Question and update.....

I know ya'll don't hear much from me, but I check in a little during the week. I get most of my questions answered, just by reading. But I there is one I don't remember a whole lot of answers to. I am having a hard time taking 30 minutes to eat. I pick at my food to get the perfect bites, I take small bites etc..... I am still eating within about 15 minutes. I always look at my time before I eat and after I finish!!! I stay thirsty and drink all the time. Okay, I haven't really told ya'll much after my surgery so here goes. I COMMEND ALL OF YOU!!! You really do have to be prepared for this surgery and I thought I was. Little did I know. I knew that major surgery was going to be tough, I thought I knew what to expect. BOY was I WRONG!!! At this point I am still wondering "what have I done to myself". I had a horrible first 2 1/2 weeks!!! The first week, 7 days after my surgery I thought I was recovering well and felt so much better. That was the day I had my drains removed. I cried all the way home and kept saying it was so traumatic (its kinda funny now, but I can still feel the pain), I felt so helpless. 2 days later I broke into a rash and my doc wouldn't give me a cortisone shot, the emergency room doc gave me 2 shots for allergy (benedryl type shots). They did not work!! That morning, I called the bariatric clinic and they called my doc and talked him into giving me a cortisone shot. I FINALLY GOT MY CORT SHOT, not to complain because it worked, but it was only half. After I got my last shot, I have been okay!!! According to my scales as of this morning I have lost 42 pounds!! Instead of by belly being 1 BIG roll I have 2 big rolls. I can tell a difference. One thing that I have found is that chicken does not like my ... or my stomach does not like chicken. Friday I ate chicken at 11:30 for lunch and I threw up a little at a time until 9:30 that night. YUCK..... This happened one other time before and it only lasted about 3 hours and I thought it was because it was grilled chicken. NO MORE CHICKEN FOR ME!!! Well guys, thanks for listening. Ya'll have a GREAT day!! Love, Daph

I just wanted to make sure ya'll do understand, I don't drink 30 minutes before, during or after I eat. I didn't quite make get to my point when I was talking about being thirsty all the time. My point was, my thirst is why I watch the time so closely. Sorry......

Daphne, You and I seem to be having the same type of problems! I have a very hard time making my food last for 30 minutes. Guess that comes from always having to eat on the run! I'm thirsty a lot also, but try as I may, I cannot seem to get in all of the fluids that I need. My surgery was Feb 24, just a week before yours. I've lost 43 lbs according to my home scales. Chicken (Churches with the crust removed) came right back the first time I tried it, and just smelling it now reminds me of how it came back the first time. Haven't tried it again. I eat with a baby spoon. Today I am trying putting the spoon down and holding my hands until I get that bite completely chewed and swallowed before picking the spoon back up. Maybe that will help, I hope so! Susan

Susan, I will try this today with you!!! Because I'm eating a sandwich for lunch (pumpernickel bread ... uummm good), I will put my sandwich down until I am sure everything else is down. Good luck to the both of us!!! Daph

I had trouble with chicken in the beginning. I would try it, get sick, wait a couple weeks or so and try it again. I did this with eggs too. My doctor told me not to give up on any food because it just takes longer for some of us to tolerate certain things. Now I do great on eggs and chicken and they are a good source of protein. Hang in there, the further out you get, the better you will tolerate different foods. YOu are doing great with your weight loss. Congratulations! It is hard to take 30 min to eat so little food. Don't feel bad. I think probably everyone has trouble doing that. I also watch the clock after I eat because I get thirsty and can hardly wait for my 30 minutes to be able to drink something. Come post and play with us more often and give us updates on your progress. Keep up the good work. You're doing great. Melissa Taylor Lap Rny 1/15/04 -141 pounds 277 to 136 (in maintainance)

Yep, Chicken is rough! I also watch the colock to see when I can drink again!!! It may be normal! I am sorry about the rough times, but it does get lots and lots better, I promise! Now, don't be a stranger!!! Smoochies Arlies

That's the clock I bees watching!!!

Hey Daphne, We had our surgery on the same day, and looks like we have some of the same problems. I never had a drain so I don't know anything about that, but I know that I still question myself about "what have I done to myself". Even my son said this weekend, Mom I wish you would have never had that surgery, now you can't eat anything. That is true, I have a really hard time with food of any kind. I have cravings and think I want something and when I make it, I take one bite and I don't want it anymore. The bad thing is that then I just don't eat. I know that I am not getting the nutrition that I need, I was sick for so long and now that I am not getting sick, I am still scared to eat. The only way I can tolerate chicken is like in chicken in rice. Small pieces just boiled in with the rice. I can't do eggs, or any type of dairy products. I have not been able to tolerate my protein drinks for about 3 weeks now, and that really worries me. I am truly worried about the hair loss that is experienced at about four months out and how all this lack of protein and nutrients is going to affect me. But as I have to tell my husband on a daily basis, I am doing the best that I can with the situation. We can't go back, so we have to make the best of it. Looks like our weight loss is very comparable also, I have lost 44 pds so far. I am thankful for that, but sometimes I wish I had the 44 pds back and no surgery, and feel "normal" again. This is the first time in over 4 years that my wedding rings can come off without soap and water, that is amazing. Have you had any back pain or when you have walked more than usual any hip pain? My back hurts daily, I have to sleep with a heating pad most nights. Saturday I took my son to the mall and I walked a lot more than I usually do and Sunday my hips hurt so bad. I assume it was from walking more than usual. But I hope this changes.. Best of luck to you, Keep in touch! Rhonda

Hey Rhonda, I have to tell you .... I have joined the gym, but I have not started going yet. My activity level has not increased yet. My hips do still hurt when I stand or walk too much. I'm trying to make that commitment to start excising! Even if I walk on the treadmill for 10 or 15 mins, it WILL get better and I love those "happy endorphins". Yeah, lets keep in touch and every time I have that "I wonder what I have done" thought ... I do remind myself that in about 4 or 5 months I will be glad about what I have done so you remind yourself the same!!! My Best to You, Daph