One Month Check-Up

Well, I had my appointment with Dr. Appel this morning. Good and bad. Good - I've lost 32 pounds! Bad - not doing too good on my liquids and getting meds down orally. Am having a really hard time with a couple of my prescriptions. He recommended I contact my PCP and have my meds compounded so I can get them down. Crushing them and mixing with liquids is too much to drink and is tearing up my esophogus (sp?) and they "foam" back up. As for the liquids, I am really trying hard to get them down. I can't handle any of the sugar free sweetened stuff anymore. I have even quit the sugar free popcicles. I can sip water, but not enough to amount to anything. I can't mix my protein powder with water (yuck), but mix it with soy milk, so that doesn't count. I'm glad hubby didn't go with me today or he would have ganged up on me, too. I know he will let me have it when he gets home. I picked up some lemons and am going to try fresh lemon water or even add Splenda and make a little lemonade. I'm going to fill up a pitcher with 64 ounces of something and make sure by the end of the day it is gone. Whatever I can't get down - flush through the G-tube. That's right, still have the G-tube. He wouldn't take it out unless I am getting my fluids and meds in. I was so looking forward to it being out, I even begged him, but he wouldn't do it. I have to go back to see him next week and he said "We'll see." Darn it! Right now I am drinking some Diet V-8 Splash (diluted a little), and Oscar seems okay with it. Oh....I have named my pouch, Oscar as in Oscar the Grouch. But mine is Oscar the Grouchy Pouch! There are certain things that Oscar likes and I try to stick with them. But some days he decides he doesn't even like them. Well, better run. Am tossing my size 24 jeans out of the closet and replacing them with some 22's and 20's I found in my bottom drawer! Later, Pat

I am having the same trouble with fluids...today I only got in about 10 ounces (BAD ME!). I spent the day in the CAT scan office having the scan and waiting for results while the doc was in surgery. Everything turned out OK, except that I have a kidney stone (probably from my Atkins diet days). I hope it will get easier. I don't have a problem with my meds - I take them whole. I hope you feel better soon!

Hi Pat, Congrats on the weight loss and moving down sizes! How wonderful for you.. As for the rest, it takes time. The only way I can get my meds down is to break them into small pieces and take them with SF/FF pudding. I also am using chewable vitamens and calcium. makes it a lot easier. I drink a lot of Propel because it is one of the few things that sits well. I think I'll give the lemonade a try. Have you tried the necter protein powder? It's not bad, mixed with Crystal Light or even plain. I also use an egg whey protein powder from the Vitamen Shoppe and mix 2 scoops chocolate flavor with one envolope of CIB, sugar free an 1 cup of water and 1 cup of ice and mix in the blender. I alos throw my biotin and Vitamen c into the blender. I'm trying to use up the C so I can buy some chewables. If I can throw anything into my shake, I do! I think you have a good idea about filling the pitcher and drinking from it throughout the day. Good luck gettting the G tube out next week, Hope some of my tricks help.