Esi

Yes! But I never order my own…just have a few from my family and I am satisfied! That’s the beauty of the surgery!

Yes it is so hard! Much better after a couple months and you are on a “regular” diet, at the same time seeing the pounds drop each week!

Yes, I was overwhelmed by the “schedule” at first, with timers going off throughout the day. It is SO much better now! No worries after the healing is done and you are back to a “regular” diet.

It was very hard at first. Especially post op when I couldn’t cook and they got takeout. When I felt up to cooking again, I first cooked only meals that I could eat, too. Our whole family could stand to eat healthier, and if they didn’t like it, they could make something on their own. Turns out my husband has also lost weight and his bloodwork is better, so he credits me. Our children are growing up with healthier food choices, so it’s a win-win! Now, I sometimes cook meals that I can’t eat, and it doesn’t bother me, but only if there are leftovers that I can eat.

That is awesome! Great way to ease into things ! My hospital said no nail polish anywhere, and no lotions anywhere the night before or day of. I was also finishing up all of my planning for work and the kids with their schedules and activities for the next week! I wish I could have taken it easy that last night. They didn’t have me do any bowel prep, but I started taking Miralax a few days ahead of time. I thought it would help, but I think it backfired. I had incredible abdominal pain after surgery, and I think it was related to all of that in my intestines, yet the anesthesia preventing my intestines from working properly. Ugh. It all got better eventually, though.

I found it helpful to have a small table next to my bed with water, my doctor’s notes, medicines, cell phone with long charging cord, pen. It was helpful to keep track of when I took which medicine, how much I ate or drank, etc. I used the alarm on my cell phone quite a bit: at first to wake me up to take pain medicines to stay ahead of my pain. Later, to time 30 minutes between drinking and eating.

Agree! I know this is an old post, but it might help people who are newer to the surgery. I still buy dresses with belts. I also took some of my dresses that were size 2X and 3X, and learned some easy Tailoring. Since the arm holes were huge, I folded some of the fabric together under the armpit, and sewed it together. My bigger dresses now fit still, and I wear a size 12/14.

Perhaps try the Syntrax flavored protein powders? I had to do trial and error with my daily water bottle, but eventually I found that mixing it with half a packet of Crystal Light made it taste great. I do have unflavored Syntrax protein powder to add to oatmeal, pancake batter, breakfast cookies, etc.

The first few weeks are so hard. Not only is your whole food outlook changed, but you are at the most limiting point after surgery that you will ever be. It gets so much better! I did weigh and measure in the first few months, but now I can eyeball things. With the exception of no added sugar, nothing is off-limits. So when my family gets fast food, I eat a few of my children’s fries. Yet somehow because of the surgery, that is enough to satisfy me. No deprivation. Not having sweets and desserts became hard after a few months (The first few months, I had so much artificial sweetener that it made me sick). So, I found sugar free Russell Stover chocolates, as well as sugar-free Lilly’s brand. When I want something sweet, I reach for these, and a small amount satisfies me. I don’t miss cake, pie, brownies, etc. anymore. I don’t drink alcohol or coffee, but I use decaffeinated tea.

Yes! Shipping typically takes about a week, and I place an order every 4 to 6 weeks to buy enough to get free shipping. I also buy items on sale, and have points earned to take $5 to $10 off each order. I have used both the ProCare and Bariatric Pal vitamins with iron. Capsules one a day. Both great. Chewables nasty. Patches weren’t recommended by my nutritionist. Also Bariatric Pal calcium chews. They taste like chocolate caramel Starburst. They feel like a dessert. Also Syntrax protein powders. I have not had problems with items being out of stock. And one time, a protein powder arrived that had broken open during shipping. They sent a new one.

I use a heating pad at night to warm up my hands. Sometimes I find hot drinks are helpful to warm up my hands.

