Week 2 on soft foods, what did y'all eat?

I see that you are about a year out from surgery Pete. May I ask what kind of success you have had since having your surgery? What is the biggest thing that you have had trouble adjusting to since having surgery? I drive a truck for a living, may I ask what you think the biggest obstacle a truck driver would have in the months following surgery? Also, based on your personal experience do you think that I could get in and out of a truck two weeks out from surgery? I am trying to figure out how much time I might be out of work so that I will have a good idea of what to let my boss expect. Are there any foods that you would tell me to absolutely avoid? My sister has warned me that it is in my best interest to get off of carbonated beverages before surgery time. I have had a huge diet coke addiction for years. Today was day number four of being diet coke free. She said that she made the mistake of taking a big swallow of coke some time after she had gotten on solid foods and didn't take into account her smaller stomach. She said that it was very painful when the the carbonization tried to expand in her stomach. She finally belched and got it out, but she said that it wasn't a mistake to make twice. I would appreciate anything that you might share with me that would help me prepare myself for my recovery period. Hope that you have had a great weekend and that your week will be blessed.

Hi, I'm at 16 months now. Not that I'm counting. :)

Of course, some of it just depends on how your surgery goes. I had a virgin laparoscopic DS with no complications. It's pretty iffy
about getting in and out of a truck like that at 2 weeks. Some people go back to a desk job but for all that movement I would wait
for at least 3 weeks and a little more than that before you are crawling around the top pf the truck. For me there was just one spot
that I hit while getting up or sitting down that caused me a sharp stab of pain. At about 2 weeks I was off the pain meds - I imagine
that's a requirement for you too.

I was a big diet pepsi drinker before surgery and haven't had anything carbonated after and find that I don't really miss it. Most people
are not big fans of the decaf thing but I did it the first month and then started drinking my regular tea again. It didn't really make a 
difference in being hydrated for me.

While we can drink at meals I still can't take more than an occasional sip at meals. because I just don't have the room in my stomach for both
solids and liquids. If I haven't been eating I can now drink about 6 oz at a time and down 22 oz over a half hour if I get really thirsty. At 2 weeks I 
still couldn't take more than a mouthful of water at a time and it took me until about 6 weeks before I started feeling like I could do a little 
more.

Take care,

Pete

This varies according to surgeons.  Some require you to be on liquids for two weeks prior to surgery, I had liquids only on the day prior to surgery.  Some patients are allowed soft foods within days of surgery - I had a liquid diet for two weeks.  Yes, it's a whole lot of sipping protein and clear liquids all day.  Our stomachs can't handle much more than that because they are swollen and need time to heal.  Plus, you won't be able to handle much more than that.  Clear broth, Crystal ligh****er, decaf tea -- you will probably want them lukewarm.  It's important to stay hydrated.  Good luck!

Thanks for replying Nancy. I see that you are coming up on a year after having your surgery. What has been the biggest obstacle that you have had to over come or adjust to since having your surgery? Are there any foods that just absolutely don't go with having the DS procedure? I am in the process of weaning myself off of carbonated beverages and before surgery time will be trying to break my caffeine addiction. I don't think that I can drink coffee post op and I don't want to go through caffeine withdrawals after surgery. I have gone through that before and it causes horrible headaches. May I ask how your first year has gone? Have you had the success that you were hoping for? Has it been better than expected? My sister lost 150 lbs in the first year following her surgery and my brother in law lost 200 in the year following his. I don't think that either of them exercised or really went out of their way to be more physically active than before having surgery. I am planning to start walking and lifting weights. I am hoping to lose at least 200 lbs in the first year, but will hope for more. I am kind of worried about this whole dehydration thing. A year after having surgery can you sit down and drink a 12 oz glass of water, or is that still too much that soon after surgery. With my job as a truck driver I sometimes have to climb on top of a trailor and pull tarp down the length of the trailer. The tarps are heavy and some times I am sweating like a pig by the time I get back in the truck. I guess that I just have to keep drinking liquids all day. I would appreciate anything that you might be able to share with me to help get me ready for my surgery and post op adjustments. Hope that you have a blessed week.