WOW Moments & questions?!?!?!?

Hi Friends, OK I guess I will start with the WOW moments..... 1st- I went to my surgeons office today. I had to see his partner because he is out of town. He was very happy with the way the wound from my abscess surgery is healing. While I was there I got weighed.... And I have lost 56 pounds from my highest weight. I am now 250 pounds. I haven't seen 250 since my early 20's and I am 36!!! 2nd- I have clothes in my closet that I haven't worn in about 3 years. I decided to try on a pair of cute Capri's and they fit and they were comfortable!! And the shirt that goes with them even fit and didn't cling like it used to. My best friend is coming over to change my dressing in a while so I will have her take a pic and I will post it on my profile this evening. I can really see the weight loss when I look in the mirror. Let me tell ya, I am clinging to these moments after everything I have been through lately. Now here are my questions.... I talked to my surgeons nurse today and she told me I could add salads now. I am 5 weeks out today. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Grilled Chicken Salad. So I bought some romaine, asiago cheese, fat free Caesar dressing, and grilled chicken breast. Now I am home and afraid to try it. I don't know why??? Has anyone ate salads at 5 weeks out? My NUT told me like 3 weeks ago I could start salads but that really seemed too soon. I had some peanuts on Monday and I was fine when I ate them but then all day yesterday and today I am extremely TIRED. I read somewhere that some people will dump but not throw up yet be extremely tired. Does this sound like maybe I am dumping without the food coming back up? I am almost sure it was the peanuts because my surgeons nurse told me not to do peanuts till I am 6 months out. I guess they don't digest well?! I am so learning about trial and error let me tell ya! I only got about 30 grams of protein in yesterday because my stomach felt horrible. Even when I drank water it hit my stomach like a brick. I hate that feeling! I am exhausted and I want to feel better. Is there anything I can do to make this heavy stomach/tired all the time feeling go away. I want some normalcy already!! LOL Thanks in advance for all the support! You guys are awesome!!! Kathy

congrats on your awesome wow moments kathy, they only get better. I too had an open wound and know how it sucks. I had to pack mine too with that stinky gauze type stuff. mine took a month to close completely. Let me tell ya, the more protein you get in the faster it heals. You are not tired from the peanuts, dumping will happen a few minutes after you eat something that doesn't agree with you. But yes, dumping can be mild to extremely bad, depending on the episode. You could just get tired or dizzy, to full blown puking and diarrea and passing out. Are you drinking and eating slowly? what temp is the drink you are drinking? It may be too cold for your new pouch. You have to get your fluids in, it is hot and we dehydrate very easy which is dangerous. I know the feeling of the heavy stomach, try smaller meals and pace them throughout the day. I had a schedule of when to eat and a schedule of when to drink and how much. The tired feeling i don't remember, but you have been sick and probably need more rest. Are you taking your vitamins right? Every day will get better i promise, the first few months are the hardest. My nutritionist did not let me have salads for three months, but every surgeons program is different. Hugs Linda

Hi Linda, Thank you so much for the great advice! I had been doing really well on the protein but yesterday and today... Not so well. I think that is why my wound is healing really well actually. I was thinking I will go back to liquid protein till this heavy stomach feeling goes away. One thing I think you may be right on is that I may be eating too fast. I try to slow down, but that may have been the issue now that I think about it! I have been getting in my multi-vitamin and my calcium chewable chocolate vitamins. Now the b-12 and b complex not so good... I have to crush those and that makes me feel ill when I swallow them. I suppose I have to just suck it up and get those down, because that could be making me tired as well. Anyways, thanks again for the great advice. Now I am off to take my vitamins! Oh and yes I drink my water at room temperature. Kathy

Kathy i still drink my protein to make sure i get enough, i get confused a lot when i don't drink it. Eating too fast is not good, you will end up getting over full which is not a good feeling. Try making your water colder or warmer and see if that helps. Does your multi vitamin have iron? i know iron and calcium have to be taken at different times a few hours apart. I hope you feel better soon. Hugs Linda

Hi Kathy, It's so great to see you are doing so well. God is GOOOD!!!!!! I was cleared for all foods at 3 weeks. I have eaten salads and have had no problem whatsoever. The only thing is that it's empty calories compared to the protien we should be eating. I could only eat such a small amount that I didn't get to eat much of the salad. Also, I have eaten cashews since 2 weeks (per my Nut) and have had no problem. The first time I had them I thought I felt a tiny bit sick..so I waited for a week before trying again. I can have them in small quanities... I think the biggest thing is to chew very very well and eat very slowly.... Good luck!!! Kim

Hi Kim, Yes God is GOOD!!!! I am glad to see you are doing so well also! I am glad to know that you have eaten salads and haven't had a problem. I keep wanting to make one with some chicken but then I think, I will give my pouch some rest time. Since it has been a little irritated lately. I know at some point I am going to have to bite the bullet and just start trying differen't stuff. Thanks for the great advice! Kathy

Hi girl.....WOW.......great news!!!! Here's my thoughts on salads- I ate them. At first. Then, . !!!!!!!!! I chewed and chewed, turned out iceberg is too hard on my pouch....so is romaine. However I learned LATER, that spinach leaves and baby boston bibb lettuce (really green and soft) I can tolerate NOW. But after 1 month, nope. Not even 1 bite. Everyone is different on handling things. So it is indeed -- TRIAL AND ERROR. As for the water, I had to skip the water and do crystal light, kool aids, and decaf teas. I could not stomach the water. Even bottled. However, add some flavor and sugar free sweetener, and I did fine. Again, everyone is different but I also had water issues. Gotta keep that protein in, get those in. I'll tell you why and anyone here can back me up on this-- protein is VITAL to anyone who had WLS. 1- hair loss: stop the protein and hair falls out sooner, and more. 2- Take those vites: B-12 is what helps provide your body with the energy, along with the protein, and vitamins, along with other nutrition. 3- Get in those fluids to keep you hydrated!!!!!!!!! And finally----just take it one step at a time, one thing at a time. This is a NEW life-- one that takes time adjusting to. And you learn as you go. Baby steps Kathy, Baby steps! I can't wait to see the new pics!!! Next time I'm in the ZOO-- let's hook up! OK? Stacey

Hi Stacey, thanks for the great advice. I am so glad that I can stomach water because I have always LOVED water. That would be terrible to not be able to drink water. I am working on getting my protein back up. I do not want my hair to fall out that is for sure. I am drinking my unjury, so I know that will help get it back up there. I posted some new pics on my profile....if you wanna check them out! Thanks again for the advice!!! Kathy

Very cool on your wow moments. That's quite a bit to celebrate. You are carb dumping or what is called a late dump - basically a spike in your insulin. Stop eating the peanuts. Load up the water, walk and protein and it will help you snap out of it. You need to keep your sugar level even as much as you can. You will get a crappy, tired, unfocused feeling and carbs make us crave carbs so,,,,,, eat less of them. I had/have this problem since I have been trying to stablize my weight. kp

Hi KP, it's kinda funny that I didn't think about that with my sugar levels. When I was in the hospital my sugar levels were high and they had to give me 3 insulin shots. And I was feeling crappy until my sugar levels got in the normal range. It is amazing how our new stomach's control everything in our bodies now. Thanks for the great advice! Kathy