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I was sleeved on 4/11, I just had my 2 week appointment with the PA today. I am approved to move on to puréed foods for 2 weeks! Some soreness still which she said would be the case for a week or two more around the largest incision but otherwise my recovery has been smooth! I am back at work this week but sitting at a desk most of the day just trying to get up and walk a lap every hour or so. Still kind of hard to get both the 60oz of water and 60g of protein, I’ve set timers to remind myself to drink every 10 mins or so to make sure I can get the water in. Looking forward to some greek yogurt and refried beans tomorrow!! @girlaccountant I’m sorry you are already back at two jobs that has to be tough! @labgoddess I am struggling sometimes too especially because I am trying to take walks and halfway through getting really tired and hating that I have to turn around and walk all the way back 😂 but I am hoping that eating some actual food will help!!! Glad to hear everything is going pretty well for everyone and it will just keep getting better!

I like to skin a tomato and puree it with a little cottage cheese and add salt and pepper....what else...yogurt... the puree was really really hard for me because I didn't have a lot of variety. I squeezed out the inside of cheese ravioli and ate it with a little spaghetti sauce with NO CHUNKS. I found it I sucked on little cubes of reduced fat cheese cheddar especially kind of melts in your mouth. Sent from my LG-Q710AL using BariatricPal mobile app

I would suggest getting a thermal cup that you can put a protein shake in and it will stay cold for hours. Then if you can get a few sips in here and there hopefully you could drink at least half if not the whole shake over your shift. Then you don't feel you have to push yourself to eat a lot at lunch. I would choose a slider food like high protein yogurt or cottage cheese for lunch. Make sure you can easily eat chicken, tuna etc on your own before trying those at work. If you sit during your lunch maybe have your phone out playing a game or watching a video to help pace yourself. Then you can take a bite of your lunch after every game, 2 min clip etc.

How far out are you? I'm 2 months and finally est more than a little bit. This morning I ate a yogurt with 1/4 granola and 1 T pumpkin seeds. I now can eat just 3 meals. It gets better!

I struggled a lot with full foods and some "softer stuff" but cottage cheese and yogurt was my go to when I couldn't eat. Eggs were a hell no for me at two weeks.... even not something I eat often now at almost 3 months-I always feel nauseous after I eat them. I would just eat what you can and have shakes to make up the difference. Just eat a little bit and then stop. Nothing wrong with a bite or two at this point. It's early one! Just make sure you get a lot of water and try to reach your protein goal

I've been on purees for 2 weeks, and can only tolerate ricotta and Greek yogurt. If I try egg, hummus, or cottage cheese I feel tremendous pressure in my pouch like I ate an entire pizza!! I'm trying to eat 1-2 ounces and eat slowly, so I don't think it is the volume or speed. Tomorrow I'm supposed to progress to soft food, but I'm really thinking I'm not ready, and that I should step back to just shakes for a few days to a week. Opinions? Anyone else have trouble progressing?? Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

Try the protein shake thinned out with milk. I only tolerated it ice cold initially. Maybe just try Fairlife milk and see if that is tolerable and work up to the shakes? What about soups? I was allowed low fat cream of chicken, mushroom etc. but I had to strain the pieces out. Maybe try that. I would only do 2 tablespoons, wait an hour, try 2 more etc. Otherwise maybe low sugar yogurt, it can be flavored but not chunks of fruit.

I have to have 100+ grams every day or my prealbumin level tanks. Just get some powder you can tolerate and stir it into things - sugar free pudding, yogurt, etc. ANYTHING to get your numbers up!

Symptoms in question: constipation, diarrhea, intense pain sometimes accompanied by nausea, itching, occasional bleeding, dryness/irritation. Diet: 2-3 tablespoons of Greek yogurt mixed with Protein Powder and splenda at each meal. 4-5 meals daily. Supplement Protein needs with Premier chocolate protein (pre-mixed). Have you & your team considered that you may have developed an allergy to your new diet? Try a different type of protein for a bit to see if things change.

