Tony--(new member)

[TDEHERRERA]

hi,my name is tony and i weigh-- 345 pounds and i'm getting a gastric sleeve on oct,14,2013. I would like to connect with someone who has had a sleeve done,because i would like to discuss what you ate 1 month after surgery and also vitamin's,supplement's,shake's and vitamin water's that you used two week's after surgery and now?

[housediva82]

Everyone on this site would be glad to help you!

[CarriD]

Great place for ideas and advice, I struggled big time until about 8-10 weeks with not tolerating much... those protein shakes included and vitamins... had a lot of support and idea's from this site!!! Your tastes will change after surgery so just don't go all shopaholic planning ahead like I did.. it will be a big waste! Good luck!

[Daphne]

Feel free to ask any questions you want. I'm 2 weeks from surgery and I scour this site all the time for help. I like the Visalus protein shake, found chewable Centrum multivitamins (taste like skittles). I like the Aquifina vitamin water. But, I think that's all personal preference. Hope this helps...

[teresaloves2trvl]

Welcome! A month after surgery I was actually back in the hospital having my gallbladder out! I was so sick I wasn't eating anything. LOL. But at that point I was supposed to be eating pureed foods I think. I actually started solid foods a little early because my surgeon looked at me during my third hospital stay (don't worry that won't happen to you-I just had unusual issues) and said "I want you on solid food before you leave here.". Whoopee! I was so happy to be able to chew something again! They brought me turkey and dressing with green beans. I couldn't eat much and still can't but sure do enjoy chewing! LOL. I did Slim Fast for my pre-surgery diet. It was just for one week but it varies depending on your surgeon. There are protein powders that have no taste at all that you can add to your food or drink. Unjury is one brand. I am taking chewable vitamins plus some extra B1 and B6 that I am deficient in-oh, also Caltrate to keep my bones strong. I haven't tried any vitamin waters. I did drink some Adkins Vanilla shakes that aren't too bad.

[buttercupplano]

Hi Tony! I had the sleeve 6 weeks ago, 8/20/2013, and I was just released today for full exercise and diet. I would do this again in a heart beat! There is a book that I found enormously helpful called "the Big Book on Gastric Sleeve" it was around $25 on Amazon but it will answer a lot of these questions and more for you.

After the surgery my doctor had me do 3 weeks of liquids and then progress to soft food for 3 weeks and now I'm any food. For those first 2 weeks I did Muscle Milk (it has no milk in it though) because it had the most protein of any of the protein shakes I could find on the shelf, 23grams each. They have multiple flavors but I found the Chocolate and Vanilla to be the 2 most palatable. I tried the Special K, Slim Fast, Ensure...all those were okay but they don't have as much protein in them as the Muscle Milk does. Your stomach is so small I wanted to get the most bang for my buck. I also had chicken broth, really-really thinned out cream of chicken, cream of mushroom and cream of potato soups...it has to be so think that it easily slides off a spoon. I did mix those with 2% milk. It would take me all day to eat a can of soup and again, not a lot of protein in any of them, but I was getting really sick of just chocolate or vanilla...I wanted something savory. I did and still do drink Zero water, it's a vitamin water and they have tons of flavors. You HAVE TO, HAVE TO, HAVE TO get as much water/fluid as you can. Aim for 64 ounces which after you have the surgery you going to realize is a lot! Protein will from now on have to be the first thing you eat or reach for-it's what gives you energy and fuels your body. It also helps to make you feel fuller longer.

After 3 weeks I was on "soft food" for 2 weeks and I ate ripe bananas, cottage cheese with fruit in it's liquid, yogurt-no fruit peel though, soups still but I added non-cream soups as long as the veggies in the soup were really soft, I could have ground beef, chicken or pork as long as it was ground and really really small pieces. I still did protein shakes and find online and through my doctor a different company that does Whey protein shakes and vitamin supplements specific to bariatric patients. Can NECTAR by Syntrax. (I tried the unjury that a lot of the members talk about but I did not like it) NECTAR has several different flavors; it's 23grams of protein per scoop (for me per drink) and I get "Fuzzy Navel" It taste like Tang Breakfast Drink to me-there's no gritty after-taste and it mixes really easily with just a spoon. I also like their grape flavored. I have not been able to find it in a store around me so I get it online and now I have it on auto-delivery. Protein has to be your main thought from now on...get 60-72grams per day and that's hard to do with just food so I've opted to still have the NECTAR shipped to me-I barely give myself time to do anything in the morning but get up, get dressed and go and this is something a can mix at work easily. I get the 32oz tub from NECTAR and it runs me $32 for around 6 weeks. I got it through Amazon so just type in NECTAR on Amazon's search.

Now that, as of today, I've been released to any food I'm a little nervous but I got several cookbooks specific for bariatric patients and I think I'm ready!

