Newbie who's having a hard time

[Mum2Boys]

Hello. I had my surgery on August 18. I'm having such a hard time emotionally and physically. I cannot tolerate much protein so I feel "in the clouds" all the time. I've yet to get back to my normal life without help from my hubs or mom. When I have to get out I feel sick and just get home as fast as possible. 

I lay in bed feeling miserable and crying a lot and wondering if this was the best decision for myself. Although I know it saved my life, in reality. 

I read these boards for inspiration and many times I feel better, although sometimes I get more upset reading about some of the issues that seem to be prevalent for DS'ers. 

I just want my energy back and I want to be able to eat without getting nauseous and/or throw up. I am fantasizing about food, yet can't eat. 

When will i feel better?!?!

[Joanne]

Oh my - you've just had major surgery! Recovery takes time.

Let's break down some of the things you're writing about and make sure you're on the right path.

-You say you cant tolerate much protein. What does that mean? What are you trying to eat? Are you still on full liquids? Some people at your stage aren't cleared to eat solids yet. Eating enough protein is something you build up to in time. If you can get in 30g a day for the next week or so, you'll be fine. That's one single scoop of a protein shake, and a little something else, like a few bites of ricotta or cottage cheese, or a scrambled egg, or a little bit of yogurt. Can you manage that?

-Your head in clouds feeling. You're recovering from major surgery, so expect some fatigue. But the first thing that comes to my mind is to make sure you're not dehydrated. Are you getting at least 64+ (100 is better) ounces a day of fluids? Is your urine clear or at least pale yellow? It's very easy to get dehydrated while you're recovering and that can make you feel bad, pretty quickly. If you are dehydrated, it's best to call your surgeon (or go to the ER) and get some IV fluids. Once you're that bad, it's near impossible to drink enough to catch up.

-Nausea and throwing up - how often is this happening? Tell us a little about what you are trying to eat, and more importantly how fast. It's very difficult while you're still healing. Are you on an acid reducer medication? Do you have a rx for Carafate?

-The mental part. A little bit of buyers remorse is common at your stage. It gets so much better. Let us know some of the answers to the above, people here will guide you down the right path. It gets so much better, you cant relate anything you're going through now with what it will be like in the future. You need to recover first.

[Mum2Boys]

Thank you sooooo much for replying. I'll answer all of your questions:

When I say I can't tolerate much, I just mean now that I've been able to have full liquids for the past week, I still can't really handle a lot of creamed soups. Brothy ones are fine, but some creamed ones make me feel queasy. I will feel so hungry and craving something then when I get it in front of me (creamy potato soup, etc) I eat a few bites and start feeling done.

I am drinking a lot. That's the one thing I've been doing. My urine is pale. I have started my D3, iron and I do take a Prilosec daily.

I feel nauseous a lot but I have a medicine for that, just didn't know if that was normal to still feel nauseated.

I crave food and I think I can tolerate something but then I try and it doesnt go well. I've actually only thrown up once and that was yesterday when I tried to eat a few French fries dipped in ketchup. That's the most solid thing I have tried but I hoped if I chewed it enough I could manage a few.

The only protein I've tried so far is chocolate flavored muscle milk and I got 25g in. But thinking about doing that right now makes me feel queasy. It took me awhile to get that down.

Typing this out makes me feel a bit silly. Maybe I was expecting way too much too soon? I haven't tried any eggs yet, do you think I could?

I think the hardest thing is how low energy I feel. But your response did make me feel relieved and I realize that maybe I've been expecting too much.

I think I got all of your questions answered. Thanks again for your time.

[Mum2Boys]

Another question.....I expected not to be hungry yet I am. However I read somewhere that I may just be confusing stomach juices with hunger. Does that makes sense?

[OnMyWay2Thin]

Mum2boys,

Just a little reassurance, I had my surgery July 7 and I felt most of the feelings your feeling. Believe me when I say the crying jags will stop, the regret will stop, and food will become appealing again (this just happened for me yesterday at about 7 1/2 weeks.) I use Isopure ready to drink grape frost for my protein drink, it's 40 grams of protein and tasty. I still don't do cream soups but love egg drop soup done well done.

Regarding the energy, that is just now starting to come back. Hang in there, take one day at a time and things will be better before you know it!

