S@ssen@ch

I think they stopped making the strips several years ago. I tried looking for them before my surgery and the only place I could find them was on places like Ebay for crazy extortionist prices. Honestly, I didn't need them. The gas pains are mostly in your abdominal cavity, not in your GI tract. So, taking any kind of "gas relief" isn't going to do much other than relieve your mind or maybe offer a placebo effect. Walk, move, use your incentive spirometer and within a day or 2 the gas pains will be gone.

If I had to guess, it's because the firmness of eggs depends on how long/how they're cooked. I suppose that your nutritionist preferred to err on the side of caution and just put them off until soft-stage. I know I had trouble with hard-boiled eggs in those early days. They filled me up-FAST and they could hurt if I didn't chew them to an unpleasant mush. Most days I like my eggs very soft (not slimy, but soft). So, when I scramble they're very soft and fluffy. I've even developed an affinity for soft-boiled eggs. I may have one for breakfast several times per week. Personally, I would think eggs made to custard consistency is probably OK on a pureed stage. However, definitely follow your nutritionist's advice. It's a short time that will go fast and you'll be able to indulge in eggs again once you've healed.

I think it was 5 or 6 days before I had a BM after surgery. You're passing gas, so that tells me that your innards are working. Maybe they just don't have much to pass? If you did a pre-op liquid diet and are then on liquids post-op, there's a high probability that there isn't much to pass. Unless you're uncomfortable, then I'd say there's nothing to sweat about.

1 cup is 8 fluid ounces 1/2 cup is 4 fluid ounces 1/4 cup is 2 fluid ounces

@mediocreoblongata I am also a nurse. If you're 6 weeks post-op and water hurts, I would strongly encourage you to contact your doctor's office. At least give them a call. What's the worst that could happen? They tell you that this is normal and to try X-Y-Z? You said you've tried warm and room temperature water, which would have been something I would have suggested had you not mentioned it. Cold water tends to "shock" the stomach and can cause a bit of a contraction and possible spasm. I honestly don't think that flavoring is going to make a difference. I never had pain with water, regardless of temperature. I'm an avid hot tea drinker and I sipped tea from the time I got home (unsweetened). I found cold items just as soothing in those early days, but I didn't have a lot of them. We're talking maybe 2 ounces of jello or frozen Isopure (made like Italian ice).

@mediocreoblongata you didn't say how far out from surgery you are and your profile is incomplete. It's pretty normal in the immediate post-op phase to have trouble getting your fluids in. You're healing. Take it slow, sip, do not gulp or try to get in large amounts at one sitting. Sip throughout the day. If you're more than 6 weeks post-op and it hurts to drink water, you may want to contact your doctor. Regarding the NSAID debate: For both my Lap Band and my Sleeve, I was told no NSAIDS. That being said, the doctor also said that after 6 months out, an OCCASIONAL NSAID will not cause permanent damage. It's the routine taking of NSAIDS that cause cumulative problems. Also, they are more damaging when taken on an empty stomach.

I suffer from balance issues related to an aging hip replacement. I was in no shape to do yoga and I knew I wouldn't stick with something that I struggled to perform. So, when I finally got off my duff to lose the weight, I was very selective with the type of exercise I incorporated. About 10 years ago, I had a friend/trainer who taught us some basic Qigong exercises and I knew the benefits but had trouble following videos. I found a new teacher about 2 years ago and signed up. I've been doing Qigong for 2 years now and have noticed a significant improvement in my balance and my body's overall organization. I walk with ease and don't have any pain. I'm more flexible without all those pretzel-like yoga poses. I would also say that I'm in a better place, mentally. Qigong has made a huge difference in my life and I would recommend it to anyone, regardless of physical fitness. Qigong: (pronounced chee-gong) is a basic Chinese physical and breathing practice that some consider the foundation of TaiChi. It has roots in Chinese medicine and is for healing and well-being.

The dietary phases aren't there to ward against nausea or vomiting, it's to protect the suture line in your stomach as it heals. As tough as it may be, you absolutely need to adhere to your doctor's dietary recommendations in this post-operative phase. It's temporary. It will pass. And you will be on the road to regular food before you know it. just to push the point home: In my job, I review medical records for a living. I had a case in which a woman had gastric sleeve and ruptured her suture line in the 1st 4 weeks after her surgery. Whatever she ate and stomach juices went into her abdominal cavity and caused a severe infection that went systemic. She almost died.

