Life post op DS

[IdahoRN 0]

Hello everyone! I am new to this site...My surgeon recommends support group which is great but about 75% of the people there are gastric Sleeve. I was just wanting to talk to some Dsers that can tell me how it is post op...such as the malabsorption issues and does everyone have the terrible diarrhea that everyone talks about?

[toastedink 115]

Ya know, I had loose stools in the beginning but not anymore. And I don't regret this decision. I am 30 lbs down and I feel amazing.

As far as food is concerned I pack Protein in all the time. For instance, I just went out to lunch with a friend and I had salmon sashimi. Salmon is the fattier fish so that works out better for me.

[Marie Louise Hoefer 3]

Hello, I'm new to this site too. I'm 4 months post-op. I had some issues eating the first few months, but now I'm on track and taking all my Vitamins. The biggest thing to keep in mind is that everyone is different and what happens to one person, doesn't necessarily happen to others. For me, I spent the first two and a half months vomiting 4-5 times a day. I wasn't able to eat any thing, barely was able to get my Water in and hadn't taken any of my Vitamins. My main issues was the fact that I had severe post-nasal drip from my allergies. Though I wasn't taking my allergy meds, I would have had the issue anyway, because my allergies are never 100% clear.

So far the only dietary things I've come across is the difficulty to eat breast meat from either chicken or turkey. Dark meat gives me no issues. Also I found out recently that I have issues digesting pork chops, and bacon upsets my stomach something fierce. Thankfully I've not thrown up from eating, and I work hard to ensure that I don't. This of course causes me to be extremely paranoid and avoid many things. So far the only juice I have issues with is OJ, but I think that is due to the concentrated citrus, seeing as I don't have any other issues with juices and sugar.

I've been able to eat chips, Pasta, bread, but in small quantities, and chewing them up good. I'm still trying to remember not to eat fast, I've already experienced discomfort when I eat too much too fast, and takes about 30 minutes to pass before I can continue to eat. The other annoyance is the having to wait 30 mins before and after eating to drink something. But I make it work.

I ended up in the hospital on 12/9/2014 because of the fact that I wasn't eating and barely drinking. I was severly dehydrated and Vitamin deficient. I was in for two days, hooked up to an IV, my legs were affected and so was my vision. So far everything has gone back to normal, except for my legs. I still have some slight numbness to them, like when you stand outside in the cold for a long time. I had a few set backs, but I'm getting better one day at a time.

[sjules 27]

Marie, what are you doing eating Pasta, bread and chips? Those are definite no nos especially this early out. I'm surprised that your system tolerates that and sugar with no issues.

[sjules 27]

Marie, what are you doing eating Pasta, bread and chips? Those are definite no nos especially this early out. I'm surprised that your system tolerates that and sugar with no issues.

[sjules 27]

Marie, what are you doing eating Pasta, bread and chips? Those are definite no nos especially this early out. I'm surprised that your system tolerates that and sugar with no issues.

[Postop 411]

If you watch your eating, you shouldn't suffer from diarrhea often. I have 4-5 movements/day. This is my norm. [some have a lot fewer.] If I eat junk; then I 'go' a lot more. Same thing can happen when I take medication. They all seem to affect my stomach.

When I use the word diarrhea, it generally means 'going' a lot. Not runny stool. Doctors define it as runny stool or going many more times than normal. So I just wanted you to know which definition I was using.

The malabsorption is still there. It's probably not the same as it was (the body fights hard to get back it factory-original, but it can't). I eat Protein whenever and however much I want. If I want to lose weight, I eat even more & up the fluids. I also eat some carbs and junk (but that's at my home since I know there will be more 'going' and gas).

Edited January 27, 2015 by Postop

[Marie Louise Hoefer 3]

Marie, what are you doing eating Pasta, bread and chips? Those are definite no nos especially this early out. I'm surprised that your system tolerates that and sugar with no issues.

