Post-Op since December 27, 2012

[nck12nicholspd 9]

I just found this website, and it's pretty amazing!

Well, I have some worries. I'm on my two-week liquid diet, and I am concerned that I'm not getting in enough liquids and Protein. I was told by my nutritionist to drink twice an hour, and I'm assuming those are one-ounce drinks, since that's what they gave me in the hospital. However, I've done the math. If I drink two one-ounce cups every half hour, that's only 24 ounces in a day. I was told by my nutritionist to aim for 30-48 ounces of Fluid a day. I just don't know what to do...should I drink two ounces at a time? If I do, will that negate my surgery? Will my stomach pop open? Will I not lose weight? I'm freaking out here.

Also, how in the world am I supposed to get enough protein in? I am drinking my Protein Drinks, but so far today, I've only gotten about 4 ounces in. That's only about 11 grams of protein!

If any of you have an answer for me, please let me know. I'm going to email my nutritionist as well, but it sure would be nice to hear from other sleevers out there.

By the way, just to give you an idea of my recovery...I'm feeling great! I'm four days out, and I'm honestly feeling pretty normal. Thanks guys

[kscdvm 78]

I'm glad you found this site for advise. You should gradually increase the volume you consume. Sip almost constantly. My doctor gave me guidelines too but said it may take up to a week to be reaching all my Protein goals. I did find that the swelling was down enough in about a week to meet my protein goals. But I'm 2 weeks today and too full from Protein Shakes to finish all my Water. I have only been able to get about 6 glasses in. Still working on it. It is a learning curve ....

[nck12nicholspd 9]

Thanks for the reply! So, if I keep sipping all day, will that stretch out my stomach to my original size? That's what I'm most concerned about.

[Sadlers1999 169]

You should be able to drink liquids more easily once you get home. My worst day was#3, because my throat was sore and tight, but it got better after that. I don't think you can hurt your sleeve with any amount of Clear Liquids. They make a premixed Isopure drink with 40g of Protein. I bought the green tea flavor (kind of "Snapple-ish") at GNC, but it can be purchased at other stores and on Amazon.com. It makes my mouth a little dry BUT it gives me more than half my daily protein need. It takes me about an hour to 90 minutes to drink a bottle, but it's been a god-send. I bought a lot of protein powders (expecting to add them to my liquids), but I find that they taste truly revolting.

[Sadlers1999 169]

Thanks for the reply! So' date=' if I keep sipping all day, will that stretch out my stomach to my original size? That's what I'm most concerned about.[/quote']

No. Liquids alone will not stretch out your stomach. food does that and it happens over time. If you go on You TUbe, there is a video that shows that your stomach will stretch out over the years. Right now it is around the size of a penny/dime in diameter, but on average, it will be twice the size in 4 years. That is why the sleeve is considered a "tool" to re-teach the brain Portion Control. It's not a long-term fix. It is not unusual for people to be able to eat normally by the end of the first year.

[Sadlers1999 169]

No. Liquids alone will not stretch out your stomach. food does that and it happens over time. If you go on You TUbe' date=' there is a video that shows that your stomach will stretch out over the years. Right now it is around the size of a penny/dime in diameter, but on average, it will be twice the size in 4 years. That is why the sleeve is considered a "tool" to re-teach the brain Portion Control. It's not a long-term fix. It is not unusual for people to be able to eat normally by the end of the first year.[/quote']

I mean "clear liquids"...not the shakes and pureed Soups. They feel different in the stomach than clear liquids.

[clk 3,519]

First, you will never ever stretch your stomach out to original size. Really, I promise. Your surgeon just removed 85% of your stomach and left behind the least stretchy bits. It would take real, concerted effort over a long period of time - overeating to the point of pain and vomiting for a long period - to stretch the sleeve what little it will give. By this, I mean stretching beyond the norm, beyond what is supposed to happen within the first year to two years post op.

That said, in my experience, my sleeve doubled in size from immediately post op in around six to nine months. It then probably doubled in size again to where I am more than two years post op. What does that mean? It means I can eat between half a cup to a cup of food, depending on how dense the food is and how I'm feeling that day. On very rare occasions I can fit 1.5 cups in...especially if I chose a brothy Soup to start a meal.

I am pregnant and have a much larger capacity than before and there is no way in the world I could possibly eat anything like I ate prior to surgery. One small slice of very thin crust pizza and a few spoonfuls of minestrone or a few bites of salad and I'm uncomfortably full.

Around one year out your sleeve is almost as big as it's going to get, though you'll likely find that your ability to eat a more normal diet returns. Any food issues like eggs, beef, and even lactose intolerance are usually much improved at this point. So I can eat "normally" as in, I can eat normal foods and feel like a regular person again (I only avoid milk, ice cream and yogurt at this point) but I can not eat normally, as in, the way the people around me eat without thinking about it.

Second, you will not hit your nutritional goals for some time. It's normal. Our doctors give us a guideline of where they want us to be, but it takes many of us months to reach those goals every day. Do your best, make smart food choices and yes, sip all day long. Dehydration can cause a host of side effects and can land you back in the hospital, so take care to drink whenever you can.

If you're cleared to use a straw, use one. Some docs say to avoid them; mine didn't. I definitely drink more when using a straw. If cold liquids bother you, try room temperature. For some reason, plain Water bothered me post op but adding fruit or flavor drops gave me no problems. Thin your shakes out if they're hard to drink.

It took me months to reach my doctor's goals for Protein and liquids. I wouldn't expect you to start hitting those goals for a while, but your ability to eat and drink should get better each day. Your sleeve is ridiculously swollen right now. Once you start on mushies you'll experience this frustration again. You'll know you should be eating more but one or two bites can fill you up completely.

Good luck,

~Cheri

[Cathys12006 1]

My surgery was on the 27th also not doing good on my Protein but I love my Water with ice chips that has helped me meet my water ...just not my protein...

[ReduceReuseRecycle-Me! 119]

My surgery was on the 27th also not doing good on my Protein but I love my Water with ice chips that has helped me meet my Water ...just not my protein...

Same here, 27th, etc. We need to be concerned about Fluid intake right now. I hate the Protein shakes since surgery and really, only water is ok. Sweet flavors just don't work for me, but I am eventually going to try those Isopure protein drinks. They would still be better than the shakes (yuck).

[Lexy 8]

I am only 2 weeks post op and just started pureed foods yesterday. The thing they want us to focus on the first couple weeks is getting the liquids in. The Protein will come along. When I was in the hosp I was instructed to drink one ounce of Water every 15 min. while awake. Water hurt my stomach, esp. cold, so it was hard to get it in. I kept it in my mouth until

Body temp and then swallowed. I did better with thicker things like yogurt, milk, cream Soups. Popsicles were helpful too. Good Luck.