. I think the sleeve was easier for controlling amounts.)

I keep the individually packaged frozen tilapia fillets in the freezer. I like to poach them in a little simmering water with lemon slices and some pepper. Comes out very soft and tasty and quick, too!

You look fantastic! Congrats! Your hard work has paid off!

If I wear compression socks, I get a big fluid buildup just above the sock. So instead of my ankles swelling, it's my calves or my knees. If I wear the hose, they cut off the circulation to my legs since I have a sit-down job all day. So, I'd rather deal with the swelling, to be honest. Circulation is one of those things where my family got genetically screwed.

We're polar opposites! I'm always thirsty and hardly ever have less than 100 oz./day of liquids. (No not diabetic) I have always drunk this much and crave it. That being said, my cardiologist wants me to cut way back (say under 50 oz/day) because I retain fluid in my legs. He's got me on diuretics. So, I'm just totally messed up. Kidney doctor wants me to drink more because my blood calcium is too high. What's a girl to do? Throw them in the octagon and let them duke it out?

Are you talking about ready-to-drink shakes or protein powders?

Try sugar-free popsicles. The cold seems to be soothing and the liquid melts slowly enough that most people can tolerate them.