Esi

Yes! You are not alone! I had a swallow study done to make sure it was not a stricture. It turns out that my pouch was just overly sensitive. The surgeon said this happens sometimes, and can take two months for some people to get over the hump. I was throwing up eight times a day at one point, while on anti-nausea meds 24/7, then it nearly stopped around week seven. I did not get my fluids, protein, or all of the supplements in until two months out. Everything turned out OK, though. I did not have to be readmitted. The first thing that felt good to me was chicken broth from Chick-fil-A. Then, chicken or tilapia. Eventually, I was able to tolerate water and Crystal light again. I found Genepro protein powder which is the only protein supplement that I can tolerate. When I use it in certain proportions, I cannot taste or smell it. Pills were also a trigger for me, so I tried liquid or chewable supplements as much as possible. I also drank apple juice or cranberry juice in the first few weeks since it did not make me sick. I am sure you are already sipping slowly. Talk with your surgeons office to make sure there is nothing wrong, but hopefully you will get past this soon. It is so difficult, good luck. 😀

I have been able to swallow capsules and pills starting the week of surgery. I spaced them 10 minutes apart, and swallowed with plenty of water. As others have mentioned, no NSAIDs ever again, with the exception of baby aspirin. I had issues with nausea and vomiting, however, and quickly found out that pills were a trigger, even when I had them with food. I am a few months out now and can take them, but had to switch to liquid for some of them, crush others, and cut others, for weeks. You may want to purchase a pill crusher/cutter just in case. I found it for a few dollars at the grocery store. GL!

These taste awesome! https://www.missionfoods.com/products/protein-tortilla-wraps/

Yes it’s horrible! Sorry you are feeling like this! I second the posters above who suggested Gas-X, sleeping in a recliner, and a heating pad. I also continued pain meds. It does get better, hang in there!

Does anyone have a good “on the go” snack to recommend? Most of my meal times are planned, but occasionally I will be running errands for a while and need to have some sort of emergency snack to carry with me. It needs to be something pre-wrapped that does not melt. Before surgery, I would carry peanut butter protein bars (too high in fat), and maybe there is still some form of this that is healthy. Thanks!

Two foods that helped satisfy hunger during purée were: puréed fish mixed with bone broth, and Chick-Fil-A chicken broth. The broth especially was the first time my pouch felt good since surgery. (High in salt, but nutritionist said to go with what felt right at that point) Maybe keep trying some different (allowed) foods till you feel satisfied?

Thank you for all of the ideas! The nutritionist I worked with said to choose foods with less than 5 g of fat, and no added sugar per serving. This excludes almost every protein bar I see online and locally… I did just purchase Protein One bars, which fit the parameters…looking forward to trying them soon. When did everyone start eating nuts, such as almonds? Is there a nut that is better than others, i.e. less fat? Thanks!

As others wrote, it does get better. I also had thoughts of, Did I make the right decision? However, even with complications, things did improve and the results so far are amazing. It got better with each diet phase as it felt like I was returning to normal more…yet without hunger pangs. It was 6 weeks before I ate around others outside of my household, so there is plenty of time for future events! I hear you about triggers. I mourned a lot of foods for weeks, and because I was too sick to cook at first, my family ordered takeout. Tough to watch! Now, for a BBQ, instead of a whole hot dog with bun, I took a small bite of hot dog and it fulfilled me. And like others suggested, always bring your own drink, and perhaps even a dish that is safe for you. GL and hang in there! 😀

I second the heating pad and getting anti nausea meds, such as Zofran. Ask your doctor for advice. I had nausea and vomiting for weeks, and at first had very little protein. I just focused on fluids to avoid being hospitalized again. Eventually I found an unflavored protein powder I could tolerate, and at some point was able to drink Crystal Light again. I never could drink shakes again. GL and this will pass!

Ugh, sorry to hear this. It can be awful. It was trial and error for me. Started with Miralax each day in my large Crystal Light, but it takes a few days to work. Played around with a cap, half a cap, every day, every 2 or 3 days, with varying amounts of Benefiber, etc. Now I am good with 3 Tablespoons of Benefiber a day, no Miralax. GL and hopefully you won’t experience that again!

I was allowed pure juice that had zero added sugar. 100% apple or cranberry juice is a nice change once a day (4-8 oz.) if it helps get in the fluids. However, it sounds like different programs recommend different beverages.

So hard to decide! Just want to add that there is a small chance of complications, too. I had nausea and vomiting for weeks which prevented me from eating and drinking like I should have been. I wasn’t able to work for 8 weeks. Hopefully you will have an easier time, but teaching is demanding, so give yourself plenty of time to recover, gain back your stamina, and get accustomed to new ways of eating and taking supplements. GL!

The chocolate soft chews from this site taste like candy! Bariatric Pal Belgian Chocolate Caramel. I also have a liquid calcium citrate, Nature’s Blend blueberry flavor (online or a specialty pharmacy can order it). Easy digestion and not as sweet as the soft chews if I’m not in the mood for sweets.