I had lap band in 2005. I lost about 80 pounds but was miserable almost the entire time. I later found that my band slipped probably in the 1st 6 months due to violent vomiting secondary to gall bladder dysfunction. In 2009, when my surgeon discovered the slip (FINALLY), he removed the lap band and offered to convert me to sleeve then. I chose not to for various personal reasons. Skip ahead to 2015. I have gained all of my weight back and can't seem to get back on track. A friend, who had also been banded and converted to the sleeve, got me thinking and I finally decided to get sleeved. I underwent gastric sleeve in April 2018. The pre-op and immediate post-op is nearly identical. The pain I had with the sleeve was similar to the port pain with the band, although I couldn't sleep laying down on my side for about a month. My weight loss was much slower with the sleeve. They say it's because I've been down the bariatric path before and my body is slower to respond (metabolism remembers). Besides, I'm a little older. Today, I've lost 86 lbs. At this point, I'll stall for 2-3 weeks then lose a pound or 2. I have more energy and I don't feel deprived, at all. The only negative is that I have a bit of nighttime reflux. It's a battle I wage every day and am seeing a gastroenterologist to monitor and treat. So far, it's not significant enough to consider any kind of revision and my plan is that the sleeve is my last stop on the bariatric train.

I had my lap band out in 2009. It was probably one of the easiest surgeries I'd ever had. Recovery was fast, maybe a day or 2. I think I did a liquid diet for a day or 2 then moved on to soft foods for a few days.

I did it. It was a little "different", but not unpalatable by any means. 1 word of caution: many protein powders may curdle at high temperatures. Make sure your jello is cool enough for your protein powder before adding it. I agree with the others. Protein powders do better when mixed with dairy like milk, yogurt, puddings. BUT, if you're trying to achieve a protein supplement for your clear liquids phase, protein jello works: Here's a recipe (substitute SF jello): https://unjury.com/recipes/jell-o-high-protein-high-calorie/

@ColoradoCanuckPudding is considered a "full liquid". Applesauce, yes. That's considered puree. I'd try the pudding, seriously.

Nursing Tip of the Day: crushed meds go down better in a spoonful of applesauce or pudding. They will never taste GREAT, but the substance of the applesauce or pudding (pudding much better IMO) helps them go down faster with less residual taste in your mouth.

@RachaelEM There are federal laws protecting your employment when you are sick/disabled. What you're talking about above is PTO (paid time) and we all need to get paid to keep a roof over our heads, etc. However, if you are sick and unable to return to work in the short amount of PTO that you have accrued, your company is obligated to hold your job for up to 12 weeks (heard of FMLA?). If, for some reason you don't qualify for FMLA (you said you started in June and I think you need to have been employed 6 months to qualify for FMLA), ADA laws offer some protection. Make your plans and work within your PTO. However, know that if things don't go as planned, your employment is protected by federal employment laws. These laws do not require that your employer PAY you during these medical leaves, but they are required to hold your job. Worst case scenario that I see: you don't get paid for a day or 2 and/or you don't have enough PTO to cover a holiday (you just wouldn't get paid for that holiday) I am a disability management specialist and have a lot of experience in HR regarding these situations. My advice: check your company policy and be ABSOLUTELY clear on your rights. Have a plan and don't fret.

It took me about a month to be able to sleep comfortably. It wasn't reflux or nausea, but a weird sensation that my guts were sloshing around. I'm a side sleeper by nature and every time I tried to sleep on my side, it felt like my guts were moving to the opposite side by gravity. It wasn't painful per se, but an uncomfortable pressure/pulling and it was disturbing. I could just envision the cartoon version of my innards lying placidly in a lump on the bottom side of my abdomen. I knew that wasn't true, but it FELT that way. I had to sleep on my back, which was foreign and uncomfortable. If what you're feeling isn't like I describe, it might very well be some reflux issues. It's common. Talk with your doc about what medications he recommends (you can usually get them over the counter) and follow general reflux protocol: do not eat a large meal within 3 hours of bedtime, avoid acidic or acid-producing foods, sleep with your head elevated.

My surgery was on a Tuesday and I went back to work the following Monday, no problems. At about the 4th post-op day, I didn't have much pain anymore. The biggest issue for me was fatigue. I was lucky that I was able to work from home that first week back and I could take breaks as needed. But that also poses problems. One lunch break I sat down in the easy chair and fell asleep for an hour and a half! The fatigue lasted about a month or 2. My husband said that every Thursday night he could count on me falling asleep in the chair in front of the TV. Of course, you're much younger than I am, so maybe you'll bounce back a little faster. I guess my point is, you CAN return to work in about 5 days, but do you want to? I realize you may NEED to, but I would certainly schedule things strategically so that you have the longest amount possible and be prepared to need frequent breaks and feel exhausted.

