Search the Community

So I've been meaning to ask this question, yet every time I go to my surgeon's office I forget! My Soup dilemma. I love chunky meaty Soups. I'm ok without the carby starchy veggies, but can we eat the meats and broth if we can't drink and eat? Also, right now I'm still on puree stage. Could I puree both liquid and meat? I'm guessing I can so my question I guess is more geared for when I'm further out. To elaborate, and maybe TMI, I'm hispanic and I :wub: LOVE mondongo (beef tripe soup) :wub: .<--- No Judging! It's high in Protein, not fattening (w/careful preparation) and can be made without starches without sacrificing much taste. If anyone else has had experience with this food post op please share.... I will, of course, experiment. Still, I'd rather save myself the trouble of having a bad episode, if that's the case. Please share experiences with other soups as well, as I can't imagine them being much different.

Oct 3rd for me, i'm day 3 on liquid diet & hangry that others get to eat on their pre-op diet. I have lost 3# but I dont see that as significant. And tmi but liquid in liquid out is killing me I almost sharted myself. Guess lesson is to never trust a fart. allons-y

I've been banded since 5/13. I've lost 55 lbs and love my band. I had a problem at first of band being to full. They removed from 4 cc down to 1/2 cc the 1st month and I've been fine up till now. I notice that I'm not really hungry but I can eat more than I was plus I am having severe I mean severe flatulence. I no that's probably TMI but has anyone had this problem? If you stay on low side of fills does it stretch out or what? If anyone ever experienced any of these problems please let's communicate. I go back first part of March and am so afraid of getting a fill due to the pain I was in with it initially. Thanks! !

***TMI ALERT*** Oh, I've done all sorts of stupid diets but the worst, hands down? The Alli pills. The idea is that the pills soak up all the fat you eat and you, um, excrete it rather than your body absorbing it. If you ate too much fat you would have an accident. So that was supposed to encourage you to stick to a low-fat diet. Well, of course we all know low-fat diets don't satisfy you so eventually I would slip up and eat something with too much fat in it. At the time I worked at a high-end corporate law firm and being unable to control my bowels was NOT an option! And! I was pooping ORANGE! After one too many pairs of ruined panties I threw the damned pills away.

Hydroxycut....it makes you loose. But oh man, its expensive, made me feel like i was wired on coffee, and made my (TMI ALERT) poop black. Not to mention i gained all my weight plus 10lbs when i stopped taking them.

sariel - you and i are bandster twins... i also got my band on 12/7 and am just finally starting to feel a little better. last night (first night home) i was in excruciating pain - my entire torso was throbbing... i guess it was the gas. i walked around the house as much as possible, took 1 chewable gas-x (though who knows if that did anything because the gas was not in my intestines), rocked in a rocking chair, used a heating pad on my back and then did considerable amounts of whining. I passed some gas last night (TMI - sorry) and feel a little better today. everyone (including the doctors) say keep moving - i know that's so hard when you just want to curl up and cry... but i do think that helped. see you around the boards!

Somewhere over time I've gotten rid of full-length mirrors. I'd like to think it is cause I've moved and etc, but I don't look so hot in them anymore. TMI: When I was young and naughty they were even nice to have in the bedroom...but now: pitch black and then maybe not.. LOL Friday, when I had to move my last Dr. appointment before filling to Monday, I had on part of a towel and came to ask my hubby a question, but was stopped by the mirror. Who is that wide girl with ripples down the front of her legs and the 75 extra tummies?? OMG that is me! Tiny head, big ol body. Hellll no! I have been debating WLS, scared of the Sleeve, really I am (don't wanna die), but Band is stupid Drama and I suspect won't work anyway, so I'd even thought of doing nothing..then I saw the mirror! You've heard how older people "feel" inside 26 or whatever, even though their body is breaking down, I don't feel as bad as I look, I run around just fine in the world, although I have nothing to wear and don't look good in a dang thing, so I was surprised how I look compared to how I feel about myself (I do look good in that Peacock blue dress in my profile pic-and pics DO lie, my photographer BFF has The Eye). Anwayyy, now I say, bring it on! Told the Dr. yesterday, file for the sleeve! Now to wait for insurance to approve. Wait Wait Wait. Hubby is about to lose the job that pays for WLS, this is all under the wire, timing is crazy short. My goal is not to die in or after surgery, no leaks no complications! Then, my goal is to lose 115 lbs. I'd be able to get clothes, I looked good at that weight and didn't have to shop at The Fat Chicks Store (Lane Bryant). Come on Dr. Ganta and Aetna! TTL! Colette Here is an aside, I mentioned to a friend that I'm about to have surgery, he's a big boy, turns out he has a Band and gained back the 80 that he lost and he's saving for a OOP Sleeve, but told me of course that I look fine either way, but he hates his Band!

