Good/bad things I wish I knew

[TJBintheOC 104]

Hi! This app has helped me so much I wanted to post my journey. I was sleeved on 6/25/15. I was 200lbs, 5'6, with no underlying issues. It will be 2 months tomorrow and I'm down 38lbs. My doctor gave me one sheet of what I could eat. No NUT. My surgery went smoothly. Had no gas issues. Meds made me sick, so I didn't use them. First two days were the worst, but bearable. First week I was on liquids. Barely got down a bottle of Water. Had water nausea. Totally normal. AJ went down ok. Could only tolerate room temperature water before surgery, now it has to be ice cold. Third week was Protein and smoothies. I'm not a protein girl so that was tough. I tried 20 different kinds. It never sat well. I barely got down 20 grams of protein a day. I was so stressed reading how a lot of people were drinking 80 ounces of water and 60 ounces of protein. I finally figured out, you can only do what you can do. Couldn't wait to eat my first egg finally. Barfed it up immediately and felt horrible. Just sat in my chest. I was so scared. My heart was pounding. eggs still don't sit well. Doctor said, eat what you want. You'll know what works. Third week I tried a little of everything. Threw up a bite of pizza, chicken nugget, and roast beef. Still can't tolerate any kind of potato or fried food. Then the 4th and 5th week weren't good. I felt nauseous all day, had acid reflux and the worst dry mouth ever! I had to start taking my Zofran and Zantac. I bought everything Biotine makes. For the first time I actually thought, if I feel this way for awhile, I might regret this. I couldn't drink. I was shaky. My heart pounded every time I ate. Under my right rib hurt. Couldn't eat. Was weak. And I hadn't pooped in a week. I took MOM for 2 days, nothing. Then I resorted to mag citrate. I choked down half the bottle and pooped about 12 hours later. I was miserable and worried. Then on the 6th week everything pretty much disappeared. I can drink more water. Don't do any shakes still. I must say Unjury chicken noodle broth is delicious. I take regular Vitamins, a probiotic, and Calcium. I eat random stuff all day. Just when I think, I'm going to dinner and I'm getting a salad and chicken. I eat 2-4 bites of salad and I'm done. My eyes and mind have not caught up with my stomach. The weirdest things sit well. Salad, peppers, Soup, Beans, cheese. I read how people were exercising 6 days a week, getting in 100 grams of protein...etc. My doctor said...do what YOU can. Don't compare. So I don't stress now. Of course, some days you're going to be sad, or feel sorry for yourself...it's ok. Don't stress. Things will get better, I promise. One funny thing...my nose runs and I sneeze when I'm full. I haven't lost any hair. My boobs are hanging! Everything is smaller, but my stomach. Scars are healing nicely. I put Mederma on them every day. Starting to buy new clothes. I want to lose another 25lbs. If it takes me 4 months or longer, I'm fine with that. I'm going to start walking. Good luck my fellow sleevers. I hope some of you will find comfort in my journey.

[samskiles 159]

Good luck with your journey!!

[sbg224 318]

I wish you good luck on your journey, but I have to say I cannot believe the things you are allowed to eat, chicken nuggets, homemade i hope not fast food. I know every doc has different standards, but nothing fried, even if doc said I could eat it. I am 21 days post op and on pureed foods, but next week we start cut up food. Hey if it works for you, that's what matters. Hope all goes well.

[TJBintheOC 104]

The nuggets were baked soy nuggets. I think the coating got me. I think it was actually good that I snapped and had one bite of pizza. I won't try pizza for a long, long, time. And I think it was too soon for that meat. Tried steak last week...oh no. Nothing fried. I like that a lot of stuff doesn't sit well. For me, it's not worth a bellyache and pain. I still can only have 2-4 bites of anything.

[LipstickLady 25,682]

So.....your diet is weird to me. Mine way WAY different and a lot more gentle on my new tummy.

Week one, full liquids. Protein drinks, I used EAS carb advantage rich chocolate as they were not as sweet as most. 120ish calories 20ish grams Protein. It took me an hour to drink one and I could drink 2 over the day if I was lucky. Usually 1 and 1/2. Also broth Soups, strained. Gatorade, watered down.

Week two, purées. Refried Beans, loosened with Water. Hummus, guacamole, greek yogurt, Peanut Butter -- warmed, cream Soups -- all a tablespoon max per sitting. Gatorade watered down.

Week three, soft foods. Puréed chicken salad, tuna salad, egg salad, all heavy on the mayo for moisture. Crab cakes -- no filler, mashed sweet potatoes with butter, scrambled eggs -- very wet loosened with milk, half an egg at most. Two tablespoons was pushing it. Gatorade watered down. Crystal light.

Through these phases, I had nothing to chew. I could barely get 30 oz fluids, and Water was not an option. Watered down Gatorade, Crystal light, and ... yeah -- nothing else was an option. I never hit my numbers, but I tried.

Focus on liquid, not food. You can live without food, but you need water in whatever form, you just don't know it yet. pizza and nuggets at three weeks is a recipe for disaster.

[FocusOnMeNow 599]

I'm on liquid only for 3 weeks and grateful for that. Sounds like you have had a rough road indeed. So glad I was on bariatric pal for months prior to surgery. I learned a lot both here and on you tube. I hope things are better for you now.