kcuster83

Hiatal hernia?

Just about everyone hit a 3 week stall, after that there is no rhyme or reason from what I can tell. Everyone just stalls when their body needs time to readjust. I am just about 5 months post op and the only stall I saw so far was at 3 weeks.

It's a learning curve. Apparently a lot of people struggle with eggs and dairy. Sometimes it passes. Things you like before surgery you sometimes can't stand after and vise versa. My team says, try again in a few weeks if there is something you can't tolerate. Luckily I didn't really have any issues transitioning back into a normal diet. You got this, just be patient!

WOOHOO! Congratulations.

Those tuna pouches were a life saver in the beginning for me. Tons of protein with a tiny portion. I keep those in the cabinet at home too. haha I got tired of them though, so haven't had one in a while, but they are there if needed.

Back up plans keep us on track, IMO. I always have a protein bar with me just in case. Rarely eat them but it is always there in a pinch.

The things we celebrate through this journey are great! I am just about to be "regular" obese rather than "morbidly" obese. And, I am also happy about this. haha

Yes girl! We have to enjoy ourselves through all of this. We just need to keep it in check and understand how it effects us!

I drank this weekend for the first time since surgery. I never really drank much before surgery, but maybe a few times a year. I am about 4.5 post-op and it didn't kill me. Or make me sick. I even stayed in my calorie range. I didn't plan on drinking but it was my birthday and I was thrown a surprise Birthday party so I decided to try it out. Worse case, sick at my own party. I was bought a shot of fireball. (My favorite but ALL sugar) I drank and 1/3 of it rather than the entire shot and then waited to see what would happen. Nothing, so I drank another 1/3 waited a few and then the last of the shot. Then.... was I buzzed? I don't even know, I felt buzzed but off of 1/1.5 oz? I know they say it hits you faster but I am still not even sure what it was. It felt different, but still buzzed. Lasted about 10 minutes. LAME..haha So I ended up having a total of 4 shots all night, buzzed for sure at the end of the night but again. It went away FAST. Like 30 minutes later I was sober. I woke up in the middle of the night with a headache, probably dehydrated. Drank a bottle of water with some Tylenol and went back to sleep. Next day, perfectly fine and back to my protein rich days. I doubt I will drink again for awhile. But I enjoyed my Birthday, guilt free without any issues.

Oh I don't drive AT ALL, ever. Even with one drink! Not worth it, I have had friends killed by drunk drivers.

I have Cigna, had no issues. I think all insurances require some kind of pre-op process/trial period. But I was approved in 3 days after my surgeons office submitted it.

Congratulations! My first night in the hospital was HARSH, pure gas pain issues. But otherwise, I would also say I was lucky enough to have an "easy" recovery. No pain meds, not even Tylenol except while in the hospital. Never took anything once I was home. No nausea, no issues drinking or eating, no issues transitioning through phases. I know I am lucky, I see people struggle and I feel for them. I don't think your struggle makes you successful or unsuccessful. I think that just depends on your body and how you follow the plan. I have not struggled, lost 85 lbs in about 4.5 months since surgery and 122 in total since I started the process in October 2021! I still treat myself once in a while, I could my calories and kinda macros and make sure my treats fall within range. So far this has been working for me, everyone has to find what works for them.

I have tried the pure protein puffs, but the flavor was something like a spicy cheddar or something of that nature. They were pretty good but kind of dense for a "puff" I was hoping for more of a cheese curl texture. I keep eyeing up the quest peanut butter cups but haven't taken the plunge yet. haha I love pop tarts, but I have never seen these pastries around me. I need to find them, and check them out! YUMM I can imagine them now fresh and hot out of the toaster. Guilt free. hehe Thanks for sharing!

