Just got home - and cheated already?!?

ok -my surgery was sept 30th, after 3 lousy days in hospital, and 2 in hotel, I decided to come home, and go back for my post op tomorrow in san diego (even though they wanted me to stay in town - its really only an hour away and has saved me over $300 to come home) BUT! I got a paper from the hospital saying at release I could eat some eggs, yogurt, etc, so I went by that, and then remembered my doctor said only liquids until he sees me tomorrow... will he be able to tell? - I mean I feel ok, one whole spoonfull of cream of wheat and I feel like ive had an entire turkey dinner! but I miss the taste and texture of food. Last night I put a piece of pepperoni in my mouth and just kind of rolled it around and tasted it and then spit it out... I dont know if I can do this - I am having such bad cravings... I need the weight to hurry up and fall off so I feel I am accomplishing SOMETHING! I am bloated and gained weight after surgery from so much fluid! Help - does anybody else feel like this??? Lisa

Hi Lisa! I know exactly how you feel! I had surgery on the 23rd and have to do 4 weeks of a clear liquid diet. I have a calendar out and mark each day off with a great big X. I'm not physically hungry, but my head keeps pushing me. My big cheat was a little tiny smidge of peanut butter that I kept in my mouth till it was liquid but it tasted SOOOO good. I really want this to work so I don't want to cheat, but it's so hard to be limited to such boring food (if you can call liquid food?). So far I've lost 15 pounds according to my scales and my 2 week appointment is tomorrow. Just remember that our new stomaches need lots of time to heal and if we don't give them enough time it may cause problems later on. We're also supposed to have our best weight loss in the first 2 months, so I want to have an awsome loss for motivation later. We can do this! Good luck! Julia

Thanks Julia! this is sooooo hard - I have gained so much weight from the IV and am so bloated and feel lousy - I must remember the end results - I wish I was losing already - it would make me feel better!

The best advice I can give you is to walk and drink. I gained 10 pounds while I was in the hospital and by my second day home I had lost it because I was constantly walking and drinking as many fluids as possible. I had one day during my recovery when I didn't get out for a mile walk and that was the day I felt the absolute worst. I'm not losing very fast, but I am losing and it is a great motivator. I'm praying that the scale will start moving for you soon! Julia

Hi Lisa This part of it IS hard but remember this too will pass. I'm not sure how long you have to do the liquids but I only had to do it for 2 weeks and it's a good thing cause I dont think I could have gone any longer ...I had my first post op visit today (2 weeks post op) surgery lap rny 9-20-04 and I have lost 20 lbs so far......I was soooo excited.....so remember this will go away soon (I know it seems like forever ) but hang in there girl. The results are so worth it Your wls buddy, Rebecca

Some one mentioned once in our support meeting that when they got a craving they'd put it in their mouth, chew it and spit it out. Well of course we all laughed and maybe thought it was a good idea. Then the leader of the group told her it wasn't good to do that because when your body gets a taste of something good it wants it and the hunger pains set in when it doesn't get it. The cravings aren't insane and are pretty normal but you also need to turn on some heavy will power. Unfortunanlty even if you can't do it you have to. If you try to eat something your going to find pain when you swallow it. I am surpised you didn't hurl after eating the cream of wheat. Although I was so afraid to put anything into my mouth after surgery. I was afraid everything would make me hurl. The weight will fall off. Pretty soon you will get to a point where your feeling great about the whole thing. If your feeling hungry you should make sure your getting enough water in. One thing though. I think about food a lot. I think about all the things I use to eat and what I can and can't have now. For me it is just the will to not put what ever it is in my mouth. If you need to you can always call the psycologist you saw before surgery to talk about ways to help curb your cravings. Or you can talk to us and get support to help you make the best decisions for you. No one is perfect and I am sure we all have days when the fact that we can't eat a certain something depresses us. You are not alone. Just remember that. I don't think your surgeon will know. Unless you feel guilty and tell him. Just take it one day at a time. Tomorrow will be different. Shannon

I know exactly what your going through I am 8dys out of surgery and I think I'll explode some times I really got into a bad mood yesterday when my family was eating chicken and rice and salad funny how now I would even settle for the cucumber. lol Have lots of broth that's what helps and water, water, water, talk on line it hard we must stay busy you watch television and every commercial is on food just a little longer and the worst is over that's what keeps me going Friday is my follow up hang in there Laura

Lisa, I am 4 weeks out today. I have often put something in my mouth, chewed it and then spit it out. A friend of mine that is 2 years post-op suggested it to me. Honestly, I have found it to be a bad idea. I took a huge bite of pizza when I was two weeks out and chewed it up. I felt like a rabid animal about to die if I didn't get enough of that pizza. The control that one bite had over me truly frightened me. Since then, I have decided that is a majorly bad idea. If I had swallowed--I'd probably would have had to go to the hospital. Seriously though-it sounds like you are doing well! Keep up the good work and know that God is taking great care of us all! -Katie

Lisa- I hear ya too! I gained 17 lbs in the hospital. Was told it would take 5-7 days to flow out. I feel better now. I too am really getting tired of the liquid diet. Monday I can start on pureed so, the end is nearing. Although I'm not sure pureed is going to be much better. Sounds disgusting to me but, I will try a few things. I have ate a tablespoon of mashed up cottage cheese the past two nights without any problems. I "needed" something different. The protein shakes were starting to get to me. Keep plugging along - It'll be over soon. Teri