Your story sounds like mine. I hated the whey after surgery. It would make me gag, so I drank fairlife milk, high protein yogurt and cheese. I also did refried beans, and cottage cheese. Good luck!

Don't do like I did and purchase stuff. I would say maybe vitamins and a protein supplement. I gave away 90% off what I bought, and it was a lot! My taste buds changed so much. I couldn't stomach whey afterwards. I used fairlife milk and yogurt. Good luck!

Last chance to skedaddle on out of this thread, I'm diving right into this hog mess. Onset of symptoms: week 3. Duration of symptoms: 2 weeks. Symptoms in question: constipation, diarrhea, intense pain sometimes accompanied by nausea, itching, occasional bleeding, dryness/irritation. Diet: 2-3 tablespoons of Greek yogurt mixed with protein powder and splenda at each meal. 4-5 meals daily. Supplement protein needs with Premier chocolate protein (pre-mixed). Have tried under the advisement of my doctor: more water, suppositories (have helped bleeding), hemorrhoid wipes, drinking more water, triple paste (diaper cream), exercising more, probiotics, more water. Have tried against medical advice: more fiber. I actually went home early today because I wasnt getting any work done with all my crying trips to the bathroom. I had only 5oz of my protein drink (instead of 11) and only ate 2 tbsps of yogurt at all today. Considering calling in tomorrow. TL;DR I'm really hoping that with all of this info yall will be able to point out something glaringly obvious that I am doing wrong so I can bring this suffering to an end. 😂

Christine, do you eat yogurt too? I had my sleeve 2 months ago and I get an ache in my stomach that comes real quick and goes. I'm hoping the protonix and probiotic might help.