No fun. My surgery center did not have this diet, I think it was higher protein for three or four days before hand. Good luck, you will get through this, and it will all be worth it. Hopefully there will be some things that can distract you. going online, doing some sort of craft, binging shows, catching up on sleep….

Although I was not ready to go home, I almost feel that the pain management would have been better at home. The nursing staff was very short staffed, and sometimes it was two hours before they would provide me pain medicine after I called them sobbing. Whereas when I came home, I was the one with the medicine and could control when I received it (on time!).

Just a warning, I thought the chewables were disgusting. I had to throw all of them out. I have tried two different one-a-day capsules from this website. Both great. I also recommend the Bariatric Pal calcium chews. They are like chocolate starburst, I take two of them per day as a dessert.

I second the heating pad. Hospital wouldn’t let me use it till day 3 though! Salonpas and walking didn’t help. Gas-X helped slightly. It took 3-5 days for the pain to decrease. Horrible pain… worse than childbirth because that pain only lasted a couple hours before the epidural.

That is wonderful. I haven’t had added sugar in a long time, but I sometimes still crave sweets. Usually, one sugar-free chocolate (Stevia) will suffice. I did try one bite of a delicious baked good I made for my family once. It was sickening sweet! Yuck.

Sorry to hear this! I had VSG and was nauseous for about two months, vomiting several times a day. Even on two anti-nausea meds. Had a swallow test to rule out a stricture. Eventually it subsided. Keep in touch with your doctor and hang in there!

With the exception of no added sugar, I try not to exclude foods because I don’t want to feel deprived (which could lead to obsession over something I can’t have, and possibly binging). I have a small amount of oatmeal each morning, one serving of wheat crackers a few days a week, and misc. carbs if they look appealing. But overall they are not a huge draw.

No dry mouth here postop. I could lay on my back, but it was hard to sit up. Several pillows propped up behind me in bed allowed me to get up on my own.

My nutritionist said no added sugar. I don’t count sugar g, but won’t consume anything with added sugar.

You go girl! Love the attitude. GL!

Have you tried different types of protein? There is one powder made from eggs instead of whey protein. I had vomiting for weeks. I wasn’t able to get enough protein all that time, and I survived, so hang in there and hopefully it will get better.

Yes! And felt bones in the back of my neck, on my hip, and even saw ribs in my chest. (Still have tons of excess skin elsewhere, but interesting to see/feel these for the first time).

I love mindful eating. Or as another way to say it, I hate counting calories. I could not stay on programs like weight watchers very long, or use calorie counting apps, because I would get obsessed with it. I would think about it all day, and at night when I had used up my points or calories for the day, I would sit around anxiously thinking how I’m hungry and I wasn’t allowed any more food. Deprivation. So as someone posted above, this whole experience has been freedom. Finally, I really am satisfied after I eat, and I know that when I get hungry again, I can have more food. I just keep it within the parameters set by the nutritionist, and count protein. (although by now, I have a food routine, and don’t need to count) I do not eat foods that contain more than 5 g of fat, and I do not eat added sugar. Good luck!

So many great suggestions! For the hospital, I absolutely agree with the very long phone charging cord, 10 feet is best. If you can get a folding squatty potty, that might help with constipation. I also did not like feeling like a patient, so as soon as they let me get out of my gown 24 hours postop, I wore shorts and a T-shirt the rest of the hospital stay. I agree with the timer, I use my cell phone timer. I also agree with the shakes. Have a few on hand, different brands, but do not stock pile. After a few weeks, it has been so helpful to have small microwavable dishes when I pack my lunch. They are actually Glass containers with snap on lids, that are meant for homemade baby food. They are around 5 ounces each, and perfectly hold my lunch that I pre-portion each Sunday. Also go in microwave/dishwasher. I like to feel that I am still fitting in, so I use a bread and butter plate at each meal, along with a smaller fork. I also use one of my regular kitchen glasses, and measured how high 8 ounces of liquid goes to. Good luck!