I have a couple questions...

Ok ya'll...  you know I'm only 4 days out and so far things are really surprisingly fine.  I expected lots worse, lets just say that.   But...today has been rough for me for several reasons.   I have noticed bruises all over my body.  Not just on the abdomen area where I had lap...but on my arms, legs, back, shoulders....  very weird.  Or is it?  There is a HUGE bruise on my right leg just below my knee.  It is probably the size of a tangarine and is as black/purple as it can be.  My hubbin is kinda concerned.  Then he noticed that I have one on my lower back.  HUGE...  size of maybe softball.  It isn't as dark though.  Then random bruises on my arms, hands maybe the size of a fingernail.  Should I be concerned?  I'm of course thinking...oh no...do I have clots or something?   I have developed a sore throat today.  Any suggestions to help put this off before it gets to a full blown cold.  ???  or worse sore throat?  can I have halls SF or something maybe?  and lastly....  the dreaded protein question.  How can you possibly get it all in?!!!??  and... give me some suggestions pleeeeeease to do something other than a shake or make the shake wondermous fantabulous.  (LOL!) Thanks guys - Connie

hI, I am still 8 days from surgery but I suspect the bruising is from a blood thinner of some kind. Did you get a little shot before surgery in your abdomen? Or after surg?  Just a thought. congrats on everything going so well. Ramona

Connie, it sounds like he gave you an anticoagulant injection, Heparin, probably.  It is very commonly used to prevent blood clots during surgery.  I had a big knot on my upper arm about the size of a golf ball, and as time went by, it was so hard, and it hurt.  Just to make sure, call them in the morning and just ask to be safe, you'll rest better after hearing it from the pro's.  Glad to hear you're doing so well....for protein, get to GNC and get a couple of bottles of ready to drink isopure, I recommend the grape, it's like kool aid, and no, the protein is a thing you'll have to work up to this early in the game. Nancy

Thanks Ramona and Nancy....  I did forget about the blood thinner shots.  YEP...got them in my abdomen a few times. 

I am seeing them Wednesday, but I might still call tomorrow.  I just worried about it, because they just hurt without even being touched. 

Protein is just gonna be my hurdle right now.  I'll go grab some Special K Protein Water too.  I think that will get me a couple more ounces. 

What about something "salty" that is protein that I can have right now during these first few days?  I'm sicky of the sweet protein shakes already.  (not good...I know) Thanks-Connie

Connie

I also had the Heprin shots and I bruise like a grape, I look like I had been in a gang fight when I got home from the hospital LOL as far as the protein shakes go.. my doctor (you should check with yours) told me for the two first weeks he did not CARE about the protein, he wanted me to constantly sip drinks all day long and stay hydrated. He said I had plenty of time for the protein shakes. I know what you mean about being sick of them, I also did not like them after the first two days home. I really enjoyed SF popsicles, they came in orange, grape and cherry and even though they are not salty they had something in them that took off that salt craving, at least for me it did. that liquid diet was the hardest part for me and I admit I did not stick to it and advanced myself to other things before I passed out from low blood sugar. (I was on a clear liquid diets no yogurt, no soup no pudding.. I cheated with some cream of chicken soup and felt much better LOL) Im not telling you to do that.. just letting you know I know how hard it is to be in that stage



Best of luck!!



Darcie

Thanks Darcie...   You are right about the protein.  I called Dr. this morning and I told them about my throat and bruising.  They said it was all pretty normal.  I have an appointment tomorrow so they said they would check me all out.   Tomorrow is one week....  TIME FLIES!!!! Darcie I am excited for you to be going to Cancun.  That sounds so fun.  You totally deserve it.   Congrats on your success. Connie

Connie:

I'm bruised up too - but not that dramatically.  They did give me plenty of blood thinner - I'm guessing you got it too, and that can make the slightest bump on the way to the bathroom bruise up nicely.

My doc said to work my way up the protein levels as quickly as my body would tolerate - I don't think he was expecting 80g right out of the gate.

How's your pain?  Are you getting your water in?  Taking the vitamins to boost your immunity?

Nikki

Nikki - Thanks for your support my surgery sister!! 

I did get through to Dr. and they said both things were not to be worried over, but I have an appointment tomorrow and they will check me all out.  So... I am gonna sit here and choke down somemore protein. 

 

 

Connie -

Call your Dr. about the bruising. I'm pretty sure that it's from the blood thinners, but it's to hear it from the horse's mouth ... so to speak.  When you are on the phone to them, be sure to ask about taking care of that sore throat and the protien intake. I'm pretty sure that they will tell you that you really need to be sure to stay hydrated. According to my Dr, hydration is the most important thing at first, followed by protien. Mine didn't expect me to get in all of my fluids or protien at first, but to do the best I could and to be steadily increasing the intake.

As to the question of something savory. I had to have "clear" fluids for the first 3 weeks. That meant that you had to be able to read through it ... Duke is really conservative on this issue. At any rate, it dawned on me that I could "read" through the broth from war wonton soup that was strained ... omg, it was sooooo goooood! While it didn't have the protien value of those nasty protien drinks, it did have some protien and it was a really nice break from the constant sweet stuff. I also did the same with broth from french onion soup... mmmm. Try calling your local GNC and/or Vitamin Shoppe to see if they have any flavorless protien powder that you could add to the broth. I did that and it helped, but you want to ask for something that doesn't have any sweet taste to it.

Re: protien shakes ... I can't stand the sweet stuff. One that works okay for me is called American Whey and it's sold at GNC. I think there is another called Jim Robb that is supposed to be pretty good.

I know this part is hard, but remember that it's really only a short time in the overall scheme of things and you can do this!

Sleep well. Call your Dr. In the morning and let us know how your doing.

Barb

Barb - you are so wonderful to give me your suggestions and support and I really do appreciate it.  I did call Dr. and all is ok.  But I do have an appointment tomorrow afternoon and they said they would check me all out then.  So today I do think I might try boullion or something other than these shakes.  The sweet thick liquid is just about to get to me.  I use American Whey Vanilla but it only has 20g pr shake.  So a fellow post-op that I work with brought me Smoothie King Gladiator Powder.  In one shake there is 45g.  So I've been trying to do the Smoothie King one.  eeecck.  I'm done.  I really do like the American Whey one much better.  However it is 25g less protein...meaning I'll have to drink more !  LOL.  So complicated.   I am getting in my water with no problem.  Actually also discovered the Special K Protein Water.  My hubbin went to grocery and he got them.  They are actually really good.  One 16oz bottle has 5g.  So I ge****er and protein all at one time.   I'll get there...  just as everyone is saying...  this is the trial and error worse part.   Thanks again for your wonderful support and words.  You are the best! Connie