Good luck to you,
Kelly

[Mum2Boys]

Thank you!!! I really appreciate your response. Just hearing that it gets better help so much!!!

Where have you found the best place to get the Isopure protein drink? I'd like to try it.

[Mum2Boys]

Kelly,

What things were you eating to satisfy your hunger/cravings at 2 weeks out?

Any other tips you could give me would be so greatly appreciated!!!!
Thanks,
Marlo

[west4thavenue]

Aug 30, 2014 20:12:27 GMT -5 Mum2Boys said:

Another question.....I expected not to be hungry yet I am. However I read somewhere that I may just be confusing stomach juices with hunger. Does that makes sense?

Hi there, and welcome!

I don't know if I was confusing different stomach sensations or not, but pretty shortly after surgery, I felt hungry. When my stomach was empty, it felt like hungry to me! Eating a little something every two hours will help you a lot.

Let's talk about the crying for a moment. Following any trauma to the body, depression is very common. Our emotions are physiologically based, so it's not that surprising. The DS is, after all, a very invasive surgery.  Your insides are pretty "beat up" at the moment.

Remind yourself that you've been through a lot and these moods will pass as you begin to feel better.  And you will, I promise!  It takes time to get your energy back and feel like "yourself" again.  In fact, you will feel better than you ever expected.  I found it helped get through the first few weeks to keep my mind occupied after my surgery.  I love to read and that was a real help to me...when I was awake, anyway, because I slept a LOT. 

There is a saying here that comes up often:  This is a marathon, not a sprint.  It's true!  Give yourself time to heal!

[bboop]

Ah, buyers remorse - this too shall pass, I promise. If after several weeks you are still feeling low, get your iron checked and see if you need an infusion. I know I did and guess what I don't take iron pills and I haven't for over six years. That's unusual for a DSer but the infusions did that for me.

Wait a bit before you try and egg. I say this because that's the only food that immediately came back up. Wait a week before you try one and I bet you can't eat half of it. That's ok.

Eat lots of won ton soup (none of the won tons), egg drop soup and rather than the cream soups, try mashed potatoes, make them runny and see how they settle on your tummy. But only take a bite maybe two.

I'm glad you are staying hydrated. That's the main thing early out. Try taking a couple of bites, then forget about what you are eating and go and do something else. Honestly, only a bite or two will fill you up. Remember your tummy is swollen, your insides have been rearranged and you are still healing. So give yourself a break.

Remember SF jello, popcicyles, SF puddings and cottage cheese and some people like ricotta cheese at this stage...you can spice it up however you like. I hate to say it but everything is pretty much trial and error at this point.

Finally rest...walk, sip and REST. This is your time - so spend it on you. Be glad that your spouse and mother are there to help...let them. I bet in a short while you will be feeling like your old self, but it does take time. Stay in bed or a recliner where ever is this most comfortable. Just turn into a vegetable...try to enjoy being the queen of the house. Each day you will begin to feel better. Remember to nibble not eat...it's a whole new ball game. Nibble on some full fat cottage cheese, yogurt with SF preserves, just take a bite and wait, then if it sits well take another. Just don't over do it.

Feel better soon...you can do this.

[Deleted]

I have no advice, obviously...but, I do know at 4 days out, this will be the hardest part, and though I don't know you, I do care and keep returning to your post and am wishing you well!! And, YES...you CAN do this, every day will be a little better!

[OnMyWay2Thin]

Hi Marlo,

I get Isopure at Vitamin Shoppe, it's a little pricey but it's outstanding. I like the grape frost. At two weeks out, I was still in the liquid phase. Then I went to puréed, then to soft foods then hard. It was a slow progression. I had egg drop soup, sugar free jello and protein drinks. I continued this through the puréed stage. I was so happy when I moved to soft and hard food. Then it was cheese, lunch meats, mild chili, scallops, crab meat, tuna fish plain from the packet, and similar. I'm now eating high protein, very little carbs, and I'm not worrying about fat. Things are falling into place finally. It takes time, but you will get there!

Have a good night,
Kelly

[goodkel]

What you are going through is entirely normal and it will pass, but it takes time. Up to three months and more for some people to feel relatively (for a DSer) normal.

