Morsels & The Shelf Life
My Gastric Sleeve Journey, Weeks 1-3
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My Gastric Sleeve Journey, Weeks 1-3

08 October 2014
5 min read

One of the main reasonsย for starting this blog was to document my gastric sleeve journey, in the hope that it will be of inspiration or interest to others who may be considering, or have just been through, the procedure. That being the case, I should apologise in advance for the graphic nature of some things I may describeย here (or what you may just consider to beย too-much-information), althoughย I’m not out to shock, simply to provide relevant information to those who may need it. Trust me, the unpleasant topicsย are the ones that matter the most.

I found that online research and learning aboutย other people’s experiences has been both informative and comforting,ย and itย has become very clear thatย thisย journey is different for everyone, which is something I wasn’t really toldย beforehand. I was simply handed a few sheets of paper listingย things I could and couldn’t eat duringย the different phases of my post-surgeryย diet, and was told that my dietย wouldn’t be restricted in the future (“the sleeve is great for men because you can eat steak!”). In reality, it seems that most patients have foods that they struggle withย a yearย down the track, or can simply never eat again. I, on the other hand, intend to trainย my new stomach to handle just about anything…

The mental aspect post-surgery is something that I hadn’t reallyย talked throughย either. I met with a psychologist as part of the compulsory pre-op process, presumably to ensure that I understood what I was doing and had realisticย expectations (no-one wants to be the guy who lands back in hospital after scoffingย a burgerย in week 2). During my session I asked the psychologist whether she knew ofย patients withย regrets or other issues afterwards, butย sheย told me thatย she only sawย patients beforeย their operationย so wasn’t much help.

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I thoughtย that because I wouldn’t feel as hungry after the operation my desire for food would be reduced, but that’s not the caseย and it’s no surprise when you think about itย – I mean, how many of us (especially those in the foodie community, or prospective gastric sleeve patients!) can honestly say that we only eat or think about food when we’re actually hungry? It’s more like every time I turn on the TV or (even worse) look at Instagram! If the amount of cooking shows and episodes of Man vs Food I’ve watched during the last fewย weeks are anything to go by, there’s no risk in me losing interest in food…soย Morsels is safe, for now.

Going forward, I don’t see a problem with eating anything in moderation, although this attitude seems to be a big “no-no”. One YouTube videoย recommended I read a book called “The Emotional First Aid Kit: A Practical Guide to Life After Bariatric Surgery” by Cynthia Alexander, which I found veryย patronising andย its key message is basically thatย likingย food is wrong. As I’ve grown older, I’ve realised that I really do enjoy food, I don’t eat emotionally or for comfort any more (well okay, we all do sometimes) – and I’m not ashamed of that. It seems that the “done thing” for sleeve patients is to become obsessive aboutย theirย diet and weight loss, although I takeย the view that Iย will be grateful for whatever weight I do lose as a result of this process, andย I’m not going to get stressed if I’m not running marathons or I put a few kg back on when I reach “maintenance” phase.

Maybe I do need to change my mindset, maybe it will come with time – we’ll see whether I still feel this way in twelve months. For now, the horrors of my operation and itsย complications are behind me. I’m still weak, but that will pass andย my focus is now on the gastric side of things, which continues to be a daily journey of discovery.ย I’m sick of living on liquids, craving meat veryย badly and lusting after anything with crunch / texture.

beneprotein-new1

Weeks 1-2: Liquids

Day one in hospital is very restrictive, “clear liquids” only, not that you can manage much. Mmm…broth. Thank God for diet jelly. The general ruleย during this period is you can have just about anything that can be drunk through a straw (although you’re not allowed to use a straw as this can cause gas, and I sure as hell didn’t want any more of that). Diluted yogurt. Low fat custard. Protein is the mostย important thing, so no saying goodbye to Optifast shakes just yet. I couldn’t wait to eat something with texture, and to have a solid bowel movement. I couldn’t bring myself to blend meat. I developedย a major lactose intolerance when I first left hospital, which came withย horribleย reflux but it passed after a week or so. Never, everย add Beneprotein powder to hotย liquids.

BelBrands_SamplerWeek 3-4: Puree

Although the information sheetย said that all food neededย to be pureed with a stick blender, my surgeon said that anything with the consistency of toothpaste should be okay. Chew, chew, chew – and again, protein is the most important thing. My best friend during this phase has beenย low fat soft cheese (lightย Babybel and Laughing Cow) – which are probably too high in fat, but my stomach doesn’tย seem to complain. Diet yogurts. More custard. A sneaky YoGo. Tuna spread (again, probably too high in fat but it has no lumps) mixed with low-fat mayo. Baked beans (mashed of course) and mashed potato – theย new dinner of champions! Mixed success with scrambled eggs. Coffee! I might have consumed a few lumps of meat while trying to eat the juice & beans from some Stagg Chili. I can’t stomach the thought of veggie soup, I must have overdosed on themย during the pre-surgery diet. Why do I have to be a salad person? Today I managed to eat a Cruskit with no problems. I’m getting used to how it feels to be hungry, and how it feels to be full.

Nextย week I’ll be able to start on “lumps” (ie mince), and in anotherย two weeks I’ll be able to start trying “normal” food. I can’t wait.

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