Post VSG Surgery Issues

> A few times ...just to make it through this liquid part I chewed on something then spit it out. 5
> weeks on liquid is crazy.

When you think about it, I will have been on fluids for almost 6 weeks once I get my full fluid diet done next week.  Now to be fair, I had to cheat a little as well.  It started with jello and broth.  I worked my way up to adding in crackers and then adding a half a sandwhich to my meal every few days.  I had to.  The chewing sensation and the diversity in flavour kept me from going insane.  While I didn't following the liquid diet to the letter, it obviously didn't hurt me significantly.  I still had surgery and there were no complications.

What bugs me about my wife's upcoming surgery is that she's doesn't have to do a pre-op liqiuid diet.  Dr. Birch doesn't necessarily believe there is much benefit in a pre-surgery liquid diet unless you have a BMI over 50 and you're male since we tend to have more fat around the mid-section.  Lucky me.  Sure wish the clinic would have a standard practice on this. It's not fair. 

> I ...am nervous to start food...and excited all at the same time.

I think I am going to be the same way. I am looking forward to the first meal, but worried about serving size.  I already feel that I over-drink now.  What's going to happen when I switch to solid foods?  Not to mention, this Christmas will be fun.  Fortunately, I wont be alone and that will help.

Are you continuing your food journals?  I would assume that this is going to be critical now that you're on solids.  I've been off food logs for a while now.  While my dietician hasn't said that I need to do them post-surgery, I would assume that's not the case.  If you hated them before, you'll hate them even more now.  :) 

> I took off a bunch of the steristrips today and underneath is a lot better than I expected. There
> is dried blood underneath so it is smaller than your think.

Nothing has happened with my steri-strips yet.  They don't even seem to be ready to come off.  Maybe I need another week like you. I'll be relieved to get rid of them.  Then I can also work on getting off the bandage glue from my skin too.  I've been reluctant to do anything thus far.
 
> I was 233 (or 223.5 can't remember) on the day before surgery and this morning I was 221.5.
> so about 12 pounds in 13 days...I will take that. I didn't know how much loss to expect at this
> point.

Did your surgeon or dietician give you any indications of their goal for you in the next 1-2 years?  I think mine did, but I can't recall.

My scale at home and the one at the clinic are not aligned too closely.  Anywhere from 1-4 lbs difference depending on the day.  I know...go figure.  So, I can only say that I dropped 6 lbs from the Monday before my surgery to the following Monday.  Considering that I was probably loaded up with a lot of fluids in the hospital, I think that a 6 lbs loss is a good deal over the course of that week.

Cheers
-- Xcalibur

Hey Xcalibur!,

Welcome to the losers bench!

I thought in the beginning I could drink way to much to and thought, YA, I will be a failure on this. But, When I started the soft foods I couldn't even get half an egg in. The restriction was tight! You will see when the time comes. Don't ru**** We don't need anymore leak patience out there.

Donna

Thanks fo the advice.  I have to admit that I don't get a good sense of the size of this new and improved stomach.  I hope that what you say is true. 

Cheers!
-- Xcalibur

Hey ya Xcalibur--thanks for answering my e-mail. Being post op and just starting solids I confess I even licked a few rice chips during the last 2 weeks...just for the flavor. I didn't really feel like eating until day 13.75...but that day was kinda weird as I wasn't able to get in much protein. At this point my stomach turns when I even look at the shakes I have been on for 5 weeks.

Today I tried 2 p of deli turkey rolled and cut into a bunch of pieces and later a small piece of soft cheese and it was lovely. I also am able to drink quite a bit however after 2 slices of turkey...I was satisfied...how weird is that.