If you are hungry, you are supposed to EAT. Without fail. You have a tiny baby stomach and like a baby you can only eat a small amount (maybe only 2-3 spoonfuls) at a time. Of course this means that you will be hungry again in a few hours. Fine. Eat again. Your eating habits will no longer be three meals a day. You will need to eat each and every time you feel hungry. It is not about how much you eat, it is what you eat that is important.

I am 7 years out and I eat at least six times a day. I get nauseous if I allow my stomach to go hungry for too long.

You might be nauseous if you are trying to fit too much in at once. Two teaspoons of soup or scrambled eggs is fine. STOP eating as soon as you feel full. The microwave will become your best friend as you find yourself reheating leftovers you put aside only two hours ago. Buy yourself a toddler sized spoon and eat with that if you are having trouble with eating too much volume at once. Two bites, put the spoon down, wait two minutes, then two more bites if you are still hungry, rinse and repeat.

You are barely two weeks out. Many people take 6-8 weeks off from work to recover. It took me about six months to feel relatively normal again. That's when I had my food and vitamin routines down, I never left the house without a protein bar, and I automatically sipped on something all day long.

I went out to lunch with a bunch of DS vets, all 1 year or more post-op, someone asked me if I was going to eat the fries that came with my burger. Another said,"She's 6 months out. She won't be eating any of those fries. She won't be able to finish that bunless burger." And she was right. I barely ate half and I was stuffed.

Life has changed for you, but it will keep getting better and better. Be patient. Nothing will fix this but time.

[curlygirlny]

I had my surgery on the 11th. I'm still tired. I'm about 70 percent back to myself, which means for the most important things, like make my child food, I can do it, go to an IMPORTANT meeting, I can, however like chores, I can't. I had the sleeve two years ago, and the recovery time is just not the same. That cloudy feeling might be iron related. I know when I was low on iron (after having my son four years ago) I felt like I was floating. I realized that feeling came from being low on iron or dehydrated.

[Mum2Boys]

Thank all of you who have taken the time to reply with such kindness and compassion. Your words have truly made a difference in my spirit.  I didn't expect all the different things I would have to heal from before being "better" and it hit me really hard when my incisions were better, yet I was still so sick.   

I think it's frustrating my mother, who says she didn't realize how disabled I would be after surgery, but thankfully my hubs has been my champ. Thursday I'll start being on my own with my two boys, 5 & 2 1/2 (5 yr old is in school till 3). 

Hubs DOES does think I torture myself bc all I want to watch are cooking shows!  I can't explain it either, but my brother did the same thing when he went thru a stem cell transplant and was in quarantine for 30 days. He couldn't eat, but watched hours of cooking shows. He decided that after he beat his cancer he wanted to become a chef. I guess since we can't eat with our mouths, we soak up eating with our eyes??  All I know is, I find it VERY satisfying to watch. 

Question...I'm two weeks out and have been craving toast or rolls...anyone else eat that this early out?  I feel nauseated most of the day so when I'm craving something, I'd like to run with it and give it a try....but I'm not sure how it will sit yet. 

Would love some suggestions of things to eat. There is only do much soup, grits and mashed potatoes I can eat. 

Lastly,  I find it really hard not to drink while I eat. Anyone else find this hard to do???

[west4thavenue]

Sept 2, 2014 17:33:20 GMT -5 Mum2Boys said:

Thank all of you who have taken the time to reply with such kindness and compassion. Your words have truly made a difference in my spirit.  I didn't expect all the different things I would have to heal from before being "better" and it hit me really hard when my incisions were better, yet I was still so sick.   

I think it's frustrating my mother, who says she didn't realize how disabled I would be after surgery, but thankfully my hubs has been my champ. Thursday I'll start being on my own with my two boys, 5 & 2 1/2 (5 yr old is in school till 3). 

Hubs DOES does think I torture myself bc all I want to watch are cooking shows!  I can't explain it either, but my brother did the same thing when he went thru a stem cell transplant and was in quarantine for 30 days. He couldn't eat, but watched hours of cooking shows. He decided that after he beat his cancer he wanted to become a chef. I guess since we can't eat with our mouths, we soak up eating with our eyes??  All I know is, I find it VERY satisfying to watch. 

