My Sugar & Carb Filled Post-Op Hell

Frank, you have got to cut that **** out. Period. You will not starve. Quit trying to sell us, or yourself, or whoever, a bill of goods. You need protein and water and vitamins. Period. End of discussion. Dump that liquid carbs. Put some lemon juice in your water. Drink some sugar free stuff. But knock off the Hawaiian Punch **** and the lemonade **** And in WHAT WORLD do Doritos and such crap contain PROTEIN?

Who the FUCK do you think you're kidding here?! Eat some fish. Try some cheese. Try some yogurt. But knock that bull**** OFF, right now.

Okay, ass kicking done. You have got to hang tough, because it WILL get better. But this mind game thing you're doing has to stop RIGHT NOW.

You know, I'm not surprised by this post at all. So many of Frank's pre-op posts were the "can I eat this bad food" or "how can I break that rule" kinda things, that this train wreck is inevitable.

I mentioned in a recent post that I appreciated all the tough love I was getting "for the most part".

This post is the big exclusion.
 
SometimesBlonde, you think you know me... you don't.

"This train wreck is inevitable."
 
Ha... yeah, you really don't know me. Please don't let the door hit you in the ass as you exit my post.

She's right, Frank. You posted a LOT of that kind of bull**** and that's exactly how you're sounding now. So cut out the bull**** and start proving her wrong.

Frank, it sounds like you have gotten alot of good advice here and I just want to add one more thought.  Therapy!  Sounds like there maybe a little PTSD going on....that is post traumatic stress disorder...this doesnt only happen to those who have been injured or through some type of horrible happenings, it can happen to those who have been ill and/or hospitalized.  They are different levels of PTSD.  Sounds like to me that you are afraid of giving up some of these demons (carbs) as to begin with you were eating DS newly post op style then became ill.  Get yourself a therapist that can help with the new changes that are coming ahead of you as this is just the beginning!  Depression post op can become a issue also...wishing you a speedy recovery

I had NON-STOP nausea for weeks -- but I forced myself to get my protein.  Protein is your "medicine" and you take it because you NEED it.  Not optional!!

I'd be surprised if you didn't have "gas and diarrhea" every day with those carbs.  I can't imagine listing Doritos and Cheese Puffs as having ANY nutritional value!!  I guess you get points for honesty, but wow. 


I would suggest that you vary the temperature of foods you try to eat.  If you can't eat warm fish, then eat it cold.  I found that I could eat cold food easier even when I was nauseated.  Was it always appealing?  Not really, but I could at least get it down.  Would I have prefered a nice warm meal?  Yes.  Were there other foods I wished that I could eat or enjoy?  Yes.  As many have posted, you do what you *have* to do.

Looks like I'm getting a heavy dose of tough love here. Some of it's hard to read, but I can take it and (for the most part) it's all is appreciated.

The foods I listed started 3 - 4 weeks ago after I had gone 11 days without eating due to nausea. The idea was to get down protein in any way possible. All foods listed except for the candy and popsicles have protein in them. I also wasn't getting enough fluids. The lemonade started in an effort to increase fluids, but also because I'm told sour tastes can help break the cycle of nausea. This was never intended as a long term diet and I'll admit I've over done it with the carbs.

I agree it's time to make another change in my diet and can certainly drop most of the carbs I'm taking in. Getting enough protein will be the struggle. I'll keep experimenting, but will more than likely need to force it down and hope it holds. Most of the suggestions made so far I've already tried.

I'll keep you updated...

Frank! You're killing me here (picture me biting my hand in mobster fashion)  Yikes-what a predicament!!
Ok, you know what you have to do.  You have to stop this immediately! Now! Immediately!!
At this stage of your recovery, you have 50-60 grams of carbohydrate per day to work with.
You also should be at 60 grams of protein since this is your second month.  Come your third month, you'll need 100grams of protein daily.
So. how do you start?  Like this:
Balance Bar Gold - Carmel Nut Blast-try vitalady's protein bars
Bacon-fine
Hot Dogs-fine
Candied Walnuts-substitute walnuts dipped in butter,rolled in splenda and cinammon roasted.
Doritos, Cheese Puffs...BS! Substitute pork rinds and beef jerkey dipped in melted cheese
Licorice, Good 'n Plenty...Also BS!  Chew on fresh fennel leaves.You'll get a liccoriche taste and it should settle your stomach
Candy.  Ridiculous!!! stop it.no excuses
Baked Beans- No beans of that type
Some Soups-ok some soups
Popsicles-if they're sugar free
The only thing I drink is diluted Lemonade (1/3 Lemonade, 2/3 water). I can drink Hawaiian Punch, too.Both lemonade and punch flavor available in crystal lite. No reason to drink sugar laden drinks.

That's it. The thought of all other foods/drinks turns my stomach. I just can't get it down..
Then you get yourself a therapist who specializes in food aversion and who will work with your surgeon until you can get more down.

I could cut the carb, but then I'd simply starve. I can only handle so many bacon strips and hot dogs.
Darlin',none of us will starve unless we don't get our protein

I take Zofran daily along w/ proton pump inhibitors, carafate, probiotics, fiber, and all my vitamins. However, the probiotics and fiber aren't a match for the high volume of carbs I'm eating. I'm not in pain, but it's gas and diarrhea everyday. I'm only getting about 40 grams of protein a day.   
                                                                                                                  
Nothing is a match for the carbs you've been eating 
                                               

I passed by someone holding a McDonalds bag one day and had a craving for a QP w/ cheese. I was able to eat 2/3rds of it minus the top bun

Great! Now have another cheeseburger without the bun
                                                                                                                    
I also ate some Thai Food one night (it's sweet).
Great! Just avoid the rice and noodles,  Here are 2 good sites for Thai recipes:
http://thaifood.about.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_cuisine
The good news is I'm down around 40lbs. and it looks like I'm still losing some weight every week on the current diet. Sorry ladies ;) Now, order protein samples from vitalady and find some you like.
Check eggface's site for great recipes. and contact me if you need nore ideas!

     You Can Do This!!!!!!!!!!

You're eating too much crap too early, honestly, but there are decent replacements.

Candied walnuts -- instead, make a trail mix base, and add a few semi-sweet chocolate chips if you must have a touch of sweet with the nuts, or just eat the walnuts plain or in some yogurt.  I love nuts and yogurt.

Trash all the chips, for they don't have enough protein to justify the damage they're doing on you.  Instead, make haystacks out of shredded cheese and bake until they are good and crisp.  That will satisfy your crispy chip craving....or reach for pork rinds instead.  They are HUGE in protein and dip them in some sour cream onion dip.

Trash the candy -- it' sprobably contributing to the gas big time.

Make sure the popsicles are SF.  Remember you can make your own with SF juice or koolaid or Hawaiian punch, even.  On the note of the Hawaiian, you'd better be doing low sugar version.  I found my favor in brewed decaf sweet tea and green koolaid (both with splenda). 

It looks like your stomach is ready for some real food, indeed, but you've got to think some of these things through.  Is there a reason you're not eating much cheese?  You'll be able to really bump up your protein count with some ricotta.  Even a mozzerella stick has the same protein as a hot dog.  Add some more real meat, too.  If you're the type that doesn't know how to cook real food, we can hook you up with really good directions and open up a new world for you.  Just ask, okay?

Thanks Valerie!

I tried plain walnuts today and was able to eat quite a few, so the candied nuts are history. I'm trashing all the high carb / low protein chips I've been eating. No more candies. I like the nuts w/ yogurt idea and will try that soon.

I'll post an update in a few days after I've had a chance to experiment w/ the new foods.