Warning TMI ahead! I haven't even had my surgery yet but I've been eating extremely clean for about two months now. No breads, rice or pasta. No added sugers. Meat only on the weekends. EVERY TIME I've taken a bite of something I shouldn't have *a bite of wife's crab roll last weekend, and a pulled mushroom sandwich on sourdough the week before that) I PEE FROM MY BOOTY! I can't believe my body has the nerve to dump already! Not really mad, because it was stuff I shouldn't have eaten anyway. 😝

Josie - Thanks for your nice comments concerning my abundant flab. I am so looking forward to having it gone. What is funny, and this might be TMI, I am looking forward to being able to look down and seeing my pubic hair. I have only been able to see it in the mirrow. SORRY, that was TMI...... Does anyone else have that little bald spot from the skin rubbing? Allie - Surgery is THURSDAY, yep this THURSDAY!!!! Day after tomorrow.... two days from now. A little over 48 hours from now. Can you tell I am excited. I can hardly stand myself. Oh, a comment on the pics. The one where I am in jeans... thoses are size 8 jeans. I was so excited to get them on and zip them up, that was until I looked in the mirrow and saw the muffin top. I can't wait until it is gone and try those bad boys on again. Did anyone else take bromelin prior to surgery? TWO days and counting!!! Laura

I was thinking the same... TMI! LoL! I love it!:thumbup:

Hey shannybp, how are your gas pains? I can still really feel mine. Sorry if this is TMI, but if I could only have one large full body fart I think I would feel so much better! I actually switched to the gas-x gel tabs as they have twice the active ingredient in them than the strips do. I had my post-op appointment today with my surgeon and I confessed to him that I have been cheating on my 1 week post-op diet (not sticking to Clear liquids only this week). He said if I am handling the Soups and Protein shakes okay that he is not worried about it and I can start introducing mushies next week as long as I am up to it. My incisions are healing very nicely so I think he is confident that I am bouncing back quickly from this. I am not going to try anything chunky yet but it sure is nice to be able to eat soup...6 weeks ago I would have called that crazy talk! I really do seem to have some natural restriction...after 5 bites or so my chest tightens up and it feels like a swallowed a tennis ball or something...amazing. My surgeon confirmed that this is my "new full". I don't think I am anywhere close to needing a fill at this point. It's not a full feeling like I remember it being but it's certainly uncomfortable enough that I want to stop eating...hey, whatever it takes, right! I haven't lost any more weight since surgery day but I am honestly not worried about it right now. I got a McD milkshake today and only drank about an 1/8 of it. It made me sick at my stomach so I through the rest away. I have trimmed my calorie consumption considerably so I can't imagine I won't start losing weight at some point. For the record I only drink milkshakes a few times a year..this was just a simple treat for me...my downfall is southern cooking! The only other side effects I am having 5 days post-op is occasional heart/chest burn and nausea. Other than that I am doing great and glad to be back at work so I can start thinking about other things. Later. :lunch:

So I understand that constipation is a side effect of wls but I wasn't prepared for this! I went from going 2-3 times a day (bad dieting) to not even remembering the last time I went lol. Well tonight was horrible! My stomach hurt so bad from not going I started to feel nauseous and had cramps in my back.. I took some stool softeners and to no avail. Eventually I broke down and gave myself a suppository and man the relief! lol.. Ok I'm sorry I put all my business out there and had a TMI moment but don't say I didn't warn you. For those who empathize, is there something magical out there I should know about to relieve that situation??? And how long does this last for?

