havethree

I was walking within a few hours of surgery. And up until this week - walking was really about all I did - at least 40 mins a day, 5-6 days a week. My surgeon and RD both said it was time to up the intensity (they even said that while walking is great activity - it's not true 'exercise' anymore for me) - so I started working out with a trainer this week - and gosh, I'm SORE. The plan is to continue cardio at home (exercise bike or rower at least 3 days a week), and do strength training at the gym with the trainer (also 3 days a week).

I take sublingual (cherry flavor) B-12 from Costco, the calcium chews from Celebrate, and a Flintstones complete. Along with a probiotic, and my Prozac (but those are capsules, which seem to be going down fine). My surgeon told me I only need the Flintstones Complete - but I'm worried about calcium, just as a 44 year old woman - and don't want to end up with bone/teeth issues. The B-12 was just recommended by a friend who also had VSG - he said it can't hurt - you just pee out what you don't need. It's cheap enough from Costco, that I figured I'd try it. Haven't had any bloodwork yet - I'm due an annual with my internist - so no clue if this is working out ok. I'm also only 2 months post-op.

I'm 15 days post-op - and started soft foods today. It's been a challenge! I literally had 1/3 of a scrambled egg for breakfast, 1/3 for lunch, and 1/3 for dinner. And 1 tablespoon of grits with 1 teaspoon of light cream cheese. I did the whole mash into tiny bites, and I took breaks between each tiny bite, and chewed well - which was really weird trying to chew a bite the size of a pencil eraser 15 times. I'm going to have to have a protein shake at some point tonight to try and boost my protein. And my stomach is *really* grumbling tonight. I really haven't had a hard time with full liquids - after the first few days. I'm hoping soft foods will kinda be like liquids were at first - and I'll be able to eat more in a few days? And I haven't gotten in my 64 ozs of water today either - with the whole stop 30 mins before and 30 mins after - and also, if I feel pressure in my chest, my surgeon wants me to wait 2 hours before eating or drinking - which I did that after breakfast. Oh well - I know it's just a goal, and it should get better in a few days - and those few bites of egg did really taste good! Not sure if anyone else experienced the same thing?

I was excited and nervous and second-guessing myself up thru the time I saw the surgeon the morning of surgery. I even asked him if he thought I was doing the right thing right before they rolled me in! I'm 6 weeks post-op - and no real regrets yet!

I skipped one dose of Prozac (the night of surgery) - but so far haven't had any trouble swallowing the capsule whole (20 mg). I'm only 16 days post op - but haven't had to adjust the dosage.

Thanks Y'all!

I track all of that in an app called Baritastic. It was free. I track all my food, water, drinks, and exercise. I haven't used it for anything else - but I know it has other trackers. I started when I was doing the 6 months pre-op with the nutritionist, just to get into the habit.

I had mine the day after surgery - and it was at least a week early. I'm guessing it had to do with the 2 week all liquid diet (I lost 11 lbs), and then just the stress of surgery? or it was just a fluke. We will see what next month brings.

I was sleeved 6/3 - spent 1 night in the hospital. Went back to work on Monday (but working from home because of COVID). I start soft foods tomorrow! Feeling pretty 'normal' - but if I sip too fast or too much, my new stomach HURTS (well, it's not my stomach so much as my chest) - so I've been using timers. Getting 64 ozs water, 24 ozs bone broth, 11.5 ozs of protein shake in a day. I'm a little nervous to start 'real' foods tomorrow after 4 weeks on this all-liquid diet. Still feel kinda weak at times. Not really working out yet - other than the 40 mins of walking that my surgeon recommends - and some incidental exercise going to the grocery store and Costco. My surgeon has me taking 1 Flintstones Complete chewable vitamin a day - so I take that at night with my Prozac. It makes me a tad nauseated - but I try and fall asleep pretty quickly after taking it (same trick I used when I was pregnant and taking prenatal vitamins). I'm down almost 27 lbs in 4 weeks (only weighing myself once a week) - which is really, really wild. I know that will stall/plateau - so I'm trying not to focus so much on that - and focus more on how my clothes fit - but it feels pretty surreal right now. I really appreciate all the support of this group.

