APRILDEE1

So glad I have this forum...it has been so helpful that last 7 months. I am 7 months post op sleeve and have been at the same weight for exactly 6 weeks. I admit I have not been tracking my intake and have been "testing" lots of different foods now that I know I am fully healed which I am sure is the issue. I too have been losing hair for the past 2-3 months but this am i only had a half of hand of hair so there is some progress. It always nice to known I am not the only one going through this :) I also have not been walking due to the amount of light outside. This am I was finally able to walk again this am before work and I started tracking my food again so fingers crossed. I have consistently had an intake of 60-80gm of proteins a day and more than 80 oz of water daily.

Long deep breath......... The last 3 weeks have been weeks of emotion. Week one discomfort wondering if its all worth it. Week 2 excitement because the pounds are coming off and the adding of full liquids. Week 3 excitement for purees and exercise, then moments of sadness and frustration when the scale didn't move wondering if I am doing something wrong. THANK GOD for this forum where just typing week 3 you she that the stalls are normal!! For those of you new to this take a few hours to just type in all your concerns questions or thoughts you will find something. I got the go ahead to start eating "real food" and go back to the gym so super excited. I am down 17 pounds and 10 inches since day before surgery. The rate of weight loss was 12# week 1 , 4# week 2, 1# week 3....now you see the frustration LOL. The surgery is definitely worth it! Tips that have helps with the mental aspect: On a piece of paper write your why, then 5-6 NON weight goal i.e shopping off the rack, walking up a flight of stars post it on your mirror and check off each one as you meet them. Remember the "old" you died on the surgery table. So what you did before is not going to be the same you are learning every day like an infant. This is a journey not a race Now I need help from the community: I am supposed to add veggies to my meals but still reach my 65 gm of protein but only eat 3 times a day with one snack...how the heck do I do that? I can only tolerate about a 1/4-1/3 cup of food. I asked the dietitian but honestly her answer was...just add then and take the food away..What the heck! ANY advice hot tips are wanted and welcomed! Thanks in advanced!

oooooooohhhhhhh that sounds YUMMY!!!!!!! I love this idea! THANK YOU

I have not tried juicing just because the dietitian wants me to focus on eating. I do put lemon and cucumber in my water so I love the taste combo.

ugh me too! giving up my Bubbly and La Croix has been the worst! I love the idea for my pizza cravings I am defiantly going to try that!

I am only 4 weeks post op but already I get frustrated when the kids are eating take out ( my kryptonite is pizza)...but I posted a picture of me at my heaviest on my bathroom mirror and a picture where I used to be and want to be...that keeps me going!

WAY TO GO! Its like I was talking to myself! I am the same always getting down to 230's but never in the 220s for 10 years I am 3 pounds away from being under 230. Do not get discouraged slow and steady is the best why so you are not losing muscle mass with the fat. You are doing great keep up the good work!

As a former nurse manager get a note from the doctor that you have to consume 4 ounces of water an hour. They will have to accommodate you. You will prob have to go through employee health but they have to...the only down side is then you have to make time to do that. I had my sleeve 4/8 and came back to work 2.5 weeks ago ( I am currently a NP in an Urgent Care who see covid and potential covid pts plus all the other urgent care issues) I use Baritastic app so I set alarms every 30 mins to remind me to drink water. I also hide my water in a drawer :). The hardest thing was the taking the mask on/off...so before I came back to work I tested how many oz at once I could comfortable drink. I got up to 2oz at a time so 2 water breaks an hour has worked well. I hope this helps

I laughed when you said 2 green beans because that was all I could eat. I try to eat a couple green beans every time I eat so at least I know I can tolerate them. These tips were just what I needed!!! Thank you

Hi! I had the sleeve tumor removal and hiatal hernia repair on 4/8 today was my first day back at work. Week one was rough! I am a healthcare worker who works 12 hr shifts so I had the same fears you are talking about. I am lucky enough that my program has its own app I am sure anyone can use it Baritastic. You can log everything you need. I set reminders every 30 mins to remind me to drink (at 14 days post op I can comfortably drink 2oz in about 5 mins) it took a lot of trial and error finding the right cup to drink out of. The easiest for me was the Yeti slider lid you can sip comfortably. I also set a reminder every 4 hours to eat/drink protein. It also has vitamin reminders. I bought toddler 4oz snack cups to put my yogurt, egg salad, and refried beans (I started purée yesterday). I drink in between Patients and take 15 min break to eat then my lunch break and 15 right now where I eat my 1/3 cup of which ever. Today worked out great I am getting my food and fluids in as hoped. I also started my day with a pre made protein shake. I was so afraid I wouldn’t have energy. I have been walking about 3 miles a day for the past 5 days but I took yesterday off, and today I just walked 15 mins at lunch. Hopefully this is helpful. Good luck!

I am 7 days post op and that is exactly what I went through. Like everyone has said keep working on your fluids. The first 3 days were the worst I found that drinking standing up really helped and I agree warm liquids felt better.

