Made It!

I had surgery on the 25th. Got home last night around 7:00 p.m. I'm sore and a bit tired. Just trying to adjust to the whole new tummy thing wears me out. I don't know how much I should eat exactly. Everyone says to stop when I feel full. What does that feel like? Also, I'm having trouble drinking my water. I never had a problem before but I would drink a whole glass at once. I'm not a sipper. I think this whole experience is going to be way harder than I imagined. I thought I was SO prepared. I'm sure I can do it - just have to work hard! Thanks for letting me vent! ~ * Alice Ann * ~ Open RNY 5/25/04 274/269/140

Hey Alice, I had my surgery on Monday May 24, 04. I thought the same thing that I was sooooo prepared. I was dead wrong. This is way harder than I thought it would be. I'm just clinging to the "it will get better" theory. You can email me anytime to vent. (if I can vent back ) God Bless, Karen

Welcome Back Alice!!! I'm glad to see you made it through and are on the road to recovery. My hospital gave me 1 oz medicine cups and said eat that first and wait a few minutes before trying to eat the next 1 oz cup. I stop regardless of feeling full at 4 oz. of anything. Right now I have a constant full feeling. That might be from all the sipping. I too had no problem with water before, but have always gulped my water. Good Luck and just keep sipping and walking and we'll be healthy and thin in no time at all. Christie

Dear Alice Ann, My surgery was on May 19th - and you are so right, lots of adjustments to make! I bought an adult "sippy" cup at Target to make me take little sips instead of gulping water as I had always done before. That really seems to help. Also, it holds 16 oz, so i know that with 3 of those and 4 sugar free popsicles, I have all my water in each day. I ended up making a little chart for each day, so I am sure I get my water, vitamins, B12, etc. enought protein, plus I take my blood sugar 4 times a day now that I am off of all diabetes meds. This way of eating and drinking is really a full time job right now - but I can see that it will get easier. I go a little $7 food processor at Walgreens to help me out these first 6 weeks of pureed foods. I bought sugar free jellos and puddings, high protein kinds of soups - regular brands but I checked the protein content first and pureed half a can at a time for dinner. Also, I have been surprised at how many restaurants don't mind pureeing food for me, whether it is soup or (last night) a quesadilla. The quesadilla lasted for 3 meals, by the way! In theory we are going to have lots of money for new clothes from what we save spending on food! The most encouraging email I got said that the first weeks are the most difficult and then it gets a lot easier. My very first night home from the hospital I had to laugh at myself when I found myself standing in front of the refirgerator thinking, hmmm, cheese and crackers . . . even though I was stuffed from what I had just eaten. That old head hunger and using food to cope gets easier too, I've been told. A word of caution though - I was feeling so well I overdid in the things I carried, including the cat in her carrier to the vet and groceries. I have had sharp pains ever since both at the largest lap incision site and inside where scar tissue was just forming. After two days it is still sore but I have had another of those "opportunities" to learn to ask for help instead of feeling the need to do everything myself. I guess we just need to be patient with ourselves! Take care and good luck. If you ever need a listening ear, I would love to hear from you! Warmest wishes, Nancy Akerly 5/19/04

Hey Alice Ann, it's me Brenda! Just wanted to say Hi. I know what you mean about the sipping. But I gulped a couple of times and it hurt like heck. I now sip with NO problems if you know what I mean. Today I am 4 weeks post op. Alice just like everybody says It is getting easier. I have lost 22lbs. I guess I am on track? Not sure. The hardest part for me is the not drinking the 4 or 5 glasses of tea when I eat like I did before. Keep in touch...Talk to you soon. Your friend, Brenda

Water seems to be the hardest for people. I use to Gulp fluids down all the time too. I now use a straw to help me slow down. Feeling full.... Only way I know is if I start getting pains. Try to stick with the measuring cup. Then you will know exactly how much is going in. Also, my hardest thing is to SLOW DOWN when eating. Make your meals strech out for longer periods of time. I wish you the best in your new Life, not getting back to your old life. God Bless