I've been doing some Isopure tropical fruit - it kinds tastes like Koolaid? I've also done a bunch of chicken bone broth from Costco (it's 12g of protein per cup, and 50 cals). The fairlife shakes have been the easiest for me to get down - but even those take a little while. I've also tried a few of the syntrax nectar flavors - green apple was pretty good. I'm also adding 1 packet of Liquid IV to 64 ozs of water - and I'm able to get that in now - but plain water is hard still (I'm 12 days post op). Herbal Mint tea has been awesome too.

When I went for the psych evaluation back in August - the psychologist recommended I go ahead and start Prozac to have it 'on board' before the hormone 'crash' hit. That was also when we thought I'd have surgery in January - but I got postponed a few times. I'm only 7 days post-op - but I do think the Prozac has helped.

And herbal peppermint tea has been awesome, too! and chicken bone broth - if you're looking for any variety!

Mine told me that the liquid from protein shake 'counts' towards my 'total fluids'. I was sleeved on 6/3. Yesterday, water was hard and protein shakes were easy; today, it's the exact opposite. I'm just trying to roll with it! I'm using a timer on my phone to keep sipping every 4 mins. Good luck!!!

My family got Jersey Mikes subs today for dinner. I walked into the restaurant with them - but had to leave - the bread smelled SO good. I went and sat in the car while they got take out. After a few mins, I was okay - but my 'dog nose' right now seems to find all the foods that I can't eat. I did better with liquid and protein today than yesterday. My pain was a little worse today - and I get a weird pressure in my chest 30 secs after drinking too large of a sip - so I'm still learning. I don't want to jinx anything, but recovery so far has been way easier than I expected.

Thank you! Same to you!!!

I had gained about 10 lbs since my surgery was initially approved by insurance. When I went to my pre-op, I was worried my surgeon would postpone me again to get me back down. However, he didn't. He said the 2 week pre-op liquid diet would take care of those 10lbs (and it did, and then some). But I know every surgeon and every insurance is a bit different. But my covid lbs weren't an issue.

@MaybeMeow Your jello shots and pudding shots sound delish! My surgeon won't allow that until the soft foods stage - so I haven't stocked up on any of those, yet. I know some programs allow them - but mine does not. But then, he skips the pureed phase and goes from 2 weeks post op all liquid to soft foods for 4 weeks. I am sure I will steal some of those ideas when I'm cleared for soft foods 🙂 So I'm still water, broth, protein shake. That's pretty much it. I haven't stepped on a scale yet. I plan on trying to wait until my 1 week post op visit. We'll see if I can hold out that long! I was so nervous even when they were wheeling me down the hall. I even asked my surgeon if I was doing the right thing. He said he thought so a few times in a row. I do trust him a lot. And the nurses adore him - said that they rarely see his patients back for readmission - even years down the road - so that was reassuring. Of course, they said that AFTER I was already through surgery - so who knows? It's really kind of surreal right now to be honest. I have 5 holes in my belly, and I get chest pressure sometimes when I drink, but I'm seriously not hungry at all. I know this is just a honeymoon phase - but it's just SO weird, y'all!

Surgery for me went very well Wednesday morning. Got to the hospital at 6:30. They took me back to pre-op about 7:30 (husband was allowed there with me). Changed into a gown, peed (for a pregnancy test, which I laughed at), got my IV, did a little bloodwork, and they put an anti-nausea patch behind my right ear. I woke up in recovery, stayed there until there was a bed upstairs. Did go to the bathroom for the first time in recovery, and felt pretty gross when I got back - which they said was totally normal. Got up to my room about 2pm - and took my first lap at 2:20. The goal was to get 3 laps done that night - and I did 4. The gas pain was no joke - but it was better by yesterday. Yesterday, I did 15 laps - I was really bored. Incision pain showed up last night - before that, I was able to sleep on my side in the hospital bed - but since I've been home - the recliner is my friend. I have a timer going off every 6 mins to do my lung exercises (supposed to get 10 an hour), as well as a sip of water, or broth, or protein shake. I'm not hitting the numbers yet for grams of protein or water - but really trying to listen to my new stomach. It's a delicate balance of not wanting to get dehydrated - but I don't want to push it either (I have a severe fear of vomiting). I still have the patch behind my ear - and I believe during surgery they gave me Zofran and Phenergan - but not afterwards. I got 2 shots of Morphine over 12 hours for pain on Wednesday. And then yesterday I took 2 Norco about 12 hours apart. I haven't taken anything yet today, even though I am a bit sore. I've been doing laps around my house - and even walked out side for 2 driveways. Not a ton of distance - but my goal is 40 mins total a day (doesn't have to be all at once). My husband was able to stay with me in pre-op; then he waited in the waiting room. The surgeon came out and told him how good everything had gone. He wasn't allowed to come to the recovery room with me (even though originally, the hospital had said he would be allowed). Instead, I only got to see him briefly when the rolled me to the elevator to go to my room. It was a very quick interaction, and I was sad he couldn't stay longer - but I understand the rules. My surgeon keeps his patients NPO until 5am the morning after - so I just had an IV, and lip balm for my chapped lips. I started sipping SUPER slow yesterday at 5am - I was lucky to get an ounce an hour. But that's just because I'm a huge chicken when it comes to vomiting - so I'm going SUPER slow. Surgeon came in around 9am checked my incisions, felt on my belly a little bit, and then said I could go home at 2pm. I've done a good bit more liquids today - but I'm sure I will come up short. Hoping that each day continues to get a little easier. So far, so good!