Post op day 4...... 1st I got on the scale this am... down 5 pounds from morning of surgery. I only got 40 oz of fluids down yesterday. Today has been a little easier still quick pains that go away almost right away with most sips. I am really thinking it has more to do with the tumor they removed and the hernia repair my esophagus just feels really tight. I only took 1 dose of Tylenol today pain really is minimal. Passing gas but have not had a bowel movement which is a little concerning I am to call my dr after 5 days so fingers crossed for some action tomorrow. Only 3 more days of clear liquids then I go full liquids I have never been so excited for tomato soup and pudding LOL. Hopefully my day by day will help someone moving forward I will post under post op. Thank you again for everyone’s support!

Just finished final pre op appointment. Tomorrow is pre op labs then Wednesday is full liquids until midnight then clear liquids until arrival to hospital Thursday 7am for surgery at 9am. I have been looking for a thread from pre op to post op instead of having to jump around. So I am going to track my journey on this post and hopefully make it easier for the next person. I have stocked my frig and my pantry with clear liquids ready for week one. I am more excited than nervous. I have already purchased and received all of my vitamins which are a combination and are as follows based on content and what I personally need: BariMelts Calcium Citrate, Jarrow B12 sublingal 500mcg, Bariatric Complete by Pro Health. I took everyone's advice and have a freezer full of SF popsicles, Gas X, and Biotene dry mouth spray for post op. I bought Premier Clear Protein from Costco but they also have it on Amazon. I bought bone broth that has more protein then plan broth so I feel ready. I am open to more suggestions to make this experience as good as I can! I am so thankful for this forum because it has provided support and answered to a lot of my questions! Stayed tune for updates on my adventure

End of day 3 I was able to get down 48oz of liquids I have been using a heating pad to the stomach walking once and hour taking Tylenol and Gas X every 6 hours. I find drinking standing up is the easiest for me. Warm fluids feel better than cold to me and chamomile tea seems to ease the stomach pain. I haven’t used the Biotene in the hospital once other wise I have been taking sips to keep my mouth moist. I will probably get on the scale tomorrow and see where I am at I have good urine output and no swelling to the feet. Day of surgery I weight 254 stay tuned.

Day 3 post op Had low grade fever last night but no increased pain sites look good was gone this am. The fluids are easier to tolerate this am than they were yesterday. Tylenol is helping with pain and all I have needed except gas medicine. I have also used a heating pad which helps as well. I don’t feel hungry but want to eat... which is how I got here in the first place .

Headed home pain is just from gas no site pain was able to get a lot more fluids in. My program has a weight loss app called Bariatrics. I was able to set up 15 min reminders to drink something this is very helpful since time goes by so fast and you need to stay hydrated I haven’t mastered how to reply on my phone but Thank you everyone for the support

Soooooo first several hours I was in pretty severe pain. I do not do well with anesthesia so I literally slept for 6 hours when I was awake I was in pain stabbing pain a 8-9 and I have had 3 c sections and kidney stones and this was worse.. I was trying not to take opioids because I get so much nausea and vomiting but the pain was too much. I took 1 oxy at 8:30 last night and here at 4:30 I am in good shape. I have walked every hour did my breathing exercises. Looking forward to going home lasted this afternoon. Nobody is lying when they say you can’t drink water. I am a water snob I love water drink a gallon a day easily so after about the 3rd sip and realizing that is what was causing pain I stopped. My RN who is excellent made me watered down juice and a veggie chicken broth which was heaven. So ask for that. I quickly learned he much I can drink you definitely can feel it. All I really needed for the hospital was biotene chapstick the clothes I wore in and a next pillow which was a life saver! They did find a tumor on the outside of my stomach near my esophagus she they removed that and did a hernia repair so all of that may have contributed to the pain. All and all all the advice I have gotten and found here made me very prepared and I truly appreciate it!! I will keep updating on her my goods and bass so the next persons can be as prepared as I was😃

It’s go time

Just dropped off for surgery .... CoVid so I am all alone so that sucks but I feel fine a few butterflies or I am hungry at this point I can’t tell LOL. Surgery in 2 hours I will post when I wake! Send your prayers! Go bag: neck pillow pj pants CPAP and Biotene

I am also having surgery tomorrow!!! Good luck!🍀

In less than 24 hours I will be on the surgery table! I am so excited!! Today is all liquids all the time 😃 I have set up my frig in rows of my daily needs post op.... 16oz clear protein 24oz of G2 for the electrolytes and small amt sugar and 24oz of propel Vit water... that is my Dr recommend daily intake....SF jello and popsicles all added bonuses!!

1 hour left of regular food for a loooong time.... I can’t think of anything I want to eat before midnight so I am going to bed. 1 more day until surgery just got my negative COVID test so now it is really and finally starting to get nervous!

4 hours til I start my liquid diet!!! All my pre op stuff was done today and I am officially quarantined until after surgery due to CoVid. I am getting really excited but nervous . Not about the surgery but about the eating/drinking post op. I am so scared that while making dinner for my family I am going to eat something I shouldn’t. That truly is my biggest fear and I know it’s sounds crazy but I love to cook and I always taste my food when I do cook. Any suggestions? My hospital bag is packed... deodorant toothbrush chapstick biotene dry mouth spray a change of under clothes as I am the 7am case I will wear the clothes I wore to the hospital home the next am. I did pack pj bottoms as well. Am I forgetting anything? I am going to update on this feed and hope it is helpful.

Good luck!

One more day until I start liquids.....doing my pre op blood work today