Question...I'm two weeks out and have been craving toast or rolls...anyone else eat that this early out?  I feel nauseated most of the day so when I'm craving something, I'd like to run with it and give it a try....but I'm not sure how it will sit yet. 

Would love some suggestions of things to eat. There is only do much soup, grits and mashed potatoes I can eat. 

Lastly,  I find it really hard not to drink while I eat. Anyone else find this hard to do???

Hello!  You don't want to do toast or rolls.  I know you crave them, but white flour-based foods will not be nice to you!  The soft foods stage is a bore, particularly as compared to some of the lovely things you see on cooking shows , but bread and rice will stretch your stomach out and will torture you in other ways.  Ignore the cravings.  They come and go.

You can drink while you eat with the DS.  That is something our gastric bypass friends must watch, but it is not an issue for us at all.  Our pyloric valves are intact and theirs is not. (I know! They told me not to drink with food, too!)  I don't guzzle a big glass of tea like I used to with my meal, but I do sip water.

[goodkel]

Sept 2, 2014 17:33:20 GMT -5 Mum2Boys said:

Thank all of you who have taken the time to reply with such kindness and compassion. Your words have truly made a difference in my spirit.  I didn't expect all the different things I would have to heal from before being "better" and it hit me really hard when my incisions were better, yet I was still so sick.   

I think it's frustrating my mother, who says she didn't realize how disabled I would be after surgery, but thankfully my hubs has been my champ. Thursday I'll start being on my own with my two boys, 5 & 2 1/2 (5 yr old is in school till 3). 

Hubs DOES does think I torture myself bc all I want to watch are cooking shows!  I can't explain it either, but my brother did the same thing when he went thru a stem cell transplant and was in quarantine for 30 days. He couldn't eat, but watched hours of cooking shows. He decided that after he beat his cancer he wanted to become a chef. I guess since we can't eat with our mouths, we soak up eating with our eyes??  All I know is, I find it VERY satisfying to watch. 

Question...I'm two weeks out and have been craving toast or rolls...anyone else eat that this early out?  I feel nauseated most of the day so when I'm craving something, I'd like to run with it and give it a try....but I'm not sure how it will sit yet. 

Would love some suggestions of things to eat. There is only do much soup, grits and mashed potatoes I can eat. 

Lastly,  I find it really hard not to drink while I eat. Anyone else find this hard to do???

Tell your mother that people take 6-8 weeks off of desk job work to heal from this. She can start being frustrated at week 9 on October 21st.

Don't be picking up your 2.5 year old. If your surgeon failed to tell you, there are lifting restrictions for up to three months post op of 5 pounds. That means someone else carries the groceries, the laundry, kitty litter, cases of water, etc. You have one large internal incision where they removed most of your stomach and three in your intestines. They take MUCH longer to heal than those little lap incisions you see on the surface. There is an easy to understand image of what you've had done here (show your mom):
postimg.org/image/4eetk2rj7/

Watch those cooking shows and devise ways to make the recipes low carb/carb free. That's a great way to spend your time between naps.

You want to avoid all flour products, bread and pasta.

Since you are eating grits and mashed potatoes, you must be in the mushy stage. Wean yourself off of those carbohydrates. You can have yogurt, sugar free pudding and jello, scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, unbreaded fish filets,refried beans with melted cheese and sour cream (You can even get them at Taco Bell). Wendy's chili might work for you, too, as long as you chew it thoroughly. Try Val's Ricotta Fluff. You can make it sweet or savory. I lived off of it for awhile. The recipe is here:
weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/thread/676/ricotta-fluff

Not having a wide variety of food to choose from is one of the tough things to deal with when you are early out from surgery. Spend the time thinking about all the delicious things you'll be able to eat when you have healed. You can find a list of high protein foods here:
weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/thread/2062/foods-high-protein

You can drink any time you'd like, as Monica explained so well. In fact, until you are up to 64 ounces a day minimum, getting in your liquids is more important than eating. If you only have room for one or the other, drink. Dehydration can send you right back into the hospital.

[meq815]

I nibbled on a saltine pretty early out, probably 1 monthish. And I mean nibbled. Took me about an hour. And boy, was it good and settled my nausea. Plus, made me thirsty, to facilitate getting more liquids in.