Well I'm just experimenting with what I eat, and eat everything in small quantities. I don't know why I don't have issues with sugar, but I don't. All I know is that it was recommended not to eat pasta, bread and rice stuffs because it expands, but since I eat more Protein than I do the other stuff, I've not had an issue.

[LPSteven 22]

Main importance when eating is to have some nice warm Water and to also drink a few Oz.'s of water before you eat (5-10 mins) if your are drink fluids that have salt, carbonation and that are really cold . This will give you a very hard time to eat. Think about when you have those few nibbles of food and drink a soda or something cold. What happens ? Chemical reaction and we do not have the room in our stomach for any "crazy stuff to happen" cold fluids will make the stomach shrink. Please any consult send me a message . 7 years success with lap band and I have been a mentor for a very long time . Always willing to help. Per the movements for the beginning of this thread : I had the hardest time for about 3 weeks - once I got on a ok eating habit things started to loosen up and be easier

[Postop 411]

I ate 1/2 sandwich [during my first year] for lunch some days. Once in a while some chips. I kept the carbs very low during that 18 mo. window to maximize the 'honeymoon' period. Anything w/sugar was under 6 gr./serving.

Well I'm just experimenting with what I eat, and eat everything in small quantities. I don't know why I don't have issues with sugar, but I don't. All I know is that it was recommended not to eat Pasta, bread and rice stuffs because it expands, but since I eat more Protein than I do the other stuff, I've not had an issue.

Edited January 27, 2015 by Postop

[snarkychef 4]

I just had my surgery last Thursday, and Sunday morning I had my first BM, but it was terrible, smelly, watery, diareah all day long. I never had issues with my fluids, no nausea, no vomiting, and have been able to get about 50 oz of clear fluids a day down and 50 grams of Protein. My surgeon said that I have had an "amazing" recovery. Today, I made myself some mashed potatoes, figuring that they would absorb some of the liquid in my system, and I managed to eat about 4 oz over about 45 minutes with no trouble. I'm really having a lot of stomach grumbling and gas, but hopefully that will calm down as my system adjusts.

[Marie Louise Hoefer 3]

I just had my surgery last Thursday, and Sunday morning I had my first BM, but it was terrible, smelly, watery, diareah all day long. I never had issues with my fluids, no nausea, no vomiting, and have been able to get about 50 oz of clear fluids a day down and 50 grams of Protein. My surgeon said that I have had an "amazing" recovery. Today, I made myself some mashed potatoes, figuring that they would absorb some of the liquid in my system, and I managed to eat about 4 oz over about 45 minutes with no trouble. I'm really having a lot of stomach grumbling and gas, but hopefully that will calm down as my system adjusts.

I'm 5 months out and continue to experience some narly farts. My BM are typically solid, except when I drink coffee or consume dairy. Your BM are going to be weird until you get past the liquid food stage. Don't worry too much. You're doing good.

[lose2winagain 17]

I'm 22 days post of and I'm down 23 lbs. the hardest thing for me post op was gas pains and loss of appetite. I'm finally in the groove. But I have days where the only thing I will eat is yogurt, applesauce, and mashed potatoes. I have no regrets. It's one of the best life decisions I've made.

[snarkychef 4]

Yeah, as of today, 1 week post op, I'm 16 lb lighter than the day I came home from the hospital. It's getting to the point that I'm kind of afraid of food, or liquid more specifically, since I don't eat any food. I'm sleeping in Depends, because they gas has now started taking the watery diareah out with it, and I can get to the bathroom when I'm awake, but two days ago, I had to wake up and change my pajamas and shower twice. I really only had 70 or so pounds to lose. I lost about 60 myself before surgery, and im kind of wondering what I did to myself.

[Postop 411]

Buyer's remorse is something many of us experience. (I know I did). This isn't to lessen what you're going through. It's just to remind you things will get better and that you have something that will allow you to:

• NEVER count calories again;
• Not diet;
• Eat and eat and eat (protein) should you desire it. (I do.)

I'm sorry you're suffering now. I hope I can make you see some of the good coming your way.

BTW, you and I have almost the exact same stats.

Edited February 27, 2015 by Postop