Sleeve diet guide: Avoid sugar AFTER GASTRIC SLEEVE SURGERY DIET You’ve made it past surgery and you’re on your way to a healthier life. You may think it’s clear sailing from here. Unfortunately, the hard part is just beginning. Now is not the time to cheat. While the two week diet was important reduce your risk of surgical (intraoperative) complication, the week 1 to 4 post-op diet will help prevent post-op complications. The first few weeks after surgery, you will experience frequent irritability and it’s not uncommon to second guess your decision to have surgery. The very extreme diet after your sleeve gastrectomy may seem like your surgeon is being overly cautious. It is utterly important that you follow his or her instructions to the ‘T.’ Cheating on your post-op diet can cause diarrhea, dehydration, constipation, bowel obstruction, or a very serious gastric leak. If you need more motivation to follow your post-op diet, this article will help. Below is a typical diet after gastric sleeve surgery for weeks 1 to 4. WEEK 1 – CLEAR LIQUIDS ONLY In week one you are limited to clear liquids only. This sounds tough. And it is tough. However, most patients have very little desire to eat. The hunger hormone ghrelin is almost non-existent after surgery. The part of the stomach that produces the majority of ghrelin is removed during surgery. Make sure all items listed below are sugar free. Water Broth Jell-O Decaf tea Decaf coffee Sugar free Popsicles Sugar free drinks that are not carbonated You should avoid: Carbonated beverages Very sweet beverages Sugar Caffeine WEEK 2 – FULL LIQUID DIET WITH PROTEIN During week two you may start to feel some hunger pains. Continue to stick to your surgeon’s recommended diet. Your diet may include all items from week 1 plus: Protein powder mixed with a sugar free non-carbonated clear liquid. Sugar free pudding. Soup with soft noodles. Non fat yogurt. Carnation instant breakfast. Look for the sugar free option. Very thin creamed soups. No chunks. Sugar free sorbet. Very watery hot oatmeal. Check the sugar content. Diluted no-sugar added juice. Sugar free, nonfat ice cream Thinned applesauce. Check sugar content. WEEK 3 – SOFT PUREED FOODS Week three after gastric sleeve surgery is tough. But the good news is that you can start adding some real food into your diet, albeit pureed. You still need to be careful to limit sugars and fats. The goals for week 3 include: Get your 60 grams of protein per day Eat slowly Introduce new foods one by one. Food may taste differently and will be tolerated differently than they were before surgery. You may find that dairy is harder to digest. It’s recommended that you introduce new foods slowly. Give your body some time to react to each new food. By doing this you’ll be able to identify foods that are causing gas, stomach upset, and/or diarrhea. The foods listed below are typically acceptable for week three after surgery. 1 protein shake per day. You can now blend them with yogurt or non-fat milk. Almond milk or coconut milk makes a great protein shake. Hummus Cottage cheese (low fat) Soft cereals – Let your cereal sit in the non-fat milk until it’s soft. Soft vegetables – steam or boil them until they are soft. Soft cheeses – limit these, they are typically high in fat. Ground chicken or beef. Add some beef or chicken stock to keep the meat soft. Soups Scrambled eggs – these are a great source of protein. Soft (steamed) fish. Remember to chew well. Canned tuna and salmon (you can add low fat mayo). Great source of protein. Mashed fruit. Bananas, avocados, and canned fruit (watch sugar content). You should avoid the following foods: While smoothies are ok, limit their sugar content. Sugar Starchy foods like pasta, rice and bread. Fibrous vegetables like celery, broccoli, asparagus, raw leafy greens. WEEK 4 – INTRODUCING FOODS! You’ve followed your diet up to week four. Now it’s time to start introducing real foods. Your sleeve and stomach are still sensitive, so go slow and remember to chew each bite thoroughly. You’re done with pureed foods, but you should continue to look for softer versions of food during this week. Continue your daily protein shakes Introduce chicken and beef very slowly. Ensure you chew thoroughly. Any type of fish. Fruits Vegetables (it’s still recommended that you cook these to soften them a bit). Sweet Potatoes Mashed and baked potatoes. Cereal Caffeine can be introduced. It’s recommended that you limit this. You should avoid the following foods in week four: Sodas Fried foods Fibrous vegetables (i.e. celery and asparagus) Sugary drinks Candy Dessert Pastas and other high carbohydrate, low nutrient foods (pizza). Whole milk and other whole milk dairy foods. Nuts WEEK 4 HEALTHY SNACKS While it is recommended that you only eat 3 small meals each day and hydrate in-between meals, you may need a small healthy snack. If your surgeon approves this, the items below make healthy snacks. Hummus with rice crackers or softened (boiled and cooled) baby carrots. Hard boiled egg. Quarter cup of oatmeal. Quarter of a baked sweet potato (or microwaved) Banana Strawberries or fresh fruit. WEEK 5 AND BEYOND Continue to introduce foods one by one to see how well they are tolerated. Watch out for constipation, diarrhea, and upset stomach. Eat three small meals every day. Hydrate throughout the day. Stop drinking fluids 30 minutes before each meal. Avoid snacking. If you do, choose a nutrient-dense food (fruit, vegetable, nuts). Take your recommended daily vitamins. Ensure you get 60 grams of protein. Supplement daily with a protein shake. Incorporate exercise into your daily routine. Make it a habit. Avoid sodas. Prepare for bad days. How will you cope when you are in a difficult situation? Find an accountability partner. Go to a support group and make friends that you can call. 6 TIPS – HEALTHY EATING AFTER GASTRIC SLEEVE SURGERY Choose foods that are nutrient dense. Bread is not nutrient dense. An apple, banana, fish, etc. are nutrient dense foods. Do not drink your calories. It won’t fill you up and most caloric drinks are filled with sugar. Expect an emotional roller-coaster. Don’t let food be your comfort. Create a plan. Chew your food thoroughly and take your time eating. Plan what you will eat if you’re going out. Ask for half the portion size at restaurants. You may get a discount and you won’t be tempted to overeat. Make water your new best friend. Drink it regularly throughout the day. Buy a reusable 64 oz bottle that you can carry to work with you. Make sure you finish the entire bottle each day. But remember not to drink with meals (this helps prevent stretching your pouch).