[musicdiva]

Remember that you are just over two weeks out from having MAJOR surgery. You are going to be tired. It's expected. You aren't going to be able to do much of anything for a very long time without having to take a break. But don't let that get you down. It's your bodies way of healing. I am almost 6 months out, and for the first 4 I didn't do anything. I didn't go anywhere other than work. I am not exaggerating either. I had no energy to do anything.

As for your food issues. I have been there and am there. Food is a challenge. You went from being able to fill a 2 liter bottle of soda or larger to about 1/4 cup. That's a huge difference. You aren't going to be able to each much. Rather eat more often. The other responses have given you some really good ideas of food to eat. I liked egg salad at your stage.

As GoodKel said, cut out the potatoes!! They are horrible for you and are probably causing a lot of your other cravings. I would challenge you to really think about what you consider a "craving". Most craving are completely mental. Just because it sounds good doesn't mean it's a craving or something we should have. Breads and pastas look and sound delicious to me, but I committed to this surgery and therefore this lifestyle. I won't throw it away for a "quick-fix" of a craving.

Don't get your self down, you are doing great, and things will continue to get better. The climb up the mountain ahead of you will be hard, but the view from the top will be amazing.

[PeteA]

A couple of saltines might help that bread craving. For me, the great part of the DS has been how
unsatisfying it has been for me to give in to cravings. The experience now just doesn't measure up
to what is in my head. A good outcome for me. Egg salad, tuna salad, cottage cheese with tuna. Just some
of my go to's early on.

This is a great place to express your worries and questions. While every one is different we can all relate
to needing answers and support. Easy to be overwhelmed at the start. I certainly was.

[DSwitcher]

Sept 3, 2014 13:58:50 GMT -5 PeteA said:

Egg salad, tuna salad, cottage cheese with tuna. Just some of my go to's early on.

Read more: weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/posts/recent#ixzz3CID9lfpK

How early on did you start with these?

[DSwitcher]

>>>>>"Typing this out makes me feel a bit silly. Maybe I was expecting way too much too soon?"<<<<<<<

Read more: weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/thread/9337/newbie-having-hard-time?page=1&scrollTo=134114#ixzz3CIH4qcR2


Don't put yourself down. I am suffering in a different way, but my Dr won't even talk to me, just relays messages through his staff. That message is "NO."

"No" to anything I say or suggest. So I will go along doing the best job I can. Smile at my appts and do what i think is best in between and yes pay for it, if I am wrong. Little shifts and changes...

You can't second guess what your body is going through. Just go easy on yourself and do the best you can for today. One day at a time....Listen to others and do what you can to follow their advice.

At the end you have to be responsible for the reaction to your body or emotions. If I hadn't been through this before, I couldn't say, "It will get better," but it will.

Give yourself a big ole hug and tell yourself how proud you are of the progress you are making, even if you come to realize it is not the progress you EXPECTED to make. No more guilt. Just be free to be....{:>}

[goodkel]

Sept 3, 2014 17:04:36 GMT -5 DSwitcher said:

Sept 3, 2014 13:58:50 GMT -5 PeteA said:

Egg salad, tuna salad, cottage cheese with tuna. Just some of my go to's early on.

Read more: weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/posts/recent#ixzz3CID9lfpK

How early on did you start with these?

Did you not receive any post op instructions? Most surgeons have a protocol that they want their new post ops to follow. That is the only time that we'll tell you to listen to them. They have a track record of very early post op recovery and they usually know what has worked best for their patients.

I didn't start with mushy foods until week three.

Nursemelanie may know as she had her surgery with Dr. Boyce recently as well. I suggest sending her a pm, if she doesn't see this.

[kittykatkris]

Hey!! I just wanted to see how you were doing post op? I am probably going to be getting ds surgery in a month or so and i would love to be as prepared as possible. Since you just had it done all your experience and insight would be greatly appreciated!!

About 2 1/2 yrs ago i had a 9.7 cm ccyst removed from my right ovary it burst during surgery so they had to clean all my organs before sewing me back up, all that to say ive been meddled in before lol so i think im pretty prepared pain wise and recovey wise. Its no picnic but duable.

Im just gonna need the inside scoop on the foods and such. Vitamins and supplements, nauseous medicines stuff like that is where i think im gonna need some serious advice so everyone feel free to chim in.

