6 WEEKS POST OP AND DOING GREAT!!!!

Hi everyone, sorry I have not posted for a while. I'm doing fine. I have lost 41 pounds so far. For some reason I keep thinking that I should have lost more weight by now, but Dr. Irgau and PMRI both are happy with what I have lost so I guess It is OK. I have been doing alot of vomitting due to eating to fast and that is not fun and also I get diarrhea from the protien. I met with Sharon Howard with PMRI and she reccommented that I start adding red meat to my diet (hamburger, meat loaf) but when I have tried to eat it ( I was only able to eat half a hamburger pattie) I was not able to keep it down. Any suggested would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Rosemary

Hi Rosemary, That is great and glad you popped in to say hi. I think the 41lb in six weeks is great. Everyone loses at their own rate though will all the hills and valleys we hit along the way. I haven't had any problems with eating, as long as the meat is lean and cooked well and pretty soft and chewable I'm fine. I'm sorry I don't have any advise for you on that one. Michelle

I recommend going with the meatloaf (its moister) with some gravy or tomato sauce on it for added moisture. Take very little bites and chew thoroughly before swallowing. I used a seafood fork and baby spoon the first 6 months post-op.

Rosemary, 41 lbs is pretty awesome. STOP beating yourself over the #'s. I did the same thing for the first 3 months. Eat too fast or 1 bite too much and I'd have to get rid of it. I called it the foamies. I know I'd feel better after it was out too. Chicken, hamburger and eggs were all pretty tough at first. Meatloaf with gravy was okay. Cream of chicken soup was the only way I could get hamburg & chicken down for almost a year. I tried eggs everyway I could think of and they just tasted gross. My own homemade minestroni soup also was gross for a long time. You'll find 1 day a food will work and the next it'll make you sick. Keep trying. You have to get that protein in. Trader Joe's sells frozen buffalo burgers. 40 grams of protein. I would make my chili with 2 patties and it'd last for a week. Add kidney beans & cheese it bumps up the protein and fiber and is tasty too. MMMMMM. Steak was easy for me to eat. I'd cut it in very small pieces and dip in ketchup and chew it for awhile before I'd swallow. I did alot of seafood. Crab, swordfish, snapper, haddock and shrimp were easy to eat. I don't care for salmon, but it is a great source of protein. Just don't buy alot unless you are cooking for 2 or more. It is still hard for me to judge portions. I have sooooo many little containers of small pieces of things. I rarely do leftovers. They tend to dry out too much after refrigeration. How's the exercise going? Are you trying to save 20 minutes aday to walk or work out somehow? It'll get easier each day. Keep us posted on your progress. ((HUGS)) Elissa

I think 41 lbs is fantastic! I had surgery 10/16/06. I lost 23 lbs before the surgery and can hardly believe I'm lost a total of 73 lbs since May, when I first saw Dr. Wynn. They are really fantastic. I applaud you that you can east hamburg and meatloaf. I have no problem with Chili or spices, but I do have issues with meatloaf and hamburger. It's always too dry for me. I can't seem to chew it well enough or my bites are too big. I have an easy time with very thinly slice sashimi (raw fish) salmon and tuna. Eel was too fatty for me. I found I could eat crab legs and now I'm in seventh heaven! I find I definitely eat different foods then before. Sometimes I miss things like steak. When the kids make popcorn I have to leave the house! But I have found substitutes. Trader Joe has soy pretzels that even the kids love. I ordered glenny's soy chips online and they had free shipping. The salsa tortilla chips go very well with the chili and humus, my other favorite food. I also have found Trader Joe has a nice selection of reduced fat cheeses as well. To help me with my crunch craving, I found thin pretzel crisps. I use them to dip in my two tablespoons of peanut butter and it's like having dessert and lunch at the same time! what I've found is that I try something, if it doesn't work, I"ll try it again in a week or two. Some days I feel I'll never eat normal again. Other days I find I can eat something new, like the chicken from the taco salad at work in a small dish with sour cream, gaucomole and salsa. NO salad. I had it with the soy tortilla and had two meals! I also found the hot chocolate protein drinks are the best. I'm even starting to like the ISOPURES when they as very very cold. All I can say is having the RuNY was the best thing I did for me. I feel better can work out at the gym and even got an exercise trampoline for my birthday! I"ve had my days where the bathroom was my friend too. They are few, but wear me out. This too shall pass. Celebrate your success! I go back on 2/2/07 to see Dr. Wynn. I can't wait! Elaine