Surgical drains are common. Their purpose is to remove fluid/drainage that may accumulate under the skin or in the intra-abdominal cavity. They keep swelling and bruising down and can reduce your chance of infection. The most common type is bulb-type drain called a Jackson-Pratt (JP for short). Here's some reliable information about them https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000039.htm

I had my sleeve surgery out of state. Long story/insurance reasons. So, I flew 2 days after surgery. It was sort of miserable. All that jostling around by the plane was painful and I had no medications to help. The change in altitude did nothing to help the gas pains I was already feeling, so again it was kind of miserable. I also drove home from the airport. On the bright side, I think it helped resolve the gas pains because only had them for maybe 1 more day. If you're at 6 weeks now and you're not scheduled for your trip for another 3+ months, you should be fine.

I had my band out after 5 years of misery. Yes, I lost weight. I think I was about 25 pounds from goal when I sort of stalled out and stayed. But all that came at a price. Reflux. Bloating. I absolutely could not lay flat otherwise I'd get this pressure in my chest that no one could explain. I could never tolerate fills in my band. Finally, my band doctor said the only thing that would resolve my symptoms was to have it out. He offered to sleeve me at the same time, but I didn't know enough about the sleeve to have it done. So, I decided I'd go without. I was afraid but determined that I wouldn't let myself get to where I was when I was banded. I guess, in the end, I felt that the band had failed me to a degree and not the other way around. When I had the band out, I IMMEDIATELY felt better. After 5 years of sleeping sitting up, I could finally rest. I had no reflux. I was surprised that I still had a sort of restriction and my portions were still rather small. That changed of course and I'm sleeved now, but I'm very happy I am where I am today.

Thanks catwoman7! This is an EXCELLENT resource.

Yellow eyes are a sign of liver problems. Call your doctor and/or go to the ER.

@BrieLouie Just because your "plan" says you should be eating 1/2 cup, doesn't necessarily mean you CAN or you WILL. You're only 5 weeks out from surgery. You likely still have some healing and post-operative swelling. Listen to your body! It sounds like it's telling you something. Regarding the burping and mucous saliva, it could be any of those things you mention. Slow down. Take small bites. Chew VERY well. Introduce new foods one at a time. Stop as soon as you start feeling any kind of rejection from your body, even if you haven't eaten your 1/2 cup. Learn to heed the signals your body tells you. At 5 weeks out, I was still relying on a protein shake quite often. Also, why are you eating pasta or brown rice at this point? My worst foamy experience was because I ate rice too early in my recovery. It was painful, embarrassing (I was with friends) and all that foam was just gross. Just because pasta and rice are "soft" doesn't mean you should be eating them.

In terms of the gall bladder surgery, the recovery on that was probably only a couple days. And no, I made no major diet modifications after surgery. Typically, someone who has had their gallbladder out needs to reduce fat intake. I was already on a bariatric diet at that point, so I made no changes.

Totally normal. I think mine stayed on for a month.

Well, my experience is by no means normal, but it's certainly an interesting read: About 6 weeks after my lap band surgery, I started getting severe pains in my upper abdomen (kind of at the lower end of the rib cage/center) and often accompanied by vomiting mucous/foam. My doctor kept passing it off as getting something stuck, esophageal spasms or my fave: psychological problems. It was happening nearly daily. I felt miserable and progressively felt sicker. I lived on soda crackers and tea for about 6 months until I decided to see a different doctor and DEMAND they check my gall bladder. Testing showed I had sludge in there and the surgeon later told me that my bile duct was stretched out from passing so many large stones. Well DUH! The gall bladder surgery itself was a breeze. I had some gas pains, but they were very minor compared with the lap band (and gastric sleeve, for that matter) surgeries. I felt better IMMEDIATELY in terms of the gall bladder issues. No more gut-wrenching pains or vomiting. I didn't have that sick taste in my mouth all the time and I could actually eat again. Here's the kicker: they dislocated my hip during the gall bladder surgery! Yes, you heard that right. Somehow, they dislocated my left up and I woke up in EXCRUCIATING hip pain and needed a few weeks off of work to recover from THAT. Moral of the story: if you know you have gall bladder issues, these won't go away on their own. The surgery for gall bladder removal was a much easier recovery than bariatric surgery and you will feel 100% better afterward.