Cant wait to hear how your progress is going!

[Mum2Boys]

Hello....thanks so much for all of the responses.

To the person who asked, of course my surgeon gave me post surgical advice, I am allowed mushy foods at week two. But at my one week post op the dr recommended mashed potatoes from KFC with lots of gravy to make them more liquidy. Since I wasn't interested in eating and that sounded good, I tried it.

Also, I find getting opinions and advice from other DS'ers more helpful than reading my post op guidelines bc they said I'd be up and around way sooner than I was so obviously things are not exactly as they always predict or suggest.

It's a little frustrating to hear that eating the carbs is the worst thing I could be doing bc it is exactly what is on the list of what I'm allowed to eat. Also, the first thing my surgeon said at my initial consult is that there was literally nothing I wasn't allowed to eat. If I was good at restricting the types of food I eat, I could have just dieted and lost weight on my own. That's how I feel, anyway. If my body won't tolerate it, that's one thing.

By cravings I mean I just long to be able to eat without it being a chore and I want to be able to start trying to eat "normally" again. I'm very picky and if I don't like something, I will throw up if I eat it, so I can't force myself. So I can't/won't eat cottage cheese, yogurt, etc. so if I'm feeling like grits or mashed pots sound appetizing, I felt it was worth a try considering I was at least feeling motivated to eat those thongs. Also, with my near constant nausea, I felt the starchy stuff would help.

With that said, I did heed the advice found here and I tried branching out to refried or smashed beans. Tonight I bought some chili at Wendy's and will try some in a bit.

Today was the first day I spent a few hours out and about. A couple of days ago I couldn't shake the nausea and finally started throwing up over and over again (nothing but clear liquid came up). Then my insides hurt for a couple of days from retching. I was waking up a crying from feeling so crappy. So I'm really praying I've turned a corner and will start improving.

Kittykatkris- I've had two csections and this was not even in the same category. I was out and abt two days after my csections. This has been really hard from the day I had surgery. The worst pain in my life was the gas pains. It was from the minute I woke up after surgery. The best thing for that is walking, so as sore as I felt, I made laps around the nurses station. Slow and crying, but step by step I did it. That took about a day to get under control and after that it was tolerable. Then the relearning how to eat was the hardest. Being hungry but not being able to stomach food was hard to reconcile. And the nausea was hard. I just hung in there, read these boards, sipped liquids ans slept. Finally posted and got some personal feedback that really helped and here I am. I'm feeling better as I'm able to eat a little more and a little more often. I still feel constant hunger but can't eat enough or as often to get rid of it.

I'm staying hydrated, taking iron and vitamin D and trying to work up from there. I bought gummy calcium they are so sweet I can't tolerate them.

That's basically where I'm at. I'm down 20lbs from surgery day.

When is your surgery?

[Girlrocker]

Hi there, wanted to say welcome, I've been in/out lately because I just had hernia repair (my third) with component separation and abdominoplasty.

Lots of good info/feedback so far. You're going to OK! It's an unfortunate reality that the nutritionists, and even sometimes the surgeons' offices, hospitals, don't provide very good/accurate DS nutrition guidelines. Everything you are experiencing is normal/relative to such a big surgery and dramatic change. Anesthesia wreaks havoc on the body and for women, the hormones too. It's perfectly reasonable you feel like you've been hit by a truck and rolled back over. The nausea, all the odd feelings, sensations, goings on in your new stomach-sleeve, your rearranged bowels means you can have this, plus the detox from anesthesia and all that was done to keep you body under and then wake it up. You do indeed progress like an infant - liquids usually for a week or two, than progressing to soft/mushy foods, than eventually more solids. Typical to use protein shakes, unflavored protein powder added into food to help boost the protein until you can eat more. Being hydrated is the most important at this phase.