Thanks so much! I'm still waiting to hear from the hospital for my actual report/surgery time tomorrow. I did get notification that my Covid test was negative. I'm really nervous, and really excited, and really second guessing everything. Thanks for all the positive thoughts and energy!!!!

When I went for my psych eval back in late Aug 2019 - she suggested that I go ahead and start Prozac to have it 'on board' before the post-op depression kicked in. So, I've been on 20mg Prozac since. Surgery is scheduled for Wednesday - so no clue how the med will affect me post-op - but my surgeon said the capsule is small enough for me to swallow normally - so I don't have to open it up, or switch to liquid (at least in theory - we will see if my body agrees with my surgeon ;-)) I've been seeing a therapist for about 2.5 years - but she couldn't do my bariatric eval. However, she agreed with the Prozac and has been encouraged by my response to it. Not that she diagnosed me with depression - but it's helping my anxiety, actually. Anyway, I'm rambling. I'll let you know how post-op goes!!! Good luck to you too!!!

That sounds amazing! I would very much like my surgeon to allow that! Maybe I'll send him a MyChart message and ask once I get my official surgery time tomorrow.

Goodluck! I haven't gotten a gatorade instruction - I've been told absolutely nothing after midnight - but I have to do the shower at night and again early morning - it's so weird how everyone has a different protocol - makes me anxious! Fun, fun times! I'm already a bit of an insomniac - but it's been worse lately, for sure.

I alternate between completely freaked out and wanting to back out, to thinking of every possible bad outcome and complication, to logically knowing this is the best chance I have at success and instead of imagining the worst case, imagining the best case. My brain is a bit in overdrive, I think! This pre-op process has been so hard - but I've done it. I've cooked for my family, I've even picked up fast food for them, and I haven't cheated. That willpower has to mean something. Not sure I've been quite this committed before. So yes, I'm all over the place in how I'm feeling! Super emotional. And a little terrified of vomiting post op. I don't know why I have such a fear of that - but I do. I should probably explore it with my therapist. I have a session tomorrow. Anxiety brain isn't always rational 🙂

We can still be almost twins! I had my covid test yesterday - and have been self-quarantined ever since. You're less than 24 hours out - HOW EXCITING!!!!!

My favorite protein shake on the pre op diet has been fairlife nutrition plan chocolate - it's 30grams protein, 2 grams sugar, and 150 cals - and it's my favorite. I've tried all the flavors of Premier Protein so far. I have a sample pack from Syntrax Nectar. I also have tried Isopure tropical fruit - which was a nice change. I LOVE costco's organic chicken bone broth - it's 12g Protein, 45 cal per cup. I also got Liquid IV packets to add to water. I mix one in 52 ounces of water of the passion fruit flavor (I double checked with my surgeon and dietician that it was ok - they said to limit it to 2 packets a day - but I'm only using one). It makes it easier for me to meet my water goals, and I'm getting some electrolytes too. I've heard tastes can change drastically post surgery - so I'm trying not to stock up too much on any one thing, just in case I hate it after Wednesday. I got some unflavored protein powder too - but haven't tried it yet. I ordered a food thermometer, because some of those proteins congeal if they get hotter than 140F. I also ordered a measuring tape - so I can take measurements for when I hit my first 'stall' on the scale.