joshesgirl

Any solutions to eating post-surgery on a budget? My biggest concern is lunch at the office. I generally work out of my home, so pulling together lunch is easy. But this week I have a last minute consulting gig. What are your favorite brown bag options? Thanks!

This might be a weird one, but I'm looking for some advice. After my fill this week I was restricted to liquids for a few days. I was meeting a large group of people at a coffee shop and brought a Protein drink. The waitress informed me I could not have an outside beverage in the shop. Now, my plan was to ask for some ice, have a coffee after my Protein Drink, and tip very well. I've been a waitress -- I know what it's like. I was so taken aback and annoyed I ended up ordering a "smoothie" which had calories but minimal protein. And I left her a very small tip. And then later gave her what for. Any similar experiences? How should I have handled it? I generally don't like to be b*tchy or mean, but boy did she piss me off. OK, I'll admit I'm pretty cranky when restricted to liquids.

Hi friends -- I had my first fill this week. It was a little unexpected, since I went in for infected stitches and my surgeon decided to do a fill since I was there. I was a little unprepared mentally, but that's OK. My issue is I seem to have cramping on my right side (my port is on the right). It's not pain, per se, just solid discomfort. Is this normal?

I'm adding super fine ground flax seed to foods. But am missing my fish oil, so considering gummies.

Chewable from Trader Joe's (women's multivitamin), but 2, not 1. Also, my nutrionist wants me to take Wellesse liquid calcium. Need to order it online.

Here's what I've found I like for the mushies/purees. Breakfast -- polenta (crisped) topped with an over easy egg topped with shredded 2% cheese. I put some piri piri (hot sauce) in my egg. lunch -- shrimp salad. small shrimp in the food processor with 1 - 2 scallions, light mayo, lemon juice and old bay. Tuna -- this recipe was from a bariatric surgery eating book or WL surgery for dummies. Canned tuna w/scallion, roasted red pepper, kalamata olive. put in food processor. Canned salmon, Newman's ginger sesame dressing, scallion, a little hot sauce, spinach, a little grated fresh ginger and black pepper. In food processor. Once beyond purees, I served on small bed of spinach with some peas. (my own recipe). dinner -- black Beans or black bean soup blended/pureed with some cumin, chili powder. Served over polenta and topped with a little cheese, a little salsa and homemade guac. ricotta (low fat) mixed with garlic and parsley, in a ramekin topped with pizza sauce (less sugar than tomato sauce) with s&p and red pepper flakes. Topped with some parm. Bake 30 mins or so until "bubbly." I serve that over polenta as well.

I've found Trader Joe's chewables (multivitamin) not bad. My nutrionist wants me to take Wellesse liquid calcium (Wellesse) haven't tried it yet -- so far can't find it in an actual store. I think I'm going to have to order it online. I am missing my daily fish oil and think I need to make the jump to the fish oil gummies.

I was banded on Aug 17 and am on my last week of mushies and purees. Next week I graduate to soft foods, and the following week anything goes. BUT, I've been cheating slightly, to no detriment, except for Wednesday. Wednesday I "splurged" on a Thai dish -- salmon and veggies (not too spicy). I was craving veggies. I didn't eat a large portion (only 1/4 - 1/3 of the dish). Boy did I pay for it today. Very uncomfortable. Which leads me to a question -- how have you been able to get vegetables in during mushies and soft food? I feel like all I'm eating is Protein, dairy, and more protein. Also, I'm not really feeling restriction except for the stitches. I've had no issues drinking Water, finishing Protein shakes (except for taste) and other issues I was warned about. Is this just because I haven't had a fill yet (scheduled for 10/6). Thanks for any advice!

Hi Sandi: I have the opposite problem. I was banded on Aug 17 and feel like I want to run a marathon (note: I'm not a runner). But right now all I'm allowed to do is walk. I was told maybe elliptical if I don't use my arms. I have cheated and used Wii Fit -- lightly. Do you have/can you find a walking buddy? That might help. It's harder to blow off exercising if you have plans with someone. Also, one pre-surgery way I got in exercise was a belly dancing class. It was fun, so didn't feel like "exercise." Unfortunately <sigh> I can't do that right now either!

Has anyone had experience with Cymbalta? It's a capsule and my surgeon said just to open it and mix it with something (although now I'm just "shooting" it straight with water). Does the lack of coating impact the time release? Would a pharmacist know best?

Colomom -- You lost 20lbs in 3 weeks? I'm impressed. I lost 8lbs my first two weeks. I'm having the same issue... and frankly, if I was able to live on Protein shakes, I could've stuck with SlimFast instead of getting surgery! Seriously, I get frustrated as well. But, as I've learned from watching the Deadliest Catch, if you want to catch a lot of crab, you gotta let your crab pot "soak." OK, probably dumb analogy, but I use it to remind myself to be patient. Which I need to do frequently. :-( Hopefully you and I will reach our fill sweet spot sooner rather than later.

