2 week post-op update

Yesterday was my 2-week post-op date. I met with the nutritionist and she officially moved me to soft foods. I'm super excited and went to the grocery store right away. I already had yogurt, so I bought some cottage cheese (I've never liked it, but I figured I would try it again), ready-made tuna packs, tilapia, ingredients for ricotta bake, eggs, bananas, crackers, english muffins, hummus and tons and tons of cheese. I can't even tell you how excited I am about the cheese!

I made the tilapia last night and will get 3 or 4 servings from 1 fillet. I plan to make the ricotta bake tomorrow :-) I'll be honest and admit that I'm not a cook at all, but I'm committed to learning throughout this journey. The fish was my first try (beyond easy things like eggs and pasta) and it was delicious. Thanks to Youtube videos, I'll become a cook yet!

As of yesterday (my 2 weeks), I've lost 18 lbs since surgery (18.5 as of today). I'm hoping to be one of those people who loses 30 lbs in the first month. We'll see!

I've had a few downsides since surgery. I had trouble getting in my protein shakes, but that will be helped by me being able to eat real food (I haven't had trouble with eating anything yet). The larger incision where they put in the stapler is kind of gross and I don't know what to do about it. I'm keeping it covered more out of fear than anything else. I called the doctor's office and they said just put rubbing alcohol on it and it should be fine. I don't have a fever and it's not red, so I'm guessing there's no infection. It's just gooey and unhealed still... Lastly is my leg. I get alternating numbness and sharp pains in my right upper thigh. I've read some forums about pinched nerves after surgery and I hope this goes away. If I move my leg in the middle of the night, I sometimes get this really sharp, excruciating pain that literally has me yelling out. I'm fearful to move much at night. The rest of the time, it's either numb or kind of tingly. I have my 4-week post op with the actually surgeon (not the PA), so I'll bring it up with him. It hasn't gotten better since surgery - if anything it has gotten worse.

Lastly - some confessions... While I'm informed on the what to dos and what not to dos and I do want to be successful in this journey and put in the work lose weight and keep it off... I tried popcorn. Before two weeks. And it was fine. I kind of just wanted to test my limits. I'm never hungry. I'm never full. I haven't had a problem with eating little things here and there, so when I went to the movies, I tried some popcorn and survived! Now, I'm not planning to try it again for a while, but it is helpful to know that I "shouldn't" have a problem with most things if I chew them well. I don't plan on trying super dumping foods like fried, fatty and sugary things, so I'm hoping that everything else will be fine with taking my time and chewing the hell out of it. Confession 2 is that eating without drinking at the same time is HARD! I'm doing it, but I really have to force myself and watch the clock. I think this will be an ongoing hurdle for me. I just want a sip of water! Last confession - I'm not walking enough because we're having one of the coldest winters ever in Boston. I'll have to work on that too.

Anyway - that's my update for now. Any tips and advice is always welcomed. Happy New Year to everyone!

Sounds like you're doing well. You might want to uncover the incision spot just to "air it out" a bit. That may help too!

I'm pretty new at this--5 weeks post op today. My surgeons plan we aren't allowed any crackers/breads etc for 3 or 4 months post op so that's awesome for you lol. I was allowed to try small amounts of tortillas once in a while when I was stepped up at 4 weeks post op to soft solids. I had some with hummus once but not really interested. I lost 25.5# at my 4 weeks date last week, so not quite 30 but pretty close!

I hear you on the cold. I'm in Georgia but it's been FREEZING here as well. -1 on New Year's Day, yesterday was 9* on my way to work. We're from Michigan but have been here for 11 years. I think I'm a wimp to the cold now!

Thanks! I am thinking about uncovering my incision, but I'm scared about it rubbing against my clothes. I'll check on it tomorrow and see what state it is in.

Congrats on your weight loss! That's awesome! I'm hoping for 30 lbs at the "official" one-month mark, so that would be 4 weeks and 3 days for me. I have Google docs and I'm keeping track of both - week losses and month losses along with weekly measurements. I have set monthly goals as well and hope to hit my goal weight a year out from surgery.

Yeah, I'm lucky that I can have things like crackers (good with cheese and hummus) and bread now. The bread does have to be toasted though, but I'm ok with that. I'm looking forward to my english muffins.

The weather has been crazy! My aunt lives in Savannah and it's snowing there. We're getting a big storm in Boston tomorrow. Plus side - I have food in the house and I get to work from home. Minus - I'm not supposed to be doing things like shoveling, so we'll see if I get stuck in the house for a while...!

Please, stop trying to test the limits. You are only 2 weeks post surgery. Your nerves were cut during surgery, and you will not feel full, or any kind of restriction, for quite some time.

Things like popcorn, crackers, english muffins, etc are a big no. You will struggle to get anywhere near your goal if you keep going down that road. Don't touch any of those things until you have lost all of your weight.

It gets much harder in a year or two. Change these habits now, or you are really going to wish you did. We all want you to be successful.

Thanks for the advice! I agree that popcorn was bad and I won't be eating it again any time soon. Everything that I bought at the store was on my approved list from my nutritionist for my stage. I know that some people are still on liquids after 2 weeks while others were eating eggs in the hospital. I guess it just depends on your surgeon/nutritionist.

I definitely plan to get into the habit of protein goal first and the supplementals will help with food fatigue. I'll see what my body says and if I'm hitting the weight goals I set for myself and will certainly make adjustments accordingly. :-)

Personally I would quit trying to "test" your pouch so early out. Especially popcorn? Those kernels can get caught in a suture line or whatever. Also you bought English muffins for soft food stage? Many don't eat those until they reach goal. Your focus should be on protein and skip the carbs. Bananas are high in sugar. And again, a carb albeit natural.

Many successful people here eat very low carb until they reach goal. And it would only be carbs found in yogurt or whatnot. Not actual fruit or breads, potatoes, rice etc.

You're never hungry never full because you are still healing. Once you progress to more dense protein you will start to feel restriction. Right now your nerves have been cut and will take several weeks to fully heal.

Happy New Year to you and good luck.

I agree with the other posters about "testing your limits." Because you are absolutely still healing, it's possible that you could rupture your pouch and suffer serious complications.

This is absolutely serious business.

I'm 13+ years out, and still don't eat bananas, and I love them! They're full of carbs/sugar and just not worth the calories.

I'm not surprised at your surgeon's food lists, at this point I've seen it all, but I'm disappointed that they have given you such poor advice.

Please hang out here on OH, you'll see what others are eating and then you'll be able to make good decisions despite your surgeon's horrible suggestions. You'll also get awesome support, so you can make the absolute best out of your surgery.

Congrats on the weightloss so far! I lost 30 lbs my first month and 120lbs total in 5 months, but I didn't do that eating muffins and bananas

Thanks! I appreciate it. And congratulations on your success!

The people want to help you. What they say is true.

I know for me I could have lost a lot more weight. But I started eating stuff I wasn't supposed. I do not consider myself a failure. I stopped my weight loss by doing this. Get rid of the carbs. The honeymoon period is real.

I did lose weight. I also had to look at my addictions and get the help I needed.

I thought after surgery I would be cured. I can eat pretty much whatever I want.Meaning nothing makes me sick.

So take the advice of the vets.