Protein-wise, you can use 30/60/90/120g for the number you should get in per day for how long you are out. I boosted all the time with protein shakes so I could get in more, did it for months. We recommend a 50g carb guideline. Saltines/oyster crackers were my go-to early post-op, just needed a little bit, helped the nausea and weird taste in my mouth. Many of the soft diets the doctors hand out include cream of wheat, instant mashed potatoes, and while they aren't the worst thing, and many add the unflavored protein to it, you can eat other things, avoid the carbs that might also upset your stomach. You can drink and eat at the same time, but this early you might find that tough simply because your stomach is small and tight and the water will fill you up. Remember how diets would recommend drinking a glass of water or eating a small salad to 'fill up'? Don't have to do that any more! Eventually you'll be able to both at the same time with ease, but for now just take sips.

There's a lot of information here on the various boards hover on weight loss surgery tab and you'll get drop downs for all the individual boards, nutrition, what to expect having surgery, etc are pinned, or called "stickys' and are always at the top of the board. Plus there's a great mix of veterans and people at all various stages, and fellow newbies. It's always nice to have a few people around who are where you are.

[goodkel]

Sept 5, 2014 19:49:31 GMT -5 Mum2Boys said:

Hello....thanks so much for all of the responses.

To the person who asked, of course my surgeon gave me post surgical advice, I am allowed mushy foods at week two. But at my one week post op the dr recommended mashed potatoes from KFC with lots of gravy to make them more liquidy. Since I wasn't interested in eating and that sounded good, I tried it.

Also, I find getting opinions and advice from other DS'ers more helpful than reading my post op guidelines bc they said I'd be up and around way sooner than I was so obviously things are not exactly as they always predict or suggest.

It's a little frustrating to hear that eating the carbs is the worst thing I could be doing bc it is exactly what is on the list of what I'm allowed to eat. Also, the first thing my surgeon said at my initial consult is that there was literally nothing I wasn't allowed to eat. If I was good at restricting the types of food I eat, I could have just dieted and lost weight on my own. That's how I feel, anyway. If my body won't tolerate it, that's one thing.

By cravings I mean I just long to be able to eat without it being a chore and I want to be able to start trying to eat "normally" again. I'm very picky and if I don't like something, I will throw up if I eat it, so I can't force myself. So I can't/won't eat cottage cheese, yogurt, etc. so if I'm feeling like grits or mashed pots sound appetizing, I felt it was worth a try considering I was at least feeling motivated to eat those thongs. Also, with my near constant nausea, I felt the starchy stuff would help.

With that said, I did heed the advice found here and I tried branching out to refried or smashed beans. Tonight I bought some chili at Wendy's and will try some in a bit.

Today was the first day I spent a few hours out and about. A couple of days ago I couldn't shake the nausea and finally started throwing up over and over again (nothing but clear liquid came up). Then my insides hurt for a couple of days from retching. I was waking up a crying from feeling so crappy. So I'm really praying I've turned a corner and will start improving.

Kittykatkris- I've had two csections and this was not even in the same category. I was out and abt two days after my csections. This has been really hard from the day I had surgery. The worst pain in my life was the gas pains. It was from the minute I woke up after surgery. The best thing for that is walking, so as sore as I felt, I made laps around the nurses station. Slow and crying, but step by step I did it. That took about a day to get under control and after that it was tolerable. Then the relearning how to eat was the hardest. Being hungry but not being able to stomach food was hard to reconcile. And the nausea was hard. I just hung in there, read these boards, sipped liquids ans slept. Finally posted and got some personal feedback that really helped and here I am. I'm feeling better as I'm able to eat a little more and a little more often. I still feel constant hunger but can't eat enough or as often to get rid of it.

I'm staying hydrated, taking iron and vitamin D and trying to work up from there. I bought gummy calcium they are so sweet I can't tolerate them.

That's basically where I'm at. I'm down 20lbs from surgery day.

When is your surgery?

Hi Mum,

How did you choose your surgeon? I don't recall hearing of her before as a DS surgeon. When you interviewed her, did you ask how many DS surgeries she had performed?

Did you do any prior research yourself on the different bariatric surgeries and chose the DS yourself? Do you have a hard copy of your surgical report?