Actually, while popcorn is all carbs, it's a whole grain. I've tried it (probably too soon) and didn't have any issues. I ate it real slowly, piece by piece and stopped when I had enough. The bad news is I got butter/topping on it (at a movie theater). I "justified" it by figuring it was easier to eat because it was wet. Seriously, I was really careful with it and didn't have a problem. Veggies, now that's another story!

Is anyone else on aldactone/spironolact (I'm on it for PCOS)? Mine has a "minty" taste. I'm not yet allowed to swallow pills, so need to crush everything. I've yet to find something to mix it with that doesn't taste awful.

Restless Monkey: What form is your papaya enzyme? Chewable, liquid? I'm not allowed to have pills yet. And am darned tired of crushing my meds!

Hi -- I was banded on Aug 17 and have lost 8lbs so far. Not sure if that's good, average or great. Anyway, I'm now on mushies, purees, etc. and my nutrionist wants me to up my Protein to 60 - 75 grams daily. How on earth do I get that much protein without overeating? I don't want to gain before my first fill (scheduled for Oct. 6). And my nutrionist doesn't want me using the bullet shots of protein. Any ideas?

Since cream of wheat is allowed, I figured polenta is allowed (not sure). So, I've been baking some pre-made polenta, with a ramekin of low fat ricotta (you could probably also use cottage cheese) mixed with garlic powder, pepper and dried chives. I top it with pizza sauce (I found one very low sugar). I put red pepper flakes in the pizza sauce. A little parm on top. I bake for 30 - 40 minutes or so and let sit for 10. Savory, mushy and filling. I measure out the portion so I'm not eating too much. I've also pureed black bean soup, topped it with a little shredded cheddar and really mashed home made quac. I think I may have had it over a slice of polenta as well. Filling as well.

I had the same thing. During my liquid stage, I was also allowed low fat/small curd cottage cheese. So I got the kind with chives. 13g of Protein and not sweet! I've also mixed the shakes with Peanut Butter, spices (cinnamon, pumpkin spice) and coffee ice cubes (I froze coffee). Anything to add a savory component. I've tried Isopure drinks -- not "shakey." I hated the ice tea flavor, but mango peach is OK. Am trying some others. 40g of Proteins. BTW -- my nutrionist is really down on the bullet protein things. Says they are "crap" protein.

Thanks for the ideas! I pureed a black bean soup and was disappointed in the Protein content, but I think if I did my own from a can of Beans (instead of can of soup) that would up the content. I'm going to look at doing some tuna and salmon salads. Today I tried using a WW smoothie (10g of protein) and using 1/2 of that as a creamer for my coffee (cheating, I know). I think it will work better if I do the smoothie in the blender. Yes, feeling very dairy heavy! Thanks!

After approx 10 months of a pre-op program (testing, losing some weight, etc.) I had lapband surgery on Monday. By Monday night I was feeling great -- was told I had great color, a big smile and the incisions looked good. I did three short walks that night. Tuesday wasn't as good, as I was definitely in more pain. But the pain is slowly going away. A few things I did that I think helped: 1) I went to an acupuncturist the day before. She put some "press tacks" in my ears to help manage the pain and reduce the side effects of anesthesia. 2) before going in to the operating room, the anesthiologist (sp?) offered me nasua bracelets. These work on an acupressure principle and I've used them before. No nasea. 3) yesterday I saw my acupuncturist. By the end of the day, I was rid of that anesthesia headache. Overall, today was a much better day than yesterday. I'm still struggling with what I can and can't have. The difference between liquids and purees seems minimal, and the more I read the more I find the lists are different. Also, everyone said I'd have trouble getting in lots of Water. That doesn't seem to be an issue for me.

Hi Lisa15ann -- I did nearly the same. Just couldn't hack it on the Protein shakes. I did take ricotta, mix with garlic (powder) and chives, topped it with pizza sauce (less sugar than tomato sauce) with some red pepper flakes and baked for 40 mins. Served it on top of polenta. Mushy, but flavorful. And not a shake!

I was banded on Monday, Aug 17 and am still trying to figure things out. The more I read, the more I get confused, but I have figured out a few things. 1) pill splitters only go so far in crushing meds. After I use a pill splitter, I put the halfs in a large chinese Soup spoon (I have a bunch). Then I take another chinese soup spoon (smaller) and use the two spoons to crush the pills. Very quick and easy. 2) before my surgery (and unrelated) I used extra brewed coffee and made them into coffee ice cubes for ice coffee. Still confused about being able to have decaf or any coffee, but it is my understanding the amount in an ice cube is small enough to not worry. So, I'm still experimenting with the exact "recipe" but I use a coffee ice cube in my morning Protein shake. And Murphy... of course, on day 5 of being home, my blender dies. And that, it appears, it something I can't live without right now!

Hi SummerAgain: I'm having trouble with the Proteins as well. Everything that comes highly recommended seems to be either $$$ or mail order. Any solutions/options would be great. I keep trying to blend soy Protein powder with other stuff, only to end up with sludge. Thanks!