jules1

I know I’ve had regrets I can’t cheer myself up with some nice food I enjoy. I haven’t really regretted surgery as can see my weight dropping much more easily than on any diet. I am trying to listen to my body more and I am definitely telling the difference between head hunger and actual hunger now. With practice you can push the cravings away somewhat. Certainly more than I did before surgery. It’s funny-this week all I can think about eating is a cheese and salad sandwich. I think it’s because my body is longing for some fresh crisp food after so much mush and liquids.

Hi Tiffani I know the medication buscopan helps relieve stomach spasms - not sure if it’s effective after gastric sleeve surgery. It may be known under a different name in America. Check with your pharmacy.

Hi, my clinic starts soft foods a lot later than most. I was sleeved 2nd May and have 2 weeks thin liquids and 4 weeks purée. I asked my dietician if I could have scrambled eggs and he explained that they can still sometimes cause pressure as there is still a lot of swelling and inflammation in stomach and narrowing of oesophagus. He said there should be no pain or nausea from eating and if there is it may be due to amount or texture. Just find soft foods that work for you- he allowed me a little cottage cheese and I tolerate it really well. I also have cheesy mash which I make sure is smooth and not too thick. If you are getting pain on eating it Can be due to pressure on the stomach. Try a smoother food and eat a little less. It’s important to go with what you’re stomach can tolerate at this stage to avoid a leak occurring.

Thanks for checking them out. I was looking up various capsules last night too in the hopes of something easy to take for protein. The majority of capsules require about 4 per day to get just 6 grams of protein so it isn’t really worth it. Once I get on soft diet I’ll be able to focus more on protein foods. Just hoping my hair doesn’t suffer.

Hi Taoz i hope the new protein tasted ok. Let me know if you can taste anything. I ended up throwing my huge $90 container of Bodiez unsweetened protein powder out due to the weird aftertaste. Nothing would disguise it. I really wish someone would create a protein powder tablet to make things easier. i am currently on my 1st week of purees. Only another 3 to go. I spoke to my dietician and he’s allowing me a tiny bit of fish mashed as I can’t eat it pureed but said no to scrambled eggs. He told me my clinics Drs are on the conservative side for progressing through food stages but they have the lowest rate of stomach leaks in Australia. They also double suture and other extra safety measures during surgery that a lot don’t do apparently. On hearing this I decided not to cheat but ask surgeon on my appt next week if I can progress to soft diet then.

Hi I was sleeved 2/5 and had migraine. My surgeon said headaches extremely common due to lack of sugar and food. When I was allowed something other than water I had apple juice and coffee as I am a morning coffee drinker and knew missing my caffeine hit was contributing to migraine. These helped take the edge off migraine, but it only really got better when I was given IV Dynastat. After that I was great and ready to go home on day 4 post op and have not even needed a paracetamol since.

I struggled badly preop though I was allowed low carb vegetables and protein meals. Make sure if you’re a coffee drinker not to stop suddenly as this will also bring on headache. Apparently hydrolyte from chemist can help a lot also. I suffered with an excruciating migraine post op also which my dr said is common Due to lack of food and sugar. As soon as I was allowed off water I had a little apple juice and coffee but it only really improved when I got some IV dynastat. That is an anti inflammatory that is actually safe to use on surgery patients.

Yum salmon is my boys and my favourite. They love the crispy skin but poaching it sounds like a great idea for soft stage.

Yes, the recipe was a good find. Even though I cooked healthy food for myself and family it was always accompanied by too much carb particularly potato. I am now trying out different recipes and will try and change my diet so I hopefully don’t regain at any point. I have found the surgery has given me motivation with this as I’m not starving all the time. I feel a bit more detached from food than before surgery I think.

That’s great on your weight loss and now noticing it with clothing. I told my hubby to get me a gift card for Suzanne Grace for mother’s day so I can get a few size 14-16 clothes when I reach that goal. My current size 18 clothing will do till then I think. I am so jealous about the salmon. I hope you had a good evening and am curious how salmon went. Did you feel full quickly etc. I am sneaking teaspoons of cottage cheese and it’s getting me through the liquid stage. My nutritionist is calling me tomorrow for a phone consult and I am going to beg to include some soft diet instead of 4 more weeks of purée. I made moqueca- Brazilian fish stew for soft stage. It was quick easy and full of flavour(I tried the broth) plus kids loved it which makes meals easier. I’ve also made some dhal as it’s a soft healthy accompaniment for protien.

Hi Taoz, it’s inspiring how well you’ve done. I definitely have a lot of mind/emotional work to do on myself to make this succeed. Even though I am so ready to be slim - physically wanting it and dealing with constant daily food temptations in life are so hard. I am hoping the smaller stomach makes those battles so much easier. I started gaining weight in my teens when I was put on large doses of prednisone off and on till about 22ys. I went from being very slim to suddenly putting on weight for the 1st time in my life. This began a lifetime of starving my weight down and regaining repeatedly. I think we all can feel a bit short changed when in groups,family or friends who all look slim but can routinely eat a hearty plate of food. If I was to eat the same amount of food regularly I imagine I’d be housebound by now. I think a lot of us deal regularly with hunger and feeling we can’t eat till satisfied and then when we do we gain so easily. I imagine a lot of people on this forum find this is the case for them and not necessarily terrible food choices. I’ve found that misconception has been applied to me due to my weight. I have definitely seen people surprised I don’t usually eat second helpings and would rarely snack on crisps and never on sweets. I would bring my boys and me for a McDonald’s on average once a month, and probably enjoy a takeaway Chinese or Thai once a month which I don’t feel is excessive. I still plan to enjoy these things some of the time but not all the time.