Yes, I had extremely painful esophageal spasms in the first few days. They were worse with swallowing too much liquid, too fast, too cold, and terrible from pills. It was like a knot mid-chest that radiated across my chest. Took 20 minutes to resolve each time. I crushed or chewed pills for a week, or asked for liquid meds. The spasms eventually subsided, after a week, but were replaced by nausea and vomiting for weeks. It has now stopped at two months. Surgeon said my pouch was just very sensitive, and the surgery itself can irritate the esophagus. Hang in there!

Thanks! Cheese sticks are awesome when I know a snack will be needed! And I have not yet tried meat sticks! Wondering when it’s ok to eat nuts/seeds after surgery? Whole almonds were one of my favorites before surgery. I would love something that can stay in my purse for weeks (even if left in my car trunk on a hot day) and still be ok. Wondering if there is some type of protein bar that fits sleeve parameters?

10 years is a long time to try to lose weight, give it your best, and be unsuccessful. I remember my surgeon saying in the orientation that weight loss surgery is the best chance many people have for success, long-term. You will be getting an amazing tool that will complement what you are already doing. I can’t speak to gaining the weight back, since I am only a few months out. But so far, the weight has been coming off easier than ever in my life. I feel where you are coming from, about feeling that not losing weight so far has been a personal failure. For years, I have felt that I am smart, accomplished, and yet I can’t figure out how to lose weight! At some point, some of us need some extra help, and this is it! I hope your surgery goes well! 😀

The very few times that I had success drinking a protein shake after surgery, it took me an hour or two to finish. Very slow. I have found much better luck filling a 24 oz. water bottle, adding a scoop of unflavored protein powder (Genepro is the only one that doesn’t make me nauseous), Crystal Light, and drinking over a few hours. And to another comment, my nutritionist told me vomiting isn’t normal after surgery.

So sorry to hear this. I, too, had big issues with nausea and vomiting for weeks. I am still more sensitive than most people, I think, at two months out. My surgeon had me take two different anti-nausea medicines, every three hours around the clock. I did this for a week. I also took Pepcid for about six weeks. I had a swallow X-ray test to rule out a stricture. I learned that protein shakes and some pills were triggers for me. (A food/medicine journal helped with this) Now, I don’t vomit most days, and most of the nausea is gone, unless I break a rule like eating too fast, or drinking and eating too close together. When I do vomit, I take it very easy for two days and then my pouch is better. I have also found it’s easier to drink more at a time, the more that time goes by. Hang in there, it is tough, and not everybody suffers from this. I have found it gets better!

No worries. Like a previous poster wrote, focus on one goal at a time. If you are only getting in 4 or 5 cups of water a day, it is probably OK for a few weeks if you don’t have any signs of dehydration. At least this is what my surgeon told me. I had to focus on protein first, and didn’t come close to my protein goal till about 5 weeks. Now I meet that, but not fluids yet. It’s becoming easier to drink, though (I increase goal by one cup per week), so hopefully you will soon have an easier time! Also, I don’t measure after a couple times (I eye it), and I don’t track calories. I only track fluids and protein in a notebook until my routine becomes second nature. I knew from the beginning that tracking calories makes me obsessive from previous diets…I don’t want to do that forever. I try to stick to healthy foods, and perceive being comfortable (not necessarily full) then stop. So far at two months, I am down 32 pounds so it seems to be working. Hang in there, you haven’t ruined anything! Your tool is still intact! The very fact you are on this board speaks to that! 😀

It will be ok! 😀 My 3-week stall lasted 10 days. Stick to the plan and you will see the weight decrease! Good luck and enjoy the next phase.

It can be frustrating. I did not lose any weight after several days in the hospital. But I lost 12 pounds after 9 days post-op. So about the same. Now down 29 pounds at 7 weeks. So keep following the plan and you will see the weight decrease! Hang in there! 😀

Gosh, all of the above advice is amazing and I agree with it! I will add: -Make a decision on who you will tell about the surgery. It’s your private health information and you are under no obligation to tell anyone, unless you want to. -Have a plan for how to react to people who comment on weight loss. The first time someone said I looked wonderful (while giving me a once over), it took me by surprise. (And comments are another discussion…everyone feels differently being noticed.) -Prepare for eating differently around others (colleagues, family/friends). Will you bring your own food if there is a lunch provided at work? Will you change what you cook for family holidays? -Get your household on board with reducing treats in the house. If they won’t, ask them to keep treats in places that you don’t see easily. (as someone else wrote, you may mourn some of the foods that you should no longer eat… Sometimes it’s best not to be reminded of them) -If you do the Family cooking, start preparing recipes that are healthy for the sleeve (for example, High protein and no added sugar). At least with my family, if they want something else, they have to cook it themselves. 😀

I add 2 tablespoons Benefiber to my large bottle of Crystal light each day. Good question about fullness! I was doing it to avoid taking MiraLAX.

Hang in there! I’ve had a rough time too, but with nausea and vomiting. Even though I still vomit once every few days, at 7 weeks out, I will agree with a previous poster that it does get better each week overall! I am able to eat a greater variety of foods, get in most of my goals each day, and drinking fluids has gone faster. For the first two weeks, I was wondering if I made the right decision. Now I know I did. 😀

Does your grocery store bake fish as a courtesy? I order a half pound of Tilapia or Cod, with salt-free seasoning, each weekend. It lasts for 4 lunches. Easy soft protein!