So I had my removal on Friday. During the week leading up to the removal, I spent 2 days eating only soft foods, then 2 days of an all-liquids diet (including pureed soups, egg drop soup, and commercial protein shakes). The day before the procedure was clear liquids, milk, and smooth yogurt only. I was also told to drink the occasional fizzy beverage (coke zero, mineral water, etc) as that apparently helps remove food particles from the surface of the balloon. Conceptually they want your stomach as empty as possible so that you don't cough anything up during the procedure. Nothing to drink after 7pm the night before. So on the morning of the procedure, I was a little grouchy and very thirsty. I spent about an hour doing all the pre-checks, then they knocked me out and did their thing. It seems to have taken them longer to wake me up this time around (I think they may have been a little worried) but I seem to have survived haha here I am. After another hour or so in the recovery room, they sent me home. Apart from a WICKED sore throat and a big bruise where they put the IV in, I actually wasn't feeling too bad. No nausea, a little cramping but not anything I needed even a tylenol for. The worst side effect was probably the gas; they do puff you up while you're under the anesthesia, and all that gas finds its way out eventually. So it's probably best to clear your social calendar for 3 days or so, unless you want to fart up your blind date or your high school reunion. Like others mentioned, I was wickedly hungry once I got home, but that's no surprise; I'd had a whopping 400 calories the day before (really hard to rack up the calories on diet soda, broth and yogurt) and hadn't chewed in almost a week. Outside the single day, though, I've not noticed any real difference in my appetite, so this is good; it means my portions are enough to keep my body happy and comfortable without giving myself extra calories. So really the removal is fairly unremarkable compared to the misery of the insertion. I'm pretty much back to normal although my throat is a bit scratchy still. Would I recommend the balloon to someone? I would, but only in conjunction with an actual support program that included access to a dietitian/nutritionist, a behaviorist/counselor and a doctor. I believe it's an excellent tool to help reshape your eating behaviors, but that you need other tools as well, and your weight loss program has got to help you get those tools. Oh and the final totals... I lost 65 lb in the 5 months and 3 weeks that I had the balloon, which I think is pretty darned good. More importantly, I think I am in a place where i can continue to lose now that the balloon is gone. I've also lowered my resting heart rate by ~25 beats per minute, lowered my blood pressure from the "needs medication" range to the high end of normal range, and lowered my blood sugars from pre-diabetic to the high end of normal range. Good stuff

