Time until surgery going fast and other topics
Although I read as much as I can on here, I DO ask questions from time to time, but as my surgery date rapidly approaches, I hope to start posting on a more regular basis. I won't tell you I am not getting into the nervous stage, but I know I will suck it up and get on with it. The hardest part will be getting up at like 3 am to leave for the hospital that morning. I am not a morning person!
In part, I am almost more nervous about leaving the pets and so on for the few days I will be gone. Just this morning, I forgot and let my shih tzu, Abbie, out without her shock collar for the invisible fence and she was busy chasing a cat and we had a hard time getting her back into the house. She had a hard time at the groomers yesterday and wasn't in the best of moods.
And, my 30 year old daughter, Heather, has been ill with a severe case of TMJ, and the symptoms of what came later, from losing weight, (down to 82 pounds) to joint pain and rapid heartbeat. I think she is getting slowly better now, after about 6 weeks of a really hard time, and two trips to the ER. It is a long story....
At any rate, I will probably be getting on here to whine and carry on when Sept 10 gets even closer. I was surprised at how pre-surgery instructions vary so much from doctor to doctor. Many have to do a liquid diet for up to two weeks, it seems. I only have to do that for the day before. I am, however, going to really back off on eating that last week.
Another thing that I find really confusing is what people are allowed to eat after surgery. My instructions are very conservative, with no "real food" for several weeks! I can't believe what some people are trying to eat in the first few weeks. Reading back in the profiles of those who has this surgery 5 or more years ago, a lot of them were eating way too soon. I am usually not a very disciplined person, but in this case, I am going to follow everything to the letter!
Well, everyone have a great holiday weekend and you will be seeing more postings from me in the future. I am also going to copy and paste this letter on the over 50 forum page, so I can cover us "old folk" and fellow Hoosiers!
Cathy
In part, I am almost more nervous about leaving the pets and so on for the few days I will be gone. Just this morning, I forgot and let my shih tzu, Abbie, out without her shock collar for the invisible fence and she was busy chasing a cat and we had a hard time getting her back into the house. She had a hard time at the groomers yesterday and wasn't in the best of moods.
And, my 30 year old daughter, Heather, has been ill with a severe case of TMJ, and the symptoms of what came later, from losing weight, (down to 82 pounds) to joint pain and rapid heartbeat. I think she is getting slowly better now, after about 6 weeks of a really hard time, and two trips to the ER. It is a long story....
At any rate, I will probably be getting on here to whine and carry on when Sept 10 gets even closer. I was surprised at how pre-surgery instructions vary so much from doctor to doctor. Many have to do a liquid diet for up to two weeks, it seems. I only have to do that for the day before. I am, however, going to really back off on eating that last week.
Another thing that I find really confusing is what people are allowed to eat after surgery. My instructions are very conservative, with no "real food" for several weeks! I can't believe what some people are trying to eat in the first few weeks. Reading back in the profiles of those who has this surgery 5 or more years ago, a lot of them were eating way too soon. I am usually not a very disciplined person, but in this case, I am going to follow everything to the letter!
Well, everyone have a great holiday weekend and you will be seeing more postings from me in the future. I am also going to copy and paste this letter on the over 50 forum page, so I can cover us "old folk" and fellow Hoosiers!
Cathy
Cathy,
I remember well those nervous butterflies. I know that these next few wekks will be by in no time at all.
Yes..we are all told many different things. We have to really keep that in mind when we read things on here. We are each told to do what our particular surgeon feels important to do at that time. It doesn't make what one does right or wrong. Throw in the fact that there's more than one type of surgery, you really get alot of different instructions! The best thing each of us can do is to try to do everything our own surgeon tells us to do...and respect the fact that all surgeons don't think alike. There's no right or wrong to it. It's a learning science. When I first had my RNY, scrambled eggs were allowed those first 6 weeks. When I had my revision 6 months later, they weren't. Same surgeon. Same hospital. The difference? They learned that scrambled eggs can get caught up on the stoma. So as the surgeons learn what works & what doesn't, even their own set of rules change.