Another March 13 person here! Doing ok, still a little sore. Have been eating pureed fruit, custard, white fish in sauce, stuff like that. I have been able to eat more than I thought I would; sometimes I feel really hungry but most of the time am not interested due to weird feeling in chest. TMI - definitely badly constipated, have taken laxative stuff today to try to help.:lunch:

I just did mine... was supposed to be 2 oz of Milk of Magnesia, but it was thick and I have a sensitive gag reflex ... held it down for about 5 minutes then vomited it up (sorry, TMI I know) so then I had to run to the drugstore and get Magnesium Citrate which was akin to hte nastiest cherry soda I have ever had, but easier to drink, and supposedly stronger that MOM anyway... For me, my diet ALL DAY was "clear liquids" which could also include apple, grape, or cranberry juice and Jello. I have had a LOT of Jello today, LOL but am so far fine... it's almost midnight, so i'm getting in my last few sips of Water... My only problem today was I accidentally took one of my gummy vites at 10 pm and didn't chew very well so I guess I technically ate something, but I don't think it will be a big deal, the Mag-Cit pretty much flushed me out... never quite experienced anything like that. I just hope I'm empty enough... I dont see how anything could be left... Saturday all I had all day was a 2 slim fasts and 1/2 a chicken club sandwich, Sunday all I had was Slim Fast and today nothing but iced tea, juice and jello. Best of luck to all!

Hey Nov. Sleevers... How are you???? I was sleeved on the 12th. So far I'm Ok. I am fine with my Water and Protein... sip sip sip. My goal is to drink one 200 calorie can per day per my MD, Plus as much water as possible. Of course I am still very achy and feel very weak and dizzy at times... but over all I'm Ok... I have yet to vomit... but today I passed my 1st BM post op... TMI: OMG diarrhea attack... my stomach and guts were turning and I barely made it to the rest room. Sorry for the details... but I want to share the good truth! Oh well... its over and I am much relieved. FYI: I gained 10 pds post surgery... I think from all the IV fluids and swelling-cuz I weighted 235 the day of surgery and 245 2 days later????? Well today is day 4 and I'm down 8 out of those 10. Question: Whats your 2 week post op diet????? Mine is only a Protein shake divided in to 4 servings per day and water... :/ Good Luck & God Bless to all!!!!!

So I was supposed to get my period last week which would have had my period long gone before surgery tomorrow. But OF COURSE it decides to come today. Is it ok/should I use a tampon or how will this be handled come tomorrow? Grrrrrrrrrrrrr...........Thanks!