AFTER GASTRIC SLEEVE SURGERY DIET You’ve made it past surgery and you’re on your way to a healthier life. You may think it’s clear sailing from here. Unfortunately, the hard part is just beginning. Now is not the time to cheat. While the two week diet was important reduce your risk of surgical (intraoperative) complication, the week 1 to 4 post-op diet will help prevent post-op complications. The first few weeks after surgery, you will experience frequent irritability and it’s not uncommon to second guess your decision to have surgery. The very extreme diet after your sleeve gastrectomy may seem like your surgeon is being overly cautious. It is utterly important that you follow his or her instructions to the ‘T.’ Cheating on your post-op diet can cause diarrhea, dehydration, constipation, bowel obstruction, or a very serious gastric leak. If you need more motivation to follow your post-op diet, this article will help. Below is a typical diet after gastric sleeve surgery for weeks 1 to 4. WEEK 1 – CLEAR LIQUIDS ONLY In week one you are limited to clear liquids only. This sounds tough. And it is tough. However, most patients have very little desire to eat. The hunger hormone ghrelin is almost non-existent after surgery. The part of the stomach that produces the majority of ghrelin is removed during surgery. Make sure all items listed below are sugar free. Water Broth Jell-O Decaf tea Decaf coffee Sugar free Popsicles Sugar free drinks that are not carbonated You should avoid: Carbonated beverages Very sweet beverages Sugar Caffeine WEEK 2 – FULL LIQUID DIET WITH PROTEIN During week two you may start to feel some hunger pains. Continue to stick to your surgeon’s recommended diet. Your diet may include all items from week 1 plus: Protein powder mixed with a sugar free non-carbonated clear liquid. Sugar free pudding. Soup with soft noodles. Non fat yogurt. Carnation instant breakfast. Look for the sugar free option. Very thin creamed soups. No chunks. Sugar free sorbet. Very watery hot oatmeal. Check the sugar content. Diluted no-sugar added juice. Sugar free, nonfat ice cream Thinned applesauce. Check sugar content. WEEK 3 – SOFT PUREED FOODS Week three after gastric sleeve surgery is tough. But the good news is that you can start adding some real food into your diet, albeit pureed. You still need to be careful to limit sugars and fats. The goals for week 3 include: Get your 60 grams of protein per day Eat slowly Introduce new foods one by one. Food may taste differently and will be tolerated differently than they were before surgery. You may find that dairy is harder to digest. It’s recommended that you introduce new foods slowly. Give your body some time to react to each new food. By doing this you’ll be able to identify foods that are causing gas, stomach upset, and/or diarrhea. The foods listed below are typically acceptable for week three after surgery. 1 protein shake per day. You can now blend them with yogurt or non-fat milk. Almond milk or coconut milk makes a great protein shake. Hummus Cottage cheese (low fat) Soft cereals – Let your cereal sit in the non-fat milk until it’s soft. Soft vegetables – steam or boil them until they are soft. Soft cheeses – limit these, they are typically high in fat. Ground chicken or beef. Add some beef or chicken stock to keep the meat soft. Soups Scrambled eggs – these are a great source of protein. Soft (steamed) fish. Remember to chew well. Canned tuna and salmon (you can add low fat mayo). Great source of protein. Mashed fruit. Bananas, avocados, and canned fruit (watch sugar content). You should avoid the following foods: While smoothies are ok, limit their sugar content. Sugar Starchy foods like pasta, rice and bread. Fibrous vegetables like celery, broccoli, asparagus, raw leafy greens. WEEK 4 – INTRODUCING FOODS! You’ve followed your diet up to week four. Now it’s time to start introducing real foods. Your sleeve and stomach are still sensitive, so go slow and remember to chew each bite thoroughly. You’re done with pureed foods, but you should continue to look for softer versions of food during this week. Continue your daily protein shakes Introduce chicken and beef very slowly. Ensure you chew thoroughly. Any type of fish. Fruits Vegetables (it’s still recommended that you cook these to soften them a bit). Sweet Potatoes Mashed and baked potatoes. Cereal Caffeine can be introduced. It’s recommended that you limit this. You should avoid the following foods in week four: Sodas Fried foods Fibrous vegetables (i.e. celery and asparagus) Sugary drinks Candy Dessert Pastas and other high carbohydrate, low nutrient foods (pizza). Whole milk and other whole milk dairy foods. Nuts WEEK 4 HEALTHY SNACKS While it is recommended that you only eat 3 small meals each day and hydrate in-between meals, you may need a small healthy snack. If your surgeon approves this, the items below make healthy snacks. Hummus with rice crackers or softened (boiled and cooled) baby carrots. Hard boiled egg. Quarter cup of oatmeal. Quarter of a baked sweet potato (or microwaved) Banana Strawberries or fresh fruit. WEEK 5 AND BEYOND Continue to introduce foods one by one to see how well they are tolerated. Watch out for constipation, diarrhea, and upset stomach. Eat three small meals every day. Hydrate throughout the day. Stop drinking fluids 30 minutes before each meal. Avoid snacking. If you do, choose a nutrient-dense food (fruit, vegetable, nuts). Take your recommended daily vitamins. Ensure you get 60 grams of protein. Supplement daily with a protein shake. Incorporate exercise into your daily routine. Make it a habit. Avoid sodas. Prepare for bad days. How will you cope when you are in a difficult situation? Find an accountability partner. Go to a support group and make friends that you can call. 6 TIPS – HEALTHY EATING AFTER GASTRIC SLEEVE SURGERY Choose foods that are nutrient dense. Bread is not nutrient dense. An apple, banana, fish, etc. are nutrient dense foods. Do not drink your calories. It won’t fill you up and most caloric drinks are filled with sugar. Expect an emotional roller-coaster. Don’t let food be your comfort. Create a plan. Chew your food thoroughly and take your time eating. Plan what you will eat if you’re going out. Ask for half the portion size at restaurants. You may get a discount and you won’t be tempted to overeat. Make water your new best friend. Drink it regularly throughout the day. Buy a reusable 64 oz bottle that you can carry to work with you. Make sure you finish the entire bottle each day. But remember not to drink with meals (this helps prevent stretching your pouch).

