I WAS MISERABLE! But I am home and doing better!

Hello all, I thought I would fill you in on what happened with me and my surgery. I went into the hospital on Monday morning bright and early at 5:30am, and I was wheeled into surgery at 7:15am. I was out and in recovery, and finally up to my room at 1:30pm. I couldnt get the pain under controll and I was feeling miserable until I got liquids, which didnt happen for me until Thursday. The swallow test was as horrible as everyone says and unfortunatly for me, when I swallowed it didnt go anywhere. I guess my stomach was pretty swollen and was sore. I had to wait a few days and stay longer in the hospital than expected. When I finally got liquids and off the Morphine I had a horrible allergic reaction to, I was in heaven. The liquid medication did wonders for me and I felt 100% better. I made it home on thursday late afternoon, and now I am completely on the path to a full recovery. I am in need of some advise.... anyone wish to help? 1. I find it really hard to eat. I dont feel like it at all 2. What is the best diet to be doing right now? What should I be eating and what should I totaly avoid? 3. How soon do i start to multi vitamins? Any advise abou****er consumption?!?!?! Thats all for now, talk to you soon, take care Katie

Hi Katie, Glad you're doing better now. Which procedure did you have? Janet

RNY Gastric Bypass. I am doing much better now, but I dont feel like im eating enough. I am doing what I can to drink plenty of water. I am still a little sore and oh boy do I have bruises all over my tummy. Eating just isnt what it used to be and I am glad for that, but I am still a little worried I am not eating enough. Here is todays menu: 1. water, water, water in the am. I didnt feel like eating at all 2. at noon I warmed up some soup at hand velvety potato I felt like I had maybe 4 good sips of it. That stuff isnt the tastiest by the way. 3. I am currently eating some SF pudding. I have had 3 teaspons and I am begining to feel full. Is this enough for the day? I am just so used to eating so much, and I dont feel like im eating enough. Protein shakes are not a part of my diet yet, but they will be tomorrow.

Sorry - I'm pre-op, so I really can't give you eating advice! I would think liquids are the main thing so you don't get dehydrated. I assume this was open surgery then? Hang in there! Janet

Glad that you're home and doing better. Odd how different people have different experiences... Darwin passed his swallow test the next AM and got some SF carnation instant breakfast and cream soup just a few hours later. You do need to drink fluids... sipping small amounts frequently. Darwin has been drinking skim milk to get a bit of protein with his fluid. At home, at first he had half of a soup-at-hand, or 1/3 packet of SF oatmeal or cream of wheat or grits, or a small SF carnation instant breakfast. We'd heat broth with just a bit of seasoning and add instant potato flakes. A couple of times I would fix myself a frozen dinner, and grind up part of the meat for him. I also bought him SF popsicles, and SF pudding, and the blue bunny light 85 yogurts. We tried to put a bit of the unflavored protein powder in most everything. Now I've gotten him some REALLY GOOD tasting protein powders from bariatriceating.com. The Matrix chocolate makes a pretty good hot cocoa, and we also have the Protein Delite vanilla very berry and the almond coconut. I'm trying to get him to eat plenty of protein and drink plenty of fluids, but its' a losing battle. He's not cooperating very well, if you ask me Anyway, I'm glad to hear that you're doing OK... sorry you had extra problems in the hospital. Sally

Katie, didnt your doctor tell you what to eat?? i would advise nothing! only liquids and lots of h2o! what surgery did you have? I know from experience if you had the banding my doctor tell us not to eat unless your hungery..but be sure to drink and drink and drink...and dont worry about the vitamins untill you see the dr the first time..hope i was of some help, hon, Beth in NP

Hi Katie, I tried to look for you walking the halls, but had no success. I didn't ask I thought with the hippa they wouldn't tell me anyway. Iam so sorry you had a rough start, but now you control what you do. I had my RNY laproscopic on Tues, the 4th. I came home on Thursday. The first day was a bit tricky, so to start out I mixed some sf strawberry/bananna juice 8oz with 2 scoops of beneprotien, I didn't even taste to protein. I had about 2oz every 15 mins. It was a challenge. It think it took about 1 1/2 hrs to get all the 8oz down. During that 1 1/2hr i had to take a pill every 15min. I did start with my multi vitamin that morning, but don't get the centrum liquid, it tastes like #%$@. So off the walmart to try the childrens multi vitamin. Better tasting. When I wanted to drink something else I choose water with lime, just added my protien into that also. So getting down your liquids is getting easier. Don't force yourself you could get sick. Let's see heres a list of things i've had. SF jello, Strained Mushroom soup, (yummy in my tummy) no fruit yogurt (another yummy) SF apple sauce. so that's a quick run down as what I've had not in that order. If you want a detail list just email me I'll send it to you. Does your tummy still hurt? Mine is sore I don't know what I would of done without my hubby. I went garage saling today started about 10am I was home by noon, and very tired. I been walking without any real pain, but if i sleep without taking anything for pain I wakeup very sore. Well I'll let you go. Take care and keep in touch. Brooke

I wasn't the out in two to five days either. Like you said, the swallow test is horrible, especially when you have to have it a dozen times. I was like you, the nasty stuff wouldn't go down. I couldn't even swallow my own saliva. I was in the hospital almost two weeks and wasn't able to have anything until the day before I went home. I guess it has to happen to someone, but why me, RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But it has been worth it. I had my RNY on 1/19/06, and I am down 50 pounds. Just hang in there. If you don't know what to eat or how much call your doctor or nut. Hazel

Hi Katie, I am glad you are feeling better. You should be drinking about 64 ounces of fluids daily. It is very hard to do at first. Just get a jug and fill it with ice and your sugar free beverage or water and sip, sip, sip. Your surgeon should have given you instructions on what to eat. You should be on a full liquid diet whi*****ludes cream soups and anything that pours off of a spoon. No lumps, bumps or chunks. Staying hydrated is the most important job right now. Start your vitamins now.Make sure they are chewable or liquid. Eat them like hard candy. Avoid any white sugar or anything with sugar. Only pureed fruit. If you drink fruit juice, dilute it with water. I hope this helps. Good luck in your journey. Mona