My Sleeve story - Surgery was done Jan. 13, 2011

[Connie31079 0]

Hello everyone! My name is Connie. I had my vertical sleeve gastrectomy done in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on Jan. 13, 2011. Everything went splendidly! I was discharged from the hospital after 2 days (instead of the normal 3 days) because everything was healing so well, and I had progressed to stage 3 diet.

I will be at stage 3 for 4 weeks and then move to stage 4 for 4 weeks and then onto stage 5, which is "normal" food for the rest of my life. I am getting quite sick of only liquids, I can't wait to move to stage 4 so I can have applesauce, yougort, etc.....I am getting quite hungry! I have lost 15 pounds in the last 16 days since my surgery, so everything is going well!

My surgeon's name was Dr. James Ellsmere, based out of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

[mbridgeman27 0]

Wow...that's great..I only loss 5lbs and I'm 8 days post op...I hope it speeds up.

[jbcone 0]

great job!!! Keep up the good work!

[Connie31079 0]

Well, 1 month today post-op. I have lost 25 pounds, but the weight loss is slowing down now that I'm not just strictly on liquids anymore. BUT!......having such a hard time with nausea! Have read some other posts from other people here about nausea, and have tried all their suggestions, to no avail! The nausea was so bad, it sent me to the ER last week, where they gave me a perscription for Zofran. It works wonderfully, but when this perscription runs out, I can't keep going back for more!

Hoping this nausea is just a phase, and that it passes SOON!

[brazcan 37]

I am just curious about these diet stages. They seem to be different of what I have here: 1)clear liquids 2) full liquids 3) pureed 4) soft 5) solids

Would you give a quick description of your diet stages? Thanks

[Billy363627 15]

If you having soo much nausea you can back to the stage prior for another couple of days. I have heard that if food is not yet tolerated that you can go back to soft foods or thick liquids until your body is more used to solid foods. Sometimes your body is not ready for the next step and you have to back up one step.. I hope this helps and good luck

[Margaret 4]

Could Vitamins on an empty stomach be the problem? I haven't had surgery yet, but vitamins right with a meal or before make me very nauseous.

Well, 1 month today post-op. I have lost 25 pounds, but the weight loss is slowing down now that I'm not just strictly on liquids anymore. BUT!......having such a hard time with nausea! Have read some other posts from other people here about nausea, and have tried all their suggestions, to no avail! The nausea was so bad, it sent me to the ER last week, where they gave me a perscription for Zofran. It works wonderfully, but when this perscription runs out, I can't keep going back for more!

Hoping this nausea is just a phase, and that it passes SOON!

[Connie31079 0]

I am just curious about these diet stages. They seem to be different of what I have here: 1)clear liquids 2) full liquids 3) pureed 4) soft 5) solids

Would you give a quick description of your diet stages? Thanks

Hi brazcan, I was on total liquids the week before surgery, and the day before surgery, just "clear" liquids. Stage 1 for me was Water only while I was in the hospital. Stage 2 was still while I was in the hospital, I was given Clear Liquids again. Stage 3 was upon discharge from hospital, and for 4 weeks after surgery, everything had to have the consistency of milk (no lumps, chunks, etc....) Then, for weeks 5-8 post-surgery, I move to Stage 4 - "soft " mushy foods, such as yogurt, applesauce, mashed potatoes, "minced" deli meats & chicken, but still not allowed to have bread, Pasta or rice, as I have been told these food "swell" in your stomach, which can lead to nausea & vomiting. This is the stage I am at now. In approx. 3 weeks time, I will be back to "normal" everyday food (Stage 5 - for life), and as my surgeon said, it will be by "trial & error" to see what my body will tolerate and what it won't, because most people can't eat the same foods they ate before the surgery, as it makes them nauseous & vomit. God knows I've had enough of that!! LOL!

It seems every surgeon's "rules" for eating after surgery is different, because I have read that some people are back to eating normal food as soon as 4 weeks after surgery, but that doesn't happen for me until 8 weeks after surgery.

[kaneohegirl 2]

many meds including Vitamins on a empty stomach can cause nausea including ppl with whole stomachs. your dosage of Vitamin might be too high or the type of vitamin could have additives that are reacting with you. try taking them during the meal or after...

Could vitamins on an empty stomach be the problem? I haven't had surgery yet, but vitamins right with a meal or before make me very nauseous.

[Connie31079 0]

If you having soo much nausea you can back to the stage prior for another couple of days. I have heard that if food is not yet tolerated that you can go back to soft foods or thick liquids until your body is more used to solid foods. Sometimes your body is not ready for the next step and you have to back up one step.. I hope this helps and good luck

Thanks for the info, NotFatJustExtraFluffy. I have been nauseated from day 1 after surgery. They were giving me Zofran & Gravol in the hospital all the time. Thought it was because my body didn't agree with the Ensure that I was drinking, so I eliminated that from my diet, but was still overcome with waves of nausea. It has gotten less over the last couple days and not nearly as bad as it was right after surgery, but at almost 5 weeks post-surgery, I am questioning why I am still nauseated at all? Oh well, it is a little discomfort for realizing my life-long dream of having this surgery and hopefully losing the weight I've always wanted to lose!

[Connie31079 0]

many meds including Vitamins on a empty stomach can cause nausea including ppl with whole stomachs. your dosage of Vitamin might be too high or the type of Vitamin could have additives that are reacting with you. try taking them during the meal or after...

Cool, I will try that, thanks!

[Connie31079 0]

So, had my check-up yesterday with my surgeon. He is concerned that my nausea is hanging around so long after my surgery, and thinks I may have gallstones (which is causing my nausea). Ultrasound within the next week, and if full of gallstones, gallbladder will be coming out very soon! :-(

[wannalise 15]

I struggled with nausea for quite a while, it was very frustrating and depressing truthfully. I found out that my main issue was dehydration, for some reason the body develops nausea when you are dehydrated which seems backwards. I hope your doctor is able to find the solution for you!

Anna

[Aychee 0]

Hi Connie, Im 1 month post op and I hear ya on the nausea. It likes the 1st trimester of a pregnancy. Even Water makes me nauseous sometimes. It WILL get better however. I spoke with the rep at Celebrate Vitamins because they make me sooo nauseous, and she too is a WLS patient so she totally understands. I can say this is the first week where water didnt make me nauseous. As my literature says, if you can't stomach it yet, put it aside and try again a few weeks later. Good luck!