So;
1) Protein shakes- Muscle Milk or NECTAR. Nectar I got on Amazon and it's auto delivered to me now. Muscle Milk you'll find at most grocery stores.
2) Supplements I get Multivitamin and Calcium Drink Mix-multiple flavors-from Celebrate-Bariatric Supplements Bariatric Vitamins | Celebrate Bariatric Supplements | Bariatric Surgery & Nutrition
3) I also now take Iron supplements in addition-I'm borderline anemic and anemia is something you can become REALLY fast after surgery. Iron will stop you up though so you should wait and talk to your doctor on you specific need for that.
4) My doctor prescribed a nasal spray for complex B vitamins but you can get a "complex B Vitamin" supplement at the store.
5) ANY medications OR supplements you take have to be crushed or if it's a capsule opened until you've been post surgery 6 weeks or you doctor tells you differently.
6) I drink a lot of water, today my doctor stressed repeatedly that I get enough water/fluid in which I've been doing. I drink Crystal Lite, Zero Water, just plain water too, I have decaf coffee but now that I'm 6 weeks post surgery I can have regular coffee! I do drink milk (I'm a milk lover) and I still do 2%. the supplement I mentioned above is a drink that counts toward my fluid intake.
7) books I've gotten for the process;
A) The Big Book of Gastric Sleeve B) Bariatric Surgery for Dummies C) Eating well after Weight Loss Surgery D) Hungry Girl meals under 200 calories E) Hungry Girl Meals under 300 calories there is also a website for this Hungry Girl

Good luck and I'm sure you'll do great. I started at 366 on my pre-op diet and at the time of surgery was 356. I've now lost 45 pounds since 8/20/2013!

[JLP]

Hey Tony
Congrats on your decision I'm two weeks out gastic sleeve. I'm doing great, surgery was easier than I thought Now after surgery I'm trying to get lots of protein so i'm drinking un-jury protein shakes, they taste fantastic ! You will be on chewable Vits and Calcium my doctor also started me on B12 tablets.
As far as eating well I'm going through the same ol soup routine. I been eating alot of bean soup it seems to have the best taste. Good luck with your surgery your going to feel so much better

[MysticalMaybe]

HI Tony,

I'm a litte bit past one month and I can eat pretty much anything except spicy foods... Everyone is different. I can't eat much but It will go down fine.
What I drink every day is Sobe lifewater 0 calories (they have different flavors and different vitamins in them) Crystal light or just plain old water. Sugar Free Popcycles count as water intake too. Oh vitamin water was pretty good too... I just don't drink alot of them... I don't know why LOL

2 weeks out I was eating alot of creamed soup, mashed beans, jello with protien in it, yogurts, pudding. My Protien choice is premier Protien (Ready to drink) Choloate... Its the only one I have liked and I have drank it from day 3 to now and will continue to drink it everyday. I did drink the Isopures RTD and they where ok but I don't really like them now. My Vitamins I get from Celebrate Vitamins Bariatric Vitamins | Celebrate Bariatric Supplements | Bariatric Surgery & Nutrition I like the taste and they go down well (for me) I get the chewy bites Vitamins, Calc, and Iron (I needed some Iron per my dr) They have all different types of vitamins and you can get a big sample pack from them for about $3.00. If you order from them they will give you the $3.00 back on your next order. (just keep the code on your sample pack)

Let us know if you have any other questions.

[angelique4kids]

congrats and good luck on your journey !! I have same surgery day as you...This blogs help out so much!!! There alot of good people on here and reading their stories are great!!!

[reading mom]

hi,my name is tony and i weigh-- 345 pounds and i'm getting a gastric sleeve on oct,14,2013. I would like to connect with someone who has had a sleeve done,because i would like to discuss what you ate 1 month after surgery and also vitamin's,supplement's,shake's and vitamin water's that you used two week's after surgery and now?

Welcome! My shake recommendation is creamy vanilla isopure. I like that you can mix it with lots of things for variety. The vitamins I take are Flintstones complete (now I do centrium but started with chewable)a hair and nail (mostly biotin) vit c enzymes and align.I have never tried vitamine water, but the first 3 or 4 weeks I drank lots of green and peppermint tea. My post op diet was 1 week clear liquid only. No protein. week 2 full liquids week 3 soft/pureed foods week 4 begin solid food introducing new foods gradually.

Wishing you all the best! Any other questions just ask!

[TDEHERRERA]

Thank you for your response

[TDEHERRERA]

Thank you to everybody who responded to me,you were all a great help.

[cdogg12]

Hey Tony,

Congrats on your decision man. Feel free to contact me with any questions you have. I have only been sleeved for 2 weeks now, but all the support will help you in the long run. This is a great place to get info.