4 weeks today!

4 weeks post op today! This has been a fast moving month for me. I go back to work tomorrow, and not looking forward to it but I cant stay home forever. I am experimenting with foods I can eat, while home so I know what I can tolerate to take to work. I do fine with the South Beach Dinner's, and the Michelina's Lean Gourmet. The Michelina's is the perfect size, and just 99 cents an entree at Walmart! I can never finish even one. I have the taste for a watermelon! I grew up eating watermelon for breakfast here in the deep south. Has anyone tried watermelon yet? Its not on my list for another few weeks, but just wondering if anyone has been able to tolerate it. Im dreaming of fresh peaches and plums too and I never liked fruit before. How weird is that! I have always been a lover of melons, canteloupes, grapes and honeydews! Watermelon is 97% water anyway, wonder how much this counts towards fluid intake or if it does at all? I broke down and bought some digital scales so I can keep myself in check more closely. As of today I have lost 28 pounds! , still pushing myself to get in my walking. I hate exercise but it is necessary. A co worker had the same surgury, one week after me, and she returns to work on Wednesday so we have made a pact to go walking, instead of eating on our dinner breaks. The small amount we eat now, we can eat when we are in the med room setting up meds. Im hoping this will help motivate me more. I KNOW I have to exercise, it is just getting my butt in gear to get out there and do it! How has you month post op been? (or just plain post op, from April surgury!) Hugs, Sandy

Girl, you are doing great. My 4 week anniversary is tommorrow. It is a journey that will get better each and everyday!! I could go for some fresh fruit myself. Watermellon sounds great. However my surgeon has me on tuna, cheese and eggs until today when I go for my 2nd post op visit. My problem is with constipation and that just is susch a downer!! I think its great that you have some one to share the journey with at work. It can only add to your success!!! I struggle with getting the exercise in too. However I went back to work sooner. I took off two weeks and went back to work. So usually after my school day, I teach, I'm tired!!!! According to my scale at home we are about the same in weight loss. I'm excited pretty soon I will be able to fit back in my summer clothes for a period of time. Praise the Lord!! I wish you much success in your journey!! Smooches Jacquis

Jacquis! I am really tired today. Have no energy, I think it is more just being plain lazy cuz I know this is the last day at home for me I have diverticulitis, and as long as I can have one cup of REAL coffee every morning, I dont have constipation as a problem. I am a coffee lover, so I threw out my 12 cup coffee pot, and bought a 2 cup pot! BIG difference but I am only having one cup a day. I was told to try Benefiber, they come in chewables and I am suppose to be on a high fiber diet but you just cant do that on this stage of the diet. Give those a try and increase water as much as you can. I struggle with water while home, I think this will improve once I get back to work and can be more physically active. Im looking forward to a better summer too! Im trying to get into a local gym, where they have a pool and try to start swimming. I will enjoy that more than walking but walking I can do at work with a buddy! Good luck on your path!!!!! Blessings, Sandy

Girl, Benefiber will probably be good but I've got to make sure I get in the water. The fiber will probably stop me up more it I don't get the water up. I need more water!!!!!!! Hey, water areobics, is suppose to be a good exercise for toning and easy on your joints. Blessings on this journey!!! Smooches

Hi Sandy, Congrats Well, I've slowed down but it seems to be consistent with my moving on to more foods. Unfortunately the list of stuff I can have is full of carbs and the folks on my state board suggest I disregard that and stick to low carbs like meat and fruit/veggies. So I'm going to do that for a bit. Seems like I can eat anything but the results are obvious. So I'm going to focus on stuff like eggs, meat and fruits/veggies and steer clear of the carbs for awhile. I've got a nasty rash on the back of my calves. My doctor isn't sure what's causing it, only that it's an allergic rash. Got a shot today and some cream. The bronchitis is finally getting better and we're taking the dogs for walks now. Thank you Cesar Milan!! Otherwise, it's all good. According to the doctor's scale I'm down 33 lbs. Lisa

Congrats...on your 1 mo....i too am craving watermelon like crazy, my surgeon says 6 weeks out...my 1 mo post op is this wednesday (may 11th), i am down 36 lbs...and i know it's becuz i walk so much, 1 hour everynight...starting the 11th i can try chicken/turkey, vegies...so that is some thing to look forward too... Is your energy level taking a dive ?...mine sure is... SMILES, Dorie

I did break down and eat a little watermelon yesterday, I did fine with it. My energy level is gone. I emailed my surgeon's nurse, she looked at my labs and my B12 level level is high, but iron is really low so I am now taking 3 iron tablets a day and I feel better already. Check and see what your blood levels are and if this might be the cause of how your feeling.

Not bad. Walking 4x/day & even added a hill. Still too tired to work (my surgeon said he considers me in acute post-op phase for up to 3 months) but hope to go in for a half a day or so in a couple of weeks. (I've been recuperating at home now for 3.5 weeks). Besides the tiredness is the bathroom issues. When do I go, is that cramp real, etc? This is hard to learn & now that I'm adding in many new foods [at 4 weeks] the surgeon said my body will be relearning things yet again. Still in all, I'm so happy to get new foods. Had 1/2 of a sliced turkey sandwich on toast tonight (all right, I only had half of the half of the sandwich) but I will finish the rest at what I call my "second sitting." I always seem to need to eat part of my meal & then the rest an hour or two later (except breakfast which I usually finish in 1 sitting). Glad to read the posts of others where I am, A _____________________________ April 11, 2005 -- Duodenal Switch -- Dr. Alfons Pomp New York City, New York Starting Weight: 256lbs / Starting BMI: 43.9 May 10, 2005: 237lbs / BMI: 40.7