1st Post-op visit and other random thoughts

Hello everyone!

Well I survived my first post-op appointment today!  I was so nervous.  I took a pain killer before we left because I was worried about the whole drain coming out thing.  I wi**** just would have relaxed me a little more but oh well, its over now.  So everything was good, I had a slight temp 99.7 i think they said....which is what i had the entire time in the hospital too.  Dr. Samual says its normal, I think their thermometers are off....when i take mine at home its normal, so I dont know what is going on there.  My heart was also racing like a fox, but its not now, so again...no clue...but i really do think it was my nerves?!  Stepped on that dreaded scale, and I was down.  I nearly fainted!! I looked at my husband and said...can that be right?? :S  Debi says yes, so I am so happy about that!!  I also found out that I can add my nsa nesquik to my milks now, which is a relief because the taste of plain milk just isnt doing anything for me! LOL. Although Amy says its ok, im nervous as hell to try it...Im so scared of dumping, but she says it will be fine!! I trust her!  Thursday I get to start my Bariatric Full liquids, which means i can have pureed soups and yogurt and double milk puddings.....it will be nice to have some flavor for a change!

The weight loss makes me realize just how worth it it is to have this surgery and go through this process......my loss was measly compared to those who have lost 100+ lbs, so I can only imagine how they feel, and why they say it is worth it!!  Im starting to feel a little better more and more each day, which is a relief!! So glad to have the drain out....its still tender and sore, but not in the same way!

Oh, and the bed thing last night, (I think i posted about that on here) ya it didnt work out.  The drain was too much of a bother...i climbed into bed, layed there and thought NO WAY!  So up i got and back to the recliner.  Debi tells me its okay to sleep in my bed tonight, so I fully plan to do that, hopefully I sleep a lot more comfy now!! Wish me luck!!

Well thats all for now....

~Jenn :D

Yeah!  Glad to hear the post-op went good for you!  I thought it would because you have been doing so good so far.  I know you will continue to do fine and won't have problems.  

You are right to trust Debi and Amy and all the others there.  UIHC is the best and they really know their stuff.  I'm glad you are progressing with your diet too.  Milk is good and I love it, but when it's about all you are eating, I'm sure it gets old.

Thanks for posting about your post op because it helps a ton!

Carol

My surgery was 1-19, so I have had my first post op apt too,, I lost 3#,, which I was not happy with but I have so much swelling yet,, I went to family doctor and I lost 31# since 1-5 so all in all that makes me feel like I lost more,,lol.
I am able to eat the pureed food and I havent had any dumping but I am being super careful,, so far nothing has bothered me.
Is there any support group in Cedar Rapids? I live between Waterloo and Cedar Rapids and had my sugery at Cedar Falls,, so I can go there for support but I know CR better,,

Hi!!

When was your appt?  I bet you feel awesome knowing that you lost 31lbs since 1/5!!!! That is awesome!!! You go!!  What kind of pureed foods are you eating...i need some ideas...we can have pureed and strained cream soup, I have cream of potatoe and brocolli and cheese, they are both low in fat, 1 gr sugar, 100 cals, so thats not terrible.  I will probably mix them together at least once.  But the other cream soups, like mushroom, chicken, celery, those do not sound good to eat plain.  I usually cook with them, not eat them!!  Michelle has posted before about a support group she goes to in CR...I think its at Mercy...I dont know if you could look it up on their website or not? Maybe she will read your post and be able to help out!  Hope that helps, welcome to the board!! Keep in touch! We'd love to know how your progressing!!

~Jenn

My apt was Jan 28th,, since I went home one day before my one week check up, they moved itmy apt to wed,, so they let me eat  pureed sooner than two weeks,,
I had to go out with my daughter to CR and we ate at Applebys and I was just going to have some potatoes, and some tiny bites of chicken, but ended up ordering broccoli cheese soup so I mixed some of that with the potato and survived on that, I am chewing very good tho,, I had some tuna also,, it helps that I am a cook at a hospital so know the consistancy I have to have to make it pureed,,,,,cottage cheese has been a main stay and broth with added protein powder and pureed chicken with it,, I am having a horrible time getting in my protein and my water,,it is like one or the other,, I like cream of chicken,, somehow in my fuddled post op brain, I thought I would just blend in chicken noodle soup with protein powder and have that,, after I started drinking that I realized I was having noodles,, so concentrated on my cottage cheese and baby food peas,, Im going to the store now to get some baby meat,, I only have about 5 days before I can concentrate more on soft foods..I am also going to the  hospital and buy a few meats and vegetables that I may be able to eat,, Im not sure I can stand the stuff without gravy tho,, the gravy is fat free tho,,
Bonnie

The support group in CR meets the 2nd Thursday of the month at Mercy in CR down off 7th or 10th, which ever road it is!  It's a fun group.  Be warned, they are a WILD bunch of women! It is a peer based group with no set leader, we just talk about what people need.  It reminds me alot of OH, be ready for a lot of honest, brutle comments, nothing is sugar coated there, but I think that's why I like that group! Afterwards, we head out to dinner somewhere.  

I have one comment to make after reading all of your posts..............

I WANNA BE POST OP!!  :-)

Keep posting girls..................you help me so much!
Carol

Soon Carol.....very soon you will be!!! :) :) :)

Just think, a week ago today I was in surgery!!! This week has went so fast!!! You will be in surgery in less than a week now!! It will be here before you know what happened!!! hee hee hee!!

Hi all,
I am new to the Iowa board, but hope to make it home. :)
I had Lap RNY 7/18/2008. I am doing great and wanted to give you encouragement.  The pureed stage seems like it is forever but it really does pass. Soon you will be able to eat regular foods for protein. If I have learned anything that I can pass along, which I have learned a lot but most important is protein..protein and more protein. I think I was 5 months before I ate any potatoes at all. Now I limit it to twice a week. Although I find that lately I am wanting and craving carbs more. I do MUCH better when I stick to protein and fruits and veggies. I do not eat bread, rice or pasta of any kind.
Life after WLS is SOOOO great, unbelievable even. Everyone tells you it is going to change, but I really did not think that it would change as drastically as it has. My energy level is still not great due to other health issues unrelated to WLS. But it is so much better!
Last night I was playing fake sword fighting with my 10 year old son and he pointed out that before when I was ( his words) fat, I would not have been able to do that. He tells me each and every day how proud of me he is. It melts my heart to know that I have a beeter chance of being around much longer now then I would have had a year ago.
Hugs to all,
Shelly

Welcome Shelly,, I am new here too, Had my surgery a year after you,,, am just trying to figure how to get all my water in, and protein,,I can get the protein in but then I seem to be waiting to be able to drink, I never had trouble getting in 64 oz of water before,, still have terrible sore tongue, makes me want to not even go to bed,,I still am weak, but am thinking it might be because I have arthritis so bad,, and was thinking maybe I didnt have to take my pills for that since I had felt so good,,
I found out why my lungs collapsed after surgery,, because I was having chest pains,,I was not able to get up and walk right away so  that is why it happened,, and my chest pains were from the gas from the surgery,, but all I had to say was my chest hurt and they were after me to have ekg's and stuff,, so now that I know why it happened I feel much more relieved,, I really dont know what happened to me the first 2 or 3 days,, my family is answering my questions now,, when I can think of questions,, I thought I was just fine,, until I made my son take me to the bathroom and I had a catheter in,, what fun for a 24 year old guy..lol