Thanks GradyCat, I actually chose to stick to water at first, didn't take any Pepto. Catwoman7; oddly enough, I baked tomato sauce with cottage cheese (1/4 cup of each) and had no issues with it, same with tomato orange soup. 2Bsmaller18, that's what I did, just water at first, then I had some yogurt, later an egg salad puree. ED_NW, hey neighbor, I'm in Portland, I have a version of those but didn't try them, I will have to remember them in the future! I appreciate the feedback, thanks everyone!! It's 5:30pm and I feel like it never happened. But I discarded what was left of the soup!

I am 4 weeks post op and currently on purées. I did great the first 1 week on purées, but everything I eat now irritates my small intestine or goes right thru me. I had gastritis one week after surgery, so I’m learning my system is extra sensitive. I have tried the following: yogurt, cream of wheat, sweet potato, oatmeal (won’t do that again or mashed potatoes), tuna salad, broccoli cheddar soup. Do y’all have any ideas of what other bland foods I can try? I was doing so well, but now this. Thanks for any feedback!

Yogurt. Chobani, YQ or tillamok. They all have 14 grams of protein. Plain YQ has 17 grams. Fairlife milk, they have chocolate too. 13 grams. Single serve tuna has 14 grams and 80 calories. Cottage cheese, mozarella cheese. I ate a ton of beans. Good luck!

if meat is to dry add plain greek yogurt or sour cream or low fat mayo. I even made deviled eggs.

yogurt (greek), cottage cheese, ricotta cheese (can put cinnamon and spenda with it, look up Shelly's ricotta bake, refried beans with our without cheese added, Wendy's chili, milk (Fairlife has more protein), or get Unjury non flavored protein powder and add it to soups and puddings

I hate sf products. I drank fairlife milk and yogurt for protein. It is very hard to find a non sf product. I also can't tolerate whey. It makes me gag.

Fairlife milk and yogurt is what I lived off of the 3rd and 4th week until I could eat food. Good luck!

Even though today is a fasting holiday for me I need 3 small meals with 1/2 a protein shake to stay healthy. I'll be way below my calories but I'll make up for it tomorrow! Breakfast: Triple zero yogurt - 2.25 ounces, Whipped cottage cheese with cinnamon - 1 ounce Lunch : Yellowfin tuna - 2 ounces and 1 ounce sauteed mixed veggies (leftover from our anniversary dinner last night) Dinner: cooked shrimp and steamed green beans 78g protein, 28g carbs, 7g fat

UPDATE: had my first post op appt today. I was sleeved 4/8. Surgery weight was 225, today was 210. Down 15lbs. The body analysis shows that was mainly fluid loss, but doctor said that’s normal. He cleared me to start purées stage Saturday. Never in my life have I ever looked so forward to mashed potatoes or scrambled eggs!! 1 more day of liquid. Water still a struggle. I used to drink 80-100 ounces a day, now 40-50 is about all I can manage on top of the protein shakes, broth and yogurt. My doctor said it will get easier in a couple more weeks when the stomach swelling goes down. Hope you all are doing well on your journey. Feel free to ask me anything! Thanks for all your support!!! 😘