What do YOU eat in a typical day?

[JillianMarie 0]

Well, basically i end up drinking within 30 minutes of meals because i am always thirsty. That may be my downfall. I have constant dry mouth. When i wake up i have to get something to drink and when i eat i feel as if i can't even get anything down without drinking with it because my mouth is so dry. I certainly don't want to wash food through the sleeve, but i don't want to go thirsty or get dehydrated at the same time. I have mitral valve prolapse and a condition which results in low blood volume, requiring me to drink large quantities of liquids throughout the day to keep my blood pressure from dropping too low and keep me from fainting. So it is very difficult for me to space out time around meals and not drink around those times, i get very very thirsty, especially in the heat and humidity of Alabama. It is almost easier for me to just replace food with Protein shakes if i was to do that. It may be that i have been washing food through my sleeve this whole time by drinking too much around and with my food causing me to be able to eat more that normal.

[imagine.dream.inspire 0]

That might be the reason why you're able to consume larger amounts. The liquids are pushing the food right through.

Did you discuss your medical conditions with Dr. Almanza before surgery?

[deletedsally 8]

Here's an average day for me:

Breakfast: 1 scrambled egg and 1/2 ww english muffin

Lunch: 5 small meatballs and 4 (1") watermelon cubes

Snack: 1 cheese stick and 4 pita chips

Dinner: 3 oz chicken, 3 (1") cubes steamed potato, 2 pieces asparagus

Snack: 1 Ryvita cracker with 2 tsp Peanut Butter

Sometimes I worry that I am able to eat more than others and that it doesn't take me long to finish a meal. Fortunately, I am still losing a pound or two a week. If I were 12 months out and able to eat this much, I would feel more confident and relaxed--it does concern me that I can eat pretty comfortably at 3.5 months. I know my surgeon used a 40f bougie. For me, it does seem to be making a difference.

[JillianMarie 0]

That might be the reason why you're able to consume larger amounts. The liquids are pushing the food right through.

Did you discuss your medical conditions with Dr. Almanza before surgery?

I did tell them i had mitral valve prolapse prior to surgery, and i also have something called dysautonomia. It is usually genetic but overlooked and misdiagnosed because of the huge variety of symptoms it can cause. I was misdiagnosed with panic attacks at the age of 10 and wasn't correctly diagnosed until the age of 21 when i found a specialist. It usually goes hand in hand with mitral valve prolapse. People who have it live for years or decades with it without knowing they have it because most Doctors do not even know of the condition. I just happen to live in Huntsville, AL, about 90 minutes North of Birmingham where the Mitral Valve and Dysautonomia Center is, where the very few specialists in the country happen to be for the disease, and was diagnosed there. I don't think Dr. Almanza knows the details about either condition, and although I think he is a good Doctor when it comes to performing these surgeries, it was almost like a shop getting people in and out of the surgery center because there were so many people being operated on. They operate on you and move you out as soon as possible to get the next people in. They do so many surgeries they literally don't have time to sit down and talk with you one on one about individual needs or problems. Or at least in my case i felt they didn't.

I agree that the liquid consumption is probably having a great deal with moving food through my sleeve so quickly. I tried steamed broccoli for the second time last night, the first time was several days ago and it was very filling so i tried it again, however i didn't have anything to drink with it this time. I ate a little too fast maybe, and because i didn't drink anything i got the "slimies". Haven't had that happen in a while. What was odd, is I didn't get nauseous of felt like i was going to throw up, i just started sliming. As the food moved down it went away. So it must have a lot to do with my Fluid intake.

Being in the 100+ degree heat index of Alabama and high humidity really makes me much more thirsty, i see it being easier to drink less once fall rolls around and cooler, drier air moves in.

I have not had much to drink today, and have had a 3 yogurts mixed with steel cut oats and a 2 oz stick of beef Jerky, which to most of you may be a lot but for me is very little by this time of day. It actually has very slowly moved through my sleeve because i have not been drinking. But again, I've been sitting at the computer indoors all day in air conditioning and have not gotten thirsty.

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

Drink up until 30 minutes before you eat or at least 15 minutes before you eat . Wait at least 30 min after you eat, but 45 would be better. You should notice a difference. When I am with people who don't know I am sleeved, I will sip some Water while eating,and I can eat way more food than when I don't.

[JillianMarie 0]

Drink up until 30 minutes before you eat or at least 15 minutes before you eat . Wait at least 30 min after you eat, but 45 would be better. You should notice a difference. When I am with people who don't know I am sleeved, I will sip some Water while eating,and I can eat way more food than when I don't.

So give it an hour time-frame from drinking total around meals? That makes sense.

