Hi Stacie and welcome to the site. Which stage of diet are you in, liquids or soft foods? When I was on soft foods I would eat fat free refried beans. I don't really have any suggestions about the vitamins. I still struggle with them. The water does get easier. Give yourself some time. Sounds like you are doing great.

Thanks so much for your support! I am still in 'liquids', although my program does include a few soft foods as I mentioned, SF/FF pudding, soupy cream of wheat. I have another two weeks on this stage and then can progress from there. Going to get some unflavored protein powder to add to food. right now I have a few Nectar brand flavors, but then everything tastes the same!
Thanks again!

Yes!!

Nurse2067 is right, the fat free refried beans are SOOO good! I save a little tiny bit in the beans, and add some reduced fat cheese in them too, when I heat them up!

Boo

Welcome to the group! And welcome to the loser's bench.

I got some sugar free pudding in individual serving cups. I'd open a chocolate one then dip the tip of a teaspoon in smooth peanut butter and then the pudding, it was wonderful.

Also pureed cream of what ever soups and warmed them. Had some instant mashed potoatoes. Doc gave me some chewable vitamins as soon as I got to taking pills again instead of mashed ones I started on regualr vitamin pills. Did do some yougurt. Doono why I stopped maybe the cost. For a while I was lactose intollerant but now at a year post op I can drink skimmed milk ok.

Water is an issue with all of us. Winter is especally hard. All I can say is measure and sip it. I use old plastic pop bottles and fill them and keep them in the fridge so I know what I drank today.
Never did find a protien powder I liked, I use bars now. I got the cheapest walmart has with 30 units of protein each.

Meat was an issue for me. I was a little scared to try it as it has to be chewed real well. Chicken didn't go down very well, beef wasn't allowed yet and the thought of fish made me gag! I did eat some baked chicken in very small amounts. Tried eggs a few times. They didn't set well on the pouch. I can do egs now but not often. Refried beans work well. So does real beans cooked in the crock pot. I mix pintos and great northern beans.

Hope this ramble has some useful info in it!

Hey there!! Always nice to have new folks!

I added unflavored protein powder to EVERY FLIPPIN THING I ate the first few weeks... helped tons! I also used Syntrax nectar, cherry blast and fuzzy navel to add to my water, kinda like crystal light... to help with protein...

I use chewable vitamins. Centrum, Vit D, and my calcium citrate. My NUT says we absorb them better even further out...

I also smushed pills and vitamins into apple sauce initially to help get them down...

Just keep working at it... it does not have to be perfect... just make progress!

Thanks everyone for the suggestions and input! Your ideas are helpful and help me realize that I am on track & just to keep moving forward! These first few weeks are challenging to get it all in and I appreciate your support! :-)

I have this quote as the backgroud on my phone...

"slow down - calm down - don't worry - don't hurry - Trust the process"

BELIEVE me... its what got me thru some days early out!! :)

You'll get there!! :)

Welcome to the boards and welcome to the loser's bench!!

I found hot, herbal tea helped calm my pouch in the early days. It also was a good way to get liquids in. Experiment with different temps and different waters. I drank room temp water for a year (I'm almost 4 years out and I can do cold water again, now).

I think I was approved to swallow whole pills at about a month. I hated the chewables, too!.

For protein, I lived on egg salad, tuna salad, and chicken salad for the first 4 months. Most of the protein drinks can be made with water. I still make mine with water and lots of ice.

You are right on track. It does get easier!

JJ

Thank you! I feel better just hearing from everyone and how they survived the first few weeks! :-)
Becca, thanks for the quote! I will use that!

I also think that sharing the 'tricks of the trade' is so beneficial to those of us so new to this lifestyle change!

I use sugar free peppermint breath mints sometimes for the possible bad breath symptom, but also it settles my tummy if I feel the need for just a little something.

peppermint is supposed to be good for the tummy.

I've been able to take all of my vitamins, and medicines with water. there hasn't been any food, that I can't tolerate so far.

hope you find a food that you enjoy, and still be able to keep on track with your soft food. I've tried a lot on my list so far.

A friend of mine, had the surgery 10 years ago and she said when she felt kinda queasy, or if something didn't sit right, she would just lick a spoon that was dipped in peanut butter, just a dab..and it helped her stomach.

It's amazing how many "tricks of the trade", that everyone has to offer, it really does help us out, and it's so appreciated!

Boo

Boo