Post Op Day 7

Tuesday after surgery on Wednesday.  I feel pretty much normal today.  When Geoff and I walked the neighborhood this morning he said I was walking faster than I did before the surgery.  I have not had much pain at all.  It has been a challenge to not overdo, because I feel like I can do what ever I want, but  I know I am not completely healed on the inside.

I think learning to add solids back into my diet later this week will be interesting.  I can have grits this week, but I didn't try until this morning.  When I ate the grits it hurt.  I think I almost had dumping syndrome.  I definitely stopped eating them.  I am ready for Chicken and refried beans though!  Woot!   Thursday!

Have a good day.

Linda

3rd Day Post Op

You may count this a the fourth day...it's Saturday night after a Wednesday surgery. I am feeling well.  No pain but I took some of my medicine tonight so I wouldn't "feel" my stomach and intestines anymore today.  It's  a strange feeling and I'm just over it for the day. 

It's kind of funny when they tell you that your stomach will be small and your meals will be small, but you need to intake 60 grams of protein and 64 oz. of fluid.  They say eat only 3 meals a day and no snacking...what they don't tell you is that it will take all freaking day to eat the 3 meals and drink the fluids.  It's work.   I got most of my protein in today and a good bit of fluids, not nearly 64 oz.s though.  I guess I will work up to it.  You drink and fill up your new pouch that holds about 2 ozs. and then you have to wait awhile for it to empty to drink more.

I walked a mile and a half today, and before you ask, yes, I'm supposed to walk.  So don't worry.  But my  biggest problem is going to be boredom.  I can't really "do" anything yet so I am really bored.  How much TV can you watch?   I thought about getting out the afghan I have ready to put together.  Maybe I'll get it out tomorrow.  It will be really pretty when I finish it.  I have all the motifs done and just need to do the sewing which I am NOT good at. 

Linda

Surgrey .....Done!

Hello to anyone who may be reading this.  I am home from the hospital post surgery.  The pain med is kicking in so this may be short.  The surgery went very well.  I had a hernia too that I didn't know about. Dr Proctor fixed that while he was in there.  The nursing staff on the 6th floor at NE Ga Hospital are AWESOME!  The took amazing care of me.  I met 2 nurses that had the surgery also and they looked amazing, felt amazing and love to share their experience with their patients.

I am on a liquid diet for one more week, then I eat an egg and go to the doctor for my one week check up.  If it goes well I can start phase 2 of the diet, soft proteins. I do not feel hungry at all.  I have to drink and eat in small amount to protect my new pouch until it heals....and then to keep from getting sick.  So it is fair to say my eating habits are now changed forever!

I am inspired by the people I have met in group support and at the hospital during my journey so far.  I think I can do this thing.

Linda

Day 5 of my Liquid Diet

I am getting used to drinking my food.  I wish I had more variety but I am doing okay.  It's a habit as much as anything I guess and once the carbs are gone, the craving stops.  The one thing I would eat if I could is a big fresh cooked hamburger patty.  I wouldn't even need noodles or rice or a bun.  Just the patty!  Yumm.....

But I am not going to eat anything that is not on the list of permissible food. I am spending a lot of time upstairs because I don't associate being upstairs with eating.  It is easier to not eat.  Also I am loosing about a lb a day right now.

Tomorrow morning is my pre-op appointment with Dr Proctor and at the hospital.  The letter I received said to expect to be there for 5 hours.  Geoff is going with me.

Linda.

2 week pre-surgery diet began today

Okay ladies, if you are still out there....here we go again.  My gastric bypass surgery is scheduled for Oct 19th. Today I began my pre-surgery "liquid" diet.  For 2 weeks (and beyond until I can tolerate more solid food) my diet will consist of strained soups, one serving of grits, oatmeal, or cream of wheat a day, cottage cheese,  protein drinks, and sugar free yogurt, pudding, jello, pop-cycles and fudge cycles.  I can up to 1200 calories of these wonderful foods a day.

To be honest it is almost a relief to have finally started the liquid diet because now the decision is gone.  I don't have to fight myself about wanting to have one last pastry, or one last steak.  I'm done.  I will live through this and be fine.

I meet some interesting people at support group.  Last night I met a young lady that weighed over 400 lbs just 6 months ago.  She has already lost 157 lbs!  Now that is radical and I don't expect those results but it is an amazing thing to see.  She said her body is changing faster than her mind can keep up with the change.

I'm out for now, any encouragement or comments are welcome!

Linda