I didn’t immediately feel cooler with operation unfortunately and I always feel over-hot. In Australia at Christmas its 30plus degrees I would be the one at the family gathering in a long maxi dress perspiring, red faced and struggling with heat all day and everyone else would be in lighter little sun frocks able to go for a swim in the pool to cool down whenever they wanted. Next year I am going to be one of those people jumping into pool with kids instead of watching enviously from sidelines

I know what you mean? In Australia at Christmas its 30plus degrees I would be the one at the family gathering in a long maxi dress struggling with heat all day and everyone else would be in lighter little sun frocks able to go for a swim in the pool to cool down whenever they wanted. Next year I am going to be one of those people jumping into pool with kids instead of watching enviously from sidelines

Congratulations!

Hi, I know what you mean. A couple of times during first 2 days after surgery I really started having a head freak out, thinking omg what was I thinking doing this to myself and my stomach. I had a few tears believe me. It can be really scary. We are all about the surgery date and getting operation but it isn’t exactly easy afterwards in many ways. I know I woke on day 4 feeling so much better and hopeful. Over the next week seeing the pounds start to fall away really helps too. keep us updated on your progress.

Hi Irishgal, did you find out about health insurance? I think Its great you are doing something for your weight. I am in oz but travel to Ireland regularly and I know it will be hard particularly with parents and grandparents generations. They have a very conservative approach usually plus a lot of them won’t be shy about commenting in with their opinion. Also it’s only the younger generation there that are starting to be bigger. I always feel so big, fat and awkward beside everyone else there. Honestly the biggest Irish friend I have there is about a size 16. There are only a couple true plus size clothing stores apart from tesco also. I will have my fingers crossed for you and the insurance.

Hi, it definitely hurts to swallow but everyday you persevere drinking becomes more natural again. Start off with baby bird sips but very regularly. Find a position that works whether raising back of bed or even standing. I really liked icy water myself or you might like apple juice. It is hard but I am a week out and can drink fairly smoothly and quickly now. I know Taoz felt better staying upright after drinking for a while whereas I was good sitting upright in bed. That band of pain that hits after drinking is completely normal and improves the more you drink. Don’t worry, you’ll get there😉

I believe from others comments here that not all surgeons do preop to shrink liver so he must only do clear fluids day before to have a clean clear stomach.

Hi Marie, I suffer with anxiety also. I have worked around theatres for last 12yrs of my nursing career as well as having a good few anaesthetic’s myself but that anxiety is always there when getting prepped in theatre about to go under. My advice is it doesn’t matter how prepared you get that your anxiety will likely hit on day regardless. Let your anaesthetist know as they are experts at distracting you. You will find yourself chatting away not realising as much about the theatre set up process happening around you. I have known anaesthetists and doctors undergoing surgery also and seen them get anxious in theatre also. A bit of self pep talk in my head helps me. I tell myself thank god I’ll be asleep soon and it will all be over. That it won’t be hanging over my head anymore but finally over and done with.

Hi Cleo, it’s not too nice the 1st day. Don’t be shy to ask for analgesia. Remember not to wait too long also as I found the time it takes nurses to bring it to you can easily stretch out to 40min if they’re busy. If you’re prone to nausea ask for iv anti emetic to be given to you at same time. This will save you having to chase up nurses and feeling queasy till they come back. remember if they give you something and you feel it’s not working after 30-40min to ask for something else. They will have a cocktail of things prescribed. Its great you’re sleeved now and I know you’re feeling like crap but you really won’t know yourself in 3-4 days. Best of luck☘️☘️☘️

Oh my God. You had me in stitches over the pretzels🤣🤣🤣

Hi Taoz, yep it was that awful up and go and I really don’t see how drinking 100g + sugar is worth the 16g protein it gives you.If I’ve tried adding the bodiez powder to drinks but it just has a strange taste that makes me want to vomit. I’m just having the ready made drinks-1 per day. I think I’m just going to say to clinic that it is what it is and until I start soft diet I’ll just have to cope with 30g protein per day. I made a white bean, potato and Parmesan soup to try to give me extra energy. I am going to manage that way as there’s no point in feeling sick and overdosing on sugar. Thanks for suggestions and I’ll have a look in health food to see if any ideas jump out. Are you getting to 60g protein per day yourself or do you find it a struggle also.

Hi, are any May post op sleevers really struggling getting adequate protein in. I’m really worried as the protein breakfast drink they recommended made me really nauseous. It was so milky and absolutely loaded with sugar. I am noticing milky things are making me really queasy since surgery. my protein water only has 20-30g and takes me all day to drink. I am so thirsty I realised I got dehydrated as I didn’t have enough plain water being so stuck on the protein. I know soft diet will help a bit as I’ll be able to have some meat. is anyone else having this issue or got any ideas?

Wow that sounds hard. I so don’t get the logic behind that. Like why will cooking the veg be bad for the liver but you can have applesauce which means apples are cooked. I just flatly refused the protein drinks and my dietician pulled out his ready to go food alternative preop diet sheet for us difficult patients I guess that can’t tolerate optifast.