OMG your partner doesn't have to do a preop diet...how bizarre! I have never heard of this...yet how wonderful. What do you think of this? She must be so surprised! Is she going to do a modified  one to shrink her liver? hmpth...cool.
I was perplexed (thinking I was a bit lighter) and was hoping that I wouldn't have to do a preop...however I think in hindsight it was good as my stomach area felt smaller and I dropped a few pounds.

re journals: I have been keeping track of my food and liquid intake...mostly to make sure I am getting enough fluid in. I am trying to avoid dehydration. I don't hate them...I Don't love them either. But I think it will be helpful for the dietitian...
One thing I remember is try to get in 2 liters of fluid a day (8 glasses) I haven't been able to do this yet...but I am pretty close these days.

My dietitian said that I should be on the 1-2 pound loss schedule after...but I don't remember anything else.

6 lb is amazing...and don't be alarmed that you can drink...you will feel it after next week. I have noticed that some days I feel a bit more restriction than others.

Oh by the way...the bandage glue come off with a face cloth and a bit of water. And I didn't really feel comfortable attempting my steristrip removal till about day 13...even though they said it would start falling off at day 7.

Good health to you
NewLeaf

I guess I don't really have a big issue with the lack of pre-op diet for my wife.  She is a light weight compared to me.  However, there is something fundamentally wrong within the clinic where everything is standardized in terms of program until you see the surgeon.  If there is a pre-op diet for one, it should be standard practice among all the surgeons.  That's just my take on it.

I've got a love/hate relationship with the food logs.  I love to hate them.  Maybe it's because I'm such a prefectionist when it comes to them.  My dietician is always amazed as to how much effort I put into them.  Anyway, I know that I'm not getting enough liquid.  I'm leaning toward milk and higher protein options instead of drinks like juice or ice tea.  This pretty much limits me to milk/diluted chocolate milk.  I'm getting a bit tired of it and haven't ventured out to look at protein drinks.  I'm hoping that I can slide until next Wed when I start solids.

I accidentally pulled out one of the steri-strips on my drain site the other day.  It pulled some of the dried blood from the cut, but nothing serious.  I put another steri-strip on it and presto.  It will probably be alright.

As for the weight loss, I can't complain.  I have been averaging 8-10 lbs a week since I started the liquid diet.  I'm down 46 lbs since I started the liquid, keeping in mind that about 10 lbs of that was water retention, I'm sure.  I'm pretty happy.  I don't seem to recall, but I believe that we are looking at 100-150 lost in the first 12-18 months.  I can't wait.

Once I get the approval from Karmali, I am going to start getting out to the gym and do some swimming.  I figure I can jump start my numbers until the end of the year before I go back to work.  Once I'm back in the grind, it's going to fun trying to figure this out again.

Cheers!
-- Xcalibur

Awesome, you're doing great! 

I go for my pre-admission test on Nov. 18. I'm assuming I have to do the pre-surgery 2 week liquid diet as that is what Dr. Karmali told me but I believe Dr. Birch is doing the surgery.

And I found a great food journalling sheet on bariatriceating.com. Check it out. Has good recipes on there as well.

Well, given what I said about Dr. Birch and the pre-liquid diet, you might want to have your dietician talk to Dr. Birch unless you want to undergo the liquid diet.  There are some benefits to doing it though.  Decreases the size of your liver, reduces the fat in/around your stomach, and removes all solids from your digestive tract.  You'll appreciate that last one once you're surgerized and don't need to use the toilet.  Just a suggestion.

What kind of surgery is your wife having?

She is also having the sleeve.  We had seen this procedure on 'Big Medicine" a few years ago and that's what she wanted.  However, the clinic didn't offer it.  So, she was going to look at the RNY as a backup.  She didn't want the band as she didn't want a foriegn object (port) in her body.  Not to mention, I couldn't see her constantly doing the fill maintenance.  Fortuantely, time passed and the sleeve came to the clinc with the hiring of Dr. Karmali.  You can't ask for better than that.

Cheers!
-- Xcalibur

Hey Xcalibur--I was just thinking of you...wondering how the transition to solids went? How is your wife feeling? It is soon...Is she nervous? I am wishing the best for her...
Hope everything is going well