I've had a panniculectomy so here's my story. When I had my sleeve done on Nov 18th 2010 the surgeon found my fibroid tumor was way way bigger than we knew. Luckily he was able to do my sleeve and now we knew I needed a hysterectomy sooner rather than later. My original goal was to wait until this fall and hopefully most of my weight would be gone and I could get a tummy tuck at the same time. Unfortunately, the fibroid was making my life miserable.....back pain, shortness of breath (my diaphragm couldn't fully open) having to pee all the time......so we decided to do it March 1. I knew my abs would be cut for the hysterectomy so I talked to the plastic surgeon. I had stomach that overhung to my pubic area (so gross) and even my girly areas drooped. (grosser) I decided to have the panni done when I had my hysterectomy. The gyno cut vertically to get the tumor out, and the plastics cut on either side of the incision and pulled it together. My panniculectomy incision runs from nearly the back of one hip to nearly the back of the other. My belly button was moved. When I figured out he had cut it out of the skin that was removed and cut a hole where it is now and sewed it in I was sort of disgusted...but it looks pretty good. Sometimes I feel like Frankenstein. There are some pros and cons to what I did and I'll share them with you. Pros: Not having that overhang was a huge motivator to me. No more rashes there I can move so much more freely (ie...when I ride my bike, my knees don't hit my stomach) I have a lap again My clothes fit so much better and the overhang used to be visible under clothes TMI alert (sex is soooo much better without that between us) BTW.....he removed 15 pounds of skin and fat. So if you've ever grabbed your stomach and said 'I wish I could cut this off" Well, it turns out you can. Cons: It hurt soooooo much. Please understand a lot of that pain came from the removal of a fibroid tumor that weighed in at over 10 pounds and the cutting of my abdominal muscles. The scar is big and ugly, but as bad as it is, it's better than the overhang. Because I had my surgery with A LOT of weight left to lose, I may still want to have a tummy tuck later. I'm going to wait and see on that. I paid for it out of pocket and it wasn't cheap, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat My doc explained that the panniculectomy was like a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) without the tightening of the stomach muscles. If you're at your goal weight now, my suggestion (unsolicited so tell me to shut up if you want) would be to have the tummy tuck. With the tummy tuck they will remove the excess skin like they would in a panniculectomy, but they will also tighten up your muscles, giving you a more toned look. Sept 1 I'm having my girls reduced and lifted. If you have questions about that, I'll let you know after. Insurance is footing the bill for that one and I'm psyched. If you want to know anything else, please feel free to PM me. Good luck with your decision.

Hi I am six months out I think I might have vomited 4-5 times and the last time was about 3 months ago. This is probably TMI but it wasn't so much as vomiting it was more like how a baby spits up. I think it tends to happen the first few months.

I used to be a breadaholic too. I gave up sugar about 12 years ago, but needed sleeve surgery because of course I learned to substitute others things, like bread, for my former sugar addiction. I think you'll find though that after surgery, your tastes change. I am 5 months post op and haven't had any bread yet. To me now it just sounds like something gummy that is just going to get stuck -- both going in and out (sorry, TMI, I know, but constipation was a real problem in the early days). 'Course this doesn't mean I don't think about bread. It was my favorite thing. Went for Italian with friends last week. I sat and watched them dipping the white, fiber-free, pasty Italian bread in olive oil and all I could think was "that's 300 calories per slice, and I don't want have to put that in my MyFitnessPal food diary." Give yourself a chance. You might find that your bread addiction goes away, or is not such a problem after sleeve surgery. Good luck on your journey. It's going to be amazing!

I want to add that I'm sorry if I came off as ungrateful that I was able to have the surgery, I am grateful and i am planning on working my program. I was very emotional and upset when I was typing out what happened. I think I'm more upset that I didn't stay in a different town for my recovery.... and I'm hoping to never have to go to this hospital again if I can help it... The doctor just make me feel like me feeling dizzy, not being able to drink much, and not going to the bathroom in over 10 hours (probably tmi I'm sorry) was all my fault and I deserved it and had no right going to the hospital for help..... I have another surgery I'm supposed to have done in 8 months (for my back) and u will definitely hold off until I'm able to save enough to stay in a different town for recovery. Sent from my SM-G996U using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi everyone! I was banded on 11/10 and have 5 incisions. They were closed with steristrips and all have fallen off except for the one on the largest incision. I started to try and peel it off but it looked like it was pulling off the scab (so sorry if that's TMI or grossing anyone out). Not sure if I should just peel it off anyway? All of the handouts and what I've read said to peel them off in the shower after 2 weeks. I'm sure it's closed, I'm just weirded out as I've never had surgery or incisions to deal with :-/

