Something Must Be Wrong

Okay, I haven't been posting or anything for about a week, and it's mostly because, well, I'm confused. I've been healing very well since my surgery. I had very minimal pain, only took the liquid lor tab one time when I got home, and ever since my drain came out, I've felt fantastic. I still can't find a protein drink of any sort that I will drink. I do take my vitamins like I'm supposed to, finished my lovenox shots, but I haven't taken any lexapro since my second day home. But I feel okay. In fact, I honestly can't feel much of a difference now versus how I felt before surgery. And then the other day, I took a bite of something without thinking. It was only chili, and the only thing in there I really shouldn't be eating is the meat. I was scared to death I was going to start puking all over the place... only I didn't. So I tried chili for dinner that night, and was fine.... I shouldn't be tollerating meat only a week and a half after surgery should I? I even nibbled a club cracker yesterday, and granted it took me half an hour to eat one, I still ate it, and again, no problems. I've had unstrained cream of potato soup- no problems. Even tried a couple of overcooked noodles, and again- nothing. The whole reason I wanted this surgery was so that if I ate things I wasn't supposed to, I'd be sicker than a dog to teach me the right ways. Only I'm not even two weeks out of surgery, and NOTHING makes me feel bad (though I haven't tried any sugar or anything fried or raw veggies yet****ep asking my husband "did they really do surgery?" and he laughs at me. But I honestly am starting to wonder... I know this sounds crazy, but I just had to get all that out. Now I'm scared that I've had surgery and that just like everything else, it's not going to work for me.

Hi Darrah, I know what you mean. Although I did try a bite of ground beef and beef stew and both did not agree with me, I didnt vomit but the other.I haven't tried anything with sugar yet,but would love some in my coffee. Like you I can't stomach the protein drinks, so after talking to my nutrionist she suggested adding 1/3 cup dry milk with my regular milk, and I add a couple scoops of s.f nestle quik (thanks for the tip Linda) and I can tolerate that. 20 grams of protein per 12oz glass which I do twice daily. Takes awhile to drink that much but I get it in. Its sooo much better than protein drinks. Tammy

I too, am having a horrible time getting in the protein --where can I get s.f. nestle quick?? Is it a syrup or powder form? Thanks in advance, Melissa

Darrah, I had some good luck, too. About three weeks out, I was eating some chili, too. I didn't have issues with puking until I tried to eat things too fast. So, just chew chew chew and I'm sure you are doing fine. Just remember... follow your Dr's orders and as long as you are't sitting and eating a whole pack of crackers.... (Like we all did before) you are doing great! Heather

chew chew chew chew and take your time and you should be fine, some places allow this in the 1st week...the thing to do though is to take this time to make good choices and break those old ones, that is what is gonna help you once you get past the honey moon...me the big puss that i am pretty much followed all i was to have done...other than chicken would just make me sick and sometimes still will....so i did turn to beef

Darrah, Be careful sweetie. Everything that we aren't to have early out isn't just because it might make us throw up. Many things can give us ulcers. I was at least 9 MONTHS out before I could have anything with any kind of tomatoes in it (chili, ketup, etc) and it not give me an ulcer. Small pieces of ground beef, scrambled eggs, fruit, or raw veggies can get caught in the stoma (the connection between the pouch & intestine). Your pouch doesn't have the acids your stomach had so it is unable to break down foods so you are pretty much forcing rough, undigested food through your still-tender-from-surgery stoma. Please don't try to see how far you can push your body..or your baby pouch. If you wouldn't give a 9 month old baby chili, don't give it to yourself. I didn't, and still had tons of problems. Do everything your surgeon/dietician had told you to do. If you feel you need to alter from it, contact them first and be sure it is ok. Do get in protein...even it it's from drinking milk. You need it. Your body needs it. Just my advise...but don't want to see you have problems tomorrow for what you eat today... Sherri

The reason they have us on soft foods the first month is to heal the staples lines and to avoid stretching the pouch out prematurely or to avoid making the hole between the pouch and the small intestine to large. It's not a matter of intolerance...it is a matter of not ruining what they have done. My best advice would be to follow the yellow sheet St V's gives and only add things in the phases as prescribed. I know the first month is awful because your food choices are so few...but it's the only way to have success...and 30 days out you get to add meat Yippeeeee eh? At 12 months out and farther-when you can eat pretty normal-you will be able to tolerate a lot of foods...use this first 12 months to change your attitude about foods so that you make healthier choices when you are farther out and can eat a whole more food. If you don't....you are going to go right back to your usual eating habits At 19 months out...I have to remind myself not to eat certain foods and to make better choices. I do not want to regain my weight But it gets harder the farther out you get...so make good use of retraining yourself now before you loose the power of this great tool. Hugs and keep up the good work...I agree...ya looked like ya never had the surgery You bounced back fast!!!

Darrah, When I talked to the Dr. and the Nutritionist they told me it is not about what the body will tolerate, but rather making healthier choices. My Dr. told me about one woman who actually started gaining weight after surgery, she found that M&M's went down great and just ate them all the time.....our new tummy is just a tool to assist in the weight loss. I have followed the food plan religiously and when I got to phase 2 I was in heaven. I still haven't tried anything like crackers in fear of irritation to my pouch. I know it is hard, but try to stick with the food plan they gave you and only try things as it comes on your list. Hang in there! (((((((HUGS)))))))) Marianne

I felt the same way when it came to Chili. I expected to get sicker than a dog, but it's high in protein, mushy, and my stomach could tolerate it easily. Chew a lot though. Surprising, something that I should be able to eat - eggs - make me throw up like crazy. It doesn't matter how much I chew them, they still come back up within an hour. Also, I can't tolerate rice that well either or mashed potatoes. Go figure!

Nikki....you are too early out to eat rice...that stuff comes back out like a machine gun firing Rice does not digest very well....I learned that in my 4th or 5th month...then I went back to read my diet plan and it wasn't even allowed until after my 12th month I just thought it was another 'pasta'...man was I wrong. But it was a lesson learned It's funny what we liked before surgery and now can't stand eh?