5 days out

My sleeve surgery was on Monday. My pain has never been terrible. I left the hospital 10 hours after checking in with mild pain.

Prior to the surgery I stuck to the all liquid diet very strictly, but only lost 6 pounds.

My biggest concern now is that I'm not having any trouble drinking. Not once since that first day have I felt full or tightness. I keep Chrystal Light by me 100% of the time. I'm starting to worry I'm stretching out my new stomach in trying to drink enough. I've only had liquids. Haven't even started with yogurt yet. Is that possible?

Congratulations on your surgery and welcome to the Loser's Bench!

You just had all the nerves in your stomach cut and lots of trauma to that area. You aren't going to "feel" anything for quite some time until it heals. You shouldn't have any problem drinking, and you won't stretch your new stomach. Liquids go right through your tummy, that's perfectly normal.

All you should be able to manage is sipping the liquids and not gulping them. If you're sipping constantly, that's good and also normal. Some people have problems getting liquids down after surgery, but not most. I had no problems at all.

It sounds like things are good, and if you are allowed yogurt, then when you start that you may notice a slight difference in how it goes down because it is so much thicker. But any liquids--Crystal Light, protein shakes, etc.--should go down fine with small sips.

You won't feel "full" for months. Everyone is different, but when you do start feeling a sense of fullness it will probably be completely different than what you're used to. That is why when you start eating dense foods it is so important to measure and weigh everything because you will only know you've eaten too much when you can literally feel it backing up in your esophagus.

I also don't feel hunger pangs like I used to. I can tell when my stomach is empty, and I should eat, but it's completely different from the old hunger pangs. Head hunger still exists, but it gets better as time goes by.

Keep on keeping on, and unless you're able to drink a cup of water in 5 minutes, I'd say you're fine.

Cathy just summarized it perfectly!

TY Liz!

My VSG was the same day - congrats! I have had no complaints, it has been smooth sailing. I have been nervous about stretching also and no way do I want to upset the new incision or hurt form drinking too much. I drink 1 ounce ever 15 minutes (when I set my alarm on my phone-later in the day when I see I am totally lagging in drinking my 64 ounces of water and 3 protein drinks). Alternating water and protein drink every 15 min has worked well for me. So far I have not felt hungry or full. Last night I did have 2 ounces pureed soup, I sipped one ounce and waited about 20 minutes to do the second ounce. No complications or upset tummy, it was even a touch spicy. I do not like Crystal light, sugar free popsicle or the SF Jello - I tasted them in the hospital and could taste the chemicals, so it has been water for me. I might be being extreme, but I heard that the first month shapes your stomach and I do not want it to be big....going to ask my Dr. about it on Tuesday. When can you start pureed foods and cottage cheese, yogurt etc? It seems like so many Dr's are different.

My surgery was Tuesday and today (Sunday) is the first day I could swallow water without pain/tightness. I am doing ok on my water intake, but everything has to be room temp or warm, cold causes spasms in my esophagus. I have also had broth, tomato soup, jello, protein shakes and a tiny bit of yogurt. The most that I have of anything is 1-2 ounces. I felt very weak today, worried about anemia due to a VERY heavy menstruation since surgery and so little in my diet. Best of luck to you in the following weeks! It's so neat to hear how others are doing at the same stage.