Welcome to the other side! I used 1oz medicine cups. Filled them up and kept a tally every time I finished 1. I started out with 3 sips per 1oz cup and slowly was able to take bigger sips. Every day I kept my tally and made sure I beat it the following day even if just by 1oz. It worked for me, I was hitting my fluid and protein goals by my 2 week follow up. Give it a try, hope it helps!

I agree on the not worth the calories anymore statement. Everything I eat or drink, I say to myself "is it worth it" sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't. It's a balance of where I am for the day on my calories/macros and if I really want whatever I am about to eat or drink. Everything is justified by calories now.

I don't think mine does either, although i did have an iron deficiency before surgery that he knew about. So he must have checked at some point. haha Who knows, I guess it doesn't matter if you are deficient before surgery because either way after surgery you will need the supplements.

I did not have special pre-op blood work. I even asked about it, they said if I had deficiencies before surgery it would be in my medical records. I had normal pre-surgery testing done. Basically a physical and basic blood work.

Could you try to flavor the water with fruit or veggies? Like Lemons? Cucumbers? You don't get much of the sugar from the fruit because you only use a little bit and it just gives it the slightest hint of the flavor. Very mild. Basically just fill up a pitcher and add some fruit or veggie and let it sit. (infuse)

I had someone stay with me for a week but it wasn't needed. I was fine after a day or 2. I basically did everything on my own except lifting/pushing/pulling. I really just tired out easily but no pain. Just take it easy, you will be fine.

I think every plan is different. At 2 weeks, I was allowed pureed foods while trying to thin our pureed meats. At that point, I had eggs, purred chicken/tun salad and also had ground up meat like taco meat and pureed it a little extra. At week 4, I was allowed soft foods. My team recommended cooking meats in a slow cooker as they stay more moist. At this stage I was still a little paranoid so I basically ate a lot of the same stuff as the pureed stage. But, more meat. I had taco meat, not pureed, spaghetti meat sauce with cheese (no noodles). I think the only "solid" meat I had at this stage was a turkey burger which I had some turkey gravy with so keep it moist and I made Salmon patties. At week 6, I started slowly introducing a normal diet. I waited the longest to try steak and the first time was shaved steak (like what is on a cheese steak) but we made it at home. Then went on to an actual piece of steak. This is also when I introduced fruits and veggies and then some carbs. I am about 4.5 months post-op now and I can eat just about anything just MUCH smaller amounts. I don't think there is anything that I have wanted and haven't tried and tolerance everything fine. (Luckily or not, depending on how you look at it.) haha

Why do you think you have developed diabetes? Typically caused my being overweight but also by genetics. For the most part it can be controlled my diet and exercise but not always. Medication is needs a lot of the times. You should contact your PCP and be diagnosed so you can work on controlling it. Diabetes is a nasty disease that is not partial to anyone.

Feel better soon. I ate eggs at 2 weeks post-op. That is when my plan allowed pureed foods so I had pureed egg salad. Follow your plan.

I reprogrammed before surgery also. Started counting my chews and learning to sip rather than chug. Put your fork down between bites while you are chewing. Then your mind isn't already preparing for the next bite and you will focus more on chewing the food already in your mouth. Sipping sucked. I drink a lot and always have chugged. But I managed. I am just about 4.5 months post op, I still count and put the fork down while I eat. As far as water, I chug now and it doesn't bother me at all. Probably don't chug as much as I used to, but definitely chugging. 5/6 big drinks/gulps at a time. I started sipping, tiny tiny sips (1oz cup was 2 or 3 sips) and just naturally it got easier and easier until I realized I was taking normal sips and then it excelled from there.

I took off 2 weeks, when I went back the third week I worked "what I could". I was not in physical pain except when I found myself hunching forward at my desk it would start to hurt my abdomen. But, my job is mentally draining and very demanding. I was exhausted by lunch and went home half days most of that week. By week 4 I was pretty much completely back to normal and kept up with the full time.

I take calcium pills and a multivitamin capsule. My multi has iron, so I take that with breakfast and take the calcium later in the day.