[Girlrocker]

The other thing I came back to say, is, it definitely takes time. You have to focus on reprogramming your head to connect to the HUGE surgery you had and readjustment it takes. The first 12 weeks are really more about healing from major surgery, again the infant analysis, going from liquids to soft foods and gradually adding more foods. It will continue to change and get better, but you have to go through trial and error, be willing to try new things, understand some things might not agree with you now, but will come back later. Surgery is a tool to assist, facilitate eating a way for life that will not only help you lose the weight, but most importantly, keep it off. There is no bariatric surgery that allows people to eat whatever they want. Eating a protein centric/moderate carb lifestyle, smaller more frequent meals, is a good way to eat for anyone! And the bonus with the DS is not having to eat low fat/fat free anymore.You will be able to enjoy carbs in moderation, learn how to eat them in a way that's better, and, know there won't be anything you can't eat, it's not never, just not now, not so much. And it's particularly essential during the maximum losing window to make the best use of it as possible - for your weight loss, and by the time your sleeve starts to evolve into the larger "normal' portions you'll be able to consume, the new good habits will be in place. I'll be 3 years out from my revision in December, and I still eat protein first, keep an eye on my carb consumption; if I indulge for a special occasion, vacation or I just have a crappy I need chocolate or a slice of pizza day, I reign it in quick. And this is coming from someone who was 315 at my heaviest, a recovering a carb addict, a compulsive/emotional eater who could consume insanely huge quantities of food and did, 3 major losses and regains and one failed bariatric surgery. It's a relief to know now how to eat right and eat well, control the food and not let the food control me any longer. You CAN do this.

[jpcello]

Sept 5, 2014 19:49:31 GMT -5 Mum2Boys said:

By cravings I mean I just long to be able to eat without it being a chore and I want to be able to start trying to eat "normally" again. I'm very picky and if I don't like something, I will throw up if I eat it, so I can't force myself. So I can't/won't eat cottage cheese, yogurt, etc. so if I'm feeling like grits or mashed pots sound appetizing, I felt it was worth a try considering I was at least feeling motivated to eat those thongs. Also, with my near constant nausea, I felt the starchy stuff would help. 

You need to redefine your definition of "normally". You just had major surgery to remove a good portion of your stomach and have your intestines rerouted. You have a new normal now. Right now your main focus is to heal. Your insides have been sliced and diced and that takes time to heal.

You keep going back to comfort foods (french fries dipped in ketchup, mashed potatoes, grits). I understand that but FOR NOW those foods won't give you comfort, only misery.

It will get better BUT you have the rest of your life. This is a marathon that requires pacing. Not a sprint to the finish line because there is no finish line. 

Do you have someone (professional) to talk to? You think you've lost your best friend (food). You haven't lost it, you're just taking a brief break from it. It will be back. Will it be back tomorrow, no. Next week, no. Next month, no. Six months from now, very slowly. Next year, absolutely.

[OnMyWay2Thin]

Hi Mum,

Just wanted to jump on here again and give you some encouragement. I don't think anyone could have been any more upset than me after the surgery. I didn't think things would ever be normal again. Here I am 8 1/2 weeks out from surgery and feeling great about life. Last night on the way home from visiting my mom in the hospital, my husband stopped at a place called Pei Wei, I had never been there, a Chinese place. I was nervous not sure what to get and studied that menu. I went with Kung Po chicken, they delivered it breaded. I really nicely said, I made a mistake, I can't have the breaded chicken, it's completely my fault. The waiter said, no problem at all, they went back and made it steamed with seasonings. How delicious! I made sure I thanked them for their understanding and my husband and I had a nice dinner out. In other words, it just takes a little time. Eight and a half weeks will fly and you will soon be feeling better, ordering slightly differently, but feeling good and normal. My meal even had peanuts which were bonus protein!

Just hang in there and you'll be back to feeling good again soon. The first weeks were definitely the toughest, you can do this and will do this! I'm in your corner rooting you on...

Have a good day,
Kelly

[goodkel]

I just wanted to add to the wonderful advice people have given you here, I want to say that yes you will be normal again. But, it will be a new normal. Not your pre-op "normal". The volume that you were once able to eat is gone and your diet will need to be high protein/low carb to be healthy.

If you haven't checked it out, yet, follow this link to the food that will form the basis of your diet:
weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/thread/2062/foods-high-protein
Plenty of choices there.

Bread, pasta, rice and other carbs may cause you physical pain to eat. You shouldn't be eating them, anyway.

You will come to adjust and accept your new reality and eventually it will feel normal to you.

Things get better as you heal and you still have a way to go with that. Hang in there!