This is majorly TMI so back arrow if you need to. Posting this who may need the reassurance and help like I did. I of course am not a doctor but here's my situation. I had surgery on 3/23/17, so I'm only a week out. I've been on the liquid diet and my pain meds this whole time. Until yesterday I was not able to fully meet the 64oz requirement. My surgeon told me to build up to it and I did. I've been sleepy alot from the pain meds making me drowsy and from recovering overall. My walking consisted of walking around the house and outside some to keep things moving. Until yesterday. I felt up for going shopping, no bending but i drove the cart while the fiance grabbed the groceries. Walked around for quite a bit. This helped work out gas....and constipation. Holy moly. I don't even remember not going, I was going some everyday so I thought things were fine...at least I think I was. With this working out and the pain meds, the iron supplement, the more sitting than standing, and the not meeting my water goals i had severely hard and dry stool. One of the worst pains I've experienced. I couldn't get the last but out, I was agonizing in pain. I checked my "okay" meds for after surgery and milk of magnesia was suggested. I took 30ml, which is the smaller dose. It did nothing. I was so scared (This was a longer ordeal but sparing you the details) I almost went to the ER. I really didn't want to do that so I called my surgeons office (mind you it's midnight by this time) to see if there was an after hours emergency number but the call went right to this after hours number who sent me to the on call doctor who told me that I didn't take enough. Told me to take the full dose and give it the 6 hours. So I did. I made myself chill out and fall asleep. Woke up 4 hours later and it worked. It was still painful as all to pass that but it worked. I've had this full ache on my right side that I thought was gas and maybe it was but ever since all of this passed it is gone!! Sharing this as I've heard this is common, not sure if it was as painful and severe as mine but in case....i highly advise you drink all of your water asap! And walk, even just a 10 minute walk around your neighborhood. I thought getting up and around my house was enough but it was not. I'm so glad I'm not going to the ER, that would have been humiliating. Sorry for TMI, but felt it was important to share.

I am 4 and a half weeks post op. (sleeved May 22) I have trouble with back pain and headaches from allergies. I've tried taking Tylenol and Ibuprofin (both ok'd by the doc) but both of them give me horrible diarrhea (sorry TMI). I've been using my pain pills in the meantime, but does anyone have any suggestions as to what might help? Thanks so much!

My surgeon said it gave him insight into how well I was healing. By day 6 or so the liquid was turning a yellowish pink (I know, TMI!) and he said that was a really good sign that all was well with my stomach closure.

Good Day Sleevers and Pre-Sleevers: Well, I survived the two week hurdle and made it back to work today. I had a fun day, but today was really busy caring for cancer patients. Only a few people noticed my weight loss, but I was wearing a lab coat so I guess I look like my usual self. I'm happy no one noticed the changes or in denial...works for me. My face is noticably slimmer and my pants are falling off. I am known for my big boobs and they are shrinking, too. I am looking forward to buying a shirt with buttons instead of pull-overs! I am disappointed that I did not drink the two bottles of water that I brought to work. The day was so busy and I was away from my desk all day. I expect to have a slow day tomorrow and eager to improve. My doctor and nutritionist advised that H2O intake is essential throughout the day, so I have to make a conservative effort to do better. Pee-pee is supposed to be yellowish to nearly clear, and that is my clue for doing a good job. Unfortunately today was not so good sorry if too TMI (too much info)...hahaha. Often I want to drink a whole bottle of water, but I feel like I cannot. I am used to drinking two bottles of water back to back, but now I just cannot. Anyone else having this problem? On another note, as of today I am exactly 200 lbs. My doctor said that I should expect 1-2 lbs weight loss per week. Wow - watch out summer I am making my comeback! I am really excited about the new me to come and you should, too. Breaskfast: Two boiled eggs - whites only Lunch: two + 1/2 pieces of baked chicken without the skin H2O: 1 bottle in AM and 8 oz of tea Dinner: Smoked salmon (YUMMY!!!) Exercise: tennis in the park with a friend