As you come on our Indiana board more & more and read the posts, you'll often find that replies start with 'what my surgeon/nut told me....' and finish with 'when it doubt, call YOUR surgeon/nut'. Shoot..I could guarantee you that what my surgeon tells me about everything isn't 100% the same as what she tells her other patients. As unique as our surgeons/hopsital/nuts/surgery are, our own bodies are even more so.
Looking forward to getting to know you better.....
Sherri
I remember well those nervous butterflies. I know that these next few wekks will be by in no time at all.
Yes..we are all told many different things. We have to really keep that in mind when we read things on here. We are each told to do what our particular surgeon feels important to do at that time. It doesn't make what one does right or wrong. Throw in the fact that there's more than one type of surgery, you really get alot of different instructions! The best thing each of us can do is to try to do everything our own surgeon tells us to do...and respect the fact that all surgeons don't think alike. There's no right or wrong to it. It's a learning science. When I first had my RNY, scrambled eggs were allowed those first 6 weeks. When I had my revision 6 months later, they weren't. Same surgeon. Same hospital. The difference? They learned that scrambled eggs can get caught up on the stoma. So as the surgeons learn what works & what doesn't, even their own set of rules change.
As you come on our Indiana board more & more and read the posts, you'll often find that replies start with 'what my surgeon/nut told me....' and finish with 'when it doubt, call YOUR surgeon/nut'. Shoot..I could guarantee you that what my surgeon tells me about everything isn't 100% the same as what she tells her other patients. As unique as our surgeons/hopsital/nuts/surgery are, our own bodies are even more so.
Looking forward to getting to know you better.....
Sherri
AT GOAL!!
http://www.myspace.com/sweetsherri61
Never allow someone to be your Priority while allowing yourself to be their Option......
Whenever God Closes One Door He Always Opens Another, Even Though Sometimes It's Hell in the Hallway...
Sherri pretty much hit the nail on the head. Even sometimes the same surgeons have other people do different meal plans than others even before the newly revised yellow sheets. I was pretty much on clear/full liquids for 8.5-9 weeks and then I was released to eat ANYTHING that I could get in within reason, with portion control, etc. I still stuck mostly to what the sheets said because I figured the reason they want you to wait til say 8 months to try something is because at 3 months the pouch may not be able to handle it. As we are able to eat more and different things I think our pouch acts accordingly.
Keep your head up! Nerves are soooooooooo common and normal, but you are doing to do amazing. Just make sure you hold onto your hat because it is one heck of a wild ride.
(( HUG ))
Keep your head up! Nerves are soooooooooo common and normal, but you are doing to do amazing. Just make sure you hold onto your hat because it is one heck of a wild ride.
(( HUG ))
Cathy,
Wow! Your day is fast approaching. I was amazed too at how drs do things differently. We all seem to have the same success in the end though.
Being a "southerner" too makes you especially special to me. I'm not too far from Wadesville. We should try to get a group of southern indiana hoosier losers together sometime!
Don't ever hesitate to whine and carry on. I do it all the time!!!! These group is fantastic and really is the best support system you'll ever find.
Good luck!
Jacqui
Wow! Your day is fast approaching. I was amazed too at how drs do things differently. We all seem to have the same success in the end though.
Being a "southerner" too makes you especially special to me. I'm not too far from Wadesville. We should try to get a group of southern indiana hoosier losers together sometime!
Don't ever hesitate to whine and carry on. I do it all the time!!!! These group is fantastic and really is the best support system you'll ever find.
Good luck!
Jacqui
I have wished for a long time that there were more people from southern Indiana who were active members on this forum. I know that there are lots of people who could be. I guess that they are too busy getting on with their new lives!!! I DO attend as many Evansville support groups as I can, and that really helps. My daughter-in-law is also on the road to having surgery also, probably in a few months.
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