That is also a good idea when you are with people, people won't look at you like you are crazy or trying to starve yourself! I'm at a healthy weight now and don't want to only be able to "pick" at tiny bites when I'm in public because I get comments from people thinking that I have an eating disorder. I usually can avoid those comments by choosing the higher calorie foods instead of only veggies and very low calorie foods, and choosing to have a few bites of dessert. It gets people off my case. Pretty annoying to say the least though!!

[MINI-Me 196]

Jillian -

I am really worried about you. You had your surgery less than 2 months ago, right?

You were a very lightweight (30 pounds to lose I think is what you said). You are already at a healthy weight which is great.

However, you should not be eating lettuce and some of the foods you listed until 3 months out or more. Since you are also asking about liquids & timing around meals, it seems like you have had very little or no nutrition guidelines given to you.

Please seek help from a licensed nutritionist who has experience with the Sleeve. If you cannot find that, even experience with any WLS will be of a benefit to you. The volume and types of food you are eating can cause serious issues with your healing stomach.

Please, please, please get some help immediately!

[JillianMarie 0]

Jillian -

I am really worried about you. You had your surgery less than 2 months ago, right?

You were a very lightweight (30 pounds to lose I think is what you said). You are already at a healthy weight which is great.

However, you should not be eating lettuce and some of the foods you listed until 3 months out or more. Since you are also asking about liquids & timing around meals, it seems like you have had very little or no nutrition guidelines given to you.

Please seek help from a licensed nutritionist who has experience with the Sleeve. If you cannot find that, even experience with any WLS will be of a benefit to you. The volume and types of food you are eating can cause serious issues with your healing stomach.

Please, please, please get some help immediately!

It's been almost 2 months, I have been very confused as far as post op directions because my surgeon gave me the clear to eat solids at 5 weeks, and was very strict at first with his post-op directions, but it seemed to progress very quickly. There aren't any local nutritionists that have experience with the sleeve, i have checked into it. I have even checked with the local weight loss surgery centers, and they only perform gastric bypass and lap-band, they have yet to perform the sleeve. I went to two different gastroenterologists seeking their opinions and looking for post- surgery follow up care, and they didn't really understand what I was there for. They said i was fine, and that I should be okay to eat what I am comfortable with eating, and that my stomach will let me know if i have trouble with any foods. One doctor told me to take new foods slow and cautiously, but at 5 weeks to introduce them in small amounts and that I should be okay with them and that the major healing has probably already occurred and my risk for leaks would be very low by that point.

At this point the only foods that i have problems with are green Beans, and acidic foods or high fat foods (with the exception of Peanut Butter, it seems to be the only high fat food that agrees well with me AND keeps me full for most of the day).

At times I wish i had used a different surgeon whom I would have follow up care with and had better outlines of everything from the start. I have been told different things by everyone.

I can always go back to my "safe foods"- yogurt, smoothies, applesauce, and Protein shakes, and try to pass a few more weeks or a month by to give more healing time, as long as I keep myself busy I can distract myself from thinking about eating other foods.

I seem to have a fairly high metabolism, after surgery i consumed quite a bit more than most people in the way of calories (around 900 a day through Protein shakes) and still lost pretty fast. If I can aim at about 1200-1400 a day, I can slowly get to my goal, then maintain at around 1800-2000/day.

[MINI-Me 196]

I know it's hard having so many differing opinions thrown at you. I don't think it needs to be all "safe" foods, but some you need to avoid while you are healing. I was told no raw veggies, chicken and beef (unless very moist with a sauce), and popcorn until I was at least 3 months. From what I've read from others that is typical advice from mosts docs/nuts.

This does not appear to be an issue for you with fullness, I was told to avoid most lettuce (spinach was ok) pretty much always since there is so little nutrition and it can fill you up too quickly.

If we can help at all, just say the word. We do care!

[SParkle 4]

Jillian - I had my one month check up today and something was said which might help you....we were talking about the fact that I thought I would have an issue with realising when I was full once sleeved, but infact i don't - i can sense that about 5 bites of food is enough and know not to go over that.

I've not once slimed or been sick as a result. The shrink said that was great, as if you push your sleeve one day, it'll stretch a little to allow for that.... if you then push it a little more the next day it'll stretch a little more... etc etc day after day if this goes on you'll end up with a fairly large capacity.... thus be able to eat more, and possibly gain weight.

When she said this I thought of you.... as I kow you've said you can eat quite large amounts.

[Tiffykins 673]

Any nutritionist along with your therapist should be able to get you on a meal plan. You've stated you are in therapy for your compulsive eating, and with that assistance, and guidance, plus the guidance of a nutritionist or dietician, you should be able to get this figured out.

