CarmenG

Thank you!

Thank you!

Congratulations! That's so awesome. I'm 27 days post op with a revision from a 14-yr-old sleeve to a bypass. I was wondering what kind of vitamin routine you use. Also, at what point (like what month out) were you able to eat a little bread or tortilla? I know we shouldn't, but it is really completely off limits forever? The literature I was given says not to eat it because it "can become a ball of dough in your stomach."

I should change my name to Cliff Claven. IDK if you're old enough to know who that character is. LOL!

You're crazy, lol. But seriously, though. Too much protein will put a strain on you liver, gall bladder, and kidneys. According to what I've read, the amount of protein a person needs before surgery depends on your gender, age, and weight. After surgery, it will depend on if you're absorbing everything you eat, or if you have a malabsorptive surgery. Protein intake for bariatric patients, pre or post op is meant to replace the protein we lose with weight loss.

I had that problem during the second week after my surgery. I was just wide awake all night. I developed such bad RLS (restless leg syndrome) that I was already feeling it in my arms. It was horrible. When I talked to the PA at my doc's office he said to start taking extra B12. I told him that maybe it was the Famotidine (Pepcid) I was told to take at bedtime that was causing it. I asked him if I could take it early in the morning and he said whatever worked for me. I also read that melatonin was the best solution for insomnia in bariatric patients. When I started taking 24mg of melatonin at night, taking the Famotidine and extra B12 in the morning, I started sleeping through the night. Of course, it's ALWAYS best to check with your doctor. My personal experience is not medical advice.

With the sleeve, the 30/30 rule between fluids and solids is so that you do not fill up too quickly without getting in all of your nutrition. With the bypass, it's for that reason, but also so that the water doesn't push the food through the bowels too quickly causing dumping syndrome. Admittedly, eating soon after drinking is much easier than drinking after eating. What I ended up doing when I would go out was have my alcoholic drink and then eat. I also went from mixed drinks full of juice, soda, ice to just 1 or 2 straight shots of silver tequila or vodka. It kinda helped because I'd have my shots, feel my buzz, enjoy the company, and then eat (which would kill my buzz). It kinda worked out except that it got way too easy, and I started preferring drinking to eating. My meal wound end up being may be three bites/forkfuls of food because my sleeve was full of fluid (alcohol). But even if it'd been water, I still wasn't getting everything in like I was supposed to.

They did suggest that particular brand of protein shakes, but the unflavored protein powder was my idea. They did give me literature to explain each eating stage that also had suggested menus. They did not give me explicit instructions on exact nutrition information such as calories, carbs, and fiber. But I'm a 14-year veteran of a sleeve gastrectomy. There are a lot of things that I figured out by trial and error (like losing my gall bladder 2 years after getting sleeved due to TOO MUCH protein) that have really helped me this time around.

I bought the Isopure Whey Isolate Protein. Whey protein is more readily absorbed. I would also add it to a 1/2 cup of mashed potatoes after they cooled down a bit, so that it wouldn't be a completely valueless pureed food. 😁👍(For the 1/2 cup mash, just a half scoop which is 12.5g protein.) P.S. the caffeine protein shake worked out great!

I bought all of most of those things as well. I also added a flavorless protein powder to add to the chicken/beef broth. You can also add it to pudding, oatmeal, or other soft foods. The one thing I did learn was to slowly incorporate the protein with a whisk and the broth can't be too hot. Otherwise, the protein powder becomes denatured. It gets clumpy and weird. But when I whisked it in slowly, the broth became almost creamy. I really love (still) the Premier Protein shakes. My favorite flavors are caramel and the cafe latte. The coffee one, though, actually has caffeine in it. It has the equivalent of 1 cup of coffee. I'm going to try one again today. I'm hoping that since it's a protein shake and not an actual hot cup of coffee, I'll be ok.

So, I'm a coffee lover. I don't drink it fanatically like my siblings, but I've always enjoyed my morning coffee. Right now, I haven't started back on it. However, my 16-year-old drinks a cup in the morning and one in the evening. Used to be that every time she made coffee, I was mesmerized by the fragrance. It hardcore triggers the best memories of my mom (she drank coffee all day). Now, when my daughter makes her coffee, it smells like burnt meat to me. I'm hoping this passes because coffee is such a huge part of my memories, my morning routine when I'm working, and my family's socializing.

I'm also wondering. I'm 4 weeks post-op. Everything I've read, however, says that in the first 2-3 months it should be anywhere between 300-600 cal. I've set my limit at 500 (which includes 75 cal and 21 carbs from vitamins) because I'm eating solids now and those tuna, chicken, and beef servings are pretty high in cal even though I don't exceed 1/2 cup servings of anything. I'm a revision sleeve to bypass. I use Baritastic to document my cal, protein, carbs, fat, calcium, and H2O. I don't have another appointment until July 24th. Every doctor, though, has different opinions about our nutrition. Your best bet would be to contact the doc's office and just ask. I should probably do the same, lol!

Solid foods will definitely make you feel the restriction. Also, as you heal and scar tissue forms, you'll feel more restriction as well.

I could add shredded chicken/beef to up the protein per divided serving.

Thank you for the recipe!!!

You could also try scooping the recipe into a muffin tin. That would make more appropriate servings. Maybe even use cupcake liners for easier cleanup

You could also try scooping the recipe into a muffin tin. That would make more appropriate servings. Maybe even use cupcake liners for easier cleanup

So, today I tried lying down on my stomach and I was very careful moving to get comfortable. But after I settled in, I WAS comfortable. It's getting much easier to move around while lying down. It's getting easier lying on my stomach, and definitely on my left side, and getting in and out of bed. Yay!

How do y'all sleep? I'm a stomach and side sleeper when I first go to bed, but I always wake up on my back. I'm dying to lie down on my stomach! I've been able to sleep on my left side, not so much my right (it feels weird now). I'm a revision from sleeve to bypass, but my sleeve was over 14 years ago. I honestly don't remember how long it took before I could sleep on my tummy. I'm feeling that frustration from when I was pregnant! LOL!

You'll feel it real quick in your chest if you drink too big a sip. When that happened to me, I would immediately start walking around in my house from room to room. That would help the feeling go away after about 2 or 3 minutes. Then, of course, I learned to approximate my sips better. Just make sure you keep drinking.

I was sleeved 14 years ago. Drink if your comfortable. It's extremely important to get in as much as possible. As the days pass and the swelling goes down, you'll be able to drink more and more. Sometimes, for some people, drinks like Gatorade Zero are actually easier to swallow and drink than water. Like you can consume more. I have no idea why. But, it is different for everyone. Just don't hurt your new tummy.

Thanks. I really hope this ends soon. It's nerve-racking.

Ya know... I was pleasantly surprised to find out that steak sauce and tomato sauce are almost void of carbs.

Thanks, ladies, for responding. I can try that, but I'm so paranoid of taking in more calories and then actually gaining! Ugh! I'd just sit on the floor and cry. Maybe I can add a protein shake at night, as a "midnight snack"?

Wow, you're getting some great exercise in! That's awesome. Well, as for the carbs, like my tuna will have light mayo, that has carbs, cheese slices and that laughing cow wedge has a few carbs, but honestly the rest of the carbs come from my daily intake of vitamins. I take a multivitamin 3x a day, an iron chewable, a calcium chewable, added b12, and added biotin. See the screenshot? It comes out to 75 calories and 21 carbs.