Questions...

I know... sounds gross, but I have noticed that my face looks like it is peeling off? Is this because I am not able to take in as much fluid as I used to pre-op? I am sending hubby to WalMart to get me some Oil of Delay.... Hopefully that will help. On another note, I have been up since 11:30 a.m. this morning. No naps yet. Hopefully I can get myself on somewhat of a decent sleep schedule. I only took pain meds once today, too... I think that helps me stay awake, too. My best friend spent her last day with me today... for breakfast she made me Carnation Instant Breakfast (sugar-free) with a scoop of Any Whey blended with water and ice. WOW was that good. I also had some jello this afternoon, too. For dinner I think I may try some soup. It is hard to plan meals when you aren't hungry for anything and nothing sounds good. What did some of you have for meals early on - say week 1 of post-op life? I need some ideas.... I am scared to do dairy. The most dairy I have done is Dannon Carb & Sugar Control Smoothies - and I think most of that is soy anyway. Thanks for the help, Brandee

Hey Brandee!! Glad to see you on again! I was starting to get concerned! LOL You could be a little dehydrated and that may cause your skin to do that. My surgeon told me to be constantly sipping on water because it will make your skin look bad when you get dehydrated. So I would say sip as much as you can. My sleep schedule was a MESS after I got home. I am just now starting to get back to my normal sleeping routine. I noticed that when I took the pain meds.... It was like... 20 minutes and I was OUT! So that will get back to normal eventually! Luckily for me I was able to go to soft mushy foods 6 days out.. So I didn't have to do the liquid to long. I did do regular (not low sodium--NO TASTE) chicken broth. It is amazing how much better regular chicken broth tastes. You may wanna check with your NUT to see if you can have regular or not yet. I too, worried about dairy... I suppose you will just have to try a little at a time and see. That has been really hard for me, I am afraid to try anything because I don't wanna get sick. But the reality of it is...If I make a mistake... I will learn not to do it again. If you can get in protein I would say do that... I learned to do that because when I didn't I had ZERO Energy. Once that protein got in I was feeling SOOOOO Much better!! I truely believe that Protein is the key. I pray that things progress well for you and you will have no problems getting healthy! Take care! God Bless, Kathy

I am really realizing that protein is the key! I was able to get in about 67 grams today and I have been able to stay awake all day long.... Sorry about not posting so much. With my best friend Brandy here, she kept me busy - well, we talked A LOT which is something we have always been good at. I started posted again after she headed back home to Big Rapids tonight. I miss her... it was so good of her to stay with me and help teach Gordon about meds and meals. She has a ton of patience and he needed someone who could show him how to do things. I hear you on the sleep schedule. By not naping today during the day, I think tonight I will be on a good schedule. My Dad is going to sit with me tomorrow and actually, my mom is going to pick me up and take me to their place in the morning. I have my med and meal bag all packed. I am kinda excited for a change of scenery. They live in the country and I am looking forward to walking around their yard... Every day gets better... Brandee

Early out I was eating Healthy Choice mac and cheese, or Lean Cuisine, and I would have maybe 4 bites and was done. I didn't worry about carbs then. Just getting something in me that was warm helped. I also did mashed potatoes with the flakes, I did split pea and bean soups, I'd eat refried beans, and breakfast was usually the hardest since I didn't do dairy nor liked eggs. Often I would eat turkey sausage (low fat) and a half a piece of toast and a piece of fruit like banana - which was easy to handle, just about 1/8th of it is all I could eat. I'd have a mid morning snack, usually tuna mixed well with low fat mayo and some mustard and eat it with some refried beans or a small cup of legumes. I'm a navy bean and black eyed pea fan so I'd always have those around too. At first dinner was hard. I had no hunger. So I understand your dilemma. Entirely. And even now I do. Dinner early on was sometimes refried beans, with melted cheese, (lo fat) and I'd eat a few bites of plain tuna, or perhaps some smashed salmon (I found a co-op store here that sells great salmon in a can, and it acutally is high in protein and low in everything) I'd mix that up in a little bowl with some ground pepper, mayo and a dash of cayenne pepper and that'd be dinner. I found lean cuisine and healthy choice small meals to accomadate me well as I didn't want to cook. I hated it. Before, I loved it. There are also lists online that you can pick and choose from but I was and still am a fish lover -- therefore my freezer is filled with all kinds of fish. Hope this helps!!! Stacey

Brandee, I have been on a schedule of protien in Dairy Ease Lactose free milk for breakfast, then 2.5 hrs later yogurt, 2.5 later protien with water,2.5 later yogurt again,2.5 later protien with banana or peanut butter-low fat-international coffee for a change then yogurt again later in the evening. that is the only way i can keep track of my protiens, plus the water or crystal light in between for water! good luck, teri

Brandee...congratulations on your surgery. Let the journey begin....I lived on egg drop soup and split pea soup. Also bean soup cooked until it's really soft and mushy. I didn't do well with eggs. Poached eggs were better than any other kind though. Egg drop soup was my favorite though. And I still love it. lol Huggssssssssss, Frankie