I'M HOME!!!

I'm home!  Thanks for all of the good wishes from everyone.  Especially a big thank you to Rita for being there with me.  She really put my mind at ease.  I still can't believe it's over.  I'm not in much pain, just a little soreness on my abdomen.  What's weird though is to not be hungry.  But, I do feel weird when I drink my water.  As soon as I take that sip, I can feel it going down into my stomach and it feels like my stomach is trying to digest it (for lack of better words)  I can feel these rumblings in my stomach like it feels like when you are hungry and your stomach growls.   Has anyone else experienced this.  It's sort of uncomfortable and I thought maybe its air I'm swallowing with my water.  I'm also dealing with not being able to eat, I feel like I should be having my 3 meals a day and it makes me kind of sad.  I know that food will never be that for me again.  What I'm really looking forward to is to see just how much I CAN eat when the time comes, because right now, I feel like I could eat anything.  If I hadn't been there, I'd swear nothing was different, except for not being hungry.  Let me know how you all felt during the post-op liquid stage!

See, Ruth told you you'd wake up . I'm glad you're home and doing great!!! I'm pre op so i can't give you any advice, but keep us posted, that way I'll know what to expect come surgery time lol. Congrats!

Hi Liz....welcome back!! I am happy to know everything went really well. As far as the rumbling in the stomach, I still get that, especially when my stomach is empty, and yes you can feel liquids going down; for me this the one indication that my stomach is empty. At this point, your stomach is still swallen and as it heals it will get better, remember to take small sips. You are not really hungry right now....it is most likely head hunger, and in essence breaking that habit of eating just for the sake of eating is hard, probably the toughest thing during the liquid stage, and for me it has been the biggest challenge to this day, even though it's getting better. Just keep in mind that every day it gets better and better (even at my stage!!). What helped me a lot was walking, and keeping busy (but take it slow) - keeping busy kept my mind off food.  Anyways, you'll do great...take it one day at at time. Let me know if you have any questions...I'll be glad to help - Anna

I'm so happy you're home and doing so great! It's great to hear you having been having a rough time. I hope to be joining you in the post-op side of things next week. ; )

Liz, I am so glad to hear you are doing well.  I had the exact rumbling thing with my stomach.  It calms down after a few days but you can still experience it.  What really is weird is when your insides kind of burp.  You will get some weird sounds and sensations from time to time.  Don't panic.  It is only painful now because you are post op.   I agree that the head hunger thing is the hardest...even to this day.  I will find myself eating because I am "supposed" to rather than because I am hungry.  I try to tell myself "You are thirsty...you are not hungry"  I sometimes still get sad about losing my friend food...but it wasn't a very good friend.  It was hurting me more than it was helping me for sure.  With time it all gets better.  I always say take it one day at a time especially at first.  I had a good cry on the first day home...the WHAT HAVE I DONE TO MYSELF!  cry.  So, don't be surprised if you have that one also...a lot of people do!   Take care of yourself!  I'm excited for you! Diana

Welcome home LIZ, I had the same experiance with the stomach thing.  I can still feel liquid go down.  As for the hunger part, it is really weird not being hungry.  I have to tell myself to eat to make to sure i dont forget.  Who would have ever thought, that I would forget to eat.  Good Luck with all the protein.  The best thing that I have found is the EAS Myoplex drinks at SAMS.  They are the only ones that I can keep down.  I have tried the ISOPURE, and the NU WHEY PROTEIN BULLET, neither one stayed down.   O another thing is that weird, when you are able to eat, one bite of mashed potatoes or applesauce, and you feel as though you are gorged. Good Luck Karen

GLAD THAT YOUR HOME, BEST WISHES!!!!

Hey Liz!!!!!! So you've got a rumbly in your tummy, huh?  Remember you can't eat hunny like Pooh, lol.  I didn't get that too bad, but then I didn't have the gas pains either. Thank GOD! You will be feeling all kinds of different things so buckle up for the ride. I think that you did really well. Just remember to take it one day at a time. Somedays it was 1 second at a time for me.  Just think 11 more days to go and you can have some beans and cheese. It will taste better than you ever remembered. Take it easy and pamper yourself, Rita

Way to go Liz!  Thanks for posting - I'm learning as you go so I'll be ready for my own surgery in a couple of weeks. I'm glad you're feeling generally OK.  I can't wait to get over onto that bench with all of you.  I'm going back to see Dr. W. for my pre-op appointment in the morning.  I hope I've lost all my last 8 pounds... Keep up the great work.   John