Just tell them you've had a gastrectomy. You do not have to tell them or go into grave detail that you had a vertical sleeve gastrectomy for WLS. Gastrectomies are a well-known, heavily practiced procedure, and any decent nutritionist/dietician will have experience getting you on a meal plan that will help you.

[JillianMarie 0]

Any nutritionist along with your therapist should be able to get you on a meal plan. You've stated you are in therapy for your compulsive eating, and with that assistance, and guidance, plus the guidance of a nutritionist or dietician, you should be able to get this figured out.

Just tell them you've had a gastrectomy. You do not have to tell them or go into grave detail that you had a vertical sleeve gastrectomy for WLS. Gastrectomies are a well-known, heavily practiced procedure, and any decent nutritionist/dietician will have experience getting you on a meal plan that will help you.

My therapist does know about the surgery and has helped greatly with depression issues, however I know that there is only so much that that therapy can do, a lot of things time will resolve and I will have to change on my own. Good idea Tiffykins about mentioning to a nutritionist that i have had a gastrectomy, that should be easier to understand and work with from their end. We have a huge hospital in town and a large branch solely for nutrition, I'll see about getting into see a nutritionist ASAP and get on a meal plan and routine appointments. That should help guide me and keep me on a positive track. I know that if I have a professional looking down my shoulder and keeping me in line I won't be so confused and be making the mistakes I have been making!

[Tiffykins 673]

My therapist does know about the surgery and has helped greatly with depression issues, however I know that there is only so much that that therapy can do, a lot of things time will resolve and I will have to change on my own. Good idea Tiffykins about mentioning to a nutritionist that i have had a gastrectomy, that should be easier to understand and work with from their end. We have a huge hospital in town and a large branch solely for nutrition, I'll see about getting into see a nutritionist ASAP and get on a meal plan and routine appointments. That should help guide me and keep me on a positive track. I know that if I have a professional looking down my shoulder and keeping me in line I won't be so confused and be making the mistakes I have been making!

Oh no I meant that your therapist and nutritionist can work together. Target your trigger foods, weed out the stuff that may cause overeating not only in quantity, but quality.

It's a learning experience. Ya know, we all have bad habits, and issues, it takes time, and you'll get there.

[deletedsally 8]

Jillian, I'm not trying to be hurtful, but once again, I'm going to be blunt. I sent you at least 3 (maybe 4 ) links to nutritional guidelines for sleeve gastrectomy patients. I realize that your doctor didn't give you careful guidelines, but I personally gave you the guidelines from very reputable surgical centers, and you are not following them.

There is some, but not a lot, of variation in the nutritional instructions given to VSG patients. You seem to be well-informed about a wide variety of topics related to health and nutrition. If you want to protect your sleeve and have a successful experience, it's worth the time it would take you to print and read the guidelines that are specific to VSG.

If you want to follow the recommendations of a doctor that basically told you that you could eat whatever, whenever, then that is your choice. The fact that his opinion is in direct contradiction to what the rest of us are telling you, or the nutritional guidelines that are available online for VSG patients, doesn't affect me personally because he wasn't my surgeon...but it does seem to be having a direct impact on you.

You can spend the money on a nutritionist, or a gastroenterologist, or a counselor, or some other medical professional that may (or may not) have experience in working with VSG patients--or you can print out the guidelines that are available, read them, and follow them. There isn't anyone who is going to be able to take responsibility for what you choose to eat, except you.

Don't cut back on fluids. You need a minimum of 64 oz. daily. Start drinking Water when you wake up, then wait at least 15 minutes, preferably 30 before eating solids. Eat your Breakfast, and then don't drink Fluid for at least 30 minutes (preferably 90 according to some guidelines). Start drinking your fluids again, and continue up until 30 minutes before lunch, etc...

Yogurt is not your friend. It might have been fine right after surgery when you couldn't eat any real solids--but at 2 months, if you are eating 3 yogurts, you might as well be drinking milkshakes. Yogurt will run right through your sleeve and leave you hungry.

No raw fruits or vegetables for 3-4 months.

You may need to adjust your thinking about the types of foods that you think are good choices, and eat more solid Proteins if you want to minimize your hunger.

[JillianMarie 0]

Oh no I meant that your therapist and nutritionist can work together. Target your trigger foods, weed out the stuff that may cause overeating not only in quantity, but quality.

It's a learning experience. Ya know, we all have bad habits, and issues, it takes time, and you'll get there.

Oh I see, that makes sense, I'm sorry that went right over my head :confused1: I found a few nutritionists that I will call tomorrow, and whomever I end up getting in with I will see if I can schedule appointments with the 3 of us at a time to work together, it would definitely be beneficial. Thank you for being so inspirational!!