I'm home with many questions!

Hello all,

I just want to say thank you to all that wished me luck on my surgery. I am in pain!!!!!!!!! I don't think I take pain very well though. Is it normal for me to be going to the bathroom everytime I have gas? I am also so swollen still. My hands are huge and feel so tight. I am not reaching my liquid goal since I feel so bloated and with taking little sips, it take so long to drink a lot. The special K protein water says 6 grams of sugar. I thought we could only have 4 grams or less of sugar. Any information would be greatly appreciated!

Lauren

Hi Lauren,

I am sorry you are feeling pain.  The first week was a bit rough for me so I can totally relate. I don't tolerate pain too well either. Just make sure to take your pain meds on time so it doesn't get bad. 

As far as going to the bathroom it happened to me a lot for the first 3 weeks. then it tapered off and I became constipated. 
I was also bloated and very swollen for the first 2 weeks but the fluid does start moving out. You just have to make sure to sip sip sip and walk walk and walk. 

As for reaching your liquid goal that is going to take you for a while. So try not to force it in just get in as much as you can.  i never dranked the Special K 6 grams is a lot when we are so early out.  If the botle is one serving I would only drink half of it so that it makes 3 grams of sugar.  I do suggest you buy the walmart brand great value sugar free drinks to add in your water to help you get your fluids in. or you can drink the crystal light. 

I hope you get to feeling bettwer soon.  Welcome to the Loser's bench!

Definitely bring up the water retention to Dr. Mo when you go to have your drain removed this week. Some is normal, but this sounds excessive. It could be an allergic reaction to one of the meds they used while at the hospital. As far as going to the bathroom, the same thing happened to me for the first few days. I was actually relieved, because I didn't have as much gas as others I have talked to. I personally think I had a leftover effect of the bowel prep. Finally, the 6 grams of sugar in the protein water is a little high, but if it is not making you ill, you should be fine. I was told 5 or less grams per serving.  The other thing you can do is use it in a little more water. I personally don't like things like that full strength anyhow. I use the crystal light packets, and put one packet in a liter of water, when the recommended is 1 per 1/2 liter bottle. That way you'll be increasing the serving size, with no more sugar, which will decrease the amount of sugar per serving.

I'm sorry you are in pain! I hope that it subsides. I do know that you'll feel better each day, and that when your drain comes out it will make a positive difference in your healing. Just keep sipping and walking as much as you are comfortable. That will help you feel better over time. I know Dr. Mo (like all of our surgeons) cares deeply about all his patients. If you still feel a lot of pain on Monday, don't hesitate to call the office. They are there for you! I know Dr. Mo has gone out of his way to be there for people in the past.

Lauren,

I agree with everything Cira and Kathy said.  I do have one quick note about the Special K water.  I never tried the ready to drink, but they do sell a mix just like the Crystal Light singles that have protein, but no sugar.  They come in 2 flavors, lemonade and iced tea, you might want to give them a try.

Things will get better I promise.

Sandi

Thank you all so much for the advice! I do have all of the sugar free mix-ins but I'm not feeling up to them yet. I am sticking with the propel and water. I just thought I'd give the protein water a try so that I would feel fuller. I can't wait for tomorrow because I can start the full liquids. Does anyone have any DON'T's?? I am so scared about throwing up. I feel like I am not going to get enough creamed broth or pudding in to even see if I can handle it! How did the cream of wheat work for any of you? Is it ok to put a equal or splenda in there to make it taste better? I know there are so many questions... if anyone could jsut help me out so I don't make any mistakes!

Thanks again,

Lauren

Don't worry about your quantities yet. I wouldn't push over 3-4 oz. at a time, but I doubt you will even want more. If you feel full after 2-3 oz., stop. If you don't get all of your protein in at this stage, I was told by Sloan, who was Dr. Mo's nut before Casey, that it was ok to not get all of it in those first few weeks. The water is what is most important.

I had no problem on the full liquid stage. I added some Atkins and EAS shakes, both are very mild tasting and not very thick. I did pu**** a little by using cream of broccoli soup, and had absolutely no problem. Campbells also has a cream of shrimp that I liked a lot. The shrimp in it is ground up, which I thought would be gross, but it was good. I also ate the broth out of every other kind of soup that I like, just to keep the variety going. I used cream of rice, since I'm not a fan of cream of wheat. I made it with skim plus milk, which has 11 grams of protein in a cup. I used it 1 for 1 instead of water, and then added a little more to make it a little thinner after it was cooked. I also did add splenda, and had no problems with it. If you have a Mars near you, try the Co-Co-Wheats cereal. It's sugar free, basically like chocolate cream of wheat. I still make it occassionally now, and I add protein powder and use skim milk and splenda. It tastes so good! Very soul satisfying, but also very mild. I was also told I could have mashed potatoes if they were thinned out enough. I didn't try them, but did try a super smooth cream of potato soup that was out of this world. Again, very soul satisfying.

Jus****ch your consistency and eat as slow as you are comfortable. Listen to your pouch! For the next several weeks, you'll feel everything going down (at least I did). Congrats on progressing to full liquids, I'm sure you are as relieved as I was to get there. Those clear liquid days were hell, lol.

Hi Lauren,

I sent you a PM

C

Hi,
 
I had surgery the same day you did and I am not liking crystal light right now well the only one I have tried has been the lemonade and I felt like I was having heartburn so I disocntinued it's use for right now. I am living on plain propel and also propel with added unjury unflavored protein powder to eight oz both the berry and the lemon flavor it was not too bad. Yesterday I had cream of broccolli soup added 1 scoop of protein powder and 1 cup of skim milk. I purchased 4 oz bowls from the dollar store, I can made 4 serving and I placed it in my magic bullet to puree more and it was not bad. I am also doing the adtkins advantage shakes for my protein.

BTW- Gax-X strips may help wth the gas.

Another good sugarfree drink is sugar free Hawaiiaan Punch packets they come packaged just like crystal light.  My favoriate flavors are Berry Blue Typhoon & Fruit Juicy Red.  I find it at most Dollar Stores & most recently in Walmart.  The most wonderful thing about the Hawaiian Punch packets is they are only $1.00!  Snapple also recently started selling packets I like the sugarfree peach iced tea. 

By the way lemonade is the flavor or powdered drink that I tire of the fastest!  I like the adtkins shakes they tend to have less of an after taste of most protein drinks.  I found a banana protein powder pudding in GNC that is very high in protein and tasty. 

I wish you the best.  I am hoping to get a revision of the surgery I had in 2001 so I hope to be on the losing side in the near future.  Peace & Blessings

Hi! I am having surgery with Dr. Mo tomorrow--and I am already sick of clear liquids! Keep in mind that protein requires water to be digested--so if you are drinking protein water, you